Lake Region Reader November 2020

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Web: www.turnerpublishing.net/news Volume 15 • Issue 14 • November 20, 2020

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Spectacular fall colors

Lake Region Reader

INDEX

Funny things kids say!.............3 Movie Review .......................11 Classifieds ............................12 Reader Recipe .......................14

FEATURE ARTICLES Things to consider before warming up next to your first fire this season .......................7 Change-of-season food blues can become happy experience .............................8 Get to your eye doctor right away if you experience early warning signs of detached retina ....................................8

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The setting sun recently lit up the fall foliage on Main Street in Belgrade Lakes Village.

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Page 2

LAKE REGION READER www.centralmainetoday.com

November 20, 2020

Be Flu Free protect

Flu vaccines you and help the spread of illnesses.

prevent

COVID-19 OR THE FLU?

About half of all Americans get a flu shot each year.

Symptoms for both illnesses can be similar.

Contact your healthcare provider and stay home if you have:

FLU VACCINE FACTS: Fact: Flu viruses change, getting a flu shot every year keeps you fully protected Fact: A flu shot can reduce flu related doctor’s visits by 40%-60% Fact: The flu vaccine won’t give you the flu, but you may experience mild side effects like soreness or a headache

Source: cdc.gov

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LAKE REGION READER

November 20, 2020

When visiting with our daughter and family recently, our youngest granddaughter was telling about how her cousin was teaching her some things relating to the handling of sheep.

In the middle of her detailed story she suddenly stopped and said, “I am getting confused and I am the one doing the talking!”

- Ken Hinkley, Dixfield

Page 3

www.centralmainetoday.com

We lost our power for three days recently due to a storm. My daughter and two grandchildren live a short distance away. I called and asked my 9 year old grandson if they lost power too, and he said they had.

I asked him how long it was out for and he replied “ until it came back on”!

- Robert Concannon, Kents Hill

My daughter called me from the car after My grandson was 5 picking up my two years old. I said to him, year old grandson “Let’s play the game Simon Says, I will be Si- from daycare. He was in his car seat, in mon.” I started barking the back, but could out commands, saying ‘Simon says’. I could hear my voice on see my grandson was the speaker. As they getting very flustered drove along, I hear my with the game, so I said, grandson yell from “Why don’t you be the back, “Grammie, Simon?” I wasn’t sure look at the crane!” He he understood the game thought I was in the until he said, “Simon says – never play Simon car and could see what he could see.

Says again!”

– Valerie Luce, – Peter Minichiello, Windham Stoneham

Enter as many times as you want, but each entry must be emailed separately or mailed separately.

Funny Things Kids Say Turner Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 214, Turner, Maine 04282 Or email: FunnyThingsKidsSay@turnerpublishing.net

Submit this form with your Funniest Thing Kids Say conversation. Winners chosen randomly from entries that include this form and a submitted conversation.

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Share the funniest thing your kid or grandkid said this week!

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November 20, 2020

Free Thanksgiving drive-In dinner Thanks to the support of Central Maine Motors Auto Group and community member donations, the Waterville Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Waterville at the Alfond Youth & Community Center will hand out over 750 individually packaged Thanksgiving dinners on Saturday, November 21st in their parking lot from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Everyone is invited! Simply drive up to a volunteer, request the number of freshly cooked and delicious meals you want, then enjoy the feast: mouthwatering turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce and rolls, mixed veggies and pumpkin pie for dessert. “In the midst of this diffi-

cult and stressful time we are so happy to still be able to offer this free Thanksgiving Dinner to our community members,� explains AYCC CEO Ken Walsh. “And thanks to the folks at Central Maine Motors we are able to offer an additional 150 packed Thanksgiving dinner makings for our afterschool program families.� After donating 150 frozen turkeys, Chris and Linanne Gaunce pulled the Central Maine Motors team together to fill 150 accompanying bags with all the fixings to complete the take home dinner. “Our families are so thankful to know their Holiday meals are taken care of,� explains Chrissy Johnson, AYCC Child & Youth Development Director.

Submitted photo

Belgrade Lakes business group making changes to annual Belgrade Holiday Stroll BELGRADE — The Belgrade Holiday Stroll, normally sponsored by the Belgrade Lakes Region Business Group, will be a DIY event this year.

Because of the limits on gatherings, the business group isn’t holding the event, which usually takes place in Bel-

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grade Lakes Village on the first Saturday of December.

Instead, the group is encouraging businesses and residents to participate by decorating their buildings, yards and homes to celebrate the holidays. “Hopefully this will bring some joy and happiness to

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The group will still light the tree on the Village Green this year.

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November 20, 2020

Page 5

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A note from KVCAP Maine’s new law comes to the rescue volunteers for many hearing-impaired adults

Back in mid-March, the pandemic changed lives in unforeseeable ways, unless you were alive during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Everyone adapted the best they could, and front line workers became heroes — medical staff, teachers, grocery workers, to name a few.

At the time, the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program had 90 volunteer drivers, ages 23 to 88, on the road almost daily. Each had to make the personal decision, based on their health and family, to continue to volunteer or shelter in place. Eighteen continued to volunteer, driv-

“We are more than just a ride”

ing people to medically necessary appointments. The program’s drivers became another group of front-line workers — true heroes helping the area communities. As more medical and social service providers began re-opening, the number of drivers back on the road grew to 83, driving from Benton to Bangor, Palmyra to Portland or Waterville to Weeks Mills.

KVCAP is very proud of its transportation drivers. If you would like to join the volunteer team, look for the ad in this paper. Make a difference. We are “more than just a ride.”

Some of you may have heard about the recent passing of the legislation H.P. 39-L.D. 38, “An Act to Require Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids for Adults.” This law states that private insurance companies in the State of Maine have to offer hearing aid coverage — up to $3,000 per hearing impaired ear. The passing of this legislation has led to many Maine residents experiencing improved quality of life. This insurance benefit for hearing aid coverage has allowed many patients across the State of Maine to hear the sounds of life once again.

Our goal at Waterville Audiology is to educate Mainers on the passing of this law, so they too can seek treatment for hearing loss. There are some restrictions in place regarding this law. For example, if an employer is based out of state, the insurance policy would be exempt from this law. Also, any federal insurances, such as Medicare, are also exempt from this law.

Currently, the average person with hearing loss waits approximately seven years to seek treatment.

One of the major reasons for the delay in treatment is the cost — a major bar-

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rier to better hearing for many patients, as hearing aids can cost up to $2,000 to $4,000 per hearing aid.

Waterville Audiology would like to thank State Rep. James R. Handy of Lewiston for his sponsorship to pass this legislation. Waterville Audiology interviewed Handy, and he discussed his personal experiences with hearing loss, including family members who have needed treatment, and the financial barriers that were in place, along with the consequences of untreated hearing loss.

While campaigning door to door in 2016, Handy heard from multiple people experiencing the isolation hearing impairment can impose on a person. He soon realized he was not alone in experiencing these feelings, but that the problem was very widespread across the state. Handy indicated that during the course of working the bill through the legislation process,

many individuals expressed to him how this bill would result in life changing experiences for Maine people with hearing loss.

Handy touched upon how untreated hearing loss can cost people their jobs and deny individuals the opportunity for promotions. The following bullet points are some of his many motives for sponsoring this legislation:

• Employers don’t hire employees who can’t hear and respond to interview questions

• Without hearing aids,

interviews are often unsuccessful

• Employers don’t keep

employees who can’t hear well enough to communicate through telephones.

• Employers tend to not

assign employees to lead projects or be in

Turner Publishing invites our readers children to send in their “Le�ers to Santa” to be published in their local Turner Publishing paper.

All le�ers will be published for all our readers to enjoy.

There is no charge for having the le�ers published and they will be run exactly as they are submi�ed, misspellings and all.

“Le�ers to Santa” is a great keepsake for parents, grandparents and the children themselves.

So get your children to write a le�er to Santa (which will be forwarded to the North Pole...) to share with all your friends and family.

Mail your le�ers to: “Le�ers to Santa” PO Box 214, Turner, ME 04282. Le�ers will not be returned but may be picked up at the Turner Publishing office in Turner. All entries must be received by November 25,, 2020.

A Product of

significant teams when the person be able to enough to team.

roles in they know will not hear well be in the

• Individuals with un-

treated hearing loss — without the use of hearing aids — cannot get the opportunities that result in career advancement.

• In this day of Go To

meetings and Zoom, employers are aware of the cost of employing people who will potentially need ongoing and expensive accommodations.

Waterville Audiology is here to support you through navigating your insurance benefit. Call us today at 207-872-0320; we are happy to help you through the process to hear the sounds of life again.

— Becca Rancourt, Doctor of Audiology

LAKE REGION READER

Page 6

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Area Scout leaders complete Youth Protection Training OAKLAND — Kennebec Valley Scouting District Training Chair Joe Poulin has announced that several volunteer scouting leaders in the area have completed Youth Protection Training during two recent training sessions. “True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in scouting,� Poulin said. “Nationally, scouting requires that all those involved in our programs

take Youth Protection Training every other year.

Here in Pine Tree Council, it is an annual requirement.�

The training includes a review of scouting’s barriers to abuse, what to do if you witness abuse, how to respond if you suspect abuse, reporting requirements, and how to educate scouting parents and youth members about child safety. “Every Scout also takes the Cyber-Chip Train-

ing to help Scouts be safe while online,� Poulin said. “They earn the patch for completing that program.�

Completing the training at a COVID-19 compliant in-person event hosted by Augusta Cub Scout Pack 603 in September were Jeffrey Mortron, of Augusta, Angeline and Zachary Truman, of Farmingdale; Cynthia Davis, of Oakland; Luanne Chelsey, of Vassalboro; Douglas S. Mason Sr., of Augusta.

Completing training at a

similar in-person training hosted by China Troop 479 in October were Kern Kelley, of China; Christian Hunter of Unity[ Timothy D. Dow Sr., of Albion; Stephanie Choate, of Winslow; Ronald A, Emery, of China.; Scott and Priscilla Adams, of China; Brian Wedge, of China and Bert Audette, of China.

Along with in-person courses, the Youth Protection Training is available online at my.scouting.org.

Kennebec County SWCD supervisor vote deadline is Nov. 24 AUGUSTA — The Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District is holding its election for district supervisor, and the ballot deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24.

There is one elected

position in this year’s election. It starts Jan. 1, and is a three year term of office. Currently Ken Laustsen of Oakland is running to fill that position.

Write-in candidates are eligible. Ballots are

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November 20, 2020

MaineGeneral hospice volunteers to host holiday grief support groups AUGUSTA — MaineGeneral Hospice Volunteers of Kennebec Valley are offering support for those who are grieving for a loved one, and may have a hard time through the holidays.

One-time group support meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks, all at the Harold Alfond Center for Health, in Augusta: • 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14; • 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6; • 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Hospice volunteers are also needed. Those who have experienced grief and want to help others during their journey may join MaineGeneral Hospice Volunteers of Kennebec Valley to help facilitate peer grief support groups.

To sign up for a Coping with Grief during the Holidays Workshop, or to volunteer, contact Yvonne Watson, bereavement coordinator, at 207-248-0420 or email yvonne. watson@mainegeneral.org.

For more information, visit www.mainegeneral.org/hospice.

within the Kennebec District boundaries are eligible to vote.

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LAKE REGION READER

Page 7

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Things to consider before warming up next to your first fire this winter A warm fire can make even the coldest winter day more enjoyable. Fireplaces may not get much use in spring or summer, but come late fall and throughout the winter, the fireplace can be a great place for families to gather.

Before fireplace season hits full swing, homeowners might want to brush up on a few fireplace facts so they can safely enjoy nights spent sitting by the crackling flames.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America advises homeowners with fireplaces to hire a CSIAcertified chimney sweep to clean their fireplaces. After a lengthly period of nonuse, various issues could be affecting the chimney, many of which might not be noticeable to an untrained eye. Professional, certified chimney sweeps have extensive knowledge of fireplaces, making them valuable resources who can let homeowners know if any safety issues developed since fireplaces were last

used. The National Protection Agency recommends that chimneys be swept at least once per year.

A full inspection of the chimney might be in order as well. Chimney service technicians will conduct thorough examinations of readily accessible portions of the chimney exterior and interior and accessible portions of the appliance and the chimney connection.

The CSIA recommends that homeowners who plan to use their chimneys as they have in the past request a Level 1 inspection, which will examine the soundness of the chimney structure and flue as well as the basic appliance installation and connections. Technicians also will verify if the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits.

Homeowners also should inspect their chimney dampers before lighting their first fires of the season. Dampers should open and close smoothly. If not, a service technician can help fix or replace the damper.

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House recommends using dense wood that’s been split and stored in a high and dry place for at least six months. Oak is an example of dense wood that,

when stored properly, can make for an enjoyable fireplace experience. Avoid softwoods like pine. Pine can produce a lot of creosote, which is a byproduct of wood combustion.

Creosote is highly flammable, and as it builds up in a chimney, the risk for a chimney fire increases.

Choosing the right wood, making sure it’s well-seasoned and having a chimney professionally cleaned can reduce the risk of a creosote-related chimney fire. A Level 1 inspection should determine if there are potentially dangerous levels of creosote deposits in the chimney.

Before nestling up to a fireplace this winter, homeowners should consider a host of factors and safety measures to ensure their fireplaces are safe and ready for the season ahead.

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LAKE REGION READER

Page 8

November 20, 2020

www.centralmainetoday.com

Health &

FEATURE COLUMN

Change-of-season food blues can become happy experience Jodi Cornelio

Live Long, Live Well Jodi R. Cornelio, AS, BA, MBA Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and Motivational Speaker jcornelio@turnerpublishing.net

The temperature is changing and so are our habits. We go from hanging outside in the sunshine, mowing lawns, golfing, walking, biking and planting flowers to watching TV and playing video games indoors and eating comfort

foods that fall in line with the chilly days.

Do not let the change of season suck you into bad habits and bad food choices. There are plenty of chilly-day foods that do not involve a lot of unnecessary calories.

Instead of reaching for the apple pie and meatloaf with gravy, reach for a hot bowl of soup or make a pot of tomato-based sauce and lather it over spaghetti squash. These are two of my favorite cold weather change-of-season choices.

Soups are filling and can be hearty, leaving you satisfied enough to not reach for

dessert.

One of my favorite soups my mom used to make all the time is tomato and rice soup. Start with a chicken bouillon base in a 4-quart pot. Fill bouillon base and

water to reach the halfway mark; add a cup of uncooked rice. Add 16 oz. canned stewed tomatoes.

Salt and pepper to taste. It really is that simple.

If you want to add a little

character and make this soup heartier, you can add 2 cups of cooked grilled chicken chunked into bite size pieces. You can also add a cup of diced carrots and/or a cup of shredded

cabbage to add some fiber to this succulent soup.

Enjoy all the beauty the changing of seasons brings.

Live long, live well.

CATCHING HEALTH - DIANE ATWOOD

Get to the eye doctor right away if you experience early warning signs of torn or detached retina Cynthia, who’s now 59, experienced her first floater in her eye when she was 13.

“And I remember distinctly because I saw this thing that looked like it belonged underneath a microscope, like a little amoeba. I asked my mom about it and she said, “Oh, it’s nothing, it’s just a floater,” she recalled.

Her eye doctor agreed. Floaters aren’t usually a big deal, but they can be an early warning sign of a retinal tear or a detachment, especially, later in life. Our eyes are filled with a gel-like substance called the vitreous, which contains tiny fibers that are attached to the retina. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that covers about 65 percent of the back of the eye. It receives light and changes it into signals that it sends to the brain – an important part of our being able to see.

Floaters are little clumps of the gel inside your eye.

What you see are shadows of the clumps cast on the retina. As we get older, the gel shrinks, and the tiny fi-

bers begin to pull on the retina. Sometimes when a fiber is pulling on the retina the fiber breaks. That’s called a vitreous detachment or a posterior vitreous detachment.

It’s not a serious issue, and no treatment is usually necessary.

Age is the primary risk factor for PVD, but additional factors are recent eye surgery, such as cataract removal and myopia, or nearsightedness. Dr. Aaron Parnes, a retina specialist with Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, explains the role myopia plays.

“In a highly myopic or nearsighted eye, the eye itself is longer. That elongation causes you to need glasses in order to focus the light farther back than would normally be needed,” he said. “That elongation also causes the retina to be stretched out — it has to cover a larger surface area.”

Cynthia is at increased risk of retinal problems because she is nearsighted. She started wearing glasses

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when she was 12 years old and ever since her first one at age 13, has gotten quite used to seeing floaters. In early March she had an entirely new experience. She began to see flashing lights in the periphery of her left eye.

“It was absolutely terrifying. These bright flashes of light, if you were looking at the sky, look like a lightning bolt that flashes and disappears.,” she said, “and then you move your eye and it flashes again and it disappears. I’d never seen this, so I went to an eye doctor and he said what I was seeing was a fiber tugging on the retina.”

You might think you’d feel it if something was tugging on your retina, but it has no pain sensors, so you see flashing lights instead. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to light flashes or other clues your eye might be sending you that something potentially serious

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Retina Page 8

is going on.

Parnes emphasizes the importance of recognizing the early warning signs.

“Initially, you’ll have floaters, black dots, or flashes of light in your vision,” Parnes noted. “Floaters mean either there is bleeding, or the gel has shifted around.

A flash comes as an arc of light on the side of your vision and goes away immediately. There can be multiple flashes at once. They indicate pulling on the retina.”

Pulling on the retina can cause PVD, but it could also lead to a retinal tear and unfortunately, that’s what ended up happening to Cynthia. She was scheduled to see her eye doctor a month after he first saw her, but after experiencing three weeks of continuous flashing lights, something more dramatic occurred.

“On the morning of March 26. I was on my computer and these flashes got super bright, super intense and they arced over the entire top of my eye. About 15 minutes later, I saw this thing move across my eye that was like a cloud. I thought, oh my god, that is not good.

This big, bulky thing was moving across my eye, and then I saw a darker thing that looked like an octopus flat across my eye, which dropped thousands of little floaters on me,” she recalled. “This was during the height of COVID, round one, but the doctor saw me immediately.

He examined my eye and said, ‘Well, the bad news is you have a retinal tear. The good news is it’s not a retinal detachment yet.’ “ Fortunately, the tear could be treated with a laser, which uses heat to seal around the tear and decrease the likelihood of a detached retina.

“It took about 15 minutes. The eye doctor had on this weird virtual reality headset and the laser in his hand.

He had me torque my head so he could laser in on the spot, and 15 minutes later, he had sealed the hole. I couldn’t see anything for about 10 minutes after that because the light was so blinding that my brain had to get used to that happening,” Cynthia said “We left and went home, and I looked like somebody hit me in the face with a baseball bat because my eye was solid red.”

The laser sealed the tear in Cynthia’s retina, but the afternoon after her treatment, another black “octopus” streaked across her vision. Back she went to the eye doctor, who discovered that when the tear occurred it nicked a blood vessel. Several months later, Cynthia said it seems as if she is looking through a snow globe.

“My vision is actually fine. My vision has not changed, but I have a lot of debris in there — floaters and cloudy stuff, and also a lot of blood in the eye because of the nicked blood vessel. I’m hoping that eventually, more blood will get reabsorbed and I won’t have as much debris floating around in my left eye,” she added.

It could be a year before her eye clears up, and the debris may not all go away. Once you’ve started the PVD process in one eye, it’s likely to happen in the other eye as well within a year. Sure enough, Cynthia has already started noticing symptoms.

“I started having flashing in my right eye, and I don’t honestly know how long has it been going on. I happened to notice it when I was going up a staircase where there’s a blank wall. Then it was really easy to see. But it’s really, really far back in the periphery.”

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Because of the experience with her left eye, Cynthia knows the flashes in her right eye indicate there is pulling going on. She’s trying to take a calm approach to the idea that she might have another retinal tear.

Every day she meditates. “As part of my meditation, I always say to myself, I only have a 10 percent chance of it happening again, I only have a 10 percent chance of this happening again; let’s focus on that.”

The biggest risk she faces is having a retinal detachment, which is what happens if you have a tear and fluid leaks out under the retina. Serious business, says Parnes.

“If the fluid does go through the retinal tear and the retina separates from the back of the eye, you’ll see a shadow or curtain come over your vision. It starts in one field of your view and eventually, will envelop the entire field. Your vision in that eye will be darkened.

When the retina is detached, you can’t just laser it back.

You need surgery,” Parnes explained.

“The usual procedure is vitrectomy. We remove the gel that fills the eye which removes the pulling on the tear or tears. Then we have to reattach the retina. We usually use a gas bubble to push it back into place. Then we apply a laser to create a scar just like we would if the retina was already attached and there was just a tear there. You usually need to position your head either facing down or facing one way or the other depending on where you want the bubble to push,” he continued. “As the laser scars down and seals everything in place, it keeps the retina attached; over three weeks to two months, the bubble slowly dissolves, and we keep a close watch to see that the retina remains attached.

The healing process is long, more of a marathon than a sprint.”

As I mentioned earlier, the biggest risks associated with torn or detached retinas are age (a PVD is more likely to happen after age 60), being near-sighted, or having recent eye surgery. Trauma to the eye can also increase your risk and having an issue in one eye increases your risk in your other eye.

Paying attention to your eyes is the most important thing you can do to prevent more serious problems, says Parnes.

“If you have symptoms, don’t ignore them. If flashes or floaters are occurring you should get a dilated eye exam, preferably within a day or so, because it could mean the gel has separated. In most people, the gel can separate and not create a tear or a detachment, but you can’t tell without getting an exam. So, getting examined sooner when you have symptoms is a good idea” Also, don’t forget your routine eye exams. Cynthia couldn’t agree more. She never expected to become a retinal expert herself, but it happened — almost overnight — and one thing that has caught her attention is how easily some people dismiss what’s going on with their eyes.

“I got to know the eye doctor’s office pretty well, and they said that some people are so bodily unaware that they come in and their retinas are almost completely detached, which means they’ve had this black curtain over their eye,” she said. “If you see a heavy drape moving across your vision or down from the top or up from the bottom you should know you have a problem.

Get to the eye doctor, and also go if you notice a big floater that’s new or a lot of floaters that happen all of a sudden.”xs You may not be able to prevent torn or detached retina, but the earlier you catch them the more likely you’ll avoid more serious issues later on.

Cynthia has one final suggestion to help us all be more aware of our eyes. She’s added something to her morning routine that she says is quick and easy — you could even do it while you’re brushing your teeth.

She covers one eye and takes a close look at the other, rolling it around and making sure she doesn’t see any floaters, flashes, dark curtains, or anything else that’s unusual. She does the same with her other eye, finishes brushing her teeth, and moves on with her day (and her daily meditation). I hope she doesn’t run into any more problems. Seems like she’s had enough this year.

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KVCOG hires pair for new community resilience positions FAIRFIELD — William Harper and Robyn Stanicki have joined Kennebec Valley Council of Governments as community resilience coordinators.

Harper and Stanicki will work to deliver technical, planning and administrative assistance to municipal and regional entities, small businesses, nonprofits and other stakeholders.

The new positions have been made possible for the next two years through CARES Act funding KVCOG received through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

New programming un-

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“I’m excited to be joining KVCOG at such a pivotal time,” Harper said. “However, amid this pervasive uncertainty is a

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Laura Cyr, KVCOG executive director, said, “I am thrilled to have William and Robyn join the KVCOG team in this capacity.

They both bring with them expertise and experience and their work together will help to prepare the region to move forward from this pandemic in a meaningful way” said Laura Cyr, Executive Director, KVCOG. KVCOG is a private, nonprofit organization that

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Fifth annual ‘ShineOn Saturday’ continues legacy of Cassidy Charette OAKLAND – Messalonskee High School girls soccer held its fifth annual “ShineOn Saturday” Oct. 3 at Pleasant Point Park in Oakland — honoring former Messalonskee High School soccer player Cassidy Charette — by hosting a girls youth soccer mentoring day.

Charette was a leading Eagle mid-fielder and a youth mentor before she was killed in a hayride accident Oct. 11, 2014. Girls, ages pre-kindergarten to grade

5, attended the event, organized by the Messalonskee girls soccer teams and the ShineOnCass Foundation.

The foundation was created to educate, inspire and empower youth to shine their own light through acts of kindness and volunteer charitable activities. For more information about the foundation or becoming involved in ShineOnCass initiatives, visit shineoncass. org or email shineoncass@ gmail.com.

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Six-year-old Kylie Wolfe keeps pace with Messalonskee Girls Soccer player Shauna Clark at ShineOn Saturday Oct. 3 at Pleasant Point Park in Oakland.

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MOVIE REVIEW

‘The War with Grandpa’ Lucas Allen (101 Studios/Brookdale Studios) Based on an awardwinning book by Robert Kimmel Smith, “The War with Grandpa” is a family comedy that was filmed three years ago for the now-defunct Weinstein label. It’s great to see a film like this being released in theaters for families to enjoy together during the pandemic, but it doesn’t

change the fact that this is merely a distraction for the younglings while their parents have other things to do. Not to mention, director Tim Hill has a “pedigree” in the genre, including films like “Muppets from Space” and “Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.”

Recently widowed Ed (Robert De Niro) is having trouble adjusting to living alone, and his daughter Sally (Uma Thurman) has him move into the home she shares with her husband Arthur (Rob Riggle) and her three kids. While the rest of the family, including teenager Mia (Laura Marano) and Christmasobsessed younger sister Jenny (Poppy Gagnon), are happy to have their grandpa around, 12-year-old Peter (Oakes Fegley) is mad that he

has to move up into the attic since his bedroom now belongs to Ed. His middle school friends suggest he go on a prank war with his grandpa to get him to move out.

Meanwhile, Ed’s buddies Jerry (Christopher Walken) and Danny (Cheech Marin) believe it’s a great way to get back at his grandson.

Naturally, the pranks get more dangerous each day, affecting the twosome’s once-bonding relationship. There’s also a four-against-four battle of trampoline dodgeball between the kids and Ed, Jerry, Danny and Diane (Jane Seymour). Things come to a head during Jenny’s Christmasthemed birthday party, where the danger really goes up a notch.

Kids will likely have fun with it, but the

grownups will have to steer clear from it by more than six feet. This is one of the laziest, illconceived, tone-deaf abominations to hit the silver screen, and forget trying to save theaters with it. It’s one of those plots that could’ve been solved in a short period of time, but they instead had to pile it on with more and more absurdity that it becomes unbearable. Not to mention, it’s filled to the brim with family comedy cliches and stale humor that it feels like the movie’s going on auto-pilot without steering into any proper direction. This kind of Hollywood manufacturing of kiddie films has to end at some point.

The writers seem to be under the impression that there are no longterm consequences to

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the characters’ actions.

As far-fetched the plot is, there are too many moments that would’ve been more consequential in real life. It’s absolutely ridiculous that these moments were designed to be funny only they end up with irrational, facepalming behavior.

But the most baffling thing is why these respectable and legendary actors would stoop this low to be in this movie.

With De Niro, it’s par for the course at this point.

With this and “Dirty Grandpa,” he finds a way to remain as stoic and dignified as in his greatest performances while performing heinous acts of unfunny comedy.

Then you have Seymour, Marin and Walken, who has not acted with De Niro since “The Deer Hunter,” who were defi-

nitely in this only for the paycheck. Both Thurman and Riggle, on the other hand, are decent, but the kid actors are simply below average and they don’t make sitting through this film any easier.

If 2020 represents everything wrong with the world, “The War with Grandpa” represents everything wrong with movies today. It’s a soulless, factory-produced product that doesn’t reflect any moral stance in the real world. Just stay home, watch whatever’s streaming, wait until 2021 when things start going back to normal, and you’ll be fine.

THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG (for rude humor, language, and some thematic elements) THE CRITIC’S RATING: 1 Star (Out of Four)

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Published by Turner Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 214, Turner, ME 04282-0214 Turner Publishing Inc. founded in 1992. Advertisers and those wishing to submit articles of interest can call 1-207-225-2076, email advertising@turnerpublishng.net or you can also send e-mail to us at: articles@turnerpublishing.net. Turner Publishing produces, monthly, bi-monthly quarterly and weekly publications. Any views expressed within these papers does not necessarily reect those of these papers. These papers assume no responsibility for typographical errors that may occur, but we will reprint, at no additional cost, that part of any advertisement in which the error occurs before the next issue’s deadline. This paper also reserves the right to edit stories and articles submitted for publication. All content within our publication and on our website is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered personal, legal, or medical advice. In the state of Maine, cannabis is intended for use by those 21 and older, or 18 and older with a medical prescription. Both the printed publication and website are intended for those over the age of 21. If consuming, please keep out of the reach of children. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the advertisements within this publication. We strive to ensure the accuracy of the information published. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any consequences which arise due to error or omissions.

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Stream runs freely into Minnehonk Lake again MOUNT VERNON — The stream that has flowed through the village of Mount Vernon into Minnehonk Lake, next to the town beach and Fire Department building, hasn’t been able to reach the lake for many years. The silt and sand had built up from runoff into the stream from North Road over the years, and by 2019 it was blocked by the cattails and other growth from entering the lake, creating a 20 by 10-foot pond when it rained.

The Mount Vernon Community Partnership Corp. conducted a watershed survey of the lake in 2012, and dredging the blockage was one of the many recommended projects. In partnership with the Maine Department of Transportation, most of the problems causing non-point pollution in the village were fixed.

In 2019 the DOT replaced the culvert under North Road with an 8-foot wide flat-bottomed culvert, which enables fish easier access to the lake. Unfortunately, the fish then met the pile of silt and couldn’t reach the lake. The partnership began working with the Select Board to solve the problem. The partnership

Donald Horne, Ritchie Currier and John Chartier of Horne Construction. and Clyde Dyar, then on the Select Board, met with and received approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Land Resources, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Army Corp. of Engineers to proceed with the dredging.

The Select Board approved the cost of dredging the stream from North Road

to the lake; the partnership and the Greater Minnehonk Lake Association donated $2,000 to cover the cost.

On Oct. 8 and 9, the Horne Construction Company of Mount Vernon, one of a few companies that has the approval of doing this type of work, began dredging, removing 500 yards of sand.

“Donald Horne of Horne Construction said they probably reached the origi-

Submitted photos

nal depth of the stream as they ran into sawdust, and there was a sawmill at the site many years ago (probably 100). Sandy Wright, CPC president, told him she could believe that because when the Maine DOT worked to improve the drainage system in the village of Mount Vernon (another project of the CPC with the Select Board in 2014), the DOT told her

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when they dug Main Street for the new catch basins, they discovered the old log road about 10 feet down that was also a hundred or so years old.

As a result of the work, smelts will be able to spawn in the stream as they used to. Trout fry will be able to

grow as opposed to being bait for larger fish, which will help maintain the fisheries in the lake. It was a place where smelts spawned every spring and trout six to seven inches were caught.

Minnehonk Lake will be healthier, and fishermen are likely to be happy.

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Virtual ‘Turkey Trot 4 Hope’ will raise money for cancer support Thanksgiving weekend Here’s an opportunity to challenge yourself with a four-mile run (for adults and students) or take it slowly with the one-mile “Gobble Wobble” run/ walk (for adults, students and children) Thanksgiving weekend to help raise money to assist cancer patients throughout their journey to wellness.

Participants pick the day and time as well as

their favorite trail, route, track or treadmill. They can also form a team and fundraise to be eligible to win season and day passes to Sunday River and Mt. Abram ski areas; many other prizes are available.

All students, grades K through 12, register free.

Participants can register themselves, their family or a team; the first 200 people who register get

the official Turkey Trot 4 Hope hat. Register at raceroster.com/31423.

The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine offers free support, services, comfort items and wellness programs to anyone living with cancer — patients, survivors, caregivers and families. For more information, email dmadden@crcofwm.org or call 207-890-0329.

Reader Recipes Gramma’s Oatmeal Bread (No Kneading!)

Submitted by: Carolyn Dow

Ingredients:

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1 1/2c. oats ½ c. honey 2 envelopes yeast 1 c. molasses 4 T. water 2 1/2tsp. salt 7-7 1/2 c. flour

Directions: 1. Pour 3 cups boiling water over oats. Let stand 30 minutes.

2. Dissolve yeast in 4 T. warm water.

3. Add to oat mixture: molasses, honey, salt, yeast mixture.

4. Gradually stir in 7 to 71/2 c. flour. Dough will be sticky.

5. Cover and set in warm place for two to three hours.

6. Punch risen dough down with fist.

7. Divide in half and place in 2 loaf pans.

8. Let rise again, about 1 hour.

9. Bake @ 350 (for glass pans) or 375 (for metal pans)

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for 55-60 mins. Check after 30 mins. Cover with aluminum foil if browning too fast.

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Either fill out the entry form below and include with recipe (one entry per month please) and mail to: Reader Recipes, P.O. Box 214 Turner, ME 04282 or email to: recipe@turnerpublishing.net. (one entry per household please) Note: Turner Publishing will not lend or sell your email address to a third party.

Name:

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KBH is here to help Kennebec Behavioral Health is hosting A Night In, a virtual comedy show and online auction to support the College Scholarship Fund. The comedy show, on December 5th, will feature the River Comics and D UDIÁH 7KH RQOLQH DXFWLRQ NLFNV RII RQ %ODFN Friday!

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LAKE REGION READER

November 20, 2020

Page 15

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Regaining function following a stroke with the help of MaineGeneral’s rehabilitation specialists

By John D. Begin If Mark Wilson’s life was a novel, it would have two chapters and a very promising epilogue.

The first chapter would include everything from birth through July 8, 2020; the second would start on July 9 — the day he suffered a devastating stroke that threatened his life and turned his world and his family’s upside down.

The promising epilogue?

That literary element is made possible by the expert rehabilitation care Mark received from Dr. Emese Simon and the team of physical, occupational and speech therapists and nursing staff at the inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Unit at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta.

“Dr. Simon and the staff have been wonderful,” said Mark’s wife Carol. “I wouldn’t have wanted him to go anywhere else — and I don’t think Mark would have either; he’s been happy here.”

Adjusting to the unexpected According to Carol, her

husband has never been much of a “sitter.”

The 56-year-old Skowhegan man was operations manager at Sappi North America in Skowhegan, where he ran two departments and has been employed for more than 30 years. He would work a full day at the mill and then go home to work on any number of projects.

His active lifestyle, coupled with no family history, made his stroke even more surprising.

Carol said Mark never complained of any symptoms, nor did she notice anything out of the ordinary until she found him collapsed on the floor after she had gotten out of bed to check on her two visiting grandsons. She would learn in time that the stroke was caused by a dissected carotid artery that sent a blood clot to Mark’s brain.

“I told my grandsons afterward that if I hadn’t heard them making noise, I never would have found Mark in time,” she said.

Journey to recovery Mark was first seen at

Submitted photo

Skowhegan resident Mark Wilson, shown in his room at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta the day before his discharge from the inpatient rehabilitation program.

Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, transported by ambulance to the ACH where he was stabilized and then taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland. He was in intensive care for three days before increasing brain swelling required surgery to help alleviate the pressure. When he was healthy enough to be moved to a rehabilitation facility, Carol

and her family chose MaineGeneral’s Physical Rehabilitation Unit.

“That was the best choice we’ve made throughout this journey,” she said.

Just days into the start of his rehabilitation, Mark’s white blood cell count spiked, requiring a return to Maine Med, where the medical staff tried to identify the cause.

“I didn’t even know what

was happening (because I was so sick),” he said.

After a battery of imaging and other diagnostic tests, medical staff determined the problem was caused by a highly-infected gallbladder. Given Mark’s fragile medical condition, the best option was to drain the gallbladder to control the infection. After several days, Mark returned to the ACH to restart his rehab.

His progress since then — with only a few bumps along the way — has been truly remarkable.

“When he came here, he couldn’t move or talk,” Carol said, on the eve of Mark’s discharge to go home. “Now he’s walking, moving and talking — and it’s all been due to MaineGeneral’s therapists and how they’ve motivated him to get to the point where he is now.”

“He has thrived under the care of Dr. Simon, his therapists and Mark’s motivation to do what he needs to do,” she added.

“The therapists worked with him every day at a pace he could do and one

which they were comfortable with him doing, and they built on those pieces every day.”

Carol acknowledges that Mark’s being able to receive excellent rehabilitation care close to home — care her family was involved in to support him — made a tremendous difference.

“I’m here every day, and Mark has welcomed having family here during his rehabilitation. The staff has been very welcoming to having us here to help him,” she said. “Because he’s done so well with his rehab and recovery, I keep thinking that his engineering mind has really helped him, and it will only get better once he gets home.”

To learn more about MaineGeneral’s Physical Rehabilitation Unit team and the services they provide, visit https://www. mainegeneral.org/inpatient-rehabilitation.

John D. Begin is a communications specialist in MaineGeneral Health’s Marketing & Communications Department.

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Page 16

LAKE REGION READER www.centralmainetoday.com

November 20, 2020

Getting the right care, at the right time, in the right place has never been more important.

At MaineGeneral, we’re with you.

Don’t delay getting the care you need. While many things have changed during COVID-19, you can be sure that MaineGeneral is here to care for you safely.

We’re with you for checkups, procedures and everything in between.

We require all people at MaineGeneral to wear a face covering and practice social distancing. Expanded cleaning takes place in all areas.

We’re with you today and every day. We look forward to providing you and your family with the quality, patient-centered care that you’ve come to expect from us.

Please call your primary care provider with any health concerns.

To learn more, visit www.mainegeneral.org.