Health news

Information on Medicare

BUCKSPORT – An informational forum on the Medicare Program will be held 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 19, at the Bucksport Senior Center, Outer Broadway.

The program is designed to give community members a user-friendly orientation to the Medicare Program. Topics on Medicare A & B will include covered services, uncovered services, preventive services, the importance of assignment, Medicare Summary Notices, and the Medicare Buy-in Program. Robert Blake, Maine Medicare Education Partnership coordinator from Eastern Agency on Aging, will be the featured speaker.

The forum is part of the Bucksport Bay Successful Aging Series. The series is designed to assist elders and their family members in learning the skills and resources related to the key planning areas of aging, which include legal issues, home alterations, health and safety issues, financial preparation, nutrition, active aging and family communication.

For more information on other Successful Aging Programs, call Mary Jane Bush at 469-6682.

Community relations

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems announced recently that Suzanne Spruce was promoted to manager of EMHS community relations department. She has worked for EMHS for five years, most recently as the senior communications specialist. Her promotion came after a state and regional search, and extensive interviewing with administration and staff.

The EMHS manager position became vacant when Jill McDonald was assigned full-time to the communications needs of Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Move and Improve

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems’ Move and Improve 12-week physical activity program concluded another year in May. The program attracted more than 9,500 participants across Maine, as well as other states and countries. More than 50 percent of the participants who pledged to complete one of the two levels offered to finish the program.

The Move and Improve program, which begins in March and ends in May, promotes a healthy lifestyle through regular physical activity 30 minutes a day for four days a week, or 45 minutes a day for five days each week.

To learn more about the Move and Improve program, visit www.moveandimprove.org.

Reunion and field day

BANGOR – The Nurses Alumni Association of Eastern Maine General Hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center and Husson College will hold its Alumni Reunion Field Day at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the G. Peirce Webber Campus Center, Husson College.

Activities are cribbage, bridge and other card games, bingo, a Scotch auction at 4 p.m., and a barbecue chicken dinner at 5 p.m. The cost is $16. To make reservations, call treasurer Gloria Lee at 223-5657.

Blizzards for children

Proceeds from Blizzard treat sales on Thursday, Aug. 10, during Miracle Treat Day will aid hospitalized children. Participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations throughout the United States and Canada will donate proceeds from sales of Blizzard treats to Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals.

All the funds raised stay in the local communities.

Dairy Queen has been a supporter of Children’s Miracle Network since 1984, raising more than $59 million during that time.

To obtain more information and to find a Dairy Queen location participating in the event, visit www.dairyqueen.com.