Newsletter

FALL NEWS FROM BELGRADE

RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Summer has come and gone! It is time to plan your recreational activities for this fall and winter. We have many different programs to offer. Men’s Basketball and Coed Volleyball are being offered, the Ladies in the Sewing circle are eager to get going, teen night is on Friday and we have several open houses scheduled for you to come in and enjoy yourself with a game, puzzles or shoot some baskets.

We have a new program beginning in November. Marty Dimuzio has agreed to instruct a introductory self defense class to our teenagers on Thursday evenings. The course will be offered in twelve one hour sessions for a fee of $50.00. The program is a martial arts based course designed for the student with no previous training. The students will be taught the physical aspects of defending themselves if attacked. But far more important will be the focus on learning how to avoid conflict and exercise self-control and to NEVER use more force than is necessary to protect yourself. Twelve to fourteen year old will attend class from 6-7 p.m. and fifteen to seventeen year olds will attend class from 7-8 p.m. Class size is limited to 16 students so register early.

The Holiday Shopping Trip has been scheduled for Sunday, December 1, 2001. We will be going to the Christmas Tree Shop and the Portland Mall. We will depart the Belgrade Community Center For all Season at 8 a.m. and return about 4:30 p.m. There is a $5.00 fee for Belgrade Residents and $10 for all others. Limited seats are available so register early!

It is getting chilly out but don’t worry, we have an indoor walking program just for you. Don’t retire those walking shoes just yet, come and walk with your friends and neighbors. Twenty laps around the gym is a mile!

Calendars for October, November and December are included .in this newsletter. Also included is a program summary sheet for your convenience. It is important that you take advantage of your recreation options. If we have for any reason not included a program that works for you, PLEASE give us a call and share your ideas with us. The Center has been fortunate and has had several people offer their time and energy to many good programs.

Keep up the great work, you are much appreciated

Respectfully submitted

Cathie Pinkham
Belgrade Recreation Director

NEW FACE AT THE BELGRADE PUBLIC LIBRARY

There is a new face at the Belgrade Public Library this fall. Tom Sinitski is a library intern from the University of Maine at Augusta. He is an avid traveler and reader and brings some wonderful and fresh ideas to the Library. Tom has been busy assisting patrons and shifting books to make room for the new and donated titles that arrive constantly . Also new to the Belgrade Library is the veteran teacher Doris Mathias. Mrs. Mathias is providing story hour every Thurs. at 1 p.m. Rainbows, apples and teddy bears are some of the topics covered so far, so bring your parents or grandparents and join the fun. Within the next few months the Library will begin circulating magazines. Some of the titles include Trailer Boats, People Places and Plants, Maine Fish and Wildlife, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, just to name a few.

The Library is looking for volunteers! The Library would like to participate in the AARP Tax-Aide program. The program provides free tax assistance to low income families and seniors to complete basic tax forms. We would like to have two people from Belgrade step forward to help with the program. Volunteers would receive four days of free training at UMA and would need to offer their services 4 hours each week through the tax season. Also, we need people willing to help barcode, stamp & cover books. There is always room for one more person, so now is the time to call.

Library hours are 10—7 Tues & Thurs. & 10—2 on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sat. Phone 495-3508 for reference & returns. Book drop in door on lakeside porch.

BELGRADE FIRE AND RESCUE NEWS

It’s that time of year again with cooler nights and wood stoves burning. Please make sure all combustibles are well clear of the stove. Make sure those CHIMNEYS (no cracks or splits) and STOVEPIPES (no rust or holes) are in good shape. Be sure that stovepipes and chimneys are clear and clean.

Make sure that your SMOKE DETECTORS have fresh batteries and are in working order.

Camp roads and driveways need to be clear of brush and tree limbs. The Fire and Rescue Vehicles are taller and wider than normal cars and trucks. IN the winter please sand them for everyone’s safety. Belgrade Fire meets the 1st & 3rd Monday of the month for training. Rescue meets 2nd Tues. of the month. Belgrade Junior Fire meets 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month (ages 13—17).

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE NEWS

The Forest Management Plan prepared by Vite Vitale for Town –owned forested lands bordering the transfer station on Dunn Road (71 acres) and the wooded land south of Pine Grove Cemetery (6 acres) is finished and available for inspection at the Town Office. Also, the completed Town Roadside Tree Evaluation by Tree Warden, tish carr is now available at the Town Office. LRPC will consider the results and recommendations of these studies at its October 15 meeting.

The LRPC continues work with representatives of the Board of Selectpersons, Planning Board, KVCOG consultant, Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance and Belgrade Lakes Association, aimed at an ordinance proposal to further implement Comprehensive Plan recommendations especially relating to lake water quality protection by limiting phosphorus runoff.

Please join us for our meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month.

LAND USE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 13th, 7 p.m. at the Belgrade Community Center for all Seasons. This will be the first community-wide discussion of a new Land Use Ordinance. Why are we drafting another ordinance? The Town Meeting of March 1999 directed the Town to develop a Land Use Ordinance consistent with our Comprehensive Plan. The first phase of this process was the Commercial Development Review Ordinance, which was adopted last March. Now a committee has begun work on a Land Use Ordinance centered around the goal of protecting water quality in all our lakes. We really need your input in this process. On November 13th, the committee will present information and we hope to get your ideas and thoughts. PLEASE COME!!!!!

BELGRADE LAKES BUSINESS GROUP UPDATES

Christmas Stroll Sat. Dec 1st 4—7 p.m.

Bringing the community together with a special evening of Holiday spirit. Belgrade Lakes Village will be filled with the sights & sounds of the holidays. Luminaries will line the street, Carolers will be singing, a visit from Santa, refreshments, wagon rides, write a letter to Santa at the “North Pole”, store specials and a chance to meet your neighbors!!! Hope you can join us. Chairperson, Diane Oliver @ 495-2205

The BLBG is always welcoming new members. We currently have 59 members and offer a unique opportunity for local businesses to network by working together on marketing & advertising our beautiful Belgrade Lakes Region. We also offer the community 7 annual events, have a lot of fun and share ideas and concerns. We are a non-profit organization whose mission is : “Helping make memories last a lifetime”.

For more information contact: BLBG PO Box, Belgrade Lakes ME 04918

Or Co-Chairs Karen Swan @ 495-2264 or Laura Richter @ 495-9217

THANK YOU ANGELINA GAGNON FOR RETURNING THE FLAG THAT BELONGS TO THE CEMETARY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY OCTOBER 27TH CLOSING UP YOUR CAMP FOR WINTER? WHY NOT DROP OF YOUR UNUSED, UNOPENED FOOD, WRAPS, PLASTIC FOOD STORAGE BAGS, CLEANERS, ETX. AT DAY’S STORE ON OCTOBER 27TH-OR, IF YOU’RE LEAVING BEFORE THEN, DROP THEM OFF EARLY AND WE’LL PICK THEM UP!! MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, THE 10TH ANNUAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY, DOING VOLUNTEER PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HELP NEIGHBORS IN NEED. ANY AND ALL ITEMS ARE WELCOME !!!!!!!!!

NEWS FROM YOUR TOWN MANAGER KATIE FARRIN

I must begin by telling you all, each and every citizen of the Town of Belgrade how proud I am to be your Town Manager. During these past few weeks when uncertainty fills the air, I drive through the streets of Belgrade adorned with flags symbolizing your patriotism and feel blessed to represent your community.

All seems to be going well as we move into fall and prepare for another Maine winter. We have some things happening that I would like you all to be aware of.

First of all, we are beginning to gear up to handle some Universal Wastes at our recycling facility. We have been selected to receive a pre-manufactured mercury-added products storage shed through a grant program offered by the Maine State Planning Office. By January 1, 2005 individuals who use mercury-added products in their homes must bring these products to a recycling facility such as the one we are going to operate at our Transfer Station. For businesses, this law becomes effective on July 15, 2002. Once the building is delivered, and additional steps (such as determination of a vendor to receive these articles and various containers) are in place, we will begin collecting items such as batteries (nickel-cadmium, metal hydride, lithium, and small lead acid ie. appliance batteries); mercury thermostats and mercury thermometers; PCB ballasts; and fluorescent lamps. This is an evolving process. A charge for this service will be determined once other variables are in place. This is a new process for us. We are on the “cutting edge” here and intend to move slowly forward as we adhere to newly created laws and remove the these articles from our waste stream.

Please note that the Town of Belgrade has modified its existing driveway permit. The new permit addresses illegal use driveways. A fine will begin to accrue 30 calendar working days after the property owner has received written notice of the violation unless corrective action has been taken or a plan has been approved by the road commissioner. Please be aware that you must contact Maurice Childs to obtain a permit if you are constructing a new driveway, or widening or resurfacing an existing driveway.

To help decrease the amount of dioxin released into Maine’s environment, the Maine Legislature recently passed a law that bans the outdoor burning of all trash as of Sept. 18, 2001. As you may know, dioxins are environmental contaminants that do not easily break down and that can cause cancers and reproductive problems in humans and animals. Dioxins are formed and released into the environment when plastics, paper and wood are burned at low temperatures. I have forwarded several questions to D.E.P. regarding this issue and hope to be able to answer your questions when they come up.

We will be entering budget season soon. If there is information you would like to have included in this process please contact a Selectperson or this office.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY FALL

KATIE

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.

THE BOARD OF SELECTPERSONS WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON