Cheryl Brown is a volunteer with the Mission Backpack Program and Christmas Program.
Brian Stewart, a local musician who plays in a band called Cole Creek.
This young man, Tyler, traveled from Machias to perform at our Open Mic night.
Mark is also a volunteer at our Downeast Table of Plenty (DETOP) community suppers.
Open Mic co-host Steve Hartley (LH) on banjo, is a also a big part of DETOP. Paul (RH) plays here at Joan’s Coffee House on Fridays.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — “Great turnout and lots of talent at Open Mic last night,” reports the Mission’s Downeast Campus Facilities Manager Scott Shaw. “Steve Hartley and I host the Open Mic at the new Weald Bethel Community Center on Wednesdays (excluding December 26th). We have christened our new sound system. It is a perfect fit for our space!” says Scott Shaw.
Scott sent these photos of performers at the Open Mic maiden voyage. Thank you to all the performers for helping make this community event a success.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Responsibility, self reliance, and interdependency are themes used by staff with area students during the Mission’s Fall 2018 EdGE Marion Kane Leadership program. These themes are reflected in the basic outdoor survival skills shown in the program student made Public Service Announcement video.
With additional help available, EdGE Assistant Director Isaac Marnik said staffers are returning to schools, once or twice a month, from now until April, for leadership follow-up work on the same themes with the students who took part in the Marion Kane Leadership Fall 2018 program.
Assistant Director Marnik said the Kane Leadership follow-up sessions were stopped for awhile because of staffing shortage. “But we wanted to start it again. It will be valuable to the students to have the follow-up,” Marnik said.
The leadership follow-up will be “a regular part of their day, so for students at school that day, they will be attending the followup,” Marnik said.
Learn more about the Mission EdGE Marion Kane Leadership Program.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Tuesday, November 20th, the Community Center is hosting a Free Cribbage Night from 6:00 pm until there’s a winner.
Downeast Campus Facilities Manager Scott Shaw described the event as “a night of neighborly cribbage competition,” that runs from 6:00 pm “until we have a winner.”
This Cribbage Night is the second new event for the Weald Bethel Community Center this November.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Mandie Pepperman, Community Coordinator Washington County CAN Council
Cell: 263-5270, Office: 255-8273, Email: mpepperman@sun-rise.tv
Wendy Harrington, Director Services Programs, Maine Seacoast Mission
Office: 546-5870, Cell: 610-9446, Email: wharrington@seacoastmission.org
Community Baby Shower Designed to Inform Families, Avoid Infant Abuse
CHERRYFIELD, ME — A Community Baby Shower? What’s that all about? The concept comes from the Washington County CAN Council based in Machias, ME. “The CAN Council goal,” said Community Coordinator Mandie Pepperman, “is to prevent child abuse and neglect” in Washington County.
“One way we do that is by providing information,” said Mandie Pepperman. Maine Seacoast Mission’s Service Program Director Wendy Harrington, and Community Resource Coordinator Megan Burgess, in a discussion with Ms. Pepperman, decided “one way to provide information” is through a Community Baby Shower at the Mission Downeast Campus.
According to Pepperman, “New babies are our highest abused population.” The Community Baby Shower aims to prevent or stem such abuse.
An ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. “We want to reach parents prenatally, offer a little bit of training, and make it fun with baby shower games and prizes,” Pepperman explained.
The Community Baby Shower welcomes expectant moms, but also their partners, and people within families serving as caregivers. The people, said Mandie Pepperman, “with the most impact on a newborn baby’s development.”
The CAN Council’s goal is to have quarterly Community Baby Showers throughout Washington County.
The Mission Downeast Campus Community Baby Shower is Thursday, December 13, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, 39 Weald Bethel Lane, Cherryfield, ME. The Shower hosts are asking people planning to attend to RSVP by calling or texting 263-5270.
For more information contact Mandie Pepperman at 255-8273, or Megan Burgess at 546-4466.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — In the latter part of October 2018, Mission Service Program Director Wendy Harrington sent word of new display units, courtesy Good Shepherd Food Bank, at our Downeast Campus Food Pantry.
Mission Community Resource Director Megan Burgess followed up Director Harrington’s message with photos and backgrounder.
“Thanks to Good Shepherd Food Bank for providing funding for the display units through their Capacity Building Grant program,” said Megan Burgess. Good Shepherd describes this grant program as “a competitive grant process that awards funds to partner agencies of the Food Bank that seek to make improvements to their program, allowing them to more effectively serve the individuals in their communities.”
“The display units have helped the Food Pantry better highlight baked goods and fresh produce, and they enhance the shopping experience of our food pantry patrons,” said Burgess
Charlie Harrington (center) with friends at the August 2018 Sunbeam Award Gala.
mainechildrensalliance.wordpress.com
Meet Charlie Harrington, 2018 Giraffe Award Winner
Posted on November 2, 2018 by Maine Children’s Alliance
Charlie Harrington is the Director of Maine Seacoast Mission’s EdGE program. EdGE is the Mission’s after-school and summer program for children in grades four through high school in six communities in Washington County. For over 20 years, Charlie has worked in education and youth development creating adventure-based programs. He was a national trainer for Project Adventure for 20 years and is currently on the board of High Five Adventure Learning Center.
Charlie was hired in 2002 and was instrumental in creating and developing the EdGE (Ed Greaves Education) program which now supports more than 700 Washington and Hancock County children each year. Through EdGE, students challenge themselves, engage with their communities and the outdoors, and explore college and career options.
The after-school program also offers academic support, and in-school programs include peer mentoring for students beginning high school. EdGE is designed to help students make informed choices about their futures and develop the resources and skills to be successful—and happy—in life. Charlie has been critical to the success of this program, and throughout his career, in developing and implementing programs like this one to inspire youth to reach their fullest potential.
