arundel maine cares

Monday, May 7, 2012

The Eastern Trail a Great Local Adventure!

Welcome to the Eastern Trail

New Eastern Trail bridge over the Maine Turnpike, opened 2011

The Eastern Trail is a 65 mile section of the East Coast Greenway, a transportation-recreation greenway connecting Kittery, in southernmost Maine to Casco Bay in South Portland!

The Eastern Trail is both a trail and a vision. The Eastern Trail has a growing span of off-road sections, as well as a scenic on-road trail that mostly follows quiet country roads. Experienced bike riders and hikers can enjoy a beautiful journey from South Portland's Bug Light Park on Casco Bay (near Portland) to Kittery's Piscataqua River.

We invite you to become an active part of our effort to build, enjoy, and sustain this wonderful resource. This website will help you connect to current events, development activities, and other means of engaging with this trail and vision.

Down Load your Eastern Trail Map Booklet Now...

http://www.easterntrail.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=35

Biddeford worker knew nothing of Massachusetts scam, defense lawyer says

By Alex Lippa and Mike LaBella, The Eagle-Tribune

Posted April 24, 2012, at 6:14 a.m.

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/04/24/news/biddeford-worker-knew-nothing-of-massachusetts-scam-defense-lawyer-says/?ref=latest

HAVERHILL, Mass. — A man charged with scamming up to $90,000 from two Haverhill people knew nothing about the scheme, his lawyer said.

Edmond Wormwood, 33, of Biddeford, Maine, simply did work at the family’s home and his boss handled all money issues, said Wormwood’s court-appointed lawyer Alisa Rosenthal.

Rosenthal said Billy Adams, 34, of Saco, Maine, was the principal businessman in the project. A police report repeatedly named Adams as the man who was primarily involved in the scheme, which charged lots of money for shoddy work, Rosenthal said.

Her comments came at Wormwood’s arraignment yesterday in Haverhill District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to embezzling the money. He was held on $10,000 bail.

Wormwood’s mother, June, was in court with her son and later said he is innocent.

“(Adams) used my son and took advantage of him,” said June Wormwood. “He had no idea about any of this. He thought he was just doing a job.”

She said Adams and Michael Mills, 28, of Arundel, Maine, were business partners and that her son worked for them for six months. Adams and Wormwood had known each other previously for a “long time,” June Wormwood said.

TOWN OF ARUNDEL, MAINE WITHDRAWAL COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, May 9, 2012
ML Day School Conference Room
6:30 PM | REGULAR MEETING

Agenda

I. Call to order

II. Approval of Agenda

III. New Business:

A. Meeting with Charles Lawton of Planning Decisions, Inc. for agreement of scope of work and timeline

B. Review of 20-A MRS §1466 subsection 4, parts (4) transportation and (5) administration.

IV. Adjourn

SCHOOL AROUND US PLANT SALE & GARDEN DAY

SCHOOL AROUND US PLANT SALE & GARDEN DAY, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 19, 281 Log Cabin Road, Arundel. Children's activities, a worm composting exhibit, and gardening and homesteading workshops.

Police: Infant in grave condition, father under arrest

ARUNDEL, Maine -

http://www.wmtw.com/news/maine/York-County/Police-Infant-in-grave-condition-father-under-arrest/-/9284124/12684866/-/11rmoy/-/index.html

A 2½-month-old baby is in grave condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland and the father of the child is under arrest, according to Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.

Photos: Police: Infant in grave...

Gordon Collins-Faunce, 23, of Arundel, is charged with aggravated assault of a child under the age of 6.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Trade-school resurgence sought

Boat works

By Adam Chabot

Staff Writer

http://post.mainelymediallc.com/news/2012-05-04/Front_Page/Tradeschool_resurgence_sought.html

Landing School students Alton O’Connor, front, Paul Kimbro, back left, and Freeland Ackert sand a small wooden boat that must be completed by graduation on June 16.

Almost every boat built at the Landing School will be sold. (Adam Chabot photo) With post-education costs rising, the job market recovering and high school graduates mulling over the investment of a four-year degree,

The Landing School on River Road in Arundel is working on resurging a trade school education.

The Landing School is a post-secondary educational institution focusing on the technical skills needed in the marine industry, such as small boat building, cruising boat building and yacht design, among others.

Bob DeColfmacker, president of The Landing School, said there’s a renewed interest in trade schools because of the weighted financial investment of a fouryear college or university.

“Today, there’s really no protection. So many jobs can be digitized and outsourced.” DeColfmacker said. “Trade skills can’t be digitized. It involves people.”

The Landing School was founded in 1978 by John Burgess and Helen Tupper with the hope of keeping the trade of wooden boat building in Maine alive. Since it was founded, the school has expanded from being housed in a cow barn to offering associate’s degrees in four different concentrations in multiple buildings. To date, The Landing School has graduated more than 1,300 students, six of whom have returned as instructors.

School costs are reviewed by panel

RSU 21 to compare rates to other Maine school districts

By Adam Chabot

Staff Writer

http://post.mainelymediallc.com/news/2012-05-04/Front_Page/School_costs_are_reviewed_by_panel.html

The Regional School Unit 21 Cost-Sharing Review Committee will seek comparable information from other school districts to determine a new over-EPS cost-sharing rate for fiscal year 2013.

Over-EPS, or over Essential Programs and Services, are the programs and services not covered by EPS. These include athletics, adult education, some debt service and expenditures above the state minimums.

Over-EPS rates can be debated and set by communities in an RSU. EPS rates are determined by the state of Maine and cannot be debated.

After the committee discussed potential impacts the changed over-EPS cost-sharing rate could have on each community, members decided to try to obtain over- EPS cost-sharing rates from other school districts in order to figure out what will work best for communities within RSU 21. Towns in RSU 21 include Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.

The next cost-sharing review committee meeting will be held 6 p.m. May 15 in Kennebunk Elementary School room A102.

Groups work on Arundel’s RSU exit

Committee faces July 30 deadline for a withdrawal agreement to be approved

By Adam Chabot

Staff Writer

http://post.mainelymediallc.com/news/2012-05-04/Front_Page/Groups_work_on_Arundels_RSU_exit.html

The new Arundel Withdrawal Committee has 90 days to put together a withdrawal agreement to be approved by the Maine Commissioner of Education in order to have a plan ready for Arundel voters in November. The Arundel Withdrawal Committee – which by law includes a member of the school board, a member of the public, a member from the group that filed the initial petition and a town selectman – will work with a committee of RSU 21 School Board members designated to assist the Arundel committee with the withdrawal process.

The committee held its first meeting on April 30 to determine committee roles, appoint chairmen and discuss areas of consideration for how to approach the plan development process.

Andrew Dolloff, superintendent of RSU 21, said there is a purpose to essentially having two committees to form one. He said the Arundel committee can focus on providing new services in the proposed school district. Meanwhile, RSU 21 members can work on determining how school property and debt service will be divided and negotiated.

Dolloff said if the July 30 deadline for an agreement is going to be met the committee must stay on task.

College award for Arundel resident

By Adam Chabot

Staff Writer

http://post.mainelymediallc.com/news/2012-05-04/People/College_award_for_Arundel_resident.html

Patrick Mazzillo prepares Creek corn pudding, a Native American dish, during a culinary arts class at York County Community College.

Mazzillo was named 2012 YCCC Student of the Year at an April 25 ceremony in Augusta. (Adam Chabot photo) An Arundel man is the first culinary arts student in the Maine community college system to be named student of the year.

Patrick Mazzillo was named the 2012 York County Community College Student of the Year at an April 25 Maine Community College System ceremony in Augusta.

Mazzillo was one of six students given the award from their respective community colleges. York County Community College is located in Wells.

First withdrawal meeting held

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120503-NEWS-205030352

By Samantha Stephens

yccs@seacoastonline.com

May 03, 2012 2:00 AM

ARUNDEL — Jack Turcotte was named as the chairman for the Arundel Withdrawal Committee at the first meeting held at Kennebunk Elementary School on Monday, April 30.

The meeting was held with both the RSU 21 Board of Directors and the Arundel Withdrawal Committee present to discuss formalities and how to move forward with drafting a withdrawal agreement for the commissioner of education.

As the first order of official business, the RSU 21 group nominated Director Frank Drigotas as chairman for their side of the discussions and Arundel resident Jon Renell nominated Turcotte for chairman of the Arundel Withdrawal Committee.

Turcotte, who has more than 40 years professional experience in education with over 30 years as a superintendent and also a career history of working as a town manager, said he is "honored" to represent Arundel's interests in this issue.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Three to vie for two selectmen seats; Reetz challened for RSU seat

May 03, 2012 2:00 AM

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120503-NEWS-205030354

Three vie for two selectmen seats

ARUNDEL — Nomination papers were turned in for the two open seats on the Board of Selectmen for the June 12 election.

The first position, open for the full three years, is currently occupied by Vice Chairman Mark Paulin who has chosen not to run for re-election.

Phil Labbe occupies the second open seat and will run for re-election.

Daniel Dubois and Paul Raymond also turned in papers to run for the seats.

The deadline to file was Friday, April 27.

Other open seats include Jack Reetz's seat as RSU 21 director, for which he is running opposed by Susan Sinnott-Curran, and two three-year seats on the Budget Board, which are not currently being pursued.

Please Vote on the School Budget on May 15

On Tuesday, May 15, each resident in the district is encouraged to cast a ballot on the 2012-2013 RSU 21 School Budget.

A tremendous amount of material has been distributed regarding the budget, most of which may be viewed at our budget web-page (http://www.rsu21.net/FY2013TaxCalc_rt.php), where you can use our "Impact Calculator" to determine how the proposed budget will impact your property taxes.

Also available there, and at many stores and libraries and all three Town Halls in the district, is a copy of our 2012 Annual Report, with a tremendous amount of student performance data and financial information.

Please review these materials and head to the polls on May 15 - or pick up an absentee ballot at your Town Hall and cast your ballot ahead of time.

Your vote is important to us!

Notice of Public Hearing

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 the Town of Arundel Staff Review Committee will be holding a public hearing on a proposal to construct a driveway and parking lot for 3 automobile spaces associated with a proposed storage barn for a Community Supported Agriculture Business located on 10.5 acres of land at 259 Log Cabin Road Tax Map 31, lot 3 and 3B in the R-3 District. The hearing will be held in the Code Enforcement Office, Second Floor of Town Hall at 9 AM. Interested parties are welcomed to attend. Noah Wentworth and Flora Brown are the owners and applicants.

RSU 21 budget clears first hurdle

Next vote scheduled May 15

By Jennifer Feals

jfeals@seacoastonline.com

May 03, 2012 2:00 AM

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120503-NEWS-205030367

KENNEBUNK — The proposed RSU 21 budget will head to voters in less than two weeks after the District Budget Meeting on Tuesday, during which four residents spoke, only one with concerns regarding the $35.9 million proposal.

More than 130 residents of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel attended the meeting, moving 19 articles onto the warrant with little discussion and no amendments, passing all either unanimously or with a strong majority. A referendum vote will now be held May 15.

The proposed budget is $246,000, or .69 percent higher than the current year's budget, and includes 12 staff cuts. Those cuts include three art teachers at Kennebunk High School, Middle School of the Kennebunks and the elementary level.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Withdrawal Committee Information Povided by www.arundelmaine.org

The Town of Arundel Withdrawal Committee is a committee that has formed pursuant to State Statute 20-A MRS § 1466 (click on underlined words for a copy of the State Statute) due to an affirmative vote to petition for the withdrawal of the Town from RSU 21, an action initiated by a citizen petition to the Board of Selectmen. This committee consists of one member of the general public (Jack Turcotte), one member of the group filing the petition (Jon Renell), one member of the municipal officers (Thomas Danylik) and one member of the RSU 21 Board of School Directors representing Arundel (Diane Robbins).

The duty of this committee is to formulate a withdrawal agreement that is acceptable to the Commissioner of Education which can subsequently be voted on by the residents of Arundel. Please check the agenda section of the Withdrawal Committee page for meeting times and dates.

http://www.arundelmaine.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={22F5217C-20D8-4872-8C7D-856B719876B2}

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Types of School Administrative Units in Maine. What is the right solution for Arundel?

Maine's school administrative units use the following school governance structures.?

Cities or Towns with Individual Supervision

A city or town with individual school supervision is a single municipality. A school committee administers the education of all grades in the city or town through a superintendent of schools. The city or town charter usually determines the method of budget approval leading up to approval by voters at referendum.

Regional School Units

A regional school unit (RSU) is a combination of two or more municipalities that pool their educational resources to educate all students. One school committee (comprised of representatives from each of the municipalities) administers the education of grades K-12 through a superintendent of schools. Budget approval is by majority vote of those present and voting at a district budget meeting followed by approval at referendum. The member municipalities share the RSU costs based on a formula that may factor in state valuation and/or the number of pupils as specified in their voter-approved reorganization plan.

Alternative Organizational Structures

An alternative organizational structure (AOS) is a combination of two or more school administrative units joined together for the purpose of providing administrative and, sometimes, educational services.? Administrative services provided by the AOS are system administration (a superintendent and the superintendent's office), special education administration, transportation administration and the business functions of accounting, reporting, payroll, financial management, purchases and audit. ?

Each member entity maintains its own budget, has its own school board, and is operated in every way as a separate unit except for the administrative services and those educational services indicated in the AOS reorganization plan. ?Budget approval is by majority vote of those present and voting at district budget meetings. The member entities share the AOS costs based on a formula specified in the AOS reorganization plan.

In addition, the AOS school committee is comprised of representatives from each of the member entity school boards and conducts the business of the AOS. All votes of the AOS school committee are cast in accordance with voting procedures specified in the AOS reorganization plan.

Regional School Units Doing Business As School Administrative Districts

A regional school unit doing business as a school administrative district (RSU/SAD) is a combination of two or more municipalities that pool their educational resources to educate all students. One school committee (comprised of representatives from each of the municipalities) administers the education through a superintendent of schools. Budget approval is by majority vote of those present and voting at a district budget meeting followed by approval at referendum. The member municipalities share the RSU/SAD costs based on a formula that factors in state valuation and/or number of pupils. NOTE: There are a few SADs comprised of one town because of unique situations and private and special laws.

read more...

Special Report: Maine schools try to prevent bullying

http://www.wmtw.com/Special-Report-Maine-schools-try-to-prevent-bullying/-/8792672/12271060/-/tprktez/-/

Maine schools trying to prevent bullying

PORTLAND, Maine -

Two school districts in Maine are trying to fight bullying before a situation gets out of hand. Both are taking what they are considering a proactive approach to the matter.

Earlier this year at Kennebunk High School, police and school administrators had to decide how they should deal with a 15-year-old student, who they say was bullying another.

The first answer was for the school to step in. When that wasn't enough, police got involved.