VA Maine Healthcare System will be conducting a presentation ceremony in the lobby of the Togus VA Medical Center Hospital at Noon Friday, August 31.  For the last four years, a trio of very patriotic local residents have made personalized eagle head canes for Maine Veterans.  George and Donna Gunning and Burt Truman had the idea of making eagle head canes available to disabled Veterans and started to make canes with the Veteran’s name and 3 highest military awards.  They recently made a special 1000th Eagle head Cane for presentation to the VA Maine HCS.  This incredible cane has the medallions of all military branches and is mounted on a plaque with a large hand-carved and painted 1812 Federal Eagle.  These volunteers make the canes and generously distribute them at no charge to the Veteran although donations from individuals or groups helps their volunteer effort.  They have already distributed over 1,200 of these beautiful canes to Maine

Avesta Housing, northern New England’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developer, has hired Mindy Woerter as its new communications manager.

In this newly created position, Mindy will oversee the organization’s media relations, online presence and branding initiatives. She has more than 10 years’ experience in journalism and most recently was online editor at Mainebiz in Portland.

A Topsham native, Mindy now lives in Durham.

About Avesta Housing

Avesta Housing is celebrating 40 years of providing and advocating for affordable housing. An award-winning agency, Avesta has grown to become the largest nonprofit developer in northern New England and one of the country’s most innovative leaders in affordable housing. Avesta manages a portfolio of more than 1,900 apartments in 31 Maine communities including Portland, Windham, Bridgton, Rockland and Kennebunk.