I hope everyone is enjoying the summer weather. I am hopeful that all this sunshine will help the summer tourism business in Maine. Below are a couple of events coming up in our towns.

Have a wonderful day!

Sabattus Family Fun Festival is this Thursday!

The Sabattus Family Fun Festival will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 pm this Thursday, July 22nd, at the Sabattus Town Hall on Middle Road in Sabattus.

All Sabattus residents are welcome. Come and meet your neighbors. Bring the kids to play games and enjoy a barbecue of hamburgers, hot dogs, and many other goodies.

Visit the Sabattus Town website to keep informed on other events happening in Sabattus. www.sabattus.org

I hope to see you there!

Greene Village Day

Greene Village Day begins on Friday, September 10th. Friday nights events will start off with a bonfire, music, dancing, and lots of good food. You can also try your hand at the money machine. Festivities start at 6pm until 10pm. Dont miss this evening of fun! Free admission. Dance to the band “Skosh”. Great for ALL ages!

Saturday, September 11th, starts with a Blueberry Pancake breakfast at the Fire Station, parade down Main Street and lots of food, fun and games. All activities will be located at the fields on Recreation Drive, just off Main Street. Visit www.greenevillageday.com for more information.

I will have a booth at Greene Village Day. I look forward to seeing you there!

Visit the Greene town website to keep informed on other events happening in Greene. www.townofgreene.net

Are you a business owner? Do you know a business owner? Below is important information on health insurance tax credits that businesses in Maine can apply for now. This is really important information. If you know a business owner please forward this information to them.

Have a Happy and Save 4th of July!

Thousands of Maine businesses may qualify for tax credits and assistance with costs to cover early retiree health benefits - right now…

The new health care law will affect businesses small and large, although many provisions, such as the health insurance exchanges, won’t go into effect until 2014.  In the meantime, there are a number of transitional provisions of the law that could benefit many Maine businesses, including tax credits and a reinsurance program to cover the costs of early retirees’ insurance claims.

When the Patient Care and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is fully implemented, small businesses will be able to participate in a state insurance exchange, which will give them leverage to negotiate with insurers for the best price and greater accountability.

While the exchange won’t be operational until 2014, the Affordable Care Act has several provisions of interest to businesses that are already in effect. Tax credits are available for the current tax year and through 2014.

• Some restrictions apply, for example sole proprietors are not included in the program, but in general, tax credits are available for up to 35% of the premiums a small business pays for its workers.
• Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and average wages under $25,000 who cover at least 50% of the cost of coverage will qualify for the maximum credit.
• Firms with up to 25 employees and average wages of up to $50,000 are eligible for smaller credits.
• Credits are available from 2010 to 2013 and increase to 50% in 2014.
• Non-profits are also eligible for a tax benefit, with slightly different criteria.

Employers interested in applying for the credit can contact the Maine Bureau of Insurance for more information.

Visit a State Park or Historic Site for Free, Sunday, June 20th

I wanted to let you know that on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 20th, all Maine residents can enjoy free admission to Maine state parks and historic sites [click here for more info]. This could be a great way to enjoy the day and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Maine State Park System.

Have Fun!

VisitMaine.com

Visitmaine.com is the Maine Office of Tourism’s Official tourism website. Each year, the site receives more than 1.7 million unique visitors every year to its web portal.

Visitmaine.com offers tourists and other visitors to Maine the opportunity to map out their trip to our state by searching for restaurants, diners, shopping, camping–just about anything you can think of that is tourism-related.

Visitmaine.com provides visitors looking for tourism-oriented information like restaurants, shopping, and outdoor activities a variety of choices by town or region. Visitors can actually develop a trip guide while they are on the site so they can help plan their itinerary while they visit Maine.

Any Maine tourism-related business can post information about their business on the website. Communities or organizations holding festivals or other events can also advertise their listing too. For example, if a visitor types in Lisbon Falls, a listing for the Moxie Festival appears with detailed information about the weekend of entertainment from July 9th through July 11th.

If you would like to advertise your tourism-oriented business or event on visitmaine.com, check out the instructions I have listed further below in this email. If you would like additional assistance with your business or organization’s listing, please contact Suzanne McKechnie at (207) 624-9808.

How to Add Your Business to VisitMaine.com

Instructions for First Time users of visitmaine.com:

1. Go to visitmaine.com.
2. At the bottom of the page, click on “Tourism Partners”.
3. At the bottom of the page, click on the “Create a profile” icon.
4. Complete the online form and click “Save.” This brings you to the “Manage Listings” page.
5. Click on the “Add a new organization” link next to the green circle with the white cross.
6. Complete the five-step process for adding an organization.
7. In Step 4, be sure to check the “accept the map below” box if you want people to see a map or your business’ location or map directions using our trip planning tool.

NOTE: The map location is based upon what you input into the “Physical Address” section of Step 1. If the red pointer appears in the wrong location on the map in Step 4, you may click the correct location on the map to move the pointer. You may use the minus or plus scale in the upper left corner of the map to zoom in or zoom out.

8. Click “Finish.” This submits your listing to the Office of Tourism for review. Please allow one week for review and approval.

School is almost out so that means summer is almost hear. I have an 8th grader being promoted to high school this year. I am very proud and excited for him.

You may see me out and about in the next week. On Saturday, June 5th, I will be at the Sabattus Town Meeting; on June 8th, voting day, I will be standing at the polls in Greene in the morning, and Sabattus in the evening. I hope to see some of you out and about.

Enjoy your weekend!

2010 Fair Locations and Dates

It’s fair season! Below is a listing of the upcoming fairs for 2010. Have fun!

HOULTON FAIR, July 1-4
OSSIPEE VALLEY FAIR, July 8-11
WATERFORD WORLD’S FAIR, July 16-18
PITTSTON FAIR, July 22-25
MONMOUTH FAIR, July 28-31
BANGOR STATE FAIR, July 30-Aug 8
NORTHERN MAINE FAIR, July 30-Aug 7
ATHENS FAIR, Aug 6-8
TOPSHAM FAIR, Aug 8-14
SKOWHEGAN STATE FAIR, Aug 12-21
UNION FAIR, Aug 21-28
PISCATAQUIS FAIR, Aug 26-29
ACTON FAIR, Aug 26-29
WINDSOR FAIR, Aug 29-Sept 6
BLUE HILL FAIR, Sept 2-6
SPRINGFIELD FAIR, Sept 3-6
HARMONY FREE FAIR, Sept 3-6
CLINTON LIONS FAIR, Sept 9-12
LITCHFIELD FAIR, Sept 10-12
CORNISH HORSEMAN’S DAY, Sept 11
OXFORD FAIR, Sept 12-18
NEW PORTLAND FAIR, Sept 17-19
FARMINGTON FAIR, Sept 19-25
COMMON GROUND FAIR, Sept 24-26
CUMBERLAND FAIR, Sept 26-Oct 2
FRYEBURG FAIR, Oct 3-10

Tuesday, June 8th, Voting Day

This is a just a reminder to vote next Tuesday.

This a primary election for Governor so it is an important one. Visit WMTW Channel 8 to view Democratic and Republican debates…
http://www.wmtw.com/politics/23780094/detail.html

Want to know what the Referendum questions are? Visit this link…
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/citizensguide.pdf

Confused about Question one?
http://www.state.me.us/revenue/incomeestate/1040/taxreformindividual.htm

http://www.sunjournal.com/state/story/855316

Today I received some important information about Medicare and the new health law. If you or a loved one has Medicare you will want to read the below information.

Have a great day!

Medicare and the New Health Law

Starting today and throughout this week, Medicare beneficiaries across the state will be receiving a brochure titled “Medicare and the New Health Law - What it Means to You.” The mailing outlines the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act for people with Medicare as well as members of their families.

Medicare is encouraging people to log on to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get their questions about Medicare or the Affordable Care Act answered and reminds them to be alert for possible scams.

The first benefit that many people with Medicare will receive as a result of the passage of the new law is a one-time check for $250, if they enter the Part D donut hole and are not eligible for Medicare Extra Help. Beginning next year, the Affordable Care Act ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will get free preventative care services like colorectal cancer screening and mammograms, in addition to a free annual wellness visit. The law also includes new tools to help fight fraud by helping Medicare crack down on criminals who are seeking to scam seniors and steal taxpayer dollars.

The brochure can also be found at:
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11467.pdf