News Notes

Rebekah Erwin (left), customer care assistant manager at Partners Bank, presents a $1,000 donation to Jen Holt, board member/marketing and communications at Thrive New England.

Photo: Partners Bank

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Partners Bank donation aids local anti-human trafficking organization: Thrive New England, a Sanford-based anti-human trafficking organization, recently received a $1,000 donation from Partners Bank. The contribution makes possible a year of peer support groups for 20 survivors. The contribution was made by Rebekah Erwin, customer care assistant manager, through the bank’s employee donation of the month program for January.

Expanded bus service in York County: Starting this week, bus service between Sanford, Biddeford and Saco is expanding to six round trips a day, according to York County Community Action Corp. (YCCAC). This doubles the number of trips of the Southern Maine Connector route, which runs Monday through Friday. Buses leave Sanford every hour or so between 7 am and 2 pm with pickups at Nasson Health Care, CVS pharmacy, School Street and Maine Health Care’s main entrance. Returning buses leave Saco Transportation Center between 8:15 am and 3:15 pm and pick up at seven Biddeford stops.

The expanded service is made possible by funding through the Portland Metropolitan Planning Organization. This is part of YCCAC’s overall plan to expand and diversify services to meet the transportation needs of residents, businesses and communities of York County, according to YCCAC Transportation Director Tom Reinauer. For the schedule, click here.

Nasson Health Care behavioral health providers have a new home: Through an expansion of services grant, renovations of a new treatment suite at Nasson Health Care were recently completed. The expansion, which includes seven treatment offices, a conference room, a kitchen and a private check-in station for patients, will greatly impact the services the organization provides. Nasson will be able to hire additional staff to provide enhanced patient care. Behavioral health services are open to their primary care patients; they are also accepting new patients.

Support your library. Go grocery shopping: During February, every time someone purchases a $3 reusable Give Back Bag at Shaw’s in The Center for Shopping, Springvale Library will receive $1. Shaw’s selected the library as this month’s nonprofit recipient in its Give Back Where It Counts reusable bag program.

Dental team news from Nasson: Nasson Health Care announced that Amanda Wells recently passed the Certified Dental Assistant examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board. This prestigious, nationally recognized certification honors each recipient’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care possible to their patients and their passion for maintaining the technical knowledge needed to do so.

In addition, Nasson recently welcomed Bailey Gryskwicz, a fourth-year student extern from the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. Gryskwicz, who hopes to practice dental medicine in Southern Maine after graduation, will provide patient care this winter and early spring. As a preceptor partner for the UNE College of Dental Medicine program, Nasson is able to give emerging dental providers an opportunity to gain experience.

It’s not often that we welcome an Arctic Blast: The Sanford Water District was grateful to its friends north of the border when they had to deal with a fire hydrant that had frozen solid four feet down in the ground. They used pressurized steam from the Arctic Blaster Steamer they had just acquired from a company in Alberta, Canada, to thaw the hydrant.

Photo: Pixabay

Virtual balance and strength class to help prevent falls: The Southern Maine Agency on Aging is offering its popular falls prevention class, A Matter of Balance, virtually via Zoom. Participants can now exercise to increase strength and balance in the comfort and convenience of their own home. This evidence-based class has proven successful in reducing the incidence of falls in older adults.

The nine-session class will meet from March 11 to April 8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 3 pm via Zoom. The first class (Session 0), on March 11, will provide an opportunity to introduce everyone, review safety procedures and platform skills needed for the virtual class, and practice setting up the participant’s physical space. Attendance at Session 0 is strongly encouraged, even for those who are already comfortable with the technology. Register today here or call the Agewell team at 207-396-6578.

Sanford’s banking community welcomes back a familiar face: Jeremy Deering recently returned as the senior vice president, senior commercial banker at the Partners Bank main office in Sanford. Before SIS Bank rebranded to Partners Bank, between 2003 and 2013, Deering held several positions, most recently vice president of commercial lending before amicably parting to work in commercial banking at other institutions in Maine and New Hampshire. Deering also serves as a Director on the Board of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout the state.

Upcoming schedule changes for Sanford DPW: The transfer station and demo debris area will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 13, for required training. For the Presidents’ Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 17, the Public Works Department will be closed. The transfer station and demo debris area will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The rubbish and recycling pick-up schedule for the week will not change.

Technical assistance is at the ready: Is your computer misbehaving? Do you press “print” but nothing happens? Or is your new desk for your homework area still in its box? The new Public Technical Assistance Program from the LeClair Foundation may be able to help. The organization offers cost-free, in-person support for a range of technical and assembly services for qualified community members across Maine. The program helps seniors (age 53+) as well as disabled, low-income and veteran-status people. FMI on their services, visit here or call 978-308-2045.

Looking for a way to be of service to others? The Center for Grieving Children is seeking volunteer Peer Support Group facilitators to make a difference in the lives of grieving children, teens, young adults and adults. The center still has space available in its next volunteer facilitator training sessions scheduled for March. All facilitators receive 30 hours of training over the course of two weeks before being placed in a peer support group. Both in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities are available. FMI, email volunteer@cgcmaine.org.

Ho hum, yet another earthquake: A third earthquake occurred in the area on Feb. 2 at 7:57 am, southeast of York Harbor, in roughly the same area as last week’s two tremors. According to the US Geological Survey, the Feb. 2 earthquake registered a 2.0 magnitude.