River Rats Can Sign Up Now

Five early birds have already registered for the 47th annual River Rat canoe race on the Millers River scheduled for Saturday April 10. The race is sponsored by the Lions Club.

Registration fee this year is $41 for each two-man canoe team. Register in person at the Athol Daily News on Exchange Street in Athol until April 8 or by mail, send a check to PO Box 1000, Athol MA, 01331

As always, the race starts at 1 p.m. A parade in downtown Athol starts at 10 a.m. and this year, a 5-K road race to benefit the Athol-Orange Food-a-thon starts at 9:30 a.m. The hospital sponsors a pancake breakfast before the parade.
The first 100 registered runners will each get a T-shirt and there will be prizes for the runners, for best adult and youth costumes and for top finishers in each age category.

Library Unveils Two New Web Site Features

Walt Owens, Director of the Wheeler Memorial Library, announced that two new sections of the library's web site have been made available to the public. The first new historical section of the library's website, "Library Archives", is now available. The Archives includes numerous vintage postcards of Orange and the surrounding area, information about the Grout automobile and historical information about the library and the Town of Orange. The images from the 1900 book entitled "General Views of Orange", which includes many photographs of current and past Orange residences, are a real treasure. Owens said that this Bicentennial year was a logical time to organize and preserve some of the older items in the library's collections. Due to the foresight of former library director Janice Lanou and her predecessors, the library has an impressive collection of historical images.

The other new web site area, "Support Your Local Library", is intended to help bring in alternative funds and assistance that can be used to maintain library services. "These difficult economic times result in an increased demand for library services, while at the same time diminishing the revenues available to fund them", remarked Owens. The slogan of the effort is "Support Your Local Library" and clicking on an image on the library's home page at "http://www.orangelib.org/", will direct the public to the section that explains a variety of ways that citizens can help. Options include volunteering to assist with routine tasks at the library, purchasing items for the library through an Amazon.com wish list, joining the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries, donating items in memory or in honor of loved ones, and arranging planned giving through trusts or estate plans. Citizens may also donate funds online to the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries and receive potential tax benefits.

"Many Orange residents have contributed time and money to support the library over the years", said Owens. The Wheeler Memorial Library is using funds from state aid and bequests to supplement town revenues, but those funds are limited. The library also aggressively pursues grant funding for programs that would otherwise be unaffordable. "The library is interested in creative ways to bring in additional revenues to preserve and expand the library's collections and services for the benefit of Orange residents", said Owens.

The library's web site continues to offer access to the library catalog, research tools, and local information. The library offers a wide variety of informative and entertaining resources and all residents are encouraged to take advantage of the Library's free programs and services, including books and media for all ages.

Fraser in the Race

Genevieve C. Fraser, 60, is running as an independent for the 2nd Franklin District state representative seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Donelan.

Ms. Fraser has held positions on the Conservation Commission, Board of Health and Solid Waste Study Committee in Barre and was a member of the Barre and Hubbardston Democratic Town Committees. She served as an aide to retired state Sen. Robert D. Wetmore from 1991 to 1995.

Brewer Is YMCA Legislator of the Year

Boston, MA – On February, 9, 2010, Sen. Stephen M. Brewer was presented with the YMCAs of Massachusetts Legislator of the Year Award for 2009 – 2010 at their annual State Advocacy Day at the State House.

The award, presented by Jeanette Robichaud, Executive Director of the Athol Area YMCA, recognized Brewer for his efforts to help build strong kids, strong families and strong communities throughout Massachusetts.

"Senator Brewer has long been a champion for children and families, both in his district and throughout Massachusetts. YMCAs work every day to help build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities, and Senator Brewer is always there at our side, striving to make a difference. The Senator cares very deeply about our children and does everything in his power to create opportunities for them to grow and thrive. We are grateful for his leadership in the State Senate, and it is our honor to recognize him as our YMCAs of Massachusetts 2009-10 Legislator of the Year." Michael P. Cahill,
Executive Director, YMCAs of Massachusetts.

“It is a great honor to receive this award from YMCAs of Massachusetts. Building strong communities has always been both a personal and professional priority in my life and I have been honored to work with YMCAs of Massachusetts throughout my career,” said Brewer. “My family and I, including both of my daughters who were camp councilors at the YMCA Camp Wiyaka have had the opportunity to see the positive effect YMCAs bring to their local communities.”

Cigarette Sales Taxes Fall Off as Taxes Rise

Massachusetts' efforts to raise money by increasing the taxes collected from cigarette sales are having mixed results at best. A combination of federal and state tax hikes over the past two years have raised the per pack price of major brands in Massachusetts from around $5 to $8 per pack. By the carton in New Hampshire, cigarettes currently retail for about $50.

Robert Bliss, communications director for the state Department of Revenue said Dec. 3 that state tax revenue from cigarette sales was $47.5 million in October, 2009. In October of 2008, tax revenue from single pack sales was $51 million. Sales of the tax stamps that are affixed to each pack sold were flat at 19 million tax stamps in both October 2008 and October 2009, down from 25.8 million in October of 2007, Bliss said.

He said a combination of internet sales and sales by New Hampshire retailers likely accounts for the numbers. "New Hampshire keeps raising its cigarette tax, but they keep a healthy margin below Massachusetts," Bliss said. The number of packs sold keeps going down. It's not just New Hampshire. It is internet sales, too, he said. Bliss said there is no reason to think that smoking cessation programs account for the decline.

On a recent trip to New Hampshire we saw five cars in the parking lot of a cigarette vendor. All five had Massachusetts license plates. Massachusetts does try to bill its residents for taxes on internet sales of cigarettes from Indian reservations. The cigarette excise tax that tobacco companies must pay the federal government rose in April by 61.6 cents per pack, or $6.16 per carton. The tax now comes to about $10.10 per carton, or $1.01 per pack. The Massachusetts tax is now $2.51 per package of 20 cigarettes or $25.10 per carton.