Houlton 3K walk to help suicide prevention

loading...

I received information from Paula Gendron recently of Houlton that I am pleased to share with you.

“Since 2004,” she wrote, “The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,” which she describes as “the only national, not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education,” has conducted “a national event to fund vital programs to prevent suicide and save lives, and to increase both national and local awareness about depression and suicide.”

The program, “Out of the Darkness,” Gendron wrote, takes the form of a 3K Community Walk.

Walks are conducted, during the same time frame, throughout the country, “helping to reach out to students and community members, of all ages, with information about suicide.”

This year, walks will be conducted in Houlton, Bangor and Portland.

Houlton’s event begins with registration at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Temple Theatre parking lot.

“Business sponsors, in-kind donations of prizes, volunteers and, especially, walkers, are needed,” Gendron wrote.

“Walkers will be asked to either solicit pledges or outright donations, and take part in the walk,” she explained.

“It’s an easy walk for just about anyone,” adding that “children and seniors may certainly join in.”

For information, to register, pledge or donate, call Gendron at 532-7492 or visit www.outofthedarkness.org.

Bangor Public Library board member Elizabeth McKee Coffey reminds fellow residents that September is National Library Card Signup Month.

To celebrate, thanks to the efforts of librarian Barbara McDade, several Bangor businesses will either give you a gift or a discount when you “Show Your Library Card.”

Complete details about the project, including a list of participating businesses and their incentives, are available at www.bpl.lib.me.us.

But most of all, everyone associated with the library hopes that residents will sign up for or renew a library card this month.

For information, call the library, 947-8336, or visit the BPL, 145 Harlow St.

Here’s a reminder that Blues for the Cure begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The evening features the bands Riverbottom Funk, Sista Sadie and the England Brothers, and Bluesman David Mello.

Tickets are $10 at the door and, in advance, at Fast Forms Printing in Bangor and the Race For the Cure location at the Bangor Mall.

Mount Desert Island Hospital Auxiliary is hosting a Bake Sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, in the lobby of The First of Bar Harbor.

Food items ranging from casseroles to quiche will be available, and all proceeds benefit the Mount Desert Island Hospital Organization.

For more information, call Mary Grindle, 288-2392 or Brenda Hall, at the hospital, 288-5082, ext. 198.

Cindy Freeman Cyr invites you to celebrate National Women’s Friendship Day and support Womancare/Aegis Association that serves victims of domestic abuse by participating in Womancare Crop, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Penquis Higher Education Center, 50 Mayo St., Dover-Foxcroft.

The cost is $40 for the day with lunch, $25 half day, and an additional $5 for a lasagna dinner.

Workshops, door prizes and raffles are included.

Space is limited, so register early by calling Womancare, 564-8165, or e-mailing angie@wmncare.org.

After a combined 65 years of service, Albert and Carol Hamor of Northeast Harbor are retiring as emergency medical responders.

The couple will be honored at a reception, open to the public, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Main Sail Restaurant in Northeast Harbor.

Sue Clifford of the American Cancer Society in Topsham has announced volunteers are being sought to serve as Volunteer Patient Navigators in rural eastern and northern Maine.

These volunteers “are trained to help newly diagnosed cancer patients find their way through the health care system,” Clifford explained.

Volunteers will take a three-part training course that will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 17; 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, and the same time Monday, Oct. 1, at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital on Water Street.

Volunteers must be over 21; have knowledge of, or willingness to learn, cancer-related resources; and be willing to dedicate five-10 hours each month for a six-month commitment, Clifford added.

To register, call Michelle Sheldon, 433-7615.

I’m on vacation this week, stretching summer by visiting grandchildren and chasing the elusive little, white ball. My column returns to this section Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.