Supper to help woman obtain assistance dog

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Paws With A Cause is a national organization based in Michigan that for more than 20 years has provided assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

Friends and neighbors of Heidi Eagleton of Winter Harbor are planning a benefit donation supper to help her raise funds to obtain her own assistance dog.

The supper is 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Winter Harbor Gymnasium.

The event includes entertainment graciously supplied by the Live Bait Band, which plays traditional tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Quebec and the southern U.S. as well as originals, old-time music, waltzes and polkas.

Attendees will also enjoy a demonstration of Tai Chi by the Winter Harbor Tai Chi Group.

Admission is free, but your donations will be graciously accepted to help Eagleton, who has multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.

And while Paws raises money for applicants to obtain their dogs, the organization encourages individuals to contribute to that effort.

Eagleton told me the cost of training and preparing a dog is $18,000.

It is her goal to help raise that amount as soon as possible, so she can move up on the applicant list.

Eagleton’s dog will help her with “balance, retrieving things I drop, press the lifeline button if I fall, help me get up and pull my wheelchair,” she said of some of the duties her dog will perform.

As her condition changes, the dog will even be able to help her get dressed, Eagleton said.

“The dog will be with me for my lifetime,” she said.

However, if for some reason the dog is incapacitated and unable to perform the required duties, Eagleton will receive a replacement assistance dog from Paws.

If you are unable to attend the benefit, but want to help Eagleton acquire her dog, donations can be made to Paws With A Cause and mailed to Eagleton, P.O. Box 511, Winter Harbor 04693.

My heartiest congratulations to the those participating in Healthy Hancock’s Lose and Win Program who, in week No. 6, surpassed the 1-ton mark for weight lost during the 10-week challenge.

Iris Simon reports the pounds lost to date total 2,036.

For week No. 6, three of the four Ellsworth Hannaford store teams were honored for their accomplishments.

Excess Baggage received the victory stick for averaging the most weight lost.

Tied for second place were the Hannaford Heavy Weights and the Graham Lake Losers. The Lighter Load and the Inn-Credible Shrinking Women tied for third.

The guest speaker for the Healthy Hancock week No. 7 meeting is Cheryl Wixson of Bangor, who established Cheryl Wixon’s Kitchen, a cooking and educational facility dedicated to teaching people the joys of healthful cooking and championing Maine products.

The meeting is 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the American Legion Hall in Trenton.

The public is invited to attend the free program.

Attorney Marie Hansen has provided information about the Penobscot County Bar Association 2006 Law Day Essay Contest.

Open to Penobscot County students in the 12th grade, or home-schooled students in their 12th-grade year, all entries must be received by Friday, April 14.

This year’s theme is “Liberty Under Law: Separate Branches, Balanced Powers.”

Entrants are asked to “explain how the executive, legislative and judicial branches have their separate spheres and separate powers but work together for the common good in our world today.”

Entries must be 500 words or less and typed or handwritten in ink.

First prize is $500, followed by a second prize of $250, a third prize of $100 and an honorable mention award of $50. The awards will be presented at a banquet in May.

For more information, write Hansen at Willey Law Offices, P.O. Box 924, Bangor 04402 or call her at 262-6222; or write Jennifer Eastman Esq., Eaton Peabody, P.O. Box 1210, Bangor 04402 or call her at 947-0111.

“Field Sketching: A hands-on opportunity to reproduce the art of nature,” is 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine in Orono.

People of all ages are welcome to learn the art of field sketching from Carrie Graham, an entomology student and nature artist.

The free forum is presented by the Edith Marion Patch Center for Entomology, the Environment and Education and Page Farm and Home Museum.

For information, call Mary Bird, 581-2434, e-mail mary.bird@umit.maine.edu or call Tiffany Wilson, 581-3288 or e-mail tiffany.wilson@umit.maine.edu.

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