When Dan Avener was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease some three years ago, he was “pretty depressed.” Then he decided he should meet some other people in the same situation so he wentto a support group. He met some wonderful people and he joined an exercise program.

“Now, I feel a lot better about dealing with the disease. Getting out is a lot better than sitting in the house feeling bad for myself. I didn’t think I was a support group person but it changed my life so much for the better,” he says.

And so did the exercise group as he watched people with Parkinson’s start to move better. In fact, so much for the better that Dan is now starting an outdoor recreation program in Belfast for people with disabilities. He held the first walk on Thursday, May 8, at 3 p.m. Participants met at the Boathouse, at the foot of Commercial Street in Belfast, and walked on the new path along the waterfront.

Miles Gray of Belfast is looking forward to the outdoor recreation program for those with disabilities.

“I think a lot of people who receive a depressing diagnosis stay in their homes and feel sorry for themselves. It’s better to meet other people, especially other people in a similar situation, and get more engaged in life and getting exercise is a lot of it,” Dan says.

“I want this to be open to anyone with a disability, including obesity or troubles with mobility caused by age. I would encourage people to come with their caregiver, too. People can use their wheelchairs, walkers or a cane on the waterfront path,” he adds. “I just want to get people outside and moving and go from there.”

And he hopes the outdoor exercise program will grow from there, perhaps becoming a nature walk for those with that knowledge and interest, or a photo walk for those who enjoy photography. Or maybe, some of those who take part in the initial walks will realize they want to do more and will decide to go on a hike together or start running together, all based on their physical condition.

Dan’s idea for an outdoor recreation program is based in part on his experiences with the new Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Support Group that has formed at Waldo County General Hospital and meets the second Tuesday of each month.

Dan started running some 21 years ago. His current exercise schedule includes running several miles three days a week with his friend, training partner and physical therapist, Kerri Holt. Another day he runs with Kerri’s sister Kristin. Last year Kerri and Dan ran their first marathon together.

Dan Avener of Belfast, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than three years ago, ran in the Maine Coast Marathon in Biddeford last year with his friend,training partner and physical therapist,Kerri Holt.

Three days a week Dan works out on the stationary bike at the YMCA and also does strength work there. Every day, he does yoga and the exercises he was given by a physical therapist.

Dan is convinced that his exercise regime is why he is doing so well physically but he is still affected by the disease.“Running is easier for me than tying my shoes. I have trouble with fine motor skills. And when I read a paragraph, when I’m finished, what I read is gone. I have difficulty with concentration and my attention span has been impacted.” Parkinson’s affects everyone differently, he says.

But no matter how an individual is affected, Dan says exercise helps and he hopes many of those who have disabilities and don’t get out will join him for a pleasant walk and an opportunity to be with others in similar situations.

Dan urges anyone who wants to participate to check with their doctor to make sure the walk is right for them and join him on Thursdays at the Boathouse.

(Note: For more information, call Dan at 338-5675.)

Accepting the award were, from left, Dan Bennett, Director of Operations; Shannon Robbins RN,Community Health Manager; and Dale Kuhnert, VP of the Board of Directors for Waldo County General Hospital.

Waldo County Dental Care was honored April 16 by the Daniel Hanley Center of Health Leadership with an award for Exceptional Leadership and Service in Health Equity and Health Disparities. The presentation of the prestigious Hanley Center Honors was made to four individuals, organizations or collaboratives, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in addressing health disparities and ensuring greater equity here in Maine.

Waldo County Dental Care was introduced as “an innovative collaborative effort of Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH), committed members of its Board of Directors, and private dentists in the Waldo County area to address the health disparity in dental care for low income and uninsured individuals in their community.” Prior to the initiation of this project, WCGH’s Emergency Department reported that for 18-45 year olds the most common reason for emergency care was acute dental pain and infection, which could not be definitively managed in the ED and often led to the need for extraction.

After planning in 2012, the Waldo County Dental Care program began providing services in August 2013. The goal of the collaborative has been to create a self-sustaining and replicable model where a community comes together to take care of its own.

The Registered Dental Hygienist at Waldo County Dental Care does dental cleanings, x-rays, screenings, fluoride treatments, sealants, temporary fillings, oral health instruction, and a referral for further care by a dentist, if needed.

To qualify, an individual must:

• not have seen a dentist in the past 12 months;

• live in Waldo County;

• meet federal income guidelines (for family of four that is $41,213); and

• be at least age 18.

Depending on the family’s income level, there is a sliding copay of between $10 and $20.

Also honored at the Hanley Recognition Dinner were the Maine Migrant Health Program, United Somali Women of Maine and Marjorie Withers of the Community Caring Collaborative in Washington County.

The award was presented at a dinner and reception held at the Portland Marriott At Sable Oaks in South Portland.

The Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership is a nonprofit, independent, statewide organization dedicated to supporting the transformation of Maine’s health and healthcare sectors.

Aid donated $20,500 and 9,457 volunteer hours

Sandy Gordon, who serves as staff support for the Aid, presents Ellen Kenney with a pin for reaching 5,000 volunteer hours. Looking on are outgoing President Phyllis Gaul, left, and Rob Fowler, RN, BSN, Director of Quality, who presented the pins.

The Waldo County General Hospital Aid held its annual meeting May 28 at Penobscot Shores, capping off another successful year. During fiscal year 2014, the group donated $20,500 to the Hospital–$13,500, which they earned from a series of fundraisers, and $7,000 from profits in their Hospital Gift Shop.

And then they turned around and donated another $10,000 toward their 2015 contributions.

Aid members also volunteered more than 9,457 hours in the Hospital, on community events and on fundraising activities.

Outgoing President Phyllis Gaul thanks her corresponding secretary Jean Russell for all her help.

Executive Director Mark Biscone said serving as the interim CEO at Pen Bay Medical Center should help the two hospitals to share more services. He said the two hospitals already share the services of doctors in urology, nephrology, and vascular medicine and in the future will be doing more of that, including an oncologist.

Biscone said a number of excellent new doctors have been added at Waldo County during the past year, along with some new programs and upgrading of equipment.

Aid member Carol Bisbee read the Auxiliary Prayer and sang a remembrance for members who have passed with Ellen Kenney.

In other action at the meeting, members:

• elected as officers for the upcoming year: Sally Millhorn, president; Jane Doak, vice president; Ellen Kenney, secretary; Judy Whitney, treasurer; Phyllis Gaul, corresponding secretary; and Lois Aitken, gift shop treasurer;

• honored Ed Kelley and Ellen Kenney for attaining 5,000 hours of volunteer hours; and Muriel Krakar, who lives in Chicago for 8,000 hours of volunteer hours (she still makes doll

clothes and mails them to the gift shop to be sold). Made special mention of Wilma Moses, who has the most volunteer hours, 8,335 (she serves as a pharmacist technician, is a past president more than once and is garden walk chair);

• thanked Connie Woitowitz, who is retiring as the tray favors coordinator after 20 years of service; Priscilla Withee, who is retiring as clinic volunteers chair; and Phyllis Gaul, who was completing her term as president;

• listened as outgoing President Phyllis Gaul thanked Jean Russell and Geary Tibbetts for going above and beyond in helping her during her term; and

• reminded members of the Summer Silver Tea to be held Thursday, July 17, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Anne Crosby Johnson manor, now the residence of George and Marcia Smith.

Waldo County General Hospital is pleased to announce the awarding of 27 scholarships totaling $20,090 for the academic year beginning September 2014 as follows:

Nursing: Karrah Armstrong (Mary S. Enk Scholarship), Candy Cook (Nancy Drinkwater Memorial Scholarship), Maddison Cummings (Nancy Drinkwater Memorial Scholarship), Paige Emerson (Alice Pattershall Memorial Scholarship), Rhonda Fowlie, Monica Furrow (Gil Lord Memorial Scholarship), Patricia Gourde (Gil Lord Memorial Scholarship), Melissa Ingraham (Thelma Hayward Memorial Scholarship), Andrea Jarrett, Sherri Littlefield, Carrie Milner, Andrew Moran, Birgitta Polson, Carrie Ponte, Brenda Prisco, Jordan Ray, Maggie Raymond (Thelma Hayward Memorial Scholarship), Katie Roberts, Ellie Simmons, Lori Thomas, Sierra Warner (Thelma Hayward Memorial Scholarship);

Medical Assistant: Catherine Ciofolo (John C. Enk Scholarship);

Pharmacy: Chantelle Whitcomb (John C. Enk Scholarship);

Physical Therapy: Lauren Richards, Curtis Warren (John C. Enk Scholarship);

Speech/Language: Katherine Hannan;

Radiology: Meggie Simmons.

Location is former Anne Crosby Johnson manor

A Summertime Silver Tea is being held Thursday, July 17, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the former Anne Crosby Johnson manor at 18 Bayside Drive, Belfast. Attendees will be able to see how this beautiful historic home has been restored by the present owners George and Marcia Smith.

The Smiths have owned their summer home, “Lucky Stars,” for nine years. The spacious first floor, which will be open to view, includes the entry, family room, dining room, the “lobster room”, the back porch with a view to the ocean, pantry, kitchen, a side garden and more.

The dining room

Ice tea, lemonade and light refreshments will be served and donations will be accepted in a silver bowl near the entrance with all proceeds to benefit the Waldo County General Hospital Aid.

Local residents will recognize the home as the Anne Crosby Johnson manor, which was built in 1910 by Miss Anne Crosby who later married Ralph Johnson. She used the home only in the summer, wintering in Boston or New York City.

Mrs. Johnson was the granddaughter of Governor William G. Crosby of Maine. She became a great benefactor to Belfast and the surrounding area. She donated the Captain’s House for the start of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport; contributed $40,000 toward the construction of the Crosby High School; built the first swimming pool at City Park; and made numerous other gifts.

For part of Mrs. Johnson’s life, her mother lived with her at the estate. Anne Crosby Johnson was born in 1874 and lived to be 84 years old.

The current house owners have a scrapbook of information on the Crosby and Johnson families, which will be on display at the tea. They have restored features in many of the rooms, such as brass window fittings and original dark woodwork and uncovered the original sink in the pantry. The owners have balanced rooms with elegant chandeliers and fireplaces, while others exhibit a casual motif of seashells, lobsters or boating accessories.

The entrance to the home

Winners will be drawn at the tea for the collection of gift cards that comprise the Aid’s current raffle titled “Have You Visited These Places?”

The Summertime Silver Tea is taking the place of the Aid’s usual summer Garden Walk.

Over the past nine months, employees of Waldo County General Hospital, in collaboration with our partners at MaineHealth, have been working hard to prepare for the launch of our new electronic health record system called SeHR – the Shared Electronic Health Record (pronounced share). In early August, we will take part in the largest healthcare IT project that has taken place in our state by launching SeHR at all our sites (Waldo County General Hospital, practices, and clinics).

At Waldo County General Hospital, we believe that SeHR will dramatically improve patient care and the health of the communities we serve, and the benefits to our patients will be significant.

• “One Patient, One record,” will become a reality when SeHR is launched. Whether you receive care at Waldo County General Hospital or another MaineHealth facility, your healthcare providers will have the most up-to-date information.

• Healthcare providers in different locations will have a better opportunity to work together to create a cohesive care plan for your healthcare since they can quickly share important patient information.

• There will be fewer forms for patients to fill out as updated information appears in their electronic record instantly. When seeing a provider at Waldo County General Hospital or within the MaineHealth network, there will be no need to give a copy of your healthcare record to each provider you see.

• Patients will have quick and easy access to their health information using MyChart, a secure online portal that allows you to take a more active role in your healthcare. Using MyChart, patients can message their providers, view upcoming appointments, request prescription renewals, and access their health information.

• Patients will have fewer duplicate tests done as results from previous tests and lab work will be in your electronic record. This will save you time, money, and worry.

Many may think that an electronic health record means your information is out there on the web for all to see. With SeHR, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The privacy and security of our patients is very important to us and we have taken every precaution to ensure that only those providing you care can see your personal health information.

While employees at Waldo County General Hospital have undergone significant training on this new system, we do anticipate that our patients may encounter some delays as we go live. We appreciate your patience and understanding during the month of August.

In conjunction with our talented medical staff and dedicated employees, SeHR will allow us to continue to provide safe, high quality care for our patients. We look forward to meeting all of your future healthcare needs and can’t wait to “SeHR” our new system with you.

For more information, please contact Toni Mailloux, Community Relations Coordinator, at (207) 930-6763 or tmailloux@wcgh.org.

We challenge other Maine Hospitals to join in the fun! Hospital employees

donated $157!

Rob Fowler, RN
Director of Quality

Congratulations to Rob Fowler, RN, the Hospital’s Director of Quality, who finished ninth in the Kilted Canter 5-K road race during the Celtic Festival.

Denise Harriman

Congrats to Denise Harriman, a Medical Assistant at Stockton Springs Regional Health Center, and a volunteer EMT with the Stockton Springs Ambulance, who won the EMT of the Year award from the American Legion, Department of Maine.

WCGH had a number of participants in the recent Beach to Beacon, including, shown above from left, Shannon Robbins, Community Health Manager, George Orestis, PTA, and Kim Spectre, WICHU & ED nurse manager.

Waldo County General Hospital was well represented in the Best of the Best competition conducted by The Republican Journal. Under Physician; Dr. Dana Whitten, finished 1st; Dr. Deb Peabody was 2nd; and Dr. Steve Wilson was 3rd. In the category of Nurse Practitioner/RN, 1st-Al Blackadar, NP; 2nd-Kim Spectre, RN; tied for 3rd: Mary Elsa Theobald NP, Catie Wilson NP and Ron Cormier, NP. WCGH PT was first and Orthopedics and Sports PT was second in the Physical Therapy category. WCGH Home Health & Hospice was first in Home Care Provider. In the category of best medical office/health facility, WCGH finished 2nd and Lincolnville Regional Health Center was 3rd.

The Aid’s Summertime Silver Tea, held at the former Anne Crosby Johnson manor, was a huge success. Above, Aid member Marie Underwood pours the ice tea while bottom right are the owners of the home, Marcia and George Smith. Attendees enjoyed touring the extensively renovated first floor of the manor and walking on the grounds, which have a wonderful view of the bay. Donations at the tea were $2,116 while the raffle proceeds were $1,584. Winners of the raffle gift certificates were Yo Mamma’s Home – Jean Russell; WCGH Gift Shop – Lorna Woodward; Left Bank Books – Ed Lord; Bennett’s Gems – Mary Mortier; Katwalk – Peter Tidd; Colonial Theatre and Alexia’s Pizza – Morris Slugg.

Ask a child in Waldo County what 5-2-1-0 stands for and most of them know: 5 – eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day; 2 – limit recreational screen time (TV, computers, iPads, etc.) to 2 hours a day; 1 – get 1 hour of physical activity a day; and 0 – for 0 sugary drinks a day.

They’ve most likely been exposed to 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! Waldo at school, their daycare or their doctor’s office.

To help children and their parents remember 5-2-1-0 this summer, a banner with drawings for each of the four messages has been created. Known as “Where in Waldo is the 5-2-1-0 banner?,” the banner was hung in various locations that provide opportunities to live the message.

The first location was Belfast City Park; a place where the whole family can have fun and get that hour of physical activity for free. Children and their families can swim in the pool, play basketball, horseshoes or a tennis game, walk along the beach, go for a swing, slide and climb on the playground to name a few.

But the 5-2-1-0 banner won’t stay at Belfast City Park all summer. It will travel to other locations where one of the four messages can be met. So keep your eyes open and see “Where in Waldo is the 5-2-1-0 banner?”

To learn more about 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go, visit www.letsgo.org.

A  second banner has popped up

A second Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 banner has popped up in Waldo County. That banner can be found at the Walker Elementary School in Liberty where children are learning to grow their own vegetables.

Christine Gall, the FoodCorps Service Member for RSU 3, is leading the Summer Garden Camp at Walker Elementary School, left. To the right are campers, Sophia King and Emily Richards. The carrots and beets are for the farm stand.

Christine Gall, FoodCorps Coordinator for RSU 3, is leading the five-week Walker Elementary Garden Summer Camp. The 24 campers are growing vegetables and herbs, taking cooking classes with health educator Beth Chamberlain, learning about nutrition, and playing active games.

Each camper is also producing a cookbook, in which they color and record the recipe for each new snack or lunch they help create. Those recipes include the veggies and herbs from their greenhouse and raised bed gardens.

Camper Oden Pontillo, who will be going into the first grade this fall, works on his cookbook.

Just pulled carrots are the campers’ favorite and they ask to be able to eat them. One day they made a snack of fragrant basil and crackers and rated the taste with thumbs up, middle, or down. Four of the 11 campers gave the basil a thumb ups with such comments as “epic,” “very tasty” and “fantastic.” Some of the others were less sure they liked the strong herb flavor.

In addition to attending the Summer Garden Camp, two of the campers are operating a farm stand in front of the school on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. They sell fresh vegetables on a “pay what you can” method to help provide fresh food to their community. The farm stand, which is run by students Sophia King and Madison Paradis, grew out of the service learning project they participated in during the school year and their understanding of the value of eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Three new primary care providers came onboard Sept. 2.

Dorothy Carin, MD, is working at the Arthur Jewell Community Health Center in Brooks. She comes here after practicing for six years with the Adventist Health Medical Group in Portland, Oregon and serving for nine years at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Hospital in Bethel, Alaska.

Dr. Carin graduated from Williams College and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She did her residency in Family Medicine at the University of California, Davis Family Medicine Program from 1996 to 1999. She has also completed a four-year training program in Chinese Acupuncture for Physicians sponsored by the University of Southern California.

Dr. Carin is board certified in Family Medicine and has received the degree of Diplomate from the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.

Dr. Carin says she has been visiting friends in the area for years and decided to settle down here. She enjoys fishing, gardening and cross country skiing.

Julie Hurley, DO, is working at the Donald S. Walker Health Center in Liberty. A resident of Lincolnville, she has most recently worked at the MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta as a Hospitalist and previous to that was at Penobscot Bay Family Medicine.

Board Certified through the American College of Osteopathic Family Medicine, Dr. Hurley received her medical education at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also completed a residency and internship at the Maine Dartmouth Family Practice in Augusta where she served as co-chief resident in her second year.

Dr. Hurley also served for a year as a research fellow at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Jenny Davis, FNP, resident of Belfast, has been a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Lovejoy Health Center, Albion for the past two years. She graduated from Harvard University and received her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Yale School of Nursing in 2012.

Davis has a particular clinical interest in diabetes care and is practicing in Dr. Paul Mazur’s office in the Cobb Medical Building in the Hospital.

Davis is also a world-class athlete who trains for and competes in CrossFit.