Health news

Documentary on addiction

BANGOR – The Acadia Hospital and the Close to Home Opiate Awareness Campaign will offer the community a preview of the HBO centerpiece documentary, “Addiction” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at The Acadia Hospital, 268 Stillwater Ave.

The free, educational program is offered as a community service and ties in with the HBO premiere of a 14-part series that begins on Thursday, March 15.

The March 14 program at Acadia will feature a preview of portions of the centerpiece documentary, followed by a panel of community leaders familiar with the impact addiction has on communities in Maine, particularly opiate addiction. The program will end with audience members participating in a question and answer session with panelists.

To register for the program, call 973-6119 or e-mail sdoughty@emh.org. Seating is limited – register early to ensure a place.

For more information about this nationwide educational effort, visit www.addictionaction.org/about/.

Free Talk on Osteoporosis

BANGOR – Caring Connections will offer the program “Osteoporosis: What You Need To Know” at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 15, in the Isaac Farrar Mansion at the Bangor Y on Second Street.

The free one-hour session will provide information on risk factors for osteoporosis, what test results mean, treatment and lifestyle recommendations. A calcium-rich snack and recipes will be provided.

To obtain more information or to RSVP, call Robin Long at 941-2808, ext. 338. Caring Connections, a cooperative program of the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center, holds monthly meetings for those interested in bone health.

Colossal Colon exhibit

BANGOR – The Colossal Colon is coming to the Bangor Mall on Thursday and Friday, March 15-16.

Affectionately known as “CoCo,” the Colossal Colon is a 40-foot long, 4-foot tall oversized model of the human colon designed to educate the public about colorectal cancer and other diseases of the colon.

Visitors who crawl through the Colossal Colon see Crohn’s disease, diverticulosis, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, cancerous and non-cancerous polyps and various stages of colon cancer. They also learn about the importance of regular colorectal cancer screenings as effective tools in preventing colon cancer.

Experience Works awards

Experience Works, the nation’s largest training and employment organization for mature workers, is searching for Maine’s outstanding older worker. Experience Works Prime Time Awards program is part of Experience Works’ national effort to raise awareness of the contributions made by older individuals and to break down barriers associated with the hiring of older workers.

Outstanding older workers from every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will be honored in Washington and in their home states for contributions to the workforce and local communities.

This year’s search is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, an outstanding employer of older workers in 2006.

Nominees or applicants must be 65 years of age or older, a resident of Maine, currently employed and working at least 20 hours each week for pay. The honoree must be willing and able to travel to Washington in October for the Prime Time Award events. The visit will include meetings with congressional representatives, a tour of the city’s landmarks, and the awards banquet and ceremony. Honorees have an opportunity to meet, share their stories and celebrate their accomplishments.

Family, friends or colleagues may send in a nomination, or older workers may self-nominate.

Maine’s outstanding older worker in 2006 was 73-year-old Arthur Comstock, senior vice president and senior marketing manager for United Kingfield Bank in Bangor.

After service to his country in the Army, he began his banking career, working his way up from branch manager to vice president of asset management, regional executive officer, president and CEO, and chairman. In his current position, Comstock is responsible for business development and community relations and is chairman of the bank’s charitable giving committee.

He has served on numerous local and regional committees and as a director of the Center for Aging at the University of Maine. He was instrumental in raising $25 million to start the Challenger Learning Center, a scientific institution that serves middle schools across the state.

The search for America’s Oldest Worker for 2007 is also under way, as is the search for outstanding employers of older workers. Last year, 104-year-old Waldo McBurney, beekeeper and author from Quinter, Kan., was named America’s Oldest Worker.

An online nomination form or a printed nomination form may be accessed at www.experienceworks.org. The deadline for nominations is May 1.

Experience Works is a national, nonprofit organization that provides training and employment services for mature workers. Established in 1965 and based in Arlington, Va., Experience Works reaches more than 125,000 mature individuals in all 50 states and Puerto Rico each year.