Lewiston Adopts Community Forest Ordinance‏

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Lewiston, Maine - The Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board is announcing that a Community Forest Ordinance was unanimously adopted by the Lewiston City Council at its meeting on June 19, 2012.  The vote was the culmination of several years of effort by the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board which had drafted and revised the ordinance based on feedback from city officials.

The ordinance officially establishes the position of Municipal Arborist, now held by Steve Murch, and gives that person authority to regulate the cutting and pruning of trees in the community forest, including trees located between the sidewalk and the street within the public right of way.  An appeal process will be instituted as part of the new ordinance.  Homeowners will also be able to request that the Arborist cut or prune dangerous or disfigured trees abutting their properties.

The ordinance also encourages the adoption of a management plan to guide the management and harvesting of trees within larger areas of the community forest.  Lewiston has already adopted a forestry management plan pursuant to which timber harvesting is currently proceeding.  The timber harvest will generate revenue for the city while at the same time helping to maintain and regenerate Lewiston's community forest.

The new ordinance requires public utilities to give advance notice in the form of a conspicuous advertisement in the local newspaper of their intention to cut street trees in order to protect power lines.  This will provide citizens with information regarding the cutting of trees abutting their properties in time to prepare a response.

The Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board, which will act as an appeals board under the new ordinance, was created by joint action of the Lewiston and Auburn City Councils in 2000.  It was therefore one of the first organizations created by the two cities to deal with shared issues.  In this case, the issue was the proper management of the substantial forested areas belonging to the two cities and their school departments.

The ordinance officially establishes the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board, which will consist of nine members appointed by the Mayors from both cities.  The Board will also include as ex officio members the heads of municipal departments whose duties are related to the work of the Forest Board.  A companion ordinance has been submitted in Auburn and is being reviewed by the heads of the relevant departments.  A copy of the Lewiston ordinance can be obtained at www.lewistonmaine.gov

Inquires about Lewiston’s Community Forest Ordinance may be directed to Jay Braunscheidel, Chair of the LA Community Forest Board, at  632-5854.

A.N.T Farm "ANTswers" Premiers June 29th

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Fans of the Disney channel series A.N.T Farm will be able to watch an all new episode "ANTswers" at 8:30pm. In this all new episode of A.N.T Farm, When Principal Skidmore shuts off the school's Internet access, the ANTs start the ANTernet and use their advanced talents to give students information they would normally get online. Also, Lexi is jealous of Cameron's girlfriend, Vanessa, who models for Hippo's new restaurant.

A.N.T Farm stars China Anne McClain as Chyna Parks, Sierra McCormick as Olive, Jake Short as Fletcher, Stefanie Scott as Lexi and Carlon Jeffery as Cameron Parks.

Recurring are Mindy Sterling as Principal Skidmore, Aedin Mincks as Angus, Allie Deberry as Paisley, Vanessa Morgan as Vanessa and Matt Lowe as Hippo.

"ANTswers" was written and directed by Sean McNamara.

Photographs in this article are courtesy of the Disney channel.

Face of Defense: Togolese-born Army NCO Lives His Dream

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By Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon82nd Combat Aviation Brigade
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan, June 26,2012 – Army Sgt. Koku Adzoble joined the U.S. Army to make a better life forhimself.
“Back in Africa, I was a teacher in highschool,” said Adzoble, who claims Bronx, N.Y., as his stateside home. “When Icame here, I was working in a store, and it wasn’t good for me. So, I joinedthe Army. I saw a way to make a difference in my life, and this is a muchbetter place. That’s why I’m staying in.”
Adzoble emigrated to the U.S. in 2007from Togo under the U.S. State Department’s visa lottery, which makes up to55,000 visas available each year to countries with underrepresented populationsin the U.S. The program requires applicants to either have a high schooleducation, or two years’ work experience.
Adzoble won one of 3,777 visas offeredin Togo. He graduated with a degree in physics from the University of Lomé in2006 and was teaching high school until he moved to the United States a yearlater.
“I had a chance,” Adzoble said. “Somecountries don’t get that chance [to award U.S. visas], so you play every yearyou’re eligible, and if you win, you get to come to the United States and get avisa. I was very lucky.”
Adzoble was working as a stock clerk ina New York City department store when a co-worker suggested that he join theU.S. Army.
“I was working for this one guy, and hejoined the Army,” Adzoble said. “He left, and when he came back to visit, Ilistened to what he told me [about the Army]. What he was doing was better thanwhat I had going at the time, so I decided to follow him. He’s the reason Ijoined.”
In basic training, Adzoble faceddifficulty understanding English. He said his drill sergeant wanted to hold himback for additional English language training, but the company commander lethim stay on and work toward graduation.
“French is our official language,”Adzoble said. “We went to school and took English as a second language, but noone really takes that seriously. We have two or three hours of English class,but no one pays that much attention to it so they don’t speak English thatwell.”
Adzoble improved his English skills andgraduated with honors as an automated logistical specialist at Fort Lee, Va.
Following a two-year tour in Korea,Adzoble was stationed with Task Force Wolfpack, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade,Fort Bragg, N.C., in December 2010. Eleven months later he deployed here toForward Operating Base Salerno.
Army Sgt. 1st Class James Crews,Adzoble’s supervisor, says an unfailingly-positive attitude has allowed him tobecome a model soldier.
“He’s a hard worker,” said Crews. “Hehad some great leadership before he came to me in 2010. He’s one of those guyswho goes straight to work when you ask him to do something. He doesn’t ask why;he just does it.”
Adzoble is a supply clerk at the base’smotor pool, keeping track of the parts inventory and monitoring deliveries. Hisjob is critical to keeping the unit’s vehicles on the road, requiring attentionto detail and the ability to keep track of dozens of components.
“He’s an encyclopedia,” Crews said ofAdzoble. “He’s that type of guy who’ll pretty much look over something once ortwice and he’s got it memorized. It comes in very useful. When I’m trying tofind a part, I ask him, and he knows what I’m talking about and where to findit right away.”
Adzoble has a wife and a daughter inWest Africa. His daughter, he said, is too young to leave Africa right now, buthe hopes to establish a permanent home in the United States so his family canjoin him in a few years. First, he wants to explore the country and find aplace he’d like his family to settle.
“I don’t want to bring them, then, thenext day we have to move again,” Adzoble said. “It’s not like I don’t enjoyFort Bragg, but I want to see more of the United States and see if there’ssomewhere I might like even more.”
Adzoble hopes to earn a physics degreein the United States.
He re-enlisted for three more years ofArmy service, and he’s looking to earn a promotion before he leavesAfghanistan.
“He got pinned E-5 [sergeant] inDecember, and we’re probably going to send him to the E-6 [staff sergeant]promotion board before we leave Afghanistan,” Crews said. “He’s just that typeof worker and has that type of leadership style.”
As for his daughter, Adzoble has noplans to push her into following in his footsteps.
“I’ll try my best to guide her on herown way,” he said. “She might want something different. The thing I can do isprovide for her and do my best to support her. The one thing I want for her isto succeed and do something better with her life.”

Combined Force Detains Taliban Weapons Facilitator

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Compiledfrom International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2012 – An Afghanand coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons facilitator in theZharay district of Kandahar province today, military officials reported.
Officials said the facilitatorcoordinated the transportation and storage of equipment and supplies used ininsurgent attacks across the region.
The security force also detained severalsuspected insurgents, officials said.
In other Afghanistan operations today:
-- In the Tsamkani district of Paktiyaprovince, a combined force searching for a Haqqani leader called in anairstrike that killed several insurgents. The leader is responsible for coordinating,financing and leading attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. No civilianshad been harmed and no property had been damaged.
-- A combined force detained a Haqqanileader and several suspected insurgents in the Sharan district of Paktikaprovince. The detained Haqqani leader was responsible for building improvisedexplosive devices used throughout the region. He also provided IED instructionto other Haqqani insurgents.
In June 26 operations:
-- A combined force killed multipleinsurgents, detained several others and seized a weapons cache containing sixrocket-propelled grenades, six IEDs, some homemade explosives, eight AK-47rifles, one machine gun, three grenades, and communications equipment in theShahid-e Hasas district of Uruzgan province.
-- A combined force killed one insurgentduring a firefight in Ghazni province’s Gelan district.
-- Coalition forces killed two insurgentsin the Qarah Bagh district of Ghazni province.
-- A combined force detained twoinsurgents in Khowst province’s Sperah district.
-- A combined force discovered a cachecontaining some RPGs in Khowst province’s Nadir Shah Kot district.
-- A combined force killed sixinsurgents and detained three others in Logar province’s Pul-E Alam district.
-- A combined force detained 12insurgents in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district.
-- Afghan police and coalition forcesdiscovered a cache containing several mortar rounds in the Deh Bala district ofNangarhar province.
-- Afghan police and coalition forcesdetained three insurgents in Parwan province’s Bagram district.
-- Afghan soldiers and coalition forceskilled one insurgent in the Siaghird district of Parwan province.
And on June 24, a combined forcecaptured an insurgent leader in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province. Thedetained insurgent had planned, directed and executed attacks against Afghanand coalition forces.

Army Casualty

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The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Mich., died June 26, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1/334th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (Leader Training), Fraser, Mich.
For more information the media may contact 104th Training Division public affairs office at 360-607-5261.

Photos from the Front Lines

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Fighting InsurgentsU.S. paratroopers fire at insurgent forces during a firefight on the outskirts of Spedar village in southern Afghanistan's Ghazni province, June 15, 2012. This was the first of several firefights U.S. and Afghan soldiers encountered during their daylong partnered patrol.
Partnered PatrolAn Afghan army sergeant, left, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Hurndon cross the Tarnak River during a partnered patrol in southern Afghanistan's Ghazni province, June 15, 2012. Hurndon is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Company D, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.
Orphanage VisitU.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Thomasallen, left, hands out toys during a visit to the orphanage in Farah City in Afghanistan's Farah province, June 19, 2012.