“Current State Farm driving data and claims experience show a considerable decline in miles driven and fewer accidents,” said Matt Hodson, Vice President – Agency/Sales. “As a result, we’re looking for ways to continue supporting our Maine customers while we monitor and adjust to trends.”

Customer rate reductions will vary based on their individual renewals. Customers are encouraged to visit with their State Farm agent about individual policies, coverage and any opportunities for discounts, including Drive Safe & Save.

The last auto rate change in Maine was a decrease of 5.5 percent in September of 2018. Combined, the two auto rate decreases will save Maine customers $10.9 million.

“We’re always evaluating how we can best serve our customers and are very pleased to be able to offer this rate decrease in Maine ,” said State Farm Senior Vice President Chris Schell. “Lower than expected expenses and losses were important factors, among many, that supported our decision to make this rate change.”

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary depending on the specific details of an individual customer’s policy and chosen coverages. The effective date for new and renewal business is June 10, 2019. Maine customers with questions can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation.

In addition to this rate reduction, State Farm agents are able to review with new and existing customers the many opportunities for additional discounts that may apply to an individual’s unique circumstances. A rate decrease, combined with discounts, offers exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

State Farm sponsored assist patrols in 18 states help keep the nation’s highest-trafficked roadways safe and clear. They reduce congestion, help stranded motorists, and provide traffic control and safety at incident scenes.

Safety patrols are operated by state departments of transportation and toll road authorities. They are known by a variety of names in 40 states. Their free services include changing flat tires, providing a jump-start or small amount of gasoline, and minor safety repairs.

“The safety patrols embody our ‘good neighbor’ philosophy and underscore our commitment to auto safety,” said Ed Gold, advertising director. “They help people recover from the unexpected, which is the heart of the State Farm mission.”

State Farm sponsorship helps increase coverage areas and raises awareness about the patrols. This helps the motoring public feel more secure when traveling the nation’s interstate system. Sponsored highway signs mark coverage areas. The bright red State Farm reflective markings also improve patrol vehicle visibility.

State Farm sponsors the safety patrols in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

State Farm has been committed to roadway safety since its founding in 1922. The company seeks to increase the safety of all drivers and passengers from infancy to the driver’s seat.

*Safety Service Patrol Priorities and Best Practices: USDOT Federal Highway Federal Highway Administration, April 2017

“The company’s current financial strength is allowing us to pass along a rate reduction to our Maine customers," said State Farm Senior Vice President Chris Schell. “We continually evaluate how we can best serve our customers and are very pleased to be able to offer this rate decrease in Maine”.

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary depending on the specific details of an individual customer’s policy and chosen coverages. The effective date for new and renewal business is September 10, 2018. Maine customers with questions can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation.

In addition to this rate reduction, State Farm agents are able to review with new and existing customers the many opportunities for additional discounts that may apply to an individual’s unique circumstances. A rate decrease combined with discounts offers an exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

Competing in the 100- and 500-meter classical cross-country skiing races during 2018 Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at Sugarloaf Mountain, Scott added to his collection of Special Olympics medals and ribbons.

“I always have a lot of fun at the Special Olympics,” says Scott, 28, of Lisbon Falls, Maine, who finished first in the 100 and second in the 500. “I was so proud of myself finishing first and standing up on top of the medal stand. I was proud to win both of my medals.”

The medals, which he wore for the day before adding them to his stash, are two of the more than 40 that Scott has hanging in his room. They motivate him to keep working toward his next competition.

“I am already looking forward to the Summer Games,” says Scott, who focuses on skiing in the winter but has changed his focus to the challenge of running four laps around the track this summer. “I am doing the mile run. It’s a long race. I am also going to do downhill skiing at the Winter Games in 2020.”

Special Olympics is a year-round athletic training and competition program for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. This year, more than 400 athletes representing 58 teams flocked to Sugarloaf to compete, socialize and enjoy time away from their regular routines. Over three days, athletes competed in Nordic and Alpine skiing, snowshoe racing, speed skating and dual ski.

“I have been working with Scott for 10 years,” says Patty Whitmore, Scott’s Life Center team coach. “He will train and compete in anything available – track and field, soccer, basketball, floor hockey, Bocce, bowling – that’s just how Scott is.”

Maine, which hosted the world’s first winter Special Olympics games in Gorham in 1969, leans on volunteers and monetary donations to conduct the winter and summer games. Through Special Olympics, athletes have the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

More than 3,800 athletes are served in Maine.

“The Games show them they can also be an Olympian,” Patty says. “The confidence competing builds in the athletes is tremendous. And with all of the volunteers, we get a whole sense of community. The volunteer influence is huge. With all of the Special Olympics events, they couldn’t run them without volunteers.”

State Farm^® has sponsored the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games through Good Neighbor Grants for the past seven years. Associates have been volunteering since 1982. Agent Robin Thurston’s family donates their lodge to host a pot-luck dinner the Sunday night before the Games. Several other agents and employees, and their family members, participate in the parade and volunteer for events throughout the Games timing athletes, running events, preparing meals, coaching and offering encouragement.

“Volunteers are there from the time we are setting up, right through to when it’s time to break down,” Special Olympics Maine President and CEO Phil Geelhoed says. “We run 18 regional or state level events from our office every year, and we are raising every nickel of the $1.3 million to run our program every year."

“It is so important for Special Olympics to have the support of an organization like State Farm, not just financially, but with volunteers who know their jobs so well, and a natural feeder system that continues to bring us volunteers,” Phil says. “We never have to worry about the cross country event because they run it so smoothly for us.”

The Olympians appreciate it, too.

“It is a positive experience for everybody – the athletes, the organizers and the volunteers,” Patty says. “Nobody volunteers once. Everybody comes back.”

To find volunteer opportunities or to support Special Olympics Maine, visit its website. To find volunteer opportunities in your community, visit NeighborhoodofGood.com^®

Career paths can take unplanned twists and turns…for canines too.

This was the case for three sisters – Duchess, Darby and Pearl. Paws with a Cause (PAWS) bred the sisters to be Assistance Dogs.

The road to careers for the adorable, feisty sisters began with separation at eight weeks and placement in loving foster homes for a year.

The pups were homeschooled to learn basic commands, tasks and obedience. They got to show off their skills to their friends in weekly classes at PAWS. But, it was not all work, there was plenty of time to play for the high energy siblings.

As they approached their second birthdays, the girls returned together at PAWS for more training. They worked hard, but had fun learning advanced tasks like retrieving, picking up objects and opening doors. Like all young adults, the sisters had to master their classes so they could one day become Assistance Dogs.

But, it turned out the three girls, with their rambunctious natures and joy for everything, just weren’t suited for this line of work. Fortunately, PAWS prepared for this with a Plan B.

The Nose Knows

Once again, the girls went their separate ways to explore new career paths. Pearl moved to a foster home in Maine to learn how to detect bed bugs. But after several months, she discovered bed bugs weren’t her calling. Her real talent was sniffing out accelerants.

Meanwhile, at their foster home in Indiana, Duchess and Darby made the same discovery. Three sisters with the same gift!

Supported by State Farm, the girls happily reunited in August 2015 for four weeks of formal Arson Dog training in Alfred, Maine. It was there they became canine crime fighters and found their forever partners.

Graduation was a proud, joyful day for the sisters, even though it meant they would be leaving each other permanently. The girls are living their happily ever after’s in neighboring states.

• Fire Marshal Ben Gouldman & Duchess (Stafford, Virginia)

• Lt. Brian Dalrymple & Pearl (Richmond, Virginia)

• Fire Marshal Danny Hill & K9 Darby (New Bern, North Carolina)

PAWS can’t accomplish their work without help. Because of the increasing demand for Assistance Dogs, PAWS has a foster program for individuals interested in caring for and training a puppy, with the ultimate satisfaction of returning the dog to PAWS to become an Assistance dog. If you want more information regarding the foster puppy program, please visit www.pawswithacause.org.

Nineteen year old Gaetana Almeida seems like your typical teenager. She is a sophomore in college who loves her family and her home state of Maine.

She also really loves dogs. A LOT!

When Gaetana was younger, she wanted a dog, but her parents said no. Instead, at 10 years old, she volunteered at a local farm owned by head trainer for the State Farm Arson Dog Program, Paul Gallagher.

After two years, Paul asked Gaetana if she would like to foster an arson dog. She did, and simply told her mom, Wendy, with a laugh, “We’re getting a dog and you don’t have a say in it.” Gaetana is the only teenager currently raising arson dogs in the area.

Arson dogs are trained to sniff out accelerants that may have been used to start a fire. The dogs go through extensive training before becoming certified arson dogs. Then, each dog is matched with a human handler – a law enforcement officer trained to investigate fire scenes.

An estimated 17,400 arsons in residential buildings were reported to U.S. fire departments each year, from 2010 – 2012. These fires resulted in 275 deaths, 800 injuries, and $513 million in property loss.

During the same time period, an estimated 9,000 arsons occurred in nonresidential buildings each year, resulting in $282 million in property loss.

The connection between a girl and her dog

Shadow was Gaetana’s first foster dog. “I was super attached to him,” she says. “He was crazy, but sharp. His handler wasn’t sure of him at first, but now loves him immensely.”

Gaetana receives the dogs, all Labrador retrievers, when they are between one and two years old, and has them for approximately six months. She gives them back when they begin intensive accelerant detection training. After they finish their training, they are matched with handlers across the U.S.

“While I have them, I give them lots of love and exercise,” says Gaetana. They are hyper dogs, so we run a lot. Plus, we have goats, sheep, chickens and cats, so the dogs get used to other animals.”

Gaetana shares how difficult it is to give up the dogs after she’s become attached to them.

“Shadow was the hardest because he was my first foster dog,” she says. “I put work into them and become attached, but I know they’re going to good homes. I get to meet their handlers, but it’s still hard to say goodbye to my best friends.”

Gaetana fondly remembers each dog by sharing how they all have distinct personalities.

“Tanya was a sweetie, but very protective,” she explains. “Ransom was an absolute goofball. Anyone who worked with him had to have a sense of humor because he was so silly. Patty was sassy and had an attitude for two. And Vinnie always wanted to cuddle, but unfortunately, didn’t make it as an arson dog. He’s now living with a Maine chemist who creates accelerants for the arson dog program.”

Patty, who graduated from arson training in spring 2015, is one of Gaetana’s success stories. Over the past several months, an arsonist started more than 10 fires in Beaver Falls, PA, causing a great deal of damage and public alarm. Patty and her handler, Dave, were called to a scene where Patty alerted him to the presence of gasoline on the arsonist’s shoes, resulting in a confession.

The young girl was so proud of her former student “That was awesome, “Gaetana says. “I’m so excited! That’s my girl!”

Patty, along with Gaetana’s other dogs, are trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program, which was established in 1993. Since its inception, more than 350 dogs and their partners have been trained and now work throughout 44 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces.

“It’s great these dogs are doing such a great job in helping communities by sniffing out accelerants and putting arsonists behind bars,” says Gaetana.

Where are Gaetana’s dogs now?

• K9 Vinnie is living with a family in Maine was a pet
• K9 Shadow is partnered with Richard Howard at the Evansville Fire Department in Evansville, IN
• K9 Ransom is partnered with Barry Overman at the Elizabeth City Dire Department in Elizabeth City, NC
• K9 Tanya is partnered with John Galaska at the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office in Georgetown, DE
• K9 Patty is partnered with Davis Seidl at the Beaver Falls Fire Department in Beaver Falls, PA

To read more about State Farm and our support of all dogs please read:

• Second-Hand Animals: First Class Heroes
• All Dog Breeds Deserve a Chance
• Insuring the Underdog
• Fire Dogs: Man’s Best Friend, Arsonists Worst Nightmare

Julia Sleeper learned of the negative stigma associated with the “tree streets” in Lewiston, ME, when a college professor advised her not to visit that section of town. People there were considered dangerous.

However, Julia did not listen to her professor’s warning. What Julia found were low-income residents, looking to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

In 2005, Julia began an outreach program, helping local students with homework. As needs grew beyond homework assistance, a group of individuals discussed the possibility of starting a summer youth program. In July 2011, Tree Street Youth Center opened to provide low-income youth the opportunity to learn and grow in a nurturing environment.

As the Center’s initiatives increased, so did the need of financial support. In early 2013, Julia submitted an application for the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program. Out of 3,000 applicants, the Center was selected as one of the Top 200. With the help of the community and Lewiston agent Lisa Laliberte, the Center received enough votes in the crowdsourced program to win one of 40 $25,000 grants.

“What I have learned from the grant program is it is not the size of the community, but rather, the size of the heart of the community that makes winning a grant possible,” said Laliberte. “Neighborhood Assist empowers individuals to identify issues in their communities and provides funding to help create a positive impact.”

Each day, the Center serves between 120-150 youth grades K-12. Nearly all youth at the Center live at or below the poverty level. Services include academic/tutoring support, safe space mentoring, arts and cultural enrichment, leadership programs and college prep support. So far this academic year (Since September 2014) they have served 365 different youth with new students joining weekly.

“Since receiving funding from State Farm we were able to double our enrichment class offering, while providing both volunteers and staff with proper supplies and space,” said Sleeper.

All enrichment classes are offered to youth at no cost to families and are open to all students at the Center.