LincolnHealth hosted a grand opening ceremony for the new Coulombe Center for Health Improvement at the St. Andrews Campus in Boothbay Harbor on May 18.

The center is dedicated to social and behavioral support for a wide variety of ages, with special focus on adolescents and those aged 50 and up.

The center was possible through a gift of $1.1 million from Paul Coulombe, who attended the opening ceremonies with his wife, Giselaine Coulombe.

“The credit for the idea really goes to Jim Donovan (president and CEO of Lincoln County Healthcare),” Coulombe said at the ceremony. “It speaks volumes about LincolnHealth's commitments to this community.”

LincolnHealth Board Chairman Jeff Curtis spoke about a shift in healthcare away from simply making people well and instead focusing on keeping them well. He also spoke about the groups on the peninsula who help the community and the importance of partnering with such groups, including the St. Andrews Community Committee, which has agreed to act as an advisory committee to the Coulombe Health Center.

Also speaking at the ceremony was the president of MaineHealth Bill Caron, Superintendent of Schools Eileen King, YMCA Executive Director Andy Hamblett, and Donovan. They all spoke about the importance of maintaining partnerships with each other to provide the best care possible for all members of the community.

Donovan thanked the Coulombes and also gave thanks towards what he termed the “often overlooked” members of the projects, maintenance and housekeeping.

“(Paul) is always thinking about ways to improve the area,” said Giselaine Coulombe. “We'll be on vacation somewhere and he'll say ‘That would work well in Boothbay’.”

The coordinator for the center will be Ani Pat McKenney, who will work with groups such as local churches, schools and the YMCA to ensure the center is filling real needs of the community and not duplicating services already offered elsewhere.

Coulombe’s gift has also gone towards other renovations of the urgent care center, to provide increased privacy to patients, and also to improve the former Gregory Wing of the campus.

“I couldn’t resist ducking (under the ribbon) and taking a peek inside the new wing,” Caron said. “I found this pamphlet all about ‘yoga for golfers’ as part of the wellness program. Sounds like fun.”