Rich Jackson Jr. has been appointed by the Board of Selectmen to fill a vacancy on the Saco River Corridor Commission created by the resignation of Mary Taylor who had moved out of town.  Jackson’s appointment will be effective until November 1, 2012. 

            Jackson has been a resident of Shapleigh for two years and was looking to some local involvement with Shapleigh, a town he deeply appreciates as a place he calls home.  He comes with great credentials of service to our country for 22 years and has a personal interest in martial arts.  He resides on the Cross Road with his wife and two children.

VOTE

            The Board of Selectmen at its meeting on June 29 cast their votes for two LPC Senate District 2 candidates seeking election to the Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) for a two year term from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012:  Larissa Crocket, Selectman from the Town of Acton and Douglas Hawkins, Chair Selectman for the Town of Parsonsfield.

            Prior to Larissa Crockett’s service as a Selectman in the Town of Acton, she also served as a member of the Planning Board, Warrant & Finance Committee and the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee.  Larissa would like to serve on the LPC because of the unpredictable nature of revenue sharing that leaves municipalities unable to plan for the future as well as the legislative commitments that seem to be ignored, such as school funding.

            Douglas Hawkins has served as a Selectman in the Town of Parsonsfield for almost six years.  He has served on MMA’s LPC for the past two years and would like to serve again because he feels that the strength of governance begins at the town and not the regional level, because it is the only level where the legislature is the people, and not the representatives of the people like at the county, state and federal levels.  He feels that strength must continue and further believes that government must not be determined by economists.

            Senate District 2 is comprised of Acton, Berwick, Cornish, Lebanon, Limerick, Newfield, North Berwick, Parsonsfield, Shapleigh, and Wells.

            The MMA’s legislative platforms, policies and positions are developed by a 70 member Legislative Policy committee which has two municipal officials from each of the state’s 35 Senate District.  The LPC representatives are elected to that position by municipal officers within their Senate District.  The roles and responsibilities of the LPC are a critical function of the advocacy arm of MMA.  The LPC defines municipal interests in proposed legislation and maximizes those interests through effective participation in the legislative process.

CELEBRATING 225 YEARS

            2010 is the 225^th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Shapleigh.  Banners, bunting, etc. are being ordered to spruce up the Town Hall and Commons to acknowledge this special year. 

            A History of Shapleigh was written in 1854 by Rev. Amasa Loring.  Each week a portion of that publication will be offered here for the edification of readers and/or history buffs.

EXPLORATION

            The white man first penetrated this howling wilderness, in pursuit of game and timber---nature’s spontaneous productions.   The hunter traversed the margins of its numerous streams and quiet ponds to trap the beaver, otter, and musk-quash; with which those waters then teemed, --and crossed its rolling swells, or climbed its rugged hills, to drop the moose, deer, and bear; those early occupants of its solitudes. 

            The virgin soil bore a noble growth of pine and oak, whose lofty height, straight, sound and giant trunks, out-rival all that has succeeded them.  The finest lumber of every description, --ship-timber convenient, and of a superior quality, could there be found, in rich abundance.  As it was not far from navigable waters, its valleys, plains, and timber tracts were early threaded with logging roads, over which the long pine and sturdy oak were hauled to Berwick and Portsmouth.

            It is said that the officers of the Crown explored these regions and set the “broad arrow” upon its largest pines, by which “sign-royal,” all persons were forbid to cut them, save for “His Majesty’s Navy.”  A Royal ordinance had been passed, that all pine trees, standing upon land claimed by the crown which measured more than two feet in diameter, “should be reserved for masting the royal navy.”

            So good a report of its soil, growth, and other facilities for settlement, wwent outt from both classes of adventurers,--its hunters and lumbermen,--that it awakened a desire to break in upon its forests, in some, and a disposition to obtain its proprietorship, in others.  Hence the title to its soil began to be agitated about the time that the first settlers “lifted up the ax upon its thick trees.”

            (To be continued next week with “Proprietorship.”)

YOUTH SOCCER REGISTRATION

            Shapleigh Recreation Soccer registration for children ages 5 to 12 will take place at the Shapleigh Town Hall on Monday, July 19, 2010 from 6 pm to 8 pm.  Application forms are available at the Shapleigh Town Hall and may be completed and left there at any time when the Town Hall is open.  If mailing is preferred the address is Shapleigh Town Hall, c/o Rec Dept., PO Box 26, Shapleigh, ME 04076-0026.  Checks should be made payable to the Shapleigh recreation Dept.  Cost for Shapleigh residents is $25 per child with a $50 family maximum.  The “out of town” fee is $30 per child with a $60 family maximum. 

            Placement of participants in a particular age group; i.e., pee wee, junior or senior is at the discretion of the program director and coaches with the safety of all players being the guiding criteria.  Year of experience and demonstrated ability will be considered along with the size and age of the player.  When possible, driving convenience for families with multiple participants will be considered in the composition of the team. 

            All players are encouraged to have health insurance.  Players participate at their own risk.  All players must provide their own shin guards.  Use of mouth guards is encouraged but not mandatory.

EASEMENT DEED

            The Town of Shapleigh received an easement deed from Timothy J. Clancy which will allow the Town to access and maintain the fire protection water storage tank located on his property Map 8 Lot 41-4 on Garland Road.  Throughout the Town there are a number of properties which are dealt with in a similar manner.  Often the Planning Board as a condition for subdivision requires ponds, storage tanks, or sprinkler systems installed as in this case. 

COMMUNITY DAY

            Members of the Shapleigh Community Day have indicated that there will lots of great items to be raffled off during this annual celebration to be held on Saturday, July 24 from 9 am to 2 pm., two of which will be new bicycles.  Any businesses which may have items to be donated may call the number at the end of this article or drop the items off at the Town Hall. 

            There are still a few table spaces remaining for anyone with crafts for sale. 

            Exotic animals from Wildlife Encounter will be featured in the morning.  A magician will be the main attraction in the afternoon.  As time nears more information will be forthcoming. 

            In the meantime, there is a need for volunteers to assist with games for the children.  This is a great opportunity for teens students who need to earn “community service” hours for graduation.  Interested?  Please call Carole at 636-2843 ext 407.

ACOUSTIC JAMBOREE

Ed Stubbs and Russ Creteau, part of the music team at the Ross Corner Freewill Baptist Church, also participate in music outside of the church.  Every other Friday night at 7 pm an Acoustic Jamboree is held at the Cockpit Café, in front of Sanford Airport.  Friday, July 9 will be the next Acoustic Jamboree held there.  A lot of gospel is played and a great deal of oldies and folk music is performed.  Anyone with a stringed instrument is welcome to participate at any age or skill level.  Free refreshments are served.  It is a great deal of fun for all but mostly the over 50 crowd carries the ball.

CHURCH NEWS

            The thrift sale is back in full swing.  Melissa Conner and Mary Ann McDougal are in charge of receiving donations of gently used clothing or household items to have at the sale.  No electronics.  The sale is the first and third Saturday of every month from 9 am to 12 pm.

            Nearly four dozen persons met at the First Baptist Church on Saturday, June 26, to enjoy appetizers before splitting up into groups to go to dinner at various hosts’ homes.  Glowing reports from those attending this evening of culinary delights would seem to indicate that the event is one to be repeated at some future date.

            Funds are still being raised for the trip to Namibia in Africa.  Sunday a film was shown showing some of the area which the group of four from Shapleigh will be going on their mission trip thirty-nine days from then.  Josh McDowell, Lindsay Crawford, Meegan Pratt and Bobbi Lachance will be having the experience of a lifetime as they work with youngsters in Namibia.  The country is 842 square kilometers and has a population of 2.1million people (with over a third of those being children).  Namibia became a country in 1990.