Category: Family Health & Hearing

Family Health and Hearing Committee and Information

Slam the Scam Day

Courtesy of the Social Security Administration

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
  4. 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!*

Reprinted from Updates for Maine Agriculture Producers by UMaine Extension

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

Reprinted from an E-newsletter published by Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4

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.