VETERANS CORNER: Where to turn when denied benefits

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Veterans Administration facility at Togus. (Internet photo)

by Gary Kennedy

Well since we have returned from our humanitarian trip to S.E. Asia much has happened surrounding the Veterans Administration and veterans.

Where does one go when they are told by the VA that they don’t qualify for VA programs as they make too much money? Well, I have represented several such veterans over time. All but one are 100 percent service connected or will soon be. Unfortunately, in many cases the V.A. has been very remiss in the training they have given their employees; both on the medical and administrative sides. I have found that some doctors don’t even know how to properly initiate medical records with proper follow through. This can not only be detrimental to the veteran’s ability to approach the system but also can be misleading when a veteran asks for help.

I personally have found some doctors/medical professionals who are arrogant and have no idea how to diffuse the anxiety of a disabled veteran. Some act as if they are speaking with a street urchin. Some of the pain and suffering a veteran goes through is inside. Even though often time the veteran may become argumentative one needs to be trained on the why of it and find a way to get on even ground with the veteran. He or she is, after all, a patient and is there because of a problem. Many of the medical staff have never served in the military and really don’t understand why a patient can be so irate. Most of them are use to dealing with civilian patients and or varied reasons have decided to work where they don’t have to worry about medical malpractice. This, however, is a two way street. You leave one world of service for another. Unfortunately, the VA system is not giving an adequate transitional training. Recently we have lost some fantastic doctors, some of many years of service and some of only a few weeks, why? One story I heard was the ethical environment. I wonder if it is true, doctors are trained to watch out for seekers?

I mentioned early on that I have represented veterans who have been refused care at the V.A. because they made too much money. That is absolutely true. The last person that I encountered with this reason was met by my wife in the emergency room at the V.A. Togus. He is an old man in his 80s and was only at the V.A. to help a son who was also a veteran and very sick. He was friendly, talkative fellow. While waiting for his son he struck up a conversation with my wife who was delivering some reading material for veterans and their accompaniment.

This fellow told a very riveting story regarding his son’s condition and his own refusal of medical help some 50 years prior. My wife being knowledgeable regarding the V.A. to a minor degree felt very sad for this elderly veteran and told him he should speak with her husband. I met him and talked with him for a while. Eventually, I began to take notes and asked if he wanted to pursue this matter? He said he thought it was too late for him but I, of course, felt otherwise. I received his power of attorney and did a 21-526EZ. His history gave me 14 possibilities and so I filed. In less than one year this veteran was at 90 percent, assuredly 100 percent in the near future. All these years have gone by and this veteran believed he was not eligible for medical aid. He was seriously injured in the military.

Long story short, always get a second opinion and never go it alone. There are some great resources out there and some are veteran advocates with good training. V.B.A. is supposed to go by the letter of the law but at the same time in 38 CFR and 38USCS it states that VBA is there to assist you not only with educational and financial situations but to aid you with sound trained advice regarding claim initiation. The U.S. government realizes we are not all rocket scientists and some of us need help and good sound advice. There are other service organizations such as DAV, American Legion, VFW and Maine State Veterans Services and more. However, you have the right to go directly to the man, so to speak, Veterans Benefits Administration. They are well trained and they are there to help you. At Togus they are located on the second floor of building 248. The phone number is 207-621-6938. They have walk in service but it is appreciated if you call first and make an appointment.

V.A. is open now so you may feel free to enter either through building 200 or building 205, which is where primary care is located. The direct door to VBA has yet to be opened. Administration controls those difficulties if you are in a chair. All doors should be open now that covid has been lifted. If you have a problem call 623-8411, press “0” when you hear the recording and a live person will answer. Ask to be connected to the Director Office for explanations. You also have a right to do that.

This has been lengthy so I will have to end it here and get back with you next week. I will be meeting with some of you after the Juneteenth event and we can continue our discussion on the other issues that plague us all. Please ask for help if you need it. There are some of us out there who will hear and answer your call. You are never in this alone. If you have a problem or in any way feel that something is wrong reach out to one of us. We see each other every week and we truly care. God Bless and stay safe.

The views of the author of this column are not necessarily those of The Town Line newspaper, its staff and board of directors.

LAKE LIFE TODAY: part 6: While planning for the Future

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by Elaine Philbrook

Lake Life Today is a series of articles that are hoped will inspire you to see how, by taking just a few steps, you can make a difference and help preserve the quality of water in our lakes for future generations.

These articles have been collected and organized by LakeSmart Director Elaine Philbrook, a member of China Region Lake Alliance (aka “the Alliance”) serving China Lake, Webber Pond, Three Mile Pond, and Three-Cornered Pond. The Alliance would like to thank our partners at Maine Lakes and Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) for information to support this article.

Berms

Last week’s article covered rain gardens and how they help “slow the flow” of rainwater by capturing and filtering that stormwater from roofs, driveways, downspouts, and other hard (impervious) surfaces. This week’s article on Best Management Practice (BMPs) features “berms” and how they are an effective BMP to prevent pollutants and excess nutrients from entering the lake from your yard.

Berms are vegetated mounds of earth with gradual sloping sides that “slow the flow” and soak up stormwater runoff. They run parallel to the shoreline with a 4:1 ratio (meaning that for every vertical foot, there will be four horizontal feet to create the proper slope). Berms are usually built on top of the existing “duff” (the accumulation of leaves, pine needles, etc., that have dropped below the trees). Depending on the area where a berm is located, or the height of the berm which is needed, some minimal groundwork may be required.

Here are the directions on how to build a simple berm:

(1) lay a bed of large stones to form the berm’s foundation.
(2) cover the stones with soil.
(3) cover the berm with mulch and pine needles.

Stormwater flowing beyond a berm should be directed into dense, permanent vegetated areas capable of absorbing the stormwater.

Adding plants to a berm increases its effectiveness. The best plants to use are native plants, including grasses and shrubs. The goal is to cover the entire berm with vegetation.

Note: Any project involving more than minor soil disturbance within 75 feet of the water requires a permit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Local municipal permits may also be required depending on the distance from the water, and these distances may vary by municipality.

For more information on how to install a berm go to: dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/LakeWiseInfoSheet_FilterBerms.pdf

Also, a helpful site to find native plants can be found at Maine Audubon: https://mainenativeplants.org/

If you have any questions about what you can do to ensure the integrity of your valued lake or if you would like a free LakeSmart evaluation you can reach Elaine Philbrook by email at chinalakesmart@gmail.com and follow-up to read the next Townline Newspaper.

Live lightly on the land for the sake of the lake (LakeSmart).

Webber Pond Assn. president issues post meeting report (2023)

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Webber Pond.

Webber Pond Association president John Reuthe recently presented his anual report from the annual meeting, which provides information that people have been asking.

Update on removing filamentous algae: I took an old metal kitchen strainer out today to get some algae samples. It worked so well, that I tried using it to clean off algae clumps on the boat ramp and in the fish holding tank at the dam. It was easier and faster than I thought it would be with such a small tool, took 10-15 minutes to do both. The clumps really compressed as they were scooped. And it was easy to turn the strainer upside down and knock the algae out of it. Should be able to do a lot more with something bigger. Not a magic wand, but something worth trying.

Original post: One thing that people could do to help control the filamentous algae is to physically remove algae clumps by netting or raking them from the pond surface. It is important to dispose of the algae mats away from the pond edge to prevent nutrients from reentering the pond as the algae decays. Physical removal is labor intensive and time consuming, but it’s something that we can all do to help the problem. It is also advantageous because it results in a removal of nutrients from the pond, which may help to prevent future algae growth. This also applies to pond weeds that gather on the shore when it is windy.

The WPA has removed additional boards from the dam to control water levels given all the rain, which is a mixed blessing. Rain is a clean source of water replacement, but it is also creating runoff, which contains phosphorus.

Long-term control of overabundant aquatic plants is best accomplished by reducing or redirecting nutrient sources from the pond. This can be done by reducing fertilizer applications near the pond, maintaining septic systems properly, redirecting nutrient-rich runoff away from the pond, and maintaining vegetative buffer strips around your pond. This is also something that we all can do.

WPA directors Jennifer Lacombe and Erika Bennett are available to help with this process through the voluntary LakeSmart program, which provides free analysis and advice, as well as some financial resources to address problem areas that allow nutrient runoff into Webber Pond. Participants are not required to follow the advice given.

Select board OKs PSAP agreement with Waterville

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by Mary Grow

At a very short special meeting June 30, the last day of the 2022-23 fiscal year, China select board members paid about $78,000 in end-of-year bills and approved a PSAP (Public Service Answering Point) agreement with the City of Waterville.

As planned, Waterville is picking up the job of answering emergency calls that had been handled by Somerset County, until county officials gave notice this spring they were discontinuing the service.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said the cost is as anticipated. Select board members unanimously and without discussion authorized her to sign necessary documents.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 17.

China transfer committee updated on reopening of waste facility

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by Mary Grow

China transfer station committee members spent their July 11 meeting mostly on updates – the latest news locally and from the former trash-to-energy facility in Hampden to which China used to send waste and may again.

The news from Hampden is that the Municipal Review Committee, which represents China and 114 other Maine municipalities, has found a new owner for the facility.

Tom Maraggio, China’s transfer station manager, said the plant is expected to reopen in about a year and a half as an anaerobic digester that will produce methane gas from waste.

Palermo committee member Robert Kurek called the sale “moving in the right direction.”

Locally, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood reviewed the contract that allows Albion residents to bring some of their waste items to China for disposal (see the June 29 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Maraggio said he has issued 10 or so passes to Albion residents already.

The news from Hampden is that the Municipal Review Committee, which represents China and 114 other Maine municipalities, has found a new owner for the facility.

With a pass, which costs $5, an Albion resident may bring in some of the things not included in Albion’s curbside pick-up program. China collects fees on all Albion items; Hapgood said the fees are designed to cover staff time and disposal costs, and are higher than those charged China and Palermo residents. They can be adjusted without notice if China’s disposal costs go up.

The contract runs only through the end of 2023. It can be ended by either party on two weeks’ notice.

Hapgood is working on a new policy for China and Palermo residents that will add to the existing RFID (radio frequency identification) tags annual stickers with vehicle license plates numbers on them (see the June 15 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). The goal is to minimize illicit use of the station by people who borrow residents’ RFID tags or who keep their tags after they move out of town.

The draft policy would charge $10 for each new RFID tag, to cover costs of buying and distributing the tags. However, the contract between China and Palermo prohibits new fees for Palermo residents, so they would be exempt, an inequity Hapgood has not yet figured a way to avoid.

Maraggio said things are generally going well at the transfer station. The exception, which committee members discussed at length, is the misbehavior of a few users. Without naming names, they talked about people who disobeyed rules and were rude to staff members when caught, and those whose driving caused damage. Apparently many people have trouble driving in reverse.

Cameras at the facility are useful in tracking down offenders. Hapgood and Kurek both act as needed to remind their respective residents of their responsibilities, and Hapgood said the Kennebec Sheriff’s Office provides back-up when needed.

The next transfer station committee meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, July 13, 2023

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To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@townline.org!

FULL BLOOM: Laura Jones, of Vassalboro, snapped these tulips in full bloom.

MAGNIFICENT: Jayne Winters, of China, photographed this magnificent male bald eagle.

EAVES DROPPING: Emily Poulin, of South China, caught these chickadees gossiping at her feeder, with a third eaves dropping.

Pirates visit the China Village library to celebrate summer reading

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Pirates interact with local children at the ACB Library, in China Village. (contributed photos)

by Carla Gade

It was a quiet Monday morning, June 26 it was, when a pair of pirates descended on the China Village Library. Children and their parents and grandparents gathered to see if rumor was true, or was it mere hearsay? Would pirates really come to the village? By way of China Lake? Rumor had it that their ship was hidden in a cove somewhere, but to what end? In haste they ap­peared like an apparition before the group of young Bookaneers. Of those present, some donned pirate attire suitable for the occasion. Even the Librarians were costumed. One took her stance with books and a writing quill, armed with knowledge, you see.

(contributed photos)

Alas, it became known that Captain Scruffhook O’Tinkle and Miss Ruby Kidd had come bearing peaceful tidings. In fact, they had come to entertain! Captain O’Tinkle, Tink for short, regaled the crowd with true-ish stories of fabled pirates, Sam Bellamy, Black Beard, young John King, and the notorious female pirate, Zheng Yi Sao. Ruby Kidd delighted them all with stories from the book of Piratology. She also proved to be a master teller of riddles which the youngsters were quick as a whip to answer. The young Bookaneers each received a unique pirate name, learned of pirate ways (true and myth), handled a genuine compass and a leather treasure map. The generous pirates shared plentiful pirate booty from their treasure chest with all!

The pirates, O’Tinkle, aka Shana Tinkle, and Ruby Kidd, aka Annabelle Lisa, are pirate reenactors who came courtesy of Back and Forth Tours, of Belfast. Dressed in full pirate regalia, they enthralled the library visitors to help launch the library’s Family Summer Reading Adventure upon the frigate S.S. A.C. Brown. Children and youth ages 4 – 17 and/or family members interested in embarking on the reading adventure can join any time through the end of July.

The program runs through August 19 and prizes will be awarded at a pirate rendezvous at the end of August. This year, in addition to ice cream from The Landing, the Masonic Dirigo Lodge will provide “Bikes for Books” to several participants as a reward for their reading efforts. A treasure map of reading suggestions, activities, and a log to track the reader’s adventures. All family members are encouraged to participate. The idea is to make reading fun and to keep reading throughout the summer. Children of all age groups receive a pirate coin, prizes, and a raffle ticket for the bike drawing. The adult raffle prize is a coupon for bookstore. Participants should have a library card and new patrons are welcome to join.

During the summer, an inhouse treasure hunt will be an ongoing activity for all visitors who would like to participate. The China Village Library (ACBM Library) is located at 37 Main Street in China Village, ME. Facebook @chinalibrary, website: chinalibrary.org, email: chinalibraryacb@gmail.com.

How will new mooring ordinance impact recreation on Palermo waters?

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Margaret and Gary Mazoki, of Palermo, enjoy their pontoon boat during the annual July 4 boat parade on Sheepscot Lake. (contributed photo by Janet West)

Submitted by Pam McKenney,
Sheepscot Lake Association Board

In March 2023, Palermo residents voted to approve a mooring ordinance for lakes and ponds in Palermo. The ordinance and its impact on Palermo waters, including Sheepscot Lake, will be the focus of the Sheepscot Lake Association’s upcoming Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 20, 6 p.m,. at the Fish and Game Clubhouse, on Rte 3.

The guest speaker this year will be Shawn R. Hebert, Harbor Master/ Chief of the Marine Safety Division, Naples. For a combined 32 years of service, he has been involved in Public Safety and Emergency as well as the training and certifying Harbor Masters statewide. At our annual meeting, Shawn will help us to further understand the role of a Harbor Master on Maine lakes and ponds and to examine the impact of the new mooring ordinance approved by Palermo residents in March.

The new ordinance will manage the placement of moorings and houseboats on waters within the town. The purpose is to provide for safe navigation, to protect the rights of shorefront property owners, and to preserve the health of inland water ecosystems. This was necessary since the State of Maine does not regulate the placement of moorings nor the anchoring of houseboats on Maine lakes, great ponds, and streams within the Water Safety Zone. This zone is defined as the first 200 feet from the high-water mark of any shore or ⅓ distance to the opposite shore, whichever is less.

Before Palermo voters accepted the ordinance, the placement of moorings and anchoring of houseboats inside the Water Safety Zone was left up to the discretion of individuals. Municipalities have little to gain and much to lose if moorings and houseboats are abandoned or seep sewage or sink. Therefore, a committee of stakeholders, including SLA board members, examined ordinances from other Maine towns and developed standards for mooring and anchoring suited to Palermo. These standards ensure that mooring installation, use, and maintenance as well as overnight anchoring does not:

  • impair the public’s health, safety and welfare;
  • result in degraded water quality, loss of aquatic habitat, or interference with navigation;
  • infringe on the rights of shore land property owners.

Beyond human use and enjoyment, Maine waters sustain ecosystems vital to the health and identity of our state. Find out more at the Sheepscot Lake annual meeting and see the Town of Palermo website for a copy of the adopted ordinance which takes effect in 2024. Also, please consider supporting the Sheepscot Lake Association with your membership and attendance at the annual meeting. The meeting starts with a dessert potluck at 6 p.m.

Issue for July 6, 2023

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OFFICE CLOSED: The Town Line newspaper office will be closed the week of July 3. There will be an issue on Thursday, July 6. The Town Line office will re-open Monday, July 10. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Issue for July 6, 2023

Celebrating 35 years of local news

Waterville American Legion installs new officers

O n June 12, 2023, American Legion Post #5,  in Waterville held its installation of officers. The past National Commander Tony Jordan installed the elected and appointed officers for 2023-2024. His installing chaplain was Bob Jordan…

Val Bard is Legionnaire of the Year

Bourque-Lanigan American Legion Post #5, in Waterville, selected Val Bard as Legionnaire of the Year for 2022 in recognition of outstanding leadership and service…

Town News

Planners hear two applications for self-storage units

CHINA – China planning board members began their June 27 meeting with sequential public hearings on two applications for self-storage facilities on Route 3, from Chris Harris and Lucas Adams…

A Summer Read: Fascinating new novel about Nazi hiding in post-war South America

(NAPSI) – A daring new novel called SOLIMEOS, by Rhoda Lerman, a critically-acclaimed author who passed away in 2015, imagines what life might have been like for Nazi officers and their families in South American exile after the Holocaust…

Name that film!

Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “May the Force be with you.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is July 6, 2023…

Vassalboro scouts hold Blue & Gold banquet

VASSALBORO – On Sunday, June 11, Vassalboro Pack #410 held its Annual Blue & Gold Banquet along with their Charter Organization, American Legion Post #126, at St. Bridget’s Center. The camping themed banquet saw the recognition of the 17 scouts within the unit as they advance in rank. It was a family celebration that discussed many of the highlights from the year and featured an Arrow of Light Ceremony, a Crossover Ceremony, and a Flag Day Ceremony…

Legion Aux. collects items during youth month

MADISON – The month of April is recognized as Children and Youth Month as well as the Month of the Military Child. In observance of both, members of the Tardiff-Belanger American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #39, Madison, collected many essential items such as clothes, Pj’s, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers, jackets, socks, hygiene products for the older children, coloring books, crayons, and toys….

New Dimensions FCU receives award

WATERVILLE – New Dimensions Federal Credit Union (NDFCU) has received CUNA’s 2023 Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award! Ryan Poulin, CEO accepted the award at the Maine Credit Union League’s Annual Convention awards dinner on behalf of the entire team and financial education department for their outstanding work around financial education…

BHB&T donates to numerous nonprofit organizations

CHINA – Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees recently presented more than $19,000 in donations collected through the bank’s employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause, to nine nonprofit organizations serving Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont residents…

SCHOOL NEWS

Erskine Academy third trimester honor roll

CHINA – List of honor roll students at Erskine Academy…

Carrabec High School 4th quarter honor roll

NORTH ANSON – List of honor roll students at Carrabec High School…

Sarah Jeanne Rodrigue named to Husson University online’s honors list

CORNVILLE – Cornville resident Sarah Jeanne Rodrigue, was recently named to Husson University Online’s honors list, in Bangor. Rodrigue was enrolled in Husson’s Bachelor of Science in accounting program…

Linnea Estes graduates From Cedarville University

SIDNEY – Linnea Estes, from Sidney, graduated from Cedarville University, in Cedarville, Ohio, in spring 2023 with an undergraduate degree in Nursing…

Local student graduates from RPI

BENTON – Drake Zimba, of Benton, recently graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, New York, with bachelor of science degrees in business and management…

Local residents named to Clark University’s spring dean’s list

CENTRAL ME – The following local residents were named to Clark University’s Spring 2023 Dean’s List, in Worcester, Massachusetts: Brexton E. Getchell, of Unity, was named to second honors. Anna Pellerin, of Winslow, was named to first honors. Caleb J. Sacks, of Palermo, was named to second honors…

Eastern student Olivia Bourque makes spring 2023 dean’s list

VASSALBORO – Eastern Connecticut State University, in Willimantic, Connecticut, recently released its dean’s list for the spring 2023 semester, in which nearly 1,300 students were recognized for maintaining high GPAs. Among them is full-time student Olivia Bourque, of Vassalboro, a sophomore who majors in Psychology…

Gavin Murphy named to University of Rhode Island spring 2023 dean’s list

WINSLOW – The University of Rhode Island, in Kingston, Rhode Island, has announced that Gavin Murphy, of Winslow, has been named to the Spring 2023 dean’s list…

FICTION: The House, part 12: THE BIG REVEAL (conclusion)

As the police and medical examiners were led closer to the possible gravesite they could feel the sponginess of the ground. On a whim, Dave backed off and started walking toward the Jebediah Hodges statue. The ground felt solid. He informed all of his findings…. by Peg Pellerin

Webber’s Pond

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…

Local happenings

EVENTS: Shakespeare group to hold auditions

AUGUSTA – Recycled Shakespeare Company will be holding auditions for their theatrical production, The Poe Experience…

EVENTS: List of Lake Association Meetings

CENTRAL ME – Schedule of local lake association meetings…

Listing of local town meetings

CENTRAL ME — Listing of 2023 local town meetings in central Maine. To have your town listed, please email us at townline@townline.org…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Life jacket giveaway

CHINA — China Four Seasons Club invites you to participate in their annual Water Safety Program for children and young adults 16 and under. The Life Jacket Giveaway and Exchange event will take place on Saturday, July 1, 2023, on Causeway Road, in China, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., or while supplies last… and many other local events!

2022-’23 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real estate tax due dates for the towns of Albion, China, Fairfield, Oakland, Palermo, Sidney, Vassalboro, Waterville, Windsor and Winslow…

Obituaries

CHINA – Ronald Young, 80, passed away on Tuessday, June 20, 2023. He was born in Albion, on July 19, 1942, the son of Winnie Hall Young and Warren S. Young… and remembering 3 others.

Celebrating Maine history

Click here for all of our recent stories about the local history of Maine!

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Caring for the poor – Part 2 (new)

KV HISTORY — This article will continue the theme started June 14, how central Kennebec Valley towns took care of their poor residents, jumping across the Kennebec River from Augusta and Sidney to Vassalboro, Windsor, Palermo and China. The focus will remain – mostly – on the 19th century… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: The story of Independence Day

KV HISTORY — According to Wikipedia, celebrating Independence Day on July 4 each year is most likely an error. The writer of the on-line site’s article on this national holiday says that the Second Continental Congress, meeting in a closed session, approved Virginia representative Richard Henry Lee’s resolution declaring the United States independent of Great Britain on July 2, 1776… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Society of Friends in Vassalboro

QUAKER HISTORY — On Sunday afternoon, June 18, Joann Clark Austin, of South China, a semi-retired lawyer and self-described “fifth-generation China Quaker,” spoke on the local history of Quakerism at the Vassalboro Historical Society… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Taking care of paupers

KV HISTORY — The earliest settlers in the Kennebec Valley, as elsewhere in New England, were for the most part able-bodied and self-supporting. But within a generation or two, a settlement would be likely to have residents who were unable to support themselves… by Mary Grow

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 13, 2023

Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Hannaford Supermarket! Email your answer to townline@townline.org or through our Contact page. Include your name and address with your answer. Use “Common Ground” in the subject!

Previous winner: Carrie McGrath, So. China

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | If you’ve ever fished the Kennebec River, you will know that many species of fish inhabit its waters. From striped bass, large and smallmouth bass, and blue fish, to Atlantic salmon, and bait fish such as alewives and American shad. But did you know that there is another denizen of the deep lurking in those waters? It is the shortnosed sturgeon. And they are endangered…

LAKE LIFE TODAY

by Elaine Philbrook | Last week’s article covered what a “beneficial buffer” along the water’s edge could look like. This week’s submission is how to “slow the flow’ of water using a rain garden before it reaches the buffer zone…

SMALL SPACE GARDENING

by Melinda Myers | Whether you are making some late additions to your gardens or planning for the future include some hummingbird-favorite plants. Select plants and create combinations to attract and support them with a season-long supply of nectar…

THE BEST VIEW

by Norma Best Boucher | Listen up! You are the first to know. I am “officially” eccentric. I can see the raised eyebrows of the people who do not know me and the rolling of the eyes of the people who do know me. For the new people, just how eccentric am I? For my friends, I have crossed the line from oddity to eccentricity—there is no stopping me now…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | From August 1915, a ten-inch acoustically recorded shellac (Columbia A1882) presents Prince’s Band under the direction of Charles Adams Prince (1868-1937), Columbia’s highly-accomplished musical jack of all trades and a relative of former Presidents John and John Quincy Adams…

MY POINT OF VIEW

by Gary Kennedy | Well, Julie and I have arrived back home from our humanitarian mission in the South Pacific. Our plane trip both going and coming was a literal nightmare which took two days each way. Lay overs were the worst of it, sleeping in airport chairs, etc., is murder on your body…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) — As you and your child look to the future, many questions may arise. One often lost in these planning discussions is what are the graduate’s health insurance needs…

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Finding Health Insurance Coverage For Your New College Graduate

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Many families may be surprised at how much young adults need health insurance—and how easy it can be for them to get it.

(NAPSI)—As you and your child look to the future, many questions may arise. One often lost in these planning discussions is what are the graduate’s health insurance needs.

While it might be the last thing you ask yourself, it can be one of the most significant. Adults ages 19 to 34 have the highest uninsured rates of any age group in the United States—and that may put them at risk. One unexpected accident or illness could have long-lasting health and financial impacts.

“Choosing the right health coverage may seem difficult to young people, as many have never shopped for their own health insurance,” said Dan Garrison, president of HealthMarkets Insurance Agency. “Fortunately, there is a wide range of coverage options available to a family working to meet a graduate’s unique care needs and financial situation.”

And now is the time to start. While some graduates may have secured jobs that offer health benefits, some may not have access to these benefits immediately, while others may need to look at other options.

Here are some tips for getting started:

Know where to go for support. You and your graduate can find helpful information through healthcare marketplaces, insurance carriers, insurance brokers and other licensed agents. For example, GetCovered, powered by HealthMarkets, is a free service that provides guidance for graduates in need of healthcare coverage—by phone at 877-270-0029 or online at getcovered.com/graduate.

Have answers to these kick-off questions.

•When does the graduate’s current coverage end, if it is through the university or college?
•Is coverage possible under the family’s plan? Under the “Age 26 Rule,” parents or guardians may maintain or add children to their health plans until the young person’s 26th birthday or later, depending on the state.
•What benefits does the graduate need or want?
•What portion of the graduate’s monthly budget can go to health insurance?

Understand your options

If coverage under the “Age 26” rule is not an option, consider:

•Medicaid/Medicare—While Medicare coverage is primarily available to individuals over age 65, Medicaid eligibility is based on income, disability, and other circumstances.

•Individual exchange/marketplace plans—These ACA plans are available through federal or state enrollment sites. Based on income, your graduate may be eligible for plan subsidies—making one of these plans more affordable. Graduation would be a “qualifying life event” to enroll in an ACA plan outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period.

•Short-term plans—Short-term limited duration insurance plans offer different levels of coverage than ACA plans. These plans provide temporary coverage to bridge the gap between longer-term insurance coverage, such as health benefits offered by an employer.

“Health coverage decisions can be made simpler—and there are resources to help,” Garrison said. “Whether your family chooses to do its own research and enrollment, or engage outside services, determining what your graduate may need and can afford will help you find health coverage that ensures your child has access to care now.”