About Town -
the Latest Lifelong Maine News!
updates and CELEBRATIONS - A sampling of your Recent notes

 Age-Friendly Biddeford has launched a website and is excited to announce that they are partnering with Heart of Biddeford for fiscal sponsorship

Berwick for a Lifetime worked with Berwick Community Television to put together this promotional video!

Age and Ability Friendly Bucksport published Healthy Homes for Older Adults, with information about free and fee-based services available to help older residents repair or modify their homes. Each of the businesses listed in the brochure has made a commitment to working with older residents and responding to service requests within 72 hours.

Age Friendly Caribou has started "Tech Tip Tuesdays" on their Facebook page! We love the hints shared by Elizabeth Singer, Chair of Age-Friendly Caribou and tech expert extraordinnaire!

Age-Friendly Chelsea is promoting community and outside activity for all ages--from walking groups to the community elevated bed gardens.

Age-Friendly Dexter is hosting a picnic in the park on July 11, with live music, food and fun! 

Age-Friendly Coastal Communities hosted a dementia-inclusive "Walk-In Cafe". Sonya Bates, Lifelong Maine's Dementia Inclusive Fellow, worked with participants in the Walk-In Cafe to develop the programming and FUN they wanted for the day. Now, Healthy Peninsula is planning other dementia inclusive projects. Stay tuned for further details!

Age-Friendly Fryeburg is part of a regional approach that spans Maine and New Hampshire.  Mount Washington Valley Age-Friendly has developed a Walkable Trails App to make outdoor adventures accessible to everyone. Three of the featured trails are in Fryeburg! Interested in a hike? Go to mwvagefriendly.org and click on Walkable Trails. To learn more about the app - https://bit.ly/MWVTrailApp

Hallowell All Age-Friendly 

• Hallowell All Age-Friendly and their partners are excited to start their Challenge Grant project! They are working to make an area near their riverfront more welcoming to people of all abilities by adding picnic tables and bike racks. Pictured: Karen, Hallowell Conservation Commission; Wes,  HallowellTree Board; Bob, Hallowell Age Friendly Committee; Sylvie, Vision Hallowell.

• The team is delighted to have published another edition of the Hallowell Champion! To read the latest edition, click here. 

Age-Friendly Lewiston is excited to share that they partnered with Lewiston Recreation Department and Community Credit Union for a year long series on financial planning!

Living Well in Madison has launched a volunteer transportation program! The team is also excited to announce a new app that will allow residents to easily communicate with the town office and will allow emergency services to send messages to residents to help them prepare for a weather emergency.  

In Age-Friendly Millinocket, the Millinocket Memorial Library Help Desk offers tech assistance and connects people with local resources and programs like General Assistance, Disability Rights Maine, or Meals on Wheels. They answer questions from how to download an app to your phone to learning about the affordable housing options in the area. We love this approach to helping people find the resources they need!

Age-Friendly Monmouth shared this picture of 12 of the 16 members of their core team. It is an impressive group that is getting a lot done already--including distribution of File of Life! 

New Gloucester is in the planning stages to start a volunteer transporation program. The team has already recruited five volunteers and is starting training in Assisted Rides.  

Age-Friendly Presque Isle is giving File of Life as part of their approach to disaster preparedness education. In addition to File of Life, they are also giving information sheets with what residents should add to their emergency kits. 

Age-Friendly Raymond continues to connect children in their primary school to residents of Jordan Bay Place. The fourth graders wrote four letters to each resident and kindergarten students sent another round of colorful pictures to decorate the room to each apartment. The team is also busy creating an elevated bed garden behind Jordan Place. So far, they have two 16 foot beds ready to use!

Age-Friendly Saco is in the news! (sorta). 

• Smart Growth America is working with rural communities across the nation to highlight how complete streets can benefit smaller towns. When they heard about Saco's work to make the community more friendly for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers, Smart Growth America partnered with AARP to send a videographer who captured the Saco's approach to Complete Streets. Click here to read the blog and watch the video. 

• Summer is fun for residents of all abilities in Saco. The age-friendly team partnered with local businesses and other organizations to recruit more Safety Rider Volunteers for their CHAT Bicycle Ride program. With more volunteers, they were able to offer more rides. to residents of assisted living, including Wardwell House and Seal Rock.

Thriving in Place Sanford hosted a successful resource and health fair. One of our favorite activities was a standing bike with an attachment to peddle your way to blend a healthy smoothie.  

 Age-Friendly Sullivan is working with local businesses to sponsor their "Welcome to Sullivan" tote bags. Candy Eaton, Chair of Age-Friendly Sullivanm, continues to pen a monthly column in the Town Crier. We love how informative and welcoming it is!  The team is taking off some time in July to enjoy a bit of summer but the Circle of Friends will still gather to write Birthday cards to everyone celebrating a birthday in July. 

Age-Friendly Windham is participating in community events this summer. During Family Night Out, they have partnered with AARP to host an interactive table about cyber/Internet safety that promises information and fun for all ages!  

Age-Friendly communities continue to distribute File of Life. We have given out nearly 2000 copies so far this year! If you are interested in distributing them in your community, drop us a line (lifelong@maine.edu). File of Life kits are another benefit provided by AARP Maine to members of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.