Town Council notes
There was a public hearing held on Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center regarding the General Assistance Ordinance for 2007-2008. Members of the Washburn Town Council voted on and signed the ordinance to be returned to the state of Maine.
The public hearing was followed by the October Town Council Meeting with the first order of business being for the Council to vote and sign to accept the annual Program Agreement and Grant Approval for the Washburn Trailrunners Snowmobile Club.
A representative of DEP of Augusta, Jean Firth, attended the meeting to speak to the Council on the progress and plans for the work being done at the Washburn Industrial Park area. The Council was informed that Phase 1 and Phase II of the project has been completed and that there was a minimal amount of asbestos found and future tests to be run will include some for foundation vapors.
The largest problem concerns the dirt that is being dug up at the site. The area was found to be contaminated by diesel-range organics. The dirt now needs to be dug up, transported to another site in the Houlton area and burned. Residents should be advised that this dirt is contaminated, and youth should not be playing on it, nor should it be removed for landscaping or other purposes by area residents.
The town of Washburn will not be liable for the cost of the cleanup as it is being funded through various grants including some through Brownfield Funding and the state’s Groundwater Fund.
Brownfield will also be installing a new water and sewer system to the site after all the work is done, and tenant occupancy can be expected to be available in the 2008-2009 season.
Also included in the agenda was the review and approval of the minutes from the September Council meeting and the financial figures through Sept. 30. It was noted that all municipal departments are within their budgets for this time of the fiscal year.
An application for abatement of property taxes was tabled until the November Council meeting in order to acquire more information concerning the matter. The town manager also informed the Council that the cell tower holes for the foundation have been dug and the town is now waiting for contractors to erect the tower. The wooden storage building in the municipal parking lot is for keeping the electronic equipment safe and out of the weather.
The Council heard residential and municipal concerns on a malfunctioning septic system. The town of Washburn has been involved in an ongoing investigation regarding this issue and has followed all guidelines pertaining to it. The malfunction involves a variety of health issues as well as cleanup costs. On advice from their municipal attorney, the Town Council has taken the action of signing an abatement providing for the installation of a safe system and applying a special tax lien to recoup the costs of the installation. The homeowner has also been given the option of getting their own funding within a 10-day period of time to avoid the application of the lien.
The next scheduled Washburn Town Council meeting has been set for Monday, Nov. 12, at the Civic Center at 7 p.m. All interested residents are urged to attend.
Sight Night
Sight Night puts the focus on Halloween giving, literally, according to organizers.
Sunday school students from the Lidstone Methodist Church will be asking for more than just candy for Halloween. They plan on scaring up used eyewear along their route, which will then be recycled by the Give the Gift of Sight and Lions Clubs International. The glasses will be hand delivered to underprivileged people around the world.
Sight Night gives children and adults a tangible way to participate in a global act of kindness on Halloween, said Lisa Reed, event chairperson. The glasses will help students and others in a wide array of developing countries including Mexico, Bolivia, Laos and Thailand.
The youth of the Washburn Methodist Church will be at the church collecting eyewear on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. They are also accepting donations at any time from now until Oct. 31 and can arrange for pickup by phoning Lisa Reed at 493-0989. Used eyewear can also be dropped off at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears, Target and BJ’s Optical stores, given to local Lions Clubs or participating eye doctors in your community.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Paula Plissey, Alex Chasse, Seth Robertson, Bruce Blakney, Ashley Berube, Roland Forbes, Elizabeth MacDonald, Susan Fuller, Andy Dickinson, Julee Maynard, Courtney Castonguay, Ray Dahlgren, Ray Bolstridge, Alan Carter, Larry Worcester, Casey Bragg, Drew Thompson, Alex King, Darrell Harmon, Christie Cochran, Logan Harvath, Heidi Thompson, Bill Fox, Ryan Whipkey, Diane Pelkey, Barb Caron, Josh Maynard, Kathy White, Tom Olson, George Seward, Mike Tupper, Linda Seward, Kristen Kramer, Marion Levesque and Darcy Carney.
Special anniversary wishes go out to: Larry and Linda Bragg, Bob and Jackie Pribble, Ivan and Muriel Corey, Rodney and Martha Bouchey, Wallace and Alice Doody, Ken and Avis Drost, Eric and Julie Jencks, Michael and Zsa Zsa Simard, and Eric and Hilary Brown.
Events/reminders
There will be a meeting of the Wade Natural Resource Committee held at the library on Wednesday, Oct. 24, starting at 6 p.m.
TOPS will be meeting each Monday at the Washburn Trailrunners clubhouse, starting with weigh in at 4:15 p.m. and the meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For further information, contacts Birdena Cochran at 455-8353.
There will be a meeting of the Middle School Book Group held on Monday, October 29 at 5 p.m. at the Washburn Memorial Library.
Bingo games are held at the Washburn Trailrunners Snowmobile clubhouse each Tuesday starting at 7 p.m.
Municipal notes
There are several openings available for Washburn Municipal Boards, and anyone interested in volunteering is urged to contact Town Manager Andrea Powers at the Washburn Town Office or phone her at 455-8485 with any questions concerning the positions and or the boards. Seats available include two alternates for the Zoning Board of Appeals, one vacancy and two alternates for the Planning Board and two vacancies for the Library Board of Trustees.
Please note that there are Property Tax and Rent Refund Application forms available at the Town Office.
Also keep in mind that on Tuesday, Nov. 6, there will be a State Referendum Election held. For those not in town or otherwise unable to vote on that day, please stop by the Town Office or phone them at 455-8485 for assistance in exercising your right to vote.
Rec Center schedule
Be sure and make your ‘reservation’ and plans to attend the fun Haunted House at ‘Castle Creepie’ (the Rec Center) on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the Washburn Fire Department and the Washburn Recreation Department. All ages are welcome, and the event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The haunted house will have a fog machine and strobe lights throughout the several haunted rooms of the castle, and there will be tricks and treats for all attending.
Other events include a special Halloween Egg Hunt at the elementary school grounds on Wednesday, Oct. 24, starting at 6:30 p.m. This event is for students in grades K-4. There will also be an event held in the ‘Haunted Woods’ at Trafton Lake for grades 4 through 6 on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Basketball for grades 3 through 4 will begin on Thursday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the elementary school.
Students in grades K-4 are invited to a movie at the Rec Center on Friday, Oct. 26, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m.
There will be men’s basketball at the high school on Monday, Oct. 29, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
For further information on any Rec Center programs, contact Director Marcie Barbarula at 455-4959.
Rotary ‘wheels’
Remember to get you tickets for Rotary’s annual Hunters’ Breakfast, scheduled to be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Washburn Civic Center. Breakfast tickets are selling for $5 and each ticket makes the purchaser eligible for a grand door prize drawing of one night and three meals for two adults at Moose Point Camps on Fish River Lake, donated by owner John Martin. There will also be a raffle held with tickets selling at $2 each or three for $5, and the first prize is a Remington Model 700 with Weaver Scope and carrying case, donated by the Rotary and second prize is 100 gallons of fuel oil donated by Perham Oil and will be deliverable within a 30 mile radius. Ticket holders for these raffle tickets and the grand door prize winner does not need to be present to win. For further information, contact any Rotarian. Officers for the current Rotary year are: President – Cindy Richendollar, Vice President – Ellen Fitzsimmons, Secretary – Stuart Turner and Treasurer – Peggy Bugbee.
Rotary Community Calendars for 2008 will be ready for purchase during the breakfast. There will be a cover photo and collage of photos for each and every month. This is an important fund-raiser for Washburn Rotary.
The Feed the County donation truck will be parked in the municipal parking lot starting at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Church bake sale
The ladies of the Lidstone Memorial Methodist Church will be up bright and early on Saturday, Oct. 27, to hold a special bake sale at the Washburn Civic Center from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m. during the Rotary’s annual Hunters’ Breakfast. They will be offering some special homemade treats for any hunters wishing to take some of the goodies and tasty meals to their camps or just on their day in the woods. Offerings will include beans, breads, sweets, squares and a variety of desserts along with some casserole-type meals and stews and lots more. The Rotary breakfast will be held in fire bay and the bake sale will be held in the front of the civic center.
Perham Grant Committee
There is a meeting of the Perham Grant Writing Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Perham Town Office.
The agenda for this meeting will include old business, the Tangle Ridge Road Project and potential grant writing opportunities for the town of Perham. Community attendance and participation is encouraged, and for further information contact Debra Viola at 498-3433.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
A group of youngsters took a trip with Washburn Recreation Department Director Marcie Barbarula to the famous Corn Maze at Goughan Farms in Caribou this past week.
