News

"Believe in ME...Maine
By Rep. Susan W. Austin, Maine House of Representatives #109
Portions of Gray, No. Yarmouth & Pownal

As state representative for portions of Gray, No. Yarmouth and Pownal, serving on the Business Research and Economic Development Committee I continue to gain "good news" through state forums, weekly summaries, publications, and focus groups. We have started the session with high intensity! I look forward to serving our new district and thank those of you who have already contacted me on issues.

In December, Secretary of State, Dan Gwadosky wrote representatives about a new educational website, The Path to Maine Lawmaking (www.maine.gov/sos/path/index.html). This tool has been designed to enhance citizen understanding of the legislative process and state government. It also compliments civics education curriculum in Maine schools and was formatted to be consistent with the State's Learning Results. The website features an animated cartoon titled "The Road to Maine Laws" and a video about the Maine State Legislature along with Student activities and resources for our teachers.

The Bureau of Financial Institutions is the State of Maine's primary regulator of state-chartered banks and credit unions. The Bureau of Financial Institutions has a Consumer Services Website that offers you a one-stop location for a wide range of informational booklets on such things as identity theft and internet fraud in their Consumer Library. You may visit the Bureau's website at http://www.state.me.us/pfr/bkg/bkg_consumer.htm to see what may be of valuable service to you.

Because of a recent $50,000 grant to the Opportunity Farm for Boys and Girls from The King Foundation (author Stephen King) each year the Farm will choose a youth to receive a scholarship. In a quote by Ron Scott, President of Opportunity Farm, he shares, "I am thankful to the Kings, not just for their financial assistance, but also for their belief in the work we do at the Farm." The King Foundation is a private non-profit organization that takes particular interest in organizations that have less recourse to the usual resources, focusing on community-based work. You may recall that the King's also donated support toward the Dunn Elementary School playground.

On October 6th, 2004 Gail Norton, the Secretary of the Interior, visited the Pineland Campus. In a ceremony held at the Conference Center, Secretary Norton signed the North American Water Fowl Management Plan. In attendance were representatives from The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ken Elowe, Director of the Bureau of Resource Management, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Duck's Unlimited. There was a sense that this Campus in our region of our State of Maine was a very fitting location for the signing of this important conservation plan. Photo: Norton left, Austin right