Veterans and Community Connection Expo at Pineland Farms

We're pleased to be co-hosting the Veterans and Community Connection Expo happening on Sunday, February 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pineland Farms, 25 Campus Drive, New Gloucester. 

This free event is family friendly and provides the opportunity for veterans, service members, and their families to learn about the benefits and resources that are available to them. 

Numerous Federal, State, and community partnering resources will be on hand to provide information and answer any questions you may have. 

Free lunch, music, and other activities will make this a can't miss event!

To register for this event click here.

Proudly Assisting Maine's Veterans and Their Families!

For more information about the Maine Bureau of Services and how we can provide assistance, please visit our website maine.gov/veterans or call us at 207-287-7020.

National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, February 11-17

The National Salute to Veteran Patients takes place during the week of February 14 every year. This year, it takes place from February 11 to 17. The purpose of the holiday is to honor and pay tribute to the brave military veterans who receive medical care at Veterans Affairs (V.A.) medical facilities. The holiday also seeks to create more awareness about the importance of these centers and encourage more people to visit and volunteer.

Background Information: 

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, there are three main reasons behind the creation of this holiday, which are — to pay tribute to veterans, to encourage people to visit and volunteer their services to veteran medical centers, and finally, to increase community awareness about the role of the V.A medical centers.

Nearly 100,000 veterans are cared for every day in VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes, approximately nine million veterans annually. These centers are run by the Veterans Health Administration (V.H.A), which is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States. There are over 1,200 facilities run by the V.H.A, 171 of which are V.A. medical centers. In addition to this, there are also 1,112 outpatient centers as well. These statistics underscore the need for more helping hands in the program.

V.H.A medical centers offer a wide range of medical services to patients. These services include orthopedics, mental health care, surgery, critical care, radiology, pharmacy, physical therapy, speech pathology, neurology, and much more.

During the week, a host of activities to create awareness take place at various centers, such as recreational activities, Valentine’s gifting, and school visits. This year, make it a point of duty to celebrate and appreciate the veterans whose selfless service has contributed to the safety and peace of our country.

Growing Demand for Veterans to Fill Water Industry Jobs in Maine

In 2024, one of MeWEA and MEDEP’s primary goals is to attract Maine veterans to careers in clean water because of the highly transferrable skillset developed during military service.

Veteran Travis Peaslee is now the General Manager of the Lewiston Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority (LAWPCA), one of the largest clean water facilities in the state. He believes attracting veterans to the industry is critical to building the next generation of its workforce. “The skills and discipline gained from a military career are highly transferrable to the front lines of public health,” Peaslee said. In 2023, Peaslee worked with MEDEP to adjust workforce rules to allow veterans’ previous military experience to transfer to careers in Maine’s clean water industry. The rule change, which is now in effect, will enable veterans to leverage military experience to start above entry-level, advance starting salaries, and provide a more seamless licensing process.

“Careers in clean water provide a critical service to the health and safety of our people and our environment,” said Brian Kavanah, Director, Bureau of Water Quality, Maine DEP. Kavanah agreed that “the DEP’s incentive is a perfect fit for veterans to naturally extend their careers in public service.”

For an up-to-date look at available careers within Maine’s water industry, visit here.

New VA Pilot Pharmacy Program Provides Consultations to Women Veterans Centered Around Women’s Health Treatments

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ MidSouth Health Care Network's Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) announced that it is piloting a virtual consultation program through September 2024 that delivers specialized clinical pharmacy care as part of VA’s continued efforts to improve access to health services for women Veterans.

The program will virtually connect a women’s health clinical pharmacist practitioner to both providers and Veterans at VA facilities needing support addressing issues around women’s health treatments.

“Women make up 30% of all new patients at VA facilities, and this pilot program promises to deliver highly-specialized care,” said Dr. Michelle Moseley, Clinical Resource Hub Pharmacy Section Chief. “Women Veterans are VA’s fastest growing demographic, and through programs like this, VA is working to ensure our health care providers are equipped to provide timely, accessible, and high-quality care for Women Veterans – no matter where they live.”

The CRH’s clinical pharmacist practitioner will be able to prescribe medications and work with providers to address issues around medication selection, dosage and monitoring specific to women, including oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapies, infertility treatments, osteoporosis, medications used during and after
pregnancy and lactation, and menopausal care.

Veterans Lunch & Breakfast, February 8th & 9th

Need to file a service-connected claim? Have questions about other veteran benefits? 

Representatives from Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, Veterans Benefits Administration, and the Veterans Health Administration will be on site.

Veterans Lunch in Indian Township, February 8th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Indian Township Rec Center located at 37 U.S. -1, Indian Township. Lunch provided by Indian Township Tribal Government. 

Veterans Breakfast in Sipayik, February 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Old Beatrice Rafferty School located at 22 Bayview Drive, Pleasant Point. Breakfast provided by Sipayik Tribal Government. 

$150 L.L. Bean gift card giveaway and (2) $25 gift cards to Paddy Murphy's! 

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Darren Ripley at dripley@wabanakiphw.org or 207-949-6142.

Upcoming Events:

February 2, 9, 16 (Discussion Project): What does it mean to be a veteran? Join writer Cody Mower & other former service members to reflect on what it means to carry that designation of "veteran" after service. 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. happening on ZOOM. To register contact lizz@mainehumanities.org 

February 4 (Resource Fair): Veterans and Community Connections Expo from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pineland Farms Outdoor Center located at 25 Campus Drive, New Gloucester. This free event designed for veterans, service members, and their families is intended to create connections to available resources and benefits from Federal, State, and Community organizations.

February 8 (Recreation): Biathlon Camp (XC Skiing and Pellet Rifle Biathlon) at 12:00 p.m. located at Pineland Farms, 25 Campus Drive, New Gloucester.  If you are a veteran with a VA disability rating and would love to experience XC skiing and shooting, then this event is for you! This physically intense event involves a combination of XC skiing and pellet rifle shooting with a fun relay race at the end of the camp. Remaining slots are very limited, first preference for newcomers.  Enjoy the beauty of winter in Maine and spend some time with fellow veterans. Contact Kristina Sabasteanski at 207-310-8694 or kristina@pinelandfarms.org

February 8 (Lunch): Veterans Lunch and Resources from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Indian Township Rec Center, 37 U.S.-1, Indian Township. For more information and to RSVP, please reach out to Darren Ripley at dripley@wabanakiphw.org or 207-949-6142. 

February 9 (Breakfast): Veterans Breakfast and Resources from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Old Beatrice Rafferty School, 22 Bayview Drive, Pleasant Point. For more information and to RSVP, please reach out to Darren Ripley at dripley@wabanakiphw.org or 207-949-6142. 

February 12 (Employment & Resource Fair): Veteran Employment and Resource Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Winthrop Town Office, 17 Highland Ave., Winthrop. (Open to all jobseekers)

February 17 (Sporting Event): 2024 Winter Softball Classic, starts at 9:00 a.m. and goes all day at the American Legion Post 202, 79 Foreside Road, Topsham. 

February 24 (Spaghetti Dinner): Benefit Dinner to support veterans and the Garry Owen House from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall Post 1, 335 Limerock Street, Rockland. Adults $10, Kids 12 and under $5. 

If you have an event you wish to have featured on the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services website and newsletter, please email: ryan.e.lorrain@maine.gov

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