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CCC Wednesday Communique — February 1, 2023

Today, February 1st, starts an important Celtic holiday known as “Imbolc” (literally “in the belly”), celebrated from sunrise on February 1st through sunset February 2nd.  This “cross-quarter” day falls between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and was generally marked as a time of the first stirrings in the ground harboring spring’s approach.  In Ireland, the fertility goddess Brigid was invoked on Imbolc and people prayed to her to help livestock increase, for good crop yields, and for healthy, robust children.  In this country we celebrate Groundhog day on February 2nd as either a harbinger of an early spring or a long winter, depending on whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.  In Germany, it was the badger who would call the season by seeing his shadow on Candlemas, February 2nd. Either way, here we are, half-way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, hoping for an early spring, healthy children, pets, livestock and gardens. Here’s an Imbolc blessing for you:
May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day,
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way,
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue,
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.May the blessings of light be on you,
Light without and light within,
May the blessed sunlight shine on you till it glows like a great peat fire.

(Photo from National Geographic)

Happy Imbolc!

New this week:

Rescheduled Employment Law Updates Dessert & Learn

Due to the winter storm last week, Rudman Winchell has rescheduled their Employment Law Updates Dessert & Learn Event for Friday, February 3rd, 12 – 1 PM.  If you have already registered, there is no need to register again – you are already registered for the event. If you have NOT registered, you still have time to join us for the rescheduled event at our office at 84 Harlow Street, Bangor, 1st floor meeting space. Contact Maddie Johnson at mjohnson@rudmanwinchell.com or call 207-992-2302.

Bold Coast Adventure Play

Bold Coast Adventure Play is a community project that provides & promotes child-directed play opportunities across Washington County. This year, to celebrate NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child, Bold Coast Adventure Play is collaborating with Timbernook Downeast to bring a day of play to Washington County. Our Event will take place on Saturday, April 1st, 2023. Our location is currently TBD- but we will be utilizing a public space between Machias & Calais.  This event will feature 2 unique play spaces for children & their families to explore. Bold Coast Adventure Play will be hosting a pop-up playground, featuring an assortment of open-ended, repurposed play materials. (Think cardboard boxes, milk crates, rotary phones, and more). Children will be free to explore the site while adults are encouraged to let play unfold naturally. Timbernook Downeast will be offering a unique sensory experience modeled after one of their many research-backed, nature-based programs. The Timbernook play space will include a guided storytime, accompanied by themed playdough, mud kitchen & dress up stations for children to freely explore. To learn more, visit  about Bold Coast Adventure Play, Timbernook and the Week of the Young Child.

Wabanaki Voices

The University of Maine Machias is hosting 3 different Wabanaki speakers over the next several months (see flyer for details):

  1. “Wabanaki Nationhood Past, Present, and Future”
    Osihkiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald
    Thursday, February 9th, 12 p.m.
    Science 102, also via Zoom, Meeting ID: 894 2947 6122, 301-715-8592
  2. “Indigenous Reclamation in Healing Practices”
    April Lola
    Thursday, March 2nd, 12 p.m.
    Reynolds Center Conference Room, also via Zoom, Meeting ID: 896 3389 3850, 646-876-9923
  3. “Penobscot author of Night of the Living Rez”
    Morgan Talty
    Thursday, April 19th, 12 p.m.
    Zoom only, Meeting ID: 873 6049 8360, 301-715-8592

Healthy Eating Conversations with Older Adults

Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 2 pm-3 pm: This webinar from the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders will focus on engaging older adult patients in tailored conversations about nutrition, giving further context to standard dietary guidelines for this population. Participants will examine approaches to troubleshooting common patient barriers to healthy eating, including access and limited cooking experience. After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
  • Understand the impact of aging on eating behaviors and nutritional needs
  • Explain the importance of considering cultural background, food preferences, and available social network when developing or recommending meal plans
  • Apply shared strategies for identifying and promoting available community resources focused on reducing older adult malnutrition

Environmental Science Concepts through Algae

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H will offer a short-term online 4-H club about algae and its impact on surrounding ecosystems. Intended for youth ages 12–15, the special interest, or SPIN, club will meet from 3:30–5 p.m. on Tuesdays from March 7–April 11. Required registration closes Feb. 10.  The Algae SPIN Club will explore all things algae — why it’s important, how it can be used, harmful algae blooms and related community action. In this club, youth will have the opportunity to taste algae, create a seaweed lava lamp, and observe and analyze the growth of an algae sample at home. The 4-H Algae Series will introduce ecological knowledge and experiment skills by exploring algae in different ways each week while making connections with youth statewide. UMaine Extension 4-H staff will lead the meetings and provide guidance for the algae growth experiment. The club is free; limited to 10 participants. Register by Feb. 10 on the event webpage to receive the link and at-home materials. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207-581-8206 or sarah.sparks@maine.edu. Additional information also is available on the Extension 4-H Virtual Learning webpage.

Parenting in Recovery Support Groups

The Sunrise Prevention Council is hosting 2 Parenting in Recovery Support Groups starting at a new time:
  • Parenting in Recovery Support Group held via Zoom
    Every Monday from 12pm-1pm
    For Zoom info please call 255-8273
  • Parenting in Recovery Support Group, In-Person
    Every Wednesday from 12pm-1pm
    Machias Recovery Center, 11 Free Street, Machias

Print Lab Now Open

Cobscook Institute is excited to announce the opening of our new Print Lab! The Print Lab is housed in our Project Room and is equipped with wide format archival printer and a variety of photo and art papers. This new resource is available for community use at the cost of ink and paper. In addition to the professional printer, the lab also has an iMac available with Affinity Suite (similar to Adobe Programs) software for editing photos, digital illustration and layout work. Also included in the lab are professional paper cutters, cutting mats, large rulers and x-acto knives. We are thrilled to offer these new resources and look forward to seeing the amazing creations that will come out of the Print Lab. We invite members of the community to visit our website to sign up for an orientation and reserve a time slot to use the lab.

Project Associate for Community Engagement 

MCD Global Health is seeking a someone to fill the role of Project Associate for Community Engagement in Washington County.  This full-time position will provide logistical support for project supported activities, conduct outreach, offer community education, and serve as “boots on the ground” for project implementation, requiring evening and weekend hours.  Initial emphasis will be on activities in: Alexander, Baileyville, Codyville, Dyer Township, Fowler Township, Grand Lake Stream Plantation, Indian Township, Lambert Lake Township, Princeton, Topsfield, Talmadge, and Vanceboro.  Learn more here.

Job Counselor – Vocational Services

MaineHealth’s Department of Vocational Rehabilitiation is seeking someone to fill the full-time role of Job Counselor/Employment Specialist IV – Vocational Services, based at AMHC in Machias. This position assists individuals with psychiatric diagnoses to find and keep employment, operating as a member of the mental health treatment team and working in collaboration with Community Integration (Adult Case Management) and/or Behavioral Health Home Services. Training is provided. Travel is required.  Learn more here.

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