New Service: Telescope for Loan

Blue Hill, Maine - The Blue Hill Public Library will begin loaning an Orion “Starblast” 4.5 inch reflector telescope to patrons on Saturday May 10th.  The circulation period will be one week and patrons can place holds on it just like any book or video using the Library’s online catalog or by calling the Library at 374-5515. The telescope will only be checked out to adults and must be transported in a car. The Library will help make arrangements for transportation if needed.

The telescope was purchased with a grant funded by the National Science Foundation and administered by Cornerstones of Science and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA), two non-profits based in Maine. Cornerstones of Science works to increase scientific literacy by strengthening public libraries’ capacities to serve as gathering places for informal scientific discovery. MMSA works to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education from kindergarten through college in Maine.

Patrons checking out the telescope will get a short lesson in its use, and an up-to-date star chart to aid in the location of particular stars, planets, etc.  For more information call Pat at 374-5515 or visit our events calendar at www.bhpl.net.

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap Launches Innovative New Service to Combat Corporate Fraud

**Maine business owners and registered agents have a new tool to monitor corporate filings.**
AUGUSTA, Maine - February 21, 2014 - The Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, a division of the Department of Secretary of State, becomes just the second state agency in the nation to introduce an Online Corporate Fraud Monitoring service.

Maine business owners and registered agents have now been provided with the ability to automatically be notified of any filing completed against their business entities.

Governor Paul R. LePage applauded the service as an important tool for the business community. "This service provides everyone, from a large corporation to the average small business owner, with a chance to be proactive in their fight against individuals who intend to harm others and seek profit by committing fraudulent filings," said the Governor. "Users are immediately notified of any new filings, giving them a chance to quickly react to any unauthorized changes and take defensive steps, like freezing credit lines and contacting credit bureaus."

Users who sign up for the service will create an online profile that will keep track of the business entities they want monitored. This profile will allow users to review, add, or delete entities from their monitoring account, to review add, delete or edit email addresses on file for notifications, and to view a list of filings or changes completed against the entity/entities over the past one year. 

A $35 annual charge will be assessed for each entity listed in the profile and customers can conveniently pay using a Visa, Mastercard or Discover debit/credit card or their InforME Subscriber Account. 

If a new filing is submitted for an entity being monitored through the online service, the customer will receive an email notification immediately letting them know. 

"There are nearly 80,000 registered entities in the State of Maine," stated Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap. "While small business owners and corporations may be vigilant in protecting their entities and investments, it can be difficult to always stay alert and informed of outside risks. This will eliminate some of that risk."

The online service was developed at no cost to Maine taxpayers and was created by the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, in partnership with the state's e-government portal provider, InforME. Corporate Fraud Monitoring adds to the suite of corporate services available through the CEC and Maine.gov, which continues to be the premiere resource for online business information and services.

For more information regarding this service, please visit the website at https://www1.maine.gov/online/sos/cfm.

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**About Maine.gov** Maine.gov at http://www.maine.gov is the official Web portal of the state of Maine. Maine.gov is a service of InforME, a collaborative effort between the state of Maine and Maine Information Network, LLC.