The Current
February 6, 2023
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Community Matters More voting is live! We couldn’t be more excited to share that Penquis is on the ballot this year and you can find us under ‘Southern Penobscot’!
As a result of your votes, the winning nonprofits will be awarded grants by the Bangor Saving Bank Foundation’s Community Matters More program.
First-place grants: $5,000
Second-place grants: $4,000
Third-place grants: $3,000
Fourth-place grants: $1,000
You can submit one online ballot for up to 5 different nonprofit organizations. Votes can be for the organizations on the ballot, write-ins, or a combination! Please cast your vote using the link below!
Voting takes place through Feb. 28, 2023!
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This year the Agency Day committee is once again asking Penquis employees to donate articles to the annual raffle held on Agency Day. Raffle proceeds will go the Coats of Kindness program. The Agency Day committee is accepting:
1) new or like-new items or services (i.e. free massage or hair cut) or
2) baskets of items/goods – baskets can be donated by individuals or departments/programs.
Departments/Programs are encouraged to create “themed baskets” to make it even more fun.
Since Agency Day will be held twice, raffle tickets will be sold over the course of both days. It is anticipated that winners will be announced at the end of the 2nd day (winners do not need to be present!).
HR Director Danielle Goodale
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Eastern Maine CA$H VITA Program |
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The Eastern Maine CA$H VITA Program is now open and various tax sites are now taking appointments. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a free tax filing service for income eligible Mainers who’s total households gross less than $60,000 per year.
VITA Tax Sites for 2022 Tax appointments are located at the following places:
- Bangor Penquis CAP – 262 Harlow St. Bangor; By appointment only on Mondays, Thursdays and every other Friday.
- Dover Penquis CAP – 50 North St. Dover; By appointment only on Mondays.
- Lincoln Penquis CAP - 9 Main St. Suite 2, Lincoln; By appointment only on every other Tuesday.
- Orono Public Library – 39 Pine St. Orono; By appointment only on every other Saturday.
- Waldo CAP – 9 Field St. Belfast; By appointment only on every other Thursday.
- Katahdin Higher Education Center / EMCC – One Dirigo Dr. East Millinocket; By appointment only on every other Tuesday.
- First National Bank – 194 Beechland Rd. Ellsworth; By appointment only on Wednesdays.
- Machias Savings Bank / Community Room – 4 Center St. Machias; By appointment only on Tuesdays.
To schedule your 2022 VITA tax appointment, please call 207-973-3500.
All tax sites are “Scan & Go” sites and initial intake appointments are 1-hour time slots. Each site has a set of paperwork (specific to that site) that you must pick up and complete prior to your appointment. You must then bring the completed packet with you to your appointment to give to the VITA Volunteers when you give them your tax docs.
If you prefer to upload your own documents instead of having an appointment to meet with a VITA Volunteer, you may upload your own tax documents at: www.getyourrefund.org/emcashmobile, which can be found at: https://www.cashmaine.org/ under Eastern Maine CA$H. An IRS Certified Tax Preparer will still be assigned to review your documents and assist you with filing your tax return.
This is a great service that both employees and our clients can take advantage of so please help us spread the word!
Program Manager of Asset Building & Financial Capability Rebecca Grant
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Opioid Overdose Prevention Education:
What is Narcan? And why should I care?
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The number of overdose deaths in 2022 has not been released, but according to the CDC, the number is predicted to exceed 2021’s 108,000 deaths. These deaths represent our friends, neighbors, family members and even our clients and customers.
Overdose deaths are preventable, but misinformation, stigma, and shame often prevent people from seeking help and also receiving quality care.
This presentation will bust the myths, explain the science of substance use disorder, the benefits of harm reduction, treatment, resources, and most importantly, how to save a life.
Topic: Overdose Training
Time: Feb 27, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Email Narda Hanson at nhanson@penquis.org by Friday, February 24th, if you would like to attend.
Training done by Bangor Public Health & Community Services' Overdose Prevention Educator Denise Smith.
Denise Smith has over years 15 of experience helping diverse and marginalized populations navigate public systems, including five years as a program manager at a non-profit organization and 2 years as a restorative justice facilitator working with juvenile offenders. At Bangor Public Health & Community Services, Denise provides overdose education and Narcan distribution throughout Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties as part of a statewide effort to help minimize overdose deaths, reduce the stigma of Substance Use Disorder, and advocate for free Narcan access to priority populations.
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LD3 “An Act to Establish the Winter Energy Relief Payment Program” |
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Winter is finally upon us! As of January 31, 2023, HEAP has taken 9,344 application with 6,829 paid and another 401 to be paid on February 3, 2023 for a total of 7,230. That equals over $7.9 million paid. HEAP has processed 964 ECIP (Emergency Benefits) for a total of over $707,654 and have served 104 households with the Good Neighbor Fund for a total of $63,925. Within our three counties, over $8 million has gone out to vendors on behalf of our clients to keep them warm this winter. The HEAP staff has taken 19% more HEAP applications than last year. Thank you all for all your very hard work! 😊
We just received LD3 funding entitled, “An Act to Establish the Winter Energy Relief Payment Program”. Penquis has received $1,920,985 to serve our three counties. This is part of the Winter Energy Relief Bill that Governor Mills submitted and was passed in January. Penquis will be able to distribute $800 directly to energy vendors on behalf of income eligible households. Who is eligible? Households who were over the income guidelines for HEAP and are below the 300% Federal Poverty Level (FPL), Households that have never applied for HEAP, or households that applied for HEAP and have exhausted their HEAP and ECIP benefit can fill out a LD3 application. Households will be able to self-declare their gross household income over the telephone while completing the application with a staff person. We will need: Names of all adults in the household; Number of people in the household; Delivery address; Mailing address; Phone number; Household gross income; Fuel type; Vendor; and Energy account number. The household income has to be less than or equal to 300% of the 2022 – 2023 FLP, example: a household of 4 could have income up to $83,250 and be eligible for $800.
Another program that recently started up is called POWER MATCH for Versant Power customers. There is a place on the Penquis website where people can go to donate and for every dollar donated, Versant Power will match up to $200,000. This program is for Penquis, Aroostook County CAP and Down East Community Partners. The funds will be used to help clients that are over the HEAP income guidelines for a benefit of up to $500. Again, this is designed to help clients that are over the HEAP income guidelines but under the 250% FPL, so a family of 4 can earn up to $69,375.
We still have our Good Neighbor Fund for households that are over the income guidelines, but under the 250% FLP. We will also use these funds if someone is in a crisis and cannot complete the HEAP application. An example is that a client was called to complete his HEAP application. Both he and his wife were at Cancer Care having their treatment and wanted to know if he could be called later because they really needed some fuel, but couldn’t complete the telephone application for HEAP at the time. The intake worker found out that they were on empty and would be out that day. She immediately made arrangements to get them fuel and rescheduled their HEAP interview for a more convenient time. Thanks to the Good Neighbor Fund, we were able to have fuel in their tank by the time they got home from their treatments. When he called that afternoon, he was crying because he was so thankful. The Good Neighbor Funds are for all three counties and are privately donated funds. If anyone would like to donate to the Good Neighbor Fund you can go to the Penquis website to donate.
Please remember that Penquis employees are eligible for these programs too. If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please reach out to the HEAP staff. You can make a HEAP appointment online or call 973-3630. If you are looking to find out more information on Good Neighbor, LD3 or Power Match, you can call either Joanne Whitney at 802-3042 or Sheila Scully at 802-3012.
HEAP Program Manager Lynn Lugdon
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Homebuyer Education Classes |
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Upcoming dates and times:
Online – February 11th from 8 am – 5 pm
Online – February 26th from 8 am – 5 pm
In person at Penquis in Bangor – March 18th from 8 am – 5 pm
Online – March 6th, 7th & 8th – 3 sessions - 6 pm – 9 pm
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Special Olympics - Bowling Competition |
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The 2023 Penobscot/Piscataquis/Hancock Area Candlepin Bowling competition took place on January 24th, 2023 at Bangor Brewer Bowling Lanes. Nine clients attended from Penquis - CWSS. Every client received a ribbon in the awards ceremony, with five athletes receiving first place in the regional competition. Everyone said they had fun and are looking forward to the State bowling games on February 7th.
Special Olympic PPH Winter Games are just around the corner and our athletes couldn't be more excited! We have eleven athletes and five coaches signed up for the event. Everyone is so excited for this 2-day event scheduled for February 13th and 14th, with an overnight stay and lots of great food, friendships and dancing! Ten athletes and three coaches are planning on spending the night at the Hilton Garden Inn. We would love to have a cheering section at Hermon Mountain for the athletes participating. We will share a schedule of events once it comes out.
Head Coach Sierra Stevens and Head of Delegation Christine Rice
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Penquis Safety Committee Minutes
Meeting held on January 25, 2023
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Members present: Danielle Goodale – Chair, Shelly Gagne, Jenny Forastiere,
Chris Childs, Larry Rogers, Dale Lee, Linda Tracy, Lisa Davis, Bridgett Ireland,
Carmie Gray, Chuck Leithiser, Tamar Mathieu and Jodie Dyer.
The minutes of the December 7, 2022 meeting were approved.
Safety Issues – Open Microphone: No safety issues reported this month.
The Committee reviewed a summary of incidents/injuries from December 6th – January 19th. Of the fourteen incidents reported, three required medical attention and none resulted in lost time from work. 8 were client interaction; 4 were slip/trip/fall-same level; 1 as pain/strain; and 1 was a hit against or by.
Social Services and Education Group Trust Update: Penquis will receive a small refund for the Worker’s Compensation fund year that ended 10/21/22.
Safety Messages Discussion: Quarterly safety messages haven’t been drawing much attention. An average of 100 employees out of over 500 are participating. Going forward these messages will be sent directly to employees to try to gather additional participation.
Old Business: Lighting has been added/fixed in the rear parking lot at Harlow Street. Additional lighting is expected to be added to the front parking lot in the near future.
Finalized 2023 Goals: Review and update Emergency Evacuation Procedures; Evaluate Driver Safety Program; and Safety as a Performance Measure.
Plan Year 2023 Goals
Review and Update Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Evaluate Driver Safety Program
Safety as a Performance Measure
Meeting adjourned at 2:25pm.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 from 2:00-3:00pm.
HR Generalist Jodie Dyer
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Maine Families and Prevention Council Hosted
Winter Carnival at Hampden Rec Center
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On Sunday, January 22, 2023, Maine Families, with support of Prevention Council, hosted a Winter Carnival at the Hampden Rec – Skehan Center in the town of Hampden. This event targeted families with young children, infant to 5 years old. Staff worked over several weeks to create age appropriate activities for children to explore, bringing winter fun indoors. We offered snowman bowling, ice fishing, snowball carry, snowball toss, face painting, crafts and a variety of gross motor activities. |
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We were pleased to have had 34 families – 59 adults and 46 children from communities in both Piscataquis and Penobscot County in attendance. Throughout the afternoon, families engaged with their children in the variety of activities offered, as well as with each other. It was wonderful to see these young children feel safe to explore the gym area independently, as well as see the connections being made between parents.
We are appreciative of the town of Hampden, who not only provided the space, but also generously donated the food for the event.
We look forward to hosting more events like this and have even talked that we may make this an annual event!
Maine Families Home Visitor GabrienTurner
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Excerpt from Employee Handbook:
Harassment Policy
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We expect our work environment to be free from all forms of harassment, violence, or intimidation. Unwelcome harassment, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature will result in corrective action, up to and including possible dismissal.
If you are subjected to any unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment or intimidation, or harassment based on race, gender, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, or veteran status, you should immediately contact the Human Resources Director, who will conduct a prompt, confidential investigation.
No employee may be subject to retaliation for making a complaint of harassment.
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Winter Footwear Challenge!
For the month of February, the Safety Committee is giving employees who are “caught” wearing appropriate winter footwear a $10 Dunkin Donuts gift card.
This will be done by a random draw on random days.
Employees whose footwear can’t be verified in person will be required to send a date stamped picture to win a prize.
Employees who change into “regular” footwear after arriving at work must have winter footwear with them on site.
Good Luck and Be Safe!
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Help Us Keep Our Neighbors Warm! |
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Penquis Offices Will be Closed in Observance of |
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WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS
What are you doing for fun?
What new hobbies have you started?
What adventures have you been on?
Please share your photos and a short description
with Lisa Adkins (ladkins@penquis.org).
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Photo taken by HR Generalist Mary-Anne Saxl
while snowshoeing by the Machias River.
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Penquis
262 Harlow Street
Bangor, ME 04401
1-800-215-4942
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