AUBURN - Tri-County Health Services, the reproductive health and family-planning program of Western Maine Community Action, has hired Julia McDonald. Since November, McDonald has been working at both the Auburn and Norway offices as a reproductive health specialist and a counselor with the STD Clinic.

McDonald comes to Tri-County Health Services after working and living in a rural village in Morocco for two years.

LEWISTON - Hair From the Heart is pleased to welcome Kristin French to their team. She is trained in the latest techniques of cutting, coloring, perming and foiling at Hair From the Heart. Hair From the Heart would like to invite you for a free consultation at 1027 Sabattus St.

AUBURN - Panolam Industries, Pionite Division (formerly Pioneer Plastics) received ISO 9001-2000 Certification in February.

The facility, established at its current location since 1965, houses three business units with its largest being Pionite high-pressure decorative laminates.

n Act immediately. Don't wait, thinking you'll get another job or things will work out so you don't have to think about it. It can take up to six weeks to get your insurance application approved.

n Find the expert at your former employer who can explain everything about the coverage offered under the COBRA plan, and be assertive asking questions: How much will it cost? What benefits are covered? What is the deadline for signing up? How long will COBRA last? Is there an option for covering only some family members?

AUBURN - Michael Morton recently joined Schooner Retirement Community as food service director.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he is a certified executive chef and has been certified as a serve-safe instructor. He has served as an executive chef and owner of several New England restaurants and his management experience includes work with Kaka Inc. and most recently for Aramark Campus dining services at the University of Southern Maine.

Schooner Retirement Community is located at 200 Stetson Road, Auburn.

Here's how some people save a few dollars:

n Take public transportation instead of taxis.

n Wait longer between haircuts.

n Cut back on facials, manicures and massages.

n Buy cheaper coffee drinks.

n Use discount cards for food and beverages.

n Opt for standard cable TV over premium programming.

n Get car washes less frequently.

n Buy half-price theater tickets.

n Refinance mortgage payments.

n Take shorter vacations closer to home.

n Buy only needed items - one suit instead of two - despite tem

You're probably familiar with the deduction choice you must make when you file your tax return.

Business owner Stephen McPartlin never was the type to carry a coffee card - the kind you dig out of your wallet to get punched for a free cup of coffee.

"Couldn't be bothered pulling it out," he said.

Lately, when he stops at 6 a.m.

LEWISTON - Manicurist Ellie Haggett, a graduate of Capillo's in Augusta, has recently joined Stylz's. She is adept in all aspects of quality nail care.

Haggett offers free consultations in order to provide her clients with the best possible nail treatment. She offers services in acrylics, silk wraps, nail air, manicures, pedicures and all aspects of nail care.

For an appointment phone 795-0600.

PORTLAND - Custom Cards of Rangeley was one of more than a dozen companies honored with Best New Product awards at the 19th annual New England Products Trade Show held recently in Portland.

The company's "laser-cut" cards and ornaments received the recognition.

The Best New Product awards are presented by KeyBank, a major sponsor of the event.

AUBURN - Curtis W. Sturdivant has been named community development banker in KeyBank's Great Falls KeyCenter.

In his new role, Sturdivant is responsible for assisting low- to moderate-income borrowers through the process of financing their first home. Previously, Sturdivant was a financial adviser with American Express Financial Advisors in South Portland.

Sturdivant holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Rochester.

A native of Boston, Mass., Sturdivant lives in Augusta.

HARRISON - Turner Building Science, LLC, a division of the H.L. Turner Group Inc., has announced the promotion of the following staff members: William A. Turner, PE, president/CEO, and Steven M. Caulfield, PE, vice president.

In addition, four staff members have been designated Leed 2.0 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professionals. They are: William A. Turner, PE; Steven M. Caulfield, PE; Steven M. Martel, PE; and Brian K.

AUBURN - Roger Gagnon has joined ERA Worden Realty as a realtor.

"We are honored to have Roger join our winning team," said Tim Worden. "He brings tremendous experience and outstanding career results that will certainly benefit his customers and our company.

As part of ERA Worden Realty, Gagnon will be able to offer homebuyers and sellers a wide variety of valuable products and services including online listings, home warranty plans, the ERA Sellers Security Plan and more.

Gagnon resides in Poland with his family.

LEWISTON - Registered nurse Pamela Sirois has joined the staff of St. Mary's Regional Medical Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders as an adult nurse practitioner.

Sirois received her bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Maine, her associate's degree in nursing from the CMMC School of Nursing, and her master's degree in nursing from Simmons College in Boston.

She previously worked in the oncology unit at CMMC.

CHICAGO - Homeowners who are already wincing from double-digit increases in their insurance rates might want to brace themselves for the next wave of get-tougher attitudes from insurers, which is arriving in the form of "rap sheets" for their homes.

The "rap sheets," known as CLUE reports, are being used increasingly by insurers to determine which homeowner customers to take on - and which to turn away. The reports are records of insurance claims filed in recent years.

CHICAGO - Rene L. Dumont, vice president of Planning and Marketing at Sisters of Charity Health System in Lewiston, has advanced to fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international society representing nearly 30,000 health care executives.

The announcement was made at the executives' convocation ceremony during the organization's annual Congress on Healthcare Management.

"Being fired, downsized or laid off, they're all euphemisms for the same thing - losing your job," said Paul D. Storfer, president of HR Technologies, Inc., a strategic management and human resource software firm based in Purchase, N.Y.

"In a job interview, you always need to be honest, because the truth will out. . . . If you were downsized, put a positive spin on what happened.

LEWISTON - Mid-State College recently announced the creation of a new partnership with Pediatric Associates in Lewiston.

Students in the medical assistant associate degree program now have an added clinical rotation at Pediatric Associates' Lewiston office.

Mid-State College's medical assistant students will spend time in the well child, sick child and triage areas, under the supervision of registered nurse Sue Veilleux, clinical manager.

Pediatric Associates is the largest private pediatric practice in New England, with a client count of approximate

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I., and the war in Iraq show that life is a precious gift, and you could lose it at any time.

"Whenever we see a situation like this, it causes us to pause and reflect on what would happen if one of us died," said Michael T.

The American Red Cross will be conducting a job information fair and skills test for potential lifeguards Saturday, April 5.

The Job Fair will be offered at two locations: University of Maine-Farmington campus in the Health and Fitness Center and at the Lewiston YWCA from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Brochures and information will be available about potential employers, followed by a pre-skills test session from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

AUGUSTA - Business boosters from western Maine hope state lawmakers will back an effort to inject $1.2 million into a nonprofit program aimed at launching new businesses in the region.

The River Valley Technology Center, created four years ago by the Maine Legislature, needs about $2.7 million to renovate a 65,000-square-foot building in Rumford.

AUBURN -- RE/MAX River Cities Realty has opened a real estate office at 195 Center St., said H. Charles (Chuck) Lemire Jr., executive vice president and regional director.

George Greenwood will be the owner/broker of the new office.

Greenwood was a member of the 2002 President of the Androscoggin Valley Board of Realtors.

AUBURN -- The new office of The Entrepreneur's Source in Auburn has one goal - to make the American dream of business ownership easier to attain for aspiring local entrepreneurs.

The Auburn office, owned by Michael Nadeau, is part of a nationwide network of business ownership consultants who work with individuals and companies considering franchising as a career alternative or a method of expansion.

"Today more than ever people want to go into business for themselves, they're just not sure how and where to start," Nadeau said.

BRUNSWICK -- Daniel Alvino, a resident of Auburn, recently joined Allenbrook Inc. of Brunswick as a product support specialist.

Alvino will assist customers of the company's insurance management software system, Phoenix.

Alvino's years of prior technical experience was cited by the company as one of the qualities Alvino brings to Allenbrook's support staff.

NEW YORK - Capping a dreary first quarter, Wall Street suffered another sharp drop Monday amid fears of prolonged fighting in Iraq and a disappointing report on manufacturing in the Midwest.