Raffle to benefit Foster Grandparent Program

BANGOR – With the purchase of a $5 raffle ticket, people can give money to a worthy charity and have a chance to win a weekend get-away for two at a world class resort in the mountains of Wheeling, W.Va.

Members of the Foster Grandparent Program are selling the tickets. The raffle began as an idea for a romantic weekend get-away for Valentine’s Day, but expanded dramatically when five hotels came on board to support the program.

Foster Grandparent Program Division Manager Gary Dorman said, “These donations are a wonderful example of community support and are giving a much-needed boost to our program.”

Donating a two-night get-away for two people are: Oglebay Resort and Conference Center, Wheeling, W.Va.; Comfort Inn, Ocean’s Edge, Belfast; The Eagle’s Lodge, Ellsworth; Maple Hill Farm B&B Inn, Hallowell; and Best Western Black Bear Inn, Orono.

Donating a dinner for two are: Undo’s Italian Restaurant in Wheeling, W.Va.; Weathervane Seafood Restaurant, Belfast; Riverside Cafe, Ellsworth; Longhorn Steakhouse, Augusta; and Margarita’s, Orono.

Ad America of Las Vegas, a supporter of the program, kicked in airfare and Wheeling Limo will provide transportation from the airport to Oglebay Resort and Conference Center.

The goal is to raise at least $5,000 to benefit the program and fund a summer training seminar, a chance for the foster grandparents to gather, share information and learn new skills for their next year with at-risk children.

A drawing will be held at noon Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St. Winners will be notified by phone and do not need to be present. To obtain tickets, call the Penquis CAP Foster Grandparent Program office at 973-3684 or (800) 215-4942.

Pathfinders for grieving children

BANGOR – Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children, will hold its spring session 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays, March 12 to May 21, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 540 Essex Street.

The 10-week session provides grief support for children and their families or caregivers who have experienced the death of a loved one. Adults who attend with children meet in their own groups. Teens may attend on their own with consent of a caregiver.

Celebrating its 13th year, Pathfinders was founded by Maria Brountas and the late Barbara Eames. The program provides special bereavement support geared specifically for children and teens ages 3 to 18.

To help defray costs, there is a $50 fee per family with a limited number of scholarships available.

Volunteers are needed to help facilitate the session. Facilitators are specially trained to meet the needs of grieving children. Training will begin Saturday, Feb. 10.

For information on attending a session or volunteering, call Linda Boyle at 973-8269.

Brain injury support

BREWER – The Brain Injury Support Group for survivors of brain injury and their families, significant others and friends is held 5:30-6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Maine Center for Integrated Rehabilitation, Twin City Plaza, 248 State St.

The next meeting will be held on Feb. 6. For information, call 989-2034.

Tier 1 Preferred Hospital

BANGOR – St. Joseph Hospital is now a State Employee Health Commission Tier 1 Preferred Hospital. This distinction allows State Employee plan members to receive care at St. Joseph Hospital without paying an annual deductible.

St. Joseph Hospital was recently notified of inclusion on the preferred list and joins 22 Maine hospitals with this distinction. To become a Tier 1 Preferred Hospital an organization must meet three criteria: submission of the 2006 Leap Frog patient safety survey data, a specific benchmarked score on the Maine Health Management Coalition’s patient medication safety survey and adequate scoring in measured clinical data submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

St. Joseph Hospital has received numerous national patient satisfaction awards, the latest being Best Performer in Inpatient Care awarded by Avatar International Inc. St. Joseph Hospital had the highest overall patient satisfaction score for Avatar’s national database for comparably sized hospitals of 101-200 beds.