Rep. Bradstreet announces local DOT projects

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Richard Bradstreet

State Representative Dick Bradstreet (R-Vassalboro) has announced that the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Work Plan for calendar years 2022, 2023 and 2024 is available. The estimated value of work in the plan totals more than 2,316 individual work items with a total value of $3.17 billion. This represents a substantial increase from last year due to anticipated federal funding.

The MDOT Work Plan for House District #80 includes $31.8 million for several area projects, including:

In Augusta: Bridge replacement of the Western Avenue/I-95 Bridge located just south of Old Winthrop Road. Replacing the Rines Hill Bridge over the Old Maine Central Railroad just north of Green Street.

Highway safety and spot and improvements beginning at Route 201 and extending east for 1 mile on Route 202.

Highway construction/rehabilitation beginning just east of the intersection of Granite Hill Road and extending east for 1.67 miles

In Vassalboro: Highway construction/Rehabilitation beginning 1.14 miles north of Gray Road and extending north for almost one mile.

“This year’s Maine DOT Work Plan projects have been enhanced by federal dollars,” said Rep. Bradstreet. “This will help DOT offset the unprecedented increases in labor and material costs that we are all experiencing with our family budgets. I am pleased to see MDOT has more to spend this year and the projects scheduled for the next three years in our area.”

The full work plan, searchable by municipality, is available at the Maine Department of Transportation’s website: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/workplan/search/ .

Over 3,000 Easter eggs found in Vassalboro

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Picture is of Easter Festival volunteers Ray Breton, Alicia Reynolds, Samantha Lessard and special guest, The Easter Bunny. (photo by Goodbrain Photography)

On Saturday, April 16, over 150 children attended and participated in Easter crafts, egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny. Children enjoyed finding Golden Eggs and exchanging for a toy. Over 3,000 candy filled Easter Eggs were found.

Maine State Credit Union expands senior leadership

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Brie-Anne Mellor, left. Shane Abbott, right.

Maine State Credit Union has announced the promotions of Brie-Anne Mellor and Shane Abbott.

Ms. Mellor is now the Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer, and Mr. Abbott is the Senior Vice President, Chief Retail Officer. In their new roles, they will work with the other senior leadership team members to drive the organization’s continued growth. Both will be reporting to Stephen Wallace, incoming President, and Chief Executive Officer.

“Brie and Shane have been key players in the organization’s growth over the past several years,” said Wallace. “They have stepped up to lead without any hesitation and demonstrated the ability to inspire and grow their teams simultaneously.”

Ms. Mellor began her career on the teller line 20 years ago. During her tenure at Maine State Credit Union, she has continued to accept any challenge presented. In 2018, Ms. Mellor led the project team on the introduction of Meridian Link, an online direct-to-the-member lending tool. She created the first online lending team responsible for helping members access the credit union’s products through digital banking. In addition, Ms. Mellor has also been a financial services representative, loan officer, assistant branch manager, and loan servicing supervisor before being promoted to vice president of lending in 2021.

Mr. Abbott started his career as a summer teller in 2007 and joined the finance team as an accounting clerk. He continued to move through the organization and worked as an indirect loan officer and teller supervisor. In 2018, Mr. Abbott built a new internal call center, the eBranch, which takes over 300 calls a day. In 2021, he joined the operations team as vice president, where he led the project team to convert the credit union’s online and mobile banking system.

Virtual auction to benefit residents of Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood

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Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood’s beloved May Day Auction is back in virtual form for 2022. It’s easy to participate—bidders can check out auction items and place bids from any internet connected device between May 9 and 13.

Auction items include an Acadian supper for ten at the home of Lakewood ambassador Marie Cormier, a handmade quilt, a weekend at an oceanfront cottage on Round Pond, gift certificates, a golf package, and much more!

“The auction is an annual tradition that our community looks forward to each May,” says Kendall Bailey, MLA, administrator, Continuing Care, Lakewood. “Last year was the first time we held the event virtually and, while we miss being in person, we were pleased that loved ones of Lakewood residents near and far were able to join our community in enjoying this five-day Auction.”

This year, auction proceeds will support the renovation of the long-term care residents’ dining area.

“We all recognize the challenges the pandemic has presented over the last two years. It’s more evident than ever what a critical resource Lakewood is for the state and the May Day Auction is a great way for the community to show its support,” notes Marie Cormier, Lakewood ambassador.

Browse auction items and bid between May 9 and 13 by visiting northernlighthealth.org/lakewoodauction.

Madison American Legion Post & Auxiliary holds Military Child’s Table Setting ceremony

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From left to right, Amy Washburn, Tardiff-Belanger American Legion Auxiliary Unit #39 Chaplain, and Rich Robinson, Post #39 Chaplain. (contributed photo)

Tardiff-Belanger American Legion Post #39 and Auxiliary Unit #39, in Madison, held a Military Child’s Table Setting Ceremony following the Installation of Officers. The ceremony was performed jointly by Post #39 Chaplin, Rich Robinson, and Unit #39 Chaplin, Amy Washburn.

April is designated as Month of the Military Child – a time to honor the sacrifices made by military families worldwide, with an emphasis on the experience of the dependent children of military members serving at home and overseas.

The ceremony includes: The potted flowering plant symbolizing that a military child by flower and flourish where they are planted; the hand spade recognized that they may be transplanted to a new place in the world at a moment’s notice; the birthday hat and unlit candles, along with the baseball and glove, and ballet slippers represent special occasion that are missed; the family photo depicting a child with his/her uniformed parent/parents demonstrates our country’s strength; the final touch to the table setting is the American flag to remind us that families are united in their commitment to national service, at home or away.

New Dimensions FCU awards two area high school students with scholarships

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Sage Clukey left, accepted her scholarship certificate on Wednesday, April 27. Thomas Dean received his scholarship certificate at the Skowhegan location on April 25. (contributed photo)

New Dimensions FCU has announced that Sage Clukey, from Winslow High School, and Thomas Dean, from Skowhegan Area High School, have been selected as New Dimensions FCU’s 2022 Scholarship Program winners who have earned $2,500 each for their first year in college.

New Dimensions FCU awards scholarships to deserving high school seniors that demonstrate strong character, community involvement, and academic success. This year we found two exceptional candidates who went above and beyond in their academics and community. They both came highly recommended by school officials, and their essays showed that their character and assessment of financial literacy aligned with our mission and values.

Sage Clukey plans on studying to be a nurse at Franklin Pierce University, while Thomas Dean will study finance at the University of Maine at Orono. The staff and directors of NDFCU wish them both the best of luck in all their educational endeavors.

Ryan Poulin, Chief Executive Officer, states, “Our scholarship program is just one of the many ways we support our community. We hear many times from students that financial education is an underdeveloped skill they feel they’d like to hone, so we try to give them the tools and resources at the local level by adding financial fitness into their curriculum as well as offering our Scholarship Program to show the importance of financial success.”

For more information, contact NDFCU at (800) 326-6190 or visit www.newdimensionsfcu.com.

What to know about mold and mildew

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For your family’s health and your home’s structural integrity, don’t let mold grow.

(NAPSI) — If you’re like a lot of homeowners, your domicile is in danger from an insidious, invisible growth—mold—and you don’t even know it. That’s because for many people, mold conjures up images of smelly, green and black growth that can cause serious respiratory issues. It is often found in a home after an intrusive water event, such as a flood or a severe rainstorm. The reality is, just about every home has mold, though it only becomes a concern when there are moist building materials and you begin to notice visible mold growth and can smell it.

Why To Fight Mold

Mold and water damage can have a negative effect on your and your family’s health, as well as on the safety and structure of your home. People with allergies to mold may experience sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, rash and upper respiratory problems.

Homes in areas where there’s a potential for flooding, tornadoes, or hurricanes are especially at risk. Mold typically grows in damp places such as basements and crawlspaces. Apart from floods, the four major causes of mold and water damage in residences are: leaks in the building envelope (that is, around window frames, roof); unattended plumbing leaks; high humidity levels (particularly from unvented or improperly vented indoor moisture sources, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and clothes dryers); and condensation on cool surfaces (on kitchen and bathroom surfaces, on window frames, in basements).

How To Fight Mold

The good news is there are steps you can take to identify and remove mold, and prevent its re-occurrence by keeping the water out of the house. AIHA (formerly American Industrial Hygiene Association), the organization for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) in the workplace and community, created free resources for consumers including: “Facts About Mold: A Consumer Focus,” a downloadable guide to the problems of mold growth and what you can do to prevent it; and a brief video, “What is mold? Who’s affected?”—a quick guide to the dangers of mold in your home.

Who Can Fight Mold

If mold damage is severe, it may be time to seek the help of an OEHS professional or Certified Industrial Hygienist with extensive mold investigation and remediation experience. You can find a list of OEHS experts at www.aiha.org/public-resources/consultants-listing.

What’s your backyard personality?

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(NAPSI) — Backyarding, the trend to move many indoor activities outdoors, is now a permanent way of life. During the pandemic, learning to work, entertain, vacation, work out and more right in one’s own backyard, became a necessity—and people are learning it’s often a better way to live.

According to the TurfMutt Foundation, identifying your backyarding personality type is an important first step in creating a backyard that supports your family’s needs and desires.

“The work you put into your yard now will reap benefits all year long. Remember: Work your landscape and your landscape will work for you.”

Two backyarding personality types in particular—the Expert Landscaper and the Work from Home Pro—can really shine this fall. Here’s why:

Expert Landscaper

This personality type knows that yard work done in the fall provides a double benefit because what you do in autumn to maintain your yard sets the stage for its health and vibrancy come spring. Fall yard chores—removing leaves, pruning trees and cleaning out flower beds and garden plots—are a usual activity for you.

Work From Home Pro

As a work from home professional, you have been living for fall when the temperatures are perfect for taking your office outside. All you need is a strong Wi-Fi connection, your nicest leisure wear and a jacket for chilly morning meetings and you’re ready for work in your backyard. Nature is your video call backdrop and you have set up your outdoor office for success by using shrubs and patio planters to distinguish your outdoor office space from other backyard activity zones.

What do these personality types know to do this fall? No matter your backyarding personality type, you can have a fabulous family yard this fall and beyond with these simple steps:

Remove leaves. Mulching leaves rather than raking and bagging them is good for your lawn and the environment. As shredded leaves decompose they feed your lawn, naturally.

Mow at the right height. Cut grass until the first hard frost. Find the just-right length for your lawn’s species (typically between 2-3 inches) to keep your grass healthy when it turns cold. Overseed grass and don’t forget to aerate the lawn in fall to prevent soil from becoming compacted and covered with thatch—a thick layer of roots, stems and debris that blocks water, oxygen and nutrients from reaching the soil.

Water wisely. If you’re not getting at least an inch of water each week, keep watering throughout the fall. Install watering solutions, such as smart controllers on irrigation systems, to conserve water.

Plant bulbs and flowering shrubs that will give blooms in spring and summer to feed pollinators, such as birds, bees and butterflies, as well as provide beauty for those natural, video conference backdrops.

Plant a tree for shade or cover. It may take a few years to grow to shade-producing height, but it’s an investment in your outdoor space.

Identify the ideal time to prune specific tree and shrub species and do so accordingly. Depending on what is in your yard, fall may be the perfect time.

Consider putting in decking or a hardscape to create an area to set up a desk or table. Make sure adequate electricity is available to power those laptops and other devices.

Sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation, at TurfMutt.com.

Be cool and save money

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A few simple steps can help you and your family be more comfortable at home for less money.

(NAPSI) — Many Americans may be surprised to learn that almost half their utility bill goes toward heating and cooling their home. Fortunately, the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program offers resources to help you beat the heat—all while saving a, saving money and protecting the climate. Here’s how:

Maintain or Upgrade Your HVAC System

Check your system’s air filters. A dirty air filter will make the system work harder to keep you cool, wasting energy. Filters should be inspected once a month during heavy use.

If your heating and cooling equipment is more than 10 years old or it needs frequent repairs, it may be time to consider a replacement. The ENERGY STAR Heating and Cooling Guide helps you navigate an HVAC equipment upgrade that will keep you comfortable and help you save money, year round. Visit www.energystar.gov/HVACguide.

Get a Smart Thermostat

A WiFi-enabled smart thermostat automatically adjusts your home’s temperature settings for optimal performance. ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats are independently certified, based on actual field data, to deliver energy savings.

Need a New Room AC?

On average, ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners use 10 percent less energy and cost less than $70 per year to run.

Learn More

You can find other savings tips at www.energystar.gov/cooling.

What to ask when hiring a contractor

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Asking the right questions of potential contractors can help you feel sure they’ll do the job right.

(NAPSI)—With record-high real estate prices, a growing number of homeowners are remodeling or renovating their existing homes rather than buying new. Increased demand and continued supply chain issues, however, have led to delays in getting quotes, uncertainties in the availability of materials, rising costs and an increase in homeowner frustration.

Whether you’re looking at a new roof or siding, adding a deck, upgrading windows or insulation, you want to find a contractor who gets it right on the first try (and can meet today’s fast-turn demand).

What To Ask

To help, here are three important questions to ask potential contractors so you can find the right resource in a challenging environment:

1. “Do I need to meet with you in person to get a quote?”

Contractors have followed the same manual transaction processes for decades. But home visits with pad-and-paper estimating is outdated, especially with digital-savvy homeowners.

Today, roofing, fencing and even siding companies can provide a preliminary quote without sending representatives to your house. Satellite measurements and a quick phone call are all you need to understand basic pricing and inventory availability for shingles, siding or lumber. Digital sales platforms help homeowners quickly compare contractors and reduce the time to get multiple estimates.

2. “How soon can you start?”

How quickly a contractor can begin depends on pricing and availability of labor and materials. Be wary of contractors who offer services for unbelievably low prices—it’s safer to pay more for a premium, professional job than take a gamble on a risky contractor.

Top contractors will prepare a digital estimate, taking current pricing into account. Using dynamic tools, your contractor should be able to make real-time changes to estimates and contracts to show how the materials selected will influence the schedule and cost. Similarly, such contractors will have access to real-time inventory via a mobile device so you can choose products, such as shingles, that are actually available, reducing delays.

3.“How do you handle changes?”

This is another area where a contractor using a digital sales platform can add value. By plugging in different options, your contractor should be able to tell you exactly how changes will affect cost and timing. No need to wait days for a return phone call—using digital documents means a revised quote and contract can be sent quickly, helping to keep projects moving.

Learn More

For further facts about digital tools to look for in a contractor, visit www.leaptodigital.com.