Forecast for Farmington

United Way Kick-off
FARMINGTON - The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area has named three local people to lead this year's fundraising campaign.
The chairs are Michael Luciano, human resource manager of Verso Paper Corp.Androscoggin Mill in Jay; Sandra Goodwin, vice-president and area sales manager of Bangor Savings Bank; and Rep. Thomas Saviello, U-Wilton.
The agency's director, Lisa Laflin, said during the campaign, the three chairpersons will be working throughout the county to explain to people how contributions make a difference and touch one out of every three people in the area.
The formal kick-off of this year's campaign will be from 11 am. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Meetinghouse Park on Main Street in Farmington. In case of heavy rain, the event will be at the Fairbanks School Meetinghouse on Fairbanks Road.
There will be live music, free food, giveaways, and a group photo opportunity of individuals wearing "Live United" T-shirts. Representatives from community partner agencies will speak about the impact their agencies have on the region.
To order a shirt, call the United Way office at 778-5048 or stop by 232 Broadway in Farmington
This year's Kick-Off event will also host an opportunity to "Stuff a Bus" with school supplies in response to a growing number of requests for supplies fielded by the United Way and its funded agencies. A Mt. Blue Regional School District bus will be parked near the Gazebo at the park and school supply donations can be dropped off. Laflin said these will be distributed throughout the county by the United Way and its Community Partners.
Last year, the agency allocated funds to 20 Community Partners organizations that provide valuable health and social services in Franklin County. These include New Beginnings, which works with homeless adolescents; SeniorsPlus and its Meals on Wheels program; Literacy Volunteers, which does tutor training and literacy support; Western Maine Community Action for its energy conservation education; and the Franklin County Children's Task Force, which offers child abuse and neglect prevention programming.
The kick-off event is being supported by Aramark; Mt. Blue Regional School District; Native Oak; Tri-County Mental Health; Inspired Voices Ensemble; and Verso Paper.

Diabetes help: Franklin Memorial Hospital Outpatient Services is offering people with diabetes who have trouble managing their disease a continuous glucose monitoring system to record blood sugar levels throughout the day and night.
A sensor is placed under the skin of the abdomen through a quick and usually painless office procedure. The device, made by Medtronic, can then provide up to 288 glucose measurements every 24 hours. The system is used to measure an average blood sugar for up to three days, while the person with diabetes continues daily activities at home.
After three days, the sensor is removed at the Outpatient department and the information is downloaded into a computer to review blood sugar levels and make necessary adjustments in their diabetes m management plan. For information, contact the FMH Outpatient Department at 779-2539 or 1-800-398-6031, ext. 2539.