Lori Bellwood joins Northern Light staff

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Lori Bellwood

Northern Light Inland Hospital is pleased to welcome Lori Bellwood, DNP, CNM, an experienced, compassionate certified nurse midwife to Northern Light Women’s Health in Waterville. Lori provides gynecological, contraceptive, family planning, and preventative well-woman care from adolescence through menopause.

Lori has been working in women’s health services for most of her 40-year career; 18 as a registered nurse in labor and delivery, 22 as a women’s health provider. She has attended more than 2,000 births. Lori is a certified nurse midwife through the American Midwifery Certification Board. She attained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Southern Maine and then attended Frontier School of Midwifery in Hyden, Kentucky for her Midwifery Certificate. She earned her master’s in nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and then attended Frontier Nursing University and attained her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

“When I first meet a patient, I try to see them as a whole person and get to know them. Each woman has a uniqueness about them that affects their health which encompasses not only their physical health, but a woman’s social circumstances, family, and environment. Understanding them as a whole person shows I care for them and can meet them where their needs are. This is the foundation of a trustful and meaningful relationship between a provider and a patient,” shares Lori. “Empowering women to reach their maximum attainment in health and wellness through shared decision making is very important to me.”

Lori is welcoming new patients. To schedule an appointment, please call the office at 207.872.5529. The practice is located in the Medical Arts Building attached to the hospital. Learn more at northernlighthealth.org/Inland.

Lori’s Café celebrates 19 years

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Lori’s Cafe in Liberty celebrated a 19 year anniversary on September 19 2024. Lori praises her customers and staffing for the longevity of running and maintaining a restaurant for 19 years. Lori started the cafe after years of working along side her parents at the 10-4 Diner.

In 2005 she decided to take the plunge and start a business that she could call her own. It was already a local place to gather for food and fun, Lori added humor and homemade baked goods including homemade donuts, pies and her famous cinnamon rolls. Ed, Lori’s husband, works at the cafe as “just the drink guy” telling stories as people from all over the world come in.

Lori’s Café is located directly off Route 3 about halfway between the interstate and Belfast. It is a hot spot on the way to and from Bar Harbor, with folks always asking “how far ‘til Bar Harbor”. Lori has quite the reputation for her sarcasm while cooking, baking pies, and making donuts, she’s known to throw coffee creamers, rubber chickens and insults to regular customers.

In October 2009 Lori started a fundraiser for cancer awareness called Joy To Be Bald where people shave their heads to show support of loved ones, raising money to donate to community members with cancer to help offset the extra costs of needs during a terrible time.

If you’re ever in Liberty definitely stop in to Lori’s Café for homemade food with a side of humor.

Banquet held for MaineGeneral Health long-time employees

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LoriAnn Ouellette, of MaineGeneral Hospice, celebrating 20 years, with supervisor Kathy Phelan. (contributed photo)

On Thursday, November 7, MaineGeneral Health held a banquet at the Augusta Civic Center honoring 140 staff celebrating 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years working at MaineGeneral.

This longevity amounted to a total of 3,834 years of expertise, commitment, dedication and improving people’s lives.

As board member Scott Small said to the honorees at the celebration, “The health care field is not for the faint of heart. It requires compassion, resilience and an unyielding desire to help others, often in their most vulnerable moments. Whether you’ve been on the front lines as nurses, doctors, technicians, support staff or in countless other roles, each of you has made a lasting impression, both on the patients you’ve cared for and the colleagues you’ve worked alongside.”

“On behalf of the entire board, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to each of you,” Small added. “Your careers are more than just years on a calendar. They represent lives touched and communities improved.”

MaineGeneral Health is an integrated, not-for-profit health care system that provides a wide range of services throughout central Maine’s Kennebec Valley. The health care system includes the Alfond Center for Health, a 198-bed, state-of-the-art hospital, in Augusta; the Thayer Center for Health, in Waterville, comprehensive outpatient center; the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care; primary care and specialty physician practices; long term care facilities; rehabilitation; home health care and hospice services; specialized care for people with memory loss; and community outreach programs. To learn more go to www.mainegeneral.org.

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust announces Honor a Veteran contest

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Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has announced the Honor a Veteran contest, an online campaign that gives community members the opportunity to nominate a veteran or active service member who they feel deserves recognition for their dedication to our country. One nominee will be selected to receive $1,000 cash and a $1,000 donation to a nonprofit organization of their choice that specifically serves veterans.

The bank will accept nominations at https://refer.barharbor.bank/veteran from November 1 – 15. Nominees must have served or are currently serving in a branch of the U.S. military. In addition, nominees must be 18 years of age or older and reside in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont.

“There are heroes living among us who have served this nation honorably as members of the U.S. military and whose dedication and valor have helped protect the rights and freedoms we enjoy every day as U.S. citizens,” said Joseph Schmitt, Senior Vice President, Director of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “In honor of the upcoming Veteran’s Day holiday, we want to recognize those heroes through our Honor a Veteran contest. We’re excited to learn more about the veterans living in our communities and are excited to award one deserving veteran a $1,000 gift as our small way of saying ‘thank you.’”

A complete list of contest rules is available at https://refer.barharbor.bank/veteran. Only one entry per person. The contest winner will be announced in late November 2024.

Red Cross asks you to test your smoke alarms

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Daylight saving time ended on November 3 and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms.

“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out,” said John Montes, regional disaster officer, American Red Cross Northern New England Region. “Every second counts when there’s a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When daylight saving time ends this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”

The Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters annually across the country – the majority of which are home fires. So far this year, local Red Cross volunteers have responded to 189 home fires in Maine, assisting at least 702 people. Our volunteers have also installed more than 700 free smoke alarms across the state during this time.

Test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.

Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes – the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late.

Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit redcross.org/EndHomeFiresNNE or call 1-800-464-6692 (option 4) to schedule your free installation appointment.

Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,196 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

Northern Light Acadia to launch innovative Dementia Care training program

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Northern Light Acadia Hospital is thrilled to announce the launch of a comprehensive dementia care training program in rural Maine. This project, funded in full by the Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1.33 million, aims to improve access to dementia care specialists and provide contemporary care standards in rural areas.

Maine, being an aging and rural state, faces a high prevalence of age-associated cognitive disorders and limited access to dementia specialists, with wait times of up to 18 months and significant travel distances. Acadia Hospital’s Rural Dementia Care Training program addresses these needs by increasing non-specialists’ capabilities, enhancing dementia care competencies, and offering educational resources.

The program’s goals align with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(MECDC) Maine State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and include:

• Training more than 700 healthcare professionals in rural regions
• Developing a statewide clinical consortium of dementia specialists
• Creating a registry for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related
disorders
• Training two subspecialists in neuropsychiatry Healthcare professionals across the Northern Light Health system and beyond will be invited to participate in training and educational opportunities, ultimately benefiting primary and community care systems. The program will also engage underrepresented communities in training and healthy brain aging lifestyle initiatives.

In addition to clinical efforts, the program will establish a multilayered webpage with
assessment tools, instructional videos, communication channels with dementia specialists, and community resource lists. Furthermore, two early-career nurse practitioners will receive dementia specialty skills training, and an accredited neuropsychiatry fellowship for physicians will be created.

Special thanks to Maine’s senior U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who has been instrumental in securing federal funding for various programs and initiatives in Maine, including this rural dementia care training program. Northern Light Acadia Hospital is committed to enhancing dementia care in rural Maine, providing essential resources to healthcare professionals, and fostering lasting improvements in the state’s dementia care landscape.

This project is funded in full by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1.33 million. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

New Physician Assistant joins Unity Practice

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Jennifer Fitzpatrick

Northern Light Primary Care, in Unity, welcomes Jennifer Fitzpatrick, physician assistant, to their team.

Jennifer is welcoming new patients and will be providing routine wellness exams, chronic disease maintenance, acute/sick visits, and in-office procedures.

With a bachelor of science degree in exercise science from the University of Southern Maine and a master of medical science from Yale School of Medicine, Jennifer also has experience as a cardiac tech and spent nine years as a health and wellness coach.

“I try to get to know each and every patient individually so I can learn what their healthcare priorities are. My goal is for every patient to play an active role in their own health, and I will meet them where they are in terms of their health, resources, and motivation so we can work as a team to keep them well,” shares Jennifer.

To schedule an appointment, please call the office at 207-948-2100.

Northern Light Inland Hospital changes leadership

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Northern Light Health announces that Tricia Costigan has stepped down from her role as president of Northern Light Inland Hospital and Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood, effective immediately. Randy Clark will assume leadership of both organizations in tandem with his role as president of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital. Randy is also a senior vice president at Northern Light Health.

Joining Northern Light Health in 1996, Randy started as controller with Sebasticook Valley Hospital, became vice president of Finance in 2005 and vice president of Finance and Operations in 2016, served as vice president of Finance and Operations in 2021-2022 for Inland Hospital and Lakewood, and became president of Sebasticook Valley Hospital in April 2022.

As part of this leadership restructuring, Randy will report to Marie Vienneau, in her new role as regional president. This role is in addition to Marie’s work as senior vice president of Northern Light Health, and president of both Northern Light CA Dean Hospital and Northern Light Mayo Hospital.

Enhancing existing regional collaborations, this new executive structure of Northern Light Health will formally link Sebasticook Valley Hospital, Inland Hospital, and Lakewood, with our member facilities in Piscataquis County. It will also encourage further alignment around best practices in patient care, advance shared services, create administrative efficiencies, and be a good steward of scarce resources during these economic times.

Northern Light Health goes pink

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month has long been associated with the color pink. To show their support for breast cancer patients, Northern Light Health is encouraging team members at every location to wear a pop – or even an entire outfit – of pink on Friday, October 4.

The idea behind this wave of pink is not just to show support, but to remind or encourage women over the age of 40 to schedule their annual screening mammogram.

“One of the things that always resonates with me, and hopefully to our patients, is the saying ‘a few moments of discomfort is worth a year of peace of mind,’” says Danielle Black, a mammography technician with Northern Light Health. “Annual screening mammograms, along with clinical and self-breast exams, are imperative for early detection of breast cancer. Screening mammograms are also covered by insurance as a preventative healthcare measure.”

The statistics around screening mammograms also reinforces just how important they are. Statistically, of every 100 women who have a screening mammogram, providers will recommend two of them to receive a needle biopsy for further review and possible diagnosis. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Screening mammograms and early detection significantly increase a patient’s chances of surviving breast cancer.
“Women should not be afraid to advocate for their yearly mammogram, even if it is not mentioned by their provider,” adds Black. “It is easier than ever to schedule a screening mammogram as they no longer require an order from a physician and can be booked in just minutes on our website.”

“I’m very proud to work in this field. It makes me so happy to have our breast cancer patients come back years later for their screening mammogram and see how well they are doing,” adds Jamie Goody, a mammography technician with Northern Light Health. “Knowing that our quick four pictures helped them receive treatment as soon as possible is why we are here.”

To schedule a screening mammogram, visit northernlighthealth.org/scheduleamammogram.

New Dimensions FCU voted a Forbes America’s best in-state credit union

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New Dimensions has been awarded on the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2024. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on June 18, 2024, and can be viewed on the Forbes website.

Financial institutions are the cornerstone of the financial world and play a central role in stabilizing global systems. America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2024 ranking lists the institutions that stood out for fulfilling the unique financial needs and expectations of their local communities thereby being most valued by residents of each state.

The ranking is based on two sources:

• An Independent Survey: Approximately 26,000 U.S. residents were surveyed online. Participants were asked to name all credit unions where they have a checking/savings account and rate the credit unions in six different subdimensions: Trust, Terms and Conditions, Branch Services, Digital Services, Customer Services, and Financial Advice.
• Publicly Available Reviews: For each credit union in each state, a sentiment analysis approach of publicly available online text reviews and ratings was applied.

In each state, the credit union with the highest combined score from the analysis of survey results and publicly available reviews was awarded. The survey score was rated 80 percent and publicly available reviews 20 percent.

Based on the study results, New Dimensions is ecstatic to be recognized on the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2024.

Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, relevant business data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized on Forbes’ list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2024.”, stated Ryan Poulin, CEO. “This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team, who continually strive to provide exceptional service and support to our members. Being acknowledged for such a high honor reaffirms our commitment to meeting the unique financial needs of our community with trust, transparency, and excellence. We are proud to serve our members and will continue to uphold the high standards that have earned us this distinction.”