2014 Town Report
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Annual Report of the Town Officers of SIDNEY, MAINE for the Year Ending January 31st 2014 INDEX IN BACK OF REPORT Town of Sidney Annual Town Meeting 2014 SCHEDULE VOTING on Articles 1 and 2 as outlined in the Town of Sidney Warrant for Annual Town Meeting: DATE: Friday, March 21, 2014 TIME: 12:15 PM – 8:00 PM PLACE: Sidney Town Office, 2986 Middle Road TOWN MEETING to vote on the remaining Articles as outlined in the Town of Sidney Warrant for Annual Town Meeting: DATE: Saturday, March 22, 2014 TIME: Breakfast begins at 8:00 AM Meeting begins at 9:00 AM PLACE: JH Bean School, 2896 Middle Road, Sidney NEW THIS YEAR!!! BREAKFAST: The Sidney Athletic Association (SAA) will be hosting a fund raising breakfast at 8:00 AM before the Town Meeting begins. The SAA will serve pancakes, eggs, bacon, home fries, cinnamon rolls, juice, and coffee. The SAA is asking for a small donation of $5 per person. Come and support the SAA and the youth of this Town! FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS: The Town of Sidney Selectmen would like to show support to the community by asking each attendee to bring non-perishable food item to the Town Meeting as a donation to THE SIDNEY FOOD PANTRY. 2 DEDICATION Larry and Sandra Tibbetts Stewards of the Sidney Food Cupboard The Town of Sidney has been blessed for over 15 years to have lifelong residents, Larry and Sandra Tibbetts, managing The Sidney Food Cupboard in our community. They have tirelessly worked to create and manage a precious resource for our citizens through their Sidney Baptist Church ministry. The Sidney Food Cupboard is a friendly and safe place for those of us who need a helping hand during tough times. Their commitment to provide a clean, neat, and well stocked food cupboard over the years has been a blessing to many families in our community. The families who visit the food cupboard have come to trust and love Larry and Sandra for their commitment to confidentiality, their friendly faces, and genuine concern for their customer’s wellbeing. They are welcomed at the door with a smile and friendly conversation as they shop for much needed and appreciated groceries. Larry and Sandra are to be commended for their “creative shopping” as Sandra puts it. They have learned where to go for the lowest price. They cheerfully drive their car from place to place in the greater Waterville and Augusta area and don’t return until they have a full load; only to return to the cupboard to unload and stock their precious cargo. Sandra laughed when she spoke of their trips being their daily exercise. She says that all that walking and lifting keeps them in great shape! In addition to the Town’s generous annual gift; Larry and Sandra seek out more donations by filling out grant forms, knocking on doors, and spreading the word through their church and the community, as well as, the schools and local businesses. In addition, she says that on occasion folks will just drop by and hand her some cash or a box full of food. 3 Sandra keeps track of their volunteer hours and says they average at least 40 hours a week. Much of their time is spent with customers and shopping; however, they also spend their time keeping impeccable records. They are dedicated to keeping track of every precious penny that is generously donated and make sure they send a handwritten thank you note to each and every donor. Sandra said they are committed to being the best stewards of the donations they can be. It is the Board’s pleasure to honor Larry and Sandra Tibbetts for their many years of generous giving of both their time and their personal resources as they quietly serve a community they love in a little corner of town that can be referred to as a little piece of heaven. God Bless You both for your kind generosity! If you would like to contribute to the Sidney Food Cupboard or if you are in need of assistance, you may drop off or obtain non-perishable food and household items at the Second Baptist Church located at 3018 West River Road, or schedule an appointment at 207-547-3543. The Selectmen will be holding a food and household supply drive at the Town Meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2014, beginning at 9:00AM, at the JH Bean School, 2896 Middle Road. Thank you for supporting your community! 4 DEDICATION Larry and Sandra Tibbetts Stewards of the Sidney Food Cupboard The Town of Sidney has been blessed for over 15 years to 5 have lifelong residents, Larry and Sandra Tibbetts, managing The Sidney Food Cupboard in our community. They have tirelessly worked to create and manage a precious resource for our citizens through their Sidney Baptist Church ministry. The Sidney Food Cupboard is a friendly and safe place for those of us who need a helping hand during tough times. Their commitment to provide a clean, neat, and well stocked food cupboard over the years has been a blessing to many families in our community. The families who visit the food cupboard have come to trust and love Larry and Sandra for their commitment to confidentiality, their friendly faces, and genuine concern for their customer’s wellbeing. They are welcomed at the door with a smile and friendly conversation as they shop for much needed and appreciated groceries. Larry and Sandra are to be commended for their “creative shopping” as Sandra puts it. They have learned where to go for the lowest price. They cheerfully drive their car from place to place in the greater Waterville and Augusta area and don’t return until they have a full load; only to return to the cupboard to unload and stock their precious cargo. Sandra laughed when she spoke of their trips being their daily exercise. She says that all that walking and lifting keeps them in great shape! In addition to the Town’s generous annual gift; Larry and Sandra seek out more donations by filling out grant forms, knocking on doors, and spreading the word through their church and the community, as well as, the schools and local businesses. In addition, she says that on occasion folks will just drop by and hand her some cash or a box full of food. 6 7 8 January 2014 Dear Friends: Last year saw some of the most bitterly partisan political fighting in Washington in recent memory. However, the gridlock in Washington has not slowed my efforts to fight for Maine’s businesses and industries on the national and international level. I will continue to visit and speak with Maine’s small businesses and manufacturers to hear firsthand about their successes and challenges. This is an important part of my ongoing “Make it in Maine” agenda which consists of initiatives to boost domestic manufacturing and support job growth in our state. In 2014, it will be my great honor to continue serving our nation’s veterans as the Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Over the course of the last year, I worked with Representative Jeff Miller (R-Florida), the committee’s chairman, to pass a number of bills important to veterans. Some that we passed would reduce the VA’s disability claims backlog, help get veterans their compensation faster, and improve training and educational opportunities. One critical measure we advanced through the committee would ensure that all VA programs receive funding a year in advance so no veterans will have to worry about services being disrupted. While I am proud of these accomplishments, I know there is still so much to do. I will continue to fight for new advances in areas such as veteran employment, veterans’ health care, and the ongoing concerns with the VA claims backlog. I believe Washington is at a crossroads. There are many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle that truly want to get things done for the people they represent. Congress needs to work together to get things done and make Washington work again. I continue to be committed to making that happen, and continue to regularly meet with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to forge a way forward. As we move forward into a new year, my highest priority remains ensuring that Mainers receive timely and quality constituent services. Whether you have a specific concern with a federal agency or need help connecting to resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any of my offices. I also encourage you to visit my website (www.house.gov/michaud), where you can email me as well as connect with me on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you again for the opportunity to represent you in Congress. With warmest regards, Michael H. Michaud Member of Congress 9 Dear Friend, I hope this letter finds you and your family well. It is an honor to represent you in Congress and a pleasure to update you on the work I am doing in Maine and Washington. You are probably aware that Washington is a very challenging place to get anything done these days. The partisan climate has kept many important issues from being addressed and even led to a shutdown of the federal government. Worst of all, it has created uncertainty for Maine families and the economy. It’s the last thing we need. Over the next year, I will continue pressing Congressional leaders to bring the focus back to helping people rather than advancing ideologies.