Department of Labor Offering Safety Classes for Employers in August

Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009 Space is available for the safety classes in Augusta AUGUSTAundefinedThe Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Standards is hosting its no-charge safety courses for employers this month in Augusta.  “Safety helps both businesses and workers,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “When employers and employees know how to do the right thing, businesses are better and safer places to work. This also helps our job creators retain and recruit employees while also lowering costs. It’s a win for everyone.”  These courses are held at no charge to employers and their employees to ensure and promote safety in the workplace. The courses are held at the SafetyWorks! Institute at the Maine Department of Labor on Commerce Drive in Augusta.  Public Works Safety Services - July 30, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and July 31, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  This two-day course is designed to cover numerous topics relating to public works type agencies, including workzone set up and flagging. Ladder Safety - August 5, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Ladders are a major source of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. However, falls can be reduced if people use caution when climbing ladders or when working in places where falls are a potential hazard. This course will show participants how falls from ladders can be prevented through education that includes planning for their use, inspecting the ladder prior to use and using basic ladder safeguards. Noise and Hearing Protection - August 21, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This class will cover effects of noise on hearing, hearing protection, health standards and OSHA requirements. Auto Lift/Jack and Jack Stand Compliance - September 11, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This class will cover types of automotive lifts, jacks and jack stands, proper use, inspection and compliance criterion. Employers interested in registering can learn more and register at http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Safetyworks_Classes&v=ListAll . Space is limited so reservations are required. 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.

 

Franklin Health Surgery Adds New Service

Varicose vein treatment now available

Farmington¾

 

With the addition of surgeon Benoit Blondeau, MD, FACS, MBA, joining the staff of Franklin Health Surgery in December, the medical practice has added varicose veins to the range of conditions it treats.

 

Dr. Blondeau has a professional interest in venous disorders and completed a fellowship in vascular medicine from CHU Tours in France. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery.

 

“Varicose veins develop through a combination of weakened vein walls and faulty valves,” said Dr. Blondeau. “That means people with varicose veins are more likely to develop advanced symptoms such as pain, swelling, skin changes, and ulcers. Because of its progressive nature, treating venous disease is never simply cosmetic, and a dermatologist and wound care specialist will be consulted as needed.”

 

According to Dr. Blondeau there are several options for effective treatment of varicose veins to give patients relief from their symptoms. Treatments range from noninvasive options such as compression and lifestyle changes, to surgery and endovenous treatments, to a nonsurgical laser procedure.

 

If you are experiencing leg discomfort or sores, or if you are interested in stopping the progression of varicose veins call for an appointment.

 

Franklin Health Surgery is located on the second floor of the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center on the

 

Governor LePage Designates $10,000 In Contingency Funds For Veterans Memorial Park

July 24, 2014

For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 24
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has designated $10,000 from his contingency fund to support the construction and maintenance of a memorial park in Caribou, built by the Veterans Memorial Park Association. The park honors all those who have served our country, in war and in peace.

“Our veterans deserve to be remembered long beyond their years with us here on earth. Some of our veterans paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure future generations a chance at the American Dream,” said Governor LePage. “It is a dream we cherish and one that is so rare for the rest of the world. Ann and I send our greatest appreciation to the many local volunteers who have invested their time, physical labor and equipment in the breaking of ground for this memorial park.”

The Veterans Memorial Park Association expresses their commitment to the memorial as a well-maintained place of remembrance and honor where surviving veterans and families can visit and know they are appreciated, that their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. Although the Korean War is often referred to “America’s Forgotten War,” the Veterans Memorial Park Association facilitated a special way of letting Korean War veterans know they are not forgotten – by launching their fundraising campaign on July 27, 2013, the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice.

“I was so glad to hear that the Governor was donating to our cause. We have worked hard over the past five years to get where we are today,” said Philip McDonough, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Park Association. “The funds that the Governor has provided will help us immensely towards some of our future projects. One is a Purple Heart monument and the other a historical piece so that people can have some idea of what veterans are all about.”

To also be included in this memorial park is a large granite stone representing and celebrating all branches of the military. Another monument already designed is dedicated to the recognition of prisoners of war and those who are missing in action.

Anyone who is interested in making a contribution of any amount to the Veterans Memorial Park in Caribou, should send their check to Veterans Memorial Park Association, P. O. Box 453, Caribou, Maine 04736.

 

Judicial Committee Confirms Governor LePage Judicial Nominees

July 24, 2014

For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 24, 2014
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – The Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary unanimously confirmed today nominees of Governor Paul R. LePage to the Maine courts. Governor LePage nominated in May the Honorable Jeffrey L. Hjelm to the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine and Deputy Attorney General William R. Stokes to Superior Court.

“Justice Hjelm and Deputy Attorney General Stokes exemplify standards of excellence and integrity. I am confident that they both will live up to the high standards we expect from Maine judges. I appreciate today’s unanimous votes of confidence for both candidates from the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary.”

Jeffrey L. Hjelm, a resident of Camden, is a Superior Court justice for the Knox County Superior Court. Justice Hjelm was appointed to the District Court in 1992 by Governor McKernan. He was first nominated to the Superior Court by Governor King in 1998 and was reappointed by Governor Baldacci in 2005. Governor LePage nominated him again for the Superior Court in 2012.

Prior to becoming a judge, Justice Hjelm served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division and in private practice at Vafiades Brountas & Kominsky. A graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., he earned his law degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.

William R. Stokes, a resident of Augusta, is the chief of the Criminal Division of the Maine Attorney General's Office. Stokes began his career with the Maine Attorney General’s Office in 1977 and has served under nine Attorneys General.

As chief of the Criminal Division, Stokes is responsible for the homicide unit, welfare fraud, financial crimes and victims’ advocates. He oversees drug prosecutors, as well as appellate and corrections attorneys. Attorney Stokes is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Boston and Suffolk University Law School in Boston. He is also the mayor of Augusta.

Judicial nominees must be confirmed by the full Senate.

The members of the Governor’s Judicial Selection Committee are Joshua Tardy, Esq., Irwin Tardy & Morris, LLC, Newport; Gloria Pinza, Esq., Pierce Atwood, LLP, Portland; David King, Partner, Rudman & Winchell, Bangor; Geoffrey Rushlau, District Attorney, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, & Waldo Counties; Harold Stewart II, Esq., Stewart Law Office, P.A., Presque Isle; John Hobson, Esq., Perkins Thompson, P.A., Portland; and Timothy Woodcock, Shareholder, Eaton Peabody, Bangor.

 

Franklin Health Stress Reduction Program Starting in September

Participants will learn to apply mindfulness practice to life stressors

Farmington¾

 

Franklin Memorial Hospital (FMH) is once again offering its intensive nine-session stress reduction program that is designed to teach participants scientifically proven practical skills to reduce stress and improve overall health and happiness. Program instructors are Dr. Kathleen Hickey and physician assistant Tim Davis.

 

“The course is designed for adults and the skills gained will help participants apply mindfulness practice to the many life stressors in everyday life,” said Dr. Kathleen Hickey. “Mindfulness means being completely in touch with the present moment in a non judgmental fashion. Several formal mindfulness practices will be taught including very basic yoga; however, no prior experience with yoga is necessary to take the class.”

 

The course is modeled after the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society founded by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. It consists of eight consecutive 2.5–3 hour sessions and includes an all-day retreat on Saturday, October 25. Participants should be committed to performing one hour of daily practice and homework to learn and practice mindfulness meditation, Hatha yoga, and body scan.

 

A participant of last year’s fall stress reduction program stated, “This class has been a great experience. I have gained a renewed sense of balance and community, a deeper level of relaxation, and an understanding of the forces that contribute to both stress and true relaxation.”

 

Anyone interested in the program is asked to complete the prescreening form that is available from the FMH Education Department by calling 779-2381 and attend the orientation session taking place on Thursday, September 11 at 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Bass Room. After attending the orientation, participants can decide if they would like to move forward with the complete course.

 

“Our classes here have a track record that is unparalleled in the practice of medicine. Fifty-seven percent of our first group noted a 50 percent reduction or greater in a long list of physical symptoms they had experienced prior to the class,” said Dr. Hickey. “And once the class is over support for attendees continues with group follow-up practice sessions, once or twice a month.”

 

The cost of the program is based on a sliding scale fee according to household income. The cost is: $150 for incomes less than $25,000; $250 for incomes $25,000–$50,000; and $350 for incomes greater than $50,000 per year. Anyone who is unable to afford the cost of the course should ask about available scholarships.

 

Accommodations will be made for participants with physical disabilities.

 

 LIVERMORE FALLS – Western Maine Family Health Center will present a week of Summer Safety information in celebration of National Community Health Center Week from August 11 through 15.

 

A Summer Safety table will be available in the waiting area with information focusing on tick and Lyme disease awareness, skin cancer prevention, water safety and secondary drowning, animal bites, fish hooks, and identifying poison ivy, oak and sumac.

 

Western Maine Family Health Center is located at 16 Depot Street, Suite 300 in Livermore Falls. For more information, call (207) 737-4359 or visit WesternCHC.org.

 

Each year the second week in August is dedicated to celebrating the services and contributions of community health centers. This year’s theme is America’s Health Centers: Local Engines for Healthier Communities. National Health Center Week showcases the importance of these facilities and the impact they have on their communities, providing access to affordable, high quality, cost effective health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people throughout the United States.

 

Western Maine Family Health Center is a practice of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a system of eleven federally qualified health centers in Central and Western Maine. Dedicated providers deliver high quality health care to citizens in over 80 rural communities. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare and major insurances. In addition, we offer an Affordable Care Program to uninsured and underinsured residents and assist with applications for other programs that help with the cost

 

Governor Learned Today Federal Government Placed Unaccompanied Alien Children in Maine

July 22, 2014

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, (207) 287-2531

AUGUSTA – On a conference call today with White House officials and other governors, Governor Paul R. LePage asked if any Unaccompanied Alien Children have been placed in Maine. He was told that eight children have been placed in Maine.

“I only learned that children have been placed in Maine after I asked the question. No one from the federal government had informed me or the Governor’s Office that Unaccompanied Alien Children were coming to Maine. The White House officials did not provide any further information, and questions by other governors about how to handle Unaccompanied Alien Children went unanswered.”

“Our nation was founded by immigrants who came to this country in search of a better life. Our nation and our state still welcomes legal immigrants who want to work hard and help Maine prosper. However, we cannot afford to spend our limited resources on those who come here illegally.”

“Maine people are generous. Many of us who can afford to give a little do so through our churches or charities to help the less fortunate. Our state government is here to help those who need a temporary hand up or our most vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and disabled who cannot care for themselves. But it is wrong for the federal government to force a higher burden on the people of Maine to pay for those who come to our country illegally, especially when the government secretly places illegal aliens in our state without our knowledge.”

“The President has failed to enforce our border laws. Now states like Texas are facing a crisis. The failure of Congress and the President to address our border issues should not result in more of a financial burden on Maine people. We cannot become a state that encourages illegal immigration. We simply cannot afford it. I urge the President and Congress to find a solution to this problem, not look to Maine to harbor illegal immigrants.”

Governor LePage also informed the White House officials that the number of people seeking asylum in Maine has been increasing. He asked if the federal government would be providing health assessments and financial resources for asylum seekers. His questions were not answered.

 

Governor LePage Urges Mainers to Ask Congress to Fix the Government Takeover of Health Care

July 22, 2014

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, (207) 287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage issued a statement today about a ruling that would prevent the federal government from providing subsidies for health care insurance in dozens of states that use the federal insurance exchange, including Maine.

The Affordable Care Act used federal subsidies, paid for with taxpayer money, to pay for part of the cost of individual’s healthcare.

“First the federal government forced people to buy health insurance,” said Governor LePage. “Now, if this ruling holds up, these people would lose their federal subsidies to pay for that health insurance. Their premiums could skyrocket for plans that in some cases might be more expensive than their previous plans, which were cancelled as a result of the law, making their health insurance unaffordable.”

“Maine state government cannot afford to pick up the cost of the subsidies. We simply do not have the money to subsidize health insurance premiums. This mess is just the latest example of what a disaster the Affordable Care Act is. I urge Mainers to call on those in Congress who voted for this scheme to get to work and fix this law immediately.”

Representatives Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree voted for the Affordable Care Act. Senator Susan Collins and former senator Olympia Snowe did not.

 

 

Governor LePage Signs Agreement with New Brunswick Premier

July 21, 2014

For Immediate Release: Monday, July 21, 2014
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage signed a memorandum of agreement today with Premier David Alward of New Brunswick to encourage economic development and support job creation between Maine and the Canadian Province.

The agreement, also referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding, is designed to strengthen relations between the two regions by working together to create jobs and cooperate areas of trade development, tourism, transportation, energy, culture and emergency preparedness.

“We are pleased to continue our strong working relationship with New Brunswick,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “We have a history of cooperating with each other, and this agreement further strengthens our commitment to regional efforts that will create economic development, improve government efficiencies and promote tourism and commerce between our state and the province.”

Governor LePage has met with New Brunswick Premier David Alward several times since 2011 to discuss economic opportunities between Maine and the Canadian Province. This is the first time such an agreement has been signed with New Brunswick. A New Brunswick-Maine Joint Committee will be responsible for implementing the agreement.

“Our government is proud to continue working with the State of Maine. This agreement will improve the quality of life in the entire region”, stated Premier Alward. “This complements several other initiatives already underway in our province. Whether it’s through increasing tourism, improving emergency management services, or strengthening the regions infrastructure, our joint efforts are vital to social and economic growth”, added Alward.

The agreement encourages Maine and New Brunswick to coordinate with their business communities to set up partnerships and implement economic development initiatives. The agreement also encourages an exchange of cross-border solutions for clean energy, such as hydropower and bioenergy, which could lower home heating costs for the people of Maine.

In April 2013, Governor LePage signed a similar agreement with Premier of Quebec Pauline Marois.

 

United Way of the Tri-Valley Area awards Venture Grants to Support New and Innovative Programs

 

The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area (UWTVA) is pleased to announce that three organizations have been selected to receive funding to launch new and innovative programming in Greater Franklin County.

 

 

HealthReach Community Health Centers - HRCHC was awarded funding to better manage diabetes at the Strong Area Health Center– a chronic disease affecting about 8% of the patient population. The grant will allow the Health Center to purchase a glucose monitor that will allow patients to continuously monitor their glucose profile. This monitoring will be part of an overall care management/education plan with the goal of facilitating self-management to improve glycemic control in challenging situations.

 

Western Maine Homeless Outreach shelter – The Western Maine Homeless Outreach was awarded funds to expand its ability to provide emergency shelter to homeless individuals and families. This includes help with organizational and infrastructure projects such as website development, and the creation of outreach materials to better inform donors and the general public about its services.

 

Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center -  ACAC was awarded funds to minimize trauma to Franklin County’s children and those with cognitive impairments. According to the Maine Children’s Alliance, approximately 6,100 children live in Franklin County. Current studies show that persons under 18 years of age account for 67% of all sexual assault victimizations reported to law enforcement agencies. Children under 12 years old account for 34% of those cases, and children under six years old account for 14% of those cases. In recent months, 40 children have been interviewed at the Farmington Police Department in a less than child-friendly interview room. With increasing needs in Franklin County, the ACAC formed a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of law enforcement, DHHS staff, and mental health and sexual assault crisis professionals to develop and implement a child advocacy center where a child who is abused is interviewed in a home-like atmosphere by a professionally trained forensic interviewer, and family is given appropriate support. With Venture Grant funding, this center has been established at the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services offices at 227 Main Street, Farmington.