Walk for Wishes

BANGOR – It only takes a few steps to make a difference in the lives of deserving Maine children who are living with life-threatening medical conditions.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine’s sixth annual Walk for Wishes will take place Thursday, May 31, at Bass Park. Pre-walk festivities, including food and entertainment, will begin at 5 p.m. The walk will begin at 6 p.m.

More than 70 Penobscot County children have benefited from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine since its founding in 1992. This year, five children in the Bangor area have received wishes, including 17-year-old Joshua of Brewer, who went on a Caribbean cruise, and 5-year-old Julia of Hermon, who met princesses at Walt Disney World.

Ten children in Penobscot County are in the process of having wishes granted. This summer, 12-year-old Gregory of Lincoln, will meet his favorite Red Sox slugger, David Ortiz, and 18-year-old Daniel of Holden will receive a specially trained Labrador service dog.

Walk For Wishes participants will play a part in creating magic for Penobscot County children like these who are battling life-threatening medical conditions.

The Walk For Wishes is a major source of fundraising for making such wishes possible. The average cost of a wish is $5,000. Walkers raised $10,000 in Bangor last year and more than $100,000 statewide to help grant wishes for 20 Maine kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

There is no registration fee, and walkers will receive a Make-A-Wish awareness wristband. Adult walkers who raise more than $100 and youth walkers who raise more than $50 will receive a T-shirt.

All participants, whether walking individually or on a team, may register online and collect their pledges online. For more information, visit www.maine.wish.org, call (866) 704-WALK or e-mail wishwalk@maine.wish.org.

The Walk For Wishes in Bangor is presented in part by Spectrum Medical Group.

Concert for Acadia

BANGOR – The Acadia Hospital held its 11th annual 3 Bands Concert March 27. The event raised $15,000 for Acadia Youth Services. Approximately 600 attended the event.

The concert featured local young musicians and was offered with the support of the University of Maine School of performing Arts.

The evening began with the combined Bangor Middle School Bands under the direction of Steve Norris. Next up was the Brewer High School Band directed by Brady Harris. The final group was the University of Maine Concert Band conducted by Christopher White.

The evening’s finale featured all three bands performing together. Guest conductor Curvin Farnham added a local touch. He is director of bands at the University of Maine.

“The 3 Bands Concert continues to improve year after year,” said Acadia President and CEO Dottie Hill. “It has become a tradition and an event that is recognized for its excellence and community spirit.”

Sponsors of the concert were Affiliated Healthcare Systems, Bangor Daily News, WVII-TV ABC, WKIT, WZON and WDME radio stations, Bangor Savings Bank, The Advertising Specialists, Bangor Letter Shop and Color Copy Center, Best Western Black Bear Inn, Brewer Automotive Components, Canteen Service Co., Central Equipment Co., White Sign, Creative Print Services, John T. Cyr and Sons Inc., Dirigo Pines Retirement Community, Foster Imaging, Roof Systems of Maine, Snowman Printing, Tapley Pools and University Inn.

Program on polio

ORONO – The Rotary Club of Old Town will be dinner host for Rotary clubs from Bangor, Bar Harbor and Ellsworth at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Best Western Black Bear Inn. The five clubs of Zone 9 will gather to hear Ann Lee Hussey discuss her life’s journey and global work for the eradication of polio.

For information, e-mail corina@gossamerpress.com or call John Fogel at 827-5430 and leave a message.

A member of the Rotary Club of South Berwick and a polio survivor, Hussey is an advocate for healthy children and a world free of polio.

“I am proud to be a part of this historic effort to rid the world of a crippling disease that has impacted millions of lives throughout the centuries,” Hussey said. “No child today should suffer from polio as an effective vaccine has made it totally preventable.”

She is serving a second year as PolioPlus chairwoman for Rotary District 7780 and recently has become chairwoman of the Rotarian Action Group of Polio Survivors and Associates. She has been part of 10 volunteer immunization teams traveling to India, Egypt, Mali and Niger. Her presentation will include photos taken from her recent trips to Niger and India.

Rotary International’s commitment to end polio represents the largest private-sector support of a global health initiative. In 1985 Rotary members worldwide vowed to immunize the world’s children against polio. Since then, Rotary has contributed nearly $616 million worldwide. Rotary members worldwide have contributed countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than 2 billion children in 122 countries.

A highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and sometimes death, polio still strikes children in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. To date, the number of polio cases has been reduced from 350,000 children annually in the mid 1980s to approximately 2,000 cases last year. Only four countries – Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan – are still polio-endemic, an all-time low.

For further information visit www.rotary.org or www.polioeradication.org.

Better Hearing and Speech Month in May

BANGOR – Since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has celebrated Better Hearing and Speech Month each May. The month of awareness is a good time to analyze your hearing and determine if you are one of the estimated 28 million Americans who have a hearing loss that can be treated. You may have a hearing loss if you:

. Frequently ask people to repeat themselves.

. Often turn your ear toward a sound to hear it better.

. Understand people better when you wear your glasses or look directly at their faces.

. Lose your place in group conversations.

. Keep the volume on your radio or TV at a level that others say is too loud.

. Have pain or ringing in your ears.

Since 1961, the staff at the Warren Center for Communication and Learning has provided evaluations, therapies and technologies in speech, language development and hearing to the children and adults of eastern and central Maine. In 2004 it supported more than 2,700 clients in their goals toward stronger communication.

To celebrate, the Warren Center will hold its seventh annual yard sale to benefit the Voices to Be Heard Program 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at 175 Union St. Radio station Q106.5 will broadcast live.

The Warren Center will accept tax-deductible item donations for the yard sale through Friday, May 18.

The yard sale helps support the Voices to be Heard programs, and in the past the proceeds have helped the center purchase items such as a computer, testing materials and children’s chairs and tables.

Voices to be Heard is a program dedicated to helping Deaf and hard of hearing individuals of all ages learn to listen and to speak. In the past few years, major strides have been made in both technology and in aural habilitation and rehabilitation. These breakthroughs make the ability to listen and to speak within the grasp of more people than ever before.

Breast cancer benefit

Pampered Chef held a fundraiser for the Help Whip Cancer Fund last weekend in Hudson, hosted by Stacey and Tina of Tropical Rayz Tanning and Hair Salon.

For every Pampered Chef “pink product” purchased during May, Pampered Chef will donate $1 to help support the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer education and early detection programs.