BANGOR - Jolene Walton worked full time for 21 years at a localauto parts store until the end of December, when she lost her job inthe floundering economy.
On Tuesday, Walton was at a workshop called 'Moving Forward' thatfeatured talks on surviving after a layoff.
'I was crying on the first day I went' out looking for a new job,she recalled.
Walton now works part time as a certified nurse's assistant andattended the workshop with hopes of someday returning to her formerincome bracket.
The event, which was sponsored by the Penobscot County TransitionTeam and also featured talks on health care options for unemployedworkers and services available at the regional CareerCenters, wastelecast to five locations around the state, said Jen Brooks, thePenquis agency's spokeswoman and a transition team member.
'We broadcasted to Dover, Calais and Machias this morning, andthis afternoon we'll broadcast to [East] Millinocket and Ellsworth,'she said.
During the afternoon session, three people listened from EastMillinocket and nine sat around the table in Machias. In Bangor, twodisplaced workers, one of them Walton, listened to the presenters ina conference room at Eastern Maine Community College.
Glenn Blair, an area specialist for the U.S. Department ofAgriculture-Rural Development, spoke about programs offered by theUSDA.
Farrah Perry, loan officer for MaineStream Finance, said heragency has funds for those who do not qualify for traditionalfinancing, and it also provides counseling.
'What we're very busy with right now is foreclosure preventioncounseling,' she said.
Paula Fontes, paralegal for Pine Tree Legal Assistance, offeredadvice on how to slow down a home foreclosure, and John Moore,senior vice president of Bangor Savings Bank, explained today'smortgage system and how the government is helping homeowners.
'Do not be ashamed' of falling behind, he said. 'Things happen.'
Take action and ask lenders about what can be done to prevent aforeclosure, he stressed.
'Be persistent,' Moore added. 'You've made an investment. Youhave a stake in that property.'
The all-day workshop was designed to reach out to displacedworkers from small and large businesses, Blair said.
A resource fair also was held. It featured booths sponsored bythe University of Maine at Augusta, Bangor Adult & CommunityEducation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the SmallBusiness Development Center, Penobscot Community Health, BangorSavings Bank, United Way, Women, Work and Community, and Penquis.
Walton said she is taking advantage of available educationalopportunities and will go back to school this week at UnitedTechnologies Center's adult education program studying computers.
'I start class Thursday,' she said. 'I know I've got to do it.'
nricker@bangordailynews.net
990-8190
