Local Foods and School News from
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
Summer 2015
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Upcoming Events
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| Capital Area Food Council July 9 4:30-6:00pm August 13 9:00-10:30am September TBD October 8 4:30-6:30pm November 12 9:00-10:30am December 10 4:30-6:00pm Location: HCCA 36 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner FMI: Renee Page rpage@mcd.org Save the Date Maine Farm to School Network 4th Annual Conference Friday, October 16, 2015 at Maine Academy of Natural Sciences/Good Will-Hinckley Slow Money Maine Third Thursdays Odd Months 1:00-4:00pm Location: Christ Church 2 Dresden Avenue, Gardiner SNAP-Ed at Kids Day at Capitol Park June 27, 2015 11:00-3:00 Visit Emily & Renee for nutrition games, activities, and prizes Maine Ag in the Classroom Summer Teachers Institute August 3-7 University of New England, Biddeford FMI & Registration: here SNAP-Ed Cooking Matters at the Store Tours Look for store tour events coming to local Hannaford locations. Upcoming Events:
June
25 3:00-5:30 Gardiner Hannaford
July 23 3:00-5:30 Cony Hannaford
To arrange a tour for your SNAP-eligible group, contact Emily Knipp
at 207.588.5081 or
eknipp@mcd.org
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Local Farmers' Markets
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| Kennebec County Augusta Farmers' Market at Mill Park 1 North Water Street, the old Edwards Mill site May-November Tuesdays 2-6pm December-April Tuesdays 12:30-2:00pm EBT, WIC, Credit & Debit Accepted http://www.mainefarmersmarkets.org/market/augusta-farmers-market-at-mill-park/ Viles Arboretum Farmers' Market 153 Hospital Street Year round Fridays 2:00-5:00pm Other Options: Crown o' Maine Organic Cooperative, for worksites looking to create their own mini farmers' market, buying clubs may be just what you need. To learn more visit
KLFI Online Marketplace, an online ordering system that allows shoppers to purchase a large variety of foods from Maine producers, in cooperation with the Gardiner Farmers' Market, Crown O' Maine Organic Cooperative, and local vendors. To get a username and password, please call 207.712.9734 or email klfi@gardinerfarmersmarket.org. To learn more visit www.klfi.buyingclubsoftware.org or klfi.org. Somerset County Skowhegan Skowhegan Farmers' Market Somerset Grist Mill May-October Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm June-October Wednesdays 3:00pm-6:00pm Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm November-April 1st & 3rd Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm EBT, WIC, Debit & Credit Accepted www.skowheganfarmersmarket.com |
Links to Useful Resources
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National Farm to School Network
NFSN enables every child to have access to nutritious food while simultaneously benefiting communities and local farmers.
FMI & Resources: farmtoschool.org
Maine Ag in the Classroom
MAITC provides information about agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.
FMI & Resources:
Maine School Garden Network
MSGN promotes and supports educational gardens for youth and encourages school programs that teach healthy eating and environmental stewardship.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks
Food policy council database and resources.
FMI & Resources:
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HCCA Board of Directors
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Mary Frances Bartlett
Local Health Officer
Augusta, ME
Dan Emery
Marketing Consultant
Augusta, ME
Rob Gordon, Treasurer
Kennebec Valley United Way
Augusta, ME
Virgel Hammonds
West Gardiner, ME
Kala Ladenheim, Secretary
Gardiner, ME
Christine Letcher
Maine Family Planning
Augusta, ME
Barbara Moss, DO
Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency
Family Medicine Institute
Augusta, ME
Jane O'Rourke
Alzheimer's Care Center
Family Medicine Institute
Augusta, ME
Elisa Paylor
E. Paylor Law
Augusta, ME
Emilie van Eeghen, Vice Chair
MaineGeneral Community Care
Waterville, ME
Tom Warren
Kennebec Valley YMCA
Augusta, ME
Frederick A. White, PhD
Private practice psychologist
Augusta, ME
Jim Wood, Chair
KVCAP
Waterville, ME
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| Join Our List |
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You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed or have been identified as a leader in your school or community around local foods and/or youth efforts.
I welcome any and all feedback on this newsletter's format and content and encourage others to submit local foods and youth articles, news, resources, and success stories that may be of interest or useful to others.
Help us spread the word! Feel free to lift articles from this newsletter for your own newsletters, facebook pages, and other communications.
Please forward this newsletter to others as appropriate and encourage them to subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time you feel this newsletter is not germane to your work or interests.
Enjoy!
Renee Page,
HCCA Local Foods Projects & Roles:
Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative
National Farm to School Network Regional Steering Committee, Maine Co-Lead
Maine Farm to School Network Co-Coordinator
FoodCorps Service Site Supervisor
USDA Farm to School Grantee
Capital Area Food Council, Convener & Sponsor
Maine Network of Community Food Councils, Member
SNAP-Ed Provider
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| Farm to School and Nutrition Superstars Recognized at HCCA Annual Meeting |
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Healthy Communities of the Capital Area held their Annual Meeting and Celebration June 1
Each year Healthy Communities of the Capital Area recognizes outstanding community partners who go above and beyond to help carry out HCCA's mission to collaborate on quality of life and public health issues. This year, in keeping with the Annual Meeting theme of
Mission Possible, the following community partners were recognized for their contributions related to local foods and nutrition.
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| Change Agent Jeff Bridges Accepting his Award |
Jeff Bridges,
RSU 38 School Nutrition Director, given the
Change Agent Award for his leadership and collaboration in changing the school food scene and moving
Farm to School efforts forward in Maranacook Area Schools. Jeff's can-do attitude and unassuming approach engages and motivates everyone involved and sets an example for other schools across the state.
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| Pat Stanton Accepts Agent Renaissance Award |
Maranacook Community High School's Dean of Students, Pat Stanton accepts the
Agent Renaissance Award for supporting the wellbeing of students at Maranacook Community High School by being an all-around advocate for the plethora of public health initiatives on which she works. We wish Pat all the best in her retirement. She will be missed.
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| Laura E. Richards Principal Karen Moody Accepts Agent All In Award |
Laura E. Richards Elementary School Principal Karen Moody has been a long-time advocate of schoolsite health and wellness. This year, she is recognized as Agent All In for her commitment to bringing SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education to every classroom in her school. |
| FoodCorps Happenings |
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HCCA's FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore Wraps Up a Busy Year
FoodCorps at Gardiner Regional Middle School
Cook Plant Grow!
In addition to expanding the established Cook Plant Grow after school program from spring-only to year-round programming, Caroline's involvement expanded to include bi-weekly lessons through Guidance and involvement in mainstream academic classes. One of the many highlights includes
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| Caring for the Gardiner Regional Middle School Garden |
a new partnership with students in Anna McArthur's Life Skills Program who have adopted the role of garden stewards. Weekly classes co-taught by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Eat Well Professional Deborah Barnett and Caroline empower students to rebuild and care for the garden while integrating math curriculum, basic nutrition and cooking skills, group dynamics, and critical thinking skills. These classes will continue in the fall.
FoodCorps at Cony
Cony Garden Expansion
In addition to teaching weekly classes in Brenda Weis's 8
th
grade
health class (reaching ALL Cony 8
th
grade students) and Joan Savage's 7
th
grade life science class, tremendous expansion occurred at Cony this year. New partnerships with Ann Boyd's Life Skills class, Steve Scoville's STEM class, and Laurie Dale's high
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| Mapping out the Cony Gardens |
school Biology class emerged, thanks to a strong FoodCorp
s Service Member (FCSM) presence with support from Maine Ag in the Classroom (MAITC). MAITC funding provided materials for lessons and garden tools that was instrumental in securing additional funding to build three new raised beds and permission from CATC to plant their dormant raised beds, which will only increase student reach in the future. A mini-CSA program received overwhelming support from faculty and staff, including the new School Nutrition Director, Maureen Sanborn. Finally, the school garden continues to involve the community and at-risk youth as Master Gardener volunteers and Augusta Boys and Girls Club Program Director Darren Joyce will again host weekly "Garden Days" at Cony to care for the garden and learn about growing food over the summer.
FoodCorps at Maranacook Schools
Growing Our Lunch
The new FoodCorps partnership with Maranacook Area Schools flourished
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| Growing Our Lunch at Maranacook |
this year, as the district welcomed FCSM Caroline Moore. Through MAITC funding, Caroline provided direct, hands-on cooking classes to high school students for whom school has not always met their needs. Additionally, a strong partnership emerged with food service in coordinating Maine Harvest Lunch and strategic planning to include more local foods in school meals. With assistance from high school Sustainability Committee members, food service staff, and community volunteers, over 520 elementary students at the district's four elementary schools started seedlings in their classrooms as part of the "Growing Our Lunch" project. In June, students transplanted these seedlings to the raised beds at the high school. Come fall, School Nutrition Director Jeff Bridges will use the harvest in school meals, allowing students to see the process of planting and harvesting their own food come full circle.
Fare
well and Thank You Caroline!
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| FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore |
As HCCA wraps up its fourth year of hosting a FoodCorps Service Memb
er, we must bid farewell to Caroline. Thank you Caroline for all y
our service
and dedication to helping kids in our communities learn more about food origins, hands-on cooking and gardening skills, and a better understanding of healthy, local foods. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
If you are interested in supporting FoodCorps efforts in Augusta, Gardiner, and Maranacook area schools through material or cash donations, or by volunteering at a site, please contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org.
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| HCCA Hosts School Nutrition Staff Knife Skills & Student Engagement Training |
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All MSAD 11, Gardiner Area Schools, Nutrition Staff Par
ticipate in Professional Development Opportunity
With s
upport from a USDA Far
m to School grant,
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| Sous Chef Leonard Checking for Consistency |
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area hosted a professional dev
elopment work shop for all MSAD 11 Nutrition Program staff. Partic
ipants engaged in a hands on knife skills training led by Certifi
ed Executive Chef and Hyde School Nutrition Director, Mike Flynn, who was assisted by Sous Chef Donna Leonard. Attende
es learned how to properly sharpen and care for kitche
n knives as well as a variety of safe, efficient chopping and cutting techniques. These skills will support the district's move toward incorporating more fresh, local foods into school meals.
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| Chef Flynn Teaching Parts of a Knife |
HCCA Assistant Director, Renee Page, led a session about engaging student customers. Renee identified strategies to encourage diners to try new things as well as avoiding practices and language that may discourage students from participating in school lunch or trying new things.
HCCA provided the training to RSU 38 Maranacook Area Schools previously and will be offering it to RSU 2 this fall.
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| Winthrop Middle School Students Participate in Worksite Visits |
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Winthrop Students Experience a Day Working on the Farm
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| Students with Josephine at Wholesome Holmstead Farm |
Winthrop Middle School, the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Wholesome Holmstead partnered this spring to give two middle school students the opportunity to learn about the work required to maintain a farm. As part of its Work Site Visits program, the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention outreaches to Winthrop businesses and coordinates visits with the youth in order to give them a real-world work experience. Research shows that youth who feel connected to their communities and who have more asset building opportunities are less likely to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The students thoroughly enjoyed their farm experience and even got a chance to name a new calf (Oreo-not pictured). Thanks to Wholesome Holmstead for providing this unique and important opportunity to local students.
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| More Cook, Plant, Grow at Gardiner Regional Middle School |
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| Caroline Moore overseeing Gardiner Regional Middle School students making healthy snacks |
Sixth grade students on Team Moosehead worked with FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore during their study halls and participated in interactive activities involving food and health including measuring and visualizing the amount of sugar and fat in their chosen fast food meal, reading
nutrition labels, and working in groups to make healthy snacks. Students made homemade granola bars, hummus, banana and apple wraps, and yogurt parfaits. Often students experimented and came up with their own recipes. They learned that healthy food can be delicious and easy to make!
Spring Planting with Cook, Plant, Grow
Spring planting gets underway at the Gardiner Regional Middle School Cook, Plant, Grow program. Healthy Communities of the Capital Area's FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore,
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Showing the adults how it's done
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in partnership with University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Eat Well Professional, Debbie Barnett, work with students to plan and plant this year's garden. If you are interested in volunteering to support the
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| SNAP-Ed at HCCA |
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HCCA Celebrates Impact and Team Transitions
SNAP-Ed is going strong in southern Kennebec County. Since October, HCCA's SNAP-Ed team reached
837 kids with nutrition education programs through partnerships with schools, early childcare sites, and after school programs. HCCA welcomes Nutrition Educator Emily Knipp. Emily joined the HCCA team in May after graduating from the University of Maine with a Bachelor's Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. As Emily moves into the role of Nutrition Educator, we are excited to announce Rachael Reynold's transition to SNAP-Ed Program Coordinator. The SNAP-Ed team is
looking forward to providing even more sites throughout the area with SNAP-Ed programs such as Eat Well Play Hard, Pick a Better Snack and Act, Cooking Matters, and many more! For more information or to schedule or attend a class, contact Rachael Reynolds at rreynolds@mcd.org.
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| HCCA Can Help You Update Your School's Substance Use, Tobacco, or Wellness Policy |
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New Substance Use Policy Guide Available
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| SAMHS School Substance Use Policy Guide |
Maine Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services updated its School Substance Use Policy Guide and Healthy Maine Partnership staff across the state are available to help schools update their substance use policies. Effective substance use policies are an essential part of creating a healthy, safe school environment for students, staff, and communities.
Key Components of a Model Policy:
- Philosophy Statement
- Community Involvement
- Communication of Policy
- Prevention Education
- Prohibitions
- Enforcement
- Consequences
- Intervention & Treatment
- Review & Revision
Free Campus Signage from Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine
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| Free Tobacco-Free Campus signage from PTM |
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is your school's resource for technical assistance, model policy language, and free Tobacco Free Campus signage. Join other school districts across that state that have enhanced their tobacco policy language to meet model policy guidelines that address tobacco use prevention, alternatives to suspension, new and emerging tobacco products like e-cigarettes, and more.
Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act School Wellness Policy Requirements
In an effort to help combat childhood obesity, all schools that participate in the National School Lunch and/or Breakfast Programs must have a local wellness policy in place. But did you know there are new requirements for those policies related to policy content, communication, and implementation? Contact HCCA for technical assistance, model policy language, and resources.
It is recommended that schools review and revise their policies at least once every two years. FMI: Contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org.
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I hope you enjoyed learning more about local food and school happenings in southern Kennebec County. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more or becoming involved.
In Health,
Renee Page,
Assistant Director, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative National Farm to School Network Regional Steering Committee, State Co-Lead Maine Farm to School Network Co-Coordinator FoodCorps Service Site Supervisor USDA Farm to School Grantee |
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Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) is a coalition of local people who work locally to improve the health and quality of life in our communities. HCCA hosts the Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative and a FoodCorps Service Member. HCCA is a USDA Farm to School, Maine Ag in the Classroom, and Maine Network of Community Food Councils grantee.
Maine SNAP-Ed is funded by the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Serves (DHHS) and implemented through a contract with the University of New England (UNE). Utilizing the Healthy Maine Partnership agencies statewide as access points for SNAP-Ed delivery, we strive to educate Maine SNAP recipients on low-cost, healthy eating and active lifestyles.
HCCA is one of 27 local Healthy Maine Partnerships and receives funds from the Fund for a Healthy Maine.
HCCA's mission is to convene people, organizations, and communities to collaborate on quality of life and public health issues.
HCCA serves the southern Kennebec County towns of Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Vienna, West Gardiner, Wayne, Windsor, Winthrop, and Richmond in Sagadahoc County. |
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