Talk of the Towns 1/13/17

Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Community concerns and opportunities

Program Topic: Making Age Friendly Communities in Maine

Key Discussion Points:
As people the world over grow older, there is more attention paid to making their communities “age friendly”… what might be a good working definition of “age friendly community”?
How did the Bangor, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor decide to sign on as partners in the AARP Age Friendly Community Network? …
What are some of the opportunities / problems you would like to address?
Who is involved in your community (characterize the network within your towns)?
What challenges and successes are you finding in your work?
What are your hopes for the future of your communities and Maine as we create communities that are more “age friendly?”

Guests:
Patricia Oh, LMSW, MS Livable, Age-Friendly Communities Consultant AARP Maine
Jo Cooper, Executive Director, Friends in Action, Ellsworth
Doreen Willett, Executive Director, Island Connections, Bar Harbor
Patty Hamilton, APRN, City of Bangor Public Health and Community Service

RadioActive 1/12/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Governor LePage’s proposal to build a privately run mental healthcare facility in Maine

Key Discussion Points:

1) Today we take a closer look at Governor LePage’s proposal to build a privately run mental healthcare facility in Maine, and what that could mean for quality and continuity of of patient care, transparency and legislative oversight
2) There is a national trend towards the privatization of mental healthcare. One of the bidders for the Maine facility id Correct Care Solution who has be criticized for it record in for profit prison facilities.
3) We also look at other labor issues in the state, including the implementation of this elections referendums on the minimum wage and income tax reform.

Guests by name and affiliation:
Shelby Moreau, mental health worker at Riverview Psychiatric Center, Vice-president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, local 1814
Sarah Bigney, Maine AFL-CIO