Here’s a Tax Break For You

The Homestead Exemption is offered to residents who have lived in Maine for at least one year, claim sole residency here for that amount of time, register their vehicle here and are registered to vote. The exemption reduces the owner’s property value and bases the town taxes on that reduced amount. Last year the town of Casco’s value reduction for each property owner was $8,970. Applications are available at the Casco Town Office. This is useful information for Casco residents due to the recent property revaluations, which have sparked some debate. Everybody could use a break, right?

Breast Cancer Goal Met

The Casco Town Office surpassed its Breast Cancer fund-raising goal of $1,000 by $20.

“We could not have done it without generous community involvement,” said Melissa Poree of the Casco Town Office Crusaders. “We have sent our donations into Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It was very rewarding to raise that much money. Perhaps next year we can raise funds for male and female patients in Maine. That to me would be even more rewarding.”

Now, the Crusaders’ focus is turned to the urgent need of getting people to reserve the Maine breast cancer license plate to help Maine patients. The reservation fee is $20, which goes toward the vehicle registration should one decide to actually use the plate.

The important thing, Poree said, is to get the plate into production in 2008. The deadline of Dec. 31 to get 2,000 signatures and $40,000 is fast approaching. Poree just spoke with the Maine Cancer Foundation and another 673 reservations at $20 is needed to get the plate into production for 2008. If people will just reserve a plate they don’t actually have to register a vehicle with it but, their reservation will get the plate into production. Then part of the money for registering will go toward assisting Maine people, male and female.

The reservation form and information can be downloaded at www.mainecancer.org.

Casco Historical Museum Grand Opening

The Raymond-Casco Historical Society will meet on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. in its new museum building to discuss progress and plan the interior layout. The land and 40- by 60-foot metal structure was donated to the society by Henry and Zeena Watkins.

The building is easily recognized on Route 302 in Casco, located next to Watkins Farm. It has a large, eye-catching mural painted by local artist Tom Merriam. The mural depicts tourists in the late 1880s arriving at the Raymond boat landing. The mural also shows a Concord coach taking on passengers for the Casco-to-Portland run. In the center of the 60-foot wall is a painting of the late Ernest Knight, local historian, riding his Penny Farthing bike. Many locals remember him riding his antique bike in the Casco Day Parade.

The newly-built museum will officially open to the public in late spring. In addition to displaying artifacts donated by local families, rooms are being planned for meetings, educational workshops and genealogy research. Plans for next summer include family days at the museum to encourage younger generations to learn about their heritage.

The Raymond Casco Historical Society is seeking new members and donations to support the new museum. For more information, visit its Web site. There is a link to the Web site from the Town of Casco home page. Other contacts are President Wayne Holmquist at 655-7672 and Anne Miller at 627-4989.