E-Newsletter from Representative Kathy Downes

Maine House Republican Office sent this bulletin at 11/29/2021 10:04 AM EST

Holiday Events in Maine

Towns throughout Maine dawn their holiday spirit to celebrate the most magical time of year. From holiday parades, sparkling lights and Christmas decor, to caroling and festivals in villages, there are so many magical things to do in Maine this holiday season. Maine invites you to join the holiday festivities and spread the holiday cheer.

Festival of Lights, Rockland- Last weekend of Nov to the beginning of Dec: The world's largest Christmas Tree made of Lobster Traps is lit up in Rockland! Join the caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, warm up by the bonfire, browse the shops, enjoy refreshments. Don't miss Santa arriving by boat!
Kringleville , Waterville- Last weekend of Nov to 3rd weekend of Dec: Kids will love to visit Santa at the REM, 93 Main Street in Downtown Waterville.
Country Christmas, Bethel- Last weekend of Nov to 3rd week of Dec: Experience Christmas in the postcard-perfect New England village of Bethel. Shop locally, meet Santa, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, enjoy the light decorations and Maine performers.
Festival of Trees, Saco- Last weekend of Nov through Dec: Dozens of stunningly decorated trees and wreaths are created based on the year's special theme. Hosted at the Dyer Library and Saco Museum. Highlights of the Festival include the Gala Preview kickoff party, a raffle of designer trees and wreaths, the popular Gingerbread Village, a Drawing Contest for school children on display at the Dyer Library, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and Children's Crafts Day.
Lighting of the Nubble, Cape Neddick in York- The Saturday after Thanksgiving: The town of York lights the famous Nubble Lighthouse - oft sited as the most photographed lighthouse in Maine. Visitors can enjoy live music, hot cocoa and snacks while Santa makes his presence in Sohier Park.
Old Fashioned Christmas in Bath- Following Thanksgiving through Dec: Bath, Maine hosts an Old Fashioned Christmas where Santa joins the Children's Tree Lighting along with caroling, contests, live music and more!
Christmas Prelude, Kennebunkport- 1st 2 weeks after Thanksgiving Weekend. Recognized as the 2nd Christmas Town in the US by HGTV, Kennebunkport hosts its famed Christmas Prelude celebration. This extravagant Christmas event fills the seaside town of Kennebunkport with an atmosphere of holiday spirit where visitors feel like they're entering the North Pole. Throughout town, shops are decorated with ornaments, visitors are served holiday shopping discounts and complimentary cider and snacks. During this two-week event, Christmas carolers sing our favorite jingles, historic houses are open for tours, there are wine tastings, horse drawn wagons, a hat parade and so much more! At Dock Square, the celebrations officially begin with the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the 1st weekend of Christmas Prelude. During the 2nd weekend, spectators can enjoy the Christmas Fireworks Display and the ever popular Pooch Parade where man's best friend displays the holiday spirit with Christmas apparel.
Freeport Sparkle Weekend, Freeport- 1st weekend of Dec: The weekend kicks off Friday night with a Parade of Lights down Main Street. Freeport's Talking Christmas Tree, Holiday Movie Marathon, A Reading of The Polar Express aboard the Amtrak Downeaster, Tuba Christmas Concert, Visits with Santa, Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, Musical Holiday Light Shows, a Crooked Playhouse Village, Holiday Ornament & Craft Projects, Complimentary Gift Wrapping and more!
Christmas by the Sea, Camden- 1st weekend of Dec: A delightful weekend celebration of the holiday season. Parade, community tree lighting, and musical entertainment. Holiday sales and dining specials, photos and children's story hour with Santa, who arrives by boat.
Santa's Workshop - Festival of Lights Parade - City Tree Lighting, Bangor- 1st weekend of Dec: Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa's Workshop with Santa Scavenger Hunt throughout downtown, cookie decorating, crafts and more. Followed by the annual Festival of Lights parade at Main Street & West Market Square and later, the City Tree Lighting.
Festival of Lights, York- 1st Saturday of Dec: The Festival of lights hosts many delightful events: The Polar Express, Breakfast with Santa, Festival of Gingerbread Houses, Greens and Wreaths Sale, Book Sale, Festival of Trees, visits with Santa Claus, Contemporary Art and Object Exhibition, Student Art Exhibit, Christmas Tea, Holiday Film Festival, Sing-a-Long, Lighting of the Village, Festival of Lights Parade, craft fairs, painting with Santa at Naked Plates, church suppers and desserts, and lots more.
Holiday Light Parade, Presque Isle- 1st Saturday of Dec: The Light Parade sets off from North Street and proceed to Clukey's Auto Supply for the lighting of the Tree of Hope and then continue to Gentile Hall at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Hot beverages will be served.
Harbor Lights Festival, Boothbay Harbor- 1st Saturday of Dec: Boothbay Harbor celebrates the holiday season Lighting of the Town Tree, caroling live nativity scene and more!
Christmas in Katahdin, Millinocket- 1st Saturday of Dec: Enjoy the festivities in Katahdin with parades, concerts, food, games crafts and good old fun.
Christmas by the Sea, Ogunquit- 1st & 2nd Weekends in Dec after Thanksgiving: Ogunquit's Native American name means "Beautiful Place by the Sea” and it’s never truer than during Christmas by the Sea. This seaside celebration presents a beautiful two week display of Christmas parades, games, craft fairs and bazaars for holiday shopping galore, caroling, and live entertainment. Kids will enjoy family scavenger hunts, photo ops in Santa's Village, holiday storytelling, hayrides, or cookie decorating.
Mountain Holly Days, Rangeley- Mid December Weekend: Rangeley's downtown features specials in participating shops, open houses, refreshments, shoppers raffle, caroling, Men's night on Friday, Saturday Night Community Christmas Party, Sunday visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus and holiday hayrides!
Christmas Boat Parade of Lights, Portland Harbor- 2nd Saturday of Dec: The perfect things to do in Portland! Watch as Casco Bay Lines present the Boat Parade of Lights in Portland - a truly magnificent Christmas event on the waterfront as Portland Harbor is illuminated with lights. Spectators can gaze decorated boats gliding across the water during the night and see the sky light up with fireworks.
Southern Maine Christmas Parade, Wells- 2nd Sunday of Dec: Wells presents its holiday spirit with its annual Southern Maine Christmas Parade. This parade flaunts a festive presentation of holiday-themed characters, marching bands, floats adorned with decorations, making their way from Wells Plaza to the Wells Junior High School. Santa Sunday at Sunday River This annual gathering of 250 skiing and snowboarding Santas at Sunday River ski resort is a sight to behold the first Sunday of December. It’s a jolly good time as the skiing Santas get a group photo then take a ski run together for a good time and a free lift ticket.

Whether watching a Christmas parade, strolling through a town decked with holiday decorations, tree lighting spectacles, or a visit from Santa, Maine hosts plenty of holiday events for families and friends to enjoy!

Maine Announces Federal Approval of Bonus Payments for Direct Support Workers

The Governor of Maine announced Tuesday that the Federal government has approved Maine’s plan to allocate an estimated $126 million in MaineCare funds available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for bonuses for new and existing home- and community-based services (HCBS) direct support workers and shared living providers. These payments represent a major component of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) plan to improve access to high-quality services for Maine people of all ages living with disabilities and behavioral health challenges.

DHHS received approval of the plan today from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is now reviewing previously submitted amendments to the MaineCare State Plan that will authorize Federal matching funds for the plan.

The bonus payment component of the plan aims to address COVID-related, short-term health care worker shortages. It is also closely aligned with the health care workforce priorities included in the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.

Eligible HCBS providers must register with the Department in order to receive payments. Registration will occur through an online portal beginning November 29 and continuing for 10 business days.

DHHS will distribute the funds to qualified provider agencies in two phases, beginning in January, based on their HCBS MaineCare revenue. Provider agencies will pay bonuses directly to workers, shared living providers, and supervisors. Individual bonus amounts will be determined by the provider agency in accordance with a bonus policy that the agency will adopt and share with its employees. DHHS developed this system in consultation with provider agencies to reduce the administrative burden, give agencies more certainty about available funding and allow agencies to create specific bonus policies that make sense for their employees. All provider agencies that receive funds for bonuses are required to pay at least 80 percent of funds in direct payments to staff, not including agency leadership. Agencies will be subject to both Federal and State audit.

The $126 million allocated for bonus payments is part of DHHS’s broader plan to invest approximately $229 million in Federal Medicaid matching funds for Maine’s HCBS system improvement plan, which was developed in consultation with stakeholders, including providers and families. The plan reflects the consensus that the most immediate challenge facing Maine’s HCBS system is attracting and retaining direct support workers. As part of the HCBS system improvement plan, the Department is also creating a direct support worker council, developing career ladders, making worker certification more portable and pursuing other longer-term initiatives.

The Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan includes a slate of initiatives to encourage people to pursue health care jobs in Maine and strengthen the state’s health care workforce. This includes $4 million to provide scholarships and student loan relief to enable more people to become behavioral health specialists, long term support workers and other health professionals. An additional $8 million supports a program to help people who work in the health care field gain skills and advance with their employer. The Jobs and Recovery Plan also includes a $1.5 million recruitment effort, with $500,000 dedicated specifically to promoting direct support worker jobs, such as aides for older Mainers or individuals with disabilities.

The Administration has taken a number of actions to support HCBS providers during the pandemic. Group home providers received a significant increase in their MaineCare base rates on July 1 and will be included in the first wave of agencies to receive rate adjustments in January to support an average wage for direct support workers of at least 125% of the State minimum wage.

As provided in the biennial budget, the Administration recently announced $146 million primarily for workforce recruitment and retention support: $123 million for nursing facilities, residential care facilities (Private Non-Medical Institution (PNMI) Cs), and adult family care homes and $23 million for hospitals. This is in addition to the award of $25 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to health care organizations to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This month, Substance Use Treatment facilities (PNMI Appendix B providers) are receiving MaineCare rate increases for a variety of services. Children’s Residential Care Facilities (PNMI D providers) also received rate increases, effective November 1, 2021 to help providers meet new requirements associated with the federal Family First Prevention Services Act.

Additionally, earlier in the pandemic, Maine DHHS adopted emergency provisions in MaineCare to give agencies more flexibility with staffing, which remain ongoing. The Department has also connected providers to potential sources of staff, including the state’s ASPIRE program, vocational rehabilitation services, college job boards and the Department of Labor’s Maine JobLink. These and other resources are available in a Recruitment and Retention Tool Kit.

Send Holiday Cheer, Not Pests: Follow Out-Of-State Plant Health Regulations

Many Maine residents’ holiday celebrations are not complete without decorating with Maine-grown wreaths, trees, and other decorative plant material. Sharing this tradition by sending wreaths and trees to our friends and families across the country can help us feel more connected even if we can’t be together this holiday season. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) wants to remind Mainer’s sending holiday greenery that they can save time, money and prevent product loss by shipping only healthy plant material.

“Shippers should be aware of the many state laws and regulations regarding the movement of plants and forest products,” warned Carole Neil, Assistant Horticulturist with DACF. “Many states closely monitor shipments to prevent the introduction of invasive insects and plant diseases. By planning ahead, Maine shippers can speed up deliveries in this time-sensitive industry,” said Neil.

DACF offers this advice for wreath and tree shippers:

Import regulations can vary from state to state; shippers should check destination state regulations before sending plant material. A summary is available on DACF’s website at www.maine.gov/dacf/php/horticulture/wreaths.shtml.
Carefully inspect plant material before packaging to ensure they are free of insects such as scales, egg masses, or other pest damage.
Clearly label packages containing holiday plant material, beginning with the statement, “Grown in Maine,” followed by the county of origin and the name and address of the shipper.
Labels should also indicate the contents of packages, including the different types of greenery, nuts, fruits, and cones used to decorate wreaths.

“Import requirements for cut trees and holiday decorations including greenery, ornamental nuts, and fruit exist to protect regional agriculture and natural resources from the risk of plant pests,” explained Sarah Scally, Assistant Horticulturist. “An insect or plant disease that occurs in Maine could potentially be invasive in other states. Unfortunately, despite the quality of Maine products, some shippers have learned about these regulations the hard way and have had shipments delayed, impounded, or destroyed. We want to prevent any losses by getting the word out now.”

Shippers with questions are invited to call: (207) 287-3891 or email horticulture@maine.gov. For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: www.maine.gov/dacf.

You don't need to wait until spring or fall to go hunting again...

There are several open hunting seasons through the fall and winter months! Targeting a new species is an exciting challenge to learn something new, an opportunity to spend more time outside, create memories with friends and family, and to secure delicious table fare. You may even find a shed deer or moose antler. Here are a few hunting opportunities to try:

Ruffed grouse

When people think of ruffed grouse season they often think of peak fall foliage and warm fall days, but this season is open until December 31. Ruffed grouse is a great target species for beginner hunters and there are fewer hunters in the month of December, providing you with plenty of opportunity and snowy views. Try walking brushy trail edges near beech scrub or softwoods, or along streams. Ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail season is September 25 - December 31, 2021

Muzzleloader hunting for deer

Muzzleloader season increases harvest opportunity if you haven't tagged out already. As the snow falls and there are fewer hunters in the woods, hunters can feel as if they have a hunting paradise to themselves. This is also usually a great way to practice your tracking skills! Before you go remember to purchase a muzzleloader permit.

Muzzleloader statewide: November 29 - December 4, 2021

Muzzleloader in WMDs 12, 13, 15-18, 20-26, 29: December 6-11, 2021

Gray squirrel

For new, young, and food-motivated hunters, gray squirrel is an excellent opportunity and (surprisingly) good table fare. It's a high-speed hunt and good practice for improving your shooting skills. Gray squirrels are common and plentiful, so it's a great way to build confidence as a hunter. Gray squirrel season is September 25 - December 31, 2021

Snowshoe Hare

One of the enjoyable aspects of hunting in the winter is the ability to easily see fresh animal tracks in the snow! Grab a pair of snowshoes and hire a guide, who may have a trained dog, for an enjoyable winter hunt, or try to find hare located in brushy areas and softwoods stands.

Snowshoe hare season is September 25, 2021 - March 31, 2022 in all Wildlife Management Districts with the exception of Vinalhaven Island, Knox County which has a season end date of February 28, 2022.

Predators

Maine predator seasons are long providing hunters ample opportunity. Calling is a popular tactic for luring in wary predators. Many seek the help from a registered Maine guide where bobcats are typically hunted using hounds.

Season Dates:

Bobcat: December 1, 2021 - February 21, 2022 Fox: October 18, 2021 - February 28, 2022 Coyote Night Hunt: December 16, 2021 - August 31, 2022 Coyote: Year round

Other season dates:

Migratory game birds: various dates, learn more

Pheasant: September 25 - December 31, 2021 Raccoon: October 1 - December 31, 2021 Skunk, Opossum: October 18 - December 31, 2021 Coyote, Woodchuck, Porcupine, Red Squirrel: No Closed Season for Hunting

Not sure where to start? Consider hiring a registered Maine guide. Maine guides are happy to hunt with hunters of all backgrounds, experience levels, and ages. There are tons of great blogs and videos online, never be afraid to ask questions, or ask to join a friend.

Helpful information

Purchase your hunting license or permit

Season dates and bag limits

Download the latest hunting law book

Exploring the outdoors on private land

Hunting with nonlead ammunition

Do Not Eat Deer Advisory for Greater Fairfield

Plan your hunt

STAY CONNECTED

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by Maine House Republican Office.