Thanks to legislation passed last fall, more people than ever before are able to take advantage of the wonderful work of trained hospice volunteers, who come to the aid of the terminally ill and their families.

As a result of the legislation, reported Hospice of Eastern Maine volunteer coordinator Wayne Melanson, “We have now opened up our services to people who are recipients of Medicaid services.”

Because Medicaid reimbursement now is allowed for hospice services “for this population,” Melanson said, “what this translates into is there will very likely be an increase in referrals for hospice services, and in the need for volunteers” to provide those services.

Melanson said the opportunity for Medicaid recipients to receive hospice services “is long overdue.”

“This opens up the possibility of a whole new clientele who might receive hospice services,” he said.

HOEM volunteers serve individuals and their families residing within a 25-mile radius of Bangor.

The fact that more people now can receive hospice care “is certainly driving” the effort to recruit more individuals than ever to take part in HOEM’s 2001 Volunteer Spring Training sessions, Melanson said.

The 20-hour course is scheduled for 5:30-9:30 p.m. every Tuesday from March 20 to April 17 at the Eastern Maine Healthcare Mall, 885 Union St. in Bangor.

The training prepares volunteers to provide respite care, emotional and bereavement support and many other services to the terminally ill, and their families, during this difficult time.

The volunteers are members of an HOEM interdisciplinary team overseeing the care of the terminally ill patient.

“We are specifically looking for people who are compassionate, caring people who feel that they would be able to help people who are in end-of-life situations,” Melanson said. “The type of help they would provide is respite for caregivers, reading, playing games and other things like running errands and watching children.”

Melanson said these are the “types of services that volunteers do so very, very well.”

“They become the extended family for people who may not have that type of family setup in place in their town.”

Melanson hopes those offering to become hospice volunteers would be people who could volunteer two to four hours a week.

“We are especially interested in attracting people who might have time during the daytime and, also, on the weekends,” he said.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a HOEM volunteer, call Melanson at 973-8269.

Prospective volunteers must complete an application and interview prior to taking the course.

Friends of Fort Knox executive director Leon Seymour invites the public to attend a free lecture series this month and next, focusing on Maine history.

Friends of Fort Knox was formed in 1991 and is dedicated to the preservation and educational, cultural and economic enhancement of Fort Knox and the surrounding communities.

The fort, located in Prospect, is Maine’s most-visited historic site.

The free lecture series begins with a presentation by Earl Shettleworth, executive director of the Maine Preservation Commission.

Shettleworth’s presentation of “Maine Civil War Photographic History,” begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, at the new Fort Knox Visitor and Education Center on Route 174 in Prospect.

Maine Maritime Academy professor Dean Mahew will present “The Military Ordnance of Fort Knox,” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the same site.

The third lecture in the series features Eric Sideman, director of technical services for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

Sideman will help answer the question “What is Organic Gardening?” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21.

Paul Smith, president of the 20th Maine Civil War Re-enactment Group, will present “The History of the 20th Maine in the Civil War” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27.

Peter Morrison and Pam Crane will offer a slide show and presentation of the archaeological findings from their work in “Fort Knox Unearthed,” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4.

“Historical Sites of Maine” is the topic offered by state historic site specialist Sheila McDonald, who works with the Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks and Lands.

McDonald’s presentation, the last in the series, will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11.

All lectures will be presented in the new Fort Knox Visitor and Education Center.

For more information about this free lecture series, Friends of Fort Knox or becoming a FFK member of volunteer, call Seymour at 449-6553.

You can also visit its Web site at fortknox.maineguide.com or email FOK1@aol.com.

Ruth Higgins of Stockton Springs wrote me with a question I can’t answer but, perhaps, one of our readers can.

Higgins wrote that she recently has moved, so all the calendars she’s collected “have to go.”

“I was wondering if you knew of any project where they would have a use for calendars,” she wrote. “They are in good condition, and too good to destroy if there is any use for them.”

Higgins’ dilemma is one that all of us must face.

I, too, hate to get rid of beautiful calendars, and it’s even more difficult to do now that members of my family are making their own calendars, using photographs they’ve taken.

If anyone has a use for old, but lovely, calendars, you can write Higgins at RR2, Box 11B, Stockton Springs 04981, or call me at (800) 432-7964, Ext. 8288.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.