Maine Senate Majority Leader Named Executive Director of National Association to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices

Maine Senate Majority Leader Sharon Treat has been named Executive Director of the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices (NLA-Rx), announced Maine State Representative David Lemoine (D), Chair of the Board.

NLA-Rx is a bipartisan legislative association that provides opportunities for state legislators to share information and to learn about ways to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable and reduce prescription drug costs. Model legislation developed by NLA-Rx has been enacted across the country, and its quarterly meetings provide a forum for legislators to learn about the very complex policies and practices that govern prescription drug pricing, marketing, distribution, and importation.

Treat has served in Maine's legislature for 14 years, six years in the House of Representatives and eight years in the Senate, where she has served as part of leadership for the last 4 years.

Treat has been a member of the NLA-Rx Board since December 2000. She is recognized nationally on this issue, presenting at conferences sponsored by the National Council of State Legislatures, Center for Policy Alternatives, Families USA, and the federal Health and Human Services Department. She has also presented to legislators in Rhode Island and Vermont, and as a keynote speaker at the National Community Pharmacists Association annual meeting this spring.

Treat is an attorney who earned her undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Princeton University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center where she graduated with honors.

Treat will assume the Executive Director position on September 1, but will continue as Maine Senate Majority Leader through the end of her term, November 30th.. NLA-Rx headquarters, currently located in Vermont, will be based in Hallowell, Maine starting September 1st.

Smokey the Bear turns 60!
(Does that make you feel old?)

Smokey the Bear's 60th birthday is on Monday August 9th! Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service campaign in US History. Smokey's forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of wildfires in the nation's wildlands.

Early posters featured Bambi, but the campaign soon switched to America's favorite toy animal-the bear. In 1944 illustrator Albert Staehle drew the first Smokey, a big-eyed, round-nosed bear in a park ranger's hat. Six years later a real bear brought a turn to the campaign. In May 1950, forest fires swept New Mexico's Capitan Mountains. A little black bear cub clinging to a tree was rescued, and ti was named "Smokey Bear" after the character in the poster. The real Smokey Bear died in 1976 and his remains were sent home to Capitan, New Mexico, where he was rescued as a cub.

As one of the world's most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey's image is protected by US Federal Law and is administered by the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. Explore these links to learn more about the history of the campaign, the "real" Smokey Bear, and Smokey's unique place in American culture.

At http://www.smokeybear.com/ there are many resources such as Smokey Bear Teacher's Guide, Smokey Bear Activity Book, Smokey Bear Kid's Poster. Check it out!

Business Resources
For businesses that may be interested, copies of a Maine Department of Economic and Community Development publication entitled, "Pocket Guide to Maine's Business Resources" is available to the public. It addresses such subjects as state financing programs, tax increment financing, tax reimbursement, credits and exemptions, marketing, workforce training, environmental protection, technical assistance, and business services and information. Also, the publication lists phone numbers and web sites for State of Maine Business Resources.

For copies, call Gray Town Planner Dick Cahill at 657-3112 or visit the Town Planner's office downstairs in the Municipal Building at 6 Shaker Rd., Gray.