Indoors and Out

It feels like the calm before the storm. With all the excitement of the 10-day Mushers Bowl behind us, there were no outdoor events to participate in this weekend. We do however have many wonderful winter events to look forward to. So I hope you all get plenty of rest before the next onslaught of activities.

I hope you all had fun watching the Super Bowl regardless of where you were. I know it will be awhile before I can even look at another nacho chip or salsa, but it all tasted wonderful at the time. It was an exciting game even if the Patriot’s did lose. Oh well, better luck next year.

A Taxing Time

Before I get to the wonderful things coming up, I guess I have to talk about the one ugly thing coming up that we all dislike. Yes, it is tax time. I do not think that I have ever heard anyone say,” gosh, I really can not wait to file my taxes.” Those pesky federal and state income taxes will be due and payable on April 15. In order to take some of the sting out of this process, a team of volunteer tax preparers has joined forces once again to help local residents prepare and file their income taxes.

From now through April these tax experts will be at the Bridgton Community Center from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Thursdays and at the Fryeburg Public Library on Mondays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. to help prepare your returns, answer questions and translate “legal speak/” Any Naples or Lakes Region resident can request this service by calling Lorraine Goldrup at the Bridgton Community Center at 647-3116 or the Fryeburg Library at 935-2731. They will sign you up, explain the procedure and let you know what you need to bring with you. Goldrup wanted me to emphasize that all information and appointments are held in the strictest of confidence.

This free service is a great opportunity for retirees, college students or low-income families. Returns for will also be filed electronically via the center’s Internet service which will process your returns three times faster than by regular mail. If you owe the government money, you may want to opt for the Pony Express.

While the tax preparers are not allowed to accept any payment for this service, donations are accepted to help defray the cost of supplies. Peter Sullivan, a retired CPA heads up the tax team and says that the volunteers enjoy the feeling of satisfaction they get from being useful in their communities.

Mushing Ahead

The Mushers Bowl Winter Carnival is now two weeks in the past and yet we are already working on year 2009. The Mush Committee met last week to review the entire 10-day program to determine what worked and what could be improved upon. We do know that without the support of Loon Echo Land Trust; Five Fields Farm; the Boggs and the Fryer families, we would not have had either the space to run the Mushers Bowl and the Lakes Biathlon; or the impetus to create a 10-day event.

Mike McClellan, executive director of the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce would like to extend his thanks to all of them as well as the numerous volunteers who helped make this event such a huge success. The Mush Committee plans to add new events next year and may add more events in Naples as well. Anyone interested in getting involved with the Mushers Bowl Winter Carnival 2009 (Jan. 16 – Jan. 25), or if you have suggestions for other activities, please contact Mike or Janet at the chamber at 647-3472.

Granting Good News

On Jan. 30, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Me) announced that the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Assistance Program awarded $91,064 in operations and safety grants to the Naples Fire Department. These awards aim to enhance first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of the public and provide fire departments with additional resources.

Congratulations, to Christopher Pond of the Naples Fire Department and everyone else who participated in the grant process. I know what a long process grant-writing can be, and look forward to learning how we will use the funds.

Speaking of grants, Naples Town Manager, Derik Goodine has completed a Community Development Block Grant application to provide for repairs necessary to The Singer Community Center/Grange building. This grant, if approved, would provide about $52,000 of the $64,000 needed to make some necessary upgrades to the building in order to make it useable.

For the last several years there has been a Community Center/Grange committee working hard to get our community center up and running. We would love to model this after the Bridgton Community Center, filled with activity and wonderful programs, a place for all of us to enjoy and be proud of. The obstacle has obviously been funding, but if we are awarded this grant, we would be very close to our goal. If you are interested in joining this committee or have a vision for our community center, please contact me or Dona Forke [dona@fairpoint.net].

Coming Up

There are still tickets available for the first annual Save Sebago Cove Fundraiser to be held at Shakers on Friday, Feb. 15. The prize list for the raffle is fabulous and there is a grand prize of $2,000. Tickets are $50 per person and include an evening of entertainment, food and raffle participation for all of the prizes. Come help fund milfoil eradication in our lakes and rivers and have a great time as well. For tickets please call 252-3044.

The ninth annual Naples Winter Carnival occurs Feb. 16 and 17. There will be radar runs, a poker rally, raffles, snow sculptures, helicopter rides, fire works and a bonfire. Save some time out of your schedules to enjoy some or all of this event.

Well, that is about all for now. As always, if you have information, ideas, comments or suggestions to share, please let me know. Have a great week.