Maine House Republican Office sent this bulletin at 12/07/2021 12:52 PM EST
Chelsea Giving Tree
Staff at the Town Office have decided to provide presents to the eight children residing at the Chelsea Spurwink Group Home. A tree with ornaments containing the children’s Christmas needs is located at the Town Office for residents to come and take.
Wrapped gifts should be dropped off at the Town Office on or before December 21, 2021.
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 décor, 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.
Kringleville, Waterville- Last weekend of November to third weekend of December -- Kids will love to visit Santa at the REM, 93 Main Street in downtown Waterville.
Country Christmas, Bethel- Last weekend of November to third week of December -- Experience Christmas in the postcard-perfect New England village of Bethel. Shop locally, meet Santa, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and enjoy the light decorations and Maine performers.
Festival of Trees, Saco- Last weekend of November through December -- 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.
Old Fashioned Christmas, Bath- Following Thanksgiving through December -- 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- First two weeks after Thanksgiving weekend. Recognized as the second Christmas town in the U.S. 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 are entering the North Pole. Throughout town, shops are decorated with ornaments, while 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 first weekend of Christmas Prelude. During the second 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.
Christmas by the Sea, Ogunquit- First and second weekends in December after Thanksgiving -- Ogunquit's Native American name means "Beautiful Place by the Sea" and it is 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- Second Saturday of December -- 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- Second Sunday of December -- Wells presents its holiday spirit with its annual Southern Maine Christmas Parade. This Parade flaunts a festive presentation of holiday-themed characters, marching bands, and floats adorned with decorations making their way from Wells Plaza to the Wells Junior High School.
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
Maine’s Governor recently announced 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.
The DHHS received approval of the plan 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 healthcare worker shortages. It is also closely aligned with the healthcare 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.
The 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. The 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 healthcare jobs in Maine and strengthen the State’s healthcare 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 healthcare 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 Governor 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 Governor 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 healthcare organizations to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November, Substance Use Treatment facilities (PNMI Appendix B providers) received 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, the 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 cannot 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.
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 Web site.
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.
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, click here.
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 have not 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 is a high-speed hunt and good practice for improving your shooting skills. Gray squirrel are common and plentiful, so it is 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
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.
