HealthReach welcomes podiatrist, Dr. Daniel J. Keane

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This September, HealthReach staff in Albion, Belgrade, Coopers Mills, and Richmond welcome Dr. Daniel J. Keane, Podiatrist, to their team.

Dr. Keane earned his doctorate degree in Podiatric Medicine from the William Scholl College of Podiatric Surgery, in North Chicago, Illinois. He has a wealth of experience in the field of podiatry, including experience in rearfoot, forefoot, and ankle surgery; podiatric medicine; and wound treatment.

Dr. Keane shares, “In my many years of practice, I have always strived to treat patients as if they were family: providing the highest level of care with both respect and dignity. As a member of the HealthReach Community Health Centers family, I will continue to provide the best care possible. Patient relationships have always been a cornerstone of my practice, and I provide individualized patient care based on each patient’s needs. It is a rewarding and meaningful experience to join the team at HealthReach and to contribute to this community-based system of affordable and high-quality healthcare.”

Dr. Keane joins the existing mission-driven, values-focused care teams at the Belgrade Regional Health Center, Lovejoy Health Center (of Albion), Sheepscot Valley Health Center (of Coopers Mills/Whitefield), and Richmond Area Health Center. Clinicians offer medical and behavioral health services for patients of all ages and from all walks of life.

Scouts leadership group completes training

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Adam Wright, of Lewiston, Doug Woodbury, of Rockport, and Jon Martin, of Augusta, demonstrate round lashings. They learned the skill so they can then instruct their Scouts on the skill. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Leaders from Cub Packs and Scout Troops around the area recently completed a variety of training programs. “It is encouraging to see so many scout leaders coming out to learn new skills,” said Walter Fails, of Farmington, who is the Chairman of Training for Scout Troops in Kennebec Valley District. “Every scout deserves a trained leader because trained leaders deliver better and safer Scouting programs.”

At Camp Boma­zeen, in Belgrade, 20 scouting leaders from across Pine Tree Council completed the Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Training for Cub Scout leaders and the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Training for leaders in Scout Troops. The training courses were held over the weekend of May 5-7. Both programs provide an opportunity for leaders to learn how to offer Scouting’s outdoor programs safely. “We all had a great time sharing experiences and knowledge,” said Scott St. Amand, of Gardiner, who heads up Cub Scout Leader Training for Kennebec Valley District and was one of the trainers for the weekend. “It was great to see the camaraderie, and willingness to jump in and help each other learn new skills.”

Of those completing the leaders program, it included area IOLS Training: Christopher Bishop, of Whitefield, who is a leader in Troop #609 B(Boys), in Windsor, Jon Martin, of Troop #603 B, in Augusta, Stephen Polley, is a leader, in Vassalboro Troop #410, Shawn Hayden, of Skowhegan Troop #485 B.

Those locally completing requirements for the BALOO Training: Frederick Pullen, of Pack #445, in Winslow, and Christopher Santiago, of Pack #410, in Vassalboro. Santiago also recently completed more than 500 hours of online training to complete the District Committee functions. Chris Fox, of Mechnic Falls, is the Abnaki District Training Chairman and helped with the training at Camp Bomazeen.

Shelley Connolly, of Pittsfield, completed Short Term Camp Administrator training with Western Los Angeles County Council on April 29. Shelley is going to be running the Summer Camporee, at Camden Hills State Park, July 30-August 1, and she will be helping set up the schedule, program, etc., for the Scouts BSA Weekend at Bomazeen.

Belgrade student at Maine Community College awarded the Leon A. Gorman Endowed Scholarship

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Leon A. Gorman

Ten Maine community college students were awarded full tuition scholarships in honor of Leon A. Gorman for the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year. The students were celebrated Monday, May 23, 2022, in an online event with Gorman family members and L.L.Bean leadership.

This is the seventh year the Leon A. Gorman Scholarship has been given. The scholarship supports three students at Southern Maine Community College, two students at Central Maine Community College, and one student at the other five colleges. Each of the ten Leon A. Gorman Scholars will receive an award equal to a full year of tuition at a Maine community college.

Among the 2022 Leon A. Gorman Scholars recipients was Allison Pease, of Belgrade, studying as a physical therapist assistant, at Kennebec Valley Community College, in Fairfield.

Information about the Maine Community College System is available at: www.mccs.me.edu.

Allison Pease awarded Leon A. Gorman scholarship

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Leon A. Gorman

Ten Maine community college students were awarded full tuition scholarships in honor of Leon A. Gorman for the 2022-2023 academic year.

This is the seventh year the Leon A. Gorman Scholarship has been given. The scholarship supports three students at Southern Maine Community College, two students at Central Maine Community College, and one student at the other five colleges. Each of the ten Leon A. Gorman Scholars will receive an award equal to a full year of tuition at a Maine community college.

Among the 2022 Leon A. Gorman Scholars recipients was Allison Pease, of Belgrade, studying as a physical therapist assistant, at Kennebec Valley Community College, in Fairfield.

Information about the Maine Community College System is available at: www.mccs.me.edu.

PHOTOS: Belgrade Central School students busy with projects

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Publishing Party: Belgrade Central students in Mrs. Lachance’s fourth grade writing class recently invited parents and teachers into their classroom to share their realistic fiction stories. Student-authors started this writing unit by imagining stories that they wished existed in the world, developing believable characters, and plotting out a story arc. Then students drafted scenes that focused on using action, dialogue, and characters’ thoughts to bring their stories to life through the eyes of their readers. There were stories full of friendship, adventure, and beloved pets. These fourth grade authors were excited to share their publications with fans, and were impressed with the amazing turnout! Mrs. Lachance would like to thank all who came!

Scientific Writing: The second grade students at Belgrade Central School have been learning about how scientists write. The children learned that scientists ask a question about how the world works. Each child then came up with their own question involving force and motion. Next, students recorded a hypothesis for their question. They then learned to design an experiment to test their hypothesis and recorded their procedure. The second graders learned the importance of writing the details of each step, and also how to include drawings and labels to help other people recreate their experiment. After that, they conducted multiple trials and recorded their data. Finally, the results were analyzed and a conclusion was written. Learning about this new type of writing was challenging and fun! – Laura Dunbar, Second Grade Teacher

Klondike derby held at Bomazeen

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Troop #485 Scouts Derek Corson and Taylor Hayden, both of Skowhegan, show off the emergency shelter they put up while blindfolded. (photo by Mike Labbe)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Photo by Mike Labbe

The Klondike Derby drew Scouts from surrounding area towns and as far away as Boothbay Harbor and Gorham to the snowy fields and trails of Camp Bomazeen, in Belgrade, on Saturday, January 21. There were more than 100 Scouts and Cubs in attendance.

“I loved seeing all the scouts active and enjoying themselves,” said Klondike Director Julie McKenney, of Belgrade. She and volunteers spent months preparing two separate outdoor programs – one for younger Cub Scouts and one for Scouts in troops. The Klondike Derby is a fun-filled activity patterned after the days of the Yukon Gold Rush. Patrols build sledges like the early prospectors used as they hunted for gold. The members of each patrol serve as a team of huskies to pull their patrol’s sledge around the course.

Each patrol visited a number of stations, each having an Alaskan/Yukon town name. At each town the patrol was confronted with a problem requiring Scout skills to solve. Depending on how well the patrol works out the problem, determine the number of Gold Nuggets they received at that station. The patrol with the most gold nuggets at the end of the day was the winner..” Damariscotta Troop #213’s Bear Patrol won the overall program with Gardiner Troop #672’s Shark Bait patrol coming in second overall and Gorham Troop #73’s Burrito Patrol coming in third.

The sledges carried things needed by the patrol for the program such as cooking equipment, two gallons of water, two tarps, first aid kit, etc. The Scouts competed in activities such as fire starting, blindfolded shelter building, compass work, hatchet throwing, rifle shooting, big foot walking, etc.

“Scouts were given ahead of time a list of the right clothing to wear for the event,” McKenney said. “The goal is to have fun while outdoors. No one has fun if they are not dressed right for snow.”

Scott St. Amand, of Gardiner, ran the program for the Cub Scouts. “It’s awesome to see families coming out during a time of year when it’s easy to want to stay in, meet new people and make new friendships,” St. Amand said. “For the Cub Scouts, the s’mores making station was universally their favorite.”

Allison Dorr, a member of Winslow Troop #433G, demonstrates how to start a fire on snow in the woods. (photo by Mike Labbe)

Scouts converge at Bomazeen for annual fall camporee

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Troop #213 Scouts Eddie Seiders, of South Bristol, Finley Greenleaf and Peter Delonzo, both of Jefferson, Elijah Smith, of Boothbay, and Malachi Donaldson, of Boothbay Harbor, camped overnight in the rain and wind but had a great time. (contributed photo)

by Chuck Mahaleris

More than one hundred Scouts and leaders from Somerset, Kennebec and Lincoln Counties descended on Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade for the annual Fall Camp-O-Ree held on the weekend of October 14 through 16. The theme was “Anything Goes with a Touch of Halloween.”

Each Scout troop that attended not only camped out but ran one of the stations. These ranged from such traditional Scouting activities such as Orienteering, Pioneering, Primitive Fire Building and Shooting Sports to more Spooky-themed events such as Witches Brew Stew Competition, creepy obstacle course, and best Halloween Costumes. Scouts also went trick or treating from station to station collecting candy as they went.

Troop #433, of Winslow, won the gateway competition. (contributed photo)

“Our little spook-o-ree drew in a whole bunch of Scouts who got to go from station to station performing their scout skills for points,” said Chris Bernier, of Winslow, who ran the event. “Huge thank you to all of the staff who came out to lend a hand running events and thank you to the leaders of all the units who came for also running a station. I already miss sharing a campfire with all of you and I can not wait for the Klondike Derby and Spring Camporee.”

Troop #213,, of Damariscotta, opted to set up their campsite on Friday night in the rain and wind. The troop set up a large boat tarp and then set up the individual Scout tents underneath. The Augusta area saw nearly three and half inches of rain that night but no amount of rain could dampen the enthusiasm.

Sunday morning everyone met for the closing ceremony and some great prizes were handed out. There was a new camp stove, a 12-inch Dutch oven, a tripod cooking grill, a water bladder, a fire grill, a portable sink and a plastic bucket as the blanket prizes. The prizes were chosen by the winners based on ranking.

For overall points, Troop #401, Sidney took first place. Troop #485, of Skowhegan, was second place overall.

For Troop Gateway competition, Troop #433, of Winslow, came in first place. Troop #485, of Skowhegan, came in second place, and Troop #401, of Sidney, came in third place.

For the Witches Brew Stew competition, Troop #485, of Skowhegan, took first place.

Scouts hold Lego derby at Camp Bomazeen

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Excitement filled the Camp Bomazeen Dining Hall where the Lego Racing took place.

by Chuck Mahaleris

Gabriel Booker, of Augusta Pack #603, had the fastest Lego Car.

More than 60 Cubs and Scouts, some from as far away as Buxton, West Paris, and Bath, rolled into Belgrade’s Camp Bomazeen on Saturday, November 12, for the second annual Lego Pinewood Derby. Isa Russell, of Lewiston Troop #2019, won Best in Show with her Phoenix Lego Derby Car. She is a Life Scout from Randolph and enjoys the creativity of the Lego project. Gabriel Booker, a Tiger Cub with Augusta Pack #603, was the fastest Lego car in the Camp’s Dining Hall. He had plastic lights on the back of his car so other racers would be able to follow him to the finish line.

Camp Director Julie McKenney, of Belgrade, reviewed the rules at the start of the day with “Have Fun!” being the most important one. “Scouts and their mom or dad built the cars today and then they raced them. Even parents could build a car. It is a great event because the kids love Legos and parents love spending the time with their son and daughter working on the project together.”

Participating racers are given a kit of blocks and other items to built their cars which have met specific height, width and length requirements largely in order to fit on the track and not interfere with other racers. Trays of additional blocks and accessories are provided as well to help feed their imagination.

Ryder Johnston, of Albion, is a Tiger in Cub Scout Pack #445, and built a Star Wars-themed car with his dad Josh Johnston. Ryder’s favorite characters in Star Wars are the Storm Troopers. “I like their masks,” Ryder said. “It’s a lot of fun,” Josh said.

Adam and his son Finn Theriault, who is a Tiger Cub from Pack #349, in Buxton, built a Santa Claus car. “Santa knows how to go really fast,” Finn said. Adam enjoyed seeing the excitement Finn had in building the car he had imagined.

Photos by Chuck Mahaleris

The lego cars

Adam and Finn Theriault of Buxton

Isa Russell of Randolph

Scout leaders complete training in Belgrade

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Training staff and course participants outside McCurdy Lodge at Camp Bomazeen. Front row, from left to right, Ginger Fails, of New Sharon, Brett LeBlanc, of Winthrop, Marcy Richardson, of Phippsburg, Tyler Pease, of Sidney. Back row, Allen Blake, of Raymond, Walter Fails, of New Sharon, Jason Crocker, of Jay, Dan Bernier, of Waterville, Shalee Hills, of Kittery, Geoffrey O’Brien, of Scarborough, Chris Fox, of Mechanic Falls, Joe Poulin, of Oakland. The four trainers are the first two (Blake and Fails) and last two in the back row (Fox and Poulin). (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

Scout leaders completed training courses during the weekend of October 22 at Camp Bomazeen, in Belgrade. Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Training and the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) were the two courses offered. BALOO provides basic instruction for any Cub Scout adult leader or parent who will go on Cub Scout Den or Pack outdoor events, including pack camping overnighters and Webelos Den overnight camping. The IOLS training is for new Scouts BSA Scoutmasters (highest-ranking adult volunteer leader working with youth in a Scouts BSA Troop) and Assistant Scoutmasters in order to safely offer Scouting’s outdoor program to their youth.

HealthReach welcomes Nancy Johnson

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Nancy Johnson

This September, staff at HealthReach Community Health Centers welcomed Nancy Johnson, Connector. The two practices Nancy joins include Belgrade Regional Health Center, and Lovejoy Health Center, in Albion. Nancy looks forward to helping patients access important services, such as affordable healthcare, health insurance, and other social and support services.

Nancy obtained her bachelor’s degree in secondary education, language arts from the University of Maine at Farmington. She also has a master’s degree in literacy education from the University of Maine at Orono. In 2021, Nancy served as a Patient Services Representative for MaineGeneral Medical Center, where she provided excellent customer service to patients and determined urgency levels for medical referrals. Nancy previously worked as a certified title I literacy teacher for the Augusta school department for over a decade. She also has experience in helping people with Medicare Part D matters.

Nancy joins HealthReach’s dedicated Connector Team – Tina DeRaps, LSW; Chenoa Jackson, LSW; and Courtney Koczera. Connectors provide free and valuable services to help with the high cost of healthcare. Connectors are here to help patients navigate a variety of resources, including MaineCare (Medicaid), Hospital Free Care, Supplemental Nutritional Aid Program (SNAP, or “food stamps”), reduced-cost prescription medications through the Patient Assistance Program, and our HealthReach Affordable Care Program (“Sliding Fee”). HealthReach Connectors can also connect you to other helpful resources in your local community.