Photo Gallery | First babies of 2013

(Lincoln, ME--) Penobscot Valley Hospital is pleased to welcome the first baby of 2013, Noelle Aubrey King who arrived at 10:57 am on January 1. Her parents are Sara Rogers and Dennis King, Jr. from Lincoln and proud older brothers are Zackary and Gabriel. The family was presented with a gift basket from PVH filled with a hand-made baby blanket as well as goods and services provided by local businesses including: Bangor Savings Bank, Coffee Pot Café, Cole-Whitney Ford, Gillmor’s Restaurant, Health Access Network, Judy Hanscom, Northern Pine Care Estates (dba Care Ridge Estates and Lakeview Terrace), PVH Auxiliary, Penobscot Valley Hospital, and Wing Wah Restaurant. As one of the first of Maine’s babies born in 2013, Noelle will be one of the first eligible for the Harold Alfond® College Challenge to receive a $500 grant to start a NextGen College Investing Plan® account this year. Beloved philanthropist Harold Alfond’s Alfond Scholarship Foundation set up the program to ensure access to higher education for all Maine’s children. All Maine resident babies can receive the grant if they are enrolled on or before their first birthday. There is no income limit or need to contribute any money to receive the grant. Prior to leaving the hospital, Dennis and Sara will be offered information about the Harold Alfond College Challenge and opening the NextGen® account. Baby Noelle will also receive a tote bag and books from the Raising Readers program. The Libra Foundation instituted this program back in 2000 to encourage reading aloud as soon as possible to all Maine children. “Here at PVH, we present two to three books to our newborns. They continue to receive one new book from their primary care physician at each well child visit until the age of five,” explains Eric Himes, RN Director of Inpatient Services at Penobscot Valley Hospital. The Raising Readers program has brought books into the homes of over 190,000 Maine children over the last 12 years. Since 2000, more than 1.8 million books have been distributed. The result is that nearly all children age birth to five, have a personal library of a dozen books before going to school. That's something Maine can be proud of and no other state can claim. At PVH, parents enjoy giving birth close to home and appreciate the comforting surrounds in the two, private birthing suites available. In addition to a NextGen® college fund and a set of new books, all newborns delivered at PVH will also receive a gift bag from the Auxiliary filled with baby blankets, clothing, and other goodies for the new family. The PVH Food Services department also plans a special birthday celebration complete with a birthday cake and surprise. If you have a baby on the way, Penobscot Valley Hospital offers many opportunities for Childbirth Education Classes throughout the year. Upcoming class dates for 2013 include: January 26, April 27, July 27, and October 26. This course is now offered for free and covers comfort during pregnancy, relaxation techniques, pain control, baby care, and much more. Call PVH at (207) 794-7332 to register for this very important class. For more information on the Harold Alfond College Challenge or NextGen please call 800-228-3734 or visit www.500forbaby.org or www.famemaine.com/nextgen. For more information on the Raising Readers program, visit www.raisingreaders.org.

Kaidyn Michael Ugro-Pendleton Photo: Parents Myka Ugro and Mark Pendleton pose with Kaidyn Michael, the 2013 New Year’s Baby at Pen Bay Medical Center. ROCKPORT, January 2, 2013 - On January 1, 2013 at 9.01 a.m. Pen Bay Medical Center welcomed Kaidyn Michael Ugro-Pendleton (8 lb. 4 oz.) into the world. The first baby to be born at Pen Bay Medical Center in 2013, Kaidyn Michael, the first-born child of Myka Ugro and Mark Pendleton of Rockland, was presented with a huge basket that included baby supplies, toys and books, all donated by staff and volunteers of Pen Bay. Kaidyn Michael, along with other babies who are expected to be born in Maine this year, is eligible for the Harold Alfond College Challenge. Through this program, a one-time $500 grant is available for every Maine baby to open a NextGen college investing account. The child must be a Maine resident and must be named as the account beneficiary to a NextGen account before the child’s first birthday. For more information, visit www.500forbaby.org.

Maine Coast Memorial Hospital welcomes Zhane Ilaric, first baby of 2013, born 11:58 p.m. on January 2, to Tara Ward and Joshua Minkiewicz of Southwest Harbor. The new baby boy weighs 11 pounds and is 23 inches long! The family is pictured with Nurse Manager, Tiffany Benner, RN, presenting a congratulatory basket loaded with gifts from local businesses.

New Year’s Baby Arrives at Down East Community Hospital Machias - On January 2 at 8:51 am Bentley Williams became the first baby born at Down East Community Hospital for the year 2013. Bentley, pictured above with her parents Peter and Heather and her brother Avery, weighed in at 5lbs, 3ozs. “Everyone was so good to us and I just can’t say enough about Dr. Inegbenijie; he’s just great” said Heather Williams about her experience at Down East Community. The gift basket that was presented to the family was filled with items purchased from proceeds from an employee fundraiser as well as with donations made by the following local area businesses: Bangor Savings Bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Machias Savings Bank, Tom’s Mini Mart, Berry Vines, Helen’s Restaurant, Subway Restaurant, Bluebird Family Restaurant, Ultimate Image Hair Salon, True Value Hardware, and Whole Life Natural Market.