Our Towns
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Augusta
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Chelsea
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Farmingdale
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Fayette
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Gardiner
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Hallowell
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Litchfield
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Manchester
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Monmouth
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Mt. Vernon
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Pittston
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Randolph
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Readfield
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Richmond
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Vienna
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Wayne
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W. Gardiner
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Windsor
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Winthrop |
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Important Dates
April 14, 4:00-7:00: How to Compost at School, Great Salt Bay Community School, Damariscotta. Learn how to start a compost system at your school or institution. Free, meal provided. FMI: Amy Winston at 207-882-7564 or arw@ceimaine.org
April 18, 11:00-3:00: Kids' Day at KVYMCA. Visit the YMCA Augusta campus for an afternoon of wellness activities for kids. Healthy lunch and snacks will be served and the first 100 pre-registered kids will receive a free t-shirt. FMI: visit www.kvymca.org
April 19-26, TV Turnoff Week at Barnes & Noble. In-store activities throughout the week including scavenger hunts, storytimes, arts & crafts, and more to support TV Turnoff Week. Don't miss the kick off party on the 19th. FMI: visit www.bn.com or call 207-621-0038
April 23, 6:00-8:00: From the Soil Up, Christ Episcopal Church, Gardiner. Basic vegetable gardening program covering fertilization, crop & pest management, and more. No fee, registration required. FMI: University of Maine Cooperative Extension at 207-622-7546 or 1-800-287-1481 or regkenn@umext.maine.edu
May 8, S. Portland & May 14, Augusta, 8:00-3:00: Free Bicycle Safety Instructor Training. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, with MaineDOT, will offer a free, one-day course at two locations during May to train teachers, police, medical professionals, health educators, parents and volunteers how to most effectively teach bicycle safety to children. Lunch provided. Bring your bike & helmet. FMI: visit www.bikemaine.org or call 207-623-4511.
May 17 & 18: Northeast Farm to School Conference, Champlain College, Burlington, VT. Learn new ways to expand your Farm to School Program through network building, fundraising, innovative techniques, and more. FMI: visit www.vtfeed.org or call 802-985-0381.
May 31, 9:00 AM: 8th Annual Women's Ride for Heart Health. This all-women's bike ride is suited for all ages and fitness levels, with distances of 5, 10, and 25 miles. The ride offers beautiful views of the countryside and coast. Free yoga, massage therapy, nutrition presentations, and heart health exhibits for participants. Proceeds benefit the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's safety education programs. To register or FMI: visit www.bikemaine.org or call 207-623-4511.
July 27-31, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Summer Institute. The focus this summer will include school gardens, aquaculture, entomology, dairy, beef, horses, crops, and more. Educators receive 42 hours of re-certification credits. The $200 registration fee (by June 30th), covers lodging, travel, and meals for five days, plus curriculum . FMI: E-mail maitca@maine.gov or call 207-287-5522. |
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HCCA
Board of Directors
Mary Francis Bartlett
Rebecca West Dick, Chair
Cindy T. Flye
Rob Gordon
Chuck Hays, Treasurer
Bill McKenna
William McPeck
Kathi Wall
Jim Wood, Secretary
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Welcome to Volume 2 Issue 10 This issue is dedicated to schools, youth serving organizations, and anyone concerned about the health and wellbeing of our children. You are invited to submit articles, ideas, and event announcements to rpage@mcd.org
If you forward this newsletter, please use the Forward email link at the bottom of the page.
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Tobacco Tax Increase Goes Into Effect 
On February 4, 2009, Congress enacted, and President Obama signed into law, a 62-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax, along with increases in other tobacco taxes, to fund expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The federal cigarette tax increased to $1.01 per pack on March 31, 2009. Currently, Maine state tax on a pack of cigarettes is $2.00 for a combined state and federal tax of $3.01. Maine is ranked 6th in the nation on cigarette taxes. Research shows that higher cigarette taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking among both youth and adults. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.
Recognizing that this most recent tax increase may motivate current smokers to quit, the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine's HelpLine is ready to provide support. HelpLine callers can expect:
- Free and confidential help
- Positive, supportive messages without pressure or put-downs
- Individualized personal support
- No appointments, help is always available by phone
- Callers are 2-3 times more likely to quit with the HelpLine than on their own
For more information call the HelpLine at 1-800-207-1230 or visit the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine website at: www.tobaccofreemaine.org |
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TV Turnoff Week April 20-26
National TV Turnoff Week occurs during April School Vacation and is about having more fun and turning "on" your life. Television is generally a passive "non-activity" that often detracts from more healthy, interpersonal, productive, rewarding, and community-oriented activities.
Did you know that children who watch a lot of TV and movies tend to:
- Perform Worse in School
- Be More Overweight
- Act the Way the TV Characters Act
- See Ads that are Harmful to Them
TV Turnoff Week is voluntary and meant to be fun. It is intended to build family and community spirit by creating, discovering, building, participating, and doing. Turning off the television for seven full days helps participants realize that life without television is not torture and may actually be more fun.
Ten Alternative Activities for Children & Families
- Organize a Community Spring Clean-Up
- Do a Puzzle
- Listen to Music and Dance
- Go for a Walk
- Plant Seeds
- Write a Letter to a Friend or Relative
- Play a Game
- Map Your Family Tree
- Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
- Read
For more ideas to promote TV Turnoff week at home, work, and school, go to: www.tvturnoff.org or www.turnoffyourtv.com
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Feed the Kids 
Feed the Kids provides a healthy and nutritious evening meal at no charge to all children and their families of the Augusta School District. Meals are prepared by the Augusta School Nutrition Staff and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Augusta. Meals are available every night that school is in session.
Dinner is served from 5:30-6:15 on Monday & Friday at Gilbert School and Tuesday through Thursday at Lincoln School. Click here to view this month's menu or for more information e-mail FeedtheKids@augustarotary.org or call 207-624-7568. |
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Grant and Funding Opportunities
Budget cuts and a suffering economy has put a damper on funding for many wellness initiatives. Here are some wonderful grant opportunities to help supplement those dwindling budgets.
SunWise with Shade 2009 National Poster Contest The annual poster contest teaches children in grades K-8 ways to be safe in the sun. The contest runs through April 13, 2009. Prizes range from iPods and sun screen to a weather tracking station and a trip to Disney World. FMI: contact Luke Hall-Jordan at hall-jordan.luke@epa.gov or visit the Shade Foundation website at www.shadefoundation.org.
School Wellness Through Expanding Breakfast Award The Expanding Breakfast Awards in the amount of $1,000 are open to all public schools in Maine that currently offer an alternate breakfast service. Anyone in the school may apply. Application deadline is May 1, 2009. To download an application go to www.drinkmainemilk.org and scroll down to Expand Your Breakfast Program.
Maine School Food Service Association Scholarships Each year the MSFSA awards scholarships to deserving students pursuing a degree in food service, nutrition, or food service management. Applications must be postmarked by April 17, 2009. Applications are available at the MSFSA website www.mainesfsa.org.
Phoenix Farm Community Supported Agriculture Phoenix Farm in Monmouth has increased the number of CSA shares available for the 2009 growing season. CSAs are a wonderful way to eat more locally grown foods as well as support the local economy. FMI: Contact Nancy Chandler 207-933-9370 or visit www.monmouthgrows.com
Healthy Sprouts Award Do you plan to have a youth garden program in 2010? If so, the Healthy Sprouts Award supports school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. Applications are due October 17, 2009. FMI: visit www.kidsgardening.com and click on grants.
Garden Crusader Award Do you know someone who is using gardening to make a difference in his/her community? Nominate that individual and you may win more than $15,000 in cash and gardening gear from Gardener's Supply. Application deadline is June 15, 2009. FMI: visit www.gardeners.com click on the Community link or 1-888-239-1553 or crusader@gardeners.com.
School Breakfast Expansion Grants Action for Healthy Kids is offering schools that currently participate in the School Breakfast Program with greater than 50% eligibility for free and reduced-price meals the opportunity to increase their average daily student participation through the implementation of alternative breakfast programs, innovative marketing and promotion practices, and/or enhancement of the school breakfast experience through educational enrichment activities. Awards will range between $500-$2000. Application deadline is April 10, 2009. FMI: visit www.actionforhealthykids.org or download the application |
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Thank you for your commitment to the health and wellbeing of our children. Please let us help you make connections to improve lives across our southern Kennebec communities.
Sincerely,
Joanne Joy, Director
&
Renee Page, School & Youth Program Manager
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
A Local Healthy Maine Partnership
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