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Community News
September 2025
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Angela Advocates for Medicaid
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Katie Epstein, Direct Support Professional
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I received an email from a friend inviting Angela and me to Congressman Chris Pappas’ roundtable on the concerns of the Medicaid cuts in the federal and state budgets. When I mentioned this to Angela, she was all in and prepared for the meeting. By asking her yes and no questions, we worked together to develop a paragraph that I would read on her behalf. In this paragraph, she describes the activities that she enjoys during her day program and how important seeing her friends is to her. She talked about the Zumba class she takes and volunteering at the Soup Café.
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The roundtable took place on June 13th in Dover, NH. All the other Advocates arrived before the Congressman as he was finishing another meeting. Angela had the opportunity to meet some of the other people and try their coffee.
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When the Congressman came in, everyone introduced themselves and shared why they were there. Angela shook his hand, and I explained that we worked together on a brief statement about our concerns with the cuts. After the Congressman spoke about how he does not support the cuts, each person had a few minutes to speak. There were people from the medical profession, other disability advocates, and family members in attendance. When it was Angela’s turn to share, she sat next to the Congressman while I read the passage that we wrote. After I was done reading, the Congressman thanked her for sharing and asked her a few questions. Do you like working at the Soup café? And are your friends your favorite part of your program? Angela said yes to both. We ended the meeting with a photo and said goodbye to everyone. The session took about two hours, and then it was time to head home!
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Mini Golf aka Putt-Putt
On Thursday, the day before the 4th of July, I went to Twinkle Town Mini Golf with Tim, Chelly, Val, and Sharon.
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When I was a little boy, we called mini golf putt-putt. It seems like a lot of people have never heard that, so that’s why I wanted to get the word out. Twinkle Town is a 19-hole course, but we only played nine holes, because it was pretty warm and humid. Plus, we had to save room for something after putt-putt. It’s a pretty cool course. Some of the holes were pretty easy, but some were pretty hard. There are things in your way that they do on purpose to make it a little harder. I remembered things like the windmill that goes around, and you have to be quick enough to get it through. My favorite is the water, where you have to hit the ball and it has to stay on the balance beam and not fall in the water. The other one that was pretty hard was where you had to get the ball up the mound, but you couldn't hit it too hard, otherwise it’d go right off the course, which Sharon found out. Sharon kept score; each hole has a par, so you should take 3-4 shots to get it in the hole. Your score is how many shots it takes you.
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After we finished playing mini golf, we sat under the canopy and ate ice cream, which of course added to the fun that we had. I think I would like to go back and play again. You should try it sometime!
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Watch out Bar Harbor, We’re Back!!!
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Lloyd, Henry, and Cody Anderson
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We are excited to share that we have just completed our 2nd Annual Camping Adventure in Bar Harbor, ME! Our family used to have a camper set up closer to our home, in Gorham, at a campground where we had a permanent site. We stopped going there during the pandemic. Last year, we started a new family tradition and dad hauled the camper up to Bar Harbor instead, and we LOVED it!
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We got to enjoy all the typical spots that tourists flock to, like Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, downtown Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, and much more. We loved exploring those places and then going back to our campsite, where we could relax under the tent while Dad cooked for us on the grill. We had several other family members join us as well. We love spending time with our parents, sisters, and their families and making new memories together.
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If you have not had a chance to explore our great state of Maine, we highly recommend that you add Bar Harbor to your list of new places to explore. We hope you enjoy some of the photos that were captured of us while we were there!
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Ethan’s BBQ Adventure
Lisa Turner, Associate Director
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Ethan is known for being kind, friendly, and always up for an adventure. His outgoing personality makes him a joy to be around, and he’s always ready to jump into new experiences with a smile.
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He had a great time at this year’s Residential Resources BBQ! He loved catching up with everyone and chatting throughout the afternoon. As things wrapped up, he didn’t hesitate to offer his assistance with clean-up. Ethan is always ready to lend a hand!
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One of the highlights of the day was a visit from the local firetruck and ambulance. Guests got to explore the vehicles, ask questions, and snap a few fun photos. It added an extra layer of excitement to an already fantastic event.
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Thanks, Ethan, for bringing such positive energy to the BBQ!
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Meow Lounge
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Holli Brown, Program Manager
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Jeremy recently visited the Meow Lounge in Westbrook, Maine, and had a wonderful time. He spent the day petting and playing with lots of friendly cats and kittens. Some of the kittens were especially curious and climbed all over Jeremy’s wheelchair, treating it like a fun new toy. Jeremy didn’t mind at all; he loved watching them explore.
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There were also many friendly people at the lounge to hang out with while spending time with the cats. The cozy space and playful animals made it a really fun and relaxing visit.
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Jeremy had such a great time that he’s planning to go back regularly. The Meow Lounge is now one of his favorite places to hang out!
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Dual Role in Service and Advocacy
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Karlie Munson, Agency Support Broker
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Cory Burleigh is a familiar face to many in the Plattsburgh community, thanks to his long-standing role as a Front-End Associate at Lowe’s, where he’s been employed for an impressive twenty-two years. Known for his friendly demeanor and dedication to customer service, Cory has recently earned multiple recognitions, including being named an ASCO All-Star and Front-End All-Star Associate. His favorite part of the job? “Assisting customers and socializing,” something that clearly resonates with those who return surveys praising his service.
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Cory’s impact does not stop at the self-checkout line. Nearly a year ago, he took on a second job as a Peer Advocate at the North Country Center for Independence (NCCI), where he helps individuals transition into community living. Whether he’s assisting with Medicaid advocacy or learning speech-to-text technology to empower himself and others, Cory is driven by a desire to help his peers gain the independence he has found.
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Cory credits much of his success to the support he receives through Self-Direction, especially from his Community Habilitation staff, Nikki Zindler, and Job Coach, Tom Defayette. Their guidance has helped him grow in both roles, culminating in his recognition as Employee of the Year 2025 by his Supported Employment Provider, ARC. Cory’s story is a testament to the power of support, advocacy, and a genuine passion for helping others.
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Summer of 2025
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Maggie Kelleher, Home Provider
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John had a great 4th of July weekend with Laine, Garrett, and Lily. It started with a 2-hour parade in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He enjoyed the many fire trucks from over 10 towns! He got some treats too. He also enjoyed going to the Swamp Bats baseball game. From there, we went to Sullivan, NH, for a campout. John rode around on the back of a mule 4-wheeler, it’s like a side-by-side, but it has one seat. As always, he enjoyed the BBQ and he really liked the campfire! He had a wonderful holiday weekend.
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Please send us your questions, comments, or suggestions. We'd love to hear from you!
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TRUST - RESPECT - QUALITY - TRUTH / HONESTY - CREATIVITY - EMPOWERMENT - DIVERSITY
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