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Friend of ECCHCO,
Welcome to the Eastern Cumberland County Health Coalition's ECCHCO-gram. As we noted in our last ECCHCO-gram, ECCHCO is home to Healthy Portland and Healthy Casco Bay. It is our pleasure to share this newsletter with you highlighting our successes and upcoming projects. As you read on, take advantage of the opportunities to become involved by contacting the coordinators of our health initiatives.
Enjoy!
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| Healthy Casco Bay Update |
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 Outreach Going Great!
Healthy Casco Bay (HCB) is making excellent progress in its outreach to both Casco Bay region communities and possible coalition partners. Just since the new year began, HCB Program Coordinator Jim Tasse has developed good connections with school and community groups in Freeport, Gray, Cumberland, Falmouth and Yarmouth. There are already several ideas and initiatives under discussion, including community-based activity programs and health promotion events.
In addition, Healthy Casco Bay and several other provider agencies also working in the Casco Bay region have been collaborating. Agencies including 21 Reasons, Let's Go, Day One and the District Tobacco Coordinator Toby Simon have teamed up to form a Casco Bay Coalition. The goal of this group is to learn more about each other's efforts and to capitalize on each other's assets for increased positive impact in our communities.
If you would like to learn more about Healthy Casco Bay's initiatives or want to get involved contact: Jim Tasse.
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| Physical Activity |
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 Get More Out of Life!
Don't miss your opportunity to "Get More Out of Life" by becoming more physically active. Join March into May (MIM) Cumberland County's largest ten week physical activity promotion program. It's your chance to have fun, feel great, and win great prizes too!
It's our individual anniversary and we have a lot of fun prizes and activities planned for you, and your friends and family. Register now as a coordinator for your workplace, school, or community organization and recruit others to join in the fun! You can also participate as an individual on our "community member" site. For more information on MIM and how to become a coordinator visit the link below:
 Portland More Bike Friendly
In December 2007 the City of Portland's Department of Public Works expanded the city's bike lane infrastructure to include 2.5 miles of striped bike lanes on Forest Avenue. The City's Department of Public Works has been working with Healthy Portland and the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and other community partners to map out lanes for highly utilized streets in the City.
On February 4th, the Portland City Council passed a bike parking ordinance. The ordinance requires all new developments and major reconstruction to include bike parking spaces whenever car parking is provided.
Portland Winter Activities Interested in finding free and fun winter activities around Portland? Now learning how to find these activities is easy. Portland Parks and Recreation Department and Healthy Portland have teamed up to create a quick list of free and fun winter activities that you can do right in Portland. To see the list, click here.
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| Healthy Eating |
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 Power-Up!
The "Power-Up: Thriving Kids in Healthy Environments" training for childcare providers on March 15, 2008 will include presentations on tobacco issues, physical activity, and nutrition. For more information, click here.
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| Tobacco-free Living |
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Maine Still #1
According to the American Lung Association's (ALA) annual report card Maine's three A's and one B means we are still doing great work. It also means we can do better! The report now shows that improvement is needed when it comes to cigarette tax rates. For a full copy of the ALA's report, click here.
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| Heart Health Month |
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 At The Heart of Women
February is Hearth Health month and we want to remind you that women are at risk for heart disease too. With a litte knowlegde and some heart, you could help improve the health of the women you know. Find out how by clicking the links below:
A Staff Member With Heart
Meet Chriss Hayden our coordinator for women's heart health. She is truly at the HEART of women's health for our coalition. Chriss offers free heart health lunch and learns to worksites in the Portland area.
For more information about Chriss and her programs, click here. |
| Helping Hands |
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Send Someone Our Way 
Do you know of a group working to promote health in the Portland or Casco Bay region north of Portland? Do you know of individuals who might want to get involved in efforts to promote tobacco-free living, physical activity, positive nutrition or substance free-living? How about just people who live active, healthy lifestyles who might want to share their interests? Please refer them to:
Healthy Portland-
Program Coordinator Joan Ingram
PH: 207-541-6954
Healthy Casco Bay- Towns of Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gray, Long Island, New Gloucester, Pownal, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth
Program Coordinator Jim Tasse
PH: 207-541-6957
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The Eastern Cumberland County Health Coalition would like to thank you and all of our supporters who have helped us to improve the health of our great city and beyond. Your continued support and participation in our initiatives is greatly appreciated.
Yours in good health, Eastern Cumberland County Health Coalition Staff |
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