Free sessions offered on changes to Medicare

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Space is limited for a most informative Medicare D Community Education Session, so seniors should call and reserve their seats.

Sponsored by St. Joseph Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center and Eastern Agency on Aging, the event will help “citizens in our communities have the information they need to make important decisions regarding prescription drug coverage,” according to EMMC’s Lanie Colson.

A change in the 40-year-old Medicare program affects everyone who is over 65 or disabled, she added.

Three free community educational sessions will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Bangor Civic Center, and you can register for the session of your choice. They will be held at 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Health care and Medicare experts will address the attendees and discuss how different plans suit different medical needs.

Time will be allotted for one-on-one questions.

“The new prescription drug plan will affect so many people in our region,” Colson wrote in an e-mail, “and if they don’t choose a plan, they will be penalized for the lifetime of their enrollment in Medicare.”

To reserve your space for one of these educational sessions, call 941-2865 or 973-7818.

Bangor Adult Education and Kindred Healthcare are sponsoring four free educational classes for anyone who is a caregiver for a person with memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

All the classes will be held at Bangor High School on Broadway.

Kristie Miner, a volunteer for the Maine Alzheimer’s Association, will address “Memory, Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease” from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the high school.

“Financial and Legal Planning for the Future: Long-term Care Insurance and Changes in Medicare,” will be discussed by lawyer Jane Skelton, financial services representative David Elliott and Medicare D specialist Stacie Sparkman from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the high school.

Dr. Henry Atkins will address “Memory Loss: What causes it and what to do about it?” That class is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, also at the high school.

Registered nurse Tamera Leland will give a talk titled “How to Approach Challenges When Caring for Someone with Memory Loss” from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the high school.

You can register for these helpful, free classes by calling the Bangor Adult Education office at 941-6310.

Collectors and doll lovers of all ages are invited to a doll show and sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Grace United Methodist Church, 193 Union St. in Bangor.

Admission is just $1, and refreshments and lunch will be available for a small fee.

The event will feature dolls, teddy bears, dollhouse miniatures and a Make-A-Bear Workshop led by Kathy Northrop.

Everyone is welcome to attend, said chairwoman Darlene Shortt, and all proceeds will benefit the missions of the church.

For information, call the church at 942-8320.

This event sounds absolutely delightful.

On behalf of the Friends of Vose Library, its director, Lynn Allen, invites the public to attend a performance of the Maine Hysterical Society at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Thompson Community Center on Route 131 in Union.

Allen wrote that the MHS includes Steve Underwood, Randy Judkins and Barney Martin, who are dedicated to “preserving, promoting and provoking laughter.”

Allen also wants readers to know that “this will be a performance that will be fun for the whole family.”

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Proceeds from this entertaining evening benefit the Vose Library.

I hope readers are aware there are three American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks in Maine this month.

The noncompetitive, 3-mile walks begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, on Congress Street in Portland; at 1 p.m. that day on Maine Street in Brunswick; and at 2 p.m. that day on Main Street in Damariscotta.

To register, visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

You can also make a donation at that site, or learn how to be a “virtual participant” in the fundraiser.

For information, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 464-3102 and press 3.

Registrations are being accepted for youngsters in kindergarten through sixth grade for the University of Maine Department of Art fall session of ArtWorks.

Classes led by professor Constant Albertson are 3:30-5 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 14-Nov. 11, at UMaine’s Carnegie Hall.

The fee is $25, and a limited number of scholarships are available.

For applications, call 581-3251.

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