Ecotat Gardens andArboretum Ecotat Gardens

THE HERMON
Vol. 18 Issue 4 • July 2012
INSIDE this issue
Results of Municipal
Election and Town Meeting.....2
Changes Coming for
The Hermon Connection..........2
Report from Interim
Town Manager..........................2
Welcome to Hermon................2
Hermon: Our Town,
Our History...............................5
Consumer Fireworks
Ordinance.................................6
From the Hermon
Community Policing
Division.....................................6
Hermon Recreation..................9
Street Address Signage..........12
Ecotat Gardens
and Arboretum
If you haven’t yet visited Ecotat, plan to do so this summer!
It’s open every day from dawn to dusk.
Enjoy 60 gardens, 150+ varieties of perennials, 200+ varieties of trees,
nature trails, and native tree trail.
Picnic tables, benches, and a public bathroom are available.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Introductory Talk and Moth Walk
Town of
Friday, July 27 (rain date: July 28)
9:30 p.m.
Please bring a flashlight or headlamp.
Roger Raymond
“Six Basin Street” Dixieland Concert
Hermon
Interim Town Manager
P.O. Box 6300
Hermon, ME 04402
207-848-1010
Fax: 207-848-3316
[email protected]
www.hermon.net
Sunday, August 19
4 p.m.
The Hermon Connection
If you have a news story or article for publication in the next edition
of The Hermon Connection, please send it to:
[email protected]
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: AUGUST 23, 2012
Results of
Municipal Election
and Town Meeting
The municipal elections were held on
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 with 15 items
placed on the ballot for the Hermon
residents to vote on. In total, there was
a small turn out of 703 Hermon residents who elected to vote.
Douglas Sinclair Sr. and Donald
Pelletier were voted in for Council.
Debora Farnham and Christopher
Patten were voted in for the School
Committee. The Fiscal Year 2012-2013
school budget passed. The proposed
purchase of 299 Fuller Road failed to
pass. Because of the low turnout of
voters, the charter recommendations
did not pass.
The annual town meeting was held
on Thursday, June 14th, 2012 with
12 items placed on the warrant. There
were approximately 60 Hermon residents in attendance. Everything on the
warrant for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013
town budget passed. •
Changes Coming for
The Hermon Connection
Due to the popularity of advertising
in The Hermon Connection, we are
forced to make a few changes to
accommodate everyone. Effective
with the September 2012 issue, we
will only be able to have 1/8-page
ads and 1/4-page ads. The 1/8-page
ad will cost $15.00 per issue with a
$35.00 set-up fee, and the 1/4-page
ad will cost $30.00 per issue with a
$35.00 set-up fee. We will continue
to honor our policy of not charging
the set-up fee if a year’s subscription
is requested and paid for. For all
those who already have a year subscription for a 1/2-page ad, we will
continue yours until your subscription runs out.
We would like to thank all of our
contributors for their support.
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Report from the
Interim Town Manager
It is a pleasure and privilege to have been recently appointed as the Town
of Hermon’s Interim Town Manager until the position is filled on a permanent basis. As I drive around Hermon, I am impressed with the changes
and growth that has occurred over the years and with the excitement I see
from the people living here. You can be proud of your community, the
amenities that the town offers, and the commitment of the town council
members and employees.
I recently retired as the Town Manager of Bucksport after twenty-seven
years of service to the community. Prior to my tenure in Bucksport, I served
ten years as Town Manager in Eagle Lake, and I am now currently working
for Eaton Peabody Consulting Services assisting communities that are in
need of a temporary manager. I continue to live in Bucksport with my wife
Rella, who teaches at the Bucksport Middle School.
I will be working in Hermon Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.
I am at the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I maintain
an open door policy and I encourage any citizen who would like to meet
with me to do so during my scheduled hours. You can also contact me by
email at [email protected]. In case of an emergency and when I am
not scheduled to work, you may reach me by cell phone at 356-2914.
I look forward to my tenure in Hermon.
—Roger Raymond
Welcome to Hermon
The Country Market, which has been a fixture in Hermon for many years, has
recently been purchased. The new owners, Sally and Tom Thibeau, who have
been residents of Hermon for thirteen years, are pleased to now be a part of the
economic growth and future of the town. They have several years of experience
in running independent stores and also come with experience from larger retail
groceries such as Hannaford Brothers. Tom also worked in sales for Hershey
Chocolate for seventeen years.
Sally and Tom, who were both born and raised in Aroostook County, whose
children attended Hermon schools and who plan to continue living in Hermon,
are proud to add the Country Market to the other stores owned and operated by
them. The first Tom T. Convenience Store acquired is located on the corner of
Broadway and Griffin Road in Bangor. The second is located on the corner of
Ohio and Griffin Road, also in Bangor.
Currently the same staff, who are familiar with the workings of the store and
know the residents, are still working at the store. Sally and Tom want to emphasize they plan to continue the exceptional customer service, the competitive gas
prices and the high quality chicken. •
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Place YOUR Ad in the Next Issue of
THE HERMON
1/8 Page
(Business Card)
3.65 in. x 2.325 in. • $15.00 per issue or
a year’s contract (6 issues) for $90.00!
Season
Greens Fees Membership
Single Family Junior Senior Active Military
50 Round Pass $600
$850
$200
$500
$500
$500
Hermon Meadow Golf Club & Driving Range
281 Billings Road | Hermon, Maine 04401 USA
Phone: 207.848.3741
www.hermonmeadow.net
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Fee waived with one year contract.
1/4 Page
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a year’s contract (6 issues) for $180.00!
One-time setup fee of $35.00, if applicable.
Fee waived with one year contract.
Reserve Your Space Today!
Theresa Ayotte
[email protected]
or 207-989-1284
Hermon: Our Town, Our History
Railroads in Hermon
T
he coming of railroads brought new industries to the
Hermon area such as a cheese factory on the Swan
Road, a cooperage (barrel) business, a creamery, icehouse,
resorts, picnic ground, and a dance hall.
A new era began August 1855 with the opening of the first
railroad, “The Penobscot & Kennebec.” In 1862, Maine
Central Railroad was established with the consolidation
of the Androscoggin & Kennebec and the Penobscot &
Kennebec Railroads and the acquisition of all properties,
franchises, obligations and liabilities of these companies.
Hannibal Hamlin, Vice President under Abraham Lincoln,
became a prominent figure on the Maine railroads.
During the next 50 years, Maine Central continued to grow
through acquisitions, leases, and mergers, extending its
lines into Maine’s cities and towns. Its main line ran from
Portland through Northern Maine Junction to Bangor, then,
points north to Mattawamkeag where it met the Canadian
Pacific Railroad line. A branch line from Bangor to Calais
served Washington County coastal area. Another short line
ran from Bangor to Bucksport.
From the 1890 Business Directory for Bangor, Orono, etc.
we quote:
Distances and Fares from Bangor
Hermon Center
Hermon Pond
6 miles
10 miles
25 cents
40 cents
With the purchase of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes
Railroad in 1911 and the Bridgton & Saco River in 1912, the
Maine Central Railroad entered the narrow-gauge business.
The factors Maine Central used to determine where it would
expand its rail service were the transportation needs of
the people, forestlands, a source of raw materials, and the
availability of hydropower for industries. Communication
between the lead engine and the caboose improved with the
introduction of two-way radios in the summer of 1953.
Before two-car families and turnpikes, Maine Central
extended into other transportation areas such as a bus
operation, partnership in the first commercial airline to serve
Maine and service to coastal communities via steamboats
and ferries. Many visitors stayed at luxury hotels owned and
operated by Maine Central Railroad. As families used the
automobile more and more in their everyday lives, including
traveling all over the country, passenger service that had been
significantly reduced in the 1930s was cut back even more in
the 1950s. The last steam passenger train ran from Portland
to Bangor in June of 1954. From this point on, stations along
the countryside soon began their demise as well. As Maine
Central saw the demise of rail passenger service needs, it
began to focus its energies on improving its freight moving
efficiency to industries throughout the northeast region. The
railroad brought in forest products, feed, grains, coal, oil and
chemicals, and carried out finished forest products destined
for worldwide markets.
In June 1981 Timothy Mellon of Guilford Industries bought
the Maine Central from Ashland Oil. Maine Central is now
known as Guilford Transportation.
The above excerpt was taken from Hermon, Maine, Then
and Now by Mary Gaudreau, Rosanne Gray, and Bernice
Heath with expressed permission.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Hermon, Maine
Then and Now please contact Rosanne Gray at 848-3862
or Mary Gaudreau at 848-5354. The price of the book is
$68.25 (this price includes sales tax). •
So you think
you know Hermon?
In 1950 Waldo “Robbie” Robinson and his wife, Bea,
bought a farm on Route 2 near the New Boston Road
on which to raise _________________________
cows. This farm became Special Acres Morgan Farm
in 1957 for the breeding and showing of ____________
__________ horses.
Answers will be in the next
Hermon Connection!
Answers from MAY, 2012 Issue:
Black granite from a quarry located on Billings Road
is what was used to construct the Soldiers’ Monument
erected in 1901.
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Consumer
Fireworks
Ordinance
The Hermon Town Council
recognizes that while the State
of Maine has legalized the
use of consumer fireworks,
they still present a danger of
injury and fire. To enhance the
public safety and welfare of
its citizens and community the
Council adopted an ordinance
to prohibit use and sale of
consumer fireworks in the Town
of Hermon.
No person shall use, possess
with the intent to use, sell,
possess with the intent to sell
or offer for sale consumer
fireworks in the Town of
Hermon. This section does
not apply to a person issued
a fireworks display permit by
the state of Maine pursuant to
8 M.R.S.A. 227-A.
Whoever violates this
ordinance shall be punished
by a fine of up to $1000.00
plus reasonable attorney and
witness fees and costs if legal
action by the Town of Hermon
is required.
For the full ordinance, please
contact the town office.
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From the
Hermon Community
Policing Division
Now that the summer months are upon us, we should be aware of the following
issues:
Pets in motor vehicles.
Never leave pets in motor vehicles when the temperature rises. Even with the
windows cracked and water in the vehicle, temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Law enforcement officers are authorized to break windows to retrieve pets that
are left in motor vehicles when they are in danger of these high temperatures.
Besides having a window broke to save the pet, the pet owner can be issued a
summons for endangering the welfare of their pet.
Be aware that more motorcycles and bicycles
are on the roadway.
Many accidents happen this time of year when people aren’t paying attention to
the smaller vehicles on the roadways. Bicyclists must operate their bicycle as far
to the right as possible and motorists must use caution when passing them. Also
be aware of more people walking and jogging on the sides of the roadways.
During the warmer months we have an increase
in motor vehicle burglaries.
The majority of motor vehicle burglaries happen because people do not lock their
vehicle’s doors. Most of these burglaries happen at night so it’s a good idea to have
an outdoor light left on. If you have a dog and it starts barking for no apparent
reason, it could be because someone is outside. If you see someone suspicious at
your home or your neighbors, please immediately call Penobscot County Regional
Dispatch. Even if you don’t think it’s an emergency, you can call the business line
at 945-4636. This number puts you directly in touch with a dispatcher.
I hear from a lot of people who don’t call because they don’t want to be a bother,
or they don’t think it’s important enough. Please call if the person or situation
seems suspicious; let your local police department check it out. It’s not a bother,
it’s what we are here to do.
We are here for you. Together we can all make Hermon a safe place for us, our
family and friends.
Thank you,
Sgt. Michael Burgess
Hermon Deputy Supervisor
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Would you like to join our event?
We would love to hear from you!
Contact our office today
848-4075
[email protected]
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Street Address Signage
I wanted to take this opportunity to remind all Hermon
residents that all addresses must be posted in a conspicuous
location. According to the Town of Hermon Addressing
Ordinance, if a residence is 75 feet or less from the center of
the road, the assigned number must be displayed on the front
of the residence or a structure in the vicinity of the front
door or entry. When the residence or structure is over 75
feet from the center of the road, the assigned number shall
be displayed on a post, fence, wall, mail box, or on some
structure at the property line adjacent to the walk or access
drive to the residence or structure. Please keep in mind that
all numbers must be metallic or contrast to the structure on
which the numbers are posted. Numbers must be at least 4
inches in height and situated so as to be plainly visible and
legible at all times from the street. It is critically important
that all numbers be visible for emergency purposes.
If you do not yet have your address posted, or have the
incorrect numbers and would like to purchase reflective
addressing signs, please stop into the Town Office to pick up
an application for purchase. The signs are six inches by eight
inches with four inch numbers. Posts on which to attach the
signs are also available for order at the Town Office. The
cost schedule is as follows:
$12.00for the package of two single sided signs,
post, and bolts.
for one single sided sign, post, and bolt.
$9.00
for double sided sign and mail box bracket
$9.00
(top mount). (Mailbox mount requires
homeowner to drill two holes on top of
mailbox for installation)
for only single sided sign.
$6.00
If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact
Code Enforcement Officer / Addressing Officer
Annette Merrithew
at
(207) 848-1042.
Postal Customer
P.O. Box 6300
Hermon, ME 04402-6300
ECRWSS
Bangor, ME
Permit No. 14
PAID
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