AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced a series of job creation workshops in October and November he said will be working sessions designed for business leaders to share ideas regarding job creation.

“We’re going to roll up our sleeves and work with the business community to get Maine’s economy moving forward,” LePage said in a statement. “Our staff will be working with job creators on a number of issues that will enable them to create opportunities for Mainers.”

Factors used to measure the business climate — business and income tax levels, work force availability, energy costs, cost of living, quality of life, environmental regulation and permitting, licensing, and various reporting regulations — will be addressed at each job workshop.

The sessions will be held at Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Husson University in Bangor and Southern Maine Community College in Portland, starting in Portland on Oct. 19.

Interested businesses are encouraged to contact 287-3538 for mor information, or visit www.maine.gov/governor to sign up.

Chelsea food drive underway

CHELSEA — Volunteers kicked off the Boat Food Drive this past weekend to raise money for the Chelsea Food Bank.

Those who would like to donate can send a donation of $7 to the Chelsea Food Bank account at the Maine State Credit Union, P.O. Box 5659, Augusta ME 04332.

Augusta Food Bank to be celebrated

AUGUSTA — A dinner and auction will be held at Le Club Calumet Oct. 15 to celebrate Augusta Food Bank’s 30 years serving Augusta and Manchester.

The Augusta Food Bank was established in 1981 as a combined effort of local pastors and the dedicated leadership of Joe and Adelaide Tschamler. Then, it served 68 families each month; today that number has grown to 350 to 400. In August, the food bank helped 955 people, including 292 children, according to a news release from the facility.

Sponsors for the event include Hannaford, G & E Roofing, NRF Distributors, Augusta Fuel Company, Kennebec Savings Bank, Betsi-Jane Taylor State Farm Insurance, The Bank of Maine and Color Storm.

Tickets are $30 each, available at Aubuchon Hardware, Harvest Time Natural Foods and the Manchester Town Office, or by calling Marcella at 623-9232. For more information, visit www.augustafoodbank.org.

Events to showcase region’s forest lands

A series of events this month will showcase the natural beauty, diversity and value of the region’s forest lands.

“The Kennebec Woodlands Days events are designed to show that even if you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, in the Maine woods, you really are in the middle of somewhere,” stated Andy Shultz, landowner outreach forester at the Maine Forest Service.

Events include a Macdonald Woods mushroom walk sponsored by the Kennebec Land Trust; “Preparing Your Forest for Climate Change,” a guided tour of the Allen-Whitney Memorial Forest by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; and “The Ten Biggest Mistakes Woodland Owners Make,” a talk given by the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine.

A full listing of events, updated schedules and registration information is available online at www.maineforestservice.gov/kennebecwoodlands.

The event is coordinated by the Kennebec Woodland Partnership, which was launched in 2009 with the goal of providing a range of tools and strategies for landowners to make informed decisions about their woodlands and help ensure a sustainable future for the county’s forests.

For more information, call Amanda Mahaffey at 449-3070 or kennebecwoodlandpartnership@gmail.com.

‘Radon Awareness Week’ announced

The week of Oct. 17-24 has been designated “Radon Awareness Week” by the federal government.

Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. On June 20 the U.S. government passed the Federal Radon Action Plan calling for programs to reduce the risk of lung cancer to the American public in their homes and workplaces.

The plan will put into place measures that will require radon testing and mitigation in American homes and workplaces. Testing for radon gas during real estate transactions will be a requirement and remediation will be necessary when the levels of radon gas are dangerous.

For more information, visit www.RadonWeek.US.

Compiled from local reports

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