HOLDEN HAPPENINGS Volume 26 Issue 2 April, May & June, 2016

Inside this issue:

Single Stream Recycling Schedule Page 2

Community News & Announcements Page 3

A Very Special Thank You Page 5

Drug Take-Back Day Page 7

Fire Department News Page 8

Spring Bulky Waste Clean-up Schedule & Fees Page 10

ELECTION DAY

JUNE 14, 2016

TOWN MEETING

JUNE 15, 2016

Spring is finally upon us after a mostly mild winter snow wise. We have plans for a

good summer season here at the Town of Holden. Planning for paving and road work is

underway and the Department of Transportation is going to be doing a $2,537,000 Mill and

Fill project on Route 1A from the KOA Campground (formerly Red Barn) 7.55 miles into

Dedham. I’m sure we are all excited to see the ruts in 1A go away. Locally we are looking

at the Double Layer Chip Seal process we used last year on the Upper Dedham Road, so far

very successful and a great cost saver for Holden long term.

Like many of other residents I’m excited to start clean up around the yard and just

want to remind everyone that our Spring Bulky Waste Clean Up will be May 14th, from

7:00am to 1:00pm at the Holden Highway Garage. For those of us who burn our own

brush we have free burn permits at both the Town Office and the Fire Department. As al-

ways after winter mild or brutal I try to encourage folks to check their mail box and make

sure it’s still securely fastened.

With deepest gratitude, the Cormier Family would like to thank the community for their overwhelming support and generosity at the benefit on February 19th.

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“RECYCLE TODAY FOR

TOMORROW!”

ARE YOU??

COLLECTION DATES FOR

CURBSIDE RECYCLING

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016

THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016

DO NOT RECYCLE THE

FOLLOWING ITEMS

Window glass, mirrors, light

bulbs, pyrex, ceramic containers, plastic

bags, film, ribbons, foam packaging,

Styrofoam, recyclables containing food

waste,

paint or oils, hazardous materials,

The Recycle Stick-

er looks like this.

It is six inches in diameter, will

attach to any container of your choice

and the cost is $1.00 each.

WHAT YOU CAN RECYCLE Paper Plastic

newsletters, magazines milk jugs

flyer’s, junk mail detergent, shampoo bottles

catalogs & mail all plastic containers (#1 - #7)

phone books & paperbacks blister packaging

paper (all colors – staples ok) plastic clamshell containers

paper bags, file folders soda, juice, water bottles

wrapping paper kitty litter buckets (handle okay)

milk, soda crates toys (must have some give)

laundry baskets, trash bins

Cardboard landscape trays plant pots

cereal boxes, shoeboxes, etc. milk, soda crates

paper towel cores, pizza boxes

milk, juice cartons Metal

drink boxes, aseptic containers cans (steel, tin, aluminum)

aerosol cans (empty)

Glass aluminum (trays, foil, etc.)

all glass bottles and jars

CLIP & SAVE THIS PAGE

REMEMBER: SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING MEANS THAT YOU MAY

PUT ALL OF YOUR RECYCLABLES INTO THE SAME CONTAINER—NO

SEPARATING NECESSARY!!

3

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR

THE HOLDEN TOWN OFFICE

WILL BE CLOSED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 PATRIOTS DAY

MONDAY, MAY 30, 2016 MEMORIAL DAY

MONDAY, JULY 4, 2016 FOURTH OF JULY

FREE FAMILY FISHING DAYS –2016

This wonderful family event will take place on June 4th & June 5th. On these two days, any

person (except those whose license has been suspended or revoked) may fish without a license.

All other laws and regulations apply on these days.

Looking for a new water to fish near home? Visit the Maine Fishing Guide on MDIFW’s website

MEFISHWILDLIFE.COM and begin planning your next fishing trip.

FY 2016 - 2017 BUDGET AND TOWN MEETING SCHEDULE

April 4, 2016 Town Council meets with staff and manager on Budget and Capital

Improvements Plan. Publish Budget Hearing Notice. (Sp. Mtg.) 6:00PM

April 11, 2016 Budget Committee meets with Staff and Manager on Budget.(Sp Mtg) 6:00PM

April 19, 2016 Budget and Capital Improvements Plan Public Hear ing. Town Council

reviews Budget, Capital Improvements Plan, Town Report and Town Meeting

Warrant. (Reg. Mtg.) 6:00PM

April 29, 2016 Nomination petitions due by 5:00PM in Town Office (45 days pr ior to election)

May 13, 2016 Absentee Ballots available (30 days pr ior to election)

May 18, 2016 Meet the Candidates Night (Town Council Meeting) 6:00PM

June 7, 2016 Town Meeting Warrant posted. Town Repor ts received.

June 14, 2016 Annual/Pr imary Election (Holden Municipal Building, 7:00AM to 8:00PM)

June 15, 2016 Annual Town Meeting (Holden Elementary School, 7:00PM)

*****DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*****

Nomination Papers are

available at the Town Office for:

2 TOWN COUNCIL SEATS - 3 Year Terms Each

1 RSU #63 SCHOOL BOARD POSITION - 3 Year Term

Papers must be returned to the Town Office by 5:00 PM on April 29, 2016

Absentee Ballots will be available on May 13, 2016

4

Election Day Food Drive Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Holden Town Office

Bring Non-Perishable Foods to the Polls and Help Stock

CHEFS. Holden, Eddington and Clifton Food Support.

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A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU

Thank you for your support.

On behalf of friends, family and co-workers of Tom Cormier, we would like to

acknowledge the following donors and volunteers for their generous contributions to

make the benefit dinner/auction a huge success.

We would like to acknowledge the following for their generous donation of silent

auction items:

Leadbetter’s, G & M Family Market, Phantom Fireworks, Nelligan’s Construc-

tion, Joanne Nelligan, Traditions Golf Course, Bangor/Holden KOA Campground,

Loving Touch In-Home Care, Pine Tree Waste, Twin City Tire, Ben Breadmore,

Valerie Breadmore, Ralph McLeod, Steven Kislus, George & Teresa McDonald, Vi-

king Lumber, Kosta’s, Ellen Campbell, Maine Horse and Rider, Gagne & Son, High

Tide Restaurant, Arthur Dearborn IV, David Blanchette, Huck Wonson, Joanne &

Rich Reynolds and many others.

All donations of dessert auction Items:

Nicole MacFarline, Chelsey McGovern, Wanda Libbey, Carole Dowling, Theresa

McDonald, Shawna Hinkley, Joanne Reynolds, Ann Libby, Nicole Rockwell, Lisa

Lovely, Holly Whitmore, Bobbi Cochrane, Jill Gray, Jo-El Billings and many others.

A big thank you everyone that purchased raffle tickets and bought auction items.

You made the event a huge success.

Also, a special thank you to Sandra Oxley for preparing the dinner; and the

volunteers who worked tirelessly prior to, during and after the dinner/auction making

it a huge success.

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By the time you read this, the Town Council will have made one of the most important

decisions to be presented in some time. In expressing my views here, know that a great deal of

time and research has gone into determining the best outcome for the residents of Holden. The

issue before us is whether to continue our trash disposal with the Penobscot Energy Recovery

Company (PERC), or to join other communities supporting a new enterprise. Fiberight is a

company proposing to build a facility in Hampden that will extract materials from the waste

stream to produce bio-gas which would be added to our existing natural gas system. The Munici-

pal Review Committee (MRC) has represented 187 towns over the years, negotiating our relation-

ship with PERC and has now chosen to support Fiberight’s plan. They feel that, ultimately, this

plan will prove less expensive for municipalities and strengthen recycling programs.

Many details have been presented and I’m not going to rehash them here. The meetings and

reports I’ve studied have left me torn. Seventy-seven local people work at PERC and I have

strong concerns for their future, already four large area cities and towns have chosen Fiberight.

I can’t speak as to how the other councilors will vote, but as a resident and tax payer in Holden,

my vote will be for Fiberight.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom Copeland

The Town of Holden is in the process of computerizing our tax records. Computer based

assessing will offer greater uniformity and equity in assessments. With a standardized computer

system all comparable properties will be treated the same and readily accessible for comparison.

We suggest that property owners review their current property card (available at the Town

Office) for correct total acreage as well as the correct acreage for wetlands. We have new aerial

maps from James W. Sewall Co. which show upland and wetland acreages, these maps are availa-

ble for public viewing. Please compare this data with your deeds and/or surveys. We ask property

owners to supply the Town Office with any surveys that are available and the Town will produce

copies. This will aid us in producing not only correct assessments but to correct our existing Tax

Maps.

The draft 2016 land & building valuations are now posted on the Holden Website for public

review. Please visit the site and review the proposed values. Please call the tax assessor with any

concerns or questions. We would like to close the public review period prior to June 1, 2016 to

transfer values to billing for the July Tax Commitment. These proposed values are for land and

building the Homestead Exemption will be increasing this year from 10,000 to become 15,000,

but this new value is not reflected in this document.

Starting in April the Assessor will be in the field reviewing the prior years Building Permits to

determine per cent of completion and assess a value for the new construction. The Assessor sorts

the Permits by Road and attempts to view the construction sites in that order to reduce mileage

and travel time. If you prefer to set an appointment please call the Town Office to speak with the

Assessor to set a specific date and time for a meeting.

Your cooperation and patience while this process is undertaken is greatly appreciated. Thank

you for your time and assistance.

If you have any questions you may contact Millard Billings or Sherry Murray at the Holden

Town Office, 843-5151

REQUEST FROM THE ASSESSOR

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Happy Spring, from Holden P.D.!

More changes have occurred at the Police Department! Gene Fizell has retired from Holden and

has taken a job with the Veazie Police Department. In his place, Officer Eduardo Benjamin was

promoted to sergeant and (part-time) Officer Dain Bryant was hired full-time. I’m excited at the

direction our Department is going in and grateful to the dedication and sacrifice of all our officers!

While our Department responds to a wide-array of incidents or ‘calls to service,’ which typical-

ly average between 9 and 10 per day, we are also starting to see an increase in the area of fraud

calls/complaints.

Increasingly, people claiming to be from the IRS, the government or some other entity, are call-

ing Holden residents and attempting to scam them of their money, by phone. PLEASE don’t fall

for this! The IRS, et al, will not threaten to send us to your house and arrest you if you don’t give

them (the caller) your Social Security Number, debit-account info, or send them a check by mail.

If you are legitimately being sought by the IRS or whomever, they will write to you, but not threat-

en you with arrest, etc., by-phone. Please be wary, these criminals can be cunning, convincing and

clever. Don’t fall for it, and please DO NOT give them your personal information. When in doubt,

call us at 843-5442.

On a lighter note, HPD is contemplating holding a FREE Firearms Safety/Personal Safety class.

This would give YOU the valuable chance to learn what your rights are with regard to protecting

yourself in your home, carrying a concealed firearm safely, what the new law change does and

does not cover with regard to concealed carry, and much more. If you think you’d be interested in

attending, please e-mail me at CGTC@aol.com for more info.

Thanks for reading the Holden Happenings! Chief Chris Greeley

DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY

Saturday, April 30th, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM at the Holden Police Department.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and

responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public

about the potential for abuse of medications. For more information, please visit the web site:

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.

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Holden Fire/Rescue is pleased to announce the following Outstanding Citizen Awards.

On the early morning of February 17th, Holden Fire/Rescue and Police were requested for a

women down in a ditch, possibly hit by a car and unconscious. Crews responded to find a wom-

an who was not hit but had a severe case of hypothermia, as she had been wet, cold and outside

for a very long time. Three Holden residents that morning stepped up above and beyond of what

was expected of them. These residents along with the help of two Bangor Daily Newspaper carri-

ers pulled the women from the ditch, stripped her wet clothing and warmed her with dry blankets

before Fire/Rescues arrival. The actions by these residents are no doubt why this women is still

alive today. The fast notification to emergencies services and quick thinking to warm and dry the

patient really made the difference.

During the March Council meeting Stephanie Grimble, Alison Flewelling, and Randy

Flewelling were acknowledged by the Council and Holden Public Safety as Outstanding Citizens

of the Town of Holden. Thank you for all your efforts and help during that early morning of

February 17th.

Chief Ryan Davis

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BINGO! will be star ting back up at Bangor Holden KOA (former ly Red Barn

Campground) on May 24, 2016, at 6:00 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM. BINGO! will be held

every Tuesday from May 24th to October 4th and most Saturday evenings as well. BINGO! is

open to the public and we welcome the community for fun and fellowship. All of the proceeds

from the games go to the Holden Historical Society. Please come and enjoy the fun, there are

snacks available for purchase before and during the games.

The Holden Historical Society would like to thank Viking Lumber Com-

pany for their most generous donation of a reproduction door for the Historic

Holden Town Hall back door. Since the building is on the National Historic

Register, there are strict guidelines which must be followed for exterior and

interior renovations. Viking made this door to our specifications and did so at

no cost to the Society and we appreciate this gesture of community service

more than we can say. The Society has donated the door to the Town and

anticipate the installation will be accomplished soon since the weather has

been so great this year. Thank you again, Jim Sutherland and Viking Lumber.

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Mixed Const. Yard Debris Tree Limbs Bricks

Household Debris Brush/Limbs > 6" Dia Mortor

Truck/Trailer Sizes Debris (no brick or <6" Dia Concrete

concrete)

Cars $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00

Suv's $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00

Truck Bed 6' $20.00 $25.00 $15.00 $25.00 $30.00

Truck Bed 8' $25.00 $30.00 $20.00 $30.00 $35.00

Flat Beds $30.00 $35.00 $25.00 $35.00 $45.00

Trailer < than 8' $15.00 $20.00 $15.00 $20.00 $25.00

Trailer 8' - 12' $25.00 $25.00 $20.00 $25.00 $30.00

Trailers 12' - 18' $35.00 $40.00 $25.00 $30.00 $40.00

Car/PU Truck Tires Up to 20” ($5.00 each no large truck, heavy equipment or tractor tires)

Other Current

Appliances $20.00

Monitors FREE ***

TV FREE ***

TV Console FREE ***

CPU’s FREE ***

ELECTRONICS END WILL JOIN US ON BOTH DAYS

Definitions

1. Yard Debris Less than 6" Diameter: Mixed brush and/or limbs with limbs no larger than 6 " diameter.

2. Tree Limbs Greater than 6" Diameter: Mixed brush and/or limbs w/ 6" diameter or larger

3. Bricks/Mortar/Concrete: Load of either item, mixture of items or items mixed w/ other debris.

4. Mixed Household Debris: Furniture, clothing, household items not otherwise covered herein (no brush, limbs, concrete etc.)

5. Construction Debris: Wooden 2x's, sheet rock, flooring, plaster etc. (no concrete, cement, bricks or shin-gles)

SPRING 2016 BULKY WASTE CLEANUP SCHEDULE

The Town of Holden will hold its annual spring bulky waste cleanup at the Town

Garage on Saturday, May 14, from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM The following fee schedule will apply.

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These Business Helps Defray The Cost Of This Newsletter

Holden Historical Society is holding a raffle for two tickets for a Waterfront Concert Event,

plus an overnight stay from Bangor KOA Campground.

Tickets go on sale April 1st, 2016 and will be drawn on July 16, 2016, at the HHS event at

the Old Town Hall on that date. We will have food, presentations and our drawing, so mark

your calendars and Save the Date!