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Welcome to the October edition of the Healthy Northern Kennebec bimonthly newsletter, which was designed to keep our coalition members informed of all the good work happening in the communities we serve.
"No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something" was the theme of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month "Speak Out" on October 1 at Thomas College. Leaders from law enforcement, health care, athletics, prevention, and intervention programs spoke about the "recent developments within the NFL organization." Each man on the panel was "disgusted," "appalled," "sick," and "horrified" by the inexcusable violence committed by professional athletes, and the inadequate response of the National Football League.
Sadly, most of our local leaders were not surprised. They see and respond to domestic violence in our communities every day. And they agreed that our culture will only change when more people -- especially men -- take action and "do something" to prevent domestic violence. The next time you see or hear about such situations, take a stand and say "there is no excuse."
Healthy Northern Kennebec is proud to support the kNOw Violence Task Force, led by our President, Nan Bell, of the Family Violence Project. If you are outraged and want to make a difference, call me at (207) 872-4127 or fmullin@healthynorthernkennebec.org. Together, we can create a culture of health.
Our next Healthy Northern Kennebec Coalition Meeting is Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 9:15am-10:45am, at the Eskelund Community Center, Maine Children's Home. Please contact Alice Schlosser at 861-5276 if you are interested in attending.
Fran Mullin
Director
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How can you do a little something to help victims of domestic violence?
How about going out to eat?
Local restaurants and local musicians are doing their part to help raise awareness and end domestic violence. If you drop by one of the following restaurants on that specific day they will donate back a portion of that days proceeds. You will also be entertained by some great local musicians who will be donating their time for this cause.
Oct 1 Mainley Brews Brewhouse
Featuring Mike Morrison
6-8
Oct 9 Wine Tasting Amici's
Featuring Mike Reny
5-7
Oct 14 Joseph's Fireside Steakhouse
Featuring Samantha Lynn
6-8
Oct 15 Riverside BBQ & Grill
Water St. Augusta
Oct 16 Cancun Mexican Restaurant
Featuring Chelsea Bee
6-8
Oct 22 Silver Street Tavern
Featuring The Resistance
6-8
Oct 23 End Zone
Featuring Bill Cameron
6-8
Holly & Doug's-Norridgewock & Ken's Family Restaurant-Skowhegan - Throughout the month
Portion of the proceeds on each day will be donated to The Family Violence Project
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Waterville Main Street's Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 18: Wine Tasting Fundraiser to benefit Waterville Main Street: Join adult friends and celebrate our cool downtown with hosts Amici's Cucina. Delicious snacks and a sampling of wines from Amici's elegant wine list. 5:30 p.m. FMI Jen Olsen at Waterville Main Street, jennifer@watervillemainstreet.org
Sunday, October 5: Harvest Fest: Day-long family-friendly event with hayrides, scarecrow making, pumpkin carving, and more. Head of Falls Park, downtown Waterville. FMI Jen Olsen at Waterville Main Street, jennifer@watervillemainstreet.org or find us on Facebook.
Wednesday, October 29: Annual Kringleville Auction and Dinner to benefit Waterville Main Street's Holiday events. Silver Street Tavern, 5 p.m. FMI Jen Olsen at Waterville Main Street, jennifer@watervillemainstreet.org or find us on Facebook.
Parade of Lights and Kringleville begins: WMSt invites you to put a group together and create a twinkly float for our annual Parade of Lights, Friday, November 28, 6pm. Registration begins in September.
FMI - Jen Olsen at Waterville Main Street, jennifer@watervillemainstreet.org or find us on Facebook.
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MaineGeneral Harm Reduction presents Who Nose Naloxone?
Come find out the who, what, why, and where of naloxone!
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a safe, legal prescription drug used to reverse opiate overdoses.
Who should attend:
- Someone with a kit
- Family members of someone with a kit
- Anyone interested in learning more
Free training sessions to learn more about naloxone and practice using an Emergency Opiate Overdose Kit will be held at the
United Way of Kennebec Valley, 121 Commercial Street, Augusta on the 2nd Wednesday of the month 6:00pm-7:00pm.
Below are the upcoming dates for 2014-2015:
- 2014 - Oct 8, Nov 12, Dec 10
- 2015 - Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar h 11, Apr 8, May 13, June 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Sept 9
Questions? Call Jayne Harper at 621-3770 or email jayne.harper@mainegeneral.org
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Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Choices
If you are like most people the prospect of trying to figure out which Medicare Drug Plan is the right one for you is overwhelming. There are more than 25 plans available for 2015 and they all cover different medications at different dosages and varying prices. Every year there seem to be changes to many plans, from increased monthly premiums and cost of medications, to the elimination of some covered drugs or even entire plans. We encourage people to do the research to make sure they will be enrolled in the plan that will work the best for them next year and maybe even save some money in the process. The time that you can make a change is October 15, 2015 to December 7, 2015.
Spectrum Generations Community Centers are scheduling appointments now with our experienced and knowledgeable staff to provide you with assistance and information so you can make an informed choice for 2015; if you would like more information, or to schedule an appointment, please give Spectrum Generations a call at our local Muskie Community Center at 873-4745 .
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Kennebec Valley Community Action Program
Prepares to Assist Consumers with Marketplace Open Enrollment
During the 2014 open enrollment period for health insurance through the Marketplace, over 44,000 Mainers enrolled in a health insurance plan. The 2015 open enrollment begins November 15, 2014 and ends February 15, 2015. People who want insurance coverage to begin on January 1, 2015 need to apply by December 15. Premium Tax Credits and Cost Sharing reductions are available through the Marketplace to many individuals based on their income. Individuals already enrolled through the Marketplace can automatically renew, but are strongly recommended to consider all their options especially since a new insurance company, Harvard Pilgrim, has entered the Marketplace. KVCAP has Health Navigators available to assist people living in Kennebec and Somerset County to apply for tax credits and cost sharing and to enroll in an insurance plan through the Marketplace. The Health Navigator service is free of charge. Health Navigators provide information, education and technical assistance to consumers as they navigate the Marketplace, but they are not able to advise consumers on whether or not to accept a tax credit, cost sharing plan, or choose a particular insurance plan.
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 News from Youth Matter! Youth Matter! is gearing up for its Boomerang Program. Boomerang is a diversion program designed for adolescents who are first-time offenders of underage drinking and/or substance use laws. Parents are required to attend with their children. Anyone who would like more information on the program can call Rebecca at 859-9840. Diversion To Assets, Youth Matter!'s diversion program in conjunction with the Department of Corrections, is in full swing. D2A connects youth (ages 11 - 17) drug or alcohol offenders with healthy activities in which they are interested. For information on this program, please call Ryan or Rebecca at 859-9840.
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Ms. Jenn and the Nutrition Detectives return for a series of special family programs at the Waterville Public Library on Saturday Oct, 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13, 10:30 - 11:30 am. Ms. Jenn weaves stories, food tastings, and hands-on activities around themes of healthy choices and good nutrition. With her friends the Lonely Vegetables, Ms. Jenn inspires kids of all ages to become Nutrition Detectives, searching out the best foods to keep them active and strong.
For more information on this and the Library's other Saturday Family Storytime programs, contact Waterville Public Library Children's Department at 680-2604 or go to the events calendar at www.watervillelibrary.org.
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G.E.A.R. Parent Network offers free parent support groups
Are you worried about your child's emotional well-being? Through parent-to-parent sharing of experiences and knowledge, C&C's G.E.A.R. Parent Network empowers parents and caregivers of children with behavioral health
needs to build on their family's strengths and to advocate for their family's needs.
G.E.A.R. parent support coordinators offer 17 support groups, which meet monthly throughout the state
to support each other with no blame, no shame and no judgment.
Call 1.800.264.9224 to RSVP for an upcoming group session.
See statewide G.E.A.R. support groups | G.E.A.R. Family Empowerment Institute
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MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer Center for Health
We're Thayer for You...
Our $16 million investment will transform your outpatient health care for generations to come.
MaineGeneral Health committed $16 million to transform its Thayer Center for Health (TCH) into the most comprehensive outpatient health care facility in Maine.
Ten physician practices relocated to Thayer from sites in Waterville, Oakland and Fairfield - joining practices already there - to provide easier access to care.
Space formerly used for inpatient care was reclaimed and remodeled to house a primary care practice and collaborative care clinic; general, vascular, thoracic, plastic and ear, nose and throat surgical practices; and gastroenterology and neurology practices.
And now, with a planned Oct. 25 open house, MaineGeneral staff will welcome the public to celebrate a new model of health care for the region.
"We're excited for people to see the new Thayer, one that embodies the vision we had before its transformation," said Thayer Director of Operations Buffy Higgins. Higgins said the facility's redesign offers a "one-stop shopping model" to make accessing health care easier for patients who won't have to travel to different sites for physician office visits and related services.
MaineGeneral Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Paul Stein agrees with Higgins' assessment.
"I'm excited to have primary and specialty care, diagnostic services and a 24/7 Emergency Department all under one roof," Stein said.
"The TCH is a key part of our overall strategic plan, in concert with the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta, to provide the best-quality care with the most convenient access to services for our region," he added. "Our patients will benefit from these efforts for generations to come."
To learn more about the Thayer Center for Health, visit www.mainegeneral.org and click on "New Hospital & Construction."
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The Hardy Girls Healthy Women Training Institute welcomes you back after a marvelous summer! Check out our first webinar series of the year:
- October 7th, 2014 - 1pm-2pm Introduction to Hardy Girls Healthy Women (FREE!)
- October 24th, 2014 - 3:30pm-4pm Allies In Action: Girls Advisory Board (GAB) Panel (FREE!)
- November 5th, 2014 - 2pm-4pm From Adversaries To Allies: Building Girls' Coalition Groups ($100 - Includes curriculum - GREAT FOR EDUCATORS!)
- November 12th, 2014 - 2pm-3pm Summer Sisters: Empowering Girls at Summer Camp ($30)
- November 19th, 2014 - 2pm-3pm Adventures Girls: If She Can See It, She Can Be It ($40 - Includes Adventure Girl Program Guide)
- November 25th, 2014 -1pm-2pm How to Get Buy-In: Making The Case for Girl Groups ($30- Goes great with Girls' Coalition Group Webinar on 11/5!)
Go to http://www.hghw.org/webinars for descriptions of each webinar and for registration.
Make sure to RSVP on Facebook to view updates happening throughout the series! https://www.facebook.com/events/715135841856824/
Freaky 5K! - Join us on Sunday, October 26th as we get out our broomsticks, cauldrons and sneakers for a Hardy Girls Halloween Event - the 6th Annual Freaky 5K Fun Run and Walk!
This annual event aims to raise awareness of the sexualizing of girls' costumes and to return kids to the spirit and wholesome scariness of the Halloween holiday. Runners, walkers and kids are encouraged to don their scariest and most creative costumes for a costume contest and participate!
A kids' costume contest and small fun run will be held at 9:30 a.m., the ever-popular adult and team costume contest at 10 a.m., and the 5k run and walk immediately following at 10:30 a.m. Early registration is $20 for adults, $15 for students, $10 for minors and $5 for the fun run (9 years old and younger). Same-day registration will open at 9 a.m. Register online today!
Come join Hardy Girls Women's Adventure Girls for the Fall 2014
Adventure Girls is a series of interactive workshops designed for girls in grades 2-6.
The program gives these girls an opportunity to meet women who are defying gender stereotypes and challenging ideas of what a woman "should" do or be. Register today at www.hghw.org/adventuregirls
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2014 American Academy of Dermatology Shade Structure Grant Program awarded $8,000 to Atwood Primary School to build a permanent Shade Structure on School grounds to support Sun Safety education and provide protection from harmful UV Rays. Dr. Peter H. Bouman of Bates Mill Dermatology PLLC in Lewiston, a member of the AAD, sponsored ATW for the Shade Structure program.
The award is the first for the State of Maine. A Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony was be held Friday, September 26th at Atwood Primary School.
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MaineGeneral Health's Healthy Living Resource Center is happy to share many new classes this fall focused on healthy eating and cooking, physical movement, and a healthy mind and body. Our new Program Guide is out, with new classes such as Cooking Skills 101, Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Living Gluten-Free, Meridian Stretching, an Introduction to Pilates, Enhance Your Health with Essential Oils, Journaling for the Health of it, and more! If you would like a copy of our guide, call 861-5271. To sign up or for more information, visit www.mainegeneral.org and Search All Classes and Events, or call 861-5271. Classes are available in Augusta, Waterville, Gardiner, Manchester, and Belgrade.
The Healthy Living Resource Center's next FREE monthly special event will take place on October 8, from 6-7:30 pm at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta. This month's event will have fun for the whole family! Please consider joining us for glow in the dark games and activities, a scavenger hunt, a Zumba dance party, and as always, delicious, healthy snacks and prizes. To preregister, click on: https://www.mainegeneral.org/event/a-free-event--let-it-glow or call 861-5257.
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Free Workshop: Getting Health Insurance Might be More Affordable Than You Think!
Wednesday, October 22nd, 5:00 PM
Inland Hospital, 200 Kennedy Memorial Dr., Waterville
Do you want to make an informed choice about insurance for yourself or family? The Affordable Care Act has brought major changes to our health care system. There are new requirements for individuals and new options for affordable health insurance. Malory Shaughnessy, Outreach and Education Specialist from Maine Community Health Options, will give an overview of the new marketplace, what assistance is available, what a Health Insurance CO-OP is, and will answer your questions. Come to a free workshop to learn how you can access affordable health insurance. The public is invited!
Sponsored by Inland Hospital and Maine Community Health Options. Free and open to the public. FMI: Email:mshaughnessy@maineoptions.org, or visit www.maineoptions.org or call 402-3338.
And right now, if you already have a Marketplace plan - remember to go to www.healthcare.gov and redo your password if you haven't yet. The Marketplace reset them all this summer as a precautionary move due to some online viruses -- so you must update yours before the enrollment rush. Don't delay!
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