Health news

Health grant for youth

INDIAN ISLAND – The Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club has received a $40,000 TRAIL grant from the National Congress of American Indians, Indian Health Service, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Nike Inc.

TRAIL is a three-month incentive-based program that provides youth with a comprehensive understanding of healthy lifestyles in order to prevent diabetes. The program has four themes: About ME and My Health, Diabetes and Nutrition, Making Smart Food Choices and Sharing Knowledge.

The program also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and community service. Participants apply decision-making and goal-setting skills in TEAM – the physical activity Together Everyone Achieves Movement Challenge – and engage in service projects to improve healthy lifestyles in their communities. Community and family members participate in activities with the elementary school age club members.

A product donation from Nike Inc. provides incentives to motivate members to achieve goals and promote physical activity. Club sites implement the Nike’s SPARK program to foster clubwide participation in fun physical activities and games. For information, contact Carla Fearon, 817-7355.

For the health of it …

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Medical Center held a circus Oct. 4, just “for the health of it.” For the Health of It is EMMC’s new employee wellness initiative. It involves a voluntary health risk assessment.

Festivities of the day included a ringmaster, fortune teller, juggler, clowns and health information tips. Activities included pogo stick jumping, basketball, hula hoops, pin the heart on the clown, bean bag throwing, tricycle races and mind games.

Medicare education session

BANGOR – St. Joseph Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Eastern Agency on Aging have organized sessions on the impending changes in Medicare. The sessions are set for 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Bangor Civic Center.

The free sessions will explain the prescription drug plan options open to those who are over 65 or disabled. Health care and Medicare experts will share insights about how the different plans suit different medical needs.

The sessions also will prepare consumers to ask the right questions of doctors and pharmacists. Time for one-on-one questions also will be available.

Space is limited. Call 941-2865 or 973-7818 to reserve a seat.

Maine Heart Walk

BANGOR – The Northeastern Maine Heart Walk hits the pavement Saturday, Oct. 15, at the University College of Bangor Fitness Center. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Participants may choose to walk one mile or three miles.

To register online, visit www.heartwalk.kintera.org/bangorme, or call (800) 937-0944.

The walk is sponsored locally by St. Joseph Healthcare and nationally by Subway.

Let’s Talk Month

BANGOR – October is Let’s Talk Month, and Penquis CAP Family Life Education Services will hold a workshop to discuss parent-child communication about sexuality from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Kenduskeag Room, Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St., Bangor.

The goal of the workshop is to encourage parents and caretakers of children to discuss sexuality with their children.

To register for the workshop or to obtain information, call Family Life Education Services at 973-3665, or e-mail jpinette@penquiscap.org.