From the Blog

Records were shattered during the 13th Annual “Break the Sound Barrier” Ski Race fundraiser at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton!  We exceeded our fundraising goals thanks in large part to the awesome support of our teams’ spectacular outreach and the generosity of new and familiar sponsors. Best of all, we reconnected with old friends &welcomed new faces!

Individual and Team race times can be viewed here —

Ski Race Results 2015

Race Winners:

Fastest Team: Blue Mooners (1:16:84)
(Ella Novick, Sarah Novick, Gregg Novick, Oren Kuhn)
Fastest Male Skier: Ross Perry (25.70)
Fastest Female Skier: Ella Novick (24.26)
Top Fundraising Team: Captain Bart Haag of Team Albin, Randall & Bennett
Best Wipeout: Nico Perlut (Team Murray, Plumb & Murray)
Best Costume: Rosa Perlut “princess” (Team Murray, Plumb & Murray)
Best Cheerer: Taylor Daigle

Altogether, our teams raised more than $20,000 in donations–breaking the record for donations! Support from our sponsors added $14,300. Below is a list of our loyal sponsors for 2015.

Teams Joining us this year:

Albin, Randall & Bennett (Bart Haag, Ethan Haag, Keith Denecker, Karla Brannen)
Baker Newman Noyes (Ben Dawson, Kayla Bartlett, Joe Begin, Stephanie Leary)
Blue Mooners (Gregg, Ella and Sarah Novick; Oren Kuhn)
Fantastic Four (Ross Perry, Mickelle and Ella Dalissandro)
Maine General (Matt Cary, Ryan August, Melissa Kull, Tim Nuce)
Let Loose the Nuce’s (Alex, Henry, Josie and William Nuce)
Pearl/Solari Family (David, Sofia and Bella Solari; Benjamin Pearl)
Murray, Plumb & Murray (Sarah Traister, William McDonald, Rosa & Nico Perlut)
The Shredders (Gregg & Nick Cohen, Steve & Lily Duplessie)
Hear-oes (Greg Attra, Amy Haren, Lauren McHatten, Julie Parisien)
MKM (Matt Hearst, Sam Pfeifle, Kevin Burke, Ruby Pfeifle)
Skidaddle (Zack and Gabriel Daniels, Marc and Emily Girard)
Cable Guys (David Rossignol, Ryan Cobb, Sarah Lundgren, Jason Chadbourne)
Sloane Rangers (Keith, Alexa, Beatrice and Sebastian Craig)
ITM (Margaret, Oscar, Lucy and Remy Corral)
Zach Attack (Mike, Zachary and Matthew Glidden; Eric Morrison)

We wish to thank Shawnee Peak for helping to make our event the success it is year after year and for welcoming the hear ME now community. Also, the images below are only a small selection of the fantastic pictures taken by Cunningham Photography. You can view all the images, order prints and download pictures from their website at www.cunninghamphotography.com.

2015 Sponsors 

Albin, Randall & Bennett    
Berry Dunn & McNeil
B’Nai B’Rith      
Idexx Labs  
Irwin Tardy & Morris    
Mercy Hospital  
Murray Plumb & Murray
Porous Technologies  
Q4 Marketing
Soundworks for Children      
Stormwater Compliance  
Tighe & Bond  
Time Warner Cable
New England Development
Coastal Landscaping
Red Sox Foundation  
Nappi Distributors      

Read the inspirational essay by a former hear ME now patient who is a rising high school senior, accomplished athlete, National Honor Society member and committed community member. Bradley Morissette‘s story is one that should be read and shared!

More research on the importance of working on listening skills – with a qualified professional – in the development of spoken language. From Rutgers University, a study on the first first months of life, when babies begin to distinguish sounds that make up language from all the other sounds in the world. Research shows they can be trained to more effectively recognize which sounds “might” be language, accelerating the development of the brain maps which are critical to language acquisition and processing, according to new research.

Why say it when you can SING it! Studies show that singing to your baby and child is a win-win. No practice required, no special skills needed, you don’t even need to know all the words to a song. Just adopt a sing-song voice and fill it with loving, playful words and you are all set. Read the TEN WAYS SINGING BOOSTS CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT.

Interesting news from Science Daily

Better Speech and Hearing Month is the perfect time to draw attention to the connection to literacy and good listening and speaking skills. Reading aloud promotes literacy and is a great way to connect with your children. For suggestions, visit our Book Corner. The following information comes from www.everhear.com.

A child’s family has a profound impact on his/her ability to succeed and conquer literacy, which is the foundation on which all learning is based. As a parent, you have the ability to create a foundation of reading and language for your child through your interactions and relationship. Taking time each day to develop these underlying skills can be both fun and rewarding for both you and your child. Take a look around to learn facts and tips from the pros on how to give your child an advantage when it comes to literacy

Know The Facts

• Early literacy begins soon after birth as children start to learn about the world they live in.
• Early literacy begins with good listening and speaking skills.
• Early literacy requires the child to have a good understanding of the structure of his/her language, while maintaining an age-appropriate receptive and expressive vocabulary.
• Children with speech and language delays are more likely to have later difficulties with reading and writing.
• Parents and caregivers are children’s first teachers.
• Early exposure to books will give children an opportunity to hear words, see pictures and gain new knowledge.
• Children who are read to do better in school.
• Reading is a great way to bond with children (make it fun, not work).
• One can never be too young for books.

Tips From The Pros

The best way to read to kids

• Be comfortable, preferably face-to-face
• The child should be able the see the book right-side-up

For babies and toddlers

• Follow their eye gaze and name pictures as they are looking at them, using exaggerated facial expressions, intonation and gestures
• Expand the child’s knowledge by relating the objects or topics to things in the child’s own life (child’s pet, family, toys, etc.)
• Don’t have a plan or agenda, just share the moment and follow your child’s lead, repeating the same books or pages as many times as you can tolerate (children love repetition)
• Praise the child for any attempt to say words, answer your questions with words or point to pictures

For 2-4-year-olds

• Give the child time to look at the pictures before reading the book
• Make the story interesting by changing your voice for each character
• Ask the child comprehension questions to keep them engaged
• Ask the child what he/she thinks will happen, what would he/she do, how did the character feel, etc.
• Praise the child for his/her answers
• Remember it is supposed to be fun, not work!

For 4 years and up

• Do the same as above
• Ask the child to talk about the story after it is read
• While reading, stop and have the child guess the word
• Trace the words with your finger as you read
• Praise the child for reading with you