Bangor - Penquis celebrated its new role of providing assisted living services with an open house on Wednesday.



In September, the Department of Health and Human Services selected Penquis to provide assisted living services to residents at Freeses in Bangor, Merry Gardens in Camden, and Stearns in Millinocket.

The decision came when the prior provider, Eastern Area Agency on Aging, announced it could no longer provide the services, due to state budget cuts.

Penquis is excited about this opportunity, and held Wednesday's open house to give residents the chance to share ideas and ask questions.

"Basically it's just an open house for the residents here at the facility to get to meet the folks from Penquis and the staff to have a better understanding of the services that we can offer them. And just to tell them how happy we are to have this opportunity to be working with them and we hope they are well," said Charles Newton, the Executive Director of Penquis.