Jul 27, 2026
Pierpole Day 5k Participants
STRONG – HealthReach Community Health Centers is proud of the continued success of our annual Pierpole Day 5K! This year’s 5th annual 5K event started and ended at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, and featured giveaway items, kids’ games, a tie dye station, health education materials, and lots of laughter!
Thank you to the 45+ participants for showing up early in the morning to participate and support your community! With the help of your food donation “registration fees”, HealthReach was able to restock the Strong Area Health & Dental Center food pantry. Your support is what made this event such a success and allows us to continue engaging with our community in fun, meaningful ways.
The Board and Staff of HealthReach would also like to thank all of our volunteers who helped make the day a success, and extend a special thanks to Priscilla Bartlett, Practice Manager at Strong and her husband, Ayla Haines, Per Diem RN, and Mack McAnirlin, Health Informatics Analyst — who have each volunteered their support for all five Strong Pierpole Day 5K events since its start in 2022! HealthReach would also like to thank local business supporters, including Mainely Provisions, Poland Spring, and MaineGeneral EMT.
Final Results for the 2026 Strong Area Health & Dental CenterPierpole Day 5K Run/Walk Event:
Place Bib# Time Name
|
1
|
52
|
0:25:06
|
Terrie Hoops
|
|
2
|
58
|
0:28:18
|
Celia Jay Rose
|
|
3
|
59
|
0:28:19
|
Landon Marble
|
|
4
|
56
|
0:28:29
|
Lee Rutigliano
|
|
5
|
51
|
0:28:59
|
David Hoops
|
|
6
|
69
|
0:30:17
|
Laura Columbia
|
|
7
|
92
|
0:30:26
|
Luisa Stearns
|
|
8
|
84
|
0:30:26
|
Alexandra Harbour
|
|
9
|
80
|
0:30:26
|
Ashley Adie
|
|
10
|
55
|
0:32:44
|
Dominic Bachelder
|
|
11
|
67
|
0:33:22
|
Liam Monaham
|
|
12
|
66
|
0:33:27
|
Renae Ladd
|
|
13
|
60
|
0:36:39
|
Kristen Welch
|
|
14
|
54
|
0:37:59
|
Samantha Batchelder
|
|
15
|
77
|
0:41:48
|
Anabelle Pina
|
|
16
|
79
|
0:41:49
|
Robert Pina
|
|
17
|
61
|
0:44:35
|
Peggy Pinkham
|
|
18
|
85
|
0:46:40
|
Alex Moody
|
|
19
|
91
|
0:46:40
|
Andrew Bracy
|
|
20
|
89
|
0:49:59
|
Erica Bracy
|
|
21
|
65
|
0:52:31
|
Sandra Rogers
|
|
22
|
64
|
0:52:31
|
John Rogers
|
|
23
|
76
|
0:53:50
|
Kimberly pina
|
|
24
|
57
|
0:54:40
|
Robert Rutigliano
|
|
25
|
86
|
0:55:30
|
Jillian Moody
|
|
26
|
87
|
0:55:30
|
Lorrie Moody
|
|
27
|
70
|
0:56:35
|
Rebecca Mitchell
|
|
28
|
88
|
0:58:04
|
Aisling Moody
|
|
29
|
68
|
0:58:54
|
Mary Ellen Dunn
|
|
30
|
63
|
0:59:20
|
Matthew Lane
|
|
31
|
90
|
0:59:20
|
Robert Webster
|
|
32
|
82
|
1:07:10
|
Faye York
|
|
33
|
83
|
1:07:15
|
Stiles York
|
|
34
|
72
|
1:07:38
|
Sprite York
|
|
35
|
71
|
1:07:58
|
Megan Richardson
|
|
36
|
73
|
1:07:58
|
Molly Reed
|
|
37
|
94
|
1:08:04
|
Ezra Martinez
|
|
38
|
62
|
1:08:08
|
Rebecca Lane
|
|
39
|
95
|
1:08:08
|
Summer Martinez
|
|
40
|
81
|
1:12:20
|
June Trexel
|
|
41
|
85
|
1:12:20
|
Alex Moody
|
|
42
|
75
|
1:12:20
|
Ann Pina
|
Founded in 1986, Strong Area Health Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine. HealthReach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 family medical practices and 2 school-based health centers with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Jun 24, 2026
Strong — This July, staff of the Strong Area Health Center are happy to welcome Dr. Virginia Leone to their professional healthcare team.
Virginia Leone, MD
Dr. Leone earned her Doctorate degree from New York Medical College and Masters of Public Health from San Diego State University. Her wealth of medical experience includes work at a Federally Qualified Health Center in California, where she offered full-scope family practice and obstetric care. In addition to her certification in Family Medicine, she is board-certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine.
Leone shares, “I am so excited to be returning to Maine and joining the HealthReach family. From summers with my extended family in Edgecomb to my undergraduate years at Bowdoin, I have been lucky enough to experience what makes Maine such a special place and am glad to be part of the community once more.
I feel strongly that medicine is not “one size fits all” and take great pride in working with my patients to develop a relationship based on communication, connection, and trust. Everyone has different health goals, and I aim to make sure that each person who comes to the office feels genuinely heard so we can work together to make those goals a reality. With my additional training in preventive medicine, I make it a particular priority to identify potential health issues before they occur so that each patient I treat can live their healthiest life.”
Leone joins the existing Strong clinical team — Doctor Paul Gloe; Physician Associate, Madelyn Besse; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Amy Peters; and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Cinder Savage.
Founded in 1986, Strong Area Health Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine. HealthReach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 family medical practices and 1 school-based health center with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% were financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Jun 17, 2026
STRONG – Strong’s annual Pierpole Day celebration will take place on Saturday, July 11, 2026. As a part of the celebration, the Strong Area Health & Dental Center will host their 5th annual 5K fun-run event. Don’t miss this family-friendly community event!
The event course will start and end at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, 177 North Maine Street, in Strong. The event will begin at 9:00 AM. Those who plan to register on the day of the event should arrive at 8:30 AM. In lieu of a registration fee, please bring a donation of a non-perishable food item for the community pantry. The first 50 online pre-registrants will receive a free 2026 Pierpole Day 5K T-shirt!
Please visit the following RunReg page to pre-register and help our planning committee prepare — https://www.runreg.com/strong-area-health-center-5k
Pierpole Day is an annual event celebrating local Strong heritage and history. The day is named after the Wabanaki (Abenaki/Amaseconti) settler Pierre “Pierpole” Paul. Paul and his wife, Hannah Susup, came to the Strong area in the late 1700s to settle in what was known at the time as Middletown. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with our Strong Community each year at Strong Area Health & Dental Center’s Pierpole Day 5K, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Founded in 1986, Strong Area Health Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine. HealthReach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 11 family medical practices and 1 school-based health center with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, 88% was financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
-END-
Jan 8, 2026
Joanne Joy
Melinda Corey
Karen Sennett
WATERVILLE – Connie Coggins, President & CEO of HealthReach Community Health Centers, is pleased to announce that three new members have joined the organization’s Governing Board of Directors. Melinda Corey, Karen Sennett, and Joanne Joy will join returning Board members for the 2026 year.
Melinda Corey is the Outreach Specialist for Help Me Grow Maine, a free resource focused on providing information, systems navigation, and connections to parents and providers around child development and community supports. She has spent over 16 years in the early childhood field, and holds various certifications that support child assessment, advocacy, and safety. She also holds a Masters of Special Education degree with a specialization in Early Intervention.
Karen Sennett is a seasoned Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse of the Operating Room (CNOR), and Registered Nurse First Assistant with over 25 years of perioperative, leadership, and community health experience. She is a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses and the American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses. Karen has been recognized for improving patient experience, supporting surgical excellence, and building a strong presence in the community.
Joanne Joy led a public health nonprofit focused on primary prevention for over 20 years. Education and advocacy were key strategies she employed in changing policy and environments to support prevention of tobacco and other substance use, and to improve access and use of daily health foods and activities. She holds a Master’s degree in Examination of Discrimination in Health Care and Social Services through the Lens of Generational Poverty.
HealthReach looks forward to the expertise and unique experience that all three of these new Board Members will bring to the existing Board. In 2026, returning to serve on the Board are: Jenny Boyden, Paula Callan, Paul Forman, Buffy Higgins, Jim Higgins, Michelle Kelley, John Opperman, and Susan Tedrick.
HealthReach Community Health Centers — founded in 1975 and headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating twelve family medical practices with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received approximately $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach financed 88% with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Oct 17, 2025
Dr. Paul Forman
WATERVILLE – Connie Coggins, President & CEO of HealthReach Community Health Centers, is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Forman has joined the organization’s Governing Board of Directors.
Dr. Paul Forman, of Albion, Maine, is a retired medical clinician. After graduating with his Doctor of Medicine degree and completing his residency as Chief Resident at Central Maine Family Practice Residency (now Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency), Dr. Forman worked as one of the founders and as a staff member of the Lovejoy Health Center. He continued serving at Lovejoy from its opening in 1978 until 2007. Additionally, Dr. Forman served as Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine, Chief of Medical Staff, and At-Large Director on the Board of Directors all at the Mid-Maine Medical Center (now MaineGeneral). Currently, he is a member of the MaineGeneral Medical Center Honorary Medical Staff. The HealthReach team is grateful to have Dr. Forman back as a member of the HealthReach Board of Directors, and looks forward to all that we can accomplish with his support.
Dr. Forman will join Board officers: Jim Higgins, Chair; Jack Ducharme, Vice Chair; and John Opperman, Secretary & Treasurer; as well as Board members: Jenny Boyden, Paula Callan, Buffy Higgins, Michelle Kelley, Juliana Richard, Susan Tedrick, and Allen Wicken. HealthReach appreciates the volunteer efforts of its Board members, who contribute to the leadership, direction, and success of the nonprofit. Without them, HealthReach would not be able to serve the people of rural Maine as effectively as it does with local, high-quality, and affordable healthcare.
HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating twelve family medical practices with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. In 2025, HealthReach proudly marks 50 years of delivering high-quality healthcare to the rural communities of Central and Western Maine since its founding in 1975! HealthReach services include general primary and preventative healthcare, including behavioral, substance use disorder, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach is projected to receive $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% to be financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S.
Jul 30, 2025
Strong Pierpole 5K participants
STRONG – HealthReach Community Health Centers is proud to announce that Strong Area Health & Dental Center’s 4th annual Pierpole Day 5K run/walk — a family-friendly event with broad community support — was a great success!
The event started and ended at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, and featured giveaway items, kids’ games, health education materials, and commendable community engagement.
Thank you to the 50 participants for showing up early in the morning to demonstrate their community’s commitment to health and wellbeing! With their help (the registration “fee” was a food donation) HealthReach was able to restock the Strong Area Health & Dental Center food pantry. The Pierpole Day 5K planning committee would also like to thank everyone who came out to volunteer for the event. Your support is what made this event such a success, and allows us to continue engaging with our community in fun, meaningful ways.
The Board and Staff of HealthReach would like to express their special thanks to Priscilla Bartlett, Practice Manager at Strong (and her steadfast spouse!); Ayla Haines, Care Manager; and Mack McAnirlin, Health Informatics Analyst — who has each volunteered their support for all four Strong Pierpole 5K events since its start in 2022! HealthReach would also like to thank local business supporters, including Anni’s Market, Mainely Provisions, and Poland Spring — all three of Kingfield, Maine.
Place Time Bib# Name
1 24:30 37 Garrett Fontaine
2 25:40 23 Sarah Marin
3 25:50 39 Taylor Reed
4 25:56 46 Paul Gloe
5 26:27 17 Beth Allen
6 26:54 16 Hannah Berten
7 27:31 5 Abigail Hatch
8 29:08 13 Lee Rutigliano
9 30:52 11 Angela Wilkinson
10 31:48 18 Doug Allen
11 32:41 30 Michelle Volz
12 34:08 44 Ashley Adie
13 34:15 19 Luisa Stearns
14 36:38 2 Keegan Collins
15 36:41 1 Chloe Collins
16 37:07 34 Alex Metivier
17 37:07 33 Jim Metivier
18 37:42 26 Kanoa Weess
19 38:42 32 Scarlett Katzenbach
20 38:43 41 Laura Columbue
21 39:59 47 Jinger Johnson
22 44:23 35 Bethany Richards
23 44:24 36 Kali Richards
24 48:52 50 Steve Constantine
25 49:42 25 Bryan Weess
26 51:31 14 Robert Rutigliano
27 52:54 3 Sandra Rogers
28 52:54 4 John Rogers
29 56:18 15 Kaitlyn Berten
30 56:18 42 Everett Bartlett
31 56:25 10 Alexander Moody
32 56:26 8 Morgyn Cornell
33 57:11 7 Jillian Moody
34 57:11 9 Lorrie Moody
35 1:00:09 29 LeeAnna Lavoie
36 1:00:10 31 Robin Mutasa
37 1:01:11 12 Beth Milewski
38 1:01:11 6 Rebecca lane
39 1:06:32 22 Mio Acimenez
40 1:06:54 20 Doris Mitchell
41 1:07:11 28 Mary Reed-Dunn
42 1:07:11 27 Mary Young
43 1:08:21 45 Megan Richardson
44 1:08:21 40 Molly Glidden
45 1:08:27 43 Kate Jaroncyk
46 1:08:27 38 Rebecca Zeed
47 1:08:47 24 Lisa Consciage
48 1:08:47 21 Ann Ping
49 1:13:13 48 Jia Johnson
50 1:13:13 49 Jason Johnson
Strong Area Health and Dental Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers. HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating twelve family medical practices with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. In 2025, HealthReach proudly marks 50 years of delivering high-quality healthcare to the rural communities of Central and Western Maine since its founding in 1975! HealthReach services include general primary and preventative healthcare, including behavioral, substance use disorder, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach is projected to receive $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% to be financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Patient Portal
Pay a Bill
Donate