Eye on Augusta: Mills Administration Bows to Business, Proposes Massive Tax Breaks for Profitable Companies
by Andy OâBrien Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:51 AM
Andy O’Brien is communications director at Maine AFL-CIO. He is a former managing editor of The Free Press and a former state legislator. His Eye on Augusta column appears every other week in The Free Press. Governor Janet Mills finally caved to pressure from business groups last week when she proposed an $82 million tax break on federal relief companies received during the pandemic. Under federal law, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are not subject to a federal tax, but they are taxed under state law and business groups have been calling on the Mills administration to conform to the federal tax law.
Susan L. Talbot.
CAMDEN Susan Lynn Talbot, well known among Maine bird artists as a formidable talent whose eye for delicate detail brought her countless regional and national awards, died on January 30, 2021, after a nearly three years of living with breast cancer, at Waldo County General Hospital.
Her renown in artistic circles belied her quiet nature and penchant for the solitude of the Maine woods the place that most inspired her art. A talented painter and sketch artist, Sue found her favorite medium when, well into adulthood, she began carving birds. In a few short years she leapt from student to teacher to award winning carver.
AUGUSTA A Belfast senior living care facility and a trio of area hospitals were among more than 50 recipients of the Maine Health Care Financial Relief Grant Program across the state.
The Maine Health Care Financial Relief Grant Program is funded with $30 million made available to Maine under the federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide economic relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with monies distributed through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
Local grant recipients, each receiving a $100,000 grant, included Belfast’s Tall Pines Healthcare, Inc., LincolnHealth, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital.
The program provides grants for health care providers that demonstrate a need for financial relief based on lost revenues or expenses related to the disruption of business operations caused by COVID-19.
Cindy Wade has risen through the ranks during her 30-plus years with the organization
John A. Martins, LincolnHealth
Cindy Wade, RN, BSN, MHA. Courtesy of LincolnHealth
MaineHealth is pleased to announce that Cindy Wade, RN, BSN, MHA has been chosen to lead LincolnHealth as its president. Wade was selected after a nationwide search and will succeed Jim Donovan, who will retire March 28.
“Cindy brings a high level of competence and a natural ability to motivate and support the people she works with,’’ said Rich Petersen, president of MaineHealth. “Cindy’s extensive knowledge of nursing, health care delivery and operational imperatives is exceeded only by her compassion and sense of humor.”
Fri, 01/15/2021 - 2:45pm
Larrabee Family. (Photo courtesy Waldo County General Hospital)
BELFAST Kymberlee and Caleb Larrabee kicked off the new year with the birth of a baby girl at Waldo County General Hospital. Audree Larrabee, born on January 5, was the first baby delivered at WCGH in 2021. Audree weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces and measured 19 ½ inches long.
“When my sisters and friends delivered their first babies, I didn’t know all the emotions they were experiencing,” Kymberlee said. “Now I do, and I can say it’s just euphoric.”
Both Audree and mom are in good health.
Congratulations to Kymberlee and Caleb and their families.