Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital partners with Healthy Living for ME

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Healthy Living for ME welcomes Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital as a community provider in the statewide network.

As a community healthcare provider, Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield, will be offering workshops in the area of chronic disease self-management education and caregiver support. These evidence-based workshops are free to participants and designed to help them learn and build the skills they need to manage a number of chronic/ongoing health conditions and/or their unique caregiver situation. The workshops may be offered in-person, virtually, or by telephone.

In advance of the workshops’ launch through Sebasticook Valley Hospital, staff from the hospital are participating in leader trainings through Healthy Living for ME this spring.

“Joining the Healthy Living for ME network will help us bring more resources to our community that support Maine caregivers and help Mainers manage chronic conditions and improve their overall health and wellness. As a healthcare provider in the community, we are committed to helping build a healthier future for Maine,” said Sherry Tardy, Director of Community Health for the Pittsfield hospital. “We look forward to launching these workshops soon!”

“We’re glad to have Sebasticook Valley Hospital join us as a partner. This partnership will help to expand access to our workshops in the Sebasticook Valley region of central Maine, giving more Mainers the tools they need to manage their own ongoing health issues or to get the support and skills to help them as caregivers,” said Jen Paquet, Training Manager of Healthy Living for ME.

Healthy Living for ME supports Sebasticook Valley Hospital and other community providers through shared funding streams, including grants through the Administration for Community Living. The funding supports leader trainings, materials for programs, and overall coordination for the effective delivery of workshops in the community.

To learn more about Healthy Living for ME and our resources and programs, visit www.healthylivingforme.org, call 1-800-620-6036, or email info@healthylivingforme.org.

If your organization is interested in collaborating with Healthy Living for ME, or if you are an individual interested in volunteering with Healthy Living for ME, we invite you to contact info@healthylivingforme.org.

Be wary of text scams from your “boss”

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image: AARP

You may be used to getting text messages and emails from your boss, which is why a recent texting scam is so effective. Scammers find out where you work and pose as the CEO or other executive. Be on guard and don’t share money or information – be it your own or your company’s.

How the scam works

You receive a text from a number you don’t recognize, claiming to be from your boss. The sender knows your name, where you work, and your boss’s name. It seems so real! The text message might read something like this: “Hi Chris, I’m tied up in a conference call right now but let me know if you get this text. Thanks [your boss’ name].”

If you reply that you received the text, you’ll be asked to do a quick task. This could be purchasing gift cards for a client or wiring funds to another business. In some cases, the scammer may ask you to send personal information to someone, often giving you a plausible reason to carry out the request.

No matter how believable the reason sounds, always double check before taking any action. Once you send the money, gift cards, or information, it will be in the hands of a con artist.

How to protect yourself from impostor scams

Don’t trust unsolicited messages from unfamiliar numbers. If your boss regularly communicates with you via text message, save their number in your contact list. Don’t respond to potential impersonators reaching out from a different number.

Be wary of unusual requests. If your boss has never asked you to buy gift cards, even if the request comes from a number you’ve saved, think twice. Scammers can potentially clone phone numbers and might have hijacked your boss’ number to target employees.

Double check with your boss personally. If a request comes from a strange number or just doesn’t sound right, call or email your boss first, using their real contact information, rather than replying to the message. It’s better to double check than to rush into a scam. Plus, your boss will want to know if they are being impersonated, so they can warn their other employees.

If you suspect a scam, don’t reply. If you’re fairly certain you’ve been contacted by a scammer, don’t reply to the text message. Replying lets scammers know they have an active phone number and could leave you vulnerable to future attacks. Instead, block the number and delete the message.

Biochar: A soil amendment that offers multiple benefits

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Biochar being used in agriculture.

by Kayla Bergman,
senior policy associate, Center for Rural Affairs

Biochar is an agricultural practice that is gaining in popularity—but what is it?

Created from a variety of feedstock, including corn stalks, wood, and even manure, biochar is a specialized form of charcoal suitable for use in the soil.

To create biochar, feedstock and manure are heated to high temperatures under controlled conditions. The gas or oil produced is used as a renewable energy source. The carbon left behind in that process is biochar.

There are benefits provided for the environment during the production process and once it has been applied to the soil.

The production process concentrates carbon that would have been released back into the atmosphere as the plant or manure decays, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Biochar is also extremely porous, allowing it to retain water—which plant roots can access when it is added to soil. Studies have shown a 5% biochar amendment in certain soil types increases the water holding capacity by up to 50%, which can serve as a flood mitigation benefit.

During a recent trial in Nebraska, when applied to irrigated lands, biochar was proven to reduce the need for irrigation by up to 37 percent. This is significant in a time of water conservation.

Biochar also retains both carbon and nitrogen in the soil. The carbon is transformed into an absorbent material which can lead to less runoff and leaching into waterways.

Biochar has the potential to help build soil, conserve water, produce renewable energy, sequester carbon, reduce inputs, and potentially increase yield on lower productivity ground. While it won’t work everywhere, biochar has the potential to be a valuable tool for farmers and landowners. This is a relatively new practice on agricultural lands, but seems to be one way for renewable fuel production to use a byproduct in a productive way.

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, nonprofit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

BBBS to hold plane pull fundraiser

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Big Sister Paige Lilly and her “Little Brother” Hunter Stevens, came out to support the program that brought them together two years ago by participating in last year’s “Putt 4 Cass.” (Contributed photo)

Local businesses and organizations are lining up to see who can pull a CRJ-200 Jet Aircraft 20 feet in the fastest time, all to raise critical funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine youth mentoring programs.

The second annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine Plane Pull, hosted by Elite Airways, will be held Saturday, May 14, starting at 10 a.m., at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport, located at 80 Airport Drive, in Auburn. Jason Levesque, mayor of Auburn, will serve as event co-emcee, along with event media sponsor WGME Sports Director David Eid.

Sponsoring organizations enter teams comprised of 8 to 10 people to compete for the fastest pull times. Independent teams may participate by fundraising a minimum of $500 per team entry. A trophy will be presented to the team with the fastest pull time, along with prizes for top fundraisers. The event is expected to host upwards of 20 teams with a goal of raising $40,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentoring programs.

“The pandemic has taken its toll on area children, who remain the most vulnerable and negatively impacted in our communities,” Executive Director Gwendolyn Hudson said.

Spectators are welcome to attend the event and cheer on their teams, including Big and Little matches, who will be treated to airport tours following the event.

BBBS of Mid-Maine will hold a second Plane Pull in the fall, hosted by C&L Aviation Group and Bangor International Airport, on September 10 in Bangor.

For more information about the BBBS of Mid-Maine Plane Pull, or to sponsor and register a team, visit bbbsmidmaine.org, email info@bbbsmidmaine.org or call 207.236.BBBS.

Welch receives MPA principal’s award at Carrabec High School

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Brooke Welch

Brooke Welch, daughter of Dereck and Aaron Welch of North Anson, a senior at Carrabec High School, has been selected to receive the 2022 Principal’s Award, according to Prin­cipal Timothy Richards. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement, citizenship and leadership.

According to Richards, Ms. Welch has distinguished herself as a leader for her class, a role model for her peers, and an athlete on the court and on the field. She always has a smile on her face and has a positive attitude. Brooke is hard-working, kind, and humble, all of which will ensure her future success. She is also very involved in her community, volunteering for many events, always willing to lend a hand.

Strong and focused, Brooke has not only thrived in the sports world, but has taken honors courses, as well as, AP and Dual Enrollment classes, and was March 2022 Student of the Month.

For all of these reasons, Richards is proud to announce that Brooke Welch is the Carrabec High School MPA Award recipient for 2022. Brooke can attend a LIVE Virtual Event on April 1, 2022, where she will be eligible to be selected for one of ten scholarships.

NORRIDGEWOCK: King Foundation grants extrication equipment to Fire Department

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Lt Josh Corson (cq), left, and Firefighter Andrew Dexter of the Norridgewock Fire Department. (Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel)

NORRIDGEWOCK, ME — The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation awarded $40,000 to the Norridgewock Fire Department for the purchase of vehicle extrication equipment. The four pieces of equipment – spreader, cutter, ram, and stabilization struts will support a more efficient process of freeing patients from life-threatening conditions, most usually as the result of a motor vehicle accident. This grant enabled the Department to replace equipment that was 21 years old.

“We are extremely grateful to the STK Foundation for supporting our important project. The new battery-operated Hurst tools will speed the extrication process and eliminate the complications of working with older technologies. We are eliminating a gas-powered motor, hydraulic pump, hoses and fittings, all while upgrading our ability to cut modern metal alloys found in late model motor vehicles. The positive environmental impact is also a bonus,” said Deputy Chief Todd Pineo.

The equipment has been added to Engine 21, a 2019 Pierce Responder pumper, which is the customarily the first apparatus to deploy to an accident scene.

Town Manager Richard LaBelle expressed great thanks for the grant. “Acquiring this new equipment would not have been possible without the support from the King Founda­tion. These lighter-weight, portable tools will help our crews respond quickly to emergency calls and provide them with the right tools to do the job. This grant benefits not just the people of Norridgewock, but anyone who may travel through town.”

The equipment being replaced, through the generosity of this grant, will be donated to a Somerset County fire department in an effort to assist another rural, mutual aid partner.

About the Norridgewock Fire Department:

The Norridgewock Fire Department serves the Towns of Norridgewock (pop. 3,249) and Mercer (pop. 664) for a total of 78.57 square miles.

Hanson, Blaney big winners at Battle of Maine

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Crowd at the Battle of Maine in Waterville. (photo by Mark Huard)

by Mark Huard

WATERVILLE, ME — The 40th Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships took place at Champions Fitness Club, in Waterville, on Saturday March 26, and helped support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals here in Central and Northern Maine.

Jackson Hanson, 9, of Clinton, captured first place in forms, first place in weapons and first place in fighting. Hanson also captured the overall 12 & under Weapons Grand Championship title. (photo by Mark Huard)

It was a packed Champions and Elm Plaza parking lot, with around 340 competitors and close to 1,000 spectators from around Maine and New England. The Battle kicked off at 8:30 a.m. with the full contact padded sword fighting competitions.

At 10:15 a.m. opening ceremonies began with an amazing National Anthem sung by Rebecca Pushard. This was a special day since the event hasn’t been able to be in person for the last couple of years. Everyone was in great spirits and happy to be back to in person competition.

After the National Anthem, hundreds of prizes were thrown into the crowd for all of the kids to catch! The tournament then proceeded a special demo by world champions and then with forms, weapons forms and fighting competitions throughout the day.

Special thank you to Central Maine Motors and Hammond Lumber for being a major sponsor of the Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships.

Boston Blaney, 9, of Winslow, captured first place in fighting at the Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships. (photo by Mark Huard)

China Village Volunteer Fire Department appoints new chief

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China Village VFD newly-appointed fire chief, Joel Nelson. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

by Eric W. Austin

CHINA, ME — Let me introduce you to Joel Nelson, China resident and the new fire chief for China Village Fire Department. He strikes an imposing presence on first acquaintance, standing over six-feet tall and broad-shouldered. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, Nelson told me a bit of his life in China and his plans for the China Village Volunteer Fire Department.

Nelson takes over from longtime fire chief and former state representative, Tim Theriault, who will stay on as deputy chief. Raised in Winslow, Nelson moved to China in 2016 with his wife Elana, who works as an occupational therapist. They are expecting their first child, a boy, within the next several weeks.

Nelson attended Winslow High School, graduating in 2004, before going to Kennebec Valley Community College, (KVCC), in Fairfield, and then Thomas College, in Waterville, where he completed a degree in Business Management. During the day, he works for Sheridan Construction, in Fairfield, as a project manager.

He brings a wealth of experience to the job. Aside from his background in business and project management, Nelson served with the Winslow Fire Department during high school and, since 2006, with the Albion Volunteer Fire Department, where he is currently deputy chief.

Nelson sees the volunteer fire department as an integral part of the community. He says, “We’re here in a time of need to help our neighbors and surrounding communities. Whether it’s an emergency or not, we’re here to support people and do what we can to help them.”

Nelson says there is a lot of work involved in running the department beyond just responding to emergency calls. That work includes monthly meetings, sending trucks out for annual pump testing, SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) testing, hose testing and training sessions for fire fighters. “There’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on here that people driving by don’t realize is going on,” he says.

The China Village Fire Department handles fire and emergency calls for everything north of Cross Road, while the South China Fire Department responds to calls south of that line, and Weeks Mills Fire Department covers Dirigo Road, Deer Hill Road and nearby areas.

While the China Village Fire Department has 24 members on the current roster, they are always looking for additional volunteers with the courage to fight fires and give back to their community. The squad meets every second Tuesday of the month when they discuss department business and conduct training sessions. Anyone is welcome to stop by to see what it’s all about. Prospective fire fighters will need to complete a 6 – 8 month (every other weekend) training course which, in recent years, has been offered by the fire department in Waterville. Support persons, who may not be directly involved in firefighting, but can help with fundraising for the department, or directing traffic at the scene of an accident, are also needed. Interested parties are invited to contact Nelson by phone, at 877-5911, by email at chinafd214@gmail.com, or through their Facebook page.

EVENTS: Gibbs Library presents students art exhibit from Prescott Memorial Elementary School

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Gibbs Library in Washington, ME. (photo from: librarything.com)

The Gibbs Library presents the 17th Annual Student Art Exhibit featuring the wonderful work of the student artists from Prescott Memorial Elementary School. Art Teacher Anthony Lufkin has guided the students, using a wide range of materials and cultural art forms, to express their creativity in these remarkable works. The pieces, representing all of the K-6 students, were selected and artfully framed and displayed by Mr. Lufkin. If you are in need of some inspiration or maybe a smile or two, come to the Gibbs and enjoy. They will announce a reception as soon as risk levels permit. The show runs through March and April.

The Gibbs Library is located at 40 Old Union Road, in Washington Village, and is open on Monday 4 – 7 p.m.; Tuesday 9 -noon and 4 – 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 3 -6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 pm. Phone (207)845-2663. Email info@gibbslibrary.org, Website: https://www.gibbslibrary.org/.

EVENTS: Battle of Maine set for March 26, 2022

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Carter Couturier, of Winslow, left, practices with Keegan Miranda for the upcoming Battle of Maine. (photo by Mark Huard)

The 40th anniversary of the Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships will be taking place on Saturday March 26, 2022, at Champions Fitness Club, in Waterville. Spectator Tickets are $10. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will feature forms, fighting and weapons competitions throughout the day. The Battle of Maine has supported the Children’s Miracle Network for many years and has helped raised over $80,000. The city of Waterville Mayor Jay Coelho has proclaimed Saturday March 26, 2022, as Martial Arts Day.