Newsletter

FEBRUARY WINTER NEWS

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

RECREATIONS DIRECTOR’S NEWS FROM CENTER FOR ALL SEASONS

We have made it through the coldest part of winter and it is time to start thinking about spring and what you might want to plan for the summer.

We have some of the planning done for you! For those people who are thinking about toning their shapes for summer, we will offer an aerobics toning class on Mondays at 6:00 P.M. beginning in March. You may even be able to join in our Hyidaya Yoga classes that are already in progress on Thursdays at 6:30 P.M.

For those of you who are just plain tired of snow and would like to get out, we have arranged a trip to the Portland Maine Flower Show on Friday March 15. We will pick up at the North Belgrade community Center at 9 A.M. and will head to the Belgrade Community Center For All Seasons for continental breakfast and on to the flower show. Our estimated time of return is 5 P.M. Belgrade participants pay $5.00, all others will pay $10.00. Seniors will pay $8.00 at the door for admission all others pay $10.00 admission. Participants will be responsible for their own lunch. Remember, Friday, March 15 is voting day. Vote at the Center before we leave or vote upon your return from seeing the most beautiful flowers in Maine!

Kids, join us for our 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt to be held on Saturday, March 30 from 12:00—1:00 P.M. At the Belgrade Community Center For All Seasons. Come help us find every last egg! We will have great prizes for you and your siblings to find. Join us, join your neighbors!

Summer is slowly approaching and we will be searching for individuals with experience and knowledge in different areas to share with our children during our camp sessions. Summer employees recruitment and Summer Counselors in Training recruitment will begin in April. For your benefit, we are offering a resume writing class that will help you get ready to apply for that desired position. Our resume writing class will be offered during April vacation on Thursday, April 18th form 3:30-5:30 P.M. We will cover the proper way to write a resume and what to include or not include to help market your abilities to your fullest. Join our class and get a head start on your summer employment possibilities.

The Center is very busy and we have an activity for you! Come in and see what is going on in your community. Join us for some fun!

A special thanks to the many volunteers that make it possible to offer a wide range of activities in our community on a daily basis.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH 911???????????
WHAT IS MY ADDRESS??????????

Please bear with us folks on this touchy matter of E-911. 911 IS now available for you to use. Please use your road name and fire road number if you do have to use 911.

E-911 will be in use (meaning you will have a number to place on your home or on your driveway, mailbox or post that you want to put up) by this Summer. All Belgrade land owners will be notified of the address point that will be established for them to use when dialing 911 for emergency, fire or rescue. The volunteers that worked on this project very diligently should be commended for such a job well done. They have put in many long and tedious hours and have been very dedicated individuals.

THANK YOU BILL, ROGER, DWIGHT, BETTY, PHIL, KAREN, & JIM

SOME WINTER THOUGHTS FROM BELGRADE HEALTH OFFICER, LOIS DORAN

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD affects some people more than others. It is common in Maine usually beginning in early December due to our short daylight hours and lack of sunshine. Some people actually become very depressed and don’t know why they are feeling so “blue”. There are some very simple remedies to combat SAD: get outside during the day no matter how cold it is and take a walk even if it is a short one; some people use artificial lights inside and either sit under them or go to a tanning booth at least once a week. Sometimes, just getting out and helping others can help.

We are in the last couple of months of winter now but must still be aware of some safety measures. One is to use seasoned wood for our wood stoves and to make sure that our chimneys are clean as creosote can build up quickly and that is a major cause of chimney fires. We also need to make sure that our smoke detectors are working properly and that the batteries are still good. Also, a number of residents have installed carbon monoxide detectors, which is a good idea as this can be a deadly gas if not detected. One safety measure that I am always aware of is walking safely on ice! And we do have a lot of ice, which can cause some major injuries when we fall on it!

Proper sanding should be done in our driveways and I also strongly recommend “grippers” on your boots; these are available at any outdoor sporting store and are like cleats that grip the ice and prevent falls. Speaking of ice, please be careful on our lakes this winter as due to the warm conditions, a lot of them are not safe for snowmobile, trucks, etc. and may also not be safe for ice fishing.

This has been a winter of many fatalities on our highways even though we have not had many snow storms. Drivers just don’t seem to want to slow down when the roads are slippery and snow covered or slushy; many drivers could prevent these accidents if they just slow down and use a little more defensive driving. And the use of seat belts can prevent serious injuries so please wear them!

Please check on your neighbors, especially the elderly, as sometimes they may be going through some tough times and may need your help.

Respectfully,
Lois Doran Health Officer

BELGRADE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The number of literary goodies shelved in our library is amazing. Melanie has left the library with a solid collection of books certain to appeal to everyone’s liking. Special appreciation goes to Nan Mairs, Kati Sutton, Pat Pow and Loyce Hayslett for keeping the library operating while the town searched for a new library director. These generous volunteers continue to support the library with their time and expertise.

The Library continues to add new titles to the collection. Magazines, such as Field & Stream, Kiplinger’s, Parents and Golf Digest circulate for two weeks, just like books. Books can be renewed by calling the library at 495-3508

2001 Federal Income Tax forms are available at the Belgrade Public Library

The Friends of the Library group is taking shape under the leadership of Laura Romano. The Friends is a group of people who want to show support of library services in the community. If you wish to be included in this effort, call Laura at 495-3356 or sign up at the library. The Friends of the Library will have a book sale at the Center on February 16th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Belgrade Public Library will be open during Winter Carnival, February 16th. Visit your library while you thaw out from frolicking in the snow.

The library is open Tuesday 12—7 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

PLUMBING INSPECTOR, BOB MARTIN RETIRING AFTER 18 YEARS OF SERVICE

On January 31, 2002 Robert Martin officially retired as the Town of Belgrade’s Plumbing Inspector. We are extremely grateful for eighteen years of dedicated service provided by Bob. He calculates that he has issued over 2300 permits during this period of time. Bob assures us that he has enjoyed these years in this position and has experienced very few frustrating moments. Bob has graciously offered to do anything necessary to facilitate a smooth transition of duties and information to Gary Fuller, our Code Enforcement Officer, who will be appointed as our Plumbing Inspector by the Board of Selectpersons on February 5th, 2002.

THANK YOU BOB

FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE !!!

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS OF KENNEBEC VALLEY

We will sponsor a 13 week Hospice Volunteer Training Program beginning Wednesday, March 13, 6 to 9 p.m. at Maine General Medical Center, in Augusta. The classes meet once a week on Wednesday evening and include one Saturday. The program will prepare volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to persons living with a terminal illness. Training include the hospice philosophy of care., communications, family dynamics, awareness of feeling around our own death and bereavement. Our program grows each year and we are in need of folks to respond to the needs of our neighbors and friends who are living the last phase of their life. The training is free but pre-registration is necessary. To register or for more information call 626-1779 by March 1st

TOWN MEETING AND ELECTIONS IT ALL STARTS ON MARCH 15TH AT 8:00 A.M.

It is that time of year again when you must get out and vote for your elected officials. There is only one referendum question this year on the ballot and it is for a False Alarm Ordinance to be enacted.

We have one candidate running for a three-year Selectpersons position., Ralph Boss

There are two candidates running for S.A.D. #47 Directors and they are Martha Spann & Frank Fekete.

We have some competition in the Road Commissioners position this year and the candidates for this position are Maurice Childs and Kevin Hawes.

There is only one person running for Sexton position and that is James L. Minot.

Elections will be held at The Center For All Seasons. The polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The following day being March 16th, will be the continuation of the Town Meeting and this will begin at 1 P.M. at the Center For All Seasons also.

The Belgrade Garden Club will again be there with coffee and goodies.

Please attend this eventful day for the Town of Belgrade and you.

There are 2692 voters in Belgrade, please get out and do your civic duty as a resident of this community that we are so proud to be a part of.

SELECTPERSONS CORNER

Selectpersons meetings every first and third Tuesday of the month 7 P.M. Town Office.

For those of you who would like to have something on an Agenda please have the information to the office not later than Thursday afternoon so that the Secretary (Mary) may have the information ready for the Selectpersons in a timely manner. Thank you

Planning Board meetings every first and third Thursday of the month 7 P.M. Town Office.

Code Enforcement Officer, Gary Fuller is here on Thursday evenings from 5 -7 P.M.

CALANDER OF EVENTS