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Bangor

Camp Bangor fair

Families of children attending grades three through six in Bangor public schools will be interested in attending the United Way of Eastern Maine’s Camp Bangor camp fair 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the Bangor Civic Center. The event is free and the public is invited.

Camp Bangor is offering these pupils a $1,000 scholarship to attend one or more Maine summer camps of their choice after meeting good citizenship guidelines and volunteering in the community.

The United Way of Easter Maine, which administers this Libra Scholarship program, has put together a 2003 Camp Directory, which has information on more than 140 camp programs across the state of Maine.

These directories are free to the public and will be given out at the camp fair. The directory will also be available at the Bangor Public Library Children’s Department, at the United Way office on Sylvan Road and on-line at www.unitedwayem.org.

The United Way’s Camp Bangor program is funded by The Libra Foundation, a private foundation established by the late philanthropist Elizabeth B. Noyce. The program is in its fourth year in Bangor, second year in Portland and fourth year in Lewiston. The city of Bangor is sponsoring Camp Bangor T-shirts for every eligible child as well as co-sponsoring the camp fair.

For information on United Way programs, call 941-2800 or visit www.unitedwayem.org.

Bangor

Cardiac rehab programs

Innovative Fitness is offering Cardiac Rehab Phase III and IV programs. These programs are designed to extend the continuum of care for cardiac rehabilitation patients and their caregivers, encompassing individuals who have experienced a cardiac event or those at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

The programs are supervised by Dr. Robert Clough, and each class is equipped with cardiac nurses and as many certified personal trainers as is needed to give individualized attention. The certified trainers instruct participants on how to exercise safely and help them work toward independence in their daily lives and in the fitness facility.

The program focuses body composition, flexibility, cardiovascular, strength and nutritional consulting. The programs follow the exercise guidelines set forth by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for cardiac patients.

For information, call Vickie Burnham or Lance Reardon at 942-3200. Certified staff will contact the patient and schedule a one-on-one consultation. The participant will be asked to bring a physician clearance, a list of medications, and most recent graded exercise testing results. The program is located at Union Street Athletics, 366 Griffin Road.

Bangor

Dental clinic grant

Penquis Community Action Program has received a grant of $30,000 from Eastern Maine Charities’ HealthShare Grant Program. The three-year grant will make it possible for the Penobscot Community Dental Clinic to expand staffing and increase the number of those served.

The dental clinic, located at the Penobscot Community Health Center on Union Street in Bangor, serves residents of Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, with an emphasis on those who are uninsured or underinsured. In the first three months of operation, 266 patients were seen.

“We have been overwhelmed by the number of people requesting services,” said Laurie Eddy, director of health services at Penquis CAP. She acknowledged Eastern Maine Charities for its assistance.

Bangor

United Way campaign

Recently United Way of Eastern Maine announced a projected $50,000 gap in reaching its goal of $2,650,000. The community responded with more than $28,000 in pledges over five days.

“We are very hopeful this surge of generosity will continue and we will be able to meet the community’s needs. Certainly the response to date gives us reason to be very hopeful,” said Jeff Wahlstrom, president of United Way.

Great Northern Paper’s recent bankruptcy announcement came after United Way identified its $50,000 gap.

Wahlstrom went on to say, “Their announcement couldn’t have come at a more challenging time for the community.”

United Way is currently working with more than 700 local companies to meet the projected campaign gap. Organizations are very interested in supporting their community and assuring programs aren’t cut.

Last year, United Way invested more than $1.9 million in community programs including 75 programs operated by 45 partner agencies in Hancock, Penobscot, Pisacataquis, Washington and Waldo counties.

United Way also sponsors infoLine, a community and social services referral hotline at 973-6815; Camp Bangor; Keeping Kids On Track, a community effort to better the future of adolescents age 10-14; and Volunteer Solutions, an online service to match volunteers with opportunities at local non-profits.

To make a donation or to obtain more information about the United Way, please call 941-2800 or visit www.unitedwayem.org.