The Magic City Monthly

February 2023

A Piece of Our Past

The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad sent an excursion train to the "Magic City" in 1899. Three hundred curious sightseers from Bangor came to see what was happening in the north woods where a new town was beginning. Note the sign spelling of Millinocket!

Photo courtesy of Millinocket Historical Society Curator, Trudy Wyman 

Engage, Participate, & Subscribe!

Stay in the know by attending the various Council and Committee meetings. We appreciate any and all input and feedback. Please remember this is YOUR community and YOUR voice matters. CLICK HERE to view the Community Calendar and stay up to date with all scheduled meetings. If you cannot attend a meeting you can stay in the know by watching the recordings on our YouTube Channel. Feel free to subscribe to the channel to stay up to date. 


The Millinocket Town Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 5:30. Meetings are held in-person in Charles Sanders Council Chambers and remote access available via Zoom. CLICK HERE for more information regarding town council meetings! Please considering joining these meetings are participating in the discussion. All are welcome!

house-icon-blue.gif

Revaluations Happening for Millinocket Homes in 2023


The Town of Millinocket will be conducting a revaluation in the upcoming months. The most recent full revaluation (reval) was completed around 1994.

We will be updating property records beginning with site visits this spring/summer. Every property throughout town will be visited.

This information will then be incorporated into the town’s assessment database.

Stay tuned for future updates as the process unfolds!

The Town of Millinocket is officially on Instagram! Click here to follow the Town of Millinocket for the latest and greatest.

Texting Communication is here!

The Town of Millinocket has registered with Constant Contact for a new texting feature. This allows further communication from the Town directly to your cell phone. This feature will be used for reminders of meetings, events and safety concerns for the public! We encourage you to call Amber Wheaton, Community Initiatives Director, (207) 447-4100 to sign up for our contact list or email her at cid@millinocket.org


Thank you Jim Charette for the 28 years you have worked for the Town of Millinocket!


"We would like to give a big shout out to Jim Charette; congratulating him on his retirement as of February 3, 2023. Jim served 28 years working for the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. He was the Superintendent for most of his career. Jim did an excellent job for the Town and the citizens of Millinocket. He was always willing to lend a helping hand at any capacity. Thank you, Jim, for your service. May you and your wife, Pauline, have many years of joy and happiness with your children and grandchildren." - Jason Ingalls, Wastewater Treatment Facility Superintendent

Municipal Updates

Waste Water

  •  We would like to remind the residents of Millinocket to please NOT flush wipes, paper towels, grease, plastics, Q-tips or anything other than toilet paper into the sewer system. Even the "flushable" wipes will clog the sewer system. These items are causing extreme plugs to the sewer system and costly maintenance to our pumping stations. We would like to thank the residents for this consideration.
  • February 3rd, 2023 Jason Ingalls officially took his new position as the Wastewater Treatment Facility Superintendent.


Jason Ingalls,

Wastewater Treatment Facility Superintendent


Code

  • While winter weather is still amongst us, residents, business owners, and plowing contractors are encouraged to become familiar with the snow removal requirements found in the Town Code of Millinocket, Chapter 108, Streets and Sidewalks, Sections 108-1 through 108-3. 
  • To summarize the code, any snow removed from driveways shall be stored within the boundaries of the premises from which it is removed. When there is not adequate room on premises for such storage, snow may be spread in the street area along the curb frontage of the premises from where it is removed, provided such storage is done before the Town has plowed or cleared the street. Any snow spread along the curbside for removal, must be done in a manner as to not impede traffic and shall not be pushed or moved into or across the street to the opposite curb. State law also prohibits plowing snow across any public right-of-way.
  • Please be mindful that fire hydrants need to be kept free and clear of snow as well. Any snow removed from properties or businesses shall not be plowed into, onto, or over any fire hydrants within the town which will impede its use in emergency situations. 
  • The town understands the difficulty that often arises when dealing with snow removal. We appreciate your cooperation in regard to this matter. THANK YOU !  


Chris Beyer, Code Enforcement Officer

Parks and Recreation

  • The skating rink opened February 4th. There are 40 pairs of skates in various sizes that the community can use.


Jody Nelson, Parks and Recreation Director


Community Initiatives

  • Applied to the Penobscot County Commissioners Fund for $50,000 for the modernization of the municipal building elevator.
  • Received news that the Town was accepted to receive the rebate for two locations for EV Chargers.
  •  Event's Committee meetings are held bi-weekly, please consider joining us February 27th at 4pm in the Manager's office. Email cid@millinocket.org for further information! You may access the agenda here.


Amber Wheaton, Community Initiatives Director


East Millinocket Police Department

  • As we move into 2023 we look back to 2022 which saw an increase in calls for service. 
  • We responded to over 10,000 calls for service in 2022, which is an increase of more than 400 calls from the previous year. 
  • We also saw an increase of more that 600 observed offenses and an increase in arrests and summonses. 
  • We did see a decrease in juvenile crime which is a very positive statistic we like to see. 
  • We also saw a decrease in property crimes in 2022 with a decrease in burglaries and thefts.
  • We saw another increase in drug related offenses and drug overdoses. 
  • We will continue to aggressively do our part in combating the drug epidemic our state and region faces.
  • We want to thank the community for their support in 2022 and also their continued support as we move forward in the new year. It takes the entire community to keep our region safe and we want to remind everyone that we are available 24/7 so please never hesitate to call and report suspicious activity as we need the eyes of the community to help us be successful. 


Millinocket School Department


  • The artwork in the first photo to the right was created by Granite students using the crayon & watercolor resist technique. This is where artists use crayon to make a drawing and then add watercolor paint directly on top of the crayon. The crayon shows through the watercolor which creates an interesting, unique effect in each artwork. This project connects to Visual Arts MLR A1, A2, A3, C1, & C2 with heavy focus on material use & techniques (A1).
  • First grade is currently working on non-fictional text and their features. With the text that they are reading now, the students are learning about goods and services. In math they will start learning about different graphs and using them to make comparisons.
  • In computer class, 4th and 5th graders are doing a research project. February is Black History Month so they are researching a famous black person and creating a presentation using Google Slides. By teaching them how to use Google Slides, it will allow students to demonstrate understanding of a topic in their classrooms in an alternative way. 
  • Seven seniors from our school have started their RMA clinicals at various doctor’s offices. including MRH Family Medicine, MRH Primary Care, Health Access Medway, Health Access Lincoln, Penobscot Valley Hospital, and Helen Hunt Health center in old Town. 
  • Butch Arthurs from Region III met with sophomores on Feb. 8 in the Stearns library to present Region III programs.  
  • On March 1, Stearns is hosting the District 5 Vocal Jazz and Show Choir Festival. It begins during the day and goes until about 9:00 PM at night
  • PERFORMANCE TIMES:
  • Unified Harmony Jr. High Show Choir 7:10 pm
  • Unified Harmony Show Choir 8:30 pm


Dr. Shelley Lane, Superintendent of Schools

MUD/WTR WITH PETE


On Friday, February 3rd, 2023 a new series "Mud/WTR with Pete" was released on the Town's Facebook and Instagram. This is an informational series focusing on common misconceptions about municipal government, and sharing exciting updates from the Town.

These short but informative videos will air Fridays at 10am.

If you have any questions you would like answered during this series, please submit them here.

The Town of Millinocket is currently seeking volunteers to help with various events and projects! Join our team to help make our community a great place to live! CLICK HERE to sign up online or stop by the Town Office to sign up person.   We are looking forward to meeting all community members who want to help make a difference!


The Millinocket Town Council is asking for volunteers to serve on the following Town board/committee(s):


Personnel Appeals Board: Two (2) Full Seat Vacancies for a 3-year term,

Recreation Advisory Committee: One (1) Full Seat for a 3-year term One (1) Alternate Seat to Expire 11/2024


Any resident wishing to serve on this board is urged to pick up an Boards and Committee application at the Town Clerk’s Office or click here to print. Completed applications can be returned to the Clerk’s office by in person, drop box, email, or mail.


Submissions/Inquiries:

Town Clerk, Diana Lakeman, townclerk@millinocket.org,

Town Manager, Peter Jamieson, manager@millinocket.org

(207) 723-7000 x5


Explore the Outdoors. Discover Community.


This summer the Outdoor Sport Institute (OSI) is seeking a motivated, energetic team to take on the challenge of community-based outdoor leadership against the backdrop of Maine’s most iconic wilderness. Spend your summer in the heart of one of the most beautiful and inspiring landscapes in the country where you have the opportunity to paddle iconic whitewater, explore pristine alpine terrain, ride world-class trails, or simply meander through endless forests and waterways. Your job is to engage with the communities here and support the grassroots initiatives that are connecting people with this outdoor playground.


For further the details, and to apply click here!

Contact Us

Millinocket Town Office

197 Penobscot Ave

Millinocket, ME 04462

(207) 723-7000

Facebook  Instagram