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Town of New Gloucester
385 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260
(207) 926-4126 (phone) / (207) 926-4136 (fax)
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Town of Poland
1231 Maine Street, Poland, ME 04274
(207) 998-4601 (phone) / (207) 998-2002 (fax)
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New Lifelong Learning Portal Being Developed by Maine Libraries
The Drucker Institute and Maine State Library Bring "Bendable" Learning Platform to Maine
The Drucker Institute, at Claremont Graduate University, and the Maine State Library recently announced a major expansion of the Institute's community-driven lifelong learning system, Bendable, into Maine.
A robust learning marketplace, Bendable allows residents of all ages and backgrounds to easily discover content that is just right for them and then acquire new knowledge and skills through online courses as well as local, in-person learning opportunities. In most cases, content on the Bendable platform is free for the end user.
As Bendable is not a plug-and-play app, but is tailored to the learning needs and desires of local residents, the system will not be launched in Maine until the summer of 2022.
In the interim, the Drucker Institute, the Maine State Library, hundreds of local libraries across the State, as well as other stakeholders-businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions, and grassroots groups will go through a design and development process to ensure that residents in every region have direct input into what learning resources and other features Bendable Maine should include.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is supporting the initiative with American Rescue Plan Act funding provided to the Maine State Library.
Bendable made its debut in June 2020 in South Bend, Indiana, in close partnership with the St. Joseph County Public Library and in collaboration with the mayor's office. Since then, more than 15,000 visitors from the South Bend area have come to the Bendable digital platform to access learning resources from over two dozen national and local content providers.
Bendable's key features include:
- Community Collections personal playlists of learning resources (classes, TED Talks, podcasts, books, etc.) on a particular subject that are put together by local residents;
- Career Collections learning pathways, curated by local employers that help to prepare people for some of the most in-demand jobs in their area. As users complete Career Collection courses, they receive digital badges to mark their progress; and
- Community Shelves handpicked sets of learning resources that allow local employers, nonprofits, schools, and other organizations to weave Bendable into their programming and activities while supporting designated cohorts of learners.
While much of the content on Bendable centers on building skills for work, the team at the Drucker Institute has seen in its research that people are eager to learn for different reasons throughout their life…sometimes even throughout their day. As a result, Bendable includes resources on a wide variety of topics, such as cooking healthier meals, better handling personal finances, and understanding technology. Users can also tap Bendable to study science, literature, music, art, and a host of other subjects. By offering this kind of breadth, Bendable aims to cultivate in people the habit of continuous learning.
For more on Bendable, please visit www.Bendable.com.
Maine Department of Labor (DOL) Offering Workplace Training Sessions
SafetyWorks! is an outreach program of the Maine Department of Labor designed to reduce job-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. SafetyWorks! is a voluntary program --- it is not OSHA and cannot issue citations or fines. SafetyWorks! services are available by request and free of charge.
At your request and at no cost to you SafetyWorks! will:
SafetyWorks! Offers a variety of training opportunities. To view the upcoming class schedule, as well as to obtain information on how to register for these classes, click here.
Common Consumer Scams
As a general rule, all scams have similar traits. Here are some obvious ones that raise red flags in the Consumer Protection Division that you should keep in mind.
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You are contacted out of the blue. Anyone who calls, emails, send you a letter, texts, or comes to your door out of the blue may not have your best interest at heart. You do not have to respond right away, make a decision, or even answer the door.
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You have to send money up front in order to receive a prize. You have not won anything if you have to pay for it.
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You need to send money via wire transfer or a reloadable card. This is frequently the preferred way for scammers to ask for money. Remember, this is just like sending someone cash – you will never see it again.
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You are asked for personal or financial information. Never provide your personal information (DOB, SSN, etc.) or bank account information to someone you do not know. Your bank or credit card company will not call and ask to confirm any account or personal details they already have on file. Anyone asking for this information out of the blue is trying to scam you.
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Do not tell anyone. Scammers want to keep you under their spell. If you tell family and friends, someone may dissuade you from interacting with them. If you are asked to keep it a secret, it is a scam.
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ACT NOW! If an offer is really good, it can wait for you to sleep on it and get back to them tomorrow. Too many times; though, scams have to be acted on today only. Be slow to say “yes”, and quick to say “no”.
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You get a real looking check. If you get a check and are asked to send money back, it is a scam. If you really think you have come upon unexpected good fortune, take your check to the bank and ask them to verify whether it is real.
Always listen to your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
For more information, visit the Office of the Maine Attorney General’s Web site.
Maine Any-Deer Permit Deadline Approaching
You will be able to enter into the Maine Any-Deer Permit Lottery using this online service. From the list of Lottery applicants, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) will administer a chance drawing to select winners for a Maine any-deer hunting permit. To hunt any deer in Maine, hunters must have one of these special any-deer hunting permits.
Please note, you may only supply the MDIF&W with one application for the Lottery per year. If it is found that an applicant has applied more than one time in a year, that applicant will be disqualified.
Applications must be completed by 11:59 pm (ET) on August 17, 2021. A chance drawing will be held on September 10, 2021.
Who can use this service?
- You are eligible to apply if you have a current valid Maine big game hunting license (complimentary and lifetime licenses are acceptable). Note -- landowners planning to hunt on their own land without a license can apply online without a hunting license.
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- You are a resident of the United States or Canada (foreign residents must contact the MDIF&W for help in applying for an any-deer permit).
What will I need?
To complete the application you will need:
- current big game hunting license (or complimentary or lifetime license). Note -- landowners planning to hunt on their own land without a license can apply online without a hunting license;
- districts wishing to hunt in;
- personal information (name, address, age, etc.); and
- landowner information (if applicable -- including acres and town).
Fees
There are no fees to apply for the Any-Deer Permit Lottery.
Maine Agricultural Fairs
Northern Maine Fair
July 31 – August 8
Web site: http://northernmainefairgrounds.com/
Topsham Fair
August 8 – 15
Web site: https://topshamfair.net/
Skowhegan State Fair
August 12 – 21
Web site: https://skowheganstatefair.com/
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