New procedure at Northern Light Podiatry helps bunion sufferers

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Dr. Jared Wilkinson talks with a patient about bunions at Northern Light Podiatry, in Waterville, which is on the Inland Hospital campus. Contributed photo

Bunions, those bony bumps at the base of the big toe, can be painful and disrupt a person’s daily living – even making walking painful. Approximately 25 percent of people in the U.S. have bunions, including Cherie Merrill, from Monroe, who suffered in pain for nine months.

“I’m on my feet 90 percent of the day as executive director of the Belfast Food Kitchen, and my seven grandkids keep me very active,” says Merrill. But Merrill notes, “After this awful bunion developed, I had to slow down, and by the end of each day, I was in so much pain, I couldn’t even walk. It started as a minor pain in my left foot, and progressed to worse pain as the months went on.”

After being told that different shoes could fix her issue (which it did not), Merrill was happy to learn about an innovative new bunion surgery performed at Northern Light Inland Hospital, in Waterville, and Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield. Podiatric surgeons are helping people like Merrill get back on their feet using a new tool in their toolbox – a special surgery called Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®.

Dr. Ashley Mychak, who performs surgeries at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield, says the Lapiplasty 3D procedure is an exciting new way to help bunion sufferers. Contributed photo

Dr. Ashley Mychak, DPM, podiatric surgeon with Northern Light Podiatry, in Pittsfield, is very excited about Lapiplasty®. Dr. Mychak explains, “It offers a 3D correction of the bunion at the root of the problem which is an unstable joint in the midfoot. Addressing the bunion where the deformity occurs allows for better long-term correction and decreases the risk of the bunion returning. We have seen that this special surgical procedure allows for earlier weightbearing on the foot in a surgical boot and a quicker return to normal shoes than with other types of bunion surgeries.”

Dr. Jared Wilkinson, DPM, with Northern Light Podiatry in Waterville shares, “A common misconception is that a bunion can just be shaved off, but bunions are much more complicated than that. Lapiplasty® allows us to return the bone to its proper alignment.” Dr. Wilkinson adds that the procedure is still bone surgery, which takes time to heal. “Each patient’s experience will be individual, but we are typically seeing great results overall. It is very gratifying to help people get back to their favorite activities and walking in their regular shoes without pain.”

Bunions can appear in people of all ages, both male and female. While Lapiplasty® addresses the unstable joint, it also corrects the cosmetic appearance of the protruding bunion.

Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. Rich Samson perform the special surgery at Inland Hospital and Dr. Mychak at Sebasticook Valley Hospital.

At Merrill’s eight-week post-surgery checkup, Dr. Mychak called her progress excellent. Merrill is walking without her surgical boot, and she’s feeling very encouraged about her recovery so far. While each situation is different, typically, patients can get back into comfortable shoes, like tennis shoes, approximately eight weeks after the procedure.

Merrill is grateful for this new step forward. “It’s exciting to think about getting my quality of life back. I am determined not to be limping and missing out on activities when we go camping this summer with all the kids. And I’m motivated because I still have a long bucket list of dreams to achieve!”

Most insurances cover the surgery if medically necessary. Ask your primary care provider for a referral to Northern Light Podiatry, in Pittsfield or Waterville, or for more information visit northernlight.org/Bunions.

Winslow Girl Scout troop helps develop St. Joseph Center Sanctuary

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Winslow Girl Scout troop #545. (contributed photo)

Every Girl Scout troop has a specific meeting place: a town hall, a school, a church, a fire department, etc. These community spaces provide ample room for Girl Scouts to come together, build connections, share ideas, and participate in skill-building activities across a wide variety of concentrations and topics such as STEM, financial literacy, outdoor skills and more. But what if that meeting space became a troop project itself?

Planting flowers to beautify the grounds. (contributed photo)

Troop #545 is comprised of a mixture of seven Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts who have met at the St. Joseph Center, in Winslow, on a weekly basis for the past few years. In 2021, the property owners, known as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon, announced they were developing a sanctuary and asked for help from local civic and non-profit groups on various environmental projects to create a thoughtful plan for the land.

“Our group had just started meeting there and we were happy to tag along with some of the projects,” says Melissa Sullivan, Troop #545 Leader.

Troop efforts began with gardening in the backyard, the genesis of a project that would grow alongside the Girl Scouts for years to come.

“We initially planted a bulb and flower garden in the backyard. We tended the garden for a few years before allowing it to go dormant,” says Sullivan.

Later, when the owners created a few trails behind St. Joseph Center, the troop constructed bug hotels and placed them along with informational signs for hikers to learn more about the insects inhabiting the area.

“We are now going into our second year of partnering with Mid Maine Permaculture to host a plant sale and swap in May, which helps bring more people to the property, and brings in donations to our troop and the sanctuary,” says Sullivan.

At last year’s plant sale, the Girl Scouts were able to help build an herb spiral with help from Mid Maine Perma­culture. During the winter months, when plants and flowers are off the agenda, Troop #545 snowshoes throughout the riverside trail, ensuring it stays clean and clear.

While the sanctuary is still a work in progress, the public is welcome and encouraged to visit the property at their leisure and attend any of the monthly Skill Share events hosted by sanctuary partners.

Winslow Girl Scout troop #545 displaying their “bug hotels”. Below, planting flowers to beautify the grounds. (contributed photo)

John Melrose is Vassalboro’s 2024 Spirit of America choice

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John Melrose

John Melrose will be honored with Vassalboro’s annual Spirit of America award at the June 3 town meeting, in recognition of his many volunteer activities in the town.

Select board member Michael Poulin announced the board’s choice, “appreciative of the depth and length of selfless service rendered to our community.”

Melrose’s service, “so far,” Poulin wrote, includes several terms on the select board; serving on the budget committee; serving as a scoutmaster and baseball coach; and membership (often leadership) on the Vassalboro Cemetery Committee, Kennebec Land Trust, Vassalboro Grange, Vassalboro Historical Society, Vassalboro Trails Committee and Maine Woodland Owners.

Melrose and his wife Molly have been Vassalboro residents since 1976. Melrose worked for the Maine Municipal Association for seven years; served as commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation from 1995 to 2001; and worked as a private consultant, including running his company, Maine Tomorrow, for 20 years.

The Spirit of America Foundation was established in Augusta in 1990 to recognize and honor volunteers in Maine municipalities.

Sarina LaCroix has top state of Maine Americanism essay

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Sarina LaCroix

Vassalboro Community School (VCS) student Sarina LaCroix is the sixth-grade State of Maine winner of the annual Americanism Essay Contest sponsored by the Elks Club.

Becky Fisher, sixth-grade English and social studies teacher at VCS, said the theme of this year’s contest is “What the Bill of Rights Means to Me.”

VCS students entered through the Waterville Elks Lodge in December 2023. Fisher was notified in February that four VCS students’ essays were chosen for the state-level contest. Later, she learned that LaCroix had written what was judged the best sixth-grader’s essay in Maine.

The contest is divided into four levels, for grades five, six, seven and eight. Contest rules say each essay must be no longer than 300 words and must be “typed or legibly printed in ink” by the student.

Each local lodge sends its 12 winning essays, three from each grade level, to a District Americanism Chairman. The district chairman forwards 12 winning essays to the State Americanism Chairman, who chooses 12 state winners.

In addition, by March 31 the state chairman forwards the first-place essay from each grade level to the Grand Lodge Essay Contest Administrator, in Cullman, Alabama. National winners will be announced at the end of June.

LaCroix will attend the Maine Elks Club state convention in Augusta, on Saturday, May 4, where she will read her essay and be presented with a plaque, Fisher said.

Theresa Gagne turns 105 years old

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Theresa Wilson Gagne, with her family, at her 105th birthday party. Inset, 105-year-old Theresa Gagne. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

Theresa Gagne (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

Irma Richard and Andrew Wilson gave birth to their daughter Theresa on April 18, 1919, in Brunswick. Theresa was one of eleven children. Theresa continued to live in Brunswick until moving to Waterville when she married the love of her life, Emile Gagne, on October 3, 1942.

Emile and Theresa have three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Joan (George) Meier, of Oakland, Lorraine Landry, of Waterville and Bob (Patti) Gagne, of Waterville. Michael Meier and Debbie Meier, both of Oakland, Carrie (Nick) Peterson, of South Carolina, Mindy Landry, of Augusta, Randi Burns and Renee Slaney, both of Waterville.

Emile and Theresa celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary just a few months before Emile passed away at the age of 90. Throughout the years, Theresa worked in several mills before retiring in 1977 from Bates Manufacturing, in Augusta. Theresa enjoyed several hobbies such as needlepoint, working with stained glass, quilting and jewelry making. Theresa still enjoys gardening, cooking, gambling, entertaining and spending time with family and friends.

Theresa continues to live on her own without any assistance.

Family and friends gathered for lunch at Front and Main, in Waterville, on Thursday, April 18, to celebrate Theresa’s 105th birthday, and cake and ice cream followed at Theresa’s home.

Silver Beaver award presented to area scout leaders

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by Chuck Mahaleris

The Silver Beaver is the highest award a local council can bestow upon a volunteer Scout leader. Two local scouters from across the Kennebec Valley District of Pine Tree Council received this award, Kelly Pillsbury, of Benton, and Joseph Poulin, of Oakland. Kennebec Valley District delivers Scouting in Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Somerset, and Franklin Counties.

Poulin has been active in scouting since 1990 when he was a Webelos Cub Scout and then crossed into Oakland Troop #454. He earned his Eagle Scout award in 1997. Since 2002, he has served as a volunteer leader in scouting at the local, district and council levels. He is currently serving as the vice chairman of Kennebec Valley District, training chairman for Pine Tree Council and a member of the Pine Tree Council Executive Board. Additionally, he has served as program director for Day Camp and Fun Pack Weekends. “I enjoy seeing youth succeed and grow,” Poulin said.

Kelly Pillsbury is a former district chairman for Kennebec Valley District and currently serving on the district committee and as a committee member for Troop #479, based in China. Both have received the District Award of Merit which is the highest award a local scouting district can bestow upon a volunteer. Pillsbury is a past Exalted Ruler of Waterville Elks Lodge #905 during which time she formed the “Antler Lodge” to bring the Elks program to youth. She joined scouting in 1995 as a Tiger Cub parent and has been active since. “Kelly has been active in Scouting for more than twenty-five years,” said district member Ron Emery, of China. “Kelly always has had goals to advocate that training was important for Cub leaders, scout leaders as well as scouts, and the troop committee should always support and encourage that training.”

The awards were presented in Raymond, at Camp Hinds, on January 18, by Pine Tree Council Vice Chairman Scott Valcourt.

Sidney girl achieves Eagle Scout status

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Eagle Scout Einin Riddle, of Sidney. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Einin Riddle, of Sidney, is just 14 years old but has accomplished something fewer than six percent of all scouts achieve – she earned the Eagle Scout rank.

The event was held at the Augusta Lodge of Elks on Saturday, April 6. She has earned 62 merit badges, her most recent was the Aviation Merit Badge. She has also earned six Nova and Super Nova STEM advancements.

She is homeschooled and is registered in the Lone Scouts program but has been active with Troop #428, in Pittsfield, and is currently a Den Chief helping with Cub Scout Pack #428. Troop #428 Scoutmaster Shelley Connolly presented her with her Eagle Scout certificate.

Connolly serves as her mentor in the Lone Scout program. Riddle plans to attend Thomas College, in Waterville, with a double major in criminal justice and psychology so she can become a psychologist. “My life vision is to be an individual who can help others,” Riddle said. “I always feel great helping other people.” She praised scouting and promised to always live the Scout Law.

photo by Chuck Mahaleris

Local scouts attend Red Sox game at Fenway Park

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Scouts from the Winslow area Pack #445 took part in the Scout Day festivities. Front row, from left to right, Winslow Wolf Cub Ryder Johnston, Lion Lorelei Pullen, Tiger Elliot French. Back, Vassalboro Arrow of Light William Vincent and Winslow Bear Freddie Pullen. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Freddie and his sister Lorelei Pullen of Winslow pose with Wally the Big Green Monster himself, mascot of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

Former Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti once said about Fenway Park, “As I grew up, I knew that as a building (Fenway Park) was on the level of Mount Olympus, the Pyramid at Giza, the nation’s capital, the czar’s Winter Palace, and the Louvre — except, of course, that it is better than all those inconsequential places.” Legends of the game such as Ted Williams, Carl Yas­rzemski, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and David “Big Papi” Ortiz have all left their mark on the storied ball park. On Saturday, April 14, Scouts from Winslow area and Hartland area had the chance to touch the Green Monster and to see Fenway Park the way those icons saw- from the field. This happened during the annual Scout Day at Fenway.

“Walking out on the field was pretty cool,” admitted Troop #403 Scoutmaster Danielle Morse, of St. Albans. “Our trip was great. We had six Scouts go. The boys had a great time and thought it was cool to be able to touch the ‘Green Monster’ from the field.”

Scouts from our local area joined those from across New England to cheer on the BoSox, have hot dogs and peanuts and cracker jack, and took part in the Scout Parade on the field during which they literally walked in the footsteps of Manny Ramirez, Mookie Betts, and Jim Rice.

Sabrina Garfield is Cubmaster of Winslow Pack #445 noted that it was fun to watch the game and see the players live and even more fun because the Sox beat the Angels 5 – 4. “It was very exciting,” Garfield said. “It was all of my Cubs’ first game – mine, too!” The Sox had a 9 win and 7 game loss coming out of their Scout Day victory which included Masataka Yoshida’s first homer of the season.

This year’s Scout Day was a winning way to start off a busy Spring and Summer Scouting season and the Scouts thought it was a home run event.

Local scout leader receives training award

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Scouting Training Chairman for Kennebec Valley District Walter Fails, left, presents Christopher Santiago, of Vassalboro, with the Scouter’s Key. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Since kids don’t grow up overnight, it can sometimes be hard to tell from week to week how much of a difference you’re making as a scouting volunteer. Scouting leaders who complete training programs deliver stronger programs that reach each youth where they are every single week. On Sunday, March 24, four area leaders were recognized for completing all requirements for specific training awards as well as the more challenging to earn Scouter’s Key.

A training award is a position-specific recognition earned by scouters who meet certain tenure, training and performance requirements.The tenure requirement is one year for den leaders and two years for all other positions. Basic training for your position, plus specified supplemental training depending on their scouting position. Additionally, the scouter must do four or five things, which vary by position, such as participating in an annual unit-planning meeting or giving primary leadership in meeting a Journey to Excellence objective.

A Scouter’s Key is a more advanced award earned by the top leader in a unit (i.e., Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor or Skipper). They must have three years as the top unit leader within a five-year period. As with the training awards, a Scouter’s Key requires basic training for the position they held plus specified supplemental training. Additionally, their Scouting unit must achieve at least the Silver level of Journey to Excellence for at least two years, they must participate in at least one additional supplemental or advanced training event, and they must complete one or two other program-specific requirements.

Christopher Santiago, of Vassalboro, earned the Den Leader Training Award, Scouter’s Training Award for the Cub Level and Scouter’s Training Award for the Troop level. Jamie Russell and Drew Riddle, both of Randolph, earned the Scouter’s Training Award for the Troop Level.

Christopher Santiago earned the Scouter’s Key for his work in the Cub Scout level of the program. The awards were presented by Kennebec Valley District Training Chairman Walter Fails, of New Sharon. The event was held at the Winslow Parks and Recreation Hall. Kennebec Valley District Scouters deliver the programs of Scouting in Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Somerset, and Franklin counties.

One hundred jumpers for one hundred years

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The Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC) held the annual Polar Plunge during the 100-year anniversary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Waterville, on Saturday, March 16. More than 100 warm-hearted supporters took the plunge to support the AYCC Kids Kitchen.

Kennebec Savings Bank, Huhtamaki, Maine-ly Docks, Allen Insurance & Financial, and Day’s Jewelers sponsored the 31st annual event. This year’s icy plunge took place at the Oakland boat launch and raised over $43,000 for the AYCC Kids Kitchen.

Food & Nutrition staff provide more than 70,000 nutritious meals and snacks to kids in AYCC After School and Summer Enrichment Programs each year. This free program relies on support from generous sponsors and events like Polar Plunge to operate.

Jumpers included AYCC CEO, Ken Walsh; Waterville Chief of Police, Bill Bonney; Huhtamaki Plant Manager, Chris Perry; motorcyclists from Waterville Elks Lodge #905, American Legion Post #51, Oakland, and United Bikers of Maine; seasoned jumper, Tony Tuell; Boulerice Management CEO, Matthew Boulerice; and EXP Realtor, Nick Isgro.