Maine Injury, Accident, & Disability Law Blog : Maine Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Joe Bornstein Law Firm : Portland Bangor Maine

Beginning June 1st, travelers wishing to reenter the U.S. at land or sea borders must now show a passport. Neighboring countries that once accepted a valid driver’s license for such travel – Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean – now require stricter personal identification.

Known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the new rule was originally scheduled to take effect over a year ago but was delayed by Congress among concern that Americans weren't prepared for change and that relationships with United States' biggest trading partner, Canada, would be hurt.

Proponents of the rule feel that the security of our nation’s borders will be strengthened, while critics question how trade, tourism, and commerce will be affected. Air travelers have been required to carry passports to these neighboring countries since 2007, however many more people cross U.S. borders by car than by plane or boat. As a result, retailers in border towns are worried that consumers will stay in their home country rather than acquire the proper travel documents necessary to shop, even if the store is right down the street.

In addition to passports, Americans may enroll in “trusted traveler” programs, whose cards serve as sufficient border documentation, or obtain “enhanced driver’s licenses” from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is advised to plan two months ahead when acquiring a passport or other identification for travel as a processing delay is common. An estimated 30 percent of Americans currently have proper identification to cross into neighboring countries by car.

To facilitate travel between countries, border crossing stations are now equipped with electronic proximity readers which allow border agents to access information faster than ever. The savings in time per car is small, but multiplied by millions of travelers and it adds up to improved efficiency. For travelers who forget their identification, border patrols will work to verify that they are a U.S. citizen, acknowledging that it will take more time to do so. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said that no U.S. citizen will be denied entry back into their home country.

For more information on the new passport rule and to learn more about the “trusted traveler” programs and “enhanced driver’s licenses” please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website: www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/index.shtm.
 

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On March 19, 2009, the Maine Women’s Policy Center invited 100 eighth grade girls to Augusta to participate in the 13th annual Girls' Day at the State House. The students joined nearly 60 volunteers, lobbyists, and legislators for a day of hands-on learning about the intricacies of the Maine government.

The eighth graders had the opportunity to meet with state legislative, participate in a mock public hearing and press conference, explore the State House, and meet other like-minded girls interested in politics.

Held each March to commemorate Women’s History Month, Girls’ Day at the State House teaches young girls about the legislative process and the important role women play in shaping public policy. The underlying theme of the day is to give a diverse group of girls the opportunity to learn how they can have a future impact in the policymaking process of Maine, as well as an immediate impact in their communities throughout the state.

The Maine Women’s Policy Center was founded in 1990 and strives to increase economic, social, and political opportunities for women and girls through public policy and leadership development. With their focus set on economic security, civil rights, freedom from violence, and secure health care and reproductive rights, the center seeks to break down any biases and barriers that still exist against women in society today. Currently, seventy percent of the Maine Legislative is male.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we know well the result of hard work and a good education. With three female attorneys and nearly forty other female legal professionals on staff, we are proud to support the efforts of the Maine Women’s Policy Center and its annual Girls' Day at the State House.

Happy 30th Anniversary Maine Women’s Policy Center. May you continue to influence the young girls of today and help shape the future of tomorrow.

For more information on the Maine Women’s Policy Center and the Girls' Day at the State House, please visit: www.mainewomenspolicycenter.org.
 

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On February 12th, Gary’s House held its 4th annual Dine Around The World Food and Wine Tasting Extravaganza at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. The event featured food and drinks from some of the area’s top restaurants and bars, as well as gifts donated by local businesses for the silent auction.

The fundraiser is one of the most acclaimed in Portland, drawing over 400 people annually, and helps raise money to house the families of those receiving medical treatment at Mercy Hospital or the Maine Medical Center.

While undergoing treatment for cancer in Boston at the age of eighteen, Maine native Gary Pike saw the financial burden his family faced while trying to stay by his side throughout his two and a half year illness. As the teenager’s time in the hospital prolonged, his parents often slept in their car or on the hospital room floor to offset their mounting hotel bills. The battle with cancer would eventually cost Gary his life, but it would be his final wish to see that unlike his parents, Mainers had no such provisions.

In 1998, after seven years of fundraising and donations, Gary’s dream came true, as Gary’s House opened their doors on State Street in Portland. Today, the home offers nine bedrooms, six common rooms, and a place for Mainers to stay while a family member is being treated in either of the nearby hospitals. The cost to stay at Gary’s House is $15 per night, a mere nominal fee for keeping a family together at a most important time, and considerably less than what Gary Pike’s parents once faced.

As a business that sees firsthand the effects an extended hospital stay can have on both a patient and his or her family, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support Gary’s House and the wonderful service it provides.

Nearly twenty years ago a teenager from Kennebunk wanted Maine families to be able to remain by the sides of loved ones in hospitals without being financially burdened. Today, thanks to his vision and the hard work of his parents and the numerous employees, volunteers, and supporters of Gary’s House, Gary Pike’s dream is a reality. A reality we look forward to supporting at next year’s 5th annual Dine Around The World Food and Wine Tasting Extravaganza.

For more information on Gary’s House or to schedule a stay, please call (207) 773-9800 or visit them online at: http://www.mercyhospital.com/content/garyshouse.htm.
 

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The State of Maine is urging parents to enroll their children in health care coverage so they can get the medical attention they need to stay well and to succeed. 

With nearly 19,000 children and teens uninsured in the state of Maine, and roughly 11,000 eligible for the state’s Medicaid program known as MaineCare, the nonprofit organization Maine Children’s Alliance has partnered with Key Bank to help make it easier for those in need to get proper coverage.

Key Bank is now providing MaineCare applications at all 62 of the bank’s locations throughout the state, and has trained business personnel to help assist Mainers in the application process. Families who earn up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or approximately $28,000 annually for a family of four, qualify for MaineCare.

For those families who earn too much to qualify for MaineCare, but cannot afford private insurance, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) also helps provide health insurance for children. Families who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or approximately $42,000 annually for a family of four, are eligible for coverage under S-CHIP.

For more information on health care, and to see if your child is eligible under either MaineCare or S-CHIP, please visit the Maine Children's Alliance website at: www.mekids.org. 

And take advantage of the opportunities that Maine offers to help protect your children. Because the children of today, are the leaders of tomorrow.

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In celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Southern Maine Medical Center and Leavitt’s Mill Health Center will be hosting free healthcare screening days for women ages 40 to 64 who have limited or no insurance. The screenings will include mammograms, pap tests, and clinical examinations. 

Two free clinics will be offered to the general public:

• The first on Thursday October 16th from 9am to 3pm, starting with exams at the Leavitt’s Mill facility in Buxton, followed by the breast exam at the SMMC Diagnostic and Therapy Center in Saco.
• The second on Saturday November 1^st from 8am to 12pm at the SMMC Women’s Center in Biddeford. 

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 184,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year, with approximately 1000 in Maine alone. The Southern Maine Medical Center is encouraging all women to be screened, and is generously donating their time and resources to help educate women of all ages.

For more information on the free healthcare screening, please visit www.smmcvisitingnurses.org, or to schedule an appointment call 985-1028.

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