Neighbor4Neighbor Fund Receives Anonymous Donation, Seeks Applicants

Thanks to a generous anonymous donation, the “neighbor4neighbor” Fund continues to accept 2016 applications. The Fund, administered by the Maine Community Foundation and coordinated by Healthy Acadia, provides mini-grants to seniors in need across Hancock and Washington counties. The mini-grants help to address challenges that many of our seniors face each day. 

“Many seniors in our region are struggling to meet their basic needs and to stay healthy,” said Elsie Flemings, Executive Director of Healthy Acadia. “This is a critical initiative, and we at Healthy Acadia are honored to be a part of it.” The “neighbor4neighbor” Fund was initiated in 2014 by Maine Community Foundation founder and founding president of the College of the Atlantic Ed Kaelber in his effort to create positive change by giving back to his community. He especially encourages seniors to contribute to the fund and support their peers who are struggling.  

The “neighbor4neighbor” mini-grants can help individual seniors meet a specific need, such as wheel chair ramps or handrails, to increase accessibility or mobility. It can cover the cost of optional medical equipment: eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures, for example.  The mini-grants may also be used to provide or increase access to support services that can help seniors maintain quality of life and remain independent in their own homes.

To view and print the one-page “neighbor4neighbor” Fund application form, visit: http://www.healthyacadia.org/documents/GrantApplication_neighbor4neighbor.pdf.

To learn more about the “neighbor4neighbor” Fund, or if you have questions about what may be eligible, contact Nina Zeldin at Healthy Acadia at 667-7171 ornina@healthyacadia.org. To make a donation to the Fund, contact the Maine Community Foundation at 877-700-6800 or www.mainecf.org.

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In Washington County:

(207) 255-3741

In Hancock County:

(207) 667-7171

On the web:

www.healthyacadia.org

Sign up for Healthy Acadia's e-newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cx5w

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Healthy Acadia is a Healthy Maine Partnership.

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Welcome to new Chamber Member Maine Seacoast Mission

Please join us in welcoming our newest Chamber member - Maine Seacoast Mission.

What does the Maine Sea Coast Mission do?

The Maine Sea Coast Mission provides spiritual, health, and youth development programs in coastal and island communities from mid-coast to Downeast Maine. Rooted in a history of non-denominational service, the Mission offers hope, encouragement and help to strengthen individuals, families and communities. Programs and services include: the Christmas Program; the EdGE, after-school and summer programs for youth in Washington County; emergency financial assistance, addressing immediate needs such as heat, electricity, and other emergency circumstances; food pantries; ministries to island and coastal communities, including partnerships with four island churches and a fisheries resource management policy consultant; scholarships; Sunbeam Island Health Services; and a thrift shop.

Learn more about the Seacoast Mission at: http://www.seacoastmission.org/index.php

MDI Hospital and Healthy Acadia Community Health Needs Assessment of MDI Region Offers Guidance for Future

The 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment for the Mount Desert Island region identifies top community health needs for the MDI Hospital service area, including the outer island communities and the towns of Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Trenton, Hancock, and Lamoine.

“The 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment serves as a framework and guide for Mount Desert Island Hospital and Healthy Acadia in developing and strengthening our programming to fulfill the needs of our MDI communities,” said Shoshona Smith, Healthy Acadia’s Systems and Innovations Coordinator. “The report is available to all local organizations and community members to support their efforts to address and coordinate community health improvement.”

Over the past year, MDI Hospital and Healthy Acadia have gathered data from community members through a local advisory council, discussions with community groups and a collection of 382 surveys from participants across MDI Hospital’s service area. This data collection, combined with local demographic and health information, brought forth six strategic issues: health care; food; physical activity; substance use; social/mental health and healthy environments. In order to address these issues, “Theme Teams” comprised of Healthy Acadia and MDI Hospital staff and community stakeholders met to develop goals and strategies to address each issue.

Goals and strategies for addressing each issue take into consideration both the availability and access of resources and strategic environmental and systems-level change that will allow for healthier communities, workplaces, and schools for all.

To view the full 63-page report, visit www.mdihospital.org/community-benefits-reporting/ or HealthyAcadia.org/resources/health_assessments.html.

To learn more about this assessment and action plan, please contact Oka Hutchins at 288-5082 ext. 1423, oka.hutchins@mdihospital.org, or Shoshona Smith at 667-7171 ext. 11, Shoshona@HealthyAcadia.org.

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In Washington County:

(207) 255-3741

In Hancock County:

(207) 667-7171

On the web:

www.healthyacadia.org

Sign up for Healthy Acadia's e-newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cx5w

We empower people and organizations to build healthy communities.
Healthy Acadia is a Healthy Maine Partnership.

Please visit & like us on Facebook!

Please visit & follow us on Twitter!

Chamber to Host Candidates' Night in Southwest Harbor

CHAMBER TO HOST CANDIDATES’ NIGHT IN SOUTHWEST HARBOR

Wednesday, April 27, 7 – 9 PM at the Fire Station, 250 Main St.

With four candidates for two seats on both the Board of Selectmen, two candidates for one seat on the School Board and one candidate for one vacancy on the Mt. Desert Island High School Board of Trustees, the Southwest Harbor & Tremont Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidate’s night to give the public a chance to meet the candidates both incumbent and new and to hear their views on office and current affairs. The evening will be moderated by Kristin Hutchins and will include a question and answer period.

Candidates for Board of Selectmen: George Jellison, Jr., David Minctons, Chad Terry, Jesse Dunbar

Candidates for School Board: Mike Sawyer, Dani Piquette-Kelly

Candidate for MDIHS Board of Trustees: Steve Hudson

Members of the community are encouraged to attend.

Seal Cove Auto Museum's Exhibit Opening

Welcome to New Chamber Member Coda!

Please join us in welcoming our newest Chamber Member, Coda Restaurant!

Coda Restaurant is a true collaboration of food and music. The goal is to bring a farm-to-table dining experience and hand-selected music to Southwest Harbor.

Coda serves New England pub-style food focusing on fresh, sustainable ingredients. The menu changes several times each year to ensure it reflects seasonally appropriate ingredients for the location and time of year. All the food is made in-house, meaning everything from stocks and soups to mustards and pastas are handmade and uniquely Coda’s.

Coda restaurant also offers an exciting music experience. The musical acts are selectively screened to provide the best possible evening for all guests. During nights with shows, the kitchen and bar are pleased to offer special cocktails and food that both represent and highlight the unique culture of the musical style.

Meet the Chef: Chef Carter Light

After growing up in Vermont and attending culinary school in New Hampshire, Carter moved to Jackson, WY, to experience the mountain life in the Rockies. While there, he worked under the close supervision of esteemed Chef Paul O’Conner. After years of working with Paul, he moved to Park City, UT, to run Silver Restaurant, an upscale, modern dining experience in the heart of the downtown. After several years as the Executive Chef, Carter decided to move back to the east coast, bringing his passion for food, knowledge of cooking, and understanding of the restaurant business to Coda.

Stop in to say hi, experience a musical event, and have some wonderful tasty treats!

Join us at the SWH Public Library to welcome Dr. Aatif Ansari to the Community Dental Center!

Join us at the SWH Public Library to welcome Dr. Aatif Ansari to the Community Dental Center!

5:00 - 6:30PM, Tuesday, April 26

For more information, please call 244-2888

Aatif Ansari, DDS

Mount Desert Island Hospital is pleased to welcome Dr. Aatif Ansari as the new oral health provider at the Community Dental Center in Southwest Harbor. 

Community members are invited to meet Dr. Ansari on Tuesday, April 26 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at a reception held at the Southwest Harbor Public Library at 338 Main Street. Refreshments will be provided and the free event is open to all.

Dr. Ansari received his doctorate of dental science from Indiana School of Dentistry in 2015. He completed his preceptorship in Hospital Dentistry at the UCLA School of Dentistry in 2013. His medical interests and expertise include hospital-based dentistry, management of medically compromised patients in both the dental clinic and hospital setting. 

He chose to join MDI Hospital’s Community Dental Center because it provided him the opportunity to bring quality oral healthcare to an underserved population and to have substantial impact on the oral health of the MDI Region. “I am a firm believer in patient-doctor communication, education and patient-centered care,” he says. “My aim is to promote oral health.

While earning his bachelors of Dental Surgery at the Army Medical College in Pakistan, Dr. Ansari received a National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) scholarship. During that time, he earned the American Heart Association’s Appreciation Award for saving a fellow student’s life via CPR. He is also a member of the American Dental Association, the Indianapolis District Dental Society, the Indiana Dental Association and the Pakistan Medical When he is not at work, Dr. Ansari enjoys photography, hiking, traveling, gastronomy and cricket. He enjoys the natural beauty of MDI and living near the ocean.

The Community Dental Center was founded in 2014, and is MDI’s first-ever nonprofit dental clinic. The Center provides comprehensive oral health care, including preventive cleanings, sealants, fluoride and general dentistry (extractions, fillings, root canals, and emergency treatment). To learn more about the Community Dental Center or to inquire about becoming a patient, contact the center at 244-2888.