“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.”
Mark Twain
A Special Day for a Special Person
Category: Family Health & Hearing
Family Health and Hearing Committee and Information
Maine Traffic Fatalities Down!
Early figures indicate that traffic fatalities have dropped dramatically in Maine since the start of the year. Compared to this time last year, 12 people have died because of accidents compared to 32 at the same time last year.
According to Lauren Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (BHS), 2022 was one of the deadliest years on record when 177 people were killed across the state, including 20 people who were either pedestrians or bicyclists. It was the highest year since 2007 when 183 people died that year.
Stewart said last year’s figure continued a trend that began during the pandemic, especially involving those who speed or drive recklessly. The increase in Maine follows a national trend that saw half of all states experience an increase in fatalities in 2022, according to the December 2022 estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic deaths in the U.S. have been rising steadily since the summer of 2020.
Stewart said contributing factors in the fatal crashes in Maine continue to be unsafe and illegal speeds, reckless driving, alcohol and drug impaired driving and non-use of safety restraints, the latter of which she said was probably the greatest factor.
What can drivers do? BHS offers a few tips to avoid being in a serious crash, including:
- Be courteous and cautious, and slow down;
- Practice defensive driving – staying engaged means being alert;
- Buckle up – being partially ejected almost always leads to serious injury or death;
- Plan ahead – especially if you plan to get impaired;
- Say something – If you see something, call 911. It can save a life.
TIP: Could this be the basis for a Family Health and Hearing Report?
Slam the Scam Day
March 9, 2023
On National Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, we give you the tools to recognize Social Security-related scams and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information. Share scam information with your loved ones. Slam the Scam!
Recognize the four basic signs of a scam:
- Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration. They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
- Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
- Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
- Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash. They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.
Ignore scammers and report criminal behavior. Report Social Security-related scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
ServSafe® Certification Training
The deadline for registration is February 21, 2023, act fast to attend this one!*
University of Maine Cooperative Extension can help you achieve your ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification. This nationally-recognized certification is for anyone working in the food industry, including non-profit organizations. UMaine Extension offers an 8-hour ServSafe® training using the latest 7th Edition with 2017 FDA Food Code Update and exam proctoring.
Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 (March 8th snow date)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: UMaine Cooperative Extension, Cumberland County, 75 Clearwater Dr., Suite 104, Falmouth
Cost: $140.00 for course and exam, registration deadline February 21st For more information or to register, click here.
*Webmaster’s Note: The more information link includes a list of additional course offerings throughout the year. There’s also a mechanism to request course–should your Grange host one?
Veterans’ Dental Program Extended
Due to a generous grant from Northeast Delta Dental, the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network (MVDN) will resume its dental services for this year for veterans in Maine who otherwise cannot afford them.
Northeast Delta partnered with the State and a network of participating non-profit dental clinics, dental teaching schools and Federally Qualified Health Centers in Maine to start the program in 2021 with a $35,000 grant. The company extended the program last year with a $100,000 grant and awarded a $200,000 grant this year to continue the partnership.
Any veteran who is a Maine resident and is not 100% service-connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); doesn’t have dental insurance; cannot afford to pay for dental care out of pocket; has a DD-214 showing an Honorable or General Under Honorable conditions discharge; has deployed on active duty with the Maine Army National Guard or Air Guard or retired from the National Guard with 20 years of service is eligible to access the grant-funded program.
The program served 232 veterans last year. Veterans who are interested in receiving services this year may apply online. Any questions or requests for re-connection can be submitted via email or by phone at 207-287-6836 if the veteran does not have computer access.
Prepare for the Cold!
BRRR! There’s a little line before the temperature here in Abbot… and the forecast warns that it will go a lot lower over the next few days. The wind chill watch warns that temperatures could as low as 50 to 55 below zero. Are we ready?
Since this is our first winter with a heat pump, I researched it myself. One interesting recommendation I discovered is that you may want to run your “regular” heating system in the bitter cold to prevent it from freezing! (The temperature is colder inside the walls than inside the building.)
What about our feathered and furry friends? Earlier this week, UMaine Extension sent some cold weather tips for livestock. It’s an extensive list, including information for specific animals. And they don’t forget the farmer!
The National Weather Service is a bit more focused on people but no less thorough. There’s a chart explaining the impact of the windchill factor. If it’s -20¯ and the wind is blowing at 15 mph, frostbite can occur in as little as nine minutes! Maybe you should postpone that walk to the mailbox!
If your Grange decides to open as a warming center, send us the details (what time you’ll be open, etc.) and we’ll post the information on the website.
Keep an eye on each other. The next few days will reprove the value of community.
Tips for Tackling the Holiday Blues
Contest Winners Announced!
The Community Service Committee (Christine Corliss, Cassandra Corless, and Victoria Huff) announced contest winners during the 149th Annual Maine State Grange Convention.
Community Service Contest Winners
- Highland Lake Grange #87
- Jonesboro Grange #357
- Enterprise Grange #48
- Valley Grange #144
Firefighter/EMT of the Year
Phil Roberts, nominated by Jonesboro Grange #357
Teacher of the Year
Morgan Swan, nominated by Jonesboro Grange #357
Granger of the Year
John Cox Jr.
Previous Grangers of the Year
2020-21, Rebekah Hodgson
2019-20, Walter Boomsma
2018-19, Ann Burns
2017-18, Victoria Huff
Family Health and Hearing Contest
Highland Lake Grange #87
Note that information and entry forms for 2022-23 are available on the Program Books and Information Page.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is often a month marked by an explosion of pink scarves, socks, shirts and even those little pink ribbons reminding us that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time to support breast cancer survivors and those affected by it, and to perhaps join in the many walks across the state for breast cancer research.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women next to skin cancer. About one in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, and it even affects one in 1,000 men across the nation.
Although breast cancer mostly occurs among older women, it does affect women under the age of 45 in rare cases. About nine percent of all new cases in the United States are found in women younger than 45, and the risk increases substantially for those aged 50 and older.
In general, cancer rates in Maine are the worst in New England and significantly higher than the national average, according to the Maine Cancer Foundation. Not only is cancer the leading cause of death in Maine, one in three individuals will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
The U.S. CDC recommends that women get regular mammograms, which it said is the best way to detect breast cancer in its early stages when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. They also administer the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to women who have low incomes and are uninsured or underinsured.
For more information about breast cancer and resources that are available, visit the American Cancer Society or Maine Cancer Foundation. For more information about the CDC’s Early Detection Program and upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks in Maine, please visit their respective websites.
Maine Farmer Wellness Fund Available
Are you a farmer or farm worker in Maine? The Maine Farmer Wellness Fund is now accepting applications until September 30th. Distributed in amounts of $100, $250, or $500, these funds can be used to support Maine farmers in their mental health and wellness needs (broadly defined). Farm workers and farmers of color will be prioritized. For more information and to apply, see the Maine Farmer Wellness Fund application form