Augusta- Lithgow Public Library’s reading room had a secret, but not the kind found in mystery books or even a diary.
It’s hiding underneath multiple layers of paint and broken plaster from previous restoration efforts done over the last 122 years. Keep reading
Voters signed off on the coming year’s budget at the annual town meeting in New Gloucester Monday night, but not without some renewed debate over Selectboard term limits and firefighter compensation.
The $4.4 million fiscal year 2019 expense budget will result in an estimated 3.6 percent increase in the municipal portion of the tax rate over the current year, according to budget materials provided by the town for the May 7.
Coupled with expected SAD 15 and Cumberland County tax increases, the town projects the overall tax rate will increase 4 percent in 2019 from $15.60 per $1,000 valuation to $16.30. Keep reading
Voters at last Monday night’s annual town meeting approved all articles, including $142,560 for portable air packs for the Fire Department and $150,000 for a dump/plow truck.
Other expenditures authorized were $30,000 for a second exit for the library, $35,000 for bridge and dam engineering at Stevens Brook, and $37,500 for improvements to the Rowe Station Road tennis courts.
Voters rejected an amendment to the Management of Tax-Liened Property Ordinance, 26-47, which would have eliminated a payment plan for delinquent taxpayers. Keep reading
Serenity Klotzle, 7, who belongs to the New Gloucester Public Library’s 4-H group, covers the root ball of a newly planted Liberty Elm tree that she named “Elmie” on April 29. Her 5-year-old sister Haven looks on.
Liberty Elm takes root
The image of majestic elm trees arching over the streets of our hometowns changed significantly in the 1930s when Dutch elm disease decimated the elm population. Because of efforts by the nonprofit Elm Research Institute, disease-resistant trees have been developed. They have been given the moniker of the American Liberty Elm — named for the “Liberty Tree,” our country’s first symbol of freedom. The institute established its Liberty Tree Society program in 2009, and of the hundreds of thousands elms they have planted, 99 percent have survived.
New Gloucester Public Library purchased an elm from the Liberty Tree Society in Keene, New Hampshire. Trustee Robb Cotiaux traveled there to pick up the tree for planting, and he along with library 4-H member Serenity Klotzle installed the sapling on April 29. “Elmie” can be visited behind the gazebo and swing set.
For Patti Mikkelsen’s complete column in the Lakes Region Weekly, go to: http://news.keepmecurrent.com/inside-new-gloucester-142/
Tagged agriculture, animals, community, local government, Pineland Farms
Voters at Saturday’s annual town meeting will decide on buying a plow truck, building a second exit for the library and improving tennis courts.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at Memorial School, with voter registration at 6:30 p.m.
Among the spending proposals are purchasing self-contained breathing apparatus for the Fire Department, construction of a second exit for the New Gloucester Public Library, buying a dump/plow truck and making improvements to the Rowe Station tennis courts. Keep reading
The Planning Board will continue deliberations on a site plan for a proposed residential drug treatment facility for boys and men ages 14 to 20 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15.
Townspeople have expressed concerns about safety, neighborhood compatibility, well water drawdown and the interpretation that the facility matches use standards in ordinance language.
Day One propose to close its Hollis location and open a 12-bed facility at the 934 Intervale Road home and former law office with 6 acres. Planning
Following two bomb threats at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School in March, SAD 15 officials this week held a community forum to discuss district policies and practices related to school safety.
The April 24 event started with presentations from five different officials who work for or with the school district then opened up to a Q & A session with the audience.
Cumberland County Sherrif’s Deputy Patrick Ferriter, the school’s resource officer, gave an overview of SAD 15 school safety practices and explained that the district employs an approach to safety procedures developed by national group I Love U Guys Foundation, which according to its website involves a “standard response protocol” to be used as a “uniform classroom response to any incident.”
A youth substance abuse treatment facility proposed by non-profit Day One is heading back to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
One of the nearby residents objecting to the planned 12-bed facility at 934 Intervale Road in New Gloucester has now filed a request asking the Board of Appeals to reconsider an April 10 decision that denied several appeals to the project. Keep reading
The warrant for town meeting has been posted on the town’s website.
New Gloucester’s town meeting for 2018 will take place on Monday, May 7th at 7 PM at Memorial School on Intervale Rd. Voters are asked to arrive at 6:30 to check in.
Please review the warrant before the meeting, it’s your opportunity to participate in our local legislative process.
Two 65-foot-long tractor trailer trucks maneuvering the tight turn from Hammond Street into Bangor’s Hildreth North Business Park in early April had folks buzzing at nearby Chase’s Family Restaurant.
Each truck carried a silo that could hold 30,000 gallons of milk. Keep reading