Happy 2009! I begin the New Year with some very good news.

Due to the incredible generosity of Bowdoinham folks, over $23,000 has been raised for Bowdoinham’s Home Heating Assistance Program! On Tuesday, January 30, I received a phone call from a resident who wished to learn more about the Heating Assistance Program – eligibility, the application process, etc. etc. After I answered his questions, he thanked me and said that he and his wife would like to make a donation to the program. He informed me that he would be in the next day with a check. However, within an hour after we hung up, he walked into my office and handed me a check for $15,000!! You can imagine my shock – I was totally overwhelmed by the generosity! The one stipulation that he gave me in exchange for the donation was that he and his wife remain anonymous. So, thank you dear anonymous donors –

This is by far one of the largest, if not the largest, individual donation that the Town has ever received. However, it does not minimize the many contributions that we have received that are far less in amount. The act of giving is much appreciated; no matter the amount. In December we received donations from the following: the employees of Down East Credit Union, the Lodge Members of the Knights of Pythias, Ron & Joan Smith, Brett Stillwell, Maurice and Julianna King, Cal and Sally Mackenzie, and the Church of the Nazarene. Thus far, eleven families have been helped by the Program.

Item 2: The giving continues…….December was truly a month of giving. In addition to the home heating assistance fund, Bowdoinham residents gave a record amount of gifts for the Giving Tree. Town Clerk Pam Ross reports that nineteen families received gifts from the Giving Trees that were located at the Town Landing Restaurant and at F.H.C., Inc. in Bowdoin. Also, F.H.C., Inc. donated over $200 worth of food and Jane Durgin and Bob Hall donated $100 for Christmas baskets. Gently used winter coats and clothes were donated and are currently located at the town office for people in need. The members of the Eastern Star donated filled Christmas Stockings for over a dozen very lucky children.

Item 3: At the beginning of December, we put out a call for help on the town’s website asking for a volunteer to post the signs on the Town kiosk located on Main Street. We are very happy to announce that Anita Jerosch came forth and has volunteered her time to keep the kiosk updated of town announcements. Thank you very much Anita for answering the call for help.

Item 4: The Town has another need for volunteers. Often after a snowstorm, the Public Works crew is busy cleaning up the roads and parking lots and therefore not able to shovel out the fire hydrants as quickly as they would like. If you live near a hydrant and are willing (and able) to shovel out the hydrant, please let us know and we’ll put you on our “adopt a hydrant” list!!

Item 5: Ann Davis, EMS Director reports that Bowdoinham EMS has been very busy in the last couple of months. In November it responded to 18 calls and in December, 17 calls. She also reports that there are three new volunteers to the Department: Curtis Cochrane, Sean Pelletier and Sean Halsey. Presently the volunteers are receiving training from Northeast Ambulance on how to better help the EMT’s on the ambulance in order that they can do more patient care at the call scene. Additionally, two Bowdoinham EMS members will be attending a basic EMT class in January. Bowdoinham is extremely fortunate to have this great group of volunteers. Did you know that when a resident calls 911 for help, the volunteers on call also receive the request for help? More often than not, the volunteers arrive at the scene before an ambulance is able to respond. These dedicated residents are on call 24 hours a day to serve the residents of Bowdoinham. If you would like to be part of this very important group, please call the town office at 666-5531. Ann and the rest of the Department wish each and everyone in Bowdoinham a very happy and healthy New Year!

Item 6: There is a new display in the town office cabinet thanks to resident Jim Read! Jim collects antique pencil sharpeners along with other Bowdoinham memorabilia and has been kind enough to share his collection with us. The display is very extensive and extremely interesting. Some of the pencil sharpeners date back to the 1800’s and are quite rare. There are also medicinal bottles from a Bowdoinham druggist as well as yard sticks and pencils advertising Bowdoinham businesses. Thank you Jim for sharing your collection with us!

Item 7: Nicole Briand, Planner and CEO is working with the Biking, Walking, Paddling Committee and a regional planner from Midcoast Council on Business Development and Planning on a Walk-able Village Plan thanks to a grant that Bowdoinham received from Maine Department of Transportation. If you would like the village to be a more walker friendly place and safer too, please call Nicole at the town office to get involved with the group. Participation is needed!

Item 8: Speaking of walking, there is a group of individuals working together on the idea of creating a regional trail from Topsham through Bowdoinham and Richmond to Gardiner, connecting the Androscoggin River Pedestrian Bike Path in Topsham, the Village Area in Bowdoinham, the Village Area in Richmond and the Kennebec River Rail Trail in Gardiner. The group has drafted a Memorandum of Agreement, which has been signed by Bowdoinham, Richmond and Gardiner Select Boards and will be presented to the Topsham Select Board on January 8. The Group’s next meeting is schedule for January 22nd at 2pm at the Bowdoinham Town Office. If you are interested in joining this effort please contact Nicole Briand at 666-5531.

Item 9: Buy Local, Buy Bowdoinham is a new campaign that our Community & Economic Development Director, Tony Cox began during the holiday shopping season. Tony will continue the campaign in an effort to promote Bowdoinham businesses and products. If you are a business or if you produce an item(s) that you would like to have promoted, please contact Tony at 666-5531. Tony works part time for the Town. His office hours are Wednesdays and Fridays. Tony and his wife, Heather own and operate a picture framing business in Portland. As a retail business owner, Tony recognizes the challenges that Bowdoinham businesses face during this difficult economy. Tony is also available to talk to you regarding your business needs. Give Tony a call and set up an appointment if you would like his help.

Item 10: 2009 Dog Licenses are Due Now! Avoid a costly late charge by licensing your dog(s) before February 1st. Cost to license a neutered/spayed dog is $6 and $11 for a “fully equipped” dog. Please bring in a current rabies vaccine certificate. Remember, it’s THE LAW to license your dog.

Item 11: For outdoor recreation enthusiasts – Good News – the 2009 Hunting and Fishing Licenses are available at the same cost of the 2008 licenses! Also, snowmobile registrations are available at $36 for re-registrations. And, if you’re thinking of going boating anytime soon, the 2009 boat registrations are also available at the town office.

Item 12: As reported in previous newsletters, the Town has instituted a reduced salt use policy on less traveled roads. Kevin Prout, Road Commissioner and Public Works Director reports that as a consequence to the new policy, the Town used 66% less salt in December 08 than in December 07. Though we received less snow in December 08 than in December 07, there were 12 total “events” compared to 11 in December 07. Events are defined as storms that require the road crew to plow or sand.

Item 13: Fire Chief Jack Tourtelotte reports that in the month of December the Fire Department responded to 12 fire calls, 2 car fires, 3 car accidents and 5 calls regarding downed power lines. The Department is still in need for more volunteers; please call the town office if you are interested in helping out.

Item 14: Brooke Cox, Recreation Director has been working with residents Glenna Morin and Jon Stratton on developing programs for seniors. On December 11 a luncheon was held at the 2nd Baptist Church where 40 seniors dined on beef stew, cream of broccoli soup, finger sandwiches and apple crisp. The next luncheon is January 15th at the 2nd Baptist Church; come and visit at 11:00 and lunch will be served around noon. The Seniors Group (still looking for a name) is just getting going and would like to get together on a regular basis to eat, play games, visit, be crafty, travel...many ideas have been talked about. Anyone interested in joining in on the fun can contact Glenna Morin at 666-3462 or Brooke Cox 666-3504.

Item 15: Brooke also reports that 100 kids from kindergarten through 6th grade are playing recreation basketball this winter. There are also 23 snowboarders and skiers making the weekly Friday night trip to Lost Valley. Way to go Brooke!

Item 16: Solid Waste Manager David Berry reports that the after-Christmas rush was spectacular at the Barn this year. With both Christmas and New Year's falling on Thursday, the two Saturday’s following were packed-house, standing room only at the Recycling Barn. Even with three staff members (generally one and a half work at the Barn on a Saturday), staff were hard pressed to keep up with the flood of material. Where we usually make one bale of cardboard, we made over three on both Saturdays.

Item 17: Despite the current crisis in the prices for recycled materials, the Town of Bowdoinham is better positioned than many towns to weather this storm. At the present time, the Town would have to pay our broker $20/ton to move newspaper, for example - the same news that we were getting paid $75-100/ton for this past summer. If we can stockpile any materials through the winter, there is a much better chance that the market will improve. As the winter progresses, we are burning the scrap wood that residents have left in our boxes (and not only getting heat for the Barn, but also saving the $76/ton cost of construction/demolition debris disposal.) As we burn this material, we are freeing up space for temporary storage of recycled material, at least until late spring.

Item 18: Lastly, members of the Finance Advisory Committee will begin its budget meetings this month with the Department Heads in preparation for the June Annual Town Meeting. The Finance Advisory Committee will be meeting as often as 2-3 times per month in order to get the necessary work completed. Many thanks to Chair Dan Billings for his leadership as well as to members Richard Close, Kathryn Desmond, Darragh Ferranti and Christopher Jackson for what I predict will be difficult task – keeping the property taxes down while maintaining services and absorbing a decrease in non-property tax revenue.

In closing, I wish to thank all of the Town’s employees for their dedication and commitment to serving the residents of Bowdoinham. I look forward to working with them to meet the challenges of 2009!

Respectfully Submitted,

Kathy Durgin-Leighton
Town Manager