The Center Announces Expansion

KENNEBUNK –The Center is very excited to launch their “Building for the Future” Campaign, which seeks to raise funds for the building of a new addition to the main Center campus. The Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and has been serving adults 50+ in the Kennebunks with informational, educational, and social programming for over 30 years. With significant growth in membership and programming offerings in the past several years, the new addition will allow for continued growth as the Center continues to proudly serve the community.

During the Center’s endowment campaign, the 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush served as Honorary Chairs. The Center is very pleased to announce that continuing the long tradition of choice for me to make.”

June’s designee, Mark Couture, AVP Cash Management Specialist, selected Seacoast Mental Health Center of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as his designee. The center works to provide high quality and accessible mental health and substance use disorder services for all ages and stages of need. “Mental health is a hugely important health care issue that impacts almost everyone, either directly or indirectly,” Couture notes.

“Seacoast Mental Health Center serves seacoast New Hampshire in traditional services as well as creative outreach. I am thrilled that the Bank can provide support to this organization, making a difference in individual lives as well as the community.”

These Employee Donations mark the 87th $1,000 donation that has been made through the Partners Bank Employee Donation Program. For more information, go to www. partners.bank, www.facebook. com/partnersbankonline, or call 1-888-226-5747.

SMHC Announces new COO

YORK COUNTYSouthern Maine Health Care (SMHC) announced recently that Kathryn Cope will serve as its new chief operating officer. Cope currently serves as vice president of Operations and Critical Care at Maine Medical Center (MMC), a role she assumed in 2019. Cope takes over for Nathan Howell, who was named President and CEO of MaineGeneral Health in Augusta.

“Kathryn is an experienced health care executive with more than 25 years of experience in acute care clinical operations, finance, and service line strategy,” said Joel Botler, MD, chief medical officer and interim president of MaineHealth’s Southern Region, which includes both SMHC and MMC. “Her experience as a community-oriented collaborator with proven skills in advancing innovative solutions to complex challenges make her a perfect fit for SMHC.”

Cope earned her undergraduate degree in Economics & Classics from Bowdoin College and her MBA from the Darden community support and service in the Bush Family, the “Building for the Future” Campaign will see the 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush serving as Honorary Chairs. The Center is located at 175 Port Road in Kennebunk. tisan help bring high-quality education pro- grams to schools nationwide. The legislation would provide federal grants to states for partnerships between school districts and parks, natural resource management agencies, educator preparation programs, and museums or other organizations with expertise in engaging young people with real-world examples of environmental and scientific concepts. It would also establish a pilot program for outdoor school education programs that offer intensive, hands-on learning experiences, such as residential programs and summer camps.

Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia. She has been at MMC since 2012, serving in several leadership roles before her current position.

Southern Maine Health Care (SMHC) is a national award-winning healthcare organization with a non-profit mission “to improve the health and health care of the communities we serve.” SMHC includes a full service, acute care medical center in Biddeford, with York County’s only inpatient mental health unit. Emergency care, surgical services and diagnostic and therapy services are available at SMHC’s Medical Centers in Biddeford and Sanford. SMHC offers primary care and multispecialty physician services, diagnostic and therapy services and Walk-In Care centers in York County communities. SMHC is Joint Commission accredited and has been recognized for quality excellence by numerous outside organizations. SMHC is part of the MaineHealth system, a growing family of health care services in northern New England. To learn more, visit www. smhc.org.

The act seeks to coordinate federal efforts on environmental education by requiring the Secretary of Education to establish an environmental literacy advisory panel to coordinate and report on environmental literacy activities across federal agencies. It would also provide easy access to environmental education resources through the Department of Education.

“Maine’s abundant natural resources and pristine environment make it an idyllic place for children to grow up,” said Senator Susan Collins, who co-sponsored the bill. “From our western mountains to our rugged coastline and all of the lakes, ponds, forests, and rivers in between, there are endless opportunities for young people to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Our bipartisan legislation would help states integrate environmental education into their core cur- riculum and establish an outdoor education pilot program so that students can learn more about the native flora, fauna, and ecosystems in their own backyard and be inspired with a lifelong love of nature.”

“We hear all the time from parents who are worried about screen time and social media’s downsides. This bill addresses those concerns by getting kids outside, off their screens, and learning more about the natural world around them,” said Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who first introduced the bill back in 2007.

“High-quality environmental education has many positive impacts, from reconnecting kids with nature, to health benefits, to boosting math and science test scores. The No Child Left Inside Act will help more states provide effective environmental education programs and integrate environmental literacy and outdoor learning into other core subjects. Ensuring students understand the natural world prepares them to navigate environmental challenges that impact our communities,” he adds.

“The additional funding from this bill could ensure Maine students can reap the

NATIONWIDE -

The Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act is a piece of legislation that benefits of engaging outdoors,” said Amara Ifeji, Director of Policy at the Maine Environmental Education Association.

“NCLI’s focus on educator support, community partnership, and outdoor school experiences will contribute to youth’s mental and physical wellness, increase test scores, and develop students’ problem-solving, leadership, and self-confidence skills to prepare them for the workforce.” would establish a national mercury monitoring network to protect human health and the environment.

The positive effects of outdoor learning on child development have been well documented. When children explore the outdoors, it increases their physical activity level and may help boost their self-esteem and improve their academic performance in other subjects.

A study by the American Institutes for Research shows that children who participated in outdoor education programs significantly raised their science test scores by 27%, as measured by a pre- and post-survey administered immediately upon their return to school. For more information, visit https://www.congress. gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1239.

“Mercury is one of the most persistent and dangerous pollutants, affecting the senses, brain, spinal cord, kidneys, and liver. It poses a particular risk to children and pregnant women, causing an elevated risk of birth defects and problems with motor skills,” said Senator Susan Collins, who cosponsored the bill. “In Maine, some of our lands and bodies of water face higher mercury pollution compared to the national average. Maine has been called the ‘tailpipe of the nation,’ as the winds carry pollution, including mercury, from the west into Maine. This bipartisan legislation would establish a comprehensive national monitoring network, helping to protect human health and track the effect of emissions reductions.”

“Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that poses a serious threat to our health. Despite recent progress in reduc-

See MERCURY on page 19 . . .

. . . MERCURY from page 18 ing mercury pollution, far too many parents discover each year that their child may have long-term neurological impairments as a result of exposure to unsafe levels of mercury,” said Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), who helped in reintroducing the legislation to Congress with Senator Collins. “Knowing how much mercury is present in our environment is critical to addressing this problem. Our bipartisan legislation would build on current monitoring efforts and create a nationwide mercury monitoring system to better protect communities across our country from mercury pollution.”

“The U.N.’s global mercury treaty, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, aims to protect human and environmental health from emissions and releases of mercury that stem from human activities such as burning coal or smallscale artisanal gold mining. Long-term mercury monitoring—locally, regionally, and globally—is critical to measuring the treaty’s effectiveness over time,” said David