Upcoming Events
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July 9, 7:00 AM
Lisbon
July 11, 11:00 AM
Mid Coast Senior Health Center
July 22-24
Downtown Richmond
Various Dates This Summer
Brunswick Town Mall
Free!
August 18 & 25 (two 4-hour trainings)
Free with registration!
FMI: 373-6927
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Recipe of the Month
Strawberries, White Bean, and Edamame Salad
A flavorful, enticing, mix of fresh, in-season strawberries, white beans, and edamame in a light vinaigrette, nested on a baby spinach and topped with crumbled feta cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups shelled edamame
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cups strawberries, cut in bite size pieces
- 15 ounce can low sodium white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 6 cups baby spinach
Directions
1. Cook edamame according to package directions.
2. Rinse under cool water and drain.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, apple juice, salt, and pepper.
4. In a medium bowl, toss strawberries, white beans, onion, basil, and feta.
5. Serve on individual plates by nesting strawberry, white bean and edamame mix atop spinach.
6. Drizzle with vinaigrette.
Nutrition Information
Serves: 4
Calories: 270
Total Fat: 10g
Sodium: 350mg
Protein: 14g
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Access Health
Access Health
works with communities to encourage and support healthy and happy lives, with a focus on:
- Physical Activity
- Healthy Eating
- Tobacco Prevention & Cessation
- Reduction of Second Hand Smoke
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Mental Health Awareness
Find out more!
Mid Coast Hospital is the lead agency for Access Health.
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Access Health
Board Members
Anthony Anderson,
BIW
Andree Appe
l,
Oasis Clinic
Mary Booth, MSAD 75
Marla Davis,
Sagadahoc County Board
of Health
Mattie Daughtry,
Legislator
Jaki Ellis,
Brunswick Champion
Deb King,
Brunswick
Downtown Association
Don Kniseley,
Thornton Oaks
Pam LeDuc,
Topsham Parks &
Recreation
Joel Merry,
Sagadahoc County
Sheriff
Karen O'Rourke,
UNE
Jim Peavey,
United Way
Craig Phillips,
Tedford Shelter
Kelly Howard,
YMCA
Emily Rines, Parent
Steve Trockman,
Mid Coast-Parkview Health
Karen Tucker,
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention
Samantha Ricker,
Bath Champion
Stacy Frizzle,
People Plus
Kristi Hatrick,
First Parish Church
Katherine Swan,
Martin's Point
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From the Director's Desk |
I hope everyone is enjoying this stretch of perfect summer weather. Take a minute to browse our newsletter for tips on keeping everyone safe and healthy as you boat, hike, picnic and summer camp your way through the season.
Melissa Fochesato, Director
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Healthy Eating
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Summer Food and Summer Fun with SNAP-ED
Tasha Gerken, MS, RDN
Are you looking for healthy, free food, and entertainment for your kids this summer? Bring them to your local Summer Food Sites, organized by Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and Bath Area Family YMCA with funding from the USD
A and the Summer Food Service Program. Sites listed are open to kids and teens up to age 18, with free meals to parents who accompany a child. Bring the whole family!
Your local SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators will lead fruit and veggie tastings, cooking lessons, whole grain relay races, scavenger hunts, games, and other fun, educational activities at many locations.
Join us for SNAP-Ed Nutrition Activities at the following locations from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.:
Bath - Maritime Apartments: Wednesdays, July 6, July 13
Brunswick - Perryman Village: Tuesdays, July 12, July 26, August 9
Brunswick - Curtis Memorial Library: Tuesdays, July 19, August 2, August 18
Topsham - Mt. Ararat Middle School: Mondays, July 11, July 25, August 1
Check out this list of ALL Summer Food Sites in the area.
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Healthy Homes
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Recycle Your Old Paint
Terry Sherman
What do you do with the old half full paint cans in your garage or leftover paint after a summer project? Thanks to PaintCare and local drop off sites, you can recycle that old paint and keep it out of the environment. Interior, exterior, latex, oil based paints and stains can all be repurposed. Sherwin Williams in Brunswick and Rogers Ace Hardware in Bath are free local drop off sites and will take your old paint even if you didn't buy it there.
Latex paint collected at PaintCare sites is separated from oil-based paint and other solvent-based products. Most of the oil-based paint is then taken to a cement plant where it is blended into a fuel and burned to recover the energy value. Most of the better latex paint (paint that is not rusty, molding or spoiled) is sent to recycling companies and reprocessed into new paint in standard pre-tinted colors. Some latex paint is used to make other products or used for biodegradation projects at landfills.
Very little paint is sent to a landfill (about 1-4%). Overall about 1-2% of the paint received is simply reused. Check out their website for more information
PaintCare.org.
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Tobacco
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Replacement Smokers
Linda Christie
Tobacco companies (also known as Big Tobacco) have marketed their products to kids and teenagers for decades. Despite the limitations put on them by the Master Tobacco Settlement, they still find ways to reach young people. The industry refers to this population as "replacement smokers". They rely on kids to start to replace the adults that die from tobacco-related disease. Following are some of the tactics that are used:
- Candy- and Fruit-Flavored Products: The use of flavors in cigarettes was prohibited 2009 but flavorings can now be found in little cigars, smokeless tobacco products, and vaping products such as the e-cigarettes. Use of all of these products has increased substantially in the past few years among adolescents.
- Celebrity endorsements: Famous people that kids admire have a lot of influence on their decision-making.
- Misleading Health Claims: Such false claims as "low harm" are convincing to this age group.
- Buy One Get One Free: The cost of tobacco products has a very significant impact on youth smoking therefore price discounts are very enticing.
- Ads in Popular Magazines: Studies have shown that the more adolescents are exposed to tobacco advertising the more likely they are to start smoking.
- Product Placement on TV and in Movies: It's subtle. It works.
- Tobacco advertisements and promotions in retail establishments: Convenience stores and other retail outlets are frequented by youth. The average height of tobacco advertisements is at the eye level of youth. The vast majority of the industry's marketing dollars are spent here.
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Physical Activity
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Colleen Fuller, MPH
Whether you are fishing, hiking, biking, mowing the lawn, gardening, or walking around a farmers' market, people tend to spend more time outside during the summer. Here are some tips for staying healthy and safe while being physically active outside:
- Watch the temperature and time of day. Avoid the midday sun, when the temperatures tend to be the hottest. Try to plan your physical activity during the cooler times of the day.
- Get acclimated. If you are switching from indoor to outdoor activity, take it easy at first. Slowly increase the length and intensity of your activity over two weeks.
- Know your fitness level and medical risks. Don't push yourself beyond your fitness or health level in the heat.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink fluids. Proper hydration is crucial to keeping your body cool.
- Dress appropriately. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing to keep you cooler.
- Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for sun protection.
- Pay attention to air quality warnings. Certain types of air pollutants are worse in the summer and can increase breathing problems for people, especially those with asthma.
- Limit injuries by wearing footwear that is appropriate for your activity.
- If you are kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding or doing any other water sport, wear a life vest.
- Always wear a proper fitting helmet when biking.
- Leave an itinerary with someone before you set off hiking.
To learn more summer safety tips, please visit the
US CDC's site
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Summer Stress
Elizabeth Munsey, LCPC-c
The beginning of summer brings about warmth, flowers, children playing and summer vacations. For parents, it can also bring about stress in the way of financial concerns, scheduling conflicts, child care needs, and extracurricular activities. Managing the stress of summer may feel overwhelming to adults and children alike, but finding ways to decrease the stress and increase resiliency will lead to a happier and healthier summer for all.
For more information on utilizing coping skills to decrease summer stress, check out these websites:
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Healthy Schools
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Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
Jennah Godo, MS
Summer is here! We enter the time when kids are home from college or for vacation, we are celebrating the 4th of July, off camping and doing other fun things as part of the mix! Let's work together to make these fun times safe for all, by preventing underage drinking, and other substance use and then we avoid the potential consequences.
Know the Law.
It's against Maine law to:
- Allow anyone under 21 to drink in your home or on your property
- Supply alcohol to anyone under 21.
Know the Risk:
If you provide the alcohol or the place to drink it:
- You can be fined up to $2,000
- You can serve a jail sentence of up to one year
- You can be sued if injury or damage occurs
Just think about it, it's worth it. Thanks for your help in keeping our community safe!
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Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA)
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Safe Summer Boating
Andrea Saniuk-Gove
Stay safe on the water this summer by not allowing alcohol on board any vessel on waterways. Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs (BUI) is a large risk for all on board, and operating a boat while under the influence is illegal in every state. This law pertains to all boats - from canoes and rowboats to the largest ships. Consequences can include fines, revocation of boating license, and jail time.
U.S. Coast Guard data shows that alcohol is involved in one third of all recreational boating fatalities. Over half of those fatalities included victims that capsized their boats and/or fell overboard.
Alcohol can be more hazardous on water than on land, as being aboard a boat can cause accelerated impairment due to the environment; engine noise, sun, wind, and motion. Stressors such as those can affect a boat operator or passenger's coordination, judgment, and reaction time while out on the water and consuming alcohol. Passengers and boat operators are often less experienced and less confident on the water, compared to on roads and dry land.
Keep yourself and others safe while boating this summer by bringing cold, non-alcoholic drinks on board, and plenty of snacks. Remaining sober will ensure that everyone has a safe, fun day on the water!
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Access Health
66 Baribeau Drive, Suite 7
Brunswick, ME 04011
Phone: 207-373-6957
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