MaineGeneral hires new physician

Dr. Stuart Aitken has joined MaineGeneral Orthopaedics, according to a news release from the hospital.

Aitken joins MaineGeneral from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he completed his orthopedic residency. He recently returned from the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, where he completed a fellowship in orthopedic trauma.

Aitken earned his medical degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His past experience includes serving as a medical officer for the British army, where he completed operational tours in Iraq and the Balkans. He has volunteered his orthopedic surgical services during a medical mission to Haiti as part of Team Broken Earth.

He is board-certified by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Aitkin brings a specialty focus of complex fracture care to the comprehensive services already offered at MaineGeneral Orthopaedics, including total joint replacement, sports medicine and surgery of the hand, foot, ankle and spine.

Advertisement

MaineGeneral Orthopaedics is located at 15 Enterprise Drive in Augusta and 107 FirstPark in Oakland. Providers see patients by referral. Surgeries are conducted at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta and the Thayer Center for Health in Waterville.

Gardiner credit union helps buy food for needy

Gardiner Federal Credit Union completed two successful fundraisers recently for the Campaign for Ending Hunger, according to a news release from the credit union.

Throughout June and July, the credit union staff sold cash calendars to benefit Ending Hunger. Daily cash winners were drawn throughout August. The cash calendars raised $5,210.

On Oct. 5, the credit union held its seventh annual Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction for Ending Hunger. Thanks to sponsors, those who donated auction items and Dave’s Diner, the event raised $2,536.

Each dollar raised equals about $8 worth of food to area food pantries. That means the credit union’s effort, over the past four months alone, will provide over $61,000 worth of food to area families in need. Now through Dec. 9, the credit union is running its annual 50/50 Raffle for Ending Hunger. Last year’s jackpot was $4,220, raising $2,160 for the cause and giving the winner $2,160 just in time for the holidays.

Advertisement

WMCA, CareerCenters to offer job training

Western Maine Community Action, a partner with the Lewiston and Augusta CareerCenters, and Alternative Manufacturing Inc., in Winthrop, recently formed a partnership to offer an on-the-job training program, according to a news release from WMCA.

WMCA provides grant funding to qualified candidates to enter into a training program supported by various businesses in health care, manufacturing, technology and more.

This on-the-job training is an incentive-based program. Training is provided by an employer to a paid employee engaged in productive work resulting in knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate performance of the job. Partnerships are developed through a contract in the public, private nonprofit or private sector. Employers are reimbursed up to 50 percent of trainee’s wage during the program’s duration.

“Through the grant WMCA provides services to people in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford and Somerset counties,” Patti Saarinen, WMCA Program Site Coordinator in Lewiston, said in the release. “Many of our services are designed for low to moderate income people and dislocated workers. Some services are available regardless of income.”

For more information, visit www.mainecareercenter.com for the location of the nearest CareerCenter, call 753-9040 or email monica.millhime@maine.gov.

Advertisement

Groups celebrate $20K grant for Head Start dental services

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine has awarded a $20,000 grant to Waterville Community Dental Center, which the dental center received to pay for equipment and supplies to provide on-site dental care for children at KVCAP Head Start programs.

This month, more than 350 children ages 1 to 5 began receiving dental care at central Maine Head Start day care and preschool programs with the grant funding.

Waterville Community Dental Center and KVCAP have partnered for several years to provide on-site dental care and education for Head Start students, but they often rely on outside funding to provide the service. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine is in its second year of providing grants to organizations throughout Maine that are helping improve oral health care for children. The organization has provided $149,000 in grant funding to eight oral health organizations since 2015.

Kennebec Savings draws national accolade for mortgages

Kennebec Savings Bank President and CEO Andrew Silsby announced recently the bank has been named by Independent Banker magazine as one of its 2016 Top Producing Lenders, according to a news release from the bank.

Advertisement

The recognition distinguishes Kennebec Savings Bank as one of the top 75 community banks nationwide, according to the bank.

The magazine reports on about 6,000 community banks located throughout the United States. According to the notification received by Silsby, Kennebec Savings was described as having “an impressive record of success in granting consumer/mortgage loans and supporting individuals and families.” In 2016, 1 in 3 three mortgages closed in Kennebec County was written through Kennebec Savings Bank.

The Independent Banker is published by Independent Community Bankers of America. This trade group serves as the nation’s voice for nearly 6,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types, and is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its mem-bership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services.

CATC hires new Health Academy instructor

Registered nurse Debbie Belanger-Warnke has been hired as a certified nursing assistant instructor in the Health Academy at Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta.

Belanger-Warnke brings over 26 years of experience to the position, including clinical nursing in intensive care and working in nurse manager and staff education positions.

Advertisement

She served 20 years as an Army Nurse Corps officer and recently taught for three years in the Associate Degree in Nursing program at the University of Maine at Augusta.

Belanger-Warnke said she hopes to encourage students’ desire to work in the health care field. She resides in Augusta with her husband, Duane.

Preti Flaherty attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers

The attorney rating service Super Lawyers has selected nine Preti Flaherty lawyers in Maine for inclusion in its 2016 list of New England Super Lawyers, and seven more as 2016 New England Rising Stars, according to the firm.

Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice and have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The service’s listing selection process includes peer nominations, peer evaluations and independent research. Only 5 percent of attorneys are selected to Super Lawyers, and half of that percentage is selected as Rising Stars.

Preti Flaherty attorneys selected as New England Super Lawyers, all in Portland, include John P. Doyle Jr., practicing primarily in health care; Gregory P. Hansel, business litigation; Michael Kaplan, transportation/maritime; Christopher D. Nyhan, personal injury general: defense; Jonathan S. Piper, business litigation; Daniel Rapaport, personal injury medical malpractice: defense; Sigmund D. Schutz, environmental litigation; David B. Van Slyke, environmental; Stephen D. Wilson, intellectual property.

The firm’s New England Rising Stars in Maine are Andrew J. Cashman, lobbying, in Augusta; and Portland lawyers R. Benjamin Borowski, energy and resources; Timothy D. Connolly, civil litigation: defense, Benjamin Piper, business litigation, Laura A. Rideout, environmental, Michael S. Smith, business litigation, Matthew S. Warner, general litigation

Compiled from contributed releases.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.