Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
Benefit for THAW Fund
Save the date of Saturday, February 24th, for Downeast Community Partner’s fundraiser, To Warm a Winter’s Night, to benefit THAW (The Heating And Warmth) Fund which provides emergency heating assistance to people in Hancock and Washington Counties. Join us at the Grand for an evening of live music featuring The Crown Vics, Chris Ross, and Golden Oak. Exciting details to come. Download a flyer to share.
LiveWell Holistic Wellness Program
The Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center’s LiveWell Program is a holistic approach to creating a personal wellness plan focusing on: emotional and spiritual wellness; physical activity; healthy diet; personal environment; and rejuvenation. Starting February 8, 2024, workshop leader Jen Harry will examine these five elements plus the body’s five key pathways to health described in the ground-breaking book: The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer. Accessible steps offer the opportunity for people living with cancer to achieve better treatment outcomes, and to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. This free series is also open to those without a cancer diagnosis, who wish to reduce their cancer risk and lead a healthy lifestyle. This 6-week program will meet February 8, 15, 22, 29 & March 7, 14, from 11:30 am to 1 pm. This workshop is free and open to all. The meetings will be held in-person at the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center, 23 Commerce Park, Ellsworth with an online option via Zoom. Those registered will receive the Zoom link. Please register early to receive a complimentary copy of The Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer by Alschuler and Gazella. For more information or to register call: 664-0339 or email info@bethwrightcancercenter.org or go to www.bethwrightcancercenter.org.
Self-Reflection for the New Year:
Mindfulness Practice with Jen Harry
The holiday season can be so hectic that even when the dust settles, it is hard to make time to reflect on the past year and what we want most to accomplish in the new year. Jen Harry returns to lead “Self-Reflection for the New Year,” Thursday, February 1, 2024, 3 pm – 5 pm, the perfect opportunity to create that time for yourself. Drawn from the eastern philosophy of Japanese Psychology, in this workshop Jen will guide us through a series of structured written reflections of the past year, that allow us to take time to become more aware of life’s blessings & the support we receive. She will also help us look back over our accomplishments over the past year and then identify goals for the coming year, including what we might need to do differently to live more intentionally in 2024. We will end with a clear action plan and some proven tips and practices to help you stay on track. All materials will be provided, you need only bring yourself although you are welcome to bring a journal or notebook to write in if you prefer. Let’s make 2024 our best year yet! This free class is open to all. We will meet at the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center, 23 Commerce Park, Ellsworth, with an online option. For more information about this event or to register and receive the Zoom link, call the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 664-0339 or email: info@bethwrightcancercenter.org. or go to: https://www.bethwrightcancercenter.org/
Alfond Grants
Did you know that children born as Maine residents starting on January 1, 2013 automatically have a $500 Alfond Grant invested for their education after high school (the Alfond Grant was available on a more limited basis from 2008-2012). The Alfond Grant is just the beginning of a child’s bright future! The $500 Alfond Grant is a great starting point and can be used for various types of education after high school — college, university, trade schools, certificate programs — both in and out of Maine. To learn more about the Alfond Grant and to see the many tools and resources we have to help support your child’s future, visit www.MyAlfondGrant.org. It’s never too early or late to plan for a child or grandchild’s future education! Families who want to save for their child’s or grandchild’s future education need to open their own account– you cannot add directly to the Alfond Grant, but you can build on it. Did you know there are many ways to contribute to a college savings account? To learn more about NextGen 529®, Maine’s education savings plan, visit www.NextGenForME.com or call FAME (the Finance Authority of Maine) at 1-800-228-3734. (The Alfond Scholarship Foundation is not an authorized distributor of NextGen).
Navigating a Hospital Stay, Rehab and Home
Maine Public Health Association is looking for an Operations Coordinator, reporting to the Associate Director and responsible for MPHA’s membership recruitment and management efforts. The incumbent will work closely with other MPHA staff, board members, association members, partners, and other stakeholders. This full-time position is flexible, remote or in-person (MPHA’s office is in Augusta), some in-state travel required. Learn more about this position.
Rudman Winchell invites employers to explore a pivotal development in employment law that could reshape your workforce structure. Anne-Marie L. Storey, Chair of Rudman Winchell’s employment practice area, sheds light on the recent changes in employment regulations. On January 9, 2023, the federal Department of Labor (DOL) introduced a final rule, transforming how workers are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It’s important to note that this rule becomes effective on March 11, 2024. Read more.