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August 11th Bicentennial Activities
In 1801 a settlement was established which eventually became the Town of Dexter. In 1816 the Town was formally
incorporated and everything since then has been a matter of
history. On Saturday, August 11, 2001 the Town will officially recognize the date of its inception, revisit some of its colorful history, and begin the exciting trek down the road toward another hundred years.
As part of the year-long celebration, the Dexter 2001 Bicentennial Committee, in cooperation with the Town and other local organizations, has planned a number of events and activities that will help make August 11th both enjoyable and memorable. Some of the events include the following:
Parade - 10:00 AM on Main Street
Art Show - 10:00 AM at Old Town Hall (Church St.)
Grist Mill Museum Open House- 10:00 AM
Opening Ceremony - 12:00 Noon at Town Hall (Hall St.)
Craft Show - 1:00 PM at American Legion Hall
Pony & Wagon Rides - 1:00 PM at Carr School House
Bingo - 1:00 PM at American Legion
Photo Exhibit - 1:00 PM at Universalist Church
Horse Trot - 1:00 PM at Trotting Park (Rt. 7)
Firemen's Field Day - 1:00 PM at Crosby Park
Baseball Tournament - 1:00 PM at Ellms Field
Music Festival - 3:00 PM at Universalist Church
Band Concert - 4:00 PM at Wayside Park (Lower Main St.)
Chicken Pie Supper - 5:00 PM at Methodist Church
Auto Cruiz-In - 6:00 PM at Municipal Parking Lot
Teen Dance - 6:00 PM at Grange Hall
Wayside Theater Play - 7:00 PM at Town Hall (Hall St.)
Night Golf Tournament - 9:00 PM at Golf Course
Fireworks - 9:30 PM at High School (Abbott Hill Rd)
North Country Riding Club Inaugural Horse Show
On Sunday, August 12th, Dexter's recently organized North Country Riding Club will hold its first All Trophy Horse Show. The event will be held at the club's new horse ring located in the Bud Ellms Field recreation area on Zion's Hill Road. The show kicks off at 8:00 AM and promises to be a fun filled event with something of interest for everyone. For more information contact Amie Smith at 924-7185.
Bicentennial T-Shirts Available
In recognition of Dexter's Bicentennial we've created a special T-shirt which includes the Bicentennial Logo. Shirts
are available at the Town Office and Abbott Memorial Library. Shirts will also be on sale on August 11th at the Bicentennial Information Center located at the Police Station on the corner of Main and Church Streets. Shirts are available in a variety of sizes and cost $10. Proceeds from the sale of shirts will be used to help fund our Bicentennial celebration.
Attention Bicentennial Parade Participants!
Groups and Organizations planning to participate in Dexter's Bicentennial Parade should plan to arrive at the Dexter Fire Station on Church Street beginning at 9:00 AM. Horse drawn and horse mounted participants should park vehicles and trailers at the Masonic Lodge parking lot on Route 7 and proceed to the parade starting point when directed by parade officials. Awards will be presented to parade participants for the best floats representing businesses, organizations, and families, as well as awards in other categories, including Imagination and Creativity, Best Costumed Scooter, Best Costumed Bicyclist, and Best Antique Automobile. Awards will be presented at the Town Hall on Hall Street during the Opening Ceremonies which are scheduled for 12:00 Noon. For more information contact Tammy Lockhart, parade coordinator, at 924-3658.
Historical Society Offers Bicentennial Mementos
The Dexter Historical Society is offering specially created Bicentennial Medallions to commemorate this memorable event in Dexter's history. They also have available a special edition afghan which depicts many of the historic buildings in Dexter. To inquire about these items you may stop by the Grist Mill Museum, or contact Rick Whitney at 924-3443.
Bicentennial Fireworks Display
On Saturday, August 11th the Town of Dexter will hold its annual fireworks display. This year's show should prove to be extra special and shouldn't be missed. Fireworks can be observed from several locations in Town, including the athletic field at the Dexter Regional High School and the Public Beach and Recreation Area off Route 23. Fireworks are scheduled to begin about 9:30 PM. We hope you enjoy this year's presentation.
Bicentennial Golf Tournament
Sign-up now to play golf under the stars on August 11th. You can play a little friendly golf and enjoy a great view of the fireworks. For more information call Gary Rees at 924-6477.
Property Taxes
The 2001-2002 property tax bills will be in the mail by mid- August. Faced with some significant funding demands on the municipal dollar we were forced to raise local property taxes for the first time since 1997. However, the increase of 20.5 to 20.7 mills is relatively modest and will amount to about twenty-cents per $1,000 of property value. This translates to $20.70 of property tax on each $1,000 for which your property is valued for assessment purposes. For example, if you own property that the Town assesses at a value of $100,000, you will be paying about $2,070 in property taxes for the tax year spanning the period from July 2001 through June 2002. Taxpayers are reminded that 2001-2002 property taxes are due for payment by November 30th.
Tax payers are encouraged to inquire about exemptions that may be available which could provide some reduction to the level of annual property taxes. Also the State of Maine provides a Property Tax Refund Program which may prove helpful to some property owners. Applications for the refund program will soon be available in the Town Office, but must be filed with the State by January 31, 2002. If you have questions about your property taxes, please contact Marilyn Curtis, the Tax Collector, at 924-7351.
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Public Safety Emergency Dispatching
During the last six months we've gone through a significantchange in the way our Ambulance, Fire Department, and Police are being dispatched; however, most residents may not even be aware of the change. The Penobscot Regional Communication Center is now providing emergency dispatch services for all our public safety agencies. Dexter residents still have to call three separate numbers for each service; however, sometime in mid-August all of the numbers will be combined into a simple 9-1-1 call. A special note of appreciation goes out to the project officers in each of our public safety agencies who worked hard during the last year to make this transition both smooth and effective.
2001 Annual Town Report
Very soon we'll begin the process of assembling the Town's 2001 Annual Report. If your group or organization is interested in being included in the Special Bicentennial Dexter Annual Report please contact the Town Clerk or Town Manager. We've won awards for the report during the last two years and we hope to continue the trend
Reminder From The Public Works Director
Our days of summer will soon be fading, but the coming of fall will bring with it the wondrous beauty of the turning leaves. Unfortunately the beauty is only short-lived and those colorful red, orange, and yellow leaves fall from their trees, many ending up in culverts and drains. Residents are reminded not to deposit their raked leaves in the roadway, along curbing, or in roadside ditches. The leaves can help contribute to serious road drainage problems during the winter months as well as the mud season. Leaves may be deposited at the Transfer Station Compost site. If you elect to burn leaves, remember that you'll need to acquire a burn permit from the Dexter Fire Department.
New Veteran's Memorial Park
During the late spring and early summer an effort was undertaken to create a new Veterans Memorial Park near the intersection of Church and Dam Streets. The centerpiece of the new park is a 105mm howitzer, recently acquired from the U.S. Army. Creation of the park was a joint effort between the Town and local chapters of the American Legion and VFW. On July 4th the site was dedicated to the men and women who've
served the nation and community as members of our armed forces. A special thanks goes to Mike Delaware and his Public Works crew as well as Duke Leighton and the Facilities Maintenance staff for the creativity and enthusiasm they demonstrated in preparing the site.
Matt Pooler Playground
On Friday, June 1 the new playground at the Town's recreation area on Lake Wassookeag was officially opened and dedicated to Matt Pooler. Last year, shortly after Matt's death, the Town began receiving donations in Matt's name for the purchase of new playground equipment. It was decided to upgrade the playground equipment at the recreation area and dedicate the site to Matt. Thanks to the many contributions and volunteers who helped assemble the equipment and prepare the area, the new playground was ready for a dedication on the evening of June 1. The event was very well attended, and it was immediately obvious that the children will enjoy the new playground for years to come.
Restrictions on Swimming and Diving
The Town Council recently adopted restrictions on diving and swimming from the Guy B. Hall Bridge, the Public Boat Landing on Little Wassookeag Lake, and the shoreline adjacent to Ronco Park. Individuals violating the new ordinance can be fined up to $250 per incident.
Reward Program
The Town of Dexter offers a “standing reward” for information leading to the apprehension of individuals responsible for the vandalism or theft of public property. The identity of persons receiving rewards will be remain strictly confidential. If you have information that could aid in resolving any such incident you are encouraged to contact the Dexter Police Department at 924-7622.
Give Your Business a Boost!
The front windows of the Town Council Chambers in the Morrison Building are frequently used for seasonal displays and special events. However, last year we started offering local small businesses, as well as artists and crafters, the opportunity to use the Main Street windows to promote their products and services. Generally, one of the windows can be used for an entire month by an individual or business to display their products and wares. If you'd like to take advantage of this FREE service, contact the Town Office at 924-7351.
Dexter Regional Development Corporation
Early this year the Dexter Regional Development Corporation was formed and is now a fully functioning Corporation. Primary objectives of the non-profit corporation are to promote and assist in furthering economic development in Dexter as well as providing oversight for a variety of unique and diversified economic and community development projects. The new corporation consists of a Board of Directors who will work closely with municipal officials and representatives of the private sector in the achievement of corporate goals that will benefit the Town and surrounding area. The Corporation's Board of Directors meet on fourth Thursday of each month in the Town Council Chambers.
Reminder From The Town Clerk
Residents are reminded that a permit is required for Yard Sales. Permits can be issued for a single sale date or for an entire year. Additionally, garage sales are restricted to operation between the hours of 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Permits cost $2.00 for single dates or $5.00 for an annual permit. For more information contact the Town Office at 924-7351.
Thanks to Dexter Police Department
During July we experienced several serious incidents of vandalism and theft of public property. The incidents included destruction of greens and theft of property at the Municipal Golf Course, break-ins at the School Bus Garage and Facilities Maintenance storage at Crosby Park, and the theft of American Flags and bicentennial decorations on Main Street. During the last several days the Dexter Police Department has been successful solving each of these cases and we're hopeful that our legal system will administer appropriate punishment.
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