FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER
Office Closings
September 10
Staff Training
October 14
Columbus Day
November 11
Veteran’s Day
November 28 & 29
Housing Authority of
the City of Old Town
Thanksgiving
___________________________
Message from the Executive Director
Dates to Remember:
September 27 & 28
Riverfest
November 3
Daylight Saving Time ends
Over the summer the Housing Authority partnered with RSU 34 to provide lunches at two of our
family housing sites for six weeks. The school prepared the brown bag lunches and three area high
school students delivered the meals to each family housing site daily and did an activity with the
participating children once a week. The
school also sponsored a Book Mobile one
day that went to the family housing sites
providing free books and ice cream. Area
school administrators spent time distributing
the books and reading to the children in the
neighborhood.
All family housing tenants are also invited to the FSS Center on Anderson Lane on October 24th at
3:00 for a Halloween Costume & Safety Workshop and Swap. More information on this event is
on the Housing Choice Voucher Program page of this newsletter.
Office Staff
Laurie M Miller
Paul Ouellette
Cynthia Gaudet
Catherine LaBree
Betty Sanborn
Ruth Mewa
Executive Director
Finance Manager
Public Housing Manager
HCV Program Manager
Occupancy Specialist
Office Assistant
Congregate Housing Services Program
Sandra Gilbert
CHSP Coordinator
Melissa Chasse
Housekeeper
Lisa Lord
Custodian
Kristen Reed
Meals Aide for CHSP
Maintenance Department
Martin Somers
Facilities Director
Paul Eugley
Mechanic I
Korey Grant
Laborer
Sam VanBuskirk
Laborer
Kacey Mullins
Laborer
Robert Finch
Seasonal Laborer
Gabe Melmed
Seasonal Laborer
Board of Commissioners
Margaret Comeau
Chairman
James Cowan
Vice Chairman
Jane Sturgeon
Commissioner
Robert Stanley
Commissioner
Harold Laskey
Commissioner
Betty Smart
Commissioner
Victoria Watkins
Commissioner
Tortellini Vegetable Soup
(Makes about 5 servings)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
Heat the olive oil in large sauce pan. Add
1 small zucchini, diced
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
onion, zucchini, and carrot. Sauté over
moderate heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring
5 ½ cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon dried basil
often until the onion is soft and translucent.
1 bay leaf
½ can of crushed tomatoes
½ teaspoon salt
8 to 9 ounces fresh or frozen tortellini (cheese or meat
filled)
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
Black pepper
Add the chicken stock, basil, bay leaf,
tomatoes, and salt to the pan. Increase heat
and bring the mixture to a low boil. Add the
tortellini and bring the soup back to a low
boil. Cook for 2 minutes, then reduce the heat
and let simmer for 5 to 6 minutes longer. Stir
in parsley and pepper.
Housing Choice Voucher Program
Women Work and Community
Another FSS Graduate!
Congratulations to the newest graduate of the Family
Self Sufficiency Program. After completing all the
goals outlined in the individual training and service
plan this graduate was awarded the largest escrow
check we've ever had at just over $12,000! We are
very proud of the hard work and dedication
of this graduate and hope that their success
triggers new participation on the program
and reminds everyone to reach for your
goals! There is plenty of space open in
the program so contact Kate LaBree today
to sign up, its quick and easy!
Halloween Costume & Safety Workshop and Swap
Tired of spending money on expensive Halloween costumes? Feeling
creative and inspired to make your kids costumes at home but need
some help or ideas? Have a stock pile of old costumes that your kids
have outgrown and will no longer need? Want help in teaching your
kids the importance of Safety while trick or treating? Well come on
down to our Halloween Costume and Safety Workshop where you'll be
able to trade costumes with other families and get some great tips and
ideas on making your costumes at home. If you plan on bringing costumes to swap just make sure their clean and in good condition. Please
bring the kids so we can go over the Halloween safety checklist which
will help protect them and avoid unnecessary risk. Everyone who attends will receive a free safety light to help keep your child safe and visible while they trick-or-treat, a bag to collect their candy in and some
yummy treats! Please r.s.v.p. at least 2 days prior to the event if you
plan on attending or need transportation. So please, join us on Thursday, October 24th at 3:oo pm at the FSS Center, 20 Anderson Lane #7
in Old Town, and don't forget to RSVP. All HACOT Public Housing
Residents welcome also.
Women Work and Community is an
economic development organization
that helps Maine people succeed in their
workplace, business, and community.
They help individuals recognize
strengths, overcome barriers, find
resources, develop a plan, take action
towards their goals: start a business,
find a career, return to school, build
assets and be active in the community.
Their Vision is
the economic
empowerment
of women and
their families.
They offer
guidance,
classes and
workshops at
no cost to
individuals in
four areas:
Build Your
Career, Start a Business, Manage Your
Money and Become a Leader. Women,
Work and Community will be hosting
career planning classes this fall. See the
box below for more information.
Career Planning
Wednesdays, Sept. 25Oct. 16
9:00 a.m. to 12:30
Registration Deadline Sept. 20
UMA-Bangor, Bangor Hall
1 University Drive, Bangor
To register, call 262-7840 or
e-mail sbuck@maine.edu
www.womenworkandcommunity.org
Look out for Fleas!
For dog lovers in warm climates, flea control requires constant vigilance. Fleas don’t survive freezing temperatures, however, so in
colder regions, the winter weather naturally decreases the flea population every year. In these areas, fleas are most abundant
during the fall, when temperatures are dropping and fleas are moving indoors to ride out the winter months.
If you notice itching, scratching, chewing or hair loss on your pet it's time to do a flea check! Take a comb and run it through
your pets coat in the opposite direction the fur grows, exposing the skin as you go. Fleas love to hang out around the base
of the tail, but can also be found along the legs, stomach and around the neck and ears. Look for the fleas themselves as
they will be fleeing from the comb. You also want to look for the waste left behind by fleas.
You also want to look for the waste left behind by fleas. If you see tiny black or brown irregular pieces of dirt its probably flea
dirt which is dried blood and flea excrement. If you want to test the dirt smear it on a damp paper towel, if the smear is
reddish brown, like dried blood you can be fairly certain it's flea dirt. You can also place your pet on white sheet while you
brush or blow dry them and watch for the flea's to jump or fall onto the sheet. Even if you don't see the fleas themselves
you can easily spot the flea dirt on the white sheet. Even if you don't see a live flea that does not mean your pet or living
area is not infested. Keep in mind fleas are very fast and jump from one place to another so you may only get a glimpse.
Once you've determined that you do indeed have fleas the best option is to schedule a visit to the vet. Your vet will help you
determine what flea medication is your best option. Lately, the flea drops that are administered to the back of your pet
have become increasingly popular for their effectiveness but please be sure to read the directions thoroughly and use with
great care, an accidental overdose can be lethal!
Don't forget about the house and make sure to wash all your pets bedding with hot water and detergent. Vacuuming has been
shown to remove 95% of fleas remaining in the household. Vacuum all areas of the house to which your dog has access.
Place the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and tape it securely shut before disposing of it outside. Otherwise, the little critters
could hop out and re-infest your house! If your pet frequently rides in the car you'll want to vacuum that as well.
Below is the contact information for some local veterinarians with flea medication on hand at their office. Generally, the
medication available at the vet is the strongest form sold and is more effective than the brands you purchase over the
counter at a retail store.
Veazie Vet Clinic: 941-8840 | 1522 State Street - Veazie, ME
Timberland Animal Hospital: 827-7177 | 20 Stillwater Ave, Orono, ME
Penobscot Veterinary Hospital: 947-6783 | 411 Davis rd, Bangor, ME
Brewer Veterinary Clinic: 989-6531 | 111 Pierce Road Brewer, ME
KNOW YOUR PESTS
Flea
Lice
Bed Bug
Tick
Resident’s Page
The River
Coalition is
excited to be
partnering
with the Old
Town Housing
Authority to
offer free nutrition education events and
classes. From family gardening at the
Summer Kickoff to Cooking Matters at
Penobscot Terrace, we are having a lot of
fun and are looking forward to even
more events and classes coming up!
Cooking Matters
The Cooking Matters Program at Penobscot Terrace Apartments ,
hosted by instructor Sara Munson, MS RD, the local SNAP Coordinator
and funded by the River Coalition and USDA, was a huge success.
Tenants participated in a six (6) week program that included preparation
of nutritious meals and snacks as a group then participants were given
ingredients to recreate the menu on their own. Sara will begin the
Cooking Matters Program at Marsh
Island Apartments on Thursday,
September 12, 2013, all Residents
are encouraged to sign-up.
Scheduled upcoming events include:
Pembroke Drive and Meadow
Lane Trash
Cooking Matters at Marsh
IslandApartments (Starting Thursday
September 12 from 1-3pm): Residents of
Marsh Island Apartments are invited to
join us for a six-week course which
includes nutrition education, tips on
budgeting and food safety, and of course,
trying out delicious recipes!
Cooking Matters at the Store: These
guided grocery store tours take you
through the store with our Registered
Dietitian to learn tips on shopping for
fruits and vegetables on a budget,
comparing unit prices to find bargains,
reading food labels, finding whole grains,
and sticking to your budget. Tours are
free and include a $10 Hannaford gift
card, a workbook including delicious
recipes, and a reusable grocery bag! Tours
will take place at the Old Town
Hannaford throughout the fall, please
contact us for more information. If you
would like to sign up for a tour or have
questions please contact Sara Munson at
827-8744 or smunson@rivercoalition.org
Be sure to come by and see us at Old
Town’s Riverfest on Saturday, September
28 where we will be sampling out some
tasty recipes and offering information on
healthy eating and physical activity for the
whole family!
Firearms, Archery Equipment
and Paintball Guns
Residents of Public Housing are
allowed to own and store
firearms, bows, arrows and
paintball equipment safely in
their rental units. For obvious
safety reasons, residents are not
allowed to shoot arrows or
discharge firearms on Housing
Authority property. Tenants are
advised to obtain locks for guns
from the Old Town Police
Department at no cost.
Ammunition should always be
stored in a secure alternate
location.
Due to ongoing issues with wild
animals, insects and tenant work
schedules the Housing Authority
has adjusted the days dumpsters
will be unlocked. Effective
immediately the dumpsters on
both PH Family properties will be
unlocked every Monday and
Thursday (excluding Holidays)
during regular business hours.
tenants are expected to place
bagged trash in the dumpster at
least weekly. Residents that have
to leave for work prior to the
dumpster being unlocked are
asked to place bagged trash
alongside the dumpster the
morning of collection.
2013 Kick Off to Summer Celebration
Our 2nd Annual "Kick Off to Summer" celebration was a
huge success thanks to the participation of both Tenants
and Housing Staff. Residents enjoyed face painting, a
bounce house with slide, games, and a container garden
booth. There was plenty of BBQ, popcorn, cotton candy
and watermelon. Special thanks to the Old Town Fire Department, DEEMI Search and Rescue, and Sara Munson from the River Coalition for joining our celebration. We look forward
to future events and tenant suggestions are always welcome.
New Heat Pumps
Dow III and Hillside apartments will
soon be seeing new heat pump systems
installed. Heat pumps work very
efficiently, and will save tenants on
their electricity bills.
When you think about cooling a hot
building, you probably don't think of
heat pumps. In fact, the words "air
conditioner" are likely the first things
that come to your head unless you're
tight with your pennies. Then you might
go with "window fans." As it turns out,
a heat pump can both heat and cool, and
in some applications, it's preferred to
separate heating and cooling systems.
Simply put, a heat pump is a device
that uses a small amount of energy to
move heat from one location to another.
Not too difficult, right? Heat pumps are
typically used to pull heat out of the air
Energy Performance Contract Update:
or ground to heat a home or office
building, but they can be reversed to
cool a building. In a way, if you know
how an air conditioner works, then you
already know a lot about how a heat
pump works. This is because heat
pumps and air conditioners operate in a
very similar way.
One of the biggest advantages of a heat
pump over a standard heating
ventilating and air conditioning
(HVAC) unit is that there's no need to
install separate systems to heat and cool
your home. Heat pumps also work
extremely efficiently, because they
simply transfer heat, rather than burn
fuel to create it. This makes them a little
more green than a gas-burning furnace.
Many thanks to Efficiency Maine for
providing incentives to accomplish this
work.
As we discussed in the last newsletter, much
work has been completed with much more
in progress. As of this writing, Marsh Island
Apartments is receiving shipments of new
Energy Star refrigerators, with delivery of
new ranges to follow. Lighting upgrades are
due to start soon at Marsh Island
Apartments and Family Housing, and the
new photo-voltaic solar panels at Marsh
Island Apartments are up & operating and
generating electricity. The new lighting will
include many LED retrofits, which will save
a tremendous amount of electricity, while
reducing maintenance time and costs. Many
of the new LED technology lights last
50,000 to 100,000 hours, compared to
1,000 to 2,000 hours for a traditional
incandescent bulb.
The National Fire Prevention
Association’s annual Fire Prevention
Week is October
6-12 this year.
For more information, visit nfpa.org
or http://www.FPW.org
Sandy’s Stuff
Activities / Resident Services Coordinator
For Marsh Island, Bickmore Manor,
and Penobscot Terrace
Bar Harbor
Bickmore Manor, Penobscot Terrace & Marsh Island residents did a field trip to
Bar Harbor on August 26th. The weather cleared off and was beautiful looking
over the sea. The smell of the sea roses and the ocean were wonderful. A great
time was had by all!
Upcoming Events
BINGO at PT starts up September 9th at 6:00 pm and all are welcome to come.
The Nursing Student starts September 12th at MIA.
A chicken BBQ is scheduled for September 17, 18 & 19 th.
We will be Apple Picking at Treworgy’s in Levant on September 25 t.h.
Crafts start back up this month so keep an eye out for signup sheets.
New this year----Walgreen’s will be coming to our sites to do flu shot clinic. The
date will be posted in each building.
Attitude is Everything
There are many things in life that you have
no control over, but your attitude is
something that you can control. “You
generally get what you expect out of life.” Or
“You can achieve what you believe.” If you
make the choices to expect the worst or
believe in the worst, then chances are that is
probably what you will get. We all possess
strengths and weaknesses, but it all goes back
to the choice you make. If you make the
choice to train your brain daily with positive
repetitions that enforces strength in your
attitude you are more likely to easily
overcome misfortune; removing the
restrictions that create barriers banning you
from opportunity.
Challenge yourself to stop re-acting and start
acting, today. Start regularly fueling your
daily mental training with enthusiasm as you
work toward accomplishing your ultimate
success. Believe you can! You have the
freedom and the choice, so what will you
choose to do?
What's a Hink Pink you ask? Hink Pinks are fun rhyming word
riddles. The answer to the riddle is a pair of words that rhyme with
each other. For example: Large Feline would be Fat Cat.
Contact Information
HACOT
358 Main Street
P.O. Box 404
1. Move, Female Deer
2. 24 hours with toys
3. 50% giggle
4. A totally cool dad
5. A birds foot defect
6. A blue-green moray
7. A boring Choo-choo
8. A boy slug with a shell
9. A cap that got sat on
10. A cloudy 24 hours
Old Town, Maine 04468
________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Submit your answers to the Housing Authority office,
Phone (207) 827-6151
by September 20th, for your chance to win!
Fax (207) 827-1502
TTY Relay 711
hacot@oldtownhousing.net
www.oldtownhousing.net
Name: ______________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF OLD TOWN
P.O. Box 404, Old Town, ME 04468