State Officials Remind Mainers Of ‘Chickadee Check-Off’

Officials with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife recently encouraged Maine residents to make a donation to the state’s Endangered & Nongame Wildlife Fund by marking the ‘Chickadee Check-Off’ box. The box is located on Schedule CP 2009, a separate form that is included in the 1040-ME short form booklet and the 1040-ME long form booklet.

Residents’ donations are needed to fund nongame wildlife programs that have been experiencing a decline in revenues. All money donated, whether through the Chickadee Check-off, conservation license plate sales, grants or direct gifts, is deposited into the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.  This is a special, interest-bearing account from which money can only be spent for the conservation of Maine’s nongame wildlife, which includes rare, threatened or endangered species.

Internal Revenue Service Changes Processing Center For Mainers

With the closure of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) processing center in Andover, Massachusetts, the address for Mainers to send their federal tax reforms has changed. If you are filing a 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ or 1040X form (with or without payment), it should be sent to: Department of the Treasury; Internal Revenue Service; Kansas City, MO 64999. 

For information on where to send other forms, visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/file/index.html.

Comment Sessions & Hearings On Requested Rate Increase Scheduled

Officials with the Bureau of Insurance announced that they have scheduled public comment sessions regarding rate filings for both MEGA Life & Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield products.  MEGA indicates that for its small group policies, these adjustments will produce an average increase of 21%, with 861 policyholders affected by the proposed rate revisions. For its individual policies, these adjustments will produce an average increase of 12.5%, with 6,890 policyholders affected. Anthem indicates that its adjustments will produce an average increase of 22.9%, with 11,066 policyholders affected by the proposed rate revisions.

Public comments will be accepted on both companies’ proposed increases at:

·        February 22, 4 – 7PM; Maine Lobby Room; Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland

·        February 24, 4 – 7PM; Libra Lecture Hall; Husson University, Bangor

Additionally, public comments on MEGA’s proposed increase will be taken February 25, 9AM, at the Central Conference Room of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation; Gardiner Annex; 76 Northern Avenue; Gardiner, Maine. Public comments on Anthem’s proposed increase will be taken at the same location on April 9 at 9AM.

Comments may also be submitted through regular mail to the following address: Superintendent of Insurance; Attn: Sarah Hewitt (INS-10-1000); 34 State House Station; Augusta, Maine 04333. You may also submit comments via electronic mail to Sarah.Hewitt@maine.gov. 

Dear Citizens,

Below is a list of phone numbers for all the agencies within the State of Maine.  Richard and I will always be happy to help you with any problems you might have, but these numbers may be convenient to you.  Please feel free to call us at 477-2607 or email repjoan.nass@legislature.maine.gov or senrichard.nass@legislature.maine.gov  if we can be of assistance to you.  Thank you, Joan Nass.

Adult Abuse/Neglect Center 1-800-624-8404

AIDS Hotline 1-800-851-2437

Alcoholics Anonymous 1-800-737-6237

Alliance for the Mentally Ill 1-800-464-5767

Child Abuse/Neglect 1-800-452-1999

Crisis Intervention 1-800-568-1112

Deafness Intervention (TDD) 1-800-332-1003

Disability Rights Center 1-800-452-1948

Drug Enforcement Hotline 1-800-452-6457

Elder and Adult Services 1-800-262-2232

Emergency Management Agency 1-800-452-8735

Emergency Hazadrous Material (24 hr service) 1-800-452-4664

Environmental Protection 1-800-452-1942

Family Crisis Shelter 1-800-537-6066

Food Stamps 1-800-442-6003

Fraud Investigation and Recovery 1-800-442-6003

Home Delivered Meals 1-800-833-7572

Home Health Services Hotline 1-800-621-8222

House of Representatives 1-800-423-2900

Housing Discrimination 1-800-669-9777

Internal Revenue Services 1-800-829-1040

Land Use Regulation Commission 1-800-452-8711

Legal Services for Elderly 1-800-750-5353

Long Term Care Ombudsman 1-800-499-0229

Mental Health Crisis Line 1-888-568-1112

Narcotics Anonymous 1-800-974-0062

Poison Control Center 1-800-442-6305

PUC Consumer Assistance 1-800-452-4699

Rape Crisis 1-800-310-0000

Senate 1-800-423-6900

State Housing Authority (MSHA) 1-800-452-4668

State Police Emergency 1-800-452-4664

Suicide Prevention Line 1-800-870-9998

TANF 1-800-442-6003

Veteran's State Programs 1-800-827-1000

Volunteer Lawyer's Project 1-800-442-4293

Workers' Compensation Board 1-800-400-6854