Maine’s First Lady
presents baby journal to new parents
Photo courtesy of TAMC
MAINE’S FIRST LADY Ann LePage, left, visited TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital June 13 to present one of the first copies of her new publication, “Love.Read.Learn!” baby journal, to new parents Katelyn Powers (seated and holding then-2-day old daughter Piper Elizabeth York) and James York of Mapleton. Joining in the presentation were, from left: Tammy Beaulier-Fuller, who is the director of both surgical services and the women and children’s unit; and Pamela Lilley, manager of the women and children’s unit.
PRESQUE ISLE — Maine’s First Lady Ann LePage was at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle last Thursday to present one of the first of her newly released, family-friendly “Love.Read.Learn!” baby journals to the parents of an Aroostook County newborn.
LePage visited TAMC’s Women’s and Children’s Unit where she presented one of the first copies of the new publication to the parents of then-2-day-old Piper Elizabeth York of Mapleton. The daughter of Katelyn Powers and James York was born Tuesday, June 11 at 6:31 p.m., weighing eight pounds, one ounce and measuring 20.5 inches.
The scrapbook-style booklet promotes literacy and health to Maine families with newborn babies. The baby journal will be provided at no cost to parents of newborns in Maine in 2013. The first books were presented recently at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland by LePage and former U.S. First Lady and Maine summer resident, Barbara Bush.
“This has been such a wonderful and rewarding project. Working with Mrs. Bush and her foundation has been amazing. Maine is only the third state in the nation to partner on this project. The goal is to expand to all 50 states,” said LePage. “I was so pleased to be able to come here to TAMC and present the journal in person to Piper and her parents.”
The journal features the artwork of selected artists participating in the Maine is ME Student Art Challenge. Artwork was submitted by 867 children in grades K-8 from throughout the state. The publication features the works of 31 children.
The featured cover artist is Kevin Duplessie of Caribou, a student at Caribou Middle School. Following her visit to TAMC, LePage visited the school to take part in a surprise assembly where news of Duplessie’s winning cover artwork was shared with the artist and his schoolmates.
Receiving a journal is especially meaningful for Piper’s parents as they both work in education and see the benefit of instilling an appreciation for reading at a young age.
“The most important thing that parents can do for their child is to read to them. It is an excellent way to bond and teach your child things they can experience and new worlds to explore,” said Powers. “Both James and I read to Piper when she was in the womb. We both feel that reading is supportive to language development.”
Powers is an educational technician with Child Development Services in Presque Isle while York is a social studies teacher at Presque Isle High School.
“I look forward to reading Dr. Seuss to Piper, just as my parent’s read to me. It’s a legacy I want to continue,” said York. “Reading is necessary and used in almost everything we do every day. No matter your age — you’re never too young or too old to be read to.”
