Improving our Broadband
In order for Aroostook County to get our fair share of broadband investment, we must first demonstrate our need. The Maine Broadband Coalition has just announced their new data gathering service called Get Up to Speed, linked here- https://www.mainebroadbandcoalition.org/.
Most businesses are adequately served, but too many of our homes are still underserved, which is defined as under 3Mbps upload speed and 25Mbps download speed. There has never been a comprehensive and accurate data map to support what actual broadband speeds are in every area and for every road in rural Maine. We can fix that if residents in The County take their speed test for their specific addresses and share the link with their friends and neighbors. If we are diligent, we can provide enough data to support the need for broadband investment in Aroostook and receive the necessary funding to build it.
Please take a couple minutes to test your speed and share the speed test link above within your networks, and Aroostook will be well-positioned to receive our much-needed broadband investment.
AMHC Seeks Community Feedback on Aroostook's Opioid Epidemic
Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. (AMHC) was the recent recipient of a Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Community Opioid Response Planning (RCORP) grant, which aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD) in Aroostook County.
In order to gain as much feedback as possible, a survey is being widely distributed to residents of Aroostook County. Please share with your friends, neighbors, place of business! This 10-minute survey will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2020. All individuals who include their name and a contact number will be entered into a drawing for one of four $50 gift cards. Winners will be contacted on Monday, December 21, 2020. Please note, prizes will only be awarded to individuals living in Aroostook County.
The electronic version is mobile-friendly. Hard copies are available for individuals or organizations that prefer that method. If you would like to participate, please click on the link below. If you have any questions, reach out to Erik Lamoreau, Project Coordinator at elamoreau@amhc.org.
Community Needs Assessment Survey
Maine Invests $536,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funds for Meals on Wheels
Home-delivered meals to support older Mainers and caregivers during the pandemic
The Governor recently announced that more than half a million dollars in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) will be dedicated to extend home-delivered meals to older Mainers and caregivers, ensuring food and nutrition for Maine people staying home during the pandemic.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) investment of $536,000 in federal funding will maintain greatly increased deliveries through Meals on Wheels and similar programs since the spring, when Maine received separate CARES Act funding for these programs. The number of older adults and caregivers receiving home-delivered meals and the number of home-delivered meals has since doubled, to more than 5,500 people and 102,000 meals in the month of October alone.
Maine's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) have rapidly expanded these programs both through direct delivery and community partnerships. CRF funding will be used to stretch the initial federal award, allowing them to maintain current levels and extend meal deliveries further into 2021, according to varying schedules based on the need.
AAAs pre-delivered Thanksgiving meals to recipients throughout Maine ahead of the holiday.
In addition to providing nutritious food to recipients, Meals on Wheels and similar programming ensures a social interaction and wellness visit to vulnerable adults in Maine. Especially during challenging times, this connection to another caring individual can be a lifeline for older Mainers. Also, caregivers qualify to receive meals during the pandemic, providing them with extra support when getting out to grocery shop can be challenging.
To ensure health and safety, meal delivery volunteers knock at the door of each home and then step back to ensure that the meal is received while maintaining physical distancing.
Coalition Calls on Everyone to Get Outside Safely this Winter
A broad coalition of Maine conservation groups, State agencies, and outdoor brand businesses launched a series of recommendations to help people safely enjoy fresh air this winter. While outdoor activities are great ways to stay healthy during Maine's winter, it is important for everyone venturing to Maines public parks and land trust preserves to continue following COVID-19 health guidance. In addition, all should be prepared for short days, cold temperatures, snow and ice, and ever-changing, unpredictable conditions.
Before you head outside, be prepared.
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Dress for success: Be aware of current conditions, and bring appropriate gear to match those conditions, including, snowshoes, ice grips, and plenty of layers to stay warm. Local outdoor stores are available to give advice on appropriate clothing and equipment. Consider buying a Maine-made brand!
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Check before you go: While many conservation lands remain open during the winter, access roads and parking areas may not be accessible. At the same time, conditions may not be safe or appropriate for desired activities, such as ice fishing. Visit Web sites to see the latest information on closures and to learn about current conditions.
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Know what’s available: Consider visiting a nearby wildlife management rea, or a less-trafficked State park, public land, or land trust preserve. Maine Trail Finder is a great resource.
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Do not take risks: Stick to familiar terrain to avoid injuries, which add stress on first responders and medical resources. If you are headed out alone, let someone know where you are going and be especially careful.
The holiday shopping season is upon us. With the pandemic, many local in-person events, such as popup holiday markets or craft fairs, have moved online. Scammers are creating phony copycat events that charge for admission and steal your credit card information.
How the Scam Works
You hear that your city’s annual holiday market or another shopping event will be held virtually this year. You search for it online and find a social media post or event page. Besides moving online, one other big thing is different this year. The event, which has been free in the past, is now requiring a paid ticket. You enter your credit card number and personal information, such as your full name and address.
Unfortunately, the “ticket” is a scam. The event information you found was posted by scammers and not affiliated with the real holiday market. Con artists are creating fake event pages, social posts, and e-mail to confuse attendees into sharing their credit card information.
In another twist on this scam, some virtual holiday markets have a Web site or social media page where vendors can post photos of their products and links to their Web sites. Be careful here, too. Some consumers reported to the BBB that they the clicked the links provided, thinking they lead to an online shop. Instead, the sites downloaded malware.
Tips to Avoid Holiday Event Scams
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Is there an admission fee? Visit the event’s Web site to see if you need to purchase an admission ticket for the virtual event. If not, watch for scammers trying to claim otherwise. If this happens, message the event coordinator to help prevent other virtual attendees from being scammed.
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Research vendors and the host. If the event is unfamiliar to you, research the host and list of vendors ahead of time. While virtually browsing from booth to booth, make sure you are only clicking on the links provided. If you are unsure if a shop is legitimate, do an online search for that vendor’s store rather than follow the link provided.
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Use a credit card. When making any purchases, use your credit card. This way, if anything gets charged that was not supposed to be, you can file a claim with your credit card company.
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Keep your receipts. Make note of all your purchases and save your receipts. If you have a question about a product or need to make a return, you will have the vendor’s information readily available.
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Know the return policy. Before making a purchase, ask the vendor what their return policy is so you will not run into issues after the holidays.
Read more about holiday pop-up shops and event scams on BBB.org. Find out more about online event scams on Event Industry News. Click here for tips for buying tickets to an event.
If you have been targeted by this scam, help others by filing a scam report here.
Registration is open for Maine teachers and families to participate in the fourth annual WinterKids Winter Games -- a four-week series of outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenges for kids.
WinterKids’ Winter Games allows participation of all kids, whether they are getting in-person education or learning at home. Embracing outdoor learning helps to avoid the pitfalls of online learning, and the negative effects of excessive screen time – particularly those in elementary school.
WinterKids will provide resources for both teachers and parents to get their kids outside and active. This year’s weekly challenges (outdoor physical activity, nutrition, family engagement, and winter carnival) will align with themes of resilience, inclusion, community, and service. Families will receive a robust playbook to use at home, as well as weekly incentives and prizes. There is also a Move, Learn, Explore Facebook group for resource sharing, and downloadable activities on the organization’s Web site.
WinterKids expects 400 teachers and 8,000 students and families statewide to participate. Teachers can sign up at www.winterkids.org until December 14.
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