Photo taken by local artist Ross Knowlton. Ross Knowlton is a Millinocket-based wildlife and landscape photographer whose work can be viewed and purchased online at RossKnowlton.com

The Magic City Monthly

August 2024

A Piece of Our Past

An old cyanotype photo (looking towards the first Central Street bridge) shows high sandbanks. For a time, the road crossed the bridge, then followed a small portion of the current Forest Avenue before curving sharply to meet the old tote road to Medway.

Photo courtesy of Millinocket Historical Society Curator, Trudy Wyman

So, you think you know Millinocket? The history? The schools, streets, businesses, and people? Get ready for fabulous fall fun following clues, hints, and memories through every nook and cranny of the Magic City!

Ready to go? Bone up on your history and be ready to sign up at the museum at 11 Central Street when the game begins on Thursday, September 5th at noon.

When you register to become a participant, you'll get a ticket and a game booklet that includes questions, rules, and information about the gameplay. You can order a t-shirt and other swag when you register. too.

Parts of the game will involve exploring the town, looking for things in the museum, reading old high school yearbooks, and books by local authors. Be prepared to face puzzles, ciphers, riddles, and have fun!

You can play individually or in pairs. The cost is $20 per person. The game begins on September 5th and officially ends when someone wins, although the gameplay can continue after someone wins. We aren't sure how long the game takes.

Please note: The museum hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12PM to 3PM. During the game, we may add additional hours to accommodate the players as needed.

Engage, Participate, & Subscribe!

Stay in the know by attending the various Council and Committee meetings. We appreciate any and all input and feedback. Please remember this is YOUR community and YOUR voice matters. CLICK HERE to view the Community Calendar and stay up to date with all scheduled meetings. If you cannot attend a meeting you can stay in the know by watching the recordings on our YouTube Channel. Feel free to subscribe to the channel to stay up to date.

The Millinocket Town Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 5:30. Meetings are held in-person in Charles Sanders Council Chambers and remote access available via Zoom. CLICK HERE for more information regarding town council meetings! Please considering joining these meetings are participating in the discussion. All are welcome!

Community Comes Together for Back to School Supply Giveaway

On Saturday, August 17th, the Town of Millinocket hosted its 3rd annual Back to School Supply Giveaway, providing essential school supplies to children in the community. This heartwarming event was made possible through the collaboration of the Town of East Millinocket, the Town of Medway, Our Katahdin, Brookfield, Katahdin Federal Credit Union, Yum Bakery, the Yates Family, and the Jamieson Family.

The Town of Millinocket extends its sincerest gratitude to all of the awesome volunteers for their tireless efforts and support. Special thanks go to the Millinocket Events Team and Millinocket Fire/EMS for their exceptional contributions and for going above and beyond each year to make this event a success. Thank you for helping ensure a successful school year for the children in our community!

If you would like to sponsor next year's event please reach out to Community Initiatives Director, Amber Wheaton, cid@millinocket.org 207.447.4100

Partners in Progress: Celebrating the Power of Community Collaboration!

We're shining the spotlight on the incredible partnership between the Town of Millinocket and Our Katahdin! Over the past few years, we've joined forces to bring joy, support, and growth to our community through amazing events and programs, including:

Christmas Tree Santa's
Katahdin Snowdown
Back to School Supply Giveaways
The Hopeful Project
Earth Day Community Spring Clean Up
Representation on the Town's Age Friendly Committee
Contribution to the Town's Economic Development and Sustainability Committee

Our Katahdin further supports outside organizations and events such as Trails End Festival, Summerfest and Kids Day, along with being a fiscal sponsor to area projects. We're grateful for the consistent support and collaboration that makes our community a better place. Thank you, Our Katahdin, for being an amazing partner as we continue our work together!

Community Unites for Progress Update on GNP Mill Site Revitalization

On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, a vibrant gathering of community members convened to receive a comprehensive progress update from Sevee and Maher Engineers on the U.S. EPA Brownfields cleanups at the historic GNP Mill site. The update highlighted significant advancements in revitalizing the Tank Farm, Rail Corridor Buildings, and Former WWTP Lagoons, underscoring Our Katahdin's and the Town of Millinocket's commitment to a healthier, more sustainable environment.

The presentation also showcased the promising future of Millinocket, emphasizing the substantial strides made under the Town of Millinocket's U.S. EPA Community Wide Assessment Grant Program. This initiative supports Brownfield assessments, paving the way for economic development and community rejuvenation.

The community is encouraged to remain engaged, participate in future meetings, and stay connected as we work together towards a brighter, more prosperous Millinocket.

For More Information:

Contact Jaime Madore or Nick Sabatine of Sevee & Maher Engineers at:

Phone: 207-829-5016

Email: jaime.madore@smemaine.com or nick.sabatine@smemaine.com

Request for Applications: Town of Millinocket's Façade Program

Introduction:

The Town of Millinocket is pleased to announce the availability of grants up to $20,000 for commercial properties to update the façade of their building through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Enterprise Program. This program aims to enhance the aesthetic appeal and economic vitality of Millinocket's commercial districts.

Eligibility:

Commercial properties located within the designated CDBG target area in Millinocket are eligible to apply. Properties must be in good standing with the Town, and all taxes and utility bills must be up to date.

Eligible Improvements:

The following façade improvements are eligible for funding:

Signage (new or replacement)
New windows
Fresh paint
Other exterior renovations that enhance the appearance of the building

Application Requirements:

A 500-word essay describing the proposed project, including:
A detailed description of the improvements to be made.
The expected impact on the property and the surrounding area.
A statement on how the project aligns with the Town's economic development goals.
Quotes from a licensed contractor for the proposed work.
Proof of property ownership or written permission from the property owner (if applicable)

Grant Terms:

Grants will be paid as a reimbursement to the contractor or business after the work is completed.
Davis Bacon wages must be paid for all construction work.
All necessary permits must be obtained before work begins.
Projects must be completed within 12 months of grant approval.

Evaluation Criteria:

Applications will be evaluated based on:

The quality and completeness of the application.
The expected impact on the property and the surrounding area.
The alignment with the Town's economic development goals.
The feasibility and budget of the proposed project.
Projects on Penobscot Ave. and Central St. (Millinocket’s main business district) will take priority.

Application Deadline:

August 30^th, 2024, at 4pm

Any mailed applications received after the deadline must be postmarked on or before August 31^st to be accepted.

Contact Information:

Amber Wheaton, Community Initiatives Director

197 Penobscot Ave. Millinocket, ME 04462

cid@millinocket.org

207.447.4100

Note:

The Town of Millinocket reserves the right to modify or cancel this program at any time. Funding is limited, and applications will be reviewed after the application deadline. The Town will make selections and notify all applicants in mid-September.

As a requirement of the Community Development Block Grant, projects selected will have to go out to Bid and the Town of Millinocket will select the contractor to complete work.

Municipal Updates

Town Clerk's Office

Sharon, Tax Collector, sent 221 30-Day Notices of Lien on June 27^th, 2024; 177 pending maturing Lien status July 27^th, 2024.

Received first mailings for the November 5, 2024 General Election;

Nomination papers: Posted ad/notices on July 15^th, 2024 for Town Council and School Board - available at the Town Clerk’s office: July 26^th, 2024 through September 6^th, 2024, by 4:00 pm.
Town Council: Two (2) – 3-Year terms available (Madore/McLaughlin)
School Board: One (1) – 3-Year term available (Steward)

The Millinocket Town Council is asking for volunteers to serve on the following board(s):

Recreation Advisory Committee: One (1) Full seat for a three-year term; One (1) Full seat to complete a recently vacant term expiring March 2025.

Any resident wishing to serve on a Town board is urged to pick up an application at the Town Clerk’s Office or visit the town’s website millinocket.org. Submit completed applications by email to the Town Clerk townclerk@millinocket.org, in person, drop box or mail, to:

Town of Millinocket 197 Penobscot Ave. Millinocket, ME 04462.

Diana Lakeman, Town Clerk

Human Resource Department

The Town of Millinocket is seeking applications for the current job opportunities:

Full Time Fire Fighter/Advanced EMT or Paramedic

Public Works Mechanic 1

These position are all open for immediate hire. Please go online or stop into the Town Office for a full job description or application. Please submit applications to the Human Resource Director via email or mail 197 Penobscot Ave., Millinocket.

The Town of Millinocket is an E.O.E/AA Employer.

Lori Santerre, Human Resource Director

Public Works Department

Public works has completed the crosswalk and traffic marker painting.

Our line striping contractor has made it to town and completed the striping of all divider lanes.

5 failing storm drains have been repaired and re hot topped.

Public Works has replaced two rusted out steel cross culverts on Rice Farm Rd that required road closures for the work to be completed safely. One culvert replacement was hindered by the old pulp pipeline that connect the two paper mills. Both new culverts have been stoned in place for appearance and longevity.

The road to the Dog Park has had fresh gravel added and finish graded.

Public Works has been trimming brush that has grown into the roadways and sidewalks. There is much more to do as time allows.

The department has been steadily filling pot holes. Please contact us regarding any that we have missed.

The compost pile is open for residents to drop off brush and yard waste. Bagged leaves must be emptied, and the bags disposed of properly.

As always, we are accepting all the cardboard, plastic jugs and tin cans that we can get for recycling. Help us keep as much waste as possible from ending up in the landfill.

As the summer sun and wind has began taking its toll on some of the decorations, we ask that you remove any that are starting to fall apart and blow across the cemetery.

We will be doing a fall cleanup of the cemetery to include all decorations on or around October 15^th. Please plan accordingly to remove any decorations at the cemetery before this time.

Bryan Duprey, Director of Public Works

Wastewater Department

We would like to remind the residents of Millinocket to please NOT flush wipes, paper towels, grease, plastics, Q-tips or anything other than toilet paper into the sewer system. Even the "flushable" wipes will clog the sewer system. These items are causing extreme plugs to the sewer system and costly maintenance to our pumping stations. We would like to thank the residents for this consideration.

Jason Ingalls,

Wastewater Treatment Facility Superintendent