Three Rivers Community RSS Feed

Public Notice: 2010 Blackfly Festival DVD Price Reduced!

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:06:24 -0700

The DVD of the 2010 Blackfly Fesital is now only $10!!!

Public Notice: Schoodic Webcam

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:44:04 -0700

The Schoodic Webcam is now active!!! Click the link above to check it out.

Public Notice: Sebec Firemens Auction

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:43:41 -0700

Starting at noon at the Sebec Village Fire Station. Your treasures are waiting !

Public Notice: Brownville Town Office Temporary Hours

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:17:18 -0700

Public Notice: Information for Maine Veterans

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:24:44 -0700

Public Notice: Penquis Fall Sports Schedule

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:30:06 -0700

The Fall 2010 Penquis Sports Schedule is online! Click the link above for more information. As always, TRC is looking to gather scores from all the games, so if you're interested in helping us out, contact us!!

Public Notice: PAWS Yard Sale

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:25:55 -0700

Coming Sept 9, 10, and 11 at 39 Clinton Street, Milo. Clothes, kitchen stuff, some furniture, and lots of odds and ends. This is our big fundraiser for the fall. All items are by reasonable donation and 100% of your donation goes directly to PAWS to care for the animals. To make a donation or answer a question, please, call Sandy @ 965-8547 or Donna @ 965-5277. No tv's please !

Public Notice: Milo Panthers Youth Football

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:47:28 -0700

Milo has a football team! The Milo Panthers are a team in the Maine State Eight Man Football League. Click above for more information!

Public Notice: Rollerblading Club

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:00:12 -0700

The Milo Recreation Department would like to announce that an Elementary Rollerblading Club will begin on Thursday, September 2, after school until 4:00 at Milo Elementary. If you have rollerblades you would like to donate or to sign up, please contact Dick Martin (943-7326) or Stephanie Gillis and the MSAD #41 Wellness Committee. (943-2470).

Public Notice: OUI High Visibility Enforcement

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:10:08 -0700

The Brownville Police Department will be be performing OUI High Visibility Enforcement from August 20th to September 6th.

Public Notice: Updated Transfer Station Flyer

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:55:07 -0700

TRC Blog: Brownville Town Office Website Issues

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:03:12 -0800

We're having some issues with the Brownville Town Office page (www.brownville.org) related to our hosting account being moved. We would like to apologize for the inconvenience, and assure you it is being worked on. Thanks!

TRC Blog: Brownville Webcam

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:41:06 -0800

The Brownville Webcam is back!!

TRC Blog: TRC Meeting

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:08:18 -0800

The TRC Alliance will be holding a meeting on Thursday, March 11th, at 5pm at Hobnobbers Pub. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend!

TRC Blog: Milo & Brownville Webcams

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:46:14 -0800

As you may have noticed, we have been having some issues with our Webcams in Milo and Brownville lately. The Brownville Webcam has been down since Valentine's Day, and we aren't sure why. I'm hoping to get a chance to look into it this week. The Milo Webcam had an issue with our hosting account's server changing, but that has been fixed.

There from Here: Maine Alcohol Awareness Week

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:35:39 -0800

December 7th 11th Maines Alcohol Awareness Week Find Out More, Do More December 7th 11th marks Maines Alcohol Awareness Week, a statewide campaign to inform the public about the dangers of underage drinking and provide parents and guardians with strategies for prevention. Piscataquis Public Health Councils Community Partnership Specialist, Shannon Bishop, asks you to have a conversation with your teen on underage drinking, and to consider clipping out and posting these tips, based on research from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse on what works: Five Tips to Prevent Underage Drinking Tip 1: Limit Access If you have alcohol in your home, keep track of it - know what and how much you have, and keep it where it is not accessible to teens. Tip 2: Network Get to know your teens' friends and the parents of your teens' friends. Let them all know your rules, and where you stand on underage alcohol use - no furnishing, ever. Tip 3: Reinforce and Enforce Reinforce the rules and consequences of underage drinking before your teen goes out. Enforce your rules consistently. Tip 4: Check In Often Before your teen goes to a party or out with friends, ask if adults will be present and whether alcohol will be served. Ask your teen to call you from the party or gathering. Tip 5: Be Up and Be Ready When your teen arrives home, look for signs of use. Teens who believe their parents will catch them are less likely to drink. Be prepared in advance for what you would do if you discover your teen has been drinking. For more information and tips for prevention, visit www.maineparents.net or contact Shannon Bishop at the Piscataquis Public Health Council located on the Mayo Regional Hospital campus in Dover-Foxcroft at 564-4184. Submitted by: Shannon Bishop, Community Partnership Specialist,

There from Here: BEST PRACTICES in HIV Prevention Education CURRICULUM TRAINING

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:07:44 -0700

Skills for Sexual Health That Work with Adolescents MAINE HEALTH EDUCATION LEARNING RESULTS IN ACTION A TWO-DAY, NO COST, CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING DATES: December 9 & 10, 2009 Wed. & Thu., 8:00am 3:30pm PLACE: Spectacular Events Center, Bangor, Maine This is a high school level pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections & HIV prevention skills researched, evidence-based and behavior change-based curriculum. Local Assessment Tool included as well. If you have been to this training in the past, please pass this on so new or additional staff can be trained. For schools that have not been trained in Best Practices, this curriculum training from the Department can update your program with a new 9th or 10th grade HIV & STD prevention curriculum that impacts sexual behaviors. Refusal skills, delaying skills and skills to deal with social pressures are taught throughout the 13-lesson curriculum. These skills can also be used in other health risk behavior areas. Teacher and student response to the curriculum has been enthusiastic! One teacher reported that guidance counselors heard about the program from students. Plus, students were talking about the curriculum as they waited for class and abstinence became a term that came up often in student conversations for the first time. Teachers have found the curriculum to be user friendly with everything provided in the supplemental kit. Several teachers said, We wish we had a curriculum like this for all the health areas. Best Practices in HIV Prevention Education builds lesson by lesson in skill level and practice. It is aligned with the Maine Learning Results in Health Education, covering several of the health content areas. Plus, the kit includes model tasks for local assessment. Teachers will find it easy to use after training. * Free training that is interactive and fun * Meets Maine Learning Results and health education content * Local assessment tool included * Free teacher-friendly/student-centered curriculum that works * Reinforces refusal skills across the curriculum * Implementation grants* * Consultation & technical services from the Department of Education * Substitute teacher reimbursement (up to $50) * No cost lunch * Free kit that includes all the necessary materials In order to receive grant funds, you and/or your school agrees to: * Approach your administrator and/or school board to teach Best Practices once as a pilot, if required locally. * Attend all sessions on each of two training days. * We prefer two staff members from a school system attend the training so that there is support for implementation. * Teach all of the lessons to fidelity in at least one class. * Have students complete a pre/post survey. * Provide a brief report on how grant funds were spent. In Maine, one out of three young people report having had sexual intercourse by the end of ninth grade. By the end of twelfth grade, more than six out of ten students report having had sexual intercourse. For this reason, it is essential that young people be given the skills to delay the onset of sexual intercourse or abstain. Because the majority of youth will be sexually active by 19 years of age, the skills to negotiate the use of safer sex products is also an important aspect of ones sexual health. Both are the objectives of Best Practices in HIV Prevention Education. If you have questions about the curriculum, please contact us. A fact sheet on the curriculum can be faxed or emailed for your school administrator if needed. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. To register on-line, go to: http://www.maine.gov/education/hiv/trainings/index.html#bestpractices. Please contact us with any questions you may have. If you are awaiting approval to attend, contact us to save a slot. You will receive a confirmation letter and directions to the site via e-mail and fax. Please be sure to include your e-mail address and fax number on the registration form. Thank you ! Contact Info: Jody Leary, Training Assistant Tel: 624-6692 E-mail: hiv.doe@maine.gov, Mailing address: HIV Prevention Education Program, Maine Dept. of Education, 23 State House Station Augusta ME 04333-0023. We look forward to seeing you at the training !

There from Here: Crafters Near and Far

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:31:49 -0700

There from Here: What You Do Matters - October 2009

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:24:04 -0700

What You Do Matters - October 2009

Click the link above to read the monthly newsletter.

Dear Sober Moose: Dear Sober Moose

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:56:34 -0700

Dear Sober Moose, My wife nags me every night when I come home. She argues about my few beers after work and my wish to sit at the TV and relax. She points out all my faults and blames them on my mother and beer. How do I convince her that I just need to relax? Fed up

Dear Fed Up:

Hopefully, since you are asking for advice, you want to keep your marriage intact. Two things:

Is thre anything your wife is dealing with that could affect her nagging behavior? Her work stress...her extended family...the kids...her moods? Is there possibly a reason she picks on your mother, beer and TV watching?

She could be the one with problems unrecognized by her and in need of sorting out. Or, is she fed up with your possible alcohol abuse or dependency? Or is she stressed by your mother's influence over you? Or does she just miss your company or wishes you would do more chores around the house?

Consider the idea of both of you talking with trusted friends, family, counselors, or ministers, etc. whose ability to sort out your issues of conflict would be respected.

Perhaps, you would seek counseling separately or together as a couple...whatever would be the most comfortable

Good luck!

Doesn't Make Cents: Well then...

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:20:52 -0700

Sorry folks, didn't realize the last post was a short as it was.....Well, the mortgage modification process that was meant to save the day for hundreds of thousands of people isn't exactly doing that. Sure, I've read numerous articles blaming the banks for not wanting to take the time to modify the loans or it costs less the just foreclose but let me tell ya the last thing a bank wants to do is foreclose. The information to properly run the program wasn't rec'd for months and after that initial batch of info the program has had numerous changes. Anyway, with the program finally up and running there are little catches that don't get talked about....the biggest is that for someone to be eligible for the program under the Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Home Modification Program the mortgage ratio has to be greater than 31%. If the mortgage ratio is equal to or under that, sorry...no help. For the mortgage ratio take your monthly mortgage payment and divide that by your GROSS, yes, GROSS monthly income...before taxes. If that is greater than 31% the program then begins working the numbers until the mortgage payment is 31%. For those people that got into those exotic mortgages for homes they couldn't afford the program is showing significant decreases in monthly payments...but it doesn't help those who have lost jobs. No money=no modifcation. Add that to the news that 1.5 million people are going to lose their unemployment benefits in the coming months reinforces that we are not yet through the worst of all this. With that in mind, remember to support your local schools. Children are the innocent in all of this and for them to have the opportunity to succeed they need the proper tools in school.

MSAD #41 Tidbits: PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:11:17 -0700

The Maine School Administrative District 41 will hold a Public Hearing on July 27, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Brownville Elementary School, 74 Main Road, Brownville, ME 04414 to discuss an application being submitted to the State of Maine Department of Conservation, Grants and Community Recreation Division, Land and Water Conservation Fund. The purpose of the grant application is to rehabilitate the Brownville Elementary School Playground and to open its use after school hours to the community. Public comments will be solicited at this Hearing and will be submitted as part of the application. All persons wishing to make comments or ask questions about the grant application are invited to attend this Public Hearing. Comments may be submitted in writing to: Dr. Kenneth B. Woodbury, Jr., Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, 50 Mayo Street, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04226-1231 at any time prior to the Public Hearing. TDD/TTY users may call 711. If you are physically unable to access any of MSAD 41's programs or services, please call Lyford Beverage, MSAD 41 Superintendent, at 207-943-7317, so that accommodations can be made.

Doesn't Make Cents: Mortgage Modification Mess

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:43:36 -0700

Part of President Obama's strategy to keep

From Away: Returning to the homestead from "away"

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:39:34 -0700

I finally found a former colleague and friend after over a year of trying to Google her identity for her current location/residence. She worked in New Bedford, MA with me in St. Luke's Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry. I knew she had moved from her home in the Providence, RI area but I did not know where. (The annual Christmas card was not forwarded and sent back...) I learned from the Internet that her name was associated with a college in the New Haven, CT area; I called the college but could not get confirmation that she still worked there. She had been listed as a teacher for nursing students. So that became a dead end. Finally, I searched her through Facebook..thinking she might have joined up as I have to keep in contact with her children who live in various parts of the world. And yes, she was on the list. But, she did not respond to my seeking a "friend" contact. But just today, she did respond to my request via Facebook. I discovered she had moved to Oregon to be nearer her daughter. After two years there, she moved back to New England stating she just did "not fit in" there. Her birthplace and childhood home was in New Haven, CT so she returned there to be near her relatives and old friends. And now we can re-engage our friendship. But the interesting thing to me was...how the pull of a homestead hometown area can operate. She hadn't lived in CT for some 30 years yet was happy to return there. And she says though she loves her children...one in Oregon, the other in British Columbia, CA...she prefers visiting them on vacation trips versus leaving her comfort zone of familiar territory. I have no family left in Simsbury, CT so that scenario isn't going to work for me. But this area in Milo has many similarities...so I think I am set.

From Away: Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the Military

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:14:28 -0700

I just don't get it. An accomplished officer is kicked out of service because it was found out that he was gay. The old generation rationale for not wanting gays in the service was...what? That a fellow man in a male barrack would seduce you? That a gay man would wimp out in battle? That a gay man would scare others because of close quarters and what? The possibility that one "straight" serviceman would be "converted" or scared that he had the same "tendencies" albeit untested? Was there fear that a gay man would rape a straight man? Just think about the introduction of females in the military services. They actually are raped and harassed by straight men...at least that had been an initial problem. And gay women? How are they going to scare straight or gay men? How are they going to threaten straight women? All females I know well have had experiences of having to firmly say "NO" to a straight man...sometimes to no avail. Women are used to getting "hit" upon with uncomfortable results. It is part of growing up that women have to learn to take care not to "invite" opportunities to become prey to either a man or a woman...i.e. it is a good idea to avoid walking in the dark unescorted by a pack of Rottweilers or known friendly "sober" men. Also, women have to discern the safety of drinking alcohol or any other judgement reducing chemical when on a date or in the company of persons that are unfamiliar to them. Women have had to deal with these issues since Eve's ancestors took hold on Earth. And Eve was naive, if you remember the story...until the apple routine. So, I sometimes think, only gays should be in the military service...just think of the financial savings that would endure because of less dependents to feed and provide survivor benefits. No...I really think effective soldiers (male, female whether straight or gay, bi) should be the ones in service.

From Away: Traveling to Eastern Canada

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:22:33 -0700

'I am amazed at how few people I meet in Maine who have never been to Quebec, New Brunswick or any other eastern Canadian province. This state is essentially bordered on 2 1/2 sides by Canada. And usually the US dollar is worth more than a Canadian dollar...last I heard it was the Canadian dollar equaling 84 cents US...last year it was reversed ergo so many people from New Brunswick came to the Bangor Mall for bargains. Anyway, I am looking forward to my first Elderhostel trip and program this summer in Quebec Province where I will study conversational French in a relaxed chalet farm that grows organic produce and have my three meals a day there. A fellow transplant "away" person is joining me; she recently had a wonderful time in Vermont doing a culinary program learning about gourmet cooking and checking out goat farms, etc. where cheeses are made. That program was also Elderhostel. If you do not know about this program, check it out on Internet and request their extensive catalogue. Some programs are quite expensive ...therefore, I only look into the ones I can drive to... If you are not the type to enjoy Disney World or large resorts, then you may like this sort of adventure. The programs are rated for activity level as some are more athletic than cerebral. So this closeness to Canada is one other feature of merit living in Maine. Viva Les Quebecois!

From Away: Milo Elementary School Band Wows the Crowd

Tue, 26 May 2009 09:11:16 -0700

Congratulations to the Music Director, the Milo Elementary School staff, students and parents. The Memorial Day Parade was sparked up by the great uniforms, marching form, and enthusiasm of the kids in the band! I propose the elementary school band mentor the PVHS equivalent!

Doesn't Make Cents: Oh those credit cards

Fri, 22 May 2009 22:22:51 -0700

I hope everyone has been watching what has been happening lately in regards to the recent credit card legislation. The media has been picking and choosing what to highlight and depending on your choice of medium doom and gloom is met by slight promise. The law is full of it's ups and downs, but what law isn't. I can almost quarantee that since the required changes aren't required to go into effect until the beginning of next year there will be some major rate changing going on in the coming months. Don't be surprised to get some mail stating your credit limit has gone down and your interest rate up. I'm not gonna take the next 300 words and explain every aspect of the new law as most news portals have beat the hell out of it. But please, take the time to read what will be expected of the credit card companies next year and pay close attention to noted pitfalls. Personally I don't buy all the media speculation that the credit card companies will start penalizing their good customers. Yeah, there may be some annual fee increases and a bit higher interest rate for balance transfers but the companies will still feed on those people that go 60 days delinquent at which time the companies can jack the rate again.

Up on the Farm: My Day In Lagrange..

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:27:00 -0700

OK..About my day delivering mail in Lagrange..#1 I almost ran over an alternator or carburator or some car part that shouldn't be in front of a mail box. #2 A guy on a 4-Wheeler came out of no where on Mill Street..doing a wheelie..Correct me...

Up on the Farm: New Beginnings~

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:13:56 -0700

Today is a fabulously beautiful day in Milo, Maine!! So many wonderful things going on in town..And I noticed that the Pink Tulips planted on the old True Value lot have broken through..Hope, and Tulips spring eternal!! The grant...

Doesn't Make Cents: Hope Springs Eternal

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:02:01 -0700

I hope the spring time has found everyone healthy; both physically and mentally. For those of you who have chosen to live the last 4 months avoiding the consistent negative reports from the media in regards to the economy I'm sure you have perserved at least 5 years of your life span. As for the rest of us, well, gray hairs and sleepless nights I'm sure are the norm. While there have been some brief hints at a pulse of late there are sure to be many more poor months ahead. We're still losing 500-600K jobs with ease and unemployment benefits for many Americans are scheduled to end after 2 extensions of benefits. The access to money because of the ever tightening credit market has added to the pains as many small business owners cannot access enough credit to make payroll, leading to layoffs, leading to less money in the economy. How do we fix this problem? I truly don't think there is a "fix". The economy will heal itself once supply and demand come more in line and the saturated market place will again thrive, but not at the heights we knew...the 5 million or so jobs we've lost will not come back over night....I'd be surprised if they come back in the next 5 years and much of that depents on what happens with the car industry which is a whole other discussion in itself. I've been making myself familiar with President Obama's Home Affordable Mortgage Plan over the last few weeks and while it does address the essential problem of people paying a mortgage they can't afford the program does very little to help those that have lost jobs. The end mission of the plan is to modify a mortgage so the payment is no more than 38% of monthly gross income.....once that happens the government chips in to reduce the payment to 31% of gross income. This is achieved by 1)reducing the interest rate(not to go below 2%) 2)extend mortgage terms(up to 40 years...can you imagine?) 3)If that doesn't do it than the forgiveness of principal is introduced. Of course each borrower has to show income for the plan to work. So yeah, those people that have lost jobs have no income for this to work. The program is also not for people that have the home as an investment property and the property cannot be for sale. So, in closing there are programs out there intending to help people but what price will we pay for this? Future generations are sure to be saddled with unimagineable debt and with foreign government pressuring the government to avoid devaluing the dollar and other world governments calling for a new denomination to be used as the global pricing unit.....the challenges are great. Patience will be the rule for many years to come, which, for Americans, hasn't always been the easiest virtue to comply with.

Up on the Farm: The Storm of Feb.23,2009

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:39:16 -0800

Are many of you still so young at heart that a big storm fills you with excitement, anticipation and glee?? I was this morning: this afternoon-Not so much. When I drove home last night a little after 9, the snow was falling at a pretty good...