NorthStar EMS ambulance images promote healthful living
NorthStar EMS in Farmington has unveiled its third health-theme painted ambulance — a yellow and white ambulance with images of children promoting the “5-2-1-0 Lets Go!” health message and the Healthy Community Coalition logo, the organization that administers the Lets Go! program in the Franklin County area.
Let’s Go! is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program that promotes a daily regimen of five or more servings of fruits of vegetables, two hours or less of recreational screen time, one hour or more of physical activity and no sugary drinks.
NorthStar said in a news release that the ambulance is intended to be a moving billboard message to support ongoing efforts to improve community health. It will be dispatched out of all five NorthStar base locations — Farmington, Carrabassett Valley, Livermore, Phillips and Rangeley — and it will make special appearances at community parades, festivals and fairs.
NorthStar’s first health-themed ambulance is lavender to promote domestic violence awareness. Its second themed ambulance is pink to encourage breast health awareness.
NorthStar EMS is the ambulance service of Franklin Memorial Hospital.
Dietary worker wins annual Mount Saint Joseph award
Mount Saint Joseph Residence & Rehabilitation in Waterville recently awarded the annual St. Joseph award to Nancy Marson of the facilities’ dietary services team.
The annual award is presented to an employee who exemplifies the organization’s core values and mission in daily interactions with elders and colleagues, according to a Mount Saint Joseph news release. The St. Joseph award is presented each year on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19.
Mount Saint Joseph is a 138-bed skilled nursing and long-term care facility founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon.
Waterville auto dealer Gaunce receives Dealer Education Award
Waterville auto dealer Christopher Gaunce is one of five nationally to receive the Dealer Education Award from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan.
The award recognizes “owners and dealer principals in the automotive marketing field who have made noteworthy, individual contributions to public or private education inside or outside of the industry,” according to a news release from the university.
Guance, of Central Maine Motors, is a Northwood University graduate and a third-generation automobile dealer. He has received the university’s Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award and is also chairman of the Automotive Marketing Advisory Board of the university.
The awards are scheduled to be presented April 12 at the National Auto Dealers Convention in Las Vegas.
Gaunce is being recognized because “his dealership employees actively support a variety of events and fundraisers aimed at helping those less fortunate or who have medical challenges,” according to the release. The organizations they help include the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers, the Salvation Army, Lakewood Continuing Care, Albert S. Hall Food Pantry Greater Waterville Area Food Bank, Fairfield Interfaith Food Pantry and breast cancer awareness efforts, according to the release.
Through his work with the Central Maine Growth Council, Gaunce also led the way to create opportunities to support the education of the local workforce through the Mid-Maine Technical Center internship and mentorship program, the release said.
Farmington seminar to focus on marketing, branding, trademarks
An Entrepreneurs Connect event is planned for 4 to 7 p.m. May 5 at the Fairbanks School Meeting House in Farmington.
Glenn Rudberg, co-founder of Ethos, a Westbrook-based agency, will talk about marketing and branding for entrepreneurs. Ethos handles larger marketing and branding initiatives.
Tom Gale, president of VONT, Ethos’ partner company, which handles website development and digital and social media advertising an agency, will discuss advertising on a budget. Gale started his career as an entrepreneur but now oversees all digital advertising at VONT, also based in Westbrook.
The event will focus on the experiences of four area entrepreneurs: Pete Roberts, Origin USA; Andrew Marble, Marble Family Farms; Matthew Swan, Tumbledown Brewing; and Meghan Allen, Richards’ Florist. Also, Chelsea Fournier, an attorney at Opticliff Law in Portland, will talk about trademarks.
The Greater Franklin Development Council, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Business Center at CEI are co-sponsoring the event.
Those interested in attending are asked to register by April 29. For more information, and to register, go online to https://entrepreneursconnectspring.eventbrite.com or call 778-5887.
Avoiding scams to be discussed at April 14 Business Breakfast
Defending a business against scams will be the topic of the Business Breakfast at Thomas College, scheduled for April 14.
Hosted by the college and the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature Amy Schram, senior community outreach specialist at the Better Business Bureau in Massachusetts, as its speaker. Schram will talk about the most common scams, the major red flags to watch out for and the steps that can be taken to protect a business.
The breakfast event will take place from 7:15 to 9:00 a.m. in the Spann Student Commons Summit Room on Thomas College’s campus, at 180 West River Road in Waterville.
The cost of the Business Breakfast is $17 for members; $19 for late registration, after April 8; or $25 at the door and for nonmembers. Breakfast is included with the reservation.
To register, e-mail customerservice@midmainechamber.com or phone 873-3315.
Maine State Credit Union drive nets $70,000 for food pantries
Maine State Credit Union in Augusta presented checks Wednesday totaling more than $70,000 to 32 food pantries and shelters in Kennebec and Somerset counties as a result of a yearlong fundraising effort to fight hunger.
For the past several years Maine State Credit Union has been the leading fundraiser in the Maine Credit Union League’s annual Ending Hunger Campaign, according to a credit union news release. All the proceeds go directly back into the community.
Maine ranks 13th in the county and first in New England for food insecurity, the release said, with more than 200,000 Maine families affected each year.
The credit union is holding its first large fundraiser of the year on May 21, the 11th annual 5k Walk/Run to End Hunger in Kennebec and Somerset Counties. Everyone is welcome to participate. For more information about the event and to register, visit MaineStateCU.org/5kWalkRun.
Gardiner Federal Credit Union offers $3,000 in scholarships
Gardiner Federal Credit Union has announced that it is offering a total of $3,000 in scholarships in 2016.
The credit union plans to award six scholarships of $500 each to students who are pursuing post-secondary education or graduate degrees. To be considered for them, applicants must live, work, worship or attend school in Kennebec County, Lincoln County, or the towns of Palermo or Richmond.
Applicants also must complete two essay questions and a cover letter and application that details their extracurricular activities and community service.
The application is available, under the community tab, on the credit union’s website, gardinerfcu.org; in its lobby; and through the guidance offices at area high schools. The application deadline is May 2.
All completed applications will be reviewed by the credit union’s scholarship committee, and the selected recipients will be notified before graduation.
For more information, contact Kelly Marie at 582-2676, ext. 125, or kmarie@gardinerfcu.org.
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