Women's Quarterly

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 20112 Women’s QUARTERLY

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 3Women’s QUARTERLY

Women’sQ U A R T E R L Y

5

INSIDE this edition

Every three months we will look at everyday challenges that women of all ages face.

Our next issue is scheduled to publish in July.

M E E T O U R S T A F F

Advertising Sales Managers

Business Development ManagerBridget Campbell

Phone: 861-9155

E-mail: [email protected]

Creative/Innovations ManagerDenise VearPhone: 861-9125


Special Projects PaginatorDebbie Fuller

Phone: 861-9202


Advertising Sales Staff

Advertising Graphic Artists

Contributors

Awardwinnerpraises thespirit ofStarbucks

4 Healingsalves sooth radiationdamagedskin

6 Solon 4Hleader mentorsgenerations

7 Farmingtonartists collaborateon calendar

8 Shelteroffers hopefor homelesswomen andchildren

Rick DeBruinKennebec Journal

Phone: 621-5651


Kirk BirdMorning Sentinel

Phone: 8619156


Kimberlee A. Barnett

Bonnie N. Davis

Wanda Curtis

J. P. Devine

Kris Ferrazza

Nancy P. McGinnis

Valerie Tucker

Darla L. Pickett,

Content Editor

Natalie Blake

Karen Paradis

Dawn Tantum

Denise Vear

Chuck Barnes

Pam Boucher

Eric Bourgoin

Harvey Dinerstein

Randy Dutremble

Lori Gervais

Barbara Hendsbee

Carla McGuire

Ron Robbins

Matthew Sargent

Dana Sennett

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 20114 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ IN PROFILEWednesday, April 22, 2011

BY BETTY JESPERSENCorrespondent

FARMINGTON – A local herbalist has found a

demand for an all-natural salve she has developed that

helps heal skin damage and scarring that is a common

side effect of radiation cancer treatments.

Julia Staples, owner of The Chickadee’s Nest, an

herbal products shop at 161 Front Street in downtown

Farmington, said anecdotal feedback from customers who

use her new Burn Balm and her best-selling Herbal

Healing Salve indicate that the products work.

“I think there is a real need out there for something

like this. There seems to be a hole in what is available,”

she said.

The ointment generally recommended at cancer centers

for use during radiation treatments is pure aloe vera gel.

Staples’ Burn Balm contains tamanu oil, a topical heal-

ing ointment from the tamanu tree that grows in

Southeast Asia and Melanesia and has been used for cen-

turies to treat skin ailments and burns. It also contains

calendula, aloe butter, St. John’s Wart, vitamin E, com-

frey, Maine beeswax, jojoba oil, olive oil, and essential

oils.

The Healing Herbal Salve is an all-around skin oint-

ment made from calendula, comfrey, St. John’s Wart,

beeswax, olive oil, tea tree oil, lemon balm, lavender,

eucalyptus, rosemary extract and vitamin E.

Staples developed her Burn Balm specifically for her

sister, Karen Ladd, who underwent six weeks of daily

radiation treatments for breast cancer this past fall.

“When I realized my sister was going to have radia-

tion, I really wanted to make her something special,”

Staples said. “She used it from day-one of her treatments

and even the nurses noticed how well her skin healed.

“There are so many stories I hear from customers. I

had a man in his 70s come in who was undergoing radia-

tion for prostate cancer. A woman purchased a jar for her

niece who had recurrent cancer and whose skin was dam-

aged from the radiation,” Staples said.

People who have used her Herbal Healing Salve have

similar success stories, she said. The ointment not only

helps heal the side effects of radiation, but may also

speed up healing of any skin injury, from cuts and bed

sores to diaper rashes, bug bites, cracked skin, and even

hemorrhoids.

Staples did her research on making a salve specifically

for burns. She has also attended conferences where

nationally-known herbalists have discussed the healing

power of plants from around the world.

“I read everything I could find about herbs and other

natural products that are good for burns. The recipe I use

is pretty basic but has a few tweaks,” she said.

Ladd said she applied her sister’s Burn Balm right after

her daily radiation treatments and again before her she

went to bed.

“I did burn a little under my arm because I hadn’t put

the balm on that area. I didn’t realize the radiation was

hitting there and it got ahead of me. The skin turned red

and started peeling, like sunburn,” Ladd said. “As soon as

I realized what was happening, I put the balm on and in

two days, the skin had healed.”

When Ladd went in for a post-treatment checkup in

December, she said the staff was amazed at the healing

and lack of scarring.

Meredith Kendall, a registered nurse with a master’s

degree in nursing, said people who get radiation therapy

for cancer treatment need to take special care of their

skin.

“They are prone to burns or open wounds in the radia-

tion field. Oils, balms, salves, and medicinal herbs can

help protect skin,” she said.

Kendall, a Farmington native who is now an instructor

at Central Maine Community College’s College of

Nursing and Health Professions, is a Reiki Master and is

the Reiki coordinator at the Patrick Dempsey Center for

Cancer Hope and Healing at Central Maine Medical

Center in Lewiston.

Reiki is an oriental medicine technique that offers ben-

efits to oncology patients by helping them relax and by

increasing their sense of well being while decreasing

their discomfort. Kendall is also the author of the book,

“Reiki Nurse.”

“Julia crafts her products with skill and loving care,”

Kendall said. “She uses natural, healthy ingredients. Her

soaps, lotions, and salves smell lovely and they have

smooth, creamy textures and can help maintain the

integrity and function of skin, our largest organ.”

According to the website for the National Institutes of

Health, calendula, a plant from which the flower is used

to make medicines, can help new tissue grow in wounds.

The product appears safe for most people when applied to

the skin, but may cause an allergic reaction in those sen-

sitive to ragweed and related plants.

Staples said the two skin salves are among her best

selling products along with the Rose Facial Cream, which

is made with an infusion of petals from a fragrant damask

rose that has been grown by her family for three genera-

tions. The cream is especially good for mature skin, she

said.

She also makes 20 varieties of herbal soaps, natural

bath products, baby lotions and balms, herbal gifts, dried

flowers and wreaths, herb teas and culinary items.

For information, call The Chickadee's Nest at 778-6602

or to contact Staples by email, write to [email protected].

Healing salves may help sooth skin damaged by radiation

Photos by Betty Jespersen

The Burn Balm Staples developed, uses all natural ingredi-ents and is believed to help skin heal, especially from radi-ation treatments for cancer.

Julia Staples, owner of The Chicadee's Nest on FrontStreet in Farmington holds one of her best-selling productsshe produces at her store, Herbal Healing Salve.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 5Women’s QUARTERLY ~ IN PROFILEWednesday, April 20, 2011

BY J.P. DEVINECorrespondent

Slipping and sliding, crawling and crunching through the

biggest April Fool’s Day 2011 snow storm on record,

Samantha LeFebvre of Waterville finally made it into the

ballroom of Boston’s Omni Hotel.

The room was packed with most of New England’s 600

Starbuck managers, associates (they call them partners)

friends and family. It was to be a big evening for the

“Starbuckians” of New England. They were there to meet

chief executive officer and author Howard Schultz, who was

in town as part of his “World Tour” and Starbucks’

Transformation and to deliver his message: “To touch as

many customers worldwide as possible.”

“Sam” snuggled in with her friends and fellow partners,

not just to have an evening of bonhomie, but hopefully to get

in line to meet the “big boss” and shake his hand. Starbucks

is not just her job as manager, but her passion.

What her friends and even her husband, Richie, didn’t

reveal to her was a secret they had kept for weeks. It all

exploded like a fireworks display when the lights came up

and her name was called. Samantha LeFebvre went up on

stage, not just to shake the hand of her boss, but to accept a

special presentation, the “Spirit of Starbucks Award.” Of all

the people there, all 600, Sam – representing Waterville,

Maine’s Starbucks, was the only winner of that special honor.

Lefebvre came to this moment because District Manager

Sarah Goodhue, with the approval of Regional New England

Vice President Zeta Smith, put the nomination into play.

We waited in a long line to ask Lefebvre exactly what this

award was all about.

“I’m so proud of this,” she told us. “ It’s a special award to

a partner who goes above and beyond to support Starbucks’

mission statement.”

We asked Lefebvre to read it to us. It read: “ For her force

of positive action in bringing together our partners, customers

and the community everyday. Samantha takes her responsibil-

ity to be a good neighbor seriously by partnering with her

partners and customers in 20 different community events

through the year. The hundreds of hours Samantha and the

partners from our Waterville, Maine store donate each year

are from the heart.”

So how did it all come to this? How did Samantha

LeFebvre come to Starbucks in the first place? There must

have been a good many places a young Maine woman with a

college degree, lightning stroke- sunshine smile and ebullient

personality could have landed.

“I was watching Oprah one day and Howard Shultz was on

and he gave his incredible description of Starbucks and its

mission. I must admit what really won me over was the

description of the advantages and benefits the company

offers,” she said.

With husband Richie, employed by Oak Grove Nursing

Care Center in Waterville, and two small children, Jameson,

3, and Ava, 2, that was a deal maker.

So what are all these things that Starbucks brings to the

community?

“There are all sorts of things, opportunities that pop up, but

the principal things we’ve worked on are Cup of Hope, a

local cancer support group; Mainely Mom’s and Dads, that’s

a support group for young parents, and Relay For Life, a can-

cer support walk out of Thomas College,” she said.

Lefebvre also mentioned the many food drives Starbucks

gives to, including the pastry donations to local food banks.

She is quick to praise those who brought this special award

about.

“I can’t stress how much all of this couldn’t happen, the

award, the drives, all of it, without the support of my partners

here at Waterville Starbucks,” she said. “These are incredible

young people to give of their off-time to work with these

groups, and to Starbucks and Howard Schultz, for giving all

of us the support and tools to make it happen. It’s such a

happy thing, and Starbucks is a such a happy place to work.”

Award winner praises the spirit of Starbucks

About this sectionThis special advertising supple-

ment was produced by the KennebecJournal/Morning Sentinel. The coverdesign was by Denise Vear,Creative/Innovations Manager.

If you would like information onrunning a section about your busi-ness or organization, call BusinessDevelopment Manager BridgetCampbell at (800) 452-4666, Ext. 155.

Photo by JP Devine

Samantha Lefebvre the manager of Starbucks in Watervillereceived the Spirit Award from the company in early April ofthis year. She was the only manager out of 600 in NewEngland to receive such an honor.

Index of Advertisers

ON THE COVER: Julia Staples, ownerof The Chickadee’s Nest at161 FrontStreet in Farmington, has developed twoall-natural healing skin ointments —Burn Balm and Herbal Healing Salve —that can help heal skin irritated anddamaged by cancer radiation treat-ments.— Photo by Betty Jespersen

Augusta Orthodontics..........................................17Budget Blinds .......................................................10Central Maine Electrolysis..................................22Central Maine Endoscopy Center......................19Central Maine Orthotics and Prosthetics..........16Crisis & Counseling Centers ..............................20David Mathieu Auto Body Shop.........................22Delta Ambulance .................................................12Electrolysis by Ruth Swanson, C.P.E.................17Franklin Health - Dermatology ..........................16Franklin Savings Bank ........................................18Gallant Funeral Home.........................................20Hemotology, Oncology,and Internal Medicine....9Inland Hospital.......................................................2Inland Women's Health Care .............................22Kennebec Behavioral Health ..............................13

Kennebec Montessori...........................................11Maine Eye Care Associates .................................22Maine Laser Skin Care .......................................21MaineGeneral Medical Center ...........................24Morin, Brian J., Orthodontics ............................20On Top Screen Printing.......................................20People's Salon & Spa...........................................14Redington OB/GYN.............................................13Roderigue & Associates Eyecare Center ...........21Sebasticook Valley Health ...................................15Senator Inn & Spa ...............................................14Smart Eyecare Center .........................................17Taconnet Federal Credit Union ..........................12University of Maine - Augusta ............................23Waterville Custom Kitchens ...............................11Waterville Women's Care....................................18


Solon 4H Leader has mentored generationsBY VALERIE TUCKER

Correspondent

SOLON — One 4H club leader exempli-

fies the conscientious effort required to prop-

erly care for all animals, and has modeled her

personal standard of agricultural excellence

in her everyday life, say those who know her

work.

Now in her 52nd year as a 4H volunteer

leader, Eleanor Pooler of Solon, first became

a member of Franklin County’s Tough Nuts

4H Club at age 10; she joined the Franklin

County Dairy Club at age 13.

“In 1947, I was 9-years-old, and I was the

youngest person to show steers at the

Farmington Fair,” Pooler said, as she pre-

pared her two pairs of working steers for

show at the Franklin County 2010 agricultur-

al exposition. Her parents, Sylvia and Irving

Holbrook, taught her to raise and show her

own farm animals at local fairs. In her late

teens, she continued as a club leader, and she

is one of the best around, according to Debra

Kantor, of the University of Maine’s

Somerset County Cooperative Extension

office. “This is her 45th year as the 4H leader

of the Solon Pine Tree Club,” Kantor said.

Pooler’s current group of young people has

shown crafts, produce and animal projects at

local fairs in Athens and North New Portland,

and at the larger fairs in Skowhegan and

Bangor. Her club is the oldest in Somerset

County, Kantor said, and her group often

receives the Outstanding 4H Club Award at

the annual Achievement Night banquet.

Along with raising farm animals, Pooler’s

youngsters can learn crafts, computer skills,

or other challenging topics of interest.

Everyone shares what they have learned,

Pooler said, and they get away from farm

work for other adventures.

“We took the kids river rafting with Moxie

Outdoors and we’ve been roller skating, and

other fun stuff,” she said. “I want them to

have fun while they learn something, too.”

Pooler and her husband Rance, a 4H volun-

teer for 42 years, offer solid leadership train-

ing, great demonstration skills, and so much

pride in their accomplishments, according to

Kantor. Many of Pooler’s 4H members have

contributed to their own communities and

several have continued to serve in 4H, she

added.

“She has taught children and their chil-

dren, and now their grandchildren, in the

same club,” Kantor said. Pooler helps with

fundraising for the Somerset County 4H

Leader’s Association. Her pies are prized

items at the Association’s annual auction. She

also represents 4H on the Somerset County

Executive Committee and is on the

Skowhegan State Fair board. Pooler usually

chairs the Fair’s 4H Day parade and organiz-

es the livestock demonstrations, and her

steers pull the Grand Marshal’s covered

wagon. She and Rance both model communi-

ty involvement and set a great example for

the youth of their club, Kantor said.

“ In 2009, she received an Exemplary

Service Award in the Volunteer of the Year

category from then-Governor John Baldacci,”

Kantor said. The group meets monthly at the

Solon Fire Station, sweeping the room in

exchange for use of the facilities.

“We start with a business meeting, and the

kids have to keep good records of their proj-

ects and give demonstrations in front of the

other kids to build their confidence,” Pooler

said. Club members are required to complete

community service projects, including host-

BY KRIS FERRAZZACorrespondent

ALFRED – Like many 12-year-olds, Sydney Pepin enjoys

playing after-school sports, working on the school yearbook

and being a Girl Scout.

But the project nearest to her heart does not bring certifi-

cates, trophies or merit badges.

For nearly a year, Sydney has been collecting donated

items for care packages, which she assembles and delivers to

area hospitals for new cancer patients. Her mission is to

remind patients on that often-frightening first day of cancer

treatments that they are not alone.

“My mom had cancer five years ago and the teachers at her

school gave her a care package,” Sydney remembered. “It

made her very happy and it even had stuff in it for me. I

know how it made me feel.”

At that time, Sydney remembers receiving small gifts such

as coloring books and snacks and being touched that people

were thinking of her family.

Her mother, Susan Pepin, underwent chemotherapy for

breast cancer and today is cancer-free, but she remembers all

too well the feeling of that first day. An elementary school

teacher at the Margaret Chase School in Sanford for more

than 20 years, she was touched when co-workers presented

her with a gift to show they were thinking of her during that

difficult time.

“You need to keep your spirits up,” Pepin said, “chemo is

not fun.” Friends and family often are not sure what to do, but

she said any little token or acknowledgement means so much.

“Your life goes on, so for them to even think of doing that,

you appreciate it,” she said, adding that people battling cancer

need the support of loved ones.

“They’re not dead, they’re just going through a difficult

time,” she said.

After Susan Pepin recovered, Sydney learned that an aunt

and uncle had been diagnosed with cancer and decided to

take action. She drafted a letter to area businesses soliciting

donations of items for care packages and started to collect

inexpensive items such as snacks, drinks, tissues, cough

drops, lotion, note cards and sudoku puzzles. She assembled

the packages, including filled decorative gift bags, and

dropped them off by the dozen at the Cancer Care Center in

Sanford.

Area businesses and residents have been supportive, espe-

cially Famous Pizza, which donates juices, and Renaissance

Rising, which supplies note cards, she said.

Each gift bag includes a note from Sydney that says the

package was made especially for the patient with donated

items to remind them “someone is thinking of you as you

begin your journey.”

The Pepin family has received thank-you notes from recip-

ients expressing their appreciation for the care package they

received. Some of the notes bring tears to Susan Pepin’s eyes,

she said. “They’re just so thankful.” One patient thanked

Sydney for the rainbow chameleon Beanie Baby she received

in her gift bag, saying the toy has become her companion and

will accompany her to all of her appointments.

Individuals have donated items too, with some giving

handmade lap afghans or hand-knit hats and mittens, includ-

ing the Class of 1958 from Sanford High School and

St.Ignatius High School, which has been a big booster. Others

include Susan Pepin’s mother, Sydney’s grandmother, who

surrendered her large collection of Beanie Babies to the cause

and regularly searches store clearance bins to purchase suit-

able items. Pepin said her husband, Ronald, also has been a

wonderful source of support.

“There is a ripple effect, and you want people to know

what it’s doing for Sydney too,” her mother said, noting the

project has boosted her daughter’s independence, confidence

and self-esteem.

“It’s good for her to have something like this, and it feels

better each time she does it,” Pepin said.

In October, the family received a surprise when they

Young girl's care packages bring joy, hope to cancer patients

Contributed photo

Eleanor Pooler, 73, prepares Lion andTiger, her 9-month-old working steers, for ashow at the 2010 Farmington Fair. After 52years as a 4H club leader, she models ahigh standard of excellence for youngstersin her Solon Pine Tree Dairy Club, demon-strating that good work habits and a goodeducation will serve them well throughouttheir lives.

More on 4H, Page 7

More on CARE PACKAGES, Page 7

Staff photo by Denise Vear

Sydney Pepin of Sanford creates care packages for newcancer patients from donated items.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 7Women’s QUARTERLY ~ IN PROFILEWednesday, April 20, 2011

BY BETTY JESPERSENCorrespondent

The creative talents of two Farmington artists united last

year to collaborate on a 2011 calendar that was so successful,

150 copies quickly sold out even though they didn’t hit the

market until after the new year began.

Fabric artist Mary McFarland and calligrapher Mike

Monahan were as surprised as anyone with the tremendous

response to their joint venture; they are working on another

calendar for 2012.

“I think this was just spectacular for not starting to sell

them until January. And we could have sold more — the

demand was there,” McFarland said.

Next year’s calendar will have better-quality, digitized

prints and will be available for sale before the holiday shop-

ping season kicks off. They will be sold in area galleries,

shops and quilt shows — and this time, 500 will be printed.

“Mike and I have known each other for years. He is so cre-

ative and I was thrilled he agreed to collaborate on this. I

wanted a professional, clean job and this was a perfect com-

bination,” she said.

Monahan said the project was fun and he was impressed

with its unexpected success.

“If you can sell a calendar in January, you're doing pretty

good,” he said.

Also known as The Sufi Scribe, Monahan’s ornamental

calligraphy renderings of poems, prayers, songs and spiritual

texts promoting peace and harmony are sold in area galleries

and at his custom sign and banner business, Signworks

(www.mainesignworks.com), at 168 Farmington Falls Road in

Farmington.

McFarland's well-known fabric art often sports nature-

based themes. Through a variety of techniques, she prints on

silks, sheers, linens and cottons —many of which she dyes

herself — and makes use of watercolors. She also makes sun

prints by putting dampened, dyed fabric or paper in the sun

where the rays imprint the outlines of grasses, leaves, intri-

cate doilies or paper cutouts on the material as it dries.

The designs are then embellished with quilting, appliqué

and thread work to create one-of-a-kind, richly-colored col-

lages, wall art and creative window solutions.

The calendar project involves using a theme for every

month, which is inspired by the colors of the seasons, a festi-

val, or animals, birds or leaves.

On each month, Monahan used a different calligraphy style

to pen in the days and illustrate a word, quote or phrase that

McFarland wrote and selected for an uplifting, timely or wise

message, such as, “Act with integrity, sleep in peace.”

She chose the word “change” for March; “laugh often” for

May; and “light” for January when the days are slowly begin-

ning to lengthen.

For the 2012 calendar, McFarland will be incorporating her

latest fabric art interest that she calls Sheer Delights. For

these pieces, she reuses old and antique, hand-tatted cloth

doilies that she resews, dyes with subtle tints and stitches on

to sheer fabrics to make whimsical wall or window hangings.

Her works have been shown at galleries and art shows, and

a three-piece fabric mural she created adorns the chapel at

Franklin Memorial Hospital. She also makes custom clothing,

does commission work and teaches.

“I’ve had a calendar in mind for about five years and I was

so excited that Mike agreed to collaborate with me on it,” she

said.

The project didn’t become a reality until she took

Monahan’s calligraphy class last year through the Franklin

County Adult Education and asked him to work on it. She

said he jumped at the invitation.

“Mike has been making Monahan family calendars with

his children for over 20 years and he really liked the idea,”

she said.

McFarland enthusiastically completed the artwork for six

of the months but she admits, by summer, she slowed down.

“I think I had artist’s block,” she said with a smile.

In December, she finished the remaining months, but the

project still had to be printed at Monahan’s shop and assem-

bled. It wasn’t completed until the end of the month.

Relying on word of mouth, sales were sluggish at first. But

then unexpected publicity came from their mutual friend,

Nina Gianquinto, owner of Up Front and Pleasant Gourmet

on Front Street. Gianquinto called local artist, Janet

Washburn, who manages the Washburn & Johnson Gallery

next door at 155 Front Street, and she scheduled an open

house for late January with Gianquinto providing the cater-

ing.

Invitations went out and people came, McFarland said. The

artists were amazed when the 12 original works representing

each month, mounted and on display, were all sold. The cal-

endars, priced at about $15, were also grabbed up.

Monahan has studied the art of calligraphy for years,

attending classes with well-known artists and teaching him-

self how to use specialized brushes and inks in an art form

that has Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic origins.

His handsome lettering and designs are his trademark and

can be seen on many commercial signs, in business logos and

on vehicles around the region.

He also uses his flowing brush work to embellish invita-

tions, certificates and announcements.

To order a calendar, call McFarland at 779-1957 or

Monahan at 778-3822.

Farmington artists collaborate on calendar project

Combining fabric art and calligraphy

Photo by Betty Jespersen

Farmington fabric artist, Mary McFarland, displays one ofthe pieces she has created for a calendar project she isproducing with local calligrapher and sign maker, MikeMonahan, of Signworks. The piece she is holding will be theart for the month of March in the 2012 calendar.

ing a family supper, picking vegetables for the local food bank and honor-

ing their mothers in May. Pooler also organizes fun, active events such as

ice fishing and roller skating, Kantor said. She continues to nurture those

youngsters as they mature and she has four or five assistant leaders help-

ing her at meetings.

“Eleanor has developed a wonderful and unique relationship with her

assistant leaders and the youth of the town of Solon,” Kantor said. As with

any club, the variety of ages and interests encourages peer-to-peer rela-

tionships and young people are taught to work as team members, develop-

ing responsible behavior patterns, she said.

attended the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus

in Portland and learned Sydney had won a Barnum

Award for community service, which included a $750

cash prize. She had been nominated by Limerick

Librarian Cindy Smith. That money is put away for

future care package purchases if the need arises, Pepin

said.

A 7th at Massabesic Middle School, Sydney’s

favorite subject is language arts. She enjoys participat-

ing in the school’s intramural program, playing after-

school sports such as soccer and handball, and loves

to look after the family’s black Labrador, C.C.

Sydney said she has no plans to stop making the

care packages, which she assembles by herself and

delivers anytime the cancer center calls to say it is

running low.

“I want to continue to do this for as long as I can,”

Sydney said. “It just makes me feel really good that I

know I’m doing something to help.”

For more information about this effort or to donate

items, email the Pepins at [email protected].

4H Continued from Page 6Care PackagesContinued from Page 6

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 20118 Women’s QUARTERLY - FEATUREWednesday, April 22, 2011

BY BONNIE N. DAVISCorrespondent

When Brenda Roberts lost her home dur-

ing the cold harsh winter, she and her baby

had no place to go. Government-funded area

shelters force clients out on the street for 12

hours each day.

“I was living in Lewiston when I became

homeless, with Isabelle,” Roberts said. “I

checked a few shelters, but I wouldn’t want

my daughter to see them, much less stay in

one, and you have to leave at 6 a.m. and

come (back) at 6 p.m. What do you do for the

day? Then my case worker told me about

New Hope.”

New Hope Church Women’s Shelter in

Solon is the brainchild of Rev. John Weeks,

known as Pastor Jack. Together he and his

wife, Linda, serve the homeless.

“There were no shelters in the Skowhegan

area when we started,” he said. “I had 56

people in my own home. I’d find people

sleeping in the park with their babies.”

Weeks collaborated with Rev. Richard

Barry of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church

in Skowhegan about three years ago to

address the growing number of homeless

people.

“We were partners at the time; we started

together. The difference is, I’m a street minis-

ter. I walk around and reach out to the pover-

ty stricken,” Weeks said. “It started out as a

men’s shelter. We took people out of jail —

we do house arrest and they get two days for

one off their sentence. We work with the

Department of Corrections.”

When Weeks saw the growing number of

women and children left homeless by the

economic downturn, he approached New

Hope Evangelical Free Church with the hope

of setting up a safe environment for these

vulnerable citizens.

“It’s not just rock bottom, it’s a fresh start,”

Weeks said.

Ordained in the Calais area about 30 years

ago, Weeks said the Evangelical Free Church

started in Scandinavia during the 16th centu-

ry to initiate a true separation between church

and state.

“You can just go and preach from your

heart,” he said, “and there’s no state or gov-

ernment funding. It was founded that way

and it stays that way.”

For more than a hundred women and chil-

dren who have passed through the shelter’s

doors since it started in January 2010, this

means they do not have to roam the streats

during inclement weather. For these women,

whether homeless with children or part of the

state’s correction program, New Hope

becomes home rather than a crash pad for the

night. Hot meals, AA meetings, Bible study

and classes are among the services provided.

“I’m a big believer in education,” Weeks

said, “and not forgetting the people left

behind.”

Linda Weeks works by her husband’s side,

helping the women adjust, teaching Bible

classes and organizing educational opportuni-

ties.

“Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial High

School received a spring planting grant,” she

said. “A teacher is coming to teach the

women about container gardening. Another

class is doing spring cleaning. They’ll clean

outside, drink coffee and have lunch. It’s a

way for the community to get together and

help out wherever they’re needed.”

“We feed them — everything’s donated,”

said the pastor. “If we accepted state grants,

we’d have to follow state rules.”

However, clients receive a strict set of

shelter rules and they must sign a contract.

Rules include no drinking, no drugs, no gos-

siping, proper attire and hygiene, helping

with chores and attending all required servic-

es and meetings. Staff is on duty 24-hours-a-

day to provide support as well as to dispense

prescriptions and over-the-counter medica-

tions.

Weeks said daily Bible classes help clients

Shelter offers new hope for homeless women

Bonnie Davis photos

The upstairs dormitory offers a quiet place for mothers to relax with their chil-dren.

Brenda Roberts loves having a safe, nurturing home for little Isabelle.

Bonnie Davis photo

Rev. John Weeks, aka Pastor Jack, and his wife, Linda bring new hope to homelesswomen and their children.

More on SHELTER, Page 9

see parallels between scripture and modern living.

“There’s nothing new — the same stinginess, meanness

and problems existed then and today,” Weeks said, with a

twinkle in his eye. “I had a heart attack several years ago.

After that, I received my calling to go after people who were

like me. If I’d known, I would have behaved a little better.”

According to Weeks, people live on the streets, in “card-

board castles” and in parks for a variety of reasons, including,

but not limited to, lack of a solid family structure, develop-

mental disabilities, mental illness with no support in place,

substance abuse and domestic violence. Some are re-entering

society after prison and poverty due to underemployment or

no employment.

Turning 30 on Easter Sunday, Tina Ferrara said she never

experienced love until she came to the shelter under house

arrest through the Department of Corrections. After battling

the legal system for a series of offenses, including taking

shots at a police officer with a BB gun, Ferrara spent 20 days

in jail before coming to New Hope.

“I’ve been sober for four months now,” she said. “I’m not

hanging out with the wrong people anymore. Before coming

here, I didn’t care if I died.” Linda Weeks said Ferrara is

doing well.

“Her jail time was reduced from four years to 20 days and

that’s a miracle in itself,” the pastor’s wife said “She’s defi-

nitely become one of the family. She’s constantly busy —

making beds, helping out around here. She’s our hostess.”

“Although housing is available in five or six weeks, we’re

going to keep her here — it’s safer,” Pastor Weeks said.

“…and I want to pay off my restitution. I have to get counsel-

ing and take care of my anger issues,” Ferrara said.

When women leave, they have access to donated clothes,

furniture and household items for their fresh start. “I’m wait-

ing for housing. I want to be on the outskirts of

Auburn/Lewiston. I want to see if I can do some classes in

medical billing — something I can do from home so I can be

with my daughter. Then I want to go to cosmetology school,”

Brenda Roberts said.

“This place is a blessing for me,” said a client who must

keep her identity and location private. “I have a physical dis-

ability and I’m bipolar. I will be able to work again after

some body therapy. I am also an addict in recovery — crack

cocaine — it took me 15 years and two relapses to get to

where I am today. I want to help others. I want them not to

give up. You can always have another relapse, recovery is not

guaranteed.”

For Holly Gordon, the future looks bright after a dark past.

“This place is a life changing experience. I’m 18 and actu-

ally come from Augusta. My mom is a drug user — she beat

me up and threw me out. She pawned everything I owned. I

came here weeks ago with the clothes on my back. Now I

own a t-shirt and sweats,” she said. “They’ve helped me out

with clothes and school. I’ll be graduating in June, getting an

apartment in Waterville and taking courses at KVCC or the

Academy in Vassalboro, to be a probation or parole officer. I

also want to join a volunteer fire department. In Augusta, I

had no place to go, no one to turn to.”

The shelter has plans for a new 120-foot-long building to

accommodate more homeless. For more information or to

make a donation, contact New Hope Church Women’s

Shelter at 669-4402.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9Women’s QUARTERLY - FEATUREWednesday, April 20, 2011

660-6646

325 D Kennedy Memorial Drive,

Waterville

Hematology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine

Ann E. Traynor, MD, PA I

thank god everyday for allowing me to find Dr. Traynor. After seven long years of going to the best of hospitals and doctors, I was finally diagnosed at New York Presbyterian Hospital with a Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) called Common Variable Immunodeficiency

(CVID). CVID is a rare blood disorder of the immune system. With CVID, I am missing essential parts of my immune system, so I have special treatments of blood plasma called IVIG every two or three weeks for the rest of my life in order to live. My NY specialist said I must find a doctor in Maine that understood my disease and was able to medically treat me properly, as it is always a life threatening illness. I went to the best immunologists, oncologists, and hematologists, and no one understood my disease. They were willing to give me the IVIG, but they didn’t know how to treat this rare disease otherwise. Then I found Dr. Traynor. This is what I refer to her as: My Dr. Traynor. She is truly the only one in the State of Maine that can treat the disease and run the appropriate tests that must be done on a continuing basis. Beyond the fact that she is brilliant, she is compassionate and completely dedicated to the well-being of her patients. When I walk into her office, I am greeted by a radiant smiling nurse, Kahler. You can easily see why Dr. Traynor hired Kahler, as she goes above and beyond in order to make her patients comfortable. I have finally found an extraordinary doctor in Ann Traynor that I know can treat my CVID, has my best interest at hand, and more importantly, as a patient, I finally feel safe.

Lynn Lepage-Fitzpatrick, Rumford

• Primary care / internal medicine for women over the age of 40.

• Diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders for men, women and adolescents.

• Personal care devoted to the treatment of breast cancer. • New clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer. • A modern CLIA authorized laboratory with immediate

results. • Accepting patients for the Maine Breast and Cervical

Health Program.

Accepting new primary care patients and all insurances.

Shelter Continued from Page 8

Bonnie Davis photo

Tina Ferrara acts as the shelter hostess by making coffeefor visitors and helping new clients settle in.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201110 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ FEATUREWednesday, April 22, 2011

BY JEAN ANN POLLARDCorrespondent

Special to Women’s Quarterly

While 2-year-old Jessica grinned happily,

and the two little thieves returned the cameras

and begged to be adopted, Jean Ann waited

for the Tongue of the Ocean nearby to sud-

denly produce a volcano.

“Don’t be silly,” Peter said.

The Bahama Islands southeast of Florida

are considered Paradise on Earth. Americans

vie to sail there on cruise ships, spend money

in Nassau and find happiness.

My 2-year-old Jessica, hydrogeologist hus-

band and I, however, were camped in a tiny

cottage on Andros. After all, he and his col-

league, Charles, were teaching seminars to oil

company geologists and university students,

and the big, flat island lying a few miles west

of Nassau was perfect for studying sedi-

ments.

We’d chugged in from Miami on a low-

Summer adventure on Andros IslandThe promise of a relaxing trip in the Bahamas became anything but

Spring is the perfect time for

new blinds!

Note: Fourth in a series of four. For reasons of privacy, certain names and sequences of events have been changed.

In episode #1: hydrogeologist Peter Garrett was teaching sedimentology to scientistsand university students on Andros Island in the Bahamas in the 1980s. With wife, JeanAnn, and 2-year-old daughter, Jessica, they traveled from Florida by U.S. Coast Guardriverboat, got stuck due to a witch’s spell on a sand bank that wasn’t there; listened toNoah the captain boast that his granddaddy murdered 14 men; and Jean Ann had anawful dream about geologists being strafed from a Cessna 180.

In episode #2: the three Garretts moved from a broken-down trailer swarming withmosquitoes to a cottage on the beach that heaved when a wild pig scratched himselfunder the floor, had been adopted by two local thieves, were scared out of their wits bystories of chickcharnies, learned that the Tongue of the Ocean was right next door eversinking; and something called a Blue Hole was even closer than that.

In episode 3: Peter, Jean Ann and wee Jessica, who was two, had moved into an 8-by10-foot ‘palace’ on Andros Island in the Bahamas with a pig living under the floor. Theyhad learned about creatures who jump from trees at night to tear people apart, beenadopted by two little thieves (who stole their cameras) investigated Blue Holes whereSCUBA diver, Doug, disappeared, and were generally wrecks. At least Jean Ann was.

Peter Garrett photo

Above, The Marigold, a low-slung former U.S. Coast Guard riverboat, once served on theMississippi River.

Right, a map of Andros Island, Bahamas, about 50 miles southeast of Miami, Florida.Andros Island, according to research, “is the largest island of the Bahamas, measuring2,300 square miles.

A low-lying strip of land hunkered to starboard, and I could hear TheMarigold straining. She shuddered in every seam and something lowand menacing seemed to be talking underwater.

More on ANDROS, Page 11

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 11Women’s QUARTERLY ~ FEATUREWednesday, April 20, 2011

slung Mississippi riverboat called The

Marigold, whose captain, Noah, liked to say

that his father was a dud but his grandfather

murdered 14 men.

Quick with a joke, I commented, “Well

I’m glad he was good at something!” and

then skedaddled to a mattress on The

Marigold’s deck where I stayed awake all

night clutching wee Jessica so she wouldn’t

crawl overboard into a shark.

And that was only the beginning.

We docked at Morgan’s Bluff on the

northeast tip of Andros named for Sir Henry

Morgan. Henry was a 17th century Welsh

pirate famous for harassing the Spanish

while flying the flag for England.

“Isn’t that rather odd?” I quipped. “The

Welsh? Fighting FOR the English?”

No one thought I was funny.

Anyway, Sir Henry stormed around grab-

bing riches, became deputy governor of

Jamaica, was one of the few pirates to ‘die in

bed’ and got himself buried in Jamaica’s

Palisades Cemetery, which crumbled into the

sea after the earthquake of 1692.

So much for success.

Some of his treasure, though, was rumored

to have been buried on the Bluff, and a stu-

dent spelunker found a cave. There was noth-

ing of value in it, but after learning about

chickcharnies (that supposedly drop out of

trees to tear heads off), and Blue Holes (the

tips of water-filled tunnels that surface mys-

teriously in pools all over the Island), as well

as Tongue of the Ocean (a trench between

Andros and Nassau that’s forever sinking), it

seemed to me that something sinister was

flavoring the environment.

“Don’t be silly,” my husband said.

“OK,” I said, “but what about Uncle

Charlie’s Blue Hole where Scuba-Diver-

Doug disappeared? (In episode #3)

“Maybe Doug disappeared himself,” he

said.

“Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know. You’re the writer.”

The Marigold was headquarters for all

courses. Perfect for sliding over the shifting

sands of the Bahama Bank, it had a lab

aboard for simple chemical analyses, along

with microscopes and drilling equipment.

Every so often the team chugged down the

western coast of Andros, which is laced in

the middle by creeks, some of which cut

through from east to west. Feral pigs thrived

there, mosquitoes were ubiquitous, good

fishing abounded and sediment hunting was

perfect.

“Was it perfect for pirates, too?” I asked.

Which seemed like another joke until, floun-

dering around in the mud and mangrovesPhoto by J.A. Pollard

The infamous turquoise cabin on Andros where ‘thee peeg’ scratched his back.

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More on ANDROS, Page 12

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201112 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ FEATUREWednesday, April 22, 2011

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Compassion - Leadership - Excellence Compassion - Leadership - Excellence

having a great time, the geologists and stu-

dents came upon a secret landing strip

stacked with bales of marijuana.

Bug-eyed, muttering things like “Wow!”

and “Whazzat?” they barely made it back to

The Marigold as a Cessna buzzed out of the

blue, spraying bullets from a machine gun.

“Drug runners!” someone screeched.

“Bringin’ it up to the U.S. from farther

south.”

And suddenly summer in paradise was no

longer heavenly. Peter put Jessica and me on

a plane and sent us home and in a while he

followed, though Charles and a few others

stayed on.

I was disappointed. Summer adventures

are supposed to be fun, but a phone call that

begins: “Are you sitting down?” spoiled

everything forever.

Charles and some of the others had rented

cabins at a complex close to Morgan’s Bluff.

The hotel boasted a dining room and bar, as

well as a swimming pool where people with

skins in all shades from coal-black to snow-

white lay around like sharks.

Jessica and I knew all about it. We’d wan-

dered through one day to look around. She

had pulled off her sunbonnet and leaned too

far out of her stroller, so I’d put her bonnet

on again explaining about tropical sunshine

and broken bones (for the 100th time) while

she giggled.

Men at the bar looked up, she waved, and

we strolled on past. Beside the pool, a hand-

some black man with orange-colored hair

was nuzzling a handsome white woman with

orange-colored hair.

“What’s he doing?” I asked someone.

“Teaching her to scuba,” was the reply.

There seemed to be a flock of very large

German girls pretending to ignore some very

tall Bahamian men pretending to ignore —

the air was electric.

At any rate, after the strafing, it seemed

important to be very, very wary. With Peter

and me and most of the others gone, Charles

was sleeping in Noah’s cabin because Noah

asked to switch, but during the night some-

one entered and… well… hell took over.

Charles was killed.

We’ve never really recovered. And even

though the sand is white and the sea,

turquoise, and Blue Holes are wonderfully

mysterious and the Tongue of the Ocean

keeps peacefully sinking, I’ve never been

back. Instead, I have nightmares of white-

caps rolling onto white sand beaches, pal-

mettos thrashing, mangroves creeping along

the shore and a Cessna swooping over a

secret landing strip in the middle of the

island and the sound of bullets spattering

mud.

Not every trip to paradise ends happily.

AndrosContinued from Page 11

Peter Garrett photo

Not far from Morgan’s Bluff was the settlement of Red Bay where Peter did long-agoresearch for his Ph.D. When we visited with 2-year-old Jessica, many friends rememberedhim.

The Bahamas have never been totallyfree of pirates, said a sea captain inMichael Craton’s “A History of theBahamas.” During the Civil War, theylaunched high-risk, blockade-runningvessels that slipped past federal lineskeeping commerce open betweenEurope and the confederacy. Rum-run-ning was a staple of the islands’ econo-my during prohibition, Canadian taxdodger Sir Harry Oakes was murderedone night in 1943, and drug runners tookover from there. Today, proximity to theUnited States and its vast drug market,is doubtless the principal source ofincome for many Bahamians.

HISTORICAL FACT

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 13Women’s QUARTERLY ~ HEALTHWednesday, April 20, 2011

BENTON — Virginia Lee lived with thepain of uterine fibroids for more than a yearbefore her symptoms finally became unbear-able.

Part of the problem, she said, was that shethought the pain was related to two previoustubal pregnancies — including one that rup-tured in 2007.

Only when her primary care providerordered an ultrasound and MRI in 2009 didshe realize the cause and extent of her prob-lem — five fibroids of varying size, thelargest the size of a tennis ball.

“The fibroids were pushing on my bladderand bowels to the point where I couldn’t goto the bathroom,” said Lee, 42, of Benton. “Icouldn’t lift anything, sleep on my side oreven keep my jeans buttoned because it hurtso much.”

Lee was presented with two treatmentoptions: a full hysterectomy, which wouldremove the fibroids but also her uterus andovaries, or a procedure known as uterinefibroid embolization (UFE). After consultingwith Dr. Zaki Nashed, she opted for the latterin Aug. 2009 because it was a less-invasiveoption with a much shorter and easier recov-ery time.

Dr. Henk Jordaan, a fellowship-trainedinterventional radiologist at MaineGeneral

Medical Center’s Thayer Campus, performsthe procedure along with colleagues Dr. DanRaque and Nashed.

Jordaan said the procedure works by cut-ting off the blood supply to fibroids, causingthem to shrink over time.

“It’s minimally invasive, highly effective

and saves many women from having a hys-terectomy, which is a large surgical proce-dure,” he said.

Jeff Trask, special procedure coordinatorfor MGMC Imaging Services in Waterville,emphasized that the focus of the UFE proce-dure is not to remove the tumors.

“It stops blood flow to them which causesthem to shrink,” he said.

Fibroids are common, noncancerousgrowths on the uterine wall. It is estimatedthat more than five million women in theUnited States have fibroids that cause symp-toms such as bleeding, abdominal or backpain, anemia, urinary and digestive problems,as well as infertility or miscarriage.

At MaineGeneral, UFE is done as a one-day procedure under sedation, usually withan epidural provided by an anesthesiologist.

The radiologist makes a small puncture inthe patients groin area, and inserts a catheterand guide wire into the artery to release tinyparticles into the fibroids to block blood sup-ply to them.

Jordaan said the procedure takes about anhour to complete and the patient is admittedfor one night and discharged the next morn-ing. Recovery usually takes two to three daysand most patients can return to work a weeklater.

He noted that a patient’s fibroids continu-ally shrink over several months, but said mostpatients have significant symptom improve-ment within weeks.

He added that UFE is a particularly effec-tive option for patients because it:

• Controls symptoms as well as surgery.• Allows patients to keep their uterus and

ovaries.• Doesn’t require a long hospital stay or

recovery.Equally important for patients, he added, is

that it is a less-expensive treatment option.“We think this is a great procedure, and

feedback we’ve received from our patientsindicates they do too,” Jordaan said.

Lee can attest to the effectiveness of theprocedure, saying her quality of life now “islike night and day” from what it was before.

“I wasn’t ready to have a hysterectomy atthat point in my life and this procedure wasable to completely eliminate my symptoms,”she said. “Dr. Nashed and his nurse JoyceVigue-Morrissette were wonderful and (UFE)has really made a difference in my life.”

A patient interested in the procedure musthave a referral from her primary careprovider or OB/GYN. Prospective patients orproviders who would like additional informa-tion about the procedure can call 861-6700.

MaineGeneral photo

Benton resident Virginia Lee has returnedto gardening, walking her dog and enjoyingother activities — pain free — after a non-surgical uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)procedure in August 2009 alleviated thepain and discomfort she felt because ofseveral large uterine fibroids.

MaineGeneral’s nonsurgical treatment for fibroids gives women a new option

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201114 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ BOOK TALKWednesday, April 22, 2011

“Ever dreamed of becoming a

teacher in a one-room island

school? Don’t,” advises Eva

Murray, author of “Well Out to

Sea.”

And no one in her right mind who lives on a tiny,

close knit, isolated island would be foolish enough to

write a book about it and its inhabitants, Murray added.

But Murray has now done both. In 1987, the Bates

College graduate answered a classified ad in the Bangor

Daily News that read simply: “Teacher wanted for one

room school.” She claims that’s the third most common

reason folks come to the island, after vacationers and

those who take up lobstering.

Murray landed the one-year position, teaching 1st

through 8th graders in one room, apparently by virtue of

her former stint working in a lumberyard and her sense

of humor. By the time summer vacation arrived, Murray

was hooked.

In her own words, you’ll know you want to stay when

you realize “You love it, absolutely love it here, 51 per-

cent of the time.” She met and eventually married an

islander, raised two children, and wouldn’t think of liv-

ing anywhere else. Though she has relinquished her

lobstering license, Eva Murray remains busy, not only as

a wife and mother, but also a wilderness EMT (emer-

gency medical technician), proprietor of a small season-

al bakery, and former or current holder of several munic-

ipal posts including hard-won title of ‘garbage czar’

(head of the recycling committee). Her husband Paul, an

electrician, pretty much is the island’s

power company.

For nearly a decade now, Eva

Murray’s columns — one aptly named

“From the Edge”— have appeared regu-

larly in a number of local publications. “Well Out to

Sea” is a compilation of these columns — so you see,

she didn’t write a book, it just turned into one. Be fore-

warned: once you open the cover, you’ll have trouble

putting it down.

Why did Murray choose to venture to Matinicus, an

isolated island 22 miles out to sea, with scarcely a hun-

dred neighbors? And once here, why did she forgo a

chance at graduate school and choose to stay?

Incidentally, Murray is the first to admit she is not an

islander, despite having spent the past quarter century

here.

While others have their own reasons, Murray says it’s

simple — she prefers to live without lots of rules. In her

book, Murray conveys the absurdity of heavy-handed

regulations that are rendered laughable in the face of

insurmountable logistical realities. On the island, com-

mon sense and cooperation are the rule. The humans

need to support each other because as a group they are

at the mercy of the vicissitudes and vagaries of nature

— including the weather. On Matinicus, lobstering is not

just an occupation, “it is the local economy,” she writes.

Nancy McGinnis photo

"Well Out to Sea", a collection of essays by Eva Murray,was published last year by Tilbury House Publishers.

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KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 15Women’s QUARTERLY ~ BOOK TALKWednesday, April 20, 2011

“The lobster fishery supports the school, the power

company, the post office. “The economic future is not

guaranteed.”

Murray’s own principles to live by are succinct and to

the point:

• First, do no harm.

• Leave no trace.

• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neigh-

bor.

• If you don’t live here, you can’t fish here.

And it’s an unspoken rule that islanders, despite their

occasional differences and petty squabbles, will rush to

the aid of anyone in trouble, particularly on the water.

You never hear anyone say “it’s not my job,” she notes.

Matinicus, a community she says is “steeped in tradi-

tion unhindered by progress,” is an interesting study in

contrasts. Residents have high-speed internet, but they

also know it’s good to have an old-fashioned, hardwired

land phone (cell phones are useless) for when the power

goes out, as it inevitably does. There is no mall and no

downtown, but you can borrow a cup of sugar from a

neighbor and don’t bother to lock your door when you

go out.

Since commuting is downright impractical, you’ll

save on that expensive daily latte routine, though “the

price of heating oil might prompt a small heart attack,”

she writes.

Because of the weather’s relentless sabotage of even

the best-laid plans, extended family members might

miss the intended Thanksgiving gathering, and there’s

no guarantee of poultry on the table — but an abun-

dance of apple pie. Murray is grateful nonetheless for

her children, who are self sufficient, and for her friends

and neighbors who manage to remain both practical and

positive in the face of adversity.

As author and protagonist, Murray's persona resem-

bles in part EB White, in part Erma Bombeck.

Murray's writings are reminiscent of White's classics in

her articulate, bemused observations (and sometimes

exasperation) regarding summer folks, or the authori-

ties. Like Bombeck, she can be funny, reflecting on

everyday adventures of motherhood, but also tender and

poignant in the face of loss.

In reality, Murray is simply true to her own feisty

self, a wry, ever resourceful, discreet observer and gritty

chronicler of life as she has come to know it on

Matinicus Island. She is always ready to roll up her

sleeves and engage, whether it’s making old-fashioned

spice donuts (heirloom recipe included) or assisting

with a rescue at sea. Survival here also requires, as she

aptly puts it, a “tolerance for stuckitude,” the art of

doing without or making do. There are only the fishing

boats, ferries and air service, the latter serving as “the

cross-town bus, the taxi, the hearse, the UPS truck, the

squad car, and the pizza delivery vehicle,” she writes.

Clearly, island life is for doers, not dreamers, and cer-

tainly not for the faint of heart. But reading about it in

“Well Out to Sea” will appeal to many. Even the ferry

captain says so, and how many book jackets can boast

such an endorsement?

Book Talk Continued from Page 14

Paul Murray photo

Author Eva Murray takes a break from spring yard choresat her Matinicus home.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201116 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ HEALTHWednesday, April 22, 2011

36 Silver Street, Waterville

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What could bring 500 women together in one

location on a Saturday morning? Inland

Hospital’s World of Women’s Wellness.

The 14th annual event was held April 2 at

Thomas College and women of all ages turned

out for free health screenings, spa samples, and

wellness exhibits from more than 70 local

organizations.

First time attendee, Nan Bennett of South

China, said she enjoyed the positive, no-pres-

sure atmosphere at the event.

“A friend of mine who has come in the past

brought me and I’m really glad I came. I loved

the wellness talk about “Challenging Your

Comfort Zone” and all parts of the event. I plan

to come again next year.”

More than 2,100 free health screenings were

performed at the event this year, from blood

pressure, to cholesterol testing, to bone density

and blood glucose tests for diabetes.

“Twenty-eight percent of those who were

checked had blood pressure readings that were

pre-hypertensive or high — so we are very glad

to reach those people directly with information

about what to do if your blood pressure isn’t

normal,” said Ellen Wells, Inland’s Community

Wellness Coordinator.

Forty-nine percent of people who were tested

for cholesterol levels had results that were bor-

derline or high risk. Inland and EMMC well-

ness teams and nurses offered coaching to help

women reduce their cholesterol levels.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of

women,” Wells said. “And it’s important for

women to know their heart health numbers

because they can reduce many risk factors by

making lifestyle changes.”

A new screening provided this year was for

breast exams, provided by Waterville OB/GYN,

a practice of Inland Hospital. Fifteen percent of

the women screened needed follow-up. Other

screenings focused on body mass index, glau-

coma, sleep, skin cancer, pulmonary function,

vision, balance, and even a “blackberry thumb”

joint assessment.

More than 300 spa samples were provided to

help women learn new ways to relax and

included massage, Reiki, facials, reflexology,

hair and make-up consultations.

“Inland is proud to collaborate with dozens

and dozens of local organizations and business-

es to make this a valuable, fun, event for the

women in our community,” said Sara Dyer,

director of community relations. “We want to

thank them and all our dedicated volunteers

and Inland staff members who are committed to

improving community health.”

Women wowed at World of Women’s Wellness

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

Sharon Leighton has her cholesterol level checked by University of NewEngland medical student Alicia Mancuso at the World of Women’s Wellness2011 at Thomas College in Waterville. The event was sponsored by InlandHospital.


Contributed photo

Jennifer Penney, Nurse Practitioner, alongwith Family Physician Dr. John Bonney, arethe first providers in the new Inland FamilyCare office in downtown.

There’s a new neighbor coming to downtown

Waterville in May.

Inland Family Care, a primary care practice of Inland

Hospital, will open on May 16 on The Concourse in the

space next to the Dollar Tree.

Family Physician Dr. John Bonney, and Family

Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Penney, will be the first

providers in the new space. Their practice is presently

located in the Medical Arts Building attached to Inland

Hospital. Inland is currently recruiting for several more

health care providers to join the growing practice when

it moves to downtown Waterville.

“We are proud to improve access to primary care in a

convenient location and pleased that we will be con-

tributing to the overall health of our community by

being part of a vibrant downtown area,” said John

Dalton, Inland president and chief executive officer.

Shannon Haines, executive director of Waterville

Main Street, said: “We are tremendously excited about

Inland’s decision to invest in downtown Waterville and

we strongly believe that the facility will positively

impact the downtown district through both job creation

and increased foot traffic.”

The new downtown practice — Inland Family Care— is part of Inland’s efforts to help improve access tohealth care in the area. Last year, Inland opened twowalk-in care clinics at Walmart in Waterville andAugusta. For more information about Inland FamilyCare please call 873-1036.

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KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201118 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ FOODWednesday, April 22, 2011

BY NANCY P. MCGINNISCorrespondent

For most of people, garden fresh produce

can’t get here fast enough.

As if the relentless snowstorms weren’t

enough to contend with, being surrounded by

the grays and browns of mud season — oth-

erwise known as “spring” — can be daunting

to the body, mind and spirit.

At this point, it’s likely that all three are

out of shape. But good news is coming for

those who eat: the colorful and rejuvenating

antidote can be as close as the kitchen and

the produce section of one’s favorite store.

Even better, a trip to the farmers markets, or

one’s own garden, can literally and figurative-

ly boost an appetite for the good life.

Best of all, today’s mantra is “simplify.” A

minimalist approach is not only easier, it’s

better for the body.

Time to rethink those heavy casseroles and

hearty stews that got folks through the gloom

of short dark days and long cold nights. As

people shed layers of winter clothing and get

outdoors and moving again, an array of clean,

bright colors and textures on the plate match-

es their mood and outlook. Even better, it’s

time to invite fresh fruits and vegetables to

“come as you are” to the dining or picnic

table.

In contrast to the planning and effort it can

take to get through winter, a summertime

mindset is more easygoing and impromptu.

But informal doesn’t mean artless.

Think strips of crunchy red, yellow, green

and orange peppers as crudités; a casual

mélange of chunks of fresh fruits in season,

drizzled with lemon juice and honey as

breakfast or dessert; an entire palette of leafy

greens from pale to dark, speckled, striped or

edged with contrasting color, as the founda-

tion for an artful salad.

Former Maine First Lady Karen Baldacci,

who combines her educational background in

nutrition and her busy lifestyle with her love

of gardening and of good food, said: “I love

mesclun (assorted small, tender, leafy young

salad) greens — the pungent, sweet, bitter,

and sharp flavors of the mix. They taste cool,

fresh, and light, and I add them to sandwich-

es, salads, and at the last minute to soup or

pizza.”

Get back to basics, starting with real food.

Avoiding convenience foods and starting

from scratch may sound like the opposite of

simplicity, but one soon finds he or she is eat-

ing better and healthier, and saving money in

the bargain. Try to shop the periphery of the

store, where one can find fruits and vegeta-

bles, dairy products, baked goods, meat and

fish.

They surround the aisles of processed con-

venience foods, where a person may be

tempted by higher-priced, less nutritious (and

often not as tasty) alternatives.

Read labels. Many prepared foods contain

far more additives than the homemade ver-

sion. Sodium, saturated and trans fats, added

sugars, refined grains, artificial colors and

flavors can all contribute to chronic disease.

Don’t have time to cook? Perhaps it is tim-

ing, not time, that really matters. Set aside

some leisure time to prepare food in quantity,

to be savored when a person can really bene-

fit from a good meal but is too busy to fix it.

Begin planning a menu by considering sea-

sonal availability — choosing ingredients at

their peak of taste, texture and nutritional

goodness. By doing so, a person minimizes

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Food has the most beneficial nutritionalvalue (and often, eye appeal) when it isserved simply as itself, at its seasonal best.

The art of inspired eating: Invite fruits and veggies back to the table

More on FOOD, Page 20

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 19Women’s QUARTERLY ~ GET ORGANIZEDWednesday, April 20, 2011

“Use it up. Wear it out. Make door do without.”

This saying is one that an Augusta native

who lives in Scarborough lives by daily. Not

only is it Kellie Guerrette’s mantra for recy-

cling EVERYTHING, she shares this — in

almost chant-like form — with family,

friends, co-workers, clients and, yes, even

strangers. As one of her “subjects,” this say-

ing always comes to mind with the arrival of

spring.

While crocuses pop up in colorful splotch-

es on neighbors’ lawns, so do other signs of

the season: yard sale signs. These hand-made

placards adorn many a utility pole leading

true followers to the multiple garage and

lawn sales that some have been preparing for

all winter, while others throw the two-day

event together in a week.

But, what happens to the items after prices

have been reduced and garage doors closed?

Unfortunately, many just throw the leftovers

away — because it’s easier.

Wait! Stop! Remember! “Use it up. Wear it

out. Make do or do without.”

As the government continues to tighten its

purse strings, a lot of nonprofits will be look-

ing for ways to keep going. Many of these

organizations help support those less fortu-

nate or who have various health issues by

providing them with furnishings and clothing.

• Make a call to the local homeless shelter

or one of the mental health agencies in the

area to see if they will take the dishes, pots

and pans, and glassware that did not sell.

They are not looking for 12-piece place-set-

tings. Mismatched dishes go a long way for

people who have no dishes at all.

• Most nonprofit groups have fund-raising

events every year. Ask around and find out

which ones are looking for donated goods

that they can sell to raise money. Many of

them will collect year-round, storing the

items until their next fundraiser takes place.

Books. Bikes. Bedding. Bureaus. Don’t try to

guess what they will or won’t take. Many

times, they will take it all. Get organized and

make the phone call.

One nonprofit uses some of the donated

items, like not-so-old TVs, as rewards for

those who are achieving successes in over-

coming addictions. One recipient was very

excited to receive an extremely colorful com-

forter for her bed. Another was given a huge,

framed picture. It’s the little things (that you

were going to throw out) that are really BIG

things to others.

Many local churches have food pantries as

well as clothing and household goods sec-

tions for which they open their doors on

scheduled days once or twice a month.

• Don’t throw out those old linens as long

as they are in good condition, and you’re

done with them, give them to people who can

use them. It will feel a lot better to donate a

few bags of no-longer needed items rather

than stacking them up roadside for the local

trash haulers to pick up.

• Each June, the Humane Society

Waterville Area holds a plant and book sale.

This is a great way to “recycle” plants and

books while benefiting our displaced four-

legged friends.

• Another way to dispose of books is either

by giving them to a town’s library or the

library at many assisted living facilities.

Seniors still find reading books an enjoyable

pastime and welcome new ones on their

bookshelves. Puzzles also give them many

hours of pleasure. A person doesn’t have to

know someone in a particular facility to

donate, just go to the Yellow Pages and let

your fingers do the walking.

• Another thing people tend to throw out

is the animal food of a recently deceased pet.

Take the leftovers to the local animal shelter.

Add Bowser’s dishes and (cleaned) doggie

bed to the care package. These donations will

certainly be welcomed. Many agencies also

accept towels, facecloths and blankets to help

care for the animals. Some of them even take

scatter rugs (yard sale leftovers) for the pup-

pies and kittens to lie on. If unsure about

what they will use, go to their website or call

them for their “wish list” and then plan

accordingly.

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• Paint. What does one do with old paint? As long as it is still

usable, don’t throw it out. Give it away. Even if there is not a lot

left in the can, but is still good, the color may make a great

accent color for a wall in someone else’s house. Or, use it to

paint a small piece of furniture that needs a little pepping up.

Put a sign up on the office bulletin board to see if there are any

takers. Better yet, put a “free” sign up curbside with paint cans

and other yard sale leftovers and see how fast they go. As long

as the items are not badly damaged, they will go.

• And, of course, clothing. Unless the garment is stained or

has holes in it, someone somewhere will wear your discarded

items. Don’t throw them away. If you can’t be bothered with

consignment, there are various thrift shops or agencies that will

know exactly how to disperse them. Just bag’em and drop’em

off.

One office has its own in-house clothing swap a couple of

times a year — spring and fall. A sign is put up a week before

the event so those who want to participate know when to bring

in their clothing and jewelry. The selections may also include

items that their children have outgrown. This is a great way to

get a few new pieces to add to your wardrobe or a family mem-

ber’s wardrobe without spending a cent. Why not try organizing

this in your workplace? It can be run like a free-for-all or you

can pick numbers and each one takes a turn. Including a pot-

luck luncheon adds to the fun.

• “Use it up. Wear it out. Make do or do without.” Try to keep

this in mind as you spring clean and are about to stuff some-

thing into a trash bag that is destined for the dump. Unless it is

really rubbish, try to find a home for it where it will benefit

someone rather than adding to the mounds at the local landfill.

Yes, a little more work, but a lot more rewarding!

his or her carbon footprint, supports

the local economy, often saves money

and eats really well.

Mix it up. Serve meals or dishes

that represent family favorites with

others that are a new culinary adven-

ture.

Hesitant to expand your horizons?

Try combining mostly-familiar ingre-

dients with one or two new elements.

Farmer’s market vendors are wonder-

ful sources of tips and information on

how to select, store, prepare, serve and

enjoy what they sell. MOFGA (Maine

Organic Farmers and Growers

Association) has produced a series of

Maine Seasonal Food Guide leaflets

outlining what’s in peak season at any

given time of the year and listing the

“Maine local 20,” Maine-grown or

raised products available year round.

These include blueberries and apples,

potatoes, carrots, beets, garlic, cab-

bage, and onions, as well as milk,

cheese and eggs, meat, fish and

seafood, dry beans, wheat and oats,

honey, and maple syrup.

For May and June, MOFGA says,

people can anticipate freshly-harvest-

ed rhubarb, asparagus, radishes, spring

turnips, scallions, peas, fiddleheads,

culinary herbs including parsley and

chives, and kale, spinach, chard, bok

choy, tender young spinach, beet

greens and early lettuces at farmers’

markets and farm stands.

Chances are, if a plate is full of

fresh, unprocessed colors, a person is

eating well. In its latest revision of

“Dietary Guidelines for Americans,”

released in 2010, the USDA and U.S.

Dept. of Health and Human Services

recommends dedicating half the plate

at every meal to fruits and vegetables,

while limiting sugars, fats and salt.

Can we Americans subsist without

consuming abundant fat and salt? Yes.

Explore natural and ethnic markets,

health food and specialty stores for an

abundance of foods from kumquats to

quinoa, and an array of herbs and

spices, to reawaken dormant taste

buds. A dash of fresh lemon or lime

juice lends sparkle and often makes

up for the absence of salt.

Even novice gardeners can enjoy

success and satisfaction cultivating a

few easygoing herbs. Try planting

sturdy perennials such as chives and

mint as close as feasible to the kitchen

door, so you can dash out on a whim

and add fresh-from-the-garden color

and flavor to everything from salads to

omelets to iced tea (or mojitos).

Having one’s own source not only

makes a person feel like a garden

gourmet, it stretches a budget

because it’s much cheaper than store-

bought in the first place, and there is

no waste because it’s harvested only

as needed.

Lettuce varieties and radishes are

also rewarding for beginning garden-

ers to grow. Ask at the local nursery

or garden center for tips and advice

on beginning a garden. And don’t

forget that even some flowers are edi-

ble — bring the garden right to the

table with colorful petals or small

blossoms of violets, pansies, nastur-

tiums, bee balm, and other blooms on

the plate.

A word of caution. Asthma and

allergy sufferers and others with sen-

sitivities, should be wary of edible

flowers. Consult a doctor or a reliable

information source for more details.

If you’ve been in an inspiration rut

at mealtimes, spring into summer is a

wonderful time of year to unleash

kitchen creativity. And best of all,

this is not a diet, it’s a way of living.

Once a person get into the liberating

groove of letting foods shine — solo

or in artful groupings — there’s no

going back.

FoodContinued from Page 18

Organized Continued from Page 19


BY BONNIE N. DAVISCorrespondent

As a young life guard in his hometown of

Newton, N.J., Shawn McGlew, a certified

physician assistant, never dreamed of being

the ‘go to’ person on the eastern seaboard for

paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — a

debilitating form of vertigo originating in the

inner ear.

McGlew came to his current interest in

vertigo by a circuitous route.

While he enjoyed his job as a life guard,

McGlew — now president and chief execu-

tive officer of Express Care in Waterville —

got the medical bug when he joined the local

first aid squad.

He dreamed of becoming a cardiac sur-

geon, went off to Boston University to major

in biology and worked in the cardiac research

lab at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Deciding he wanted a family rather than the

grueling hours of a surgical residency,

McGlew went to Northeastern University and

became a physician assistant.

“I lived in Boston then and did two rota-

tions up here — one in OB-GYN — at

Maine General,” he said. When a job became

available in the emergency room, he applied.

“I was one of the only ones wearing a suit.

Dr. Larry Cassman said they were

impressed.”

Just prior to going on a medical mission

trip to St. Jude’s Hospital on the Caribbean

island of St. Lucia, McGlew said he hap-

pened to read about BPPV and the Epley

Maneuver.

Although this type of vertigo was first

described by Barany in 1921, Dix and

Hallpike initiated a method of positional test-

ing in 1952 that identified the condition as

well as which ear had the canalithiasis — the

presence of ‘canal rocks’ — in the semicircu-

lar canal, or balance tubes of the inner ear.

When these crystals become free floating in

the canal, movement and force cause vertigo.

Other treatments include the pharmaceuti-

cal Antivert, which is said to mask rather than

cure the condition, and two rapid movement

maneuvers — the Brant-Doroff and the

Semont — that are applied to the head, and

not always successful.

However, Dr. John Epley, developed a non-

invasive technique in 1980 that repositions

the canaliths in one or two office visits, with

a 95 percent cure rate when done by a trained

professionaL.

McGlew read about the Epley maneuver

and went to St Lucia to set up an emergency

room at St. Jude’s.

“Sure enough, we had a nurse come in

one night with symptoms consistent with ver-

tigo holding onto things and throwing up,”

he said.

McGlew said he performed positional test-

ing, which includes having the patient lie

down, and slowly rotate the head in the

method set down by Dix and Hallpike.

Observing the direction of the nystagmus —

rapid movement or flickering of the eyes —

McGlew determined which ear was affected.

After applying the Epley maneuver, the

treatment was over. So was the mission trip

and McGlew returned to Maine without fol-

lowing up with the first patient on which he

used the new technique.

When he returned to St. Jude’s the follow-

ing year, McGlew said the nurse he had

worked on ran up to him and said, “‘ I was

better — it fixed me up right away.’”

“I read more on it and talked with John

Epley. So now, I’ve been doing it for 15

years. I’ve seen patients all up and down the

east coast — New York, Virginia — from

physician referrals and E.N.T.s (ear, nose and

throat specialists). I’m the ‘go-to’ person for

vertigo.

According to McGlew, vertigo is the gen-

eral catch phrase for a multitude of diseases

that exhibit as dizziness, including but not

limited to BPPV, strokes, high blood pres-

Treatment offers hope for one type of vertigo

More on VERTIGO, Page 22

Bonnie Davis photo

Shawn McGlew, a certified physician assis-tant, discusses benign paroxysmal position-al vertigo. a type of vertigo cured in 95 per-cent of his treatments, often in one officevisit. Sixty-four percent of those diagnosedwith this condition are women.

Dr. John Burke will be offering Botox, Juvederm,

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Wednesday, April 27 th Wednesday, April 27 th

Rodrigue & Associates 58 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330

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sure, Méniére disease and a type of cancer

called acoustic neuroma. A patient may have

this type of vertigo and other diseases affect-

ing the inner ear at the same time.

“BPPV is not a condition of light-headed-

ness. There is no persistent vomiting, no

chest pains, no severe headaches, no numb-

ness and no shortness of breath,” he said.

While the internet outlines the Dix and

Hallpike diagnostic technique and the Epley

maneuver, diagnosis by a trained profession-

al is essential.

“The nystagmus determines which ear

needs treatment,” McGlew said. “The crys-

tals have momentum and push fluid into the

nerve. You can just be walking along and fall

over — it’s like a ketchup bottle — it just

lets go.

McGlew said the maneuver moves the dis-

placed crystals back into place.

“After a treatment, I tell them to just walk

around for a few days to a week like they’re

wearing a cervical collar — move slowly and

avoid getting your hair cut, going to the den-

tist or getting a massage during that time.

As well as treating more than 300 patients,

including 60 at Express Care, McGlew

trained other physician assistants through

presentations at the national convention for

the American Association of Physician

Assistants in Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago and

Atlanta. During noon conferences at

MaineGeneral, McGlew also gives presenta-

tions with PowerPoint.

“I give it once or twice every few years,”

McGlew said. “Some residents and doctors

try it — the vast majority refers patients. The

hard part is, people say they’re dizzy and are

told to go see Shawn — he treats dizziness. I

don’t treat dizziness, I treat BPPV...there are

not a lot of things where you can leave the

doctor’s office cured.”

Contact McGlew at Express Care located

at 325-C, Kennedy Memorial Drive in

Waterville or by calling 873-3961 for diag-

nosis and treatment of BPPV.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201122 Women’s QUARTERLY ~ HEALTHWednesday, April 22, 2011

VertigoContinued from Page 21

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Central Maine Electrolysis Ami S. Seamon, Registered Electrologist 578-1676 • 93 Western Ave., Augusta

[email protected]

Why spend valuable time tweezing, waxing and shaving, when you can have permanent

hair removal with Central Maine Electrolysis! See a difference in as little as 4 sessions!

15 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00 30 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30.00 45 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45.00 60 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60.00

OFF FIRST VISIT

of 30 minutes or more

For new clients only

$ 1 0

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning Sentinel Wednesday, April 20, 2011 23Women’s QUARTERLYWednesday, April 20, 2011

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • Morning SentinelWednesday, April 20, 201124 Women’s QUARTERLYWednesday, April 22, 2011

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