April 2024

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol misuse. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious issues that affect your quality of life, physical and mental health.

Did you know more than 140,000 deaths occur every year in the United States due to excessive alcohol use? If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol misuse or abuse, there are ways to help.

Check out SAMHSA’s National Helpline and resources.
Visit The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Rethinking Drinking page for interactive resources to help examine drinking patterns.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for additional resources and information about alcohol use and your health.

UNE's Brain, Body & Wellness Fair

Friday, APRIL 5th from 3-8 PM

Harold Alfond Forum, 630 Pool Street, Biddeford

FREE and open to the public

The Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences at the University of New England created the annual Brain Fair to engage the local community in brain exploration. Fair events include ice skating, free helmet fittings and giveaways, concussion information, hands-on microscopy exhibits, sheep brain and eyeball dissections, brain health and wellness information, optical illusions brain games, virtual reality demos, muscle stimulation, neuroscience art, learning and memory challenges, prizes, and more.

Check Out the UNE Brain Fair

DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA's commitment to Americans' safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting. This is also an important step in keeping kids and pets safe from accidental ingestion.

Please note that many area police departments, including, but not limited to, Saco PD, Kennebunk PD, and Kennebunkport PD, have 24-hour medication disposal bins located in their lobbies 365 days per year.

Click Here to Find Participating Locations!

Responsible Beverage Service Training

Tuesday, May 7th & Thursday, May 9th

6:00 - 7:30 pm (must attend both sessions)

Old Orchard Beach High School

Cost: $9

Join us to earn a 3-year certificate in Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training, created by the Maine CDC to give the workers who make decisions about IDs, age, sobriety, and their worksite safety the best skills and information possible to protect their customers, their staff, and their community.

RBS training helps you keep your work environment low-stress and thriving. It can also help individuals and their establishments avoid fines and lawsuits.

Click Here to Register

Join the Project Alliance Coalition

Project Alliance is a Coalition of community members throughout northern York County who work together to create a healthier and thriving community. We are currently seeking more individuals to get involved and seeking the voices of teachers, parents, and other community leaders.

If you would like to join or get more information, contact Project Alliance Coordinator Ethan Pollard at projectalliance@une.edu.

Biddeford’s Lead Program in Action

Congratulations to Jean Leclerc, owner of 114 Washington Street, who was approved for $79,500 from the City's Lead Paint Reduction and Healthy Homes Program. Thanks to the funding, this 4-unit 1900s-era property is receiving lead abatement services and code/safety upgrades to create healthier, affordable living spaces for its low—and moderate-income households.

If you own a Biddeford multifamily or mixed-use residential building that could use a little love, please email the City's Housing Rehabilitation Director at gail.wilkerson@biddefordmaine.org to learn if you qualify.

* Source: Marty Grohman’s Community Corner Facebook Page

Click Here to Access Lead Prevention Resources & Funding

Biddeford Ready! Events

CHCC is pleased to partner with Biddeford Ready! to ensure the youngest members of the Biddeford community (ages 0-5) get the resources they need to enter kindergarten prepared to thrive in school and beyond.

School Readiness Fair: Join us for this awesome event on April 6th from 10am-1pm at Biddeford Primary School. There will be an abundance of community resources, crafts and activities, free food, and an opportunity to register your child for Pre-K/Kindergarten.

Story Hour: Check out free story hour every Friday from 10am-11am at 25 Green Street in Biddeford. **NOTE: New Location**

Biddeford Ready!’s Facebook Page Be sure to follow for more community events.

OUT Maine's inaugural Rainbow Gala and Dance Party in Rockland was a success, raising over $15,000 for the LGBTQ+ teen retreat, Rainbow Ball Weekend. Over 150 people attended, and many businesses and organizations sponsored the event and donated auction items. The lively event, captured by Carly's Lens photography, had everyone hopping to dance tunes by The Right Track Band. It was truly a gay time!

Rainbow Ball Weekend is held May 3-5 for 8th-12th graders. This weekend-long experience allows LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves safely and enjoy programming and activities that directly address the isolation, underdeveloped aspirations, academic challenges, health risks, and lack of hope faced by many Maine LGBTQ+ youth.

Rainbow Ball Weekend still needs support to reach its $60,000 fundraising goal.

If you would like to support this important youth weekend or learn more about it, please see the link below.

Learn more about Rainbow Ball Weekend Youth Retreat

Maine Snap-ED Recipe of the Month

A Message from Better Biddeford

Pollinating Ideas & Community Engagement

From the Desk of

Carolyn Schmidtke:

The strength of a community depends on its members having their needs met and feeling valued. Communities become resilient and healthier when individuals are actively involved and connected. Democracies flourish only with a well-informed, engaged electorate.

As someone who is doing their best to take responsibility for the well-being of our community, I want to learn more about what individuals feel is important in order to better understand people's needs and concerns. My goal is to build a Biddeford that benefits and uplifts us all.

Better Biddeford is an initiative aiming to normalize connecting and sharing ideas with the goal of fostering a more equitable and resilient community.

The email address BetterBiddeford@gmail.com was created to allow people to reach out with their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Your emails will contribute to a better understanding of what our community cares about, and I will do my best to advocate and work to connect people with the resources that are available to address their needs. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you are well, and I look forward to connecting with you.

BHS Students Receive "A Dose of Reality"

In a proactive initiative to address the dangers of substance misuse, underage drinking, and vaping among teens, Biddeford High School (BHS) hosted the renowned assembly program "A Dose of Reality." Presented by Emergency Department Nurse Linda Dutil, R.N., this eye-opening program engaged over 800 students in grades 8-12 with a unique blend of seriousness, humor, and emotion, delivering impactful insights into the consequences of risky behaviors.

Over the past several years, Dutil has reached thousands of students across the country, delivering impactful presentations that focus on the real-life consequences of decisions. The program is designed to educate without being graphic or adopting a scared-straight approach, ensuring students stay attentive and engaged throughout the 45-minute assembly.

“Having youth hear from someone who has witnessed or experienced the dangers of substance misuse firsthand is very powerful," said CHCC Director Cheri Anderson. "Research shows that youth who have consistent messaging over time from a variety of sources are less likely to use and make healthier choices.”

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