Lisbon Community Assists LACO‏

Lisbon – Students at Lisbon Community School (LCS) continue the gift of giving to others well after the holidays and throughout the school year.  Prior to leaving for school vacation on Friday, February 18, students assisted with gathering and counting a total of 1,087 cans of non-perishable food items donated by students, staff and families to the Lisbon Area Christian Outreach (LACO) located at the MTM building on School Street in Lisbon Falls.  LACO is a non-profit organization sponsored by Churches of various denominations located in Lisbon, Durham and Bowdoin Communities with a food pantry and clothing bank.  “The Lisbon Community of Schools is a caring group of students, staff and families who give from the heart to help others,” shares Carol Day, director of LACO.  “We are fortunate to have a number of student volunteers who assist at the Center on a regular basis volunteering their time to make a difference in our community.”  LACO’s hours of operation are Wednesdays 6 to 8 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. until noon; and Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m.

Pictured front row knelling (l-r); Devin Wordell, fourth grade student of Maxine Shane; Noah Rideout, fourth grade student of Maxine Shane; second row (l-r) Daniel Bolton, third grade student of Marilyn Curtis, Kristian Grover, fourth grade student of Marcia Bickford; back row (l-r) Assistant Principal, Ryan Patrie, Principal, Carlene Iverson and LACO Director, Carol Day.  FMI on other school events and programs contact Monica Millhime, Community Resource Coordinator, 754-0021 or email mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org.  Photo by Monica Millhime. 

Reminder: Dr. Seuss' Birthday Celebration

Oil Crisis

GARFIELD ON THE OIL CRISIS

A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in our country.
~~~
Well, there's a very simple answer.
~~~
Nobody bothered to check the oil.
~~~
We just didn't know we were getting low.
~~~
The reason for that is purely geographical.
~~~
Our OIL is located in:
~~~
ALASKA
~~~
California
~~~
Coastal Florida
~~~
Coastal Louisiana ~~~ Coastal Alabama ~~~~ Coastal Mississippi ~~~~
Coastal Texas ~~~
North Dakota
~~~
Wyoming
~~~
Colorado
~~~
Kansas
~~~
Oklahoma
~~~
Pennsylvania
~~~ And
~~~ Texas
~~~
Our dipsticks are located in DC
~~~
Any Questions? NO? Didn't think So.

Changes Are Coming - Where Are The Solutions?‏

CHANGES ARE COMING ---- Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come. 

I feel sorry for next generation, and those that follow ! 

1. The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills. 

2. The Check. Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business. 

3. The Newspaper. The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services. 

4. The Book. You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book. 

5. The Land Line Telephone. Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes 

6. Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies." 

7. Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix. 

8. "Things" That You Own. Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert. 

9. Privacy. If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits.. And "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again. All we will have that can't be changed are....... Memories.

 

19 Facts About The De-industrialization Of America That Will Blow Your Mind 

The United States is rapidly becoming the very first "post-industrial" nation on the globe. All great economic empires eventually become fat and lazy and squander the great wealth that their forefathers have left them, but the pace at which America is accomplishing this is absolutely amazing. It was America that was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. It was America that showed the world how to mass produce everything from automobiles to televisions to airplanes. It was the great American manufacturing base that crushed Germany and Japan in World War II. 

But now we are witnessing the de-industrialization of America . Tens of thousands of factories have left the United States in the past decade alone. Millions upon millions of manufacturing jobs have been lost in the same time period. The United States has become a nation that consumes everything in sight and yet produces increasingly little. 

Do you know what our biggest export is today? Waste paper. Yes, trash is the number one thing that we ship out to the rest of the world as we voraciously blow our money on whatever the rest of the world wants to sell to us. 

The United States has become bloated and spoiled and our economy is now just a shadow of what it once was. Once upon a time America could literally out produce the rest of the world combined. Today that is no longer true, but Americans sure do consume more than anyone else in the world. 

If the deindustrialization of America continues at this current pace, what possible kind of a future are we going to be leaving to our children? 

Any great nation throughout history has been great at making things. So if the United States continues to allow its manufacturing base to erode at a staggering pace how in the world can the U.S. continue to consider itself to be a great nation? 

We have created the biggest debt bubble in the history of the world in an effort to maintain a very high standard of living, but the current state of affairs is not anywhere close to sustainable. Every single month America goes into more debt and every single month America gets poorer. 

So what happens when the debt bubble pops? 

The de-industrialization of the United States should be a top concern for every man, woman and child in the country. But sadly, most Americans do not have any idea what is going on around them. 

For people like that, take this article and print it out and hand it to them. Perhaps what they will read below will shock them badly enough to awaken them from their slumber.

 

Following are 19 facts about the de-industrialization of America that will blow your mind.... 

#1 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001. About 75 percent of those factories employed over 500 people when they were still in operation. 

#2 Dell Inc., one of America s largest manufacturers of computers, has announced plans to dramatically expand its operations in China with an investment of over $100 billion over the next decade. 

#3 Dell has announced that it will be closing its last large U.S. manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem , North Carolina in November. Approximately 900 jobs will be lost. 

#4 In 2008, 1.2 billion cell phones were sold worldwide. So how many of them were manufactured inside the United States ? Zero. 

#5 According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will lose over half a million jobs this year alone. 

#6 As of the end of July, the U.S. trade deficit with China had risen 18 percent compared to the same time period a year ago. 

#7 The United States has lost a total of about 5.5 million manufacturing jobs since October 2000. 

#8 According to Tax Notes, between 1999 and 2008 employment at the foreign affiliates of U.S. parent companies increased an astounding 30 percent to 10.1 million. During that exact same time period, U.S. employment at American multinational corporations declined 8 percent to 21.1 million. 

#9 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented 11.5 percent. 

#10 Ford Motor Company recently announced the closure of a factory that produces the Ford Ranger in St. Paul , Minnesota . Approximately 750 good paying middle class jobs are going to be lost because making Ford Rangers in Minnesota does not fit in with Ford's new "global" manufacturing strategy. 

#11 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing. The last time less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941. 

#12 In the United States today, consumption accounts for 70 percent of GDP. Of this 70 percent, over half is spent on services. 

#13 The United States has lost a whopping 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000. 

#14 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it ranks 15th. 

#15 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry is actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975. 

#16 Printed circuit boards are used in tens of thousands of different products. Asia now produces 84 percent of them worldwide. 

#17 The United States spends approximately $3.90 on Chinese goods for every $1 that the Chinese spend on goods from the United States. 

#18 One prominent economist is projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040. 

#19 The U.S. Census Bureau says that 43.6 million Americans are now living in poverty and according to them that is the highest number of poor Americans in the 51 years that records have been kept.

 

So how many tens of thousands more factories do we need to lose before we do something about it? 

How many millions more Americans are going to become unemployed before we all admit that we have a very, very serious problem on our hands? 

How many more trillions of dollars are going to leave the country before we realize that we are losing wealth at a pace that is killing our economy? 

How many once great manufacturing cities are going to become rotting war zones like Detroit before we understand that we are committing national economic suicide? 

The de-industrialization of America is a national crisis. It needs to be treated like one.

 

If you disagree with this article, I have a direct challenge for you. If anyone can explain how a de-industrialized America has any kind of viable economic future, please do so.

 

America is in deep, deep trouble folks. It is time to wake up.

     

Town Council Meeting Agenda 3/1/2011 "Citizen Vote On Budget" Workshop

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2011
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Cote
___ Councilor Larochelle
___Councilor Lunt
___ Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. 2011-2012 Capital Improvement Budget Public Hearing
B. Special Entertainment Permit – Sandra Harkins d/b/a Railroad Restaurant & Pub
C. Special Entertainment Permit – Raymond J. Lavigne VFW Post 9459

4. CONSENT AGENDA
2011-28 ORDER −
A. Minutes of February 1, 2011
B. Minutes of February 15, 2011
C. Special Ent. Permit & Liquor Lic.– Sandra Harkins d/b/a Railroad Restaurant
D. Special Ent. Permit & Liquor License – Raymond J. Lavigne VFW Post 9459
E. Road Postings for March 7, 2011 through May 1, 2011

5. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2011-29 ORDER −
2011-2012 Capital Improvement Budget

6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Self Funded Health Insurance Discussion – Michelle Turmelle
B. Route 196 Discussion
C. Audience Participation Discussion
D. Town Managers Report

7. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

8. APPOINTMENTS

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

11. ADJOURNMENT
2011-30 ORDER −
To Adjourn

12. WORKSHOP
A. Budget Referendum Discussion

Maine's Governor Paul LePage Weekly Radio Address 2/19/11

www.mainewebnews.com

Governor Paul LePage informs us that half of the state's debt is for things Maine tax payers never voted for as required by the constitution.

$19,448 individual share of the

$12 Billion 700 Million Dollar Maine Debt divided by the more than

653 Thousand tax filers...

All for a debt in which more than 95% of  was NEVER APPROVED by Maine's Voters as REQUIRED by the Maine Constitution 

Lisbon HS Students Welcome Rotary Speaker‏

Lisbon – Community Service Club (CSC) members of Lisbon High School welcomed visiting Lewiston Rotarian, Bill Denehy during their monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 9.  Denehy’s shared the history of Rotary, and the Service Club for students ages 14 to 18, the Interact Club.  Students, along with CSC advisor, Monica Millhime and guidance counselor, Jean Dolan, were pleased to hear about the on-going opportunities available to students through Interact.  “We currently have close to 100 students in our Community Service Club in Lisbon,” shares Millhime.  “Students volunteer in our schools and throughout our community.  Their efforts strengthen their  team building and leadership skills with each area of assistance they embark upon as a club, or an individual team member.  An association with the Lewiston Rotary Fellowship offers our  students  another opportunity to enhance their skills and reach beyond our current levels of assistance.”  Students will be discussing the Interact program guidelines, structure, service projects and more at the next monthly meeting on March 16.

Some LHS students remained after their regular monthly meeting to personally greet and ask further questions of visiting Lewiston Rotarian, Bill Denehy.  Pictured (l-r) Kristianna Benoit, Melissa Hoskins, Kody Priddle, Kyle Priddle, Samantha Foote, guidance counselor, Jean Dolan, Denehy, Robert Dall and Justin Crocker.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration!‏

LISBON HIGH SCHOOL QUARTER 2 HONOR ROLL 2010-2011

Lisbon – Kenneth Healey, Lisbon High School Principal, proudly announces the quarter two honor roll for students in grades 9 through 12. FMI visit www.lisbonschoolsme.org or call 353.3030.



High Honors



Grade 12 - Randi Brannon, Ryan Buzzell, Nichole Conrad, Forrest Cornell, Taylor Haines, Joshua Howe, Jacqueline Knowles, Tara Metzger, Devyn St. Jean, Taylor Stevens



Grade 11 - Jordan Beauparlant, Samantha Foote, Sarah Giraldo, Justin Grant, Melissa Hoskins, James Stewart, Meagan Thomas, Virginia Tolbert



Grade 10 - Rachel Ball, Kristianna Benoit, Miranda Carroll, Aaron French, Aaron Halls, Ethan Knowles, Brenten Laffely, Jaymi Thibeault, John Wentworth



Grade 9 - Jacob Bremmer, Dillon Clifford, Sierra Crosby, Robert Dall, Paige Galligan, Nichole Jones, Kaitlynn Morse, Bryanna Sult





Honors



Grade 12 - Shaun Avery, Heather Budesheim, Michael Degou, Katie Dixon, Allicyn Fitzgerald, Sarah Martin, Virginia Wilson



Grade 11 - Angelica Bulgin, Breanna Cota, Haley Eck, Nikkole Gardner, Holly Hogan, Amy Law, Brooke Lawrence, Bethany Lemay, Katherine Lemieux, Briana Moore, Kyle Priddle, Garrett Starr



Grade 10 - Kayla Angelico, Ryan Brewer, Justice Fraser-Gagnon, Leah Goldsberry, Kaci Wedberg



Grade 9 - Kaitlyn Baker, Tyler Bard, Charles Barton, Joshua Bedell, Mariah Breton, Dylan Busler, Paula Caron, Bailey Cutler, Bailey Galipeau, Chelsey Harrington, Michael Jenkins, Shantal MacWhinnie, Paul Mason, Sierra O’Kane, Delanie Ouellette, Allesha Patterson

Financial Fraud: The Real Story No One Is Telling

The real story that no one is telling
 

Whole cable channels are devoted to "financial news."

Yet the fundamental story of our time - that the financial system has been hijacked by a coalition of government and Wall Street crooks - is not being told.

Instead, CNBS and Fox Dizzyness etc. drone on and on about Apple and NetFlix and other deck chairs on the Titanic.

Here's the truly scary thing...If it weren't for Rolling Stone Magazine's independent existence and their support of Matt Taibbi's research, this level of detailed info would not be getting out to the public.

Nothing is certain, but the potential Crash that all this chicanery has made what I believe to be inevitable could well make 2008 look like a mild hiccup and might even make the 1930s look mild. Imagine a financial "levee failure" ala New Orleans 2005 taking place everywhere in the country at the same time.

I don't see how we can have uncontrolled fraud on this scale we have today without dire consequences.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Matt Taibbi pulls back the curtain

Banksters Where Are The Handcuffs? Malfeasance Of Office At It's Best!

Matt Taibbi gets the goods again

There are precious few independent news outlets in the United States that have any reach.

One shining exception is Rolling Stone Magazine.

Note: While bogus "Left Wing" magazines like The Nation are thin and rely on charity (and covert manipulation), Rolling Stone is a real business.

Rolling Stone has given Matt Taibbi a platform and he's done fantastic reporting.

And, what do you know? Rolling Stone's circulation grows while most other magazines (and TV news programs) fade.

Dylan Ratigan is doing a good job on MSNBC too.

As for "hopeful news" from a recently announced Congressional investigation..don't hold your breath. Having him end the interview asking Ratigan to keep the heat on Congress is not confidence inspiring.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Transparency Of Government: The Fallacy Of Spoken And Written Words

Transparency of Government actions is just a bunch of letters put together to form a word.  It sounds good on the campaign trail and everyone is all ears when it is mentioned.  But how many actually witness it in real life?  One, Two, or Three dozen people perhaps, maybe but most likely not anyone if the truth be known.  It is nothing more then a political 'buzz word' that stimulates conversation along the campaign trail.  For in real life, it is left standing at the altar with not even a preacher man ready in the wings to perform the service.  No, we are a society that has been conditioned to believe the almighty media propaganda train as it is so directed.

Take the politicians for example.   How many of them promise this and promise that on the campaign trail but yet falter and never practice anything that they said while rounding up votes.   As unfortunate as that might be, it still is practiced today in the political scenarios all across this country.  Never mind the false promises not kept or the scandals of individual lives let's take a look at the 10 Most Corrupt Politicians of 2010 as presented by Judicial Watch.

Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington's “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2010

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released its 2010 list of Washington's “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians.” The list, in alphabetical order, includes: Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Rahm Emanuel, Former Obama White House Chief of Staff, Senator John Ensign (R-NV), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), President Barack Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).

President Barack Obama: Remember the promise President Obama made just after his inauguration in 2009? “Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency.”
Instead, Americans have suffered through lies, stonewalling, cover-ups, corruption, secrecy, scandal and blatant disregard for the rule of law…this has been the Obama legacy in its first two years.
In 2010, Obama was caught in a lie over what he knew about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s scheme to sell the president’s vacated Senate seat. Blagojevich’s former Chief of Staff John Harris testified that Obama had personal knowledge of Blago’s plot to obtain a presidential cabinet position in exchange for appointing a candidate handpicked by the President. In fact, according to Harris’s court testimony, Obama sent Blagojevich a list of “acceptable” Senate candidates to fill his old seat. Obama was interviewed by the FBI even before he was sworn into office. He claimed he and his staff had no contact with Blagojevich’s office. Unfortunately federal prosecutors never called the President or his staff to testify under oath.
The President also broke his famous pledge to televise healthcare negotiations. And in 2010, we learned why he broke his pledge. In what is now known as the “Cornhusker Kickback” scheme, Obama and the Democrats in the Senate “purchased” the vote of one of the last Democrat hold-outs, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, who opposed Obamacare over the issue of covering abortions with taxpayer funds. Nelson abandoned his opposition to Obamacare after receiving millions of dollars in federal aid for his home-state, helping to give the Democrats the 60 votes they needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. Same goes for Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu, who received a $100 million payoff in what has been called “The Louisiana Purchase.” (The Kickback was so corrupt that Democrats stripped it out at the last minute. The Louisiana Purchase, on the other hand, became law of the land.)
Obama lied about his White House’s involvement in this legislative bribery that helped lead to the passage of the signature policy achievement of his presidency.

Continue reading here.


If They Can Get Away With This At The National Level,  What Are They Getting Away With At The State And Local Level?

World's Greatest Sleigh Rides set for Lisbon

LISBON — The 18th annual World's Greatest Sleigh Rides, a benefit fundraiser, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, in a large field off Route 125 (upper Main Street) in Lisbon Falls.

Since its inception, the popular winter event has raised $43,550 for the Pine Tree Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Donations for the sleigh rides are $4 for adults and $3 for children.

The event is sponsored by the Pejepscot Snow-Chiefs Snowmobile Club and the Farmers Draft Horse, Mule and Pony Club.

There will be a variety of food booths available, with the highlight being the dozens of homemade doughnuts made by Steve, Louise and Gordon Curtis. For more information, contact Gordon Curtis at 353-2200.

Our National Anthem‏

Our National Anthem

It is just me who was appalled at Christinea Aguilera's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, Our National Anthem, at the 2011 Super Bowl?

The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 after a fierce 25-hour battle. One can only imagine the relief of, not only Mr. Key to see the flag, but the brave men who, come the dawn, survived the battle .

It is supposedly an honor to be asked to sing Our National Anthem at an occasion like the Super Bowl, in front of an audience of millions. And for someone to sing it in that manner is unconscionable.

   

A little history lesson:

"During the War of 1812. on September 13, 1814 Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been captured after the burning of Washington DC. The release was completed, but Key was held by the British overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore. In the morning, Key peered through clearing smoke to see an enormous American Flag proudly flying after a 25-hour British bombardment of Fort McHenry. He was so delighted to see the flag still flying over the fort he began a poem to commemorate the occasion, with a note that should it be should be sung to the popular British melody "To Anacreon in Heaven"

Taken from "A service of the Superintendent of Documents".

The Star Spangled Banner should be sung with the same respect that we give to the flag itself, respectfully and reverently, giving the words meaning, not as an opportunity for a singer to practice arias. We can only hope that the Super Bowl committee is more careful in the future in their selection of who is chosen to sing our National Anthem.

Dorothy B. Fitzgerald

Happy Valentine's Day

2nd Annual Lisbon Chili, Chowder and Chocolate Challenge

New Speed Enforcement Tool Pending Grant Application Process For Lisbon

Coming Soon!!!  

Black Fawn Photos Beautifully Incredible Almost Unbelievable

Photo credit to Richard Buquoi of R. M. Buquoi photographics. If you want, please feel free to direct them to our website, www.rmbphotographics.com 

The images were taken near Austin, TX in May of 2010. The deer are wild and the black one has a normal colored sibling. Highly melanistic deer such as this one are extremely rare and are much rarer to see than an albino. The central Texas area has had a number of sightings of deer that have this trait. 

This pretty much says it all as regards OUR Constitution.......

Town Council Agenda for 2/15/11

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Cote
___ Councilor Larochelle
___Councilor Lunt
___ Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow
Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Amendment Presentation

4. CONSENT AGENDA
2011-22 ORDER −
A. Minutes of January 25, 2011
B. Criminal Forfeiture

5. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2011-23 ORDER −Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Amendment
2011-24 ORDER −Set Rate of Interest For Delinquent Taxes
2011-25 ORDER −011-2012 Interagency Requests

6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Finance Director’s Report
B. Town Manager’s Report

7. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

8. APPOINTMENTS

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
2011-26 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matters

11. ADJOURNMENT
2011-27 ORDER −
To Adjourn

12. WORKSHOP
A. Recall Process
B. Budget Referendum Vote
C. Health Insurance

Air Travelers Awareness

Air traffic control errors double

Joan Lowy, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — In a time of unparalleled aviation safety in the United States, reports of mistakes by air traffic controllers have nearly doubled – a seeming contradiction that puzzles safety experts.

The near collision last month of an American Airlines jet with 259 people aboard and two Air Force transport planes southeast of New York City, coupled with the rise in known errors, has raised concerns in Congress that safety may be eroding.

A US Airways plane carrying 95 people crossed paths with a small cargo plane in September, coming within 50 to 100 feet of each other while taking off from Minneapolis. A few months earlier a US Airways Airbus 319 intersected the path of another cargo plane during an aborted landing in Anchorage, Alaska.

In fact, an air traffic controller at the Ronkonkoma, N.Y., radar facility that handled the American plane says he complained about a lax atmosphere at the facility – the second busiest of its kind in the nation.

Controller Evan Seeley, 26, said he ran afoul of the local union when he tried to prevent sick leave and scheduling abuses aimed at increasing overtime pay. Even more disturbing were Seeley's charges that controllers sometimes watch movies and play with electronic devices during nighttime shifts when traffic is slower. He said he has sent his complaints to the Transportation Department's inspector general and to the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistleblower charges. He claims his recent demotion from his position as a front-line manager was related to his attempts to correct problems.

Continue reading here

Lisbon Students Visited by CMCC‏

Lisbon – On Wednesday, February 9, Lisbon High School students in the Alternative Education Program offered at 19 Gartley Street in Lisbon, attended a seminar on college aspirations provided by Central Maine Community College.   “Over the past couple of years the college has been a great resource for Lisbon students and a strong community partner within our school district,” shared Community Resource Coordinator, Monica Millhime.  “Our connection with the college continues to grow. Contacting the admissions office, on behalf of our program’s educators, Andy Despres and Brian Breton,  to meet with students in the Gartley Street Program provided us with another opportunity and a new focus for students.”  Admission’s representative, Bobbi Jean Burke, shared the prerequesits required to attend CMCC and answered specific questions by students on areas of study.  “We wanted to offer the students an opportunity to hear for themselves that a college education is within reach for all of them.  Students should know about the entry level skills and knowledge they need to be accepted into the community college system,”  commented Despres.  Students will be attending the Open House planned by the college this spring.  FMI on programs and other events within the Lisbon Schools call 754-0021 or email mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org.  

 Central Maine Community College Admissions Representative, Bobbi Jean Burke, met with Lisbon students to provide the latest course offerings and admissions information needed to apply to the college.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

Corruption Charges Confounds Chelsea Community Chair

As reported in today's Kennebec Journal.

Chelsea selectwoman faces forgery, other charges

Charges include forgery, theft

By Mechele Cooper mcooper@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA — The Kennebec County Sheriff's Office has arrested Carole Swan, chairman of the Chelsea Board of Selectmen, on charges of aggravated forgery, attempted theft and improper compensation for services.

click image to enlarge

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

ARRESTED: Chelsea Selectman Carole Swan, second from right, is led to Kennebec County jail Thursday in handcuffs are being arrested at the sheriff's office in Augusta. Swan was accompanied by, from left, her husband, Marshall Swan; after Kennebec County Sheriff's Department Detective David Bucknam; and Sheriff Randy Liberty.

Related headlines

• Chelsea official faces forgery probe

The sheriff's office made the arrest today. Swan was later released on $25,000 bail, according to Sheriff Randall A. Liberty.

Liberty said the sheriff’s office was notified of a possible theft of funds on Jan. 31 belonging to the town of Chelsea. Upon further investigation, Det. Dave Bucknam learned that Swan, a 19-year selectman for Chelsea, had been attempting to overpay a town road contractor with the intent of a kickback.

As the investigation developed, Bucknam was able to obtain audio recordings and visual observations of a $20,000 transaction and attempted $10,000 kickback to Swan.

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Health Issues With Drinking Diet Sodas Exposed and Explained

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

To Learn More, Just Go To You Favorite Search Engine seeking information For Aspartame Health Risks and Read For Yourselves.  There is a lot of information available and if you type in Donald Rumsfeld along with your search you will be Enlightened more than you are now.

AND YET SOME WILL STILL SAY THAT IT ISN'T SO!

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning The Indoor Silent Killer You Need To See This

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 "Believe It Or Not There Are No Laws Requiring Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Rinks"

"The Federal Government Has Not Created A Law Requiring Clean Air In Rinks"

But they have required us to comply with 'Adverse' Conditions  In Order To Board A Commercial Airline,  HELLO???

Yet this has been known about for several years, see this.

Indoor Air Quality and Ice Arenas

All recreational facilities including ice arenas should use good ventilation practices especially when children are present. It is critical that indoor air quality is protected particularly when using fuel-burning equipment such as ice resurfacers indoors. Over the past five years, new EPA standards took effect for emissions from ice resurfacers. New machines that meet the most stringent EPA standards reduce hydrocarbon emissions by about 71 percent, nitrous oxide emissions by about 80 percent, and carbon monoxide emissions by about 57 percent.
More information on non-road engine emission standards, which cover this equipment, is available in EPA's Regulatory Announcement: Emission Standards for New Nonroad Engines (PDF) (7 pp., 412 K, about PDF) EPA 420-F-02-037, September 2002. See also www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/

 SINCE SEPTEMBER 2002!??!

Oh heck,  we all just need to grab a "diet soda" and Chill Out,  whoops, can't do that either.

 Read about it here.

Lisbon Schools’ Automatic Defibrillators Inspired by Student

Richard Green, Superintendent of Lisbon Schools, thanks Ryan Robitaille, LHS Class of 2014, for his efforts in galvanizing efforts to install Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) in all three of Lisbon’s Schools.  Robitaille wanted to raise awareness of effectiveness of saving lives with an AED in memory of his grandfather.  Pictured (l-r):  LHS nurse, Elaine Daly, Ryan Robitaille, Superintendent Green, and PWS nurse, Carrie Pelletier.  LCS nurse, Nancy Craig, unavailable for photo.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

Lisbon – Lisbon High School freshman, Ryan Robitaille, recently embarked on a district-wide project of installing Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) in Lisbon Schools.  Robitaille, an active member of the Lisbon Falls Fire Company as a Junior Fire Fighter, contacted Lisbon Fire Department, Chief Sean Galipeau, and Lisbon School Superintendent, Richard Green, referencing two recent incidents in Yarmouth and Cumberland where lives were saved by AEDs.  Robitaille, who recently lost his grandfather, Robert Robitaille of Lisbon Falls,  wanted to dedicate a project in memory.  At the request of his grandmother, in lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations be made to the AED Fund for Lisbon.   “We considered supporting a number of non-profit organizations in my granddad’s memory.  Our family decided on contributing directly to the Lisbon community and our schools,” shared Robitaille.  Thanks to all of the donations from friends and family members, $2100 was dedicated in his grandfather’s memory, bringing the AED Project to fruition.  The School Department donated $600; with Lisbon Falls Fire Company and the E. T. Smith Hose Company each donated $500.  The Fire Department facilitated the transactions with the Town of Lisbon to purchase the equipment with assistance from the Maine Emergency Medical Services, an organization promoting public safety.  Training for key school personnel was provided by Lisbon Falls Fire Deputy Chief, Mike Robitaille.  Schools nurses provided training for staff and schedules for student sessions will be announced. 

FMI on Lisbon School events, programs, volunteering and grant opportunities contact, Community Resource Coordinator, Monica Millhime at 754-0021 or email mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org.

Summary Of Life

Summary of Life

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1 No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2 When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3 If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the
second person.
4 Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5 You can't trust dogs to watch your food..
6 Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7 Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8 You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9 Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.



GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1 Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2 Wrinkles don't hurt.
3 Families are like fudge... mostly sweet, with a few nuts
4 Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
5 Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6 Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy..

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1 Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...
2 Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3 When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're
down there.
4 You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking
chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5 It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to
ask you the questions...
6 Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7 Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1 You believe in Santa Claus.
2 You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3 You are Santa Claus.
4 You look like Santa Claus.


SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is... Not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is... Having friends.
At age 17 success is... Having a driver's license.
At age 35 success is... Having money.
At age 50 success is... Having money.
At age 70 success is... Having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is... Having friends.
At age 80 success is... Not piddling in your pants.

Pass this on to someone who could use a laugh.


Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way; BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.

Have a wonderful day with many *smiles* .

Word Of The Day: Paraprosdokian

A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of
 a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes
 the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first  part. It
 is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes
 producing an anticlimax. Ø   I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So
 I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
Ø    Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level
 and beat you with experience. Ø    I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not
 screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
Ø    Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than
 standing in a garage makes you a car. Ø    The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list. Ø    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear
 bright until you hear them speak.
Ø    If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
Ø    We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. Ø    War does not determine who is right - only who is left. Ø    Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting
 it in a fruit salad.
Ø    The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Ø    Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then
 proceed to tell you why it isn't.Ø    To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many
 is research.
Ø    A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a
 train stops. On my desk, I have a work station. Ø    How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it
 takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Ø    Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything,
 but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs. Ø    Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they
 can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them
 fish. Ø   I  thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay checks.Ø    Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an
 emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR". Ø    I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you. Ø    I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it...so I
 said "Implants?" Ø    Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a
 successful man is usually another woman.
Ø    A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
Ø    You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute
  to skydive twice. Ø    The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas! Ø    Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back. Ø    A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a
 way that you will look forward to the trip. Ø    Hospitality:  making your guests feel like they're at home,  even
 if you wish they were. Ø    Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to  live with. Ø    Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they  go.Ø    There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so
 they can't get away. Ø    I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. Ø    When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire
 Department usually uses water. 
Ø    You're never too old to learn something stupid.
Ø    To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever
 you hit the target. Ø    If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some
 people have more than one child?
Ø    Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine

Maine Delegation split on Patriot Act

www.mainewebnews.com
Rep. Mike Michaud and Rep. Chellie Pingree voted against the re-authorization of the Patriot Act'ss most controversial provisions. Senator Snowe has said she will support them and Senator Susan Collins is undecided.

Animated Expression Of Mortgage Foreclosure Fraud That Is Very Accurate

 Bankster v. Deadbeat Debate

This is an exciting debate between a dead beat homeowner and a Banker, where they discuss the details of who is at greater fault for the foreclosure crisis.