Wentworth Douglass Hospital Highlights Health Through Nutrition in January 20th Workshop

 

Here's some food for thought ...

Can you improve your health by eating differently?

Join Dietitian Brook Gowdy-Johnson on Wednesday, January 20, from 10-11 am, for a discussion about how your nutrition habits can affect your health and how to make changes.
 

At The Works Family Health and Fitness Center.

Call (603) 742-2163 to register.

Workshops for Maine’s Beginning Farmers to be held January 13-14 at Ag Trades Show

Are you a new farmer? Are you transitioning to a new agricultural endeavor or planning for farm succession? Do you need help navigating the process of setting up your business or finding out who can help your new farming business succeed? The Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) of Maine can help!

BFRN – a coalition of Maine agriculture agencies and organizations – will be conducting workshops on various topics for new farmers during the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's 2016 Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center on Jan. 12-14, 2016.

Included in the line-up are presentations on: “Financing Your Farm Business”; “Planning for Farm Succession”; “Farmer Veteran Networking”; “Holistic Management; Beyond the Field Edge”; “Farm Safety”; “Cover Crops and Soil Health”; and many more.

The workshops will be held from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13 in the Hancock and Lincoln/Oxford rooms, and from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Hancock, Lincoln/Oxford, and Sagadohoc rooms. The Farmer Veteran Coalition of Maine will have programs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Somerset Room. In addition, the BFRN networking room, located in the Knox Room, will be open all day Tuesday through Thursday to give farmers an opportunity to have an informal talk with a BFRN representative. The complete schedule, topics, and locations for these workshops can be found in the Agricultural Trades Show program brochure at the BFRN website at http://umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/events/ or the Get Real Get Maine website at www.getrealmaine.com.

The Beginning Farmer Resource Network, established in 2012, is a group of federal, state, and local farm service providers who have joined together to assist aspiring and beginning farmers, and farmers interested in farm succession and transfer planning, by providing information and technical assistance on everything from soil health to business planning. BFRN is dedicated to helping the whole farm community – including agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry – succeed, as well as ensuring that agriculture stays prosperous in the future.

The BFRN website at umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network has resources and assistance available, including topics like “What to Consider First, Financing Your Farm Business,” and “Balancing Farm and Family.” The site also has specific resources for military veterans, health and safety issues, and many other topics. Each area of the site provides resources, publications, and contacts to help you make informed decisions in starting and succeeding in your farm business, and links to all of the agencies and organizations that serve as the leadership council. These resources comprise a “toolbox” of information on important issues and concerns that farmers should think about when starting their business.

Drug deaths continue record pace through first nine months of 2015

12/30/2015 04:18 PM EST

 

 

AUGUSTA -Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner have released drug overdose statistics for the first nine months of 2015. The numbers paint a dire picture of Maine's opioid crisis. From January through September of 2015, deaths attributable to drug overdoses stood at 174. The state is on pace to reach between 230 and 250 overdose deaths this year. In 2014, there were a record 208 overdose deaths.

"Maine's opioid epidemic continues to rage," said Attorney General Mills. "This problem seems to have the attention of everyone but the users. I am heartened by the response I have seen from leaders in our state who all want to solve this problem. In recent days the police have taken major actions to disrupt the supply of heroin and other opiates into our state and to protect our citizenry from those who would sell it. We can and must do more. We must also begin the long effort of curbing the demand for these deadly substances by educating people of the dangers and supporting people in recovery from addiction."

Of the deaths in the first nine months of 2015, 113 (65%) involved at least one pharmaceutical drug and 111 (64%) involved at least one illicit drug. Many of these deaths (29%) were caused by a combination of pharmaceutical and illicit drugs. Pharmaceutical opioids remain a key substance category, with 70 deaths (40%) caused by at least one pharmaceutical opioid. Heroin and Fentanyl are increasingly named as a cause of death, with 71 (41%) deaths caused by heroin and 54 (31%) caused by fentanyl or acetyl fentanyl. In 74% of all the cases, multiple drugs are listed as a cause of death.

York County Cooperative Extesnion Service Offers 5 Week Beginner Beekeeping School in Springvale.

Educational Programs - 5-Week Beginner Bee School

 

Participants in this 5-week introductory beekeeping course will learn about

• the honey bee colony;
• constructing hives;
• spring, summer and fall management;
• honey production;
• wintering hives;
• identification and control of brood diseases; and
• parasites and predators.

Through the York County Beekeepers Association, students will also have the opportunity to visit local hives for observation and hands-on experience. Beginner Bee School instructor is Larry Peiffer, Master Beekeeper and former Vice President of the Maine State Beekeepers Association.

Where: Nasson Heritage room, basement level in the Anderson Learning Center, 21 Bradeen Street, Springvale, ME

When:  Wednesdays, 6:00 to 8:30 PM, March 2 – March 30, 2016

Course Fee: $95 – includes beginning beekeeping textbooks, other materials, and a 1-year membership in the York County Beekeepers Association. A reduced fee of $45 applies to one of a pair of students who choose to share the text and materials ($140/pair).
Registration is required by February 26, 2016.

Sponsored by the Maine State Beekeepers Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension York County.

For more information, contact UMaine Extension in York County at 1.800.287.1535 (in Maine), 207.324.2814 or (TDD) 1.800.287.8957 or e-mail rebecca.gowdy@maine.edu. If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please call Frank Wertheim at 800.287.1535 to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 7 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request; however, all requests will be considered.

Weekly Message from Maine's US Senator Susan Collins is the best Information We've Heard Yet on our Nation's Heroin Addiction Crisis.

Finding Solutions to Our Nation’s Heroin Epidemic

 

 

In: 

Weekly Columns

Posted Fri, 12/18/2015 - 17:35

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A heroin epidemic is sweeping across America.  Going beyond their traditional urban centers, drug cartels and big-city traffickers are targeting new lucrative markets in states and communities previously untouched by this scourge.
                      
Maine is one of those targets and has been hit particularly hard.  In 2014, there were 100 overdose deaths in our state from heroin and other substances – up from just 16 in 2010.  In the first half of this year, 63 overdose deaths were reported.  In the month of July alone, the City of Portland had 14 suspected heroin overdoses, including two deaths in one day.  As another measure of the extent of this crisis, the number of people seeking treatment for opiate abuse has tripled during the last four years.

This epidemic is the result of a “one-two punch.”  First, more than a decade ago, the increased use of prescription opiate painkillers for legitimate medical purposes led to a dramatic increase in the abuse of those medications and also in overdoses.  Second, as medical and law enforcement officials took steps to make it more difficult to obtain prescription opioids illegally, the street price of those drugs soared and cheap, readily available heroin filled the void.  A single recreational dose of a prescription painkiller can cost $40 or more on the street, while a single dose of heroin can be purchased for as little as $5.  Users often initially become addicted to the prescription drugs they wrongly consider safe and then, due to the cost of feeding a daily addiction, switch to the cheaper illegal heroin.

The reason big-city traffickers are targeting northern New England is also a matter of economics.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, Maine and New Hampshire have the dubious distinction of having the most prescriptions per person for long-acting and high-dose painkillers.  Thus, our states have a high concentration of potential heroin customers.

All too often, the road to addiction begins with a legitimate medical issue.  Not long ago, a young man in Maine told me that he was prescribed an opioid painkiller after he was injured playing high school football.  He began abusing prescription drugs in college, and that led to heroin.  His is a tragic but common story.

But perhaps most tragic is the effect of this epidemic on the most vulnerable in our society – the babies born to addicts.  It is heartbreaking that nearly 1,000 babies suffering from addiction have been born in Maine already this year, a number which represents about eight percent of all births in our state.  Nationwide, there has been a staggering 300 percent increase in the number of infants diagnosed with newborn withdrawal since 2000, and the cost of treatment for these newborns was more than $700 million in 2009. Researchers estimate that more than one baby every twenty-five minutes is now born dependent on drugs and suffering from withdrawal.

In October, the Senate passed the Protecting Our Infants Acts, a bipartisan bill I sponsored that will help address the growing crisis of opioid use and abuse among pregnant women and its effect on newborn babies. This law will help some of our most vulnerable children receive the best possible start in life. The doctors and other health care providers treating them do an extraordinary job of helping these infants, but clearly more needs to be done to prevent this problem from occurring in the first place. This legislation commissions a broad strategy to identify current gaps in prevention and treatment, improve coordination among federal programs, and help ensure that our public health system is best equipped to treat opioid addicted mothers and their babies in Maine and across our country.

Early this month, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing at my request on the heroin crisis and the abuse of prescription painkillers.  The expert testimony and the keen interest shown by my colleagues from throughout the nation make it clear that this truly is an epidemic.

The time for action is now.  This crisis calls for a three-pronged approach:

The first is prevention through education. We must better educate our young people so they know how dangerous prescription drugs, as well as heroin, can be.  We need to educate patients that there may be safe and effective alternatives to strong and potentially addictive painkillers.  And we need to do a better job of educating health care providers about those options.

The second prong is law enforcement.  Our law enforcement agencies need the resources to shut off the supply of heroin coming from international cartels, such as Mexican drug gangs.
The third is treatment.  I am distressed that we have seen the loss of treatment options, such as the closure last spring of Mercy Hospital’s outpatient center, because of low reimbursement rates and a lack of funding for that important work.

As a result of the shortage of treatment options, this epidemic is playing out in emergency rooms, county jails, and on Main Streets throughout the country.   Maine sheriffs tell me that their jails are overwhelmed by those struggling with addiction and that they cannot arrest their way out of this epidemic. Jails are not designed to take the place of treatment centers, yet sheriffs and police chiefs must train their officers to look for signs of withdrawal and monitor mental health status.  I believe the federal government could assist in forging greater cooperation between law enforcement and treatment centers.

I have asked the Administration to act on one particular issue immediately.  Right now, primary care physicians are restricted on the number of patients they can treat with drugs that help wean people off of heroin.  The cap of 30 initial patients, with the possibility of a waiver for 100, was arbitrarily set 15 years ago.  Most of the witnesses at our hearing agreed with me that the cap should be eliminated altogether.

This drug epidemic is a national crisis that has its greatest effect at the local level -- on our streets, in our homes, in our schools and communities – and that touches all lives, from infants to adults. It is encouraging that so many of my colleagues from across the country share my concern and are committed to finding solutions.

GREAT idea for the Golf Lover on your Christmas List!!! Enter them in the Masters Golf Sweepstakes!!

Need a last-minute gift for a golf fan?

 

 

 

Enter them in the Masters Sweepstakes for a chance to win the trip of a lifetime.
The winner will receive 4 entries to the 2016 Masters Golf Tournament, plus 3 nights lodging, breakfast daily, and more!

Drawing will take place at the Masters Sweeps Party on January 28 at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

Tickets are $100 each and only 500 will be sold. All proceeds support the Women & Children's Center.

Visit the link below or call 603-740-2687 for more information.

 

For more information on this AMAZING raffle prize or how YOU can enter the golf lover on your Christmas list..........

click HERE!!!

 

http://www.wdhospital.com/body.cfm?id=546

 

State of Maine Dept of Health and Human Services Looks to Ban "Junk Food" Candy and Sugary Drinks from SNAP Program Purchases.

AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – Maine's commissioner of Health and Human Services is calling on the federal government for a waiver, allowing the state to prevent food stamps from being used to purchase soda and candy.
Commissioner Mary Mayhew says the new policy would improve the health of low income Mainers while strengthening the integrity of the food stamp program. She says the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, is meant for the essentials, not sugar filled soda and candy.
"It seems only logical that in a self proclaimed nutrition assistance program that sugary food and beverages would be off the menu", said Mayhew.
Advocates for families struggling with hunger say banning those items is a bad idea. They say this is just another attempt to discourage the needy from getting benefits.
"The SNAP benefits are dismal at best, I think they're $4.00 a day for all 3 meals, so there are a limited amount of benefits and families are doing all they can to buy the foods that they need, that are healthy", said Michelle Lamm, Director of the Maine Hunger Initiative.
Several other states have requested similar waivers to allow the ban. They all have been denied.

Read or Share this story: http://on.wcsh6.com/1jgvEXn

Attorney General's Office files civil rights action to halt interference with the right to safe and effective delivery of healthcare

Stock photo from Google, this photo is not of the Defendant in this case.

 

 

 

11/10/2015 10:13 AM EST

Augusta- Attorney General Janet Mills announced today that she has filed a complaint under the Maine Civil Rights Act against 26-year-old Brian Ingalls of Lisbon, Maine, for violating the rights of patients at a health care facility in Portland, Maine. The Attorney General's complaint alleges that during a protest outside the Planned Parenthood facility on October 23, 2015, Ingalls was yelling towards the second floor of the facility so loudly that his voice interfered with the delivery of health services. According to the Complaint, Ingalls was warned by a Portland Police Officer to stop yelling, but he persisted in the behavior.

The Maine Civil Rights Act protects the right of any person to receive any sort of medical services without disruptions caused by loud noises. Specifically, the statute makes it a civil rights violation to intentionally make noise at such a volume that it can be heard within a building where medical treatment is provided, when the violator has been warned to cease making such noise and when he has the intent to interfere with the safe and effective delivery of health services.

"All patients have the right to receive medical services free of the cacophony of political protests,' in the words of the United States Supreme Court," said Attorney General Mills. "While protestors have every right to say anything they want in a public area in the vicinity of a medical facility, they are not permitted to disrupt another citizen's health care services."

The Attorney General thanked the Portland Police Department for its cooperation in this case.

ADDICTION......Where to get HELP in Maine.

ADDICTION....Where to Get Help

To find substance abuse treatment services in Maine, go to the online:

Maine Substance Abuse Treatment Services Directory,

or call the the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Information and Resource Center:

1-800-499-0027(in Maine only) or 207-287-8900

Maine statewide information line: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 5:00
The Resource Center can provide information about substance abuse and listings of treatment agencies and support group meetings in Maine.

Other resources:

• 2-1-1 (Maine):
  a comprehensive directory of health and human services in Maine.
  Talk to a call specialist or visit the web site at: http://www.211maine.org/


• Maine Statewide Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112
  Maine statewide 24 hour crisis hotline.


• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) The hotline and associated crisis centers around the country support languages spoken by refugees and other vulnerable populations.

York County Sherriffs to Host "Nar-Anon" Family Group at York County Jail in Alfred.

York County Sherriff's Department will host "Nar-Anon" meetings at the York County Sheriff's Office Community Room beginning on Sunday, November 15th at 7:00 pm. 
Nar-Anon meetings are a safe place for families of addicts and/or drug addicted people to learn strategies on dealing with addiction. 
Grieving friends and families of people who have lost the battle with addiction are also encouraged to attend.

The meeting will be held next Sunday, November 15th at 7:00 pm in the Community Room at the York County Jail, 1 Layman Way, Alfred.
The moderator and organizer of "Nar-Anon" meetings is Ms. Kathleen Cerullo, who lost her son to a heroin overdose.

 

National Agri-Women Focus on Maine’s Growth Potential at Annual Convention in South Portland

 

Highlights local company improving animal health by reducing the use of antibiotics 

SOUTH PORTLAND – Maine Agri-Women are hosting the annual American Agri-Women convention in South Portland at the DoubleTree Hotel, Nov. 5-8, 2015. AAW is the largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness affiliated organizations throughout the country. The organization works to ensure a safe, reliable and affordable food, fiber and fuel supply.

Tour and Reception: Agri-Women will tour ImmuCell of Portland, Maine today and take part in a reception starting at 2 p.m. The tour and reception will also include Maine Agricultural, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Walt Whitcomb and state agricultural officials.

“It is great that a national group of this caliber is visiting an innovative Maine company that is taking the lead in reducing dependence on antibiotics for food production,” said DACF Walt Whitcomb. “We are very excited that our state is hosting a celebration of American Agri-Women’s 40th year advocating for agriculture in Maine and nationally.”

American Agri-Women (AAW) is the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women with more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliate organizations throughout the country. AAW members have been advocating for agriculture since 1974 and are now celebrating their 40th anniversary. 

AAW has been celebrating its 40th anniversary DRIVE ACROSS AMERICA. AAW visited and educated consumers about American grown food and fiber and visited with AAW affiliates and members along the way. It has been a great way to recognize and honor the important role that women play in American Agriculture and to develop a stronger network between American agriculturalists and consumers. After highlighting the exceptional agricultural, food and fiber system in the U.S., the DRIVE concludes at the national convention at the Double Tree in South Portland, Maine.

ImmuCell is a public biotechnology company that is developing, manufacturing and selling products that improve animal health and productivity in the dairy and beef industries. Their product focus encompasses prevention, diagnosis and treatment of economically important bovine diseases. ImmuCell is a publically held company that trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ICCC.

Some examples of ImmuCell products:

• ImmuCell’s 85 employees have protected 16 million calves with their First Defense product since it hit the market. First Defense provides calves immediate immunity, thereby reducing dependence on treatment antibiotics and maximizing a calf’s genetic potential. First Defense in sold in the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, and China.
• ImmuCell is in the final stages of FDA approval for a product that would treat subclinical mastitis in dairy cows (Mast Out). It is unusual that a company of ImmuCell’s size invests to take a new product through the FDA approval process – but they are doing just that with Mast Out, their intra-mammary treatment for subclinical mastitis. Currently a producer’s only option is to treat mastitis with antibiotics.

A. Since there are no antibiotics allowed in our food supply, producers are required to dump the milk of treated cows down the drain rather than sell it.

B. Because the active ingredient in Mast Out is not an antibiotic (it’s a naturally occurring food preservative that we’ve further purified), producers would be able to treat mastitis and sell the milk/meat since it is safe. 

For more information on American Agri-Women: http://www.americanagriwomen.org/

For more information on Immucell: http://www.immucell.com

State Drug Agents Making Record Number of Drug Arrests

 

AUGUSTA – After an alarming increase of drug-related arrests during the past week, including a major bust in the Capitol City, Governor Paul R. LePage is praising the work of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) saying their work is critical to curbing the pandemic plaguing the State.
MDEA agents have made twenty heroin related arrests since Monday, October 26, and agents and the State Medical Examiner’s Office report nine suspected heroin overdose deaths in the same period.
“I commend MDEA and local law enforcement for getting these drugs off our streets,” said Governor LePage. “The work they are doing is critical to curbing a pandemic we have on our hands—a pandemic that lawmakers are ignoring. One of the biggest drug busts we have seen in years occurred just this week in Augusta at the Senator Inn where many legislators stay during session. Seven people were arrested after drug agents seized lethal amounts of crack and heroin, all of which would have gone out on our streets. But legislators still refuse to give our law enforcement agencies the manpower they need.”
For years, Governor LePage has championed legislation to provide the MDEA with adequate resources to deal with Maine’s exploding drug issue. In 2014, he proposed a bill to provide the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency with 14 agent positions; add 4 new special drug prosecutors; and add 4 new judges to sit in enhanced drug courts. In 2015, legislators watered down the bill adding just 4 drug agents, 2 new prosecutors and 2 new judges.
“Five of the seven people arrested this week are from Augusta and New York City,” said Governor LePage. “This further illustrates the infiltration of out-of-state drug dealers coming into Maine. Our agents are doing everything they can to stop the dealers, but they need more help.”
Maine’s top drug agent says the rise in drug trafficking is causing an increased threat to public safety and health. “The Maine Chiefs of Police and the Maine Sheriffs have made it clear that local law enforcement officials desperately need more resources to fight the drug problem in our State,” said Roy McKinney, director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Governor LePage has noted he will use executive authority to call upon assistance from the National Guard if the Legislature won’t make additional resources available to stop the flow of deadly drugs into Maine. The Governor has expressed interest in activating up to a dozen National Guard members who would support MDEA efforts.
“I am deeply concerned that we have people dying daily from suspected heroin overdoses and we continue to have out-of-state drug dealers entering our state. Repeatedly I have requested the Legislature to help, but they refuse to fully support the needs of the MDEA. If lawmakers won’t step up, then I will have no choice other than to ask the National Guard to help.”

Maine Marks National Apprenticeship Week by Graduating First Ever Class of Heathcare Apprentices, November 2, 2015

AUGUSTA—Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette will give remarks on the value of apprenticeship and congratulate the first-ever class of healthcare apprentices for nursing in Maine at MaineGeneral Medical Center on Monday, November 2, 2015. She will present certificates of apprenticeship to more than a dozen MaineGeneral nurses.  The commissioner, MaineGeneral staff and graduates will be available to media after the ceremony.  National Apprenticeship Week is November 2–8, 2015. Joan Dolan, director of apprenticeship and strategic partnerships for the department will also be available for interviews about the overall importance of apprenticeship for Maine employers and job seekers. The Maine Apprenticeship Program (MAP) helps mobilize Maine's workforce with structured, on-the-job learning in traditional industries such as construction and manufacturing, as well as new emerging industries such as health care, information technology, energy, telecommunications and more. Students earn while they learn, and often avoid amassing debt while earning degrees in high-demand occupations. The schedule is as follows: 10:30                      Welcome                                         Chuck Hays, CEO, MaineGeneral Health 10:32                    Apprenticeship in Maine                Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette 10:40                    Importance of Apprenticeship to MaineGeneral     Chuck Hays, CEO, MGH                          10:45                    MaineGeneral’s Experience                         Jennifer Riggs, VP, Chief Nursing Officer 10:50                    Experience of a MGMC Apprentice            Naomi Miller, Graduating Apprentice 10:55                    Awarding of Apprenticeship Certificates   When:  Monday, Nov. 2, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.   Where: First Floor Conference Rooms MaineGeneral Alfond Center for Health 35 Medical Center Parkway, Augusta

DID YOU KNOW?? You can get FREE help to Quit Smoking??

 

You can call the Maine Tobacco Helpline and get FREE nicotine patches, losenges or gum and a FREE "Quit Coach" too!!

It's fairly easy to sign up with just a brief 10 minute phone conversation!!

Give them a call today and live your life tobacco free!!!

Department of Labor Offering FREE Workplace Safety Classes in November

Department of Labor Offering Workplace Safety Classes in November

10/30/2015 03:00 PM EDT

 

*Space is available for classes in Augusta, Portland, Springvale, Westbrook and Wilton.*

AUGUSTA-The Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers and employees throughout November. Visit the class registration page or call 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) to register for any class.

"Maine's SafetyWorks! program continues to educate businesses and employees about hazards in the workplace," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "These no-cost classes teach everyone how they can prevent work-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths. I encourage you to visit safetyworksmaine.com to learn more and see their calendar of upcoming classes."

Courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees in the SafetyWorks! Training Institute at the Maine Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta unless otherwise noted.

**School Laboratory Safety: November 3, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

The purpose of the training is to acquaint science teachers with the OSHA Laboratory Safety Standard and provide them with the information they need to develop their Chemical Hygiene Plans. At the end of this program, participants will be able to list the major provisions of the Laboratory Safety Standard, evaluate laboratory facilities, monitor storage areas, complete a Chemical Hygiene Plan for their schools and explain waste disposal options. This class is designed for science teachers only.

**10-Hour Construction Standards: November 5 to 6, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.**

This one-and-a-half-day course gives basic information on several of the OSHA standards for construction (29 CFR 1926). Attendees who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate. Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on day one and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on day two.

**Public Sector Work Zone Safety: November 10, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

Public agencies that work on public roads must follow the traffic control standard of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This hands-on half-day workshop covers the MUTCD standards and use of cones, signs, flags and paddles.

**Forklift Operator Safety: November 16, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.**

This class is designed for new operators. The instruction will involve classroom and hands-on training. Training will include performing a forklift inspection and use of the department's "new forklift simulator". This training does not meet the requirements to qualify the participant to be a "qualified operator ". Only the employer can provide such certification.

**A Practical Approach to NFPA 70E (National Fire Protection Association): November 17, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

In this class, you will learn how to protect workers from electrical hazards. NFPA 70E requirements will be discussed in layman's terms.

**Welding/Compressed Gases: November 19, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.**

This class will include storage and proper use of compressed gas. Proper inspection techniques of hoses, torches and regulators will be demonstrated.

**Laws Governing Workplace Rights**

- November 3, 9 a.m. to noon, Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, 4 Western Ave., South Paris - November 5, 9 a.m. to noon, Lincoln Town Office, 63 Main Street - November 5, 9 a.m. to noon, York County CareerCenter, 9 Bodwell Ct, Springvale - November 12, 9 a.m. to noon, Greater Portland CareerCenter, 151 Jetport Blvd., Portland - November 17, 9 a.m. to noon, Rockland CareerCenter, 91 Camden St., #201

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, leave requirements (family medical leave, family sick leave, and domestic violence) and break requirements. Also, addresses commonly asked labor related questions.

Interested employers can learn more about the courses and register at http://www.safetyworksmaine.com , click "More Classes" from the homepage. Space is limited so reservations are required.

SafetyWorks! is not OSHA and cannot issue fines or citations to private businesses. While SafetyWorks! helps businesses of any size, priority is given to small businesses. The program trains about 8,000 people and consults at nearly 1,000 worksites in Maine each year. Employers interested in learning more about the consulting and training services offered by SafetyWorks! should call 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) or visit http://www.safetyworksmaine.com .

The Bureau of Labor Standards is Maine's regulatory agency overseeing labor and employment law and workplace safety; it provides both consultation and enforcement services. The division promotes and achieves compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of Maine's workforce.

The State of Maine is an equal opportunity provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

Lebanon Fire and EMS and Rochester New Hampshire's Bridging the Gap Joins with York Hospital Choose to be Healthy to Support Red Ribbon Week.

 Lebanon Fire-EMS joined with Rochester's Bridging the Gap and York Hospital Choose to be healthy,

in supporting

Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest

drug prevention campaign

in the country.

 

 

Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America.

 

 

Maine CDC Reminds Women of the Importance of Mammograms

 

10/13/2015 11:30 AM EDT

AUGUSTA - During 2015, it is estimated that more than 1,000 Maine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 180 women will die from the disease. As National Breast Cancer Awareness month continues, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds women that regular screening mammograms are critical in diagnosing and beginning treatment of the disease.

"While breast cancer is not preventable, early detection of the disease is the best protection,'' said Governor Paul R. LePage. "I encourage women to speak with their doctor about scheduling a mammogram. This simple screening helps to save lives."
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society recommend an annual mammogram starting at age 40, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years for women aged 50-74. Women with a mother or sister who have breast cancer may warrant testing earlier. Not all breast cancer can be felt as a lump on breast exam, which is why a regular mammogram is so important. A screening mammogram can detect breast cancer early, even before symptoms arise.
The Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Program can provide information about cancer screening tests and has some resources available for free cancer screenings.
Women must be age 40 or older and meet financial and other program criteria. Interested women are encouraged to call 1-800-350-5180 or 1-207-287-8068; TTY users call Maine Relay 711.
More details can also be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/bcp/ .

 

 

Maine Federation of Farmer's Markets Receives $348K in Federal Grants to Support Local and Regional Food Systems!!

 

The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets Receives Two USDA Grants

Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets113 North Lancey St.Pittsfield, ME 04967

Last week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack helped to kick off the nation's harvest season by announcing nearly $35 million in new funding through four grant programs to support local and regional food systems, including farmers’ markets. The Pittsfield-based Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets will be the recipient of two of those grants, bringing more than $348,000 in federal funds to Maine for work in communities across the state.

MFFM’s largest award is from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which will provide $249,600 to increase access at Maine farmers’ markets for people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps). The funding will enable MFFM to hire a SNAP Program Manager to support low-income access at the markets and impact specific communities around the state (through partnerships with organizations such as the Portland Farmers’ Market Association, Washington County: One Community, and the Aroostook Community Action Program).

“Unfortunately, Maine ranks first in New England for food insecurity, and many low-income shoppers have little access to a fresh, local, healthy foods. Farmers and farmers’ markets across the state are already working hard to help those in need get healthy food. This grant will allow the Federation to provide more of the tools and technical support necessary to help these programs succeed. Projects such as this benefit small farmers, too. SNAP is a federally-funded program, so to see those dollars go to local producers and circulate in Maine’s economy is a good thing,” according to MFFM’s executive director, Leigh Hallett.

This funding will impact many regions of the state. Healthy Acadia’s Washington County Food System Coordinator, Regina Grabrovac, is excited about the grant. “I frequently hear how difficult it is for low income people to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables because they cost more than processed foods that are typically higher in calories. If we are to reverse the trend of diet-related disease, then increased access to fresh foods is critical, and farmers are ready to be part of the solution. Markets in our region need the support that this grant provides because the tools that allow for EBT access at farmers’ markets were not designed for isolated rural communities. This necessitates a great deal of technical trouble shooting at each site. Now we will be able to offer strong support services to get each of our region's markets up and running with SNAP benefits.”

The Federation also received a grant for $99,000 from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. In addition to a two year, statewide marketing campaign, that project includes developing a Farmers’ Market Snapshot Week event to collect data, photos, and stories about Maine’s markets, culminating in the publication of an annual report. According to Hanne Tierney, Chairman of the Portland Farmers’ Market Association (and Chair of MFFM’s Board of Directors), “This is a fantastic opportunity that USDA has offered Maine farmers’ markets. We have had substantial growth over the last ten years, and this grant will allow us to promote the farmers’ markets at a statewide level which would otherwise not be possible. The ‘snapshot’ will create a forum for us to share what we have accomplished with each other and the public. This grant is going to benefit markets across the state, from the small market in my community, to the largest markets in Maine.”

MFFM was founded in 1991, and works with farmers, consumers, and communities to make wholesome, locally-grown foods available to all residents, to educate consumers about food resources, and to support farm viability. With more than 8000 farms and 150 farmers’ markets statewide, the local food network not only contributes to regional food security, but is a vital part of Maine’s economy. The database of Maine’s farmers’ markets is available online at mainefarmersmarket.org.

State AGs call for passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act

 

 

09/29/2015 03:59 PM EDT

(AUGUSTA) As states continue to address the epidemic of heroin and opioid-based painkiller abuse and addiction and its devastating effect on public health and safety in communities, Attorney General Janet T. Mills is joining attorneys general from 37 states and the District of Columbia today, in a bi-partisan letter to the leadership of the committees on the Judiciary for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 (S. 524/HR 953). The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act would provide states with the tools to confront the growing challenge of heroin and opioid abuse and addiction. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses now surpass automobile accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death for Americans between the ages of 25 and 64. More than 100 Americans die as a result of overdose in this country every day - more than half of them caused by prescription drugs or heroin. In Maine in 2014 a record number of people died from drug overdose - 208. Heroin, fentanyl and prescription opiates are the primary cause of these deaths in Maine. "We know that addiction is a treatable disease, but we also know that only about 10 percent of those who need treatment are receiving it. And, while heroin and opioid abuse are the primary concern for states right now, we must move beyond simple responses to drug trends and emerging threats, and concentrate on improving addiction treatment and recovery nationwide," said Attorney General Mills. In the letter, the attorneys general write, "Law enforcement has always been on the frontline when it comes to drug crises, but we cannot arrest ourselves out of this epidemic. Research shows the best way to address this challenge is through a strategy that includes prevention, law enforcement, reduction of overdose deaths, evidence-based treatment, and support for those in, or seeking, recovery."

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 will: Expand prevention and educational efforts - particularly aimed at teens, parents and other caretakers, and aging populations - to prevent the abuse of opioids and heroin and to promote treatment and recovery; Expand the availability of naloxone to law enforcement agencies and other first responders to help in the reversal of overdoses to save lives; Expand resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering from addiction disorders promptly by collaborating with criminal justice stakeholders and by providing evidence-based treatment; Expand disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications to keep them out of the hands of children and adolescents; Launch an evidence-based opioids and heroin treatment and intervention program to assist in treatment and recovery throughout the country; and Strengthen prescription drug monitoring programs to help states monitor and track prescription drug diversion and to help at-risk individuals access services. "Only through a comprehensive approach that leverages evidence-based law enforcement and health care services, including treatment, can we stop and reverse the epidemic of drug addiction and death," added Attorney General Mills.

Tips for Steering Clear of The Flu This Season!!

Staying on top of facts about the flu is the best medicine.
Visit http://www.maineflu.gov for more information.
And follow these easy tips from the CDC:
•Cover your cough
•Wash your hands frequently
•If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hrs after that fever has ended
•Get vaccinated