Aroostook Agency on Aging
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Agency on Aging will hold its 2010 annual meeting on Monday, Oct. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Shriner’s Building, U.S. Route 1 (Houlton Road), Presque Isle. The meeting is open to the public.
The agency provides services to just over 5,000 older people, the disabled and their caregivers. The Aroostook agency is a non-profit corporation with a board of directors consisting mostly of older people and has served the County for 37 years.
There will be a presentation by elder law Attorney Martha Grant on MaineCare coverage and long-term care. This is an opportunity to learn about how nursing home care can be paid for, the treatment of assets and what you are allowed to keep, treatment of income and the allowances for a spouse remaining at home. Medicaid estate recovery will be discussed. Recent changes in federal law that affects long-term care insurance and use of insurance to protect an estate will also be discussed.
There will also be a presentation on Medicare changes coming in 2011 as a result of the new health care reform law. Medicare prescription drug plans will be changing in January and those with Medicare should be reviewing their coverage and possibly making changes before the end of 2010.
Immediately following lunch, for those interested in staying, a viewing of the Maine Gubernatorial Forum on Aging Issues will be held. The five candidates for governor appearing on the November ballot participated in this forum and this is an opportunity to learn what they intend to do to address the needs of Maine’s rapidly aging population.
For those wanting to attend, please call and reserve your seat. If you want to stay for lunch, you must call 764-3396 or toll free 800-439-1789 no later than Monday, Oct. 18, to confirm you are coming. For those age 60 and older there is no cost for lunch but a donation of $3 will be appreciated. People under age 60 must pay $4.50 for lunch.Homemakers
On Sept. 27, the Spragueville Homemakers Extension held its first meeting of the 2010-2011 season at the home of LaVone Walters, with 14 members present.
President Tammy Wheeler called the meeting to order, followed by all reciting the Homemakers’ Creed.
Secretary/treasurer LaVone read her respective reports, recorded volunteer hours and read a thank-you from Joyce Bither for the gift card sent when she was not feeling well.
Under old business, Marilyn Wheeler, of the nominating committee, read the new slate of officers for the next two years: President Sylvia Harper, Vice President Marianne Thomas, Secretary/Treasurer LaVone Walters, Food Leaders Mona Cyr and Carmen Wiggins, Historian Blanche Beckwith, Sunshine Lady Lois Griffin and Publicity Ann Knight. It was voted to accept these officers.
President Tammy then brought up the topic of the responsibilities of the four Calling Chairpersons. Following much discussion, due to several members having passed away or no longer able to attend meetings, it was voted to combine the remaining members into three calling lists. It was also decided that the callers themselves did not have to be called each month but for them to check the extension booklet for meeting dates and call their lists with pertinent information. They will, however, be called if there is a meeting cancellation or if some special information needs to be passed on. A discussion was also held on updating current mailing addresses/phone numbers.
Ann Knight, on behalf of the group, extended thanks to the Fair Booth Committee for their time involved in planning, displaying and dismantling the booth during the Northern Maine Fair.
Tammy then reminded those present that the annual Fall Supper Meeting with guests will be held Oct. 25, at 6 p.m., at the Extension building on the Houlton Road. It was decided to have this as a potluck supper. Annual dues will be collected at this time. A program will follow the supper.
Under new business, President Tammy announced that the Fall County Extension Meeting will be held Sat., Oct. 9, at the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the business meeting will be followed by a luncheon.
Tammy also announced that the Fall Maine Extension Homemakers Council meeting will be held Friday – Saturday, Oct. 22 – 23, at the University of Maine-Farmington. Registration forms were available at this meeting for members interested in attending.
Tammy announced that due to a business transfer to Scarborough, her last day in Presque Isle would be Oct. 15. Members extended their thanks for all her work in the Extension, both for the Spragueville group and at the County level, and wished her well in her new venture.
“Eye Openers” were displayed by Blanche Beckwith – a lovely afghan she had made, and LaVone displayed a scatter rug she had made out of knitting yarn.
Following adjournment of the meeting, refreshments were served by LaVone, Mona and Marilyn.
At the September meeting of the Board of Directors of the Presque Isle Historical Society, it was voted to change the meeting dates to more closely align with the organization’s by-laws. As such, please note that the general membership meetings, which had been held monthly, will now only be held in the months of May (the annual meeting at which members vote for the new officers), July, September and December. These meetings will still be held at the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church at 79 Fleetwood on the first Wednesday of that month beginning at 5:30 p.m. As such, the next general membership meeting will be on Dec. 1st.
Members of the Aroostook Retired Educators Association (AREA) recently met with the Madawaska Middle School class officers, advisors and principal, Wayne Anderson as part of the association’s statewide Service Day project.
Each of the Maine Educators Association-retired (MEA-R) were requested to offer their services to a school of their choice on Sept. 11. The Aroostook County group chose the Madawaska Middle School and presented the students with 150 stretchy fabric book covers to protect their textbooks throughout the school years.
“The students were very appreciative of our donation and were delighted with the bright colors and crazy pattens of the fabric,” stated Carol McElwee, AREA president. “We placed lots of positive energy in these covers, in hopes that each student will have a most successful school year.”
This Service Day program will become a three-year project, as next year the group will select a school from the central Aroostook area as its recipient; and in the third year, the retired educations will visit a school in southern Aroostook.
“It is good for the students to see the retired teachers come to their schools,” said McElwee, “and also, it is important for them to realize we are involved in community and service activities — especially that we still care about them, and their schools.”
Janet Woods of Caribou, co-chair of the Sept. 11 Service Day project with Dolores Dumont of Fort Kent, stated, “ The project was quite successful and the group looks forward to next year’s Service Day event.”
Other committee members included Ruth Gahagan of Stockholm, and Diane Parent and Donna Hurley, both of Caribou.
