Women's Journal 2010

Advertising supplement to the Sun Journal Sunday, January 24, 2010

In this issue: Local women in business • Writing a business plan Chlorine in your water • Pollutants in breast milk

Nontraditional employment opportunities

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 Recently students in the Lewiston Regional Technical Center Trades Career Cluster program completed a wheel chair ramp and porch for a disabled veteran from Lewiston.

Among the group of a dozen or so students are just two young women, both of whom have high career aspirations.

Jessica Denis, 16, from Lewiston, is a junior at LRTC; she has academic and career plans laid out. “I will continue to get as much experience as I can while at LRTC, after graduation I hope to enter into an apprenticeship doing cabinetry.�

Aside from her academic work at LRTC, Denis is also the vice president of SkillsUSA Maine. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. Nationally, SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 students and instructors through 13,000 school chapters in 54 state associations.

Denis says her participation in ‘Skills’ is particularly helpful as a young woman interested in career fields dominated by men. “The chance to talk with other students and network with professionals is important. LRTC and ‘Skills’ have both been important when it comes to supporting my goals.�

The U.S. Department of Labor considers non-traditional occupations to be those in which women comprise 25 percent or less of total employed.

In 2008, 68 million women were employed in the United States, only 1 percent working in trades related to construction or maintenance.

Another organization supporting women interested in non-traditional careers is Women Unlimited. Their mission is to improve the economic well-being of Maine women, See EMPLOYMENT Page 3

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Women’s Journal

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, January 24, 2010

Anita Blais, Midnight Boutique

Passion for living and inner strength

By Nancy Dubord Freelance Writer / Photographer

law doing one of her favorite things, shopping By her own admission, Anita Blais’ biggest for vintage clothes (“You should see my vinrole model and influence in her life was her tage hat collection!”), Blais can frequently be mom, who instilled the belief in her daughter found knitting or crocheting, often making doll that she should never be fearful of new experi- clothes for her granddaughters’ Barbie dolls. In ences. As Blais echoed her mother’s philoso- fact, even in that activity she pursues her interphy, she added her own: “If it didn’t work, it est in vintage clothing by using doll clothes patwasn’t a lost experience; I learned something terns from yesteryear. from it.”

Her passion for living belies the sorrow life Blais’ openness to learning from novel expe- has shown to her. Becoming a young widow unriences has taken her in many expectedly one month after their directions. Without any formal 25th wedding anniversary cerbusiness education, Blais and tainly was a major derailment “Don’t be afraid her husband, Steven, launched a for Blais who readily acknowlto try something business 17 years ago in response edged that this loss sent her on new in life.” to their mutual assessment of a a quest — “Not to find myself, Anita Blais need for a local retailer to stock but to reconnect with myself” both women’s lingerie and spe— which culminated in Sedona, cialty adult items in an environArizona, a place which is worldment that made women feel comfortable. renowned as a spiritual mecca.

“I wanted to do something that was fun,” inBlais’ spirituality reflects her adventuredicated Blais, with a broad smile, but then went some approach to life. In the same breath that on to say her knowledge of the details of run- she talks about her New Age accouterments ning a business developed from her husband (rocks and crystals) she orates on the goodness teaching her, or at times, the two of them learn- of Jesus and then also reveals that she is a Reiki ing together. Given his unanticipated death five master. years ago, these lessons not only provided the A diminutive, cheerful lady (Blais wears a know-how to manage their business then, but child’s size two shoe and beams unceasingly), Anita Blais shares her passion for living and reveals how her mother’s inhas enabled Blais to continue her business with it isn’t readily apparent that this woman has fluence had an impact on her life. her current managing partner, her son, John, coped with many significant life stressors whom she alone affectionately calls “J.” Her — the unexpected and premature death of a other son, Derek, recently moved his family to spouse, the persevering life-threatening illbecome Blais’ new neighbors. From the sparkle ness of a child, the total loss of property to fire in her eyes as she relayed this information, — with an inner strength that could intimidate spending time with family is clearly a priority.

Hercules. “It’s okay to feel scared once in a When she isn’t working at the boutique or while.... My will power and refusal to believe it spending time with her former mother-in- can’t be done — that’s what keeps me going.”

Employment Continued from page 2

minorities, and displaced workers by providing access to trade, technical, and transportation careers, and to provide on-going support. Their executive director, Lib Jamison, believes Maine’s career and technical education schools (like LRTC) can play a crucial and unique role in introducing young women to trades.

“Through their hands-on approach, all students can see what it takes to do the work.”

Jamison also says it is important for career and technical schools to discuss the earnings potential these jobs hold.

“With the right experience, right out of high school these careers pay considerably more than jobs young women have traditionally taken. Add a two-

year degree from a community college and the earning potential increases even more.”

Women employed in nontraditional jobs earn higher wages than women employed in traditionally female occupations. This statistic is important since nationwide the median weekly earnings of women (full-time and salary workers) was 80% that of men.

Denis’s message to other

young women interested in the trades: “Take advantage of your support networks. Talk with family members, guidance counselors and friends.

Make sure they are aware of your interests.”

For more information about Maine’s career and technical education schools, students are encouraged to visit with their guidance counselor or visit www.mainecte.org.

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Women’s Journal

3

Volunteering in Maine

Jennifer Gay, Paradise Salon:

The importance of family and community

By Nancy Dubord Freelance Writer

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rriving from Vietnam unable to speak English and all alone, 19-year-old Jennifer Gay came to America to attend the University of Connecticut to study civil engineering. Determined to succeed in the country she hoped to one day make her own, each day included the self-imposed task of learning five pages of English from the dictionary.

Soon her younger siblings, a brother eight years her junior, along with a sister 10 years younger than Gay, joined her and for the next two-and-a-half years became her sole responsibility as their parents remained in their native land under the communist regime. When questioned about why her affluent parents did not help financially, Gay adamantly asserted that she didn’t want them to help.

“I can save money working on $7 an hour,” insisted Gay, adding, “You can’t spend what you don’t have,” indicating her disdain for living on credit. After explaining how her salary of $400 a week stretched to accommodate the extra mouths, she happily shared some family vacation memories that to this day her brother maintains were “some of the best times in his life.”

“I’d put them in my Maxima to go to Niagara Falls, D.C., Chicago.” Describing those times, she indicated that although they might not have vacationed in the sense that others do, staying in a $35/ a night motel and eating at Burger King enabled them to “see the scenes” of wherever they touristed.

In reference to the economics and lifestyle associated with providing for the needs of her young family while scarcely an adult herself, Gay contended,“I wasn’t struggling.”

At 20, Gay bought her first salon business and inherited four employees. Since Gay had owned and operated a café in Vietnam at 17, this enterprise was already her second business. After studying for two years at UCONN, Gay understandably relinquished her role as a student to focus on her business endeavors and to help her family.

Gratefully conceding that all she knows about business came through observation, Gay appeared unaware of the scope of her keen business sense as she rattled off the names of several businesses that she and her husband, Christopher, own together, but operate independently of each other.

A living example herself, Gay believes that America is truly the land of opportunity and prioritizes giving back to the country that she legally adopted on March 11, 2005 when she became a United States citizen. Annually, on July 4th, she and her staff at Paradise Salon and Spa offer their services to the military and their immediate families for free. At times, individuals who’ve lost their jobs have also benefitted from her and her staff giving free haircuts and manicures. “You have to look good and feel good,” reflected Gay whose community involvement and generosity at one point earned her an award from the Compassionate Corporate Citizens that was preSubmitted photo sented to her by Mayor John Jenkins.

Gay’s advice to anyone, whether a recent immigrant or lifelong American: “You can do anything, if you really want to do it!”

Jennifer Gay

The bullets below are based on an average using 2006 to 2008 data: q 351,100 volunteers q 32.8% of residents volunteer — ranking them 15th among the 50 states and Washington, DC q 48.5 million hours of service q 45.3 hours per resident — ranking them 7th among the 50 states and Washington, DC q $981.7 million hours of service contributed Trends based on single year data (2008): q 31.8% of adults volunteered in Maine in 2008, contributing 51.3 million hours of service. q In addition to the 339.6 thousand adults in Maine volunteering in 2008, an extra 38,418 individuals worked with their neighbors to fix a problem or improve a condition in their community, but did not serve through an organization.

FMI, visit www.VolunteeringInAmerica.gov

Meeting community needs in Maine More than 9,200 people of all ages and backgrounds are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through national service projects across Maine. These citizens tutor and mentor children, coordinate after-school programs, build homes, conduct neighborhood patrols, restore the environment, respond to disasters, build nonprofit capacity and recruit and manage volunteers.

The Corporation for National and Community Service commits money to support Maine communities through three national service initiatives:

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Senior Corps: More than 2,400 seniors in Maine contribute their time and talents. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to more than 2,300 young people who have special needs. Senior Companions help more than 660 homebound seniors and other adults maintain independence in their own homes.

RSVP volunteers conduct safety patrols for local police departments, protect the environment, tutor and mentor youth, respond to natural disasters, and provide other services through more than 510 groups across Maine.

AmeriCorps: More than 280 individuals provide intensive, results-driven service to meet education, environmental, public safety and other pressing needs in communities across Maine.

AmeriCorps*VISTA members help bring individuals and communities out of poverty by serving fulltime to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses and increase housing opportunities, and AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), a 10-month, full-time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. In exchange for their service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award of up to $4,725 that can be used to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans.

Since 1994, more than 3,500 Maine residents have qualified for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $11,700,000.

Learn and Serve America provides grants to schools, colleges, and nonprofit groups to engage more than 6,400 Maine students in community service linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills.

Service-learning, improves communities while preparing young people for a lifetime of responsible citizenship.

To learn more, visit www.NationalService.gov (Information current as of March 4, 2009.)

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, January 24, 2010

The life of an actress

By Dan M arois Freelance Writer

Life insurance: It’s for the people who live

By Lisa L aliberte State Farm Agent of term life insurance: Level term: the amount hat skills does an actress of protection remains the same during the covuse in the profession?

Life insurance is a practical way to protect erage period. Decreasing term: the amount of “My sense of humor, my your family’s financial hopes and dreams. The protection gradually declines during the covcuriosity and my idealism,” said death of a family member can be devastating erage period.

Janet Mitchko, who in addition to to survivors both emotionally and financially.

Whole life insurance — premiums are generbeing the associate artistic director Life insurance can provide cash to help with ally level with cash value growth throughout for The Public Theatre in Lewiston, your family’s immediate and long-term needs. the life of the policy. Cash values can be boris also a professional actress.

Immediate needs include funeral expenses, rowed (with interest charged) during the inMitchko knew as a youngster in unpaid medical bills and taxes. sured person’s lifetime to help meet temporary elementary school that she wanted Long-term needs include care for a disabled or emergency needs. Funds borrowed reduce to be a performer. Acting sparked child or elderly parent expenses and, in gen- the death benefit and cash surrender value.

Submitted photo her interest, but she also considered eral, the chance for members of your family to Universal life insurance — this offers many being a musician since she played Janet Mitchko continue to live the life to which they are accus- traditional advantages of whole life insurance the bassoon and clarinet. tomed. Life insurance is not for the people who (such as protection for life), but also offers Living on Long Island, New York die, but for people who live. flexibility. Coverage amounts and premium brought her into New York City It’s wise to explore options while you are still payments are flexible to help meet changing where she discovered a whole new “In movies and in television, you healthy; health problems can make life insur- needs during an insured person’s lifetime (subworld of performance. When she was can cover a lot,” she said, implying ance expensive or unavailable. Three forms of ject to certain conditions).

13 years old, she saw the Broadway that the multiple takes and editing life insurance are most common today: Term When you buy life insurance, you buy a show, “Irene,” starring stage and can cover up any shortcomings an life insurance — this is temporary life insurance promise of protection against financial loss screen veteran, Debbie Reynolds. actor may have. “[But stage work] for a specific time period (one, five, 10 or more caused by death. The promise is only as good “I got to go backstage and meet gets to your natural ability, your years). It can provide short-term coverage on a as the company that stands behind it. In today’s her,” said Mitchko, who doesn’t retechnique to maintain a perforlimited budget. marketplace, life insurance buyers should be member saying much of anything at mance and how to connect with a Term insurance, however, costs more to buy concerned about the financial strength of the the time. “I was stage-struck meetlive audience.” as you get older. There are two common types insurer and customer service. ing Debbie Reynolds from TV, movIn her role as associate artistic ies, ‘Singing in the Rain.’” From director at The Public Theatre, she that day on, Mitchko knew that she works directly with co-worker and was destined for the stage. artistic director, Christopher Schario.

While she had great teachers in Schario also happens to be her hushigh school and opportunities at band and father to daughter, Emily.

Juilliard, one of the world’s most “When we are in rehearsal mode, Employment and income: Property-casualty invest in a variety of public projects, including prestigious conservatories, Mitchko we know that the other person is insurers directly employed over 1,300 people in education, housing, and pollution control. Insursaid there is no strict formula to beconsumed by this,” said Mitchko, Maine in 2008. This employment brought $82.2 ers also purchase general obligation bonds that million of payroll income into the state and local finance ongoing government operations. coming an actress. who manages to find a keen balance economies of Maine.

Reimbursement for insured losses: The “Nowhere does it say if you do this, between family life and work life Taxes: Insurance companies operating in property-casualty insurance industry pays subyou will succeed. There can be no with her husband.

Maine pay a wide range of state and local taxes. stantial amounts to reimburse Maine residents logic in what happens,” she admit“It may be a long day, since we reState premium taxes alone totaled over $90.2 milfor accidents, illnesses, and other personal and ted. “Some folks have said it takes 10 hearse for eight hours, but I may end lion in 2008. commercial insured losses. According to A.M. Best, years to make a good actor.” the day by going to Emily’s concert Investing in state and local government: in 2008, insurers paid out $340.4 million for losses Mitchko believes that self-confior walking the dog,” said Mitchko.

Property-casualty insurers are a major source of covered by residents’ automobile insurance, dence goes a long way in an acting “I also enjoy gardening, going to my capital for state and local government in Maine. $171.5 million for losses covered by homeowncareer. daughter’s softball games, or readAccording to analysis of A.M. Best data, they held ers insurance, and $455.3 million for commercial “It is a tough business. You have ing — usually plays.” $1.1 billion in Maine municipal bonds in 2008 – losses, a total of $967.2 million personal and comto remember that ‘you’ are the prodWhile admitting that every proapproximately 14% of the outstanding state and mercial property-casualty losses. uct. You have to remember who you duction she’s involved in is “an local government debt in recent years. Insurers — Courtesy of American Insurance Association. are and what you are and not get adventure,” Mitchko is proof that rattled by opinions and rejection,” the roles of actress, mother and wife Holistic Health for the Entire Family said Mitchko. play well on the stage here in Maine.

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, January 24, 2010

Women’s Journal

5

Entrepreneurs: Business plan roadmap

Writing a business plan

Deb Morang’s entrepreneurial journey follows a roadmap of stops, starts, detours, information areas, and an occasional scenic overview.

In 2004, when GH Bass shut down in Wilton, Morang traveled to the Wilton CareerCenter and first learned about Women, Work & Community.

Women, Work, and Community offers both one-on-one assistance and classes in four program areas — Building Your Career, Starting Your Own Business, Managing Your Money, and Becoming a Leader. All programs offered at Women, Work and Community’s 18 centers across the state are free of charge to participants.

“I wanted to open a fun place, with delicious teas and lots of baked goods. I went to Augusta and took a 3-class training course from WWC called, ‘Basics of Starting Your Own Business’ and discovered just how many pies I’d have to

INTRODUCTION Writing a business plan is an important early step in starting or expanding a business. A business plan is important for a number of reasons. It assists the business owner as well as institutional and individual investors by organizing information that describes the business and demonstrates how an investment or loan will further the company’s goals. A business plan provides the information that must be presented to a bank or other investor before a credit decision is made. Since most businesses can only start-up or expand through at least some borrowed dollars, the presentation of reliable and complete information in a business plan is essential.

WHAT A BANK LOOKS FOR IN A BUSINESS PLAN Since most business plans will be submitted to banks, it’s important to realize how a banker analyzes a business plan and what questions a banker asks during this analysis. A banker’s job is to assess the degree of risk in each proposed loan and to be satisfied that the loan can be repaid by the borrower while still allowing the business to operate profitably. A banker does this by analyzing a number of things including: • the nature of the business • the purpose of the loan • the amount of the loan • the ability to repay the loan • the character and management skills of the business owner • collateral To convince a banker (or any other investor) of the merits of a loan request, a borrower must present complete, well organized information which addresses these and other concerns. It is important to remember that the proper packaging of a loan proposal can be an important step in getting it approved.

bake to create a viable business. This really made me step back and think about my commitment and if I had the fortitude to pursue such a dream.

Not really knowing what I wanted at the time, I found a job instead.”

When her new employer also had a round of layoffs, Deb signed up for the Maine Enterprise Option as part of her unemployment.

“As part of the MEO program you are required to take approved classes to move you forward in your new business. About the same time I was thinking about this entrepreneurial advent u r e , a friend of mine highly recommended that I take the WWC New Ventures class because it helped him to get his woodworking business off the ground,” recalled Morang.

New Ventures is a 12-week, one-day-a-week, business planning course. Topics covered include: the customer, competition, marketing, record

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keeping, taxes, financing, legal aspects, and more. At the end of the class, participants will have a completed business plan.

The outcome of Morang’s investment of time in New Ventures is Morang Connections.

She’s happily combining wedding and event planning (like the recent Empower Lewiston “10 Years Making Change” celebration in Lewiston) with qualitative research. She’s learned about networking, has created a Web site, and joined the local chamber of commerce.

“New Ventures is awesome,” Morang said. “It touched on every aspect of business planning, from marketing and sales to taxes. The homework allowed us to really work at creating in-depth pieces of our plans and really prepared me to ask the right questions. I don’t know everything, but I know where to find help!”

Morang keeps in touch with several New Ventures classmates and her instructor, Shirley Hamilton. “The support, discussions and comments about ideas and planning really helped us all clarify our immediate and longterm goals,” she said, adding, “The instructors really care about your success and where you are at.”

Deb Morang can be reached at: Deb@MorangConnections. com. For more information about New Ventures and other Women, Work and Community classes and workshops, visit www.womenworkandcommunity.org or call 1-800-442-2092.

SUGGESTED BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE 1. Cover Letter • Applicant name and address • Amount and purpose of loan • Term and source of repayment • Collateral offered 2. Description of Business • Type and form of business • Location and plant description • Product(s) description • Timetable for business plan implementation 3. Market Analysis • Market identification • Market size • Market’s growth potential • Industry trends • Pricing of products or services How will you remain competitive?

4. Competition • Identification of nearest competitors • Assess their strengths and weaknesses • Describe the advantages your busi-

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ness will have 5. Management Plan • Personal history of principals (resumes) • Organizational chart • Duties and responsibilities • Staffing plan Include number of employees, salaries, fringe benefits, training needs, etc.

6. Sources and Uses of Funds • Identify the items to be purchased • Include current contractor and supplier estimates, including installation, freight and contingency costs • Identify proposed sources of funds; including owner’s cash injection, proposed bank financing, and funds from any other sources • Include working capital needs, if applicable • Closing costs 7. Marketing Strategy • Identify method of selling products; direct, through distributors, retail chains, etc.

• How will products be serviced?

• What kind of advertising is anticipated?

Identify costs.

8. Financial Data • Historical Balance Sheets (three years, if available) • Current Balance Sheet (less than 90 days old) • Historical Profit and Loss Statements (three years, if available) • Personal Financial Statements of Principals with more than 20% ownership in the business • Cash Flow for one year, month-bymonth, for first year after receipt of loan. Include assumptions — Courtesy of FAME.

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, January 24, 2010

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve read that human breast milk contains toxins from pollution and other causes. How serious is this and what effect will it have on my baby?

— Skylar S., New York, NY

From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I am very concerned about the amount of chlorine in my tap water. I called my water company and they said it is safe just let the tap run for awhile to rid the smell of the chlorine.

But that just gets rid of the smell, perhaps, not the chlorine?

— Anita Frigo, Milford, CT Thousands of American municipalities add chlorine to their drinking water to get rid of contaminants like nitrates, arsenic and pesticides. But this inexpensive and highly effective disinfectant has a dark side. “Chlorine, added as an inexpensive and effective drinking water disinfectant, is also a known poison to the body,” said Vanessa Lausch of filter manufacturer Aquasana. “It is certainly no coincidence that chlorine gas was used with deadly effectiveness as a weapon in the first World War.” The gas would severely burn the lungs and other body tissues when inhaled, and is no less powerful when ingested by mouth.

Lausch added that researchers have now linked chlorine in drinking water to higher incidences of bladder, rectal and breast cancers. Reportedly chlorine, once in water, interacts with organic compounds to create trihalomethanes — which when ingested encourage the growth of free radicals that can destroy or damage vital cells in the body.

“Because so much of the water we drink ends up in the bladder and/or rectum, ingestions of THMs in drinking water are particularly damaging to these organs,” said Lausch.

The link between chlorine and bladder and rectal cancers has long been known, but only recently have researchers found a link between common chlorine disinfectant and breast cancer, which affects one out of every eight American women. A recent study conducted in Hartford, Connecticut found that women with breast cancer have 50-60 percent higher levels of organochlorines (chlorine by-products) in their breast tissue than cancerfree women.

But don’t think that buying bottled water is any solution. Much of the bottled water for sale in the U.S. comes from public municipal water sources that are often treated with, you guessed it, chlorine.

A few cities have switched over to other means of disinfecting their water supplies. Las Vegas, for example, has followed the lead of many European and Canadian cities in switching over to harmless ozone instead of chlorine to disinfect its municipal water supply.

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, January 24, 2010

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“Researchers have now linked chlorine in drinking water to higher incidences of bladder, rectal and breast cancers.

A recent study found that women with breast cancer have 50-60 percent higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination by-products) in their breast tissue than cancer-free women.”

Researchers have found that those of us living in developed countries — men, women and children alike — carry around quite a toxic burden in our bodies from the constant exposure to various chemicals in our urban, suburban and even rural environments. If this weren’t alarming enough, the fact that these chemicals end up in breast milk and are in turn passed along to newborns is even more troubling.

According to writer Florence Williams, whose groundbreaking 2005 article in the New York Times Magazine opened many women’s eyes to the environmental health issues with breastfeeding, breast milk tends to attract heavy metals and other contaminants due to its high-fat and protein content. “When we nurse our babies, we feed them not only the fats, sugars and proteins that fire their immune systems, metabolisms and cerebral synapses,” she reported. “We also feed them, albeit in minuscule amounts, paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, wood preservatives, toilet deodorizers, cosmetic additives, gasoline by-products, rocket fuel, termite poisons, fungicides and flame retardants.”

In the wake of such news reports, four nursing mothers came together in 2005 to form Make Our Milk Safe, a non-profit engaging in education, advocacy and corporate campaigns to try to eliminate toxic chemicals from the environment and in breast milk. The group educates pregnant women and others about the impacts on children of exposure to chemicals before, during and after See EARTH TALK Page 8

Lena-Jo M. Hartley Sr. Vice President

As for getting rid of the chlorine that your city or town adds to its drinking water on your own, theories abound. Some swear by the method of letting their water sit for 24 hours so that the chlorine in the glass or pitcher will off-gas. Letting the tap run for a while is not likely to remove any sizable portion of chlorine, unless one were to then let the water sit overnight before consuming it. Another option is a product called WaterYouWant, which looks like sugar but actually is composed of tasteless antioxidants and plant extracts. The manufacturer claims that a quick shake of the stuff removes 100 percent of the chlorine (and its odor) from a glass of tap water. A year’s supply of WaterYouWant retails for under $30.

Of course, an easier way to get rid of chlorine from your tap water is by installing a carbon-based filter, which absorbs chlorine and other contaminants before they get into your glass or body. Tap-based filters from the likes of Paragon, Aquasana, Kenmore, Seagul and others remove most if not all of the chlorine in tap water, and are relatively inexpensive to boot.

A Lewiston native, Lena-Jo has been an associate of Downeast Financial Group since 1996. A 1994 graduate of Penn State, Hartley earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Health Policy Administration. She is licensed in life and health insurance. Mrs. Hartley is also securities licensed with Investacorp, Inc. a registered broker dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Mrs. Hartley provides the following financial services: estate and retirement analysis, business continuation, qualified retirement plan consulting, college savings programs, tax preparation and much more. Mrs. Hartley takes a holistic approach when addressing your needs. Mrs. Hartley takes the time to talk with you to find out what your goals are and then helps you with those goals. Mrs. Hartley never tries to fit you into a program, she helps you design the program to fit your needs.

Lena-Jo Hartley lives in Lewiston with her husband, Darren, and two children, Grant and Sofia.

Downeast Financial Group 460 Main Street, Suite A, Lewiston, Maine 04240 (207) 777-5400

Women’s Journal

7

Earth Talk

Continued from page 7 pregnancy, and promotes safer alternatives to products such as cleaning supplies, food storage containers and personal care products that contain offending substances. “Along with its antibodies, enzymes and general goodness, breast milk also contains dozens of compounds that have been linked to negative health effects,� reported MOMS, which lists Bisphenol-A (BPA, a plastic component), PBDEs (used in flame retardants), perchlorate (used in rocket fuel), perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs, used in floor cleaners and non-stick pans), phthalates (used in plastics), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, commonly known as vinyl) and the heavy metals cadmium, lead and mercury as leading offenders.

Despite these concerns, some recent research has shown the toxic load in breast milk to be smaller than that in the air most city dwellers breathe inside their homes. Researchers from Ohio State and Johns Hopkins universities measured levels of volatile organic compounds in breast milk and in the air inside the homes of three lactating Baltimore mothers, finding that a nursing infant’s chemical exposure from airborne pollutants to be between 25 and 135 times higher than from drinking mother’s milk. “We ought to focus our efforts on reducing the indoor air sources of these compounds,� said Johns Hopkins’ Sungroul Kim, the study’s lead author.

He concurs with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many other public health experts that, despite breast milk’s vulnerability to chemical contamination, the benefits of breast feeding — from the nutrition and important enzymes and antibodies it supplies to the mother/ child bonding it provides — far outweigh the risks.

“When we nurse our babies we feed them minuscule amounts of the same chemicals and volatile organic compounds we are exposed to every day ourselves — from paint thinners and wood preservatives to gasoline byproducts and flame retardants. However, some research shows the toxic load in breast milk to be smaller than that in the air most city dwellers breathe inside their homes.�

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Women’s Journal

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, January 24, 2010