Newsletter

The Robins Have Arrived

April Newsletter 2000

NOMINATION PAPERS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTPERSONS VACANCY

Along with the Primary Election on June 13, the town will have an election for two vacancies on the Board of Selectpersons. Both terms will be for only one year and will end in March of 2001. If you would like to pick up nomination papers, they are available at the town office during business hours. You may also have an absentee ballot by mail if you request one and cannot make it to the polls during the time that they are open or if you are unable to get to the school for other reasons. The polls will be open from 8 am to 8 p.m. at the Belgrade Central School. The School is handicapped accessible for those of you that do need the elevator. The people of Belgrade will also be voting on the School Budget for SAD #47 .

Nomination papers are available at the town office. If you do want them you have to have at least 25 signatures of registered voters in Belgrade and not more than 100. The nomination papers will be due in this office not later than 5 P.M. on Wednesday May 10th. If you have any questions on this procedure please do not hesitate to contact the office at 495-2258 and we will answer any questions you may have.

VOTE ON JUNE 13, 2000 BELGRADE CENTRAL SCHOOL POLLS WILL BE OPEN 8 AM TO 8 PM

BELGRADE LAKES REGION INC.

Please mark your calendar for the annual meeting of the Belgrade Lakes Region, Inc. It will be held at the Union Church on June 1 at 1:P.M. We hope to see members & volunteers there to help plan the coming season & approve changes in the original by-laws of the organization. The Information Center will open on June 10. As always we are looking for volunteers to man the center to welcome visitors & answer questions. The Regional Brochure is now in distribution. It has been brought to our attention that there is a misprint in the directions for the hike to The Mountain. There will be posters & flyers at the Information Center with the correct directions for people that are interested in hiking the trails of that scenic overlook of Great Pond. Just a reminder that the “2000” T-Shirts & Sweatshirts are available in all sizes & colors. They will be sold at the Information Center & Town Office. Judging by the inquires about this Region coming via mail, phone & internet this Season promises to be busy.

WINTER CARNIVAL THANK YOU

A special thank you to everyone whom attended this year’s Winter Carnival! We braved the snow storm and some chilly condition, but still managed to have a great time. Also, the Belgrade Business Group would like to thank everyone who helped make this event successful. Some of the helpers were:

• Brian Bernatchez and Bert Languet for helping set up the snow golf course, the snow softball field and the bonfire.
• Diane & Kerry Oliver for helping with the BBQ
• Michelle Cooper for the article
• Tammy Harmon for all her help with the hot chocolate and assorted foods
• Tom Moore for the chicken cooker at the BBQ
• Mark Day for plowing off the ice rink and entrance road
• Bill Pulsifer, Ralph Boss, Ed Ketch, Jeff Stevens & Don Bickford for flooding rink

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LIBRARY COMMITTEE NEWS

We are waiting for the legal wording of a library ordinance, which must come to a town vote. In the meantime, the committee is proceeding to write policies to guide the everyday operation of a free public library (access by patrons will be free to taxpayers and residents). Such policies include an Internet Policy, Selection of Materials, Circulation Rules, Gift Policy and General Services.

The Trustee search continues. We fell very fortunate that Tim Corbett, Kate Gawler, Fred Perkins, and Herb Thomas have agreed to serve. We welcome their input as well as yours, for ideas as well as nominations, In seeking to create a Board of Trustee with a broad range of interests, we hope to also prevail on someone in the field of education and someone with computer skills. Submitted by Nancy Mairs

SENIORS SAVOR SWEET TREATS

On March 24th over 30 Belgrade seniors enjoyed the Parks and Recreation bus trip to Jillson’s Maple Farm. They learned how the maple was turned into sugar and then enjoyed a spectacular meal. Great fun was had by all

Have any ideas for the next senior trip? Call the town office at 495-2258 to submit your ideas. We want the bus as full as possible when we plan the trips so your ideas are needed for these ventures. HOW ABOUT FOXWOODS, SEADOGS GAME OR A MAINE ISLAND EXCURSION

Thank you in advance for you input.

FUTURE TOWN OFFICE & CENTRAL FIRE STATION– UDATE

The conceptual plan for a new town office & central fire station, on town-owned land between Pine Grove Cemetery & Rt 27, was displayed at March Town Meeting. The plan is available at the Town Office for public inspection & comment. The LRPC made the following recommendations to the Board of Selectperson at their April 4th meeting. 1. That the Town move now to secure strips of land on one or both sides of RT 27 entrance to this property to widen the narrow entrance, as envisioned by the plan. 2. That the Town invest now in technical evaluations of the site to confirm suitability for water supply, on-site waste water disposal and environmental constraints such as storm water runoff.

These steps are fundamental to further planning and future town decisions. They will enhance the value of the town-owned land, whatever its future use or disposition. The Board requested the town manager begin discussions with adjoining landowners, with the understanding that request to fund land purchases must be approve by a future town meeting. Beyond these basic steps, LRPC does not now advocate a specific schedule to build the proposed town office & fire station 1) completion and start up experience with the Center for all Seasons; 2) further input from Selectpersons, town office staff, and fire department on the needs, benefits, design and costs for a new combined facility; and 3) consideration of an interim step to modestly expand the present town office.

MOVING 5-YEAR FINANCIAL PLANS FOR MAJOR TOWN FUNCTIONS

At its March meeting the LRPC discussed with the town manager and budget committee chair the need for longer financial planning for major town functions, consistent with recommendations of the 1998 Comprehensive Plan. The Budget Committee will meet on this in April.

LRPC TERMS OF OFFICE LRPC was created by the Board of Selectpersons in late 1995, without specific terms of office. There are now 6 regular members. LRPC recommends the Board re-confirm membership as 5 to 7 persons, appointed for staggered 3 year terms with terms current members determined by choice or lot. At its April 4th meeting the Board re-appointed Jack Sutton LRPC chair and requested the committee to forward recommendations for terms of current LRPC members.

CAMP VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FIRST WEEK OF MAY

The camp vouchers for summer camps that you want to send your children to will be available the first week of May at the Town Office.

This is done on a first come first serve basis and the amount of vouchers has been reduced to 75 rather than the normal 100 that have been issued in the past.

These vouchers are for $50.00 each and may be utilized for any camp that you wish to send your children to. These vouchers cannot be used for the Summer Camp program that is run by the Board of Parks and Recreation here in Belgrade. Please have the name of the camp that your child or children will be attending when you come to the office to pick up your vouchers. Both copies of the voucher that you will receive must go to the camp you do not keep any portion of the voucher. THANK YOU

KIDS-ALMOST TIME FOR SUMMER CAMP!!!!

Summer Camp will be run for the Town by the KVYMCA at the BSC for kids ages K-6 in three sessions for two-week periods:

• Session 1-June 26– July 7
• Session 2- July 10– July 21
• Session 3 July 24-August 4

(50 Campers Per Session)

Summer Camp schedule will include organized games, crafts, free play, and time at the waterfront on Long Pond where swim lessons will be available for half the afternoon, and free swim the other half. A camp brochure with additional details will be sent out to all parents through the school later on this month.

Camp Registration will be held on Monday, May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Belgrade Central School entrance hallway. Enrollment will be open to Belgrade taxpayers on a first come, first serve basis. Campers may enroll for one session only. If campers want to enroll for additional sessions, they may place their names on a waiting list. Non-Belgrade residents may also place their names on a waiting list. If any sessions fail to fill up, non-residents may be enrolled. If you can’t be at sign-up, you should make arrangements for someone else to sign up for you. $50.00 payment due upon registration

FRIENDS OF THE CENTER

Do you have skills, time, or resources you would contribute to our new Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons? If so, please let us know! Many have already come forward to volunteer, but many more is needed in an effort to keep operating costs as low as possible for Belgrade taxpayers. Volunteers to “staff” early morning or late night programs or just to oversee the building when the recreation director cannot be there are particularly needed. Please complete the enclosed form and return it to the town office to Program Su-Committee, RR 1 Box 912, Belgrade, Maine 04917

The Center is in need of community-spirited individuals willing to become active participants in the success of it’s programs and activities. Share in creating this vital community resource, for citizens of all ages. Be creative—– all ideas will be welcomed

OPENINGS ON BOARD OF PARKS & REC SENIORS AND STUDENTS

We’ve recently revised the composition of the Board of Parks and Recreation to a total of 10 members, with two slots designated for senior representatives and two slots designated for high school students. If you have any questions, please contact Kellie Guarino, the outgoing chair, at 495-7729. To become a member of the board you will have to complete a simple form at the Town Office. The final selection of board members is made by the Selectpersons.

VOUCHER PROGRAM BELGRADE HEALTH CENTER

A new grant program will help some patients pay for the high cost of unexpected prescriptions. Any patient who receives an approved prescription during a Health Center visit and is not a Medicaid recipient is eligible to receive a voucher for up to $25 off the price of their prescriptions Refills are not covered.

The vouchers are available through grant money obtained from federal class action lawsuits against large pharmaceutical companies. As a Health Reach Community Health Center, Belgrade Regional Health Center has been awarded money to be used for our eligible patients. We expect the total amount available to patients to be over $25,000. The vouchers will be available through May 2001 or until grant funds run out. The grant required a contract with only one local pharmacy. The Health Center contracted with True’s pharmacy in Oakland because of their long-term commitment to the people of the Belgrade region and their competitive pricing.

The medications listed below are eligible for the voucher program. These medications are for “acute” problems ones that are unexpected and not chronic conditions. The voucher program is designed to help people handle the difficulty of unexpected medical cost. Further information is available through the Health Center by calling 495-3323.

Formulary– Amoxicillan, Pediapred, Augmentin, Prelone, Ceftin, Predisone, Cephalixin, Pen VK Cipro, Cortisporin Otic, Cleocin, Sulfatrim D/S, Diflucan, Ventolin Inhaler or syrup, Duricef, Garamycin opthsoln/oint, Metrogel, Zithromax, Nystatin Cream, Proventilor.