In: Caregiving, Community, News

Caring for a family member or friend with dementia? The Savvy Caregiver Training can help. Eastern Area Agency on Aging will hold this program from 10 am to noon at the Thompson Free Library on October 31, November 7, 14 and 21 and December 5 and 12.

The Savvy Caregiver Program is designed to train caregivers in the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to handle the challenges of caring for a family member with memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease, to be an effective caregiver. This is a 12-hour training program/course that is delivered in 2-hour sessions over a 6-week period. The program focuses on helping caregivers think about their situation objectively and providing them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to manage stress and carry out the caregiving role effectively. Research has demonstrated significant positive outcomes for caregivers who participated in the program.

Please call Eastern Area Agency on Aging at 941-2865 to register.

In: Community, Events, Maine History, Movies

Join Helping Hands with Heart, SeDoMoCha, and the Thompson Free Library at Center Theatre on Sunday, October 20th at 2:00 pm for a free screening of the Emmy Award-winning documentary film Dawnland. A discussion facilitated by Maine-Wabanaki REACH Programming Director Barbara Kates will follow the film, and light refreshments will be provided.

About the film:

“In Maine, a historic investigation—the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission in the United States—begins a bold journey. For over two years, Native and non-Native commissioners travel across Maine. They gather testimony and bear witness to the devastating impact of the state’s child welfare practices on families in Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribal communities. Collectively, these tribes make up the Wabanaki people.” – Adam Mazo / Ben Pender-Cudlip

The feature-length documentary Dawnland follows the TRC to contemporary Wabanaki communities to witness intimate, sacred moments of truth-telling and healing. With exclusive access to this groundbreaking process and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals the untold narrative of Indigenous child removal in the United States.

View the Dawnland trailer: https://vimeo.com/227346667

In: Book Group, Community

Pine Tree Hospice’s Caregiving and Bereavement Book Club is all new, with great readings that will have you looking forward to each meeting – bring your questions and comments or just listen and enjoy the discussion.

Our readings for October are a short story by Annie Proulx, “Family Man” (from the collection Fine Just the Way it Is), and a poem by Anne Bradstreet, “Before the Birth of One of Her Children.”  In the first reading, a man living in a retirement home tells his daughter about their family, as she wants to record an oral history.  He imparts a family secret that means far more to him than it does to her.  Anne Bradstreet, who was America’s first published female poet, recognized her frailty as a woman in the 1600s, and writes to her husband in case she dies during childbirth.  Both readings make us think about how people react to the loss of family, or the potential of loss.

Our book club will meet on October 17th, at The Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft, from 3:30 – 5:00 pm.  The reading materials will be available to borrow at the Thompson Free Library in the weeks prior to the meeting.  Anyone is welcome to join; we are looking forward to an interesting group with plenty to think, say and talk about – and you don’t need to attend each meeting to be part of this club.

Please call Pine Tree Hospice at 564-4346 for more information and to sign up or stop at the Thompson Free Library to check out your book and sign up.  We hope to see you there!

In: Community, Events, Outdoors

Get a clearer picture of the much-discussed Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 5:30 pm as Superintendent Tim Hudson gives us the inside scoop on exploring this vast beautiful expanse of mountains and forestland on the eastern border of Baxter State Park. Tim also shares some of the history of the region and reflects on his 50+ years in the National Park Service.

About the speaker:

Tim Hudson has over 50 years of expertise in National Park Service (NPS) project management, including leading the Hurricane Sandy recovery program for the Northeast Region. Prior to joining the Northeast Region, Hudson worked in the Alaska Region where he served as the associate regional director for operations starting in 2006. Hudson’s service includes 20 years as the chief of maintenance at Yellowstone, where he managed one of the largest operations in the NPS.
Hudson is the recipient of both the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards. He is known for his mix of professionalism and humor–as well as being a pioneer in the professionalization of the field of facilities operations and project management.

In: Community, Events, News

Pine Tree Hospice’s Caregiving and Bereavement Book Club  will meet 3:30-5 pm Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Thompson Free Library. The group will read “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks.

This poignant and compelling love story is about loss and discovery, grief and caring. It tells the story of a man who lives for his wife and journeys with her as she loses herself to Alzheimer’s Disease. “The Notebook” is set in the post-war rural south, a spectacular location where this wonderful story unfolds and takes you into a beautiful life.

The reading materials will be available to borrow at the Thompson Free Library. Anyone is welcome to join; we are looking forward to an interesting group with plenty to think, say and talk about – and you don’t need to attend each meeting to be part of this club.  The next meetings will be Oct. 17 and Nov. 19.  Please call Pine Tree Hospice at 207-564-4346 for more information and to sign up or stop at the Thompson Free Library to check out your book and sign up.