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Dear Friends:
It is a great honor to have the opportunity to serve the people of Senate District 6 in the 131st Legislature.
If you have a question or comment about what is happening at the State House, I would like to hear from you. Please contact me by email or phone at (207) 287-1505.
Here is an update on what is happening in Augusta and around the state.
Sincerely,
Marianne Moore
Senate District 6 includes:
In Hancock County: Amherst; Aurora; Central Hancock UT; East Hancock UT;
Eastbrook; Franklin; Gouldsboro; Great Pond; Hancock; Mariaville; Northwest Hancock UT; Osborn; Sorrento; Sullivan; Waltham; and Winter Harbor.
All of Washington County.
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Awards night at the Jonesboro Grange | |
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It was my honor to join other legislators from Washington County at the Jonesboro Grange tonight to honor Maine State Grange firefighter/EMT of the year, Phil Roberts, of Marshfield, and National Grange Educator of the Year, Morgan Swan.
Phil has put in tens of thousands of hours at the Washington County RCC, photographing Youth and community events and donated hundreds of hours of his own to tell our area's story in pictures, while Morgan has gone above and beyond for her kindergarten students ever since she started teaching at Elm Street School. Congratulations to both!
And a heartfelt thank you to the Jonesboro Grange for recognizing each, and the many others who make our area a great place to live!
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Washington County DA and Sheriff sworn in | |
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This week I attended the swearing in ceremony for new District Attorney Bob Granger. He is the DA for both Washington and Hancock counties. Also sworn in at the same time was Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis, who was elected to his third term in November.
The pair were sworn in by longtime county jail administrator Paula Johnson-Rolfe, who also serves as a notary public. She also swore in a deputy district attorney and assistant district attorney at the ceremony, which was held at the Washington County Superior Court in Machias.
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January is National Blood Donor Month | |
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First recognized in 1970, January has served as a mid-winter reminder that blood donations are needed both in Maine and across the country. About 43,000 units of blood or blood products are needed every day in the U.S. In fact, a single-car accident victim may need up to 100 pints of blood just to survive.
While 36 percent of the population is eligible to donate, less than 10 percent actually do. By July of last year, Maine had reached a donation shortage of 1,017 units needed to supply the state’s hospitals – that drop in donations was twice the national average of 12%. While supplies have stabilized since, the Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross said last week that the need is constant and donations are tougher to get during the winter due to the weather.
The blood type most needed by hospitals is type O, which is the universal type that can be transfused to patients of all blood types. While in the greatest demand, only seven percent of people in the U.S. have type O.
Donating blood is a simple, safe process. The American Red Cross encourages those who have given before to do so this month, and those who haven’t to help save a life. For more information, visit their website at www.redcrossblood.org.
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Some outdoor tips as we head into winter fun | |
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The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (Maine IF&W) and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands are reminding outdoor enthusiasts to make sure you know that ice is safe before you skate, fish or snowmobile across Maine’s frozen lakes and ponds.
For safety tips on determining ice conditions, please visit Maine IF&W’s ice safety page.
They also remind snowmobilers that Jan. 21-28 is International Snowmobile Safety Week, and to be prepared with trail maps and know the conditions of those trails before you head out. Other tips include slower speeds at night, never ride alone, respect private or posted property, and don’t drink and ride.
If you ski or snowshoe, Maine State Park Ski and Snowshoe Trailers will be visiting Maine’s state parks this winter to loan equipment free of charge. You can download the list of parks and dates here. Availability is subject to change due to weather, so call ahead to confirm.
For those who fish the state’s frozen lakes and ponds, the 2023 Inland Fishing Laws booklet is now available online to help plan your 2023 fishing trips.
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Scholarship opportunity for seniors | |
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The Clyde Russell Scholarship Fund (CRSF) offers financial awards to Maine graduating high school seniors to attend higher education institutions. The CRSF was created by the Maine Education Association through a trust established by the late Audrey Lewis, who served as president in 1958. The Fund was named after Clyde Russell, who served as Executive Director for over two decades.
There are two categories of awards as follows:
- Awards of up to $2,000 for graduating high school seniors who will attend a Maine Community College;
- Awards of up to $10,000 for graduating high school seniors who will attend a four-year college.
The applications will be available on CRSF’s website until Jan. 31, 2023; and the deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2023. The entire application must be received by CRSF via their P.O. Box no later than Feb. 1, 2023. Please allow 5-7 days for mail delivery to meet the Feb. 1 deadline.
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Did you know Maine has a public law library? | |
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The services and resources of the Maine State Law & Legislative Reference Library are free and available to all Maine citizens. Located on the second floor of the Maine State House in Augusta, the Law Library is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services include public access to the Internet and other digital resources and limited word processing.
Walk-in patrons are welcome, but Mainers from Kittery to Madawaska can request information by phone, email, or U.S. mail. You can also visit their web page here.
While the library can’t interpret the law or provide legal advice, staff can help with legal and legislative reference assistance with its complete collection of current and historical Maine legislative materials dating all the way back to 1820. The library also has information about federal codes and statutes as well as all U.S. states.
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UMaine appoints new athletic director | |
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Above: University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy introduces Jude Killy, the new director of athletics, at a press conference held on Dec. 20, 2022, at the Alfond Family Lounge at Harold Alfond Arena in Orono. (photo courtesy of University of Maine)
Jude Killy has been named as the University of Maine’s director of athletics effective Jan. 30.
He has been a member of the Miami University community since 2008, including his role as deputy director of athletics and chief of staff since 2018 where he oversees the operations of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. His fundraising experiences includes both annual fund and major gift solicitation and spans nearly 20 years on a college campus.
Killy also has served as a sport supervisor for men's basketball, baseball, men's ice hockey, men's and women's swimming and diving and synchronized skating, and assisted with football. He served as campaign manager for the $80 million Graduating Champions Campaign and directed the Miami University athletic development team to five of its best fiscal years.
Killy will take over the director of athletics role from Samantha Hegmann-Wary, who has been serving as interim director of athletics since Aug. 17. Hegmann-Wary will resume her role as associate athletic director for compliance and senior woman administrator.
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FAME updates business support initiative for 2023 | |
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The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) recently announced the Grow Maine program will continue for 2023. The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) passed by Congress makes the federal funds for the Grow Maine initiative possible.
Grow Maine is administered by FAME in conjunction with various statewide lending partners and will provide up to $62 million of SSBCI funding to eligible Maine businesses. SSBCI is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and created to strengthen state programs that support private financing to small businesses.
To ensure broad access to capital, FAME is partnering with over 30 intermediary lenders across the state for the Grow Maine program. The lenders are community-based, Community Develop Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and local and municipal economic development lenders that are already partners with FAME’s direct lending programs. Funding will be available through FAME and its intermediary partners via loan guaranties, direct loans, and equity capital.
For more information about the Grow Maine program, please visit the program’s website.
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In our Republican Radio Address, Sen. Eric Brakey rings in the New Year with a list of hopes and wishes for 2023.
To watch the address or read its text, please follow the links provided.
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