The Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands invites
you to attend a Public Meeting on the Amherst Mountains Community Forest
Management Plan on March 17th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bangor Motor Inn &
Conference Center located at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor.
The Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF) is a unique
state-municipal partnership involving 4,974 acres of forestland
surrounding six ponds in the town of Amherst. The parcel was acquired
by the Maine Department of Conservation with assistance from the Forest
Society of Maine in June of 2009, with funds from the Forest Legacy
Program, the Lands for Maine's Future program and numerous charitable
foundations and individuals.
The purpose of the Public Meeting is to collect information and to hear
comments from the general public regarding the management of this
parcel. Public knowledge of the region will help shape the plan, which
will provide resource protection and management guidance for this
property over the next 15-year period.
An Advisory Committee has been formed to provide additional input and to
review drafts of the plan. A second public meeting will be scheduled in
June to receive feedback on a final draft. Comments are invited
throughout the planning process.
More information on the management planning process is available at
http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/amherstmountains/index.
shtml. Please feel free to contact me with questions or to submit
written comments.
Please circulate this invitation to interested parties.
Thank you.
Misha Mytar
Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
P.O. Box 343
Sullivan, ME 04664
(207) 460-4818
misha.mytar@maine.gov
www.parksandlands.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Amherst Mountain Plan
The Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands invites
you to attend a Public Meeting on the Amherst Mountains Community Forest
Management Plan on March 17th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bangor Motor Inn &
Conference Center located at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor.
The Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF) is a unique
state-municipal partnership involving 4,974 acres of forestland
surrounding six ponds in the town of Amherst. The parcel was acquired
by the Maine Department of Conservation with assistance from the Forest
Society of Maine in June of 2009, with funds from the Forest Legacy
Program, the Lands for Maine's Future program and numerous charitable
foundations and individuals.
The purpose of the Public Meeting is to collect information and to hear
comments from the general public regarding the management of this
parcel. Public knowledge of the region will help shape the plan, which
will provide resource protection and management guidance for this
property over the next 15-year period.
An Advisory Committee has been formed to provide additional input and to
review drafts of the plan. A second public meeting will be scheduled in
June to receive feedback on a final draft. Comments are invited
throughout the planning process.
More information on the management planning process is available at
http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/amherstmountains/index.
shtml. Please feel free to contact me with questions or to submit
written comments.
Please circulate this invitation to interested parties.
Thank you.
Misha Mytar
Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
P.O. Box 343
Sullivan, ME 04664
(207) 460-4818
misha.mytar@maine.gov
www.parksandlands.com
you to attend a Public Meeting on the Amherst Mountains Community Forest
Management Plan on March 17th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bangor Motor Inn &
Conference Center located at 701 Hogan Road in Bangor.
The Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF) is a unique
state-municipal partnership involving 4,974 acres of forestland
surrounding six ponds in the town of Amherst. The parcel was acquired
by the Maine Department of Conservation with assistance from the Forest
Society of Maine in June of 2009, with funds from the Forest Legacy
Program, the Lands for Maine's Future program and numerous charitable
foundations and individuals.
The purpose of the Public Meeting is to collect information and to hear
comments from the general public regarding the management of this
parcel. Public knowledge of the region will help shape the plan, which
will provide resource protection and management guidance for this
property over the next 15-year period.
An Advisory Committee has been formed to provide additional input and to
review drafts of the plan. A second public meeting will be scheduled in
June to receive feedback on a final draft. Comments are invited
throughout the planning process.
More information on the management planning process is available at
http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/amherstmountains/index.
shtml. Please feel free to contact me with questions or to submit
written comments.
Please circulate this invitation to interested parties.
Thank you.
Misha Mytar
Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
P.O. Box 343
Sullivan, ME 04664
(207) 460-4818
misha.mytar@maine.gov
www.parksandlands.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
Never Enough Time
I would like to share a few thoughts on information. The blog world, facebooke, myspace, instant message and all the other social networks really keeps folks in touch. But in a rural small town, without anything but dial up service, where most people are blue collar workers - getting the word out is all but impossible. Second to that is getting folks to understand certain programs and complete PAPERWORK.
I talking around town with friends (very little of them) and neighbors I am shocked to find that many or most have never heard of the homestead exemption. The state program that reimburses the town up to $13,000 of valuation and reduces your taxes by $13,000 evaluation or at 11.11 mill rate per $1,000 = $145 off your tax bill. You can say its in the town report, but do people one get the report and two do they read and understand it? There is also a veterans and farm exemption program.
Then comes the land use ordinance. I asked about what people thought about the proposed ordinance and if they had heard about it. The answer was no, yet they do remember seeing the ads in the recent newsletter, but the rest was jumbo reading. Needs to be flashy, eye catchers and pictures. I told most they could view the document on line - but no internet service or the town office, it was a few hundred pages long - we don't go to the office except to register the car and certainly don't have time to read such a document.
Then a resident gave it to me straight. We get up at 5 a.m., get ready for work, kids for school. Go to work, then home, school work, try to figure out supper. We are worried about what we can afford for groceries and how to make rent/house payment and gasoline for the car. Then to bed and get ready for the next day. The only paper we read is at work, if they get it. Family is first, don't have time to travel around and visit all these things. Our only day off is weekends, the town office is closed and if it was open, that is our family time.
There you have it in a nut shell! And I think this is the case for most working people. Only self employed or retired folks really have the time to committ to learning all these things. Those others that are involved are gifted and are cutting down on family time without question.
So how to we inform our citizens about programs that can save them money? I was talking with people that bought homes and didn't know about the thousands they can get back under the federal program. People that don't have health or let alone life insurance. Folks that don't know how to do a 1040 form.
Very few knew about the food pantry.
EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH IS BROKE, there is little if any savings and decisions are being made daily on fuel oil or groceries. So many are laid off - about 75 of our 750or so residents.
I don't have the answers, but when folks aren't educated by the their leaders about basic programs we have problems. I really would like to hear any ideas that you might have on how we can educate our residents.
I talking around town with friends (very little of them) and neighbors I am shocked to find that many or most have never heard of the homestead exemption. The state program that reimburses the town up to $13,000 of valuation and reduces your taxes by $13,000 evaluation or at 11.11 mill rate per $1,000 = $145 off your tax bill. You can say its in the town report, but do people one get the report and two do they read and understand it? There is also a veterans and farm exemption program.
Then comes the land use ordinance. I asked about what people thought about the proposed ordinance and if they had heard about it. The answer was no, yet they do remember seeing the ads in the recent newsletter, but the rest was jumbo reading. Needs to be flashy, eye catchers and pictures. I told most they could view the document on line - but no internet service or the town office, it was a few hundred pages long - we don't go to the office except to register the car and certainly don't have time to read such a document.
Then a resident gave it to me straight. We get up at 5 a.m., get ready for work, kids for school. Go to work, then home, school work, try to figure out supper. We are worried about what we can afford for groceries and how to make rent/house payment and gasoline for the car. Then to bed and get ready for the next day. The only paper we read is at work, if they get it. Family is first, don't have time to travel around and visit all these things. Our only day off is weekends, the town office is closed and if it was open, that is our family time.
There you have it in a nut shell! And I think this is the case for most working people. Only self employed or retired folks really have the time to committ to learning all these things. Those others that are involved are gifted and are cutting down on family time without question.
So how to we inform our citizens about programs that can save them money? I was talking with people that bought homes and didn't know about the thousands they can get back under the federal program. People that don't have health or let alone life insurance. Folks that don't know how to do a 1040 form.
Very few knew about the food pantry.
EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH IS BROKE, there is little if any savings and decisions are being made daily on fuel oil or groceries. So many are laid off - about 75 of our 750or so residents.
I don't have the answers, but when folks aren't educated by the their leaders about basic programs we have problems. I really would like to hear any ideas that you might have on how we can educate our residents.
Town Report
The Clifton Town Report is available now at the Clifton Country Store or the Town Office a must read for Annual Meeting on March 20th.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Short Stories
After the first book on Bear Hunting in Maine I have been working on a few others. One on how to serve in local rural politics, another Maine Professional Guide Manual, then Life on Alligator and a secret special one. However I have started posting short stories at www.registeredguide.blogspot.com, a link on this page. Hope you enjoy the reads. www.mainefishgame.blogspot.com is kinda of home to the various blogs. At this point I think I am running 29 blogs on various topics including a seperate blog for some famous lakes and ponds. This will allow fisherman and other outdoor folk to add their stories for others to enjoy. Lorin
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
SAD63 Scare
Is SAD63 trying to scare us, sending home a newsletter with budget information talking about an $800,000 short fall and possible 20% taxpayer increase. Talk about a Tea Party Revolt, they must be nuts. If this is the case we better increase class size to state ratio, lay off teachers, cut business manager, do our own payroll and contract out busing. This is like saying the proposed local shoreland zoning ordnance not any more restrictive than the states - if so why do we need it, use the states.
An $800,000 is not all the states fault - it is a lack of planning and poor management, plain and simple. In the real world at a business that means cuts, job sharing and layoff's, SAD63 is no different. It time to take a hard look at mid level and top administration positions. Can we have a foreman or lead man instead of a department head, can we contract out services. We all have to give and if teachers are not interested in opening contracts, then increase ratio of class and reduce staffing. 20% is not acceptable.
An $800,000 is not all the states fault - it is a lack of planning and poor management, plain and simple. In the real world at a business that means cuts, job sharing and layoff's, SAD63 is no different. It time to take a hard look at mid level and top administration positions. Can we have a foreman or lead man instead of a department head, can we contract out services. We all have to give and if teachers are not interested in opening contracts, then increase ratio of class and reduce staffing. 20% is not acceptable.
Cleaning Help and Budget Reduction
I recall years ago with school cuts that students were responsible for their classrooms at the end of each day. They not only swept and picked up the room, but set the trash outside the door for the janitor to pickup. This is a win win, the students learn skills and responsibility, the janitors life and work is reduced so they can have more time to do other projects. I am not talking cleaning and using chemcials, but every day chore in the room. The chemical issue is something different, in fact many schools have switched to "green" chem free cleaning products to avoid such issues. Why is it that what works in the private school or sector can not be done in the public sector.
From the papers that come home each day to newsletter I wonder how much time a teacher or staff spends at the photocopier machine. If the janitor was freed up a few hours by the team cleaning their rooms, why couldn't the janitor at night do the copying for the next day. This is all part of the team approach, everyone owns a peice of the puzzle.
From the papers that come home each day to newsletter I wonder how much time a teacher or staff spends at the photocopier machine. If the janitor was freed up a few hours by the team cleaning their rooms, why couldn't the janitor at night do the copying for the next day. This is all part of the team approach, everyone owns a peice of the puzzle.
School a Commuinty Building
The school is owned by the taxpayers of many different communities in SAD 63, Eddington, Holden and Clifton. The school should be the center of the community and seek or offer to allow groups and activities within. Many school districts offer free internet to residents and in the case of Otis and the management of their school budget offer something that is priceless in the day and age of both parents working. After school care and programs until 6PM each day. No lackkey kids or kids left home running the road, endanger of trying to cook something, or strangers invading a home. A community that is looking to protect its town and kids. Kids can also get tutoring or free gym. There is always the respoonse that we are not the "Y" or can't handle anymore. We all are doing MORE with LESS and in some cases with nothing. What a great way for the community to come together between Ed techs, janitors lending a hand or other staff. We could even start a volunteer program of parents on a rotating schedule to work and mentor our youth, why not in SAD63 and Holbrook. In fact Holbrook doesn't have a booster group or PTF, there is very little parent involvement programs, or fundraising for special projects. This is junior high and support - mentoring is needed more now than ever.
Tuition
Clifton does not have a school, yet? Nor do we have a private academy, yet? What we do have is the right to withdraw from SAD63 and tuition our students to the school of choice. As the 20% budget increase proposed comes near to vote. It might be time to consider doing just that.
Cell Phones, Drinks and Buses
Laptops, computers, DS, cellular phones and more technology equipment is used and being developed everyday to improve our lifes. With it also comes risks and common sense rules. Recently some kids at Brewer were suspended for comments made at home on their computer regarding another school and sports team. While this wasn't the brightest thing they could have done, in my mind it is protected speech. It wasn't on school property, school time or school equipment. If this is the case maybe the school teachers unions should be posting comments about budget cuts or such material. There is a supreme court case ruling in favor of protected speech by public employee - the same holds true in this case.
Now on to cellular phones, they are a fact of life, at school, home, work and just about everywhere we go. There are signs about phone use in hospitals and work places. Work places are now stepping up to restrict use during the day work hours, especially in texting. How many meetings have you been to that someones phone rings?
I agree that cell phones are valuable and can be life saving, but some rules in schools should apply. Trying to find your kid, leave a note for after school, learning where your child or how they are getting home is critical, especially when both parents are working. But SAD63 has not kept pace with the modern world and has double standards on cellular phones. I agree kids should not be allowed to have the phone ON during class, but during break, recess, lunch or at end of day should be allowed to listen to messages or receive a text from home. If bus drivers, staff and teachers can have them on and use them, even stopping class to take a call. Then limited use by kids should be allowed. What is really nice is to listen or watch the records kids do on the bus of activities or words. Most phones take pictures, video and record. You would be suprised by some of the language used.
Then there is the restriction on certain drinks in class. If the child can not have AZ ice tea, then the teacher should not have one in class and drink it in front of the kids. This really is mixed messages.
As part of budget cuts cameras were removed from the bus. Not a day goes by without some type of incident, yet there is no tape, just an empty camera box. There is no way to tell if the bus is moving without kids seated, if brakes are slammed on to get attention, how is jumping around, pushing, fighting and such. We put all this security in place to lock down the school - lets face it, if you want in, just arrive early, late or wait for someone to come out - but no security on the bus holding 45 kids. Is this a good priority?
Now on to cellular phones, they are a fact of life, at school, home, work and just about everywhere we go. There are signs about phone use in hospitals and work places. Work places are now stepping up to restrict use during the day work hours, especially in texting. How many meetings have you been to that someones phone rings?
I agree that cell phones are valuable and can be life saving, but some rules in schools should apply. Trying to find your kid, leave a note for after school, learning where your child or how they are getting home is critical, especially when both parents are working. But SAD63 has not kept pace with the modern world and has double standards on cellular phones. I agree kids should not be allowed to have the phone ON during class, but during break, recess, lunch or at end of day should be allowed to listen to messages or receive a text from home. If bus drivers, staff and teachers can have them on and use them, even stopping class to take a call. Then limited use by kids should be allowed. What is really nice is to listen or watch the records kids do on the bus of activities or words. Most phones take pictures, video and record. You would be suprised by some of the language used.
Then there is the restriction on certain drinks in class. If the child can not have AZ ice tea, then the teacher should not have one in class and drink it in front of the kids. This really is mixed messages.
As part of budget cuts cameras were removed from the bus. Not a day goes by without some type of incident, yet there is no tape, just an empty camera box. There is no way to tell if the bus is moving without kids seated, if brakes are slammed on to get attention, how is jumping around, pushing, fighting and such. We put all this security in place to lock down the school - lets face it, if you want in, just arrive early, late or wait for someone to come out - but no security on the bus holding 45 kids. Is this a good priority?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Roaming Dogs
Over the past few weeks we have had a problem with roaming dogs chasing the livestock, horses and calf. It started out as coyotes in the back pasture doing the chasing, but no shots were taken. Then I looked out last week and saw the coyote coming out of the woods in pursuit of the calf. The .308 with special varmit load (.55gr) was put into action. Just as I was about to dispatch the coyote, with pressure on the trigger I thought something wasn't right. I took the tension off the trigger and clapped my hands. With that the animal stopped and looked directly at me. Using the scope I could see this was a dog with coloring like a coyote. I fired a shot near the creature and it took off running. However that night and the next day they were back chasing the critters. By now there were several calls to the Animal Control and local Game Warden. Then I got a call from the ACO that two dogs matching my discription had attacke a lady in her driveway on the next road over. Then an hour later there was a report of two dead dogs on another road. Upon investigation by the ACO, it appears the dogs were at the end of a driveway. The ACO knocked on the door and the person claimed responsibiilty for the dogs - this person had been warned on at least two occasions regarding the dogs. In fact a few months earlier they had bitten another resident.
So I thought all was taken care of, that is until Sunday when the two dogs were back chasing the livestock. Monday morning they were back again, this time on fresh snow. More calls to the ACO. I put the gear together, including a shotgun, and started a track. I finaly caught up with the dogs, an older dog that had all it could to to walk and a mixed shepard. They would stop, but would not let me near them. I went door to door on Rt 180, Clewely Rd, Route 9, Mill Lane and Molly Road attempting to locate the owner. I had several folks tell me the dogs had been around for a while and were chasing deer and pets. I got back home upset that I could not find the owners, no collars on the dogs could be seen. Then the phone rang, it was a person on Rt 9 about a mile away reporting that she was out with her dog on a leash when suddenly these two dogs came out of the woods and started chasing her. They followed her back home, her husband went after the dogs, but they took off. Are these dropped off dogs or a person that goes to work and lets them run free. What ever is the case it is sad that they will get hit by a car or destroyed for something that the owners are responsible for. But damage to people or to livestock can not be allowed to continue. In fact it is clear from the tracks the dogs have been visiting the local deer yard, however I could not find any blood or injured deer at this time.
So I thought all was taken care of, that is until Sunday when the two dogs were back chasing the livestock. Monday morning they were back again, this time on fresh snow. More calls to the ACO. I put the gear together, including a shotgun, and started a track. I finaly caught up with the dogs, an older dog that had all it could to to walk and a mixed shepard. They would stop, but would not let me near them. I went door to door on Rt 180, Clewely Rd, Route 9, Mill Lane and Molly Road attempting to locate the owner. I had several folks tell me the dogs had been around for a while and were chasing deer and pets. I got back home upset that I could not find the owners, no collars on the dogs could be seen. Then the phone rang, it was a person on Rt 9 about a mile away reporting that she was out with her dog on a leash when suddenly these two dogs came out of the woods and started chasing her. They followed her back home, her husband went after the dogs, but they took off. Are these dropped off dogs or a person that goes to work and lets them run free. What ever is the case it is sad that they will get hit by a car or destroyed for something that the owners are responsible for. But damage to people or to livestock can not be allowed to continue. In fact it is clear from the tracks the dogs have been visiting the local deer yard, however I could not find any blood or injured deer at this time.
Brewer Cabin Fever Releiver
Wow what a great thing in Brewer, the annual Cabin Fever Reliever. A free sportsman show and fly tying this past weekend. Show was both for young and old, great job and contained much information on the outdoors with demos and friends.
March 4th
Big meeting, informal informational meeting I should say on the proposed land use ordinances. Starts at 7PM and all shoudl attend, especially if you own land in Clifton.
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