Preliminary Plans for New Library to be Presented

SOUTH BERWICK—
The Town of South Berwick Building Committee and JCJ Architects will present preliminary schematic plans for the new South Berwick Public Library on Wednesday, May 19th, 6:30 p.m. at South Berwick Town Hall Auditorium. The plans for the new library that will be housed in the former St. Michael’s Church building on Young Street are the results of months of work by the Building Committee and JCJ Architects that included input from residents and library staff and volunteers. Tom Harmon, Chair of the Building Committee explains, “This meeting will give South Berwick citizens a chance to hear about the considerations that went into the preliminary plans and an opportunity to give feedback before we move on to more final drawings. Our goal is to end up with a library that is functional, comfortable, efficient to operate, and attractive.”
Beside showing the preliminary drawings, JCJ Architects and the Town Building Committee will explain what is being considered for a new library and why, how much the project will cost, and how it can be funded. South Berwick residents are encouraged to attend, ask question, and give suggestions.
Two years ago the Town of South Berwick purchased this key downtown property of over 2 acres with the intention of using the site for a much needed new library. The process since then has included engineering and architectural studies, resulting in the recommendation by the Building Committee to the Town Council that the church building be renovated for use as a library, with options for expansion. The advantages of renovation include lower cost and the inspiring space of the former sanctuary. JCJ Architects has worked with the Building Committee and the Library Director to come up with plans that combine function, comfort and flexibility. The building will be energy efficient, with state of the art insulation and heating.
Call the Library at 207-384-3308 or email sbpl@south-berwick.lib.me.us for more information.
Photo caption: Preliminary plans for the new South Berwick Library will be presented on May 19. (Courtesy photo)

Community Supported Agriculture: A Model that Works for Consumers & Farmers

By Jim Kanak
Staff Columnist
YORK COUNTY—
As people strive to include more locally produced food in their diets, Community Supported Agriculture, a program in which people buy “shares” in what a local farm produces, is growing in popularity. Essentially, farmers sell shares of the items they grow and produce to individuals and families before the growing season begins. Those families, then, visit the farm, usually weekly, to pick up their “bundle” of products. The bundles vary depending on the range of food the farm produces and what’s harvested at a particular time of year.
“Community Supported Agriculture has evolved and spread in the United States over the past 25 years,” said Melissa White Pillsbury, Marketing Coordinator for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. “It started as a community generated activity, where consumers grouped together and approached the farmer. Now it’s more farmer generated. They see it as a viable marketing strategy and a diversified income stream. The farm gets help with cash flow and operating capital for start up costs instead of using a credit card or getting some other type of loan.”
Riverside Farm of North Berwick is entering its first year in the program. Farmer Gregg Harrington said using the model makes good marketing sense. “In the seacoast area, there’s a tremendous amount of interest in eating local,” he said. “A CSA allows us to get into growing our customer relationships. It’s a way to work outside our traditional customer base. We do the majority of our retail out of the farm stand. With the CSA, we’re trying to reach out to a new segment of the market.”
CSAs vary widely from farm to farm, White Pillsbury said. “There are as many models as there are farms,” she said. ‘The CSA ‘culture’ is that each farm structures the program to meet its needs and customer base. There’s no one model. There’s a different mix of products based on the individual customer base (the farm) appeals to.”
Harrington, for example, said Riverside Farm did not offer share holders a defined basket of goods each week. “They can pick from whatever vegetables are available,” he said. ‘We also open up flowers and plants. We’re a commercial kitchen, so baked bread and jams are included. We also include local eggs and honey that we pick up. People can focus as much of their share on a single product if they want. That makes us a little different.”
Two-Toad Farm in Lebanon also participates and is beginning its second year. “We offer Monday and Thursday pick up days,” said Jordan Pike of Two Toad farm. “We grow produce and harvest what’s ready and divide it up. It evolves over the summer. We have already counted over 100 varieties of vegetables and will plant probably around 200.”
Bill Fletcher of Finson Farm in South Berwick uses another model, one that was characteristic of early CSA’s. “We still have the members come in and do the work,” Fletcher, who started farming after he retired, said. “The members do most of the weeding, harvesting, and keep up with a lot of the routine work. We have 30 families and grow vegetables and have a little honey at the end of the season.”
The key feature is that the CSA engages the customer in the business of farming as well as providing local food. “The share holders are incurring some of the risk with the farmer,” said Harrington. “The CSA is great because there are people willing to support local agriculture. It wouldn’t work if not for people that wanted to support farmers like us. That they want to get involved and help a local farmer is most important.”
Pike echoed Harrington’s comments. “It’s a very good model,” he said. “We get operating funds in advance of the season so it helps limit borrowing. Without the CSA, I wouldn’t be able to grow produce at all. The customers get a good bargain and help support neighbors to have access as well.”
According to White Pillsbury, about 6,000 households and 155 farms in Maine participate in CSAs. The number of farms involved has roughly doubled in the past four years. The typical season runs from April through October, depending on what kinds of products the farm offers. Share prices can vary from a few hundred dollars to the low thousands, again depending on what the farm offers. For a listing of CSAs in York County and throughout Maine, visit www.mofga.net.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” said Fletcher, who’s in his ninth year as a CSA. “It‘s a way to keep a nice small farm active and the land open. And it gives me an excuse to drive a tractor.”

Goodall Reinstates Salaries

SANFORD—
Goodall Hospital President/CEO Darlene Stromstad announced that due to improved financial performance over the past several months, the organization will reinstate the employee salary and benefit cuts made a year ago in response to the deteriorating economy.
Effective June 1, 2010, the start of a new budget year, salaries will be made whole and reductions to tuition, life insurance and pension will be reinstated. Additionally, the employees will have no increase in health or dental insurance contributions for the third year in a row.
“Our ability to do this while our economy is still in recovery is due to the hard work, dedication and sacrifices made by our employees. I am enormously proud of the progress we’ve made this past year,” Stromstad said.
Last March, Goodall made reductions in salary and benefits instead of contributing to the number of increasing layoffs across the state. “It was a hard decision and it was an unusual decision,” Stromstad said. “But based on the rapid deterioration of the economy in 2008 and 2009, we believed it was the right decision.”
Goodall Hospital Board of Trustee Chair Merilee Perkins echoed Stromstad’s praise of the staff’s contributions.
“The employees made great sacrifices for the communities we serve, ultimately putting the needs of the patients first. By focusing on the patients and through good, old fashioned Yankee frugality, our employees were instrumental in contributing to our improved finances,” Perkins said.
Last year, Goodall cut $5 million in expenses by eliminating all non-patient discretionary spending and through reductions in salaries and benefits. “Those cuts literally bought us the time to ‘right’ our organization. We’ve streamlined processes, we’ve grown, and we are running a tight operation. That just isn’t possible without the support and day to day involvement of staff at all levels,” Stromstad said.
“The Goodall Hospital employees – from service workers to the medical staff – are a shining example of the definition of professionalism and dedication. We couldn’t be any prouder of them,” Perkins said.

Noble High to Host Never Doubt Festival

NORTH BERWICK—
Last July, Noble High School senior Sean Ashburn and English teacher Jen England were one of twelve student/educator teams selected nationwide to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival as part of the generous Bezos Scholars Program. The duo spent their week in Aspen, Colorado meeting with notables like Sandra Day O’Connor and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and attending presentations on technology, science, education, and international relations. As the Ideas Festival’s conclusion approached, the twelve Bezos Scholars were encouraged to spread their feelings of inspiration to their own communities through organizing a festival of their own. This was more than an option for Ashburn and England; after the experience of a lifetime, it was a necessary step to share their enthusiasm with the MSAD #60 community.
As soon as they returned home, the pair set forth preparing for the 1st annual Noble High School Never Doubt Festival. With this event, Ashburn’s vision is to remind his peers of the incredible power and potential they possess as young people. Under the mission statement, “Noble High School’s Never Doubt Festival is intended to inspire optimism and ambition in its participants, eliminating all doubts that students from a small town in Maine can achieve their dreams and change the world,” Ashburn applied for and received generous grants from Kennebunk Savings Bank, Pratt & Whitney, and the Bezos Family Foundation, who sponsor the festival. Months of planning will culminate on Tuesday, May 11 when the full-day event will transpire.
Working with the MSAD #60 Believe Committee, Ashburn and the festival planning team will be bringing in more than 60 community members to engage and encourage the Noble student body. The Never Doubt Festival plan includes a Noble alumni panel, facilitated discussion groups, an Opportunities Fair – where local presenters will share their journey and accomplishments - and an address from Eric L. Knowlton School principal Ron Robert. Professional speaker and MTV Made Coach Jeff Yalden will give the keynote presentation to conclude the event.
The planning team has recognized the amazing opportunities and experiences that surround our area and are utilizing personal contacts to share those opportunities with students. The hope is for Noble students to return home May 11 confident that their futures are nothing short of promising.
Jeff Yalden is from Sagamore Beach, MA and has spoken to more than 4,500 youth audiences in all 50 states and representing over 48 different countries. His timely message about life and purpose is delivered with humor and hard-hitting honesty to high school and middle school-aged students around the world.
A solid motivator and educator, Yalden is a role model for youth with which he is comfortable: Yalden has spent the last twelve years touring the world, coaching and delivering his highly motivational speech to youth, educators and parents to make better life and family choices. He has saved lives and impacted youth to live a life of purpose and commitment.
So effective is Yalden’s work, in fact, the National Speaker’s Association has awarded him its highest honor. In 2002, the organization granted Yalden the title of Certified Speaking Professional. Less than 7% of professional Speakers worldwide carry the designation. Also, MTV called his show their best show in the six seasons of taping MTV MADE. His show was the longest running show seen by over 70 million youth.

Coastal Clovers 4-H Club Kicks off Foods for Families Project

YORK—
The Coastal Clovers 4-H club kicked off the 2010 Foods for Families project on April 25 with a meeting at Coastal Landscaping and Garden Center. Owners David and Carol Bridges open the doors each year and donate surplus seedlings. The kids meet in one of the many greenhouses and fill trays with soil and then transplant the seedlings. From there the seedlings will be held in a small hot house for the next few weeks. Then the kids will get together at Zach’s Farm and plant them into the ground where they will mature and be harvested for local food pantries.
Last season the kids grew nearly 4,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for local food pantries. Club leader Russ Osgood said, “With the help of local business like Coastal Landscaping & Garden Center, Zach’s Farm, and the many donations we receive we have been able to produce enough fresh produce to feed over 50 families. We are pleased that we can partner with so many great people.”
The club is planning on adding early and late season crops this year too. The club received a Harvest Fund Grant from Maine Initiatives for hoops and covers that will allow the club to grow crops that like a warmer climate. “We plan on growing things like sweet potatoes this year and this grant will help make that possible,” Osgood said.
With the hundreds of seedlings started and the many early season crops already in their raised beds the pantry should be seeing donations by mid May.
Photo caption: The Coastal Clovers 4-H Club kicked off this year’s Foods for Families effort on April 25. (Courtesy photo)

UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine Acknowledged

BIDDEFORD—
US News & World Report (USNWR) has released its annual report ranking professional graduate school disciplines, including medicine and its various specialties. University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE-COM) was recognized as sixth in the nation for its leadership in primary care training, as well as its rural medicine and geriatrics programs, both earning top-20 honors.
Since its founding in 1978, UNE-COM has graduated nearly 2,400 physician alumni. Of all licensed physicians in Maine, more have graduated from UNECOM than any other medical school in the world. UNE’s commitment to the education of primary care physicians is unmatched by any other medical school in New England, and the USNWR ranking now places it among the best in the nation.
The overall rankings include 20 accredited schools of osteopathic (DO granting) medicine, as well as 126 accredited allopathic (MD granting) programs. The rankings are based on expert opinions about program quality and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students. Highlights of the 2011 graduate school rankings are published in the May print issue of U.S. News & World Report.
Primary care resident training: UNE ranked 6th UNE-COM’s mission of educating the nation’s primary care leaders is reflected in the US News rankings, which rank the College as sixth in the nation for schools that turn out the most graduates entering primary care residency training programs. These programs include family medicine, general internal medicine and pediatrics. This ranking is borne out by the following statistics: 10 percent of all practicing physicians in the state of Maine, and 15 percent of Maine’s primary care physician workforce, are UNE-COM graduates; more than 60 percent of UNE-COM graduates practice in a primary care specialty (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics), where Maine’s needs are the greatest.
For the US News specialty rankings, medical school deans and senior faculty selected the best programs using peer assessment surveys. Two UNE-COM programs made the top-20 list.
Specialty rankings: Rural Medicine: UNE ranked 17th The substantial shortage of primary care physicians nationwide is more significant in underserved areas and among vulnerable populations. Through a partnership with the Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network, headquartered on the UNE campus, UNE-COM reinforces its commitment to rural primary care in Maine by requiring clinical training for students in rural and underserved areas. Consequently, many graduates choose to remain in rural areas after graduation, as recognized in the US News ranking. Moreover, 5 percent of physicians practicing in Maine’s rural areas are UNE-COM graduates and17 percent of UNE-COM graduates are practicing in medically underserved areas of New England.
Specialty rankings: Geriatrics: UNE ranked 20th In the Best Medical Schools specialty ranking for geriatrics, UNE-COM’s Geriatric Medicine program was ranked 20th nationwide. Its innovative curriculum includes the nationally recognized “Learning by Living” program, which places medical students in area nursing homes to live the lives of a resident; and U-ExCEL, a fitness program that was recently awarded the Maine Governor’s Council on Physical Activity 2010 Maine Fitness Award in the Special Populations Category.
The survey data also showed that UNE-COM students bear some of the highest debt in the nation. Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs, Marc B. Hahn, DO announced a strategic plan for UNE-COM in January 2010 which includes a plan to address student debt through planned strategic growth in class size and an increase in mission-specific activities.
Dr. Hahn also stated: “UNE-COM’s Patient-First Curriculum focuses on creating outstanding physicians who are health care leaders that advance primary care and community health. I am pleased by the US News & World Report rankings and our peer recognition, which demonstrate not only the effectiveness of UNE-COM’s mission with regard to primary care education, but also our leadership in rural practice and geriatric medicine.”
For more information, visit www.une.edu. Article submitted by UNE-COM.

$30 Million Received to Improve the Energy Efficiency of Homes

AUGUSTA—
Vice President Joseph Biden has announced 25 communities across America that have won a total of $452 million in “Retrofit Ramp-up” energy efficiency grants, as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Maine has been awarded $30 million to help fund energy efficiency efforts in the state.
“As we prepare to mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day it is great to show that Maine is a leader in taking action to reduce our energy consumption, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and also reduce costs for Maine consumers,” said Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree. “For Maine to win this grant shows that we have one of the top energy efficiency programs in the country and that is something we should be proud of.”
The Retrofit Ramp-up initiative included a competitive grant application process that the Obama Administration says received nearly $3.5 billion in application requests. Because of actions taken by the Legislature in the last several years to create an infrastructure to assist businesses and homeowners undertake the task of making their structures more energy efficient, Maine was well positioned to compete for a share of the funds.
“Last year we established the Efficiency Maine Trust as a way to consolidate various efficiency programs so that Maine people could more easily find help in reducing their energy bills,” said Rep. Jon Hinck, the House chairman of the Utilities and Energy Committee. “This grant will also specifically take advantage of a process that we enacted this year. The Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE bill, will help cities and towns access these funds.”
PACE programs allow municipalities to raise money and lend it to property owners who apply for financing. Property owners repay their loans through an assessment on their property tax bill. The program is strictly voluntary, with municipalities deciding whether to establish PACE programs, and property owners participating if they want to.
“PACE programs are a great opportunity for property owners to weatherize their homes and save energy and money,” said Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, the sponsor of the PACE bill. “These federal funds will ensure that the programs can be a success throughout the state and more Maine people will have the ability to make their homes and businesses energy efficient.”
Those interested in finding out more about how to make their homes or businesses more energy efficient should log on to Efficiency Maine’s web site for links to all of their programs: www.efficiencymaine.com.