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NOTICE FOR ALL ANIMAL OWNERS IN THE CASCO, BALDWIN, NAPLES, RAYMOND, BRIDGTON, SEBAGO, HARRISON
COMMUNITY ANIMAL RESPONSE TEAM INFORMATIONAL MEETING
June 27, 2009 – 10:00 a.m.
Casco Central Station - Route 121, Casco, Maine
Disaster Preparedness for Your Pets
Their Safety Depends on Your Being Prepared
Do you have a plan for your pet’s safety in the event of an emergency? Pets can’t plan for themselves – they depend on you! The most important thing you can do to assure your pet’s safety in an emergency is to plan and prepare before the emergency strikes. Preparation is the key to keeping yourself and your companion animals safe during a disaster.
The Cumberland County CART (Community Animal Response Team) is preparing to aid animals in emergency situations, including planning to implement emergency shelters for animals. Public shelters for humans must exclude animals, however, nearby shelters for animals are being planned in conjunction with the shelters for humans.
Don’t leave your pet behind to fend for itself!
Join members of Cumberland County CART to learn how to keep your pet safe and what to expect at a CART emergency shelter.
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MWVAA OFFERS FUSED GLASS SURFACES AND DRILL TECHNIQUES WEEKEND WORKSHOP
NORTH CONWAY, NH: The Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA) is offering a Fused Glass Surfaces and Drill Techniques weekend workshop, on Saturday June 13th from 10 to 2 p.m. and Sunday June 14th from 1 to 4 p.m. at the MWV Visual Arts Center in Norcross Place (next to RSN) in North Conway, NH.
Stephanie Demme will demonstrate fused glass techniques for intermediate glass-workers who want to explore various methods and effects of changing the surfaces of their glass work, as well as learning glass drilling methods. Emphasis will be on mastering the skills required for a variety of surface effects and the design potential of each technique. Proper drilling techniques for glass will be demonstrated and all students will be able to drill using both drills and grinders. Jan Eskedal, president of the MWVAA, comments, Fused glass is a wonderfully fun medium that incorporates all aspects of texture, color, design and imagination. It is an element where the reflective properties of light heighten the dimension of every piece created. Requirements for this class are a previous introductory-level class. All materials are included.
Demme has studied at the Pratt Institute, F.I.T. and the Ridgewood School of Art in the areas of design, photography, art, and costume history and graphic arts. 15 years in advertising photography led to Stephanie being awarded the Art Directions Award for Calendar Design in 1987. She also was instrumental in furthering the concept of portable exhibits to the display industry. Since moving to New Hampshire in 1989, to raise her daughter and be closer to family, Stephanie has continued her artistic pursuits. Glass Fusion integrates all of her skills and knowledge.
To register or inquire about the Fused Glass Surfaces and Drill Techniques weekend workshop, call 356-ARTS (2787) or email, mwvarts@myfairpoint.net. Visit mwvarts.org for a complete listing of classes and events.
The Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association is an independent, community focused, non-profit organization, which exists to promote the study, appreciation and display of the visual arts, particularly the art of the Mount Washington Valley. The Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association is generously supported by The Goldberg Foundation, The Ham Foundation, The Pequawket Foundation of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
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Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Opportunities for Schools and Communities
Maine CDC is working with the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) to provide communities an opportunity for their schools to offer seasonal influenza vaccine this fall for their students and possibly other children. Below is a slightly abridged version of the communication that was sent to all schools earlier this week. We are now sending it through the Health Alert Network so that interested community members, especially those working in health care, public health, emergency management, and other related fields can contact their local schools or school districts to partner on this effort. Doing so may not only help protect the health of the entire community but also ready the community for large scale vaccine clinics for H1N1.
There are two overarching reasons why Maine DOE and Maine CDC are teaming up to provide this opportunity for Maine children to be vaccinated in local schools:
- The U.S. CDC now recommends that all children, 6 months through 18 years of age, receive annual vaccination against seasonal influenza. There are several reasons for this recommendation, including:
- Children are increasingly recognized at higher risk for complications from influenza than previously thought;
- School-aged children have the highest rates of infection with seasonal influenza; and
- School-aged children are the major transmitters of influenza in a community, including to those at higher risk for complications.
In many communities it will be very challenging for all children to be vaccinated at their local health care provider offices this fall, and many retail vaccine clinics (such as supermarkets and pharmacies) do not vaccinate either minors or elementary school-aged children.
- Additionally, H1N1 at this point in time appears to be affecting children and young adults disproportionately. Although seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect specifically against H1N1, it will help improve the overall health of a child during this coming influenza season when both seasonal and H1N1 influenza strains may be circulating. We also anticipate a vaccine against H1N1 may be available later in the year.
As a result of these two major factors, we expect there will be an increase in the number of parents who will want their children vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Therefore, with some federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (“Stimulus Funds”) the Maine CDC in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in partnership with the Maine Department of Education (DOE), is offering seasonal influenza vaccine for interested school districts for use in the fall of 2009.
We believe this is an opportunity for schools to work with local health care providers to assure a healthier school environment, especially during what could be a challenging influenza season with two strains of virus circulating. To facilitate those contacts, Maine CDC is also reaching out to local health care providers to make them aware of this opportunity.
Thank you ahead of time for your consideration. We believe the vigilance of our schools and your leadership in addressing H1N1 is at least partially responsible for Maine’s lower rate of infection than our neighboring states. This opportunity to bring seasonal influenza vaccine to students is another strategy in an ongoing comprehensive approach to address H1N1 as well as the overall health of our schools and communities during influenza season.
Questions:
What can Maine CDC provide?
- Influenza vaccine to the requesting school or school district. (In order to maintain the required cold temperature for the vaccine, it would have to be delivered to a Maine CDC Immunization Program local vaccine provider.);
- Educational materials for students and parents as well as parental permission forms;
- Funds to purchase materials such as gauzes, band-aid strips, alcohol pads, gloves, disposal boxes, and epinephrine;
- Standing order for school nurses to vaccinate students;
- Any necessary training for staff;
- Assistance from Maine CDC’s Public Health Nurses, as their resources permit.
What do interested schools need to provide?
Schools, either alone or in conjunction with local health care providers would have to ensure:
- An existing Maine CDC Immunization Program vaccine provider, or someone who is able to become an Immunization Program vaccine provider, has adequate space to receive and store vaccine shipments;
- The ability to maintain cold chain (recommended storage temperatures) during transportation of the vaccine and at the site of the clinic;
- Adequate nursing staff to administer vaccine at the school/school district;
- Sites to dispose sharps and biohazards during and after the clinics.
School physician presence at the vaccinating site would be very helpful, but not a necessary requirement. This presence could assure medical questions or issues of concern could be addressed.
What timelines are expected?
Since Maine CDC needs to order vaccine very soon, we need to know if a school will be participating before June 30th. If a school district or school decides to move forward with this, please notify Nancy Dube, School Nurse Consultant, for Maine Department of Education and she will inform Maine CDC. Include names of the schools and total number of students in the schools.
We also strongly encourage school-based vaccine clinics to be held as early as possible after vaccine is available, such as in September or October. Part of the reason is because H1N1 vaccine may be available by mid-late fall, so it may be easiest on the school and health care system to offer these sequentially, with some time in between.
Will the vaccine be thimerosal-free? Yes.
Who else can be vaccinated at these clinics?
Schools and their participating community partners have the option of offering this seasonal influenza vaccine to other children in the community, such as preschool children, home-schooled children, and students from other schools. Since the vaccine provided will be a pediatric (thimerosal-free) and therefore more expensive vaccine than adult seasonal influenza vaccine, we ask that this state-supplied vaccine be limited to the pediatric population. We can provide materials on where adults can locate clinics. If non-school district children will be offered vaccine, then this should be incorporated into the estimates of needed vaccine.
If a school district is interested, what is the next step?
We recommend a school district reach out to local health care providers such as hospitals, health care practices, health centers or local public health departments, in order to assure adequate capacity for putting on such vaccine clinics. Then, if the interest and commitment is present, please contact Nancy Dube at 624-6688 or nancy.dube@maine.gov before June 30th. There is a memorandum of understanding that will need to be signed by the superintendent along with some estimates of vaccine need. These forms will be provided once the department has been contacted.
How do we become a Maine Immunization Program vaccine provider?
Please check the following link for the forms and information to become a Maine Immunization Program vaccine provider: www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/mip/materials.html .
Note that a new provider should submit two weeks’ refrigerator and freezer temperature logs for validation before vaccine will be shipped to the site. If you are using a new vaccine provider, please leave at least a two-week time window for the requirements to be met.
Where can we learn more about school-based vaccination clinics?
U.S. CDC March 2009 Power Point on school-based influenza vaccine clinics can be viewed at:
www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/infectiousdiseases/immunization/pdf/schoolfluclinicmarch2009vogtslides.pdf . This recent presentation reviews the experiences in three areas of the country that conducted school-based influenza vaccine clinics in the fall of 2008.
Ransom, J. (2009). School-Located Influenza Vaccination Clinics: Local Health Department Perspectives. The Journal of School Nursing 25: 13S-17S. You will need a subscription to view the full article, however, school nurses, who are members of the National Association of School Nurses, have free access to this article.
US CDC Large Scale Vaccine Clinic Guidelines www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaxclinic.htm
Will H1N1 vaccine be offered to schools as well?
We anticipate very likely reaching out to schools for H1N1 vaccine, but, at this point in time, specific plans with U.S. CDC are in very early stages.
Will seasonal influenza vaccine be offered to schools in future years?
This depends on the availability of resources.
Can parents bring their children to their doctor’s offices for seasonal influenza vaccine even if it is offered through the schools?
Over the past several years, Maine CDC has supplied some free seasonal influenza vaccine to health care providers. We will continue to provide this vaccine; however, local health care providers need to decide how many children they can vaccinate through their offices.
For further information schools should contact Nancy Dube, School Nurse Consultant, Department of Education (and Maine CDC) at 624-6688 or nancy.dube@maine.gov .
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Where Humane Society Donations Really Go
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Rufus Porter Museum & Bridgton Historical Society
Historic Home & Garden Tour
Sunday, July 12, 2009
11:00 AM 5:00 PM
Eight historic buildings are included in this tour and all promise to delight and educate. Each was built before 1880 and has its own story. From ghosts to murals, well-known authors to silkworms, organ pipes lined with tin to a temperance barn, the guide book has the stories.
On the day of the tour, you will find 3 white tents set up in the driveway of the Bridgton Town Hall on Route 302. One will be labeled CASH & CHECKS, the 2nd, CREDIT CARDS and the 3rd, PRE-PURCHASED TICKETS. Clearly, the pre-purchased ticket line will be the quickest. As the Town Hall has a U-shaped driveway, this should be an easy drive-through experience. Tour houses are open 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM. You must have a guide book to enter the houses on tour.
This tour of Bridgtons varied neighborhoods displays the towns pattern of development as it unfolded in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Lakes provided the earliest access to what would become Bridgton after Moody Bridges surveyed his grandfathers land grant received for colonial service in the Massachusetts Militia. Beginning with the 1768 north end of Long Lake settlement of Captain Benjamin Kimball, the town developed into neighborhoods that hold their distinctions to this day. North Bridgton, the historically industrial Center, and South Bridgton, (which formerly included parts of the present day town of Naples), have unique characteristics fully displayed through this tour.
Tickets are $25 per person and include admission to the Artisans & Craftsmen Show at Narramissic. Tickets are available at the museum from June 24th to July 11 or on the day of the tour at the Bridgton Town Hall on North High St (Route 302). Additional ticket outlets include
Bridgton Historical Society, Gibbs Ave, Bridgton Wed-Sat, Call for hours 207-647-3699
Rufus Porter Museum Annex, 260 Main St, Suite C, Wed-Sat, 12n-4pm
Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Route 302, Bridgton, Call for hours 207-647-3472
By telephone, using Visa or MasterCard 207-647-2828
By mail, using Visa, MasterCard or check payable to Rufus Porter Museum, PO Box 544, Bridgton, ME 04009
For those of you who would like to host one of the homes on the tour for a 3-hour shift, you will receive one ticket for the tour. Please call Nancy - 647-2828 to sign up.
The Rufus Porter Museum opens for the season on June 24th at 12 noon. The museum is located at 67 N. High St (Route 302), Bridgton, Maine.
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Lake Region Community Theatre's Production of "My Fair Lady"
by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
"My Fair Lady" gets a western Maine spin June 25-28 when Lake Region Community Theatre (LRCT) presents the stage and film classic at Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Arts Center in Harrison. The Adirondack style Deertrees Theatre first opened its doors in 1936. Over the years Broadway stars and local would-be actors as well as world-acclaimed musicians and aspiring students have graced its stage.
Working behind the scenes to bring this "loverly" musical to the local stage will be Jerry Walker, director, Beth Barefoot, music director, Pam Collins, choreographer and Sarah Krainin, set designer. The production staff also includes Greg Watkins, technical director, Greg Harris, set construction manager, Michelle Brenner, costume designer, Patrice Foley-Olson, props manager and Janet Ver Planck, stage manager.
Director Jerry Walker got his start in theater with a fifth grade production of "Peter Rabbit", in which he played Farmer McGregor. And he's been in show biz ever since. Jerry was Director of Performing Arts and in charge of the Auditorium at Stearns High School in Millinocket and then the Oxford Hills Band Director for many years. Since moving to southern Maine in 1999, he has directed shows for Daytime Players, Schoolhouse Theater and Lake Region Community Theatre. His previous LRCT performances, "The Odd Couple" (female version), "Oliver" and "You Can't Take it With You," were all staged at Deertrees Theatre.
Now retired, Jerry averages directing three shows per year. “I never directed 'My Fair Lady,'” says Jerry, “and I thought it would be a challenge.” As he works with actors and actresses, Jerry stops them to show how emotions can be said in a look. When new ideas pop up, he pauses and explains before reminding them, “We've got a framework now to work with. We can only make it better.”
Music director Beth Barefoot says that "My Fair Lady" is her second show for LRCT. A few years ago she directed the music for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". Beth brings twenty years of experience as musical director to the show. She's worked with professional, equity, high school, college and community theaters throughout southern Maine. Beth has also performed as the Best of Broadway pianist each year at Merrill Auditorium and is a past vocal coach/rehearsal pianist with the Portland Symphony Pops Orchestra. Outside of theater, Beth is Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts and Choral Director/Teacher at Hebron Academy. She also works as Minister of Music at First Congregational-Christian Church of New Gloucester. Beth loves the music of "My Fair Lady" and says that the show isn't performed enough.
Pam Collins started in theater when she worked at Walt Disney World as a dancer and character. She continued her work overseas in Taipei, Taiwan and Singapore. Back in the United States, Pam danced in various venues as she toured with Sesame Street “Live.” Upon return home, Greg Watkins asked her about choreographing the musicals at Lake Region High School, her alma mater. “During a rehearsal,” says Pam, “I was told about an opportunity to perform with the community theater as Nikko, the leader of the flying monkeys, in "The Wizard of Oz". This was the first show I was able to do at home in front of people I knew.”
"My Fair Lady" will be the fourth Lake Region Community Theatre performance Pam has choreographed. She loves working behind the scenes where “the magic happens.” As choreographer, she calmly coaches the dancers, makes corrections and pauses to see what works. Pam explains, “It's like a blank canvas for an artist. We are given directions on developing a piece of artwork and then we get to use our vision and imagination to create a masterpiece. As a choreographer, my dancers are my paint.” Since returning home, Pam's experience includes ten musicals performed at Lake Region High School, Lewiston Middle School, Dancemakers, Northeast Academy, Mount Ida College and the Maine Academy of Gymnastics. Currently she is the Head Coach for CheerDance and Tumbling at Dancemakers in Windham. Pam says the cast of "My Fair Lady" is a very talented group to work with. “They have exceeded my expectations.” Her enthusiasm is evident as she watches and counts “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,1,2, . . . I love it.”
Set designer Sarah Krainin grew up in Casco. Her high school theater experiences included helping with a LRCT performance of "Noises Off" directed by the late Michael Bradshaw. “This production introduced me to Deertrees Theatre, which made a powerful impression on me and my experience there is what interested me in working on "My Fair Lady". I can't wait to be back in such a beautifully designed theater,” comments Sarah from her home in California.
Sarah completed her graduate studies at CalArts, earning an MFA in scenic design. “I now work as an object artist and set designer who works closely with actors and how they interact with objects on stage.” As a freelancer, she designs primarily for experimental theater projects in New York and Los Angeles, usually in smaller, black box theaters. She's excited to design in a “big, glorious proscenium theater.”
Deertrees Theatre plus the great team of theater-makers brings Sarah home to Maine this summer. “LRCT has a strong foundation of community interest and support, and a history of making popular and successful productions. A strong company in an electric venue is what attracted me to the project. I'm excited to be working . . . in a venue that is quintessentially Maine.”
This is going to be the show you won't want to miss because “in Hartford, Heresford, Hampshire” and now in Harrison, Maine, no one is fairer than Lake Region Community Theatre's performance of "My Fair Lady," produced by arrangement with, and music and dialogue material furnished by Tams-Witmark Musical Library, Inc. Curtain time is 8 p.m on June 25-27, with a matinée on June 28^th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. They will be available at The Cool Moose in Bridgton (647.3957), Krainin Real Estate in Naples (693.5000) and Raymond (655.3811), Deertrees Theatre (583.6747) and by calling Lake Region High School (693.6221 ext. 285). Doors open a half hour before the show. You can't afford to miss this "loverly" production.
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USM Summer Session Offers a Range of Possibilities
USM courses offered as part of Summer Session II begin on July 6. Whether you are a college student looking to pick up additional credits during the summer, are interested in beginning the path to a college degree, or simply interested in learning more about a subject, USM has more than 100 courses that begin during the month of July.
Those interested in theatrical performance will benefit from the five-day workshop Acting Techniques of Michael Chekhov, taught by Professor of Theatre Wil Kilroy. This workshop focuses on aspects of Chekhovs acting techniques and applies them to performance, directing, auditioning and teaching.
Interested in the poetry of the Beat writers? Poetry & the Natural World will look at the poets who influenced Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gary Snyder, and other writers of the Beat Generation.
And, who wouldnt be tempted to spend seven days in USMs Stone House in Freeport learning the skills needed to craft hand-made books? Nine artists will instruct students in a range of topics, including printmaking, moveable parts for books, bookbinding, box making and design. All participants will be invited to submit works to the fall exhibition in USMs Glickman Family Library.
Among graduate offerings are Historical Archeology of New England, in which students can learn more about the European settlement of North America, and a selection of courses in USMs College of Education and Human Development.
For more information on these and other of the more than 100 Summer Session classes USM is offering beginning in July, see http://www.usm.maine.edu/summer/courses/ or call 780-5617.
The University of Southern Maine (USM) offers its 10,000 plus students more than 115 areas of undergraduate and graduate study. USMs location in southern Maine, a region cited as one of the most liveable in the country, offers a range of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.
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Bethel Historical Society Seeks Support For Summer Activities
Once again, the Bethel Historical Society is seeking support for its summer programming. On July 4, the Society will sponsor its annual community picnic, which will be held, weather-permitting, on the grounds of the Dr. Moses Mason House. Once again, there will be a speaker with some appropriate remarks on the occasion, the presentation of the colors by the American Legion Color Guard followed by a two hour concert by the Portland Brass Quintet, which this year is adding a percussionist who also plays in the Portland Symphony to make the 2009 performance even more memorable.
If the weather is rainy, the picnic will be held at the historic Middle Intervale Meetinghouse, the town earliest surviving religious structure dating from 1816. This event harkens back to the days of Dr. Mason when a picnic was held in his grove with patriotic speeches and music the order of the day (July 4) in the 1850s and 1860s. This BHS event has been held since 1993 and has received many favorable comments including such superlatives as my favorite Bethel event and the highlight of my summer.
Also seeking support is the annual heritage festival, Sudbury Canada Days, which includes the presence of re-enactors who do so much in helping those attending gain a clearer vision of the past. This years event promises to be better than ever with at least two history book signings scheduled and the promise of several theatrical performances reflecting the history of the town.
All contributions at any level will be gratefully received and are tax deductible as allowable by law. All sponsors (except for those who wish to remain anonymous) will be listed at the event and in news releases relating to these programs. Contributions may be sent by check to the Society at P.O. Box 12, Bethel, Maine 04217 or by calling the Society at (207) 824-2908 or (800) 824-2910 with a credit card number or on the Societys website home page bethelhistorical.org. Please indicate that this donation is for summer events.
With over 1400 members, the Bethel Historical Society, founded in 1966, is western Maine's largest and most comprehensive full-time historical agency, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the regional past for present and future generations. For over forty years, the Society's activities have included lectures, exhibits, special events, heritage festivals, workshops, conferences, school and educational programs, and publications. In 1974, the Society acquired the former Broad Street residence of Dr. Moses Mason, which now contains a period house museum, exhibit hall and research library. In 1999, the Society opened the O'Neil Robinson House (next door at 10 Broad Street) to the public for an expanded exhibit program, museum shop space, and administrative offices. Through the years, the Society's achievements have been recognized by a number of state and national organizations.
Further information about the Society and its activities may be obtained by calling 207-824-2908 or 800-824-2910, or by sending an email to info@bethelhistorical.org. Additional information can also be obtained by visiting the Society's web site at www.bethelhistorical.org. The Society's mailing address is P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217-0012.
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