The Monument - Community News for Gray, New Gloucester, Cumberland, N. Yarmouth, Raymond and Windham Maine

News Briefs

Final election results

Gray Election Clerk Mitchell A. Berkowitz reported to The Monument last Wednesday that several of his Tuesday night election results had since been revised after mathematical errors were discovered. The call came too late for the hard copy last week. We are reprinting the town- revised results this week. Races that did not change are not reprinted.
Gray Election Results
From: Election Clerk Mitchell A. Berkowitz

Registered Voters; approximately 5,800
Turnout: 77%
President of the United States:
George Bush: 2208
John Kerry: 2102
Ralph Nader: 51
Maine House of Representatives, 109th district
Austin, Susan M., R-Gray: 2064
Bunker, Stevens D., D-Gray: 1176
Referenda:
Tax Cap: YES-1939, NO-2456
Municipal initiative: YES-1824, NO-1764

Gray Municipal News Briefs
Submitted by Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz

MDOT Selects Intersection Improvement Project:
The Town of Gray wase notified that the intersection of Rt. 115/202 heading towards Windham was selected as a Safety Project. The proposed change will be to make Rt. 202 North come into a "T" intersection and allow Rt. 115 to continue along the existing alignment without any stop or yield. Funding is scheduled for the BTIP 2006-2007 year. MDOT is seeking the Town's comments and support for this project.

Repair Claim Resolved:
During the construction of the Main street sidewalks, some of the entrance pavement to the Gray Thriftway and related stores was damaged. After meeting with the property owner and the contractor the resolution to repair the broken pavement was reached. As a result, the Town prepared the area for pavement and the contractor paved the area. The owner paid the Town which will then be paid to the Contractor. All work has been completed and a general release will be executed by the owner.

Snow Plowing Contracts Completed:
As of mid October, the Town executed snow plowing contracts with three vendors who will be responsible for the public easement roads previously approved by the Council. Mr. Keith Osgood, Mr. William Stone and Mr. Bruce Kimball have agreed to one year contracts, in part due to the uncertainty that existed leading up to the November 2, 2004 elections. All three contractors have worked for the Town in the past, they know their designated roads and keep them open throughout the winter. The rates per mile vary pending which roads are being done. The contracts are on file.

Small Business Health Care options
The Gray Business Association in partnership with the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to an informative gathering concerning DirigoChoice Health Plan.

Who Should Attend: Small business owners or representatives of small businesses with 2-50 employees who currently are without health insurance or who are looking to investigate other insurance options.

When: Tuesday November 16th from 4-5 p.m. at the Conference Center at Pineland Farms - New Gloucester Maine . Speaker: Sharon Roberts , an Anthem representative, Sharon Roberts from Anthem is a designated spokesperson for DirigoChoice Health Plan. Anthem is the insurance carrier who will be providing the coverage for the plan.

If you have any questions please contact: Leo Credit - President Gray Business Association 657-5600, Barbara Clark - Executive Director, Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce 892-8265.
For directions go to www.pinelandfarms.org or call 207-688-4691

WMTW-TV Will Not Air Saving Private Ryan

Concerns over new definitions of indecency prompt move.

Portland, ME— WMTW-TV announced today that the scheduled airing of the Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan will be pre-empted. The decision was based on recent rulings by the Federal Communications Commission that have established new legal standards for what broadcast stations may and may not broadcast prior to 10:00 p.m. local time. The film was scheduled to air Thursday at 8 PM.

“Whether Saving Private Ryan, a film that possesses significant artistic, social and historical value, is appropriate for broadcast prior to 10:00 p.m. has been a subject of considerable discussion within our station.” said Ken Bauder, President and General Manager of WMTW-TV. “Until the current legal standards are clarified by the FCC or the courts, those of us entrusted to protect the broadcast license issued for our station by the FCC are only left to guess whether the artistic, social or historical significance of programs such as this is sufficient to insulate the station from regulatory liability for program content that would, in other contexts, be held unlawful.” Bauder said.

WMTW-TV and all Hearst/Argyle owned ABC affiliated stations asked the ABC Network for permission to delay the start of the broadcast of Saving Private Ryan until 10:00 p.m. local time -the "safe harbor" time period established by the FCC under its new legal standards for programming of this kind. “To our disappointment and regret, ABC has denied our request.” Bauder said.

“Saving Private Ryan honors those men and women who so bravely serve and have served in the defense of our nation’s freedoms.” Bauder continued. “Its presentation on Veterans Day, at a time our nation is at war, would have been a fitting tribute to them all.” Bauder concluded.

In place of Saving Private Ryan WMTW-TV will present the Ron Howard film Far And Away starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

WMTW-TV, is the ABC affiliate for the Portland/Auburn Maine television market and is owned and operated by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. owns 25 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations, in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The Company's television stations reach about 18.2% of U.S. TV households, making it one of the largest U.S. television station groups. The Company owns 10 NBC affiliates, and is the second-largest NBC affiliate owner. Hearst-Argyle also owns 12 ABC affiliated stations, and manages an additional ABC station owned by The Hearst Corporation, and is the largest ABC affiliate group. The Company also owns two CBS affiliates and a WB affiliate, and manages a UPN affiliate and an independent station. Hearst-Argyle also is involved in television production and syndication, through a joint venture with NBC Universal Television Distribution, and is a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through its partnership with Internet Broadcasting Systems. Hearst-Argyle is majority owned by The Hearst Corporation. Hearst-Argyle Series A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTV."