Brewer

A year in Iraq

Brewer Chief of Police Steve Barker, who spent a year in the Iraq war zone, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Brewer Historical Society, Clewley Museum, Wilson Street.

Barker, a 28-year-veteran of the Brewer Police Department, worked as a volunteer adviser to the new police force in Iraq.

After working under contract in Iraq to the U.S. Department of State, he arrived home from his service last September.

In Iraq, Barker worked six months with two other police advisers at the International Zone police station three miles from the Baghdad hotel where he resided. Then he was promoted to bureau commander for the regions of Iraq located north of the Iraqi capital.

Benefit shopping expo

A one-stop shopping expo to benefit Spruce Run will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at Jeff’s Catering.

Products and gift ideas will range from spa and skin care to cosmetics, bath and body, gourmet candles, books, gourmet foods, cookware, storage ware, jewelry, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, home decor, baskets, toys and an animal-stuffing workshop.

Children will be able to purchase and “fluff and stuff” their own animal at the Noah’s Ark Workshop while their parents do their shopping.

Participating businesses also will donate to a large basket for Spruce Run.

Admission is $1, free for children under 12.

Bangor

Personal assistance group

The Maine Personal Assistance Services Association will hold a chapter meeting 3-5 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Bangor Public Library. Membership to Maine PASA is free and open to all who are interested.

Maine PASA Executive Director Roy Gedat is calling the meeting to offer local home health aides, direct care professionals, personal care attendants, certified nurse assistants and other workers a way to connect with each other, build recognition and discuss recruitment and retention issues for direct support professionals.

While the number of Mainers aged 65 and older is increasing, the number of direct-care workers available is decreasing, Gedat said. The primary source of direct-care workers is women between the ages of 25 and 54. That population is growing slower than the baby boomers entering their senior years, while retail and service jobs offer higher wages and benefits. Consumers are faced with inconsistency in their caregivers and long waiting lists.

Maine is just beginning to experience waiting lists and other service problems due to a shortage of workers.

PASA is also currently involved in several projects. Stipends are offered for attending “Best Friends Alzheimer” training. Dirigo health care options are promoted in partnership with the Consumers for Affordable Health Care and advocating for better jobs and quality services through the Direct Care Worker Coalition.

Based in Norway, Maine, PASA is a 650-member association. For more information, call Roy Gedat at 890-0773.