Attention Maine veterans and survivors of veterans. veterans 62 years or older or 100 percent service connected disabled, you may be eligible for a $6,000 exemption on your property tax. Simply put, you can reduce what you pay by adding your mill rate and multiplying it by 6 (eg. mill rate $10 x 6 = $60). Survivors of veterans should check with your town tax assessor to find out if you are eligible. Remember if you are a Vietnam veteran 62 years old or 100 percent disabled service connected you may be eligible under a new law which went into effect earlier. Also if you are an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran 62 years or older or 100 percent disabled service connected or a survivor you may be eligible. Again check with your town tax assessor. The deadline for filing is April 1.

LD 1280

The week of Feb. 22 -26 has been a rough week in Augusta. I spent five days talking to legislators trying to get them to support LD 1280. You can’t imagine how truly frustrating it is to listen to some of the legislators tell me why they can’t support the bill, a piece of legislation that calls for a casino in southern Maine, Cumberland or York County, and will create $14 million dollars annually for veterans. Quotes include, “I don’t approve of gambling,” “Gambling is against my religion,” “I never voted for a casino,” and this one: “I don’t want our poor people to fund veterans.” When I asked him what me meant by that his reply was “poor people gamble and I don’t thinks it’s right for their losses to pay for veterans.” Senator, where is the logic?

When I ask about those in his district who work at Oxford Casino his reply is, “What do I tell them when they lose their job?” Again where is the logic? People are being told that another casino in Maine will mean a loss of revenue for the other two. Hogwash. Both casinos had a banner year in 2015. There is no evidence that the casino in Oxford and the one in Bangor will be in trouble with another casino in Maine. Both are owned by out of staters and they seem to be using scare tactics to maintain total control of gambling in Maine. A monopoly? You be the judge. More than likely LD 1280 will go to the House and Senate Chambers this week or next. Folks we still have time. Call our Senate Office Tel. (207) 287-1540 and leave a message to support veterans by supporting LD 1280. Thank you.

Coming events

A female veterans retreat will take place March 19-20 at the Gem Holistic Healing Center in Bangor. The Bangor area Recovery Network (BARN) has scheduled a veterans retreat for women veterans. The retreat is free to participants, although each participant will be asked for a deposit fee to secure their spot on the retreat, as space is limited. The deposit will be returned at the site. Contact is: [email protected] or (207) 236-0228.

Volunteers of America Northern New England Cabin in the Woods coming soon. This organization has been awarded a tax credit allocation that will allow them to build an innovative veterans housing program — Cabin in the Woods. It will be built on the grounds at Togus. This will be the first project of it’s kind in the state of Maine and will be the only program in Maine that not only helps male veterans, but female veterans and their families as well. They will be constructing 21 cabins (16 one-bedroom and 5 two-bedroom units), all duplexes but privately situated with a two bedroom cabin for office and community space. We are anticipating a construction start date in summer of 2016, with completion in spring of 2017.

What’s Happening in Augusta

Today: Work session 1 p.m. Taxation Committee LD1590 — an act to exempt from the sales and use tax in sales to certain veterans organizations funding direct supportive services to veterans and their families. Public hearing, 1 p.m. Health and Human Services Committee. Services provided to Maine veterans by authorizing Maine Care Transportation Services to transport veterans to medical appointments administered by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Public hearing Taxation Committee. LD1602, establish a pilot project to form the development of a long term transportation policy to assist veterans. LD 1608, an act to allow the placement of road signs advertising events that benefit certain organizations and allows free admission to military personnel. Judiciary Committee 1 p.m. session on LD221 “an act to amend the laws regarding service animal housing accommodations.

Wednesday: Judiciary Committee work session on LD1500 – an act to protect and promote access to shooting ranges.

Thursday: Health and Human Services 1 p.m. work session on LD1267 an act to assist working families with young children. LD1602 and LD1608 work sessions.

I want to thank Sen. Gerzofsky. Last week I lost my cool, got angry at a couple of Senators. Someone said they could see smoke coming out my ears. Sen, Gerzofsky talked to me and settled me down. Thanks, Senator.

Finally, last week I saw an article in The Times Record stating that Sen. Baker announce her reelection bid. I was totally surprised that there was no mention of her work and support of veterans. To go on record, let me say Sen. Baker (Topsham) is a true champion of the veterans not only in the district, but all over the state.

Till next time, keep the faith.

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Chick Ciciotte is the legislative chairperson for the Mid-Coast Veterans Council. He lives in Topsham.