EVENTS: Maine residents invited to free Alzheimer’s conference

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference, in Portland, on Wednesday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa (20 Milk Street). The free conference is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, caregiving, and aging. Register by visiting www.alzfdn.org/tour. Advance registration is highly recommended.

“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more about brain health, we invite you to join us on June 11.”

Sessions during the AFA conference will include: Alzheimer’s Disease: What’s Good for the Body is Good for the Brain; Breaking Barriers: Creating Better Care and More Choices for Families with Dementia; Building Community Supports for Caregivers; and Safeguarding Your Home After a Dementia Diagnosis

Free, confidential memory screenings will be conducted throughout the day.

For more information or to register for the June 11 conference in Portland, visit www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484, texting 646-586-5283, or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat and text message features are available in more than 90 languages.

ShineOnCass Foundation 2025 scholarship recipients

/0 Comments/in , /by

The ShineOnCass Foundation recently presented scholarships, totaling $5,000, to two local seniors who make service and kindness part of their everyday life.

Olivia Farag

The 10th Annual ShineOnCass Memorial Scholarship, in memory of Cassidy Jean Charette, was presented to Olivia Farag, of Sidney. Farag will receive a $4,000 scholarship to Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, where she will major in Government and Legal Studies. The ShineOnCass Memorial Scholarship was first started by Charette’s Messlaonskee Class of 2016, and awards graduating seniors of Messa­lonskee High School. Funding is dispersed annually after recipients demonstrate completion of 20 hours of service work each year.

Maeve Wilcox

The 2nd Annual ShineOnCass Community Scholarship, created to recognize service-focused seniors living, in Winslow, Waterville, Lawrence, or Messalonskee school districts, was awarded to Maeve Wilcox, of Waterville, a graduate of Waterville Senior High School. Maeve receives a $1,000 scholarship to Roger Williams University, in Bristol, Rhode Island, where she plans to study Biology and Environmental Science.

Both scholarships were created in honor and memory of Cassidy Charette, a lifelong volunteer in the central Maine community and former Messalonskee student who died in a hayride accident in 2014. The ShineOnCass Foundation awards $10,000 in local scholarships every year supporting higher education, aspiring young violinists, youth soccer, children attending summer farm camps, and other awards recognizing youth service and kindness.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities offered by the ShineOnCass Foundation, visit shineoncass.org.

Memorial Day: A remembrance of why freedom is not free

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Flag Placing Day, left to right, Assistant Scoutmaster Millard Davis, Russell Lawler, Ashish Dabas, Parker Small, Violet Haigis, Falyn Soucy, Ashlin McDermmott, Senior Patrol Leader Allison Dorr, Ryder Small Jr., Assistant Scoutmaster Addison Poulin, Scoutmaster Chris Bernier. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Scouting America teaches young boys and girls many great values. One of the more important lessons in Scouting is Duty to God and country. The youth of Troop #433 and Cub Scout Pack #445- both from Winslow- certainly fulfilled that lesson on Friday May 23rd as they helped American Legion Post 5 in Waterville place just under 1000 US Flags at St. Francis and Oak Grove Cemetery in Waterville Maine upon the graves of veterans.

(photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

The day was heavy overcast with off and on drips of rain. Troop #433 and Pack #445 arrived at 4 p.m. Commander Craig Bailey of American Legion Post #5 was waiting with several totes of American flags to be placed out at the graves of deceased veterans. The Scouts eagerly took handfuls of flags and set out to various parts of the cemetery. They worked each row looking for foot markers showing military service time. “It’s unfortunate, we know there are several hundred more veterans in this cemetery who do not have military foot makers. This makes finding every single service member hard, but we do the best we can to find them all,” said Commander Craig Bailey.

The Scouts worked until 6:30 p.m., when they ran out of US flags. The Scouts then gathered for a brief photograph before departing. “We teach citizenship as one of the more important life lessons in Troop #433,” said Chris Bernier, Scoutmaster for Troop #433. “I personally believe that Memorial Day and Veterans Day are two of the more important days to remember. Showing our Scouts that we must remember and reflect on why they live in a free country is very important to me as it was taught to me by my Scoutmasters when I was a Scout.”

On May 26, Memorial Day, Troop #433 and Pack #445 returned to St. Francis Cemetery to participate in the Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by American Legion Post #5. In attendance were members of the Waterville Fire Department, the Knights of Columbus, the Waterville VFW post #1285, the Winslow VFW Post #8835. The ceremony commenced at 9:00 a.m., led by Commander Craig Bailey. The ceremony spoke of the sacrifices of all veterans during times of war. Commander Brandon Curtis of the Winslow VFW spoke about how our freedom is not free noting that there were thousands of soldiers who did not come back from war but instead paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms so we could live in a world where can vote for whom we wish in our elections; we can speak freely when we wish; we can also have differences of opinions and beliefs but still be neighbors. All of these freedoms have been protected by those who served in times of war.

The ceremony concluded with the sound of “Taps” being played by Nathanael Batson, a trumpet player and Eagle Scout from Fairfield, Maine. Shortly afterwars Commander Craig had a short departing prayer and everyone dispersed quietly.
Veterans. If you wish to join the American legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars please go to www.legion.org , www.vfw.org

Youth can join Scouting at www.beascout.scouting.org Or contact Chris Bernier at circleofone555@hotmail.com.

(photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

PHOTO: Alewives galore!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

To celebrate their last session together this week, a group of students enrolled in Kate Coseo’s Environmental Science class took a trip to the Olde Mill, in Vassalboro, to admire the alewives that are making their journey upstream through the Kennebec. Pictured from left to right, Kat Mitchell, Cassie Flye, Delia Billings and Stasha Wells observing the many fish within Outlet Stream. (contributed photo)

Northern Light Inland Hospital ends clinical services

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Northern Light Inland Hospital and clinical services ended. The facility, associated services, and most practices have been winding down services and working to transition patients to new care locations since announcing the closure earlier this year.

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025:

• The emergency department stopped accepting new patients at noon.
• All clinical services ended.

The following practices will remain open to serve patients and the community:

• Northern Light Primary Care, Unity, as part of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital
• Northern Light Walk-In Care, Waterville, as part of Northern Light Mercy Hospital
• Northern Light Primary Care, Madison, as a practice of Redington-Fairview General Hospital.

Many providers will continue to offer care in Waterville and the surrounding area at new practice locations, and many current patients can choose to continue care with their current provider. Letters have been mailed to established patients of closing practices advising on any action needed to continue care with their current provider or to transition care to a new provider/practice.

As a reminder, this closure does not affect Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood, which operates as a separate entity in Waterville.

Additional information about the closure, answers to frequently asked questions, and up to date information about providers, can be found at NorthernLightHealth.org/InlandNotice.

Launching trilogy at 91 years old

/0 Comments/in , /by

Jean Ann Pollard

Launching a trilogy of mystery novels at the age of 91 would be too daring for many authors. But for Winslow resident Jean Ann Pollard, it’s just the latest in a lifetime of artistic and authorial adventures.

Crone’s Class, released in March, is the first in a series of whodunits that Pollard is writing: The Crone Chronicles. The main character who’s solving those mysteries? A self-described “old lady” who goes by the nickname “Crone.”

Pollard has written nonfiction books, children’s books, cookbooks, dozens of short stories and hundreds of poems and nonfiction articles in her lifetime, including publishing her first book in 1973. She’s also an accomplished artist, perhaps best known for her series of paintings, Earth: Love It or Lose It, focusing on environmental conservation and climate action.

Pollard was born in Waterville and raised in Winslow, but as an adult she trotted the globe, living in California, Bermuda and Libya (plus visiting — and misadventuring in — several other countries) before returning to Winslow with husband Peter Garrett. She earned a degree at Boston University, took courses in biology and geology at Colby College, raised two children, taught art and writing classes for all ages, and held numerous gallery showings of her art. All of those life experiences now help her create the fictional world of Crone’s Cottage, including the decision to center the story around a woman close to her own age.

Pollard continues to write full time and has plans for several more novels aside from the Crone Chronicles trilogy. At 91, she believes age is no reason to stop creating and exploring in life. Her “Crone” feels much the same way.

“She’s thumbing her nose at anyone who believes that being old and female means being ‘weird and witchlike,'” Pollard said of her main character.

Joined by a cast of colorful characters, Crone must solve two murders at her local college, set in Maine, and make sure that her friend doesn’t get framed for the crimes. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow the investigation to its shocking conclusion.

Crone’s Class is published by Page Publishing. Readers can purchase the novel and future books in the Crone Chronicles trilogy through their local booksellers or online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or on the iTunes or Google Play stores.

Skowhegan woman earns national recognition

/0 Comments/in , /by

Amber Lambke

In the last 20 years, the face of corporate leadership has begun to change – and many of those new faces are women. From boardrooms to balance sheets, female CEOs are making a powerful impact, reshaping industries once dominated by men. Their rise marks real progress, but it’s not yet the finish line. Women are still vastly underrepresented in top executive roles, particularly in the country’s most influential companies.

To spotlight the women changing that narrative, MarketBeat.com, a financial media company, surveyed 3,021 people to uncover the most inspirational female leaders in the country. The aim? To celebrate both household names and hidden heroes – leaders whose stories deserve a wider audience.

Amber Lambke, of Skowhegan – Co-Founder & CEO; Maine Grains

Amber Lambke co-founded Maine Grains, a company revitalizing the local grain economy by producing stone-milled flour and other grain products. Operating out of a repurposed jailhouse in Skowhegan, Maine Grains supports regional agriculture and promotes sustainable food systems. Lambke’s leadership has positioned the company as a model for community-based food production. She was ranked 111th in the country.

Housed in a Victorian-era jailhouse the Somerset Grist Mill / Maine Grains sources grains from local farmers, and has fostered the creation of a CSA and a farmer’s market that provides local produce to area residents. Maine Grains specializes in freshly milled, organic and heritage grains for stoneground flour and rolled oats, selling to bakers, brewers, and chefs throughout the Northeast. Their restaurant, the Miller’s Table at Maine Grains information below.

The gristmill is also home to the Maine Grains Dry Goods Store, The Miller’s Table cafe, Happyknits yarn shop, the Skowhegan Farmer’s Market, and the Maine Grain Alliance teaching kitchen.

The business is located at 42 Court Street, in Skowhegan, Maine

Spectrum Generations seeks subcontract for older and disabled adults with local providers

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Spectrum Generations, Central Maine’s Area Agency on Aging, provides community- based services through the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III, parts B, C, E, and D. Spectrum Generations serves Kennebec, Somerset, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc Counties as well as the towns of Brunswick and Harpswell. The mission of Spectrum Generations is to promote and advance the well-being and independence of older and disabled adults, with the support of their care partners, to live in their community of choice.

To best serve local communities, Spectrum Generations seeks proposals to subcontract Older Americans Act services with local providers. Those services include:

OAA Title IIIB

– Money Minders
– Community Center Activities for Older Adults
– Telephone Reassurance
– Adult Day Services
– In-home Supportive Services (chore, personal care, and homemaker

OAA Title IIIC

– Home Delivered Meals
– Congregate Dining
– Nutrition Counseling and Education

OAA Title IIID

– Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

OAA Title IIIE

– Care Partner Support Groups and Training

Refer to Older Americans Act service definitions and reporting requirements for information on these services.

Single-year grant agreements will cover a period of one fiscal year, beginning October 1 and ending September 30. Providers must be familiar and compliant with rules and policy sections of the Office of Aging and Disability Services, Maine Nutrition Standards, the Older Americans Act, and standard terms and conditions required by Maine employment law and contracting guidelines.

Providers must also demonstrate the capacity to continue quality services in the case of delayed state payments or reduced award amounts due to state contractual amendments. Federal Funds through the Older Americans Act are often not received until January for contracts starting in October and typically include 2 to 3 amendments during the contract year. Award amounts are based on service type, service area, and units of service.

Any services provided by a subcontractor must fall within Spectrum Generations planning and service area listed above, though they need not cover the entire area. Providers must meet all requirements and submit all data prior to receiving payment. Providers may not means test or subcontract services.

Interested organizations must submit a Letter of Intent by June 23, 2025. Submissions will not be accepted after the closing date. Submissions should demonstrate the capacity to meet all requirements herein as well as the regulatory requirements from the sources listed above. Current subcontractors are not required to submit a letter of intent for those services currently under contract.

Lincoln County Historical Society opens season (2025)

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Colonial Maine Living History Association reenactors honor veterans on Memorial Day, at the Pownalborough Court House, in Dresden. The event begins at 11 a.m., on Monday, May 26. (photo courtesy of Bob Bond)

The Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA) is kicking off its 2025 season with a range of engaging events that invite the public to experience history in different ways. Highlights include a Memorial Day ceremony, a visit from historical archaeologist Tim Dinsmore, new hands-on experiences at the Old Jail, and Community Day offering free admission to three historic sites on Sunday, June 1.

Seasonal programming begins on Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m., with a Memorial Day observance at the Pownalborough Court House, in Dresden, where visitors can join historical reenactors in honoring nine veterans of three different wars buried in the Old Court House Cemetery. The event will include flower placements on graves, a brief prayer, and a ceremonial flag-raising, followed by guided tours of the 1761 Pownalborough Court House.

On Saturday, May 31, historical archaeologist Tim Dinsmore will be at the Chapman-Hall House, in Damariscotta, from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., to talk with visitors about his archaeological work at the site. This informal opportunity gives guests the chance to learn about the goals and findings of the excavation, and ask questions about historical archaeology.

Sunday, June 1, marks LCHA’s annual Community Day, with free admission to all three historic sites: Pownalborough Court House (1761) in Dresden, Chapman-Hall House (1754), in Damariscotta, and the Lincoln County Museum & Old Jail (1811), in Wiscasset.

At the Old Jail Museum, families can engage in new hands-on activities that bring 19th-century daily life to life for younger visitors. Children will explore what it was like for the jailer’s family in the early 1800s, making for an interactive and educational experience.

Seasonal hours begin after these special events, and all sites will be open during weekends through the summer. Pownalborough Court House will be open Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Indigenous Peoples Day. Chapman-Hall House will be open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. through October 12, and the Old Jail Museum will be open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. through September 28.

For more details, including event information and seasonal programming, visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or follow LCHA on social media. Facebook: Lincoln County Historical Association (Maine) and Pownalborough Court House Museum, instagram: @historicallincolncounty.