FAIRFIELD — Central Maine Power donated $50,000 to the Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation to benefit the college’s Electrical Lineworker Technology Program.
“CMP is incredibly proud to support the lineworker program at KVCC,” said Doug Herling, CEO & president of CMP, according to a news release from the company. “Our lineworkers serve our customers every day by improving and maintaining our system and responding quickly and safely to any outages as they work to keep the lights on. Many of our employees are graduates of the KVCC program, which puts them in a position to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
The program provides students with the essential technical background and manual skills necessary for a career in the installation and maintenance of electrical power, telephone, and cable television systems. Safety, pole climbing, and teamwork are emphasized throughout the program while the student learns and performs overhead and underground construction. Strict COVID-19 protocols were also established for this year’s students.
“Having partnerships with companies like CMP is great because it provides direct employment opportunities for our graduates,” said KVCC President Richard Hopper. “We are the only program in Northern New England for electrical lineworker training and while students are here, it’s important that they have connectivity to employers within in the local labor market and really understand what electrical lineworkers do.”
Graduates of the program say the knowledge they have gained is invaluable. “I can’t thank CMP enough for making a program like this available to me,” said Hunter Bate, a 2020 graduate. “This partnership between KVCC and Central Maine Power made me feel like I had a team behind me that wanted to help me succeed.”
After the birth of a newborn, nurses and pediatricians regularly assess the health of the baby, observing for signs of problems or illness. Registered nurse and lactation counselor Laurie-Anne Targett Brown, who has more than 40 years experience, checks an infant’s vital signs. Contributed photo
Newsweek names Franklin Memorial Hospital to Best Maternity Hospitals 2021 list
FARMINGTON — Franklin Memorial Hospital recently was named to Newsweek’s 2021 list of Best Maternity Care Hospitals for providing exceptional care to mothers, newborns and their families.
“It is nice to see this level of national recognition highlighting what most of us are already aware of. We have an outstanding women’s care team including our dedicated OB/GYN and midwife providers, Maternal Child Unit nurses and staff, and the nurses and staff in our women’s care practice,” said Dr. Ryan Knapp, FMH interim chief medical officer, according to a news release from Franklin Community Health Network. “It is great to know that they are meeting the health care needs for expecting families in our community.”
Hospitals were recognized based on the results of the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey conducted by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit that monitors the quality and safety of hospitals. This includes achieving lower rates of C-sections, early elective delivery, and episiotomy, as well as assuring bilirubin screening for all newborns and blood clot prevention techniques for mothers delivering via C-section.
The doctors and nurse midwife at Franklin Health Women’s Care offer special medical expertise for care during pregnancy and childbirth, delivering approximately 250 babies each year at Franklin Memorial Hospital.
“It’s a privilege to serve the families in our community, said Dr. Susan Kearing, a provider at Franklin Health Women’s Care. “We are dedicated to providing excellent care that meets and exceeds the highest, evidence-based medical standards and I couldn’t be more pleased to see all of our care team members being honored for what they do every day to support new families and their babies.”
The birthing experience for families who choose to deliver at Franklin Memorial begins well before the baby’s birth, with a registered nurse prenatal visit and tour of the unit for all first-time mothers. Group visits supporting pregnancy are also offered, as well as preparation for childbirth classes that cover the labor and birth process in detail.
FMH was one of just 217 facilities across the country to receive the accolade.
Maine State Credit Union distributes more than $90,000 to local hunger organizations
AUGUSTA — Each year, Maine State Credit Union sets a goal for how much money it would like to raise for the ending hunger cause. In 2020, the goal was $85,000. It surpassed that goal and it distributing $91,153.52 to more than 25 hunger organizations in Maine. That is approximately 365,000 meals to Mainers in need.
“When COVID hit and everything shut down, we needed to change our in-person FEEDME 5K walk, which is our largest fundraiser for ending hunger, to a virtual walk. We did not think we would be able to come close to reaching our goal,” said Tucker Cole, CEO of Maine State Credit Union, according to a news release from the credit union. “When I heard that we beat it by such a large margin, I was in shock. The kindness and generosity of our employees, members as well as event sponsors are remarkable.”
For the past 10 years, Maine State Credit Union has held a 5K walk to end hunger at the Capitol Park in Augusta. It attracts a lot of the local hunger organizations. Many of the hunger groups that attend the event are small food pantries with only one or two people helping regularly. The Maine State CU FeedME 5K walk to end hunger is sometimes the only fund-raising event that they do all year.
“There are a lot of hungry people in our local towns, and I am so happy that through our fundraising efforts and kindness of our employees and members, we can provide hope and assistance to a lot of people in need,” said Stacey Dow, co-chairwoman of the Ending Hunger Committee. “I was happy we were still able to offer the organizations a way to raise money. Many of the groups I speak with had to shift focus to helping people who were laid-off as part of COVID and could not focus on fundraising as much as they had in past years. I am glad we can provide much-needed help to these groups.”
The 2020 sponsors for the Feed ME 5K Walk were Element Group, Synergent, Maine Credit Union League, GHM Insurance, TriCorp Federal Credit Union, Insurance Trust, Charlie’s Motor Mall, Stevens & Day, LLP, Cross Insurance Benefit Solutions, Workgroup Technology Partners, Cayer Security, Priority Learning, Anthem, Any bill, and WIPFLI/Mac Page.
In addition to the annual FEEDME 5K Walk, Maine State Credit Union also offers raffles and online auctions throughout the year as part of the fundraising effort.
The 2021 FeedME event will be a virtual challenge, where people can select to walk a 5K, 10K, half –marathon, or marathon. The event kicks off on April 24 and runs through May 31. The cost of the event is $25, and walkers receive a free T-shirt. Register online and learn more at MaineStateCU.org/FeedME5kwalk.
Loyal Biscuit Co. awards $14,400 in grants through its Fenway Fund
ROCKLAND — The Fenway Fund, created in January 2019 by Loyal Biscuits Co. owner Heidi Neal, is a means to provide funding for nonprofit, animal-related organizations within the state. Grants are funded by sales proceeds at the seven retail locations and are awarded biannually to 501(c)(3) organizations whose proposals are selected by a committee made up of Loyal Biscuit Co. employees.
he Fund is a vital way for Loyal Biscuit to support animal welfare within Maine communities by providing seed money for projects that will help better the lives of animals that often fall below funding availability.
Earlier this month, the Loyal Biscuit committee selected their third round of applicants to receive a total donation of $14,400. The Fenway Fund has now provided more than $35,000 to Maine animal-related nonprofit organizations.
Several organizations received grants, including PALS No-Kill Cat Shelter in Winthrop. It will receive $2,375 to purchase an ultrasound machine and IV fluid warming unit to allow it to provide in-house veterinary care.
The application process for the Fenway Fund will reopen in June for any 501(c)(3) Maine animal-related organizations. For more information or questions about the Fenway Fund application process, visit loyalbiscuit.com or contact heidi@loyalbiscuit.com.
New provider welcomed at Northern Light Women’s Health
BANGOR — Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center welcomes Claire Faggons, doctor of medicine, to the Northern Light Women’s Health family.
Claire Faggons Contributed photo
Faggons earned her bachelor of science degree in Arts in African Studies and her bachelor of science degree in biology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned her medical degree from the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
In addition, Faggons has completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Tulane University Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Faggons specializes in the following: Personalized comprehensive, quality obstetric and gynecologic care; routine and high-risk obstetric care; gynecological surgery; infertility; menopausal management; nonstress test; Pap smears; preconceptual counseling; and women’s wellness.
She is located at Webber Building West, Suite 141, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
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