New Hope Hospice offers volunteer training

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New Hope Hospice volunteer coordinator Connie Eye wrote that hospice volunteers have the potential “to make a huge difference in the lives of the patients and families they serve.”

She says their greatest gift “is that of active listening, to allow patients and families to voice their fears, concerns and joys; and to have the time to spend that allows the bonds of trust to form so that sharing can happen.”

NHH will host a hospice volunteer training session June 7-28.

The comprehensive 24-hour training programs will all be conducted at NHH in Eddington except for June 26, when the training will be at Brookings-Smith Funeral Home in Bangor.

There is no fee to attend these sessions, but a screening interview and an application process are required to attend.

For more information about becoming a hospice volunteer or about NHH services, call Eye at 843-7521.

Hospice volunteers “are also an invaluable resource in helping alleviate caregiver fatigue,” Eye wrote, adding that while “medical support is crucial to patients and families” in such situations, “emotional and spiritual support is just as important and meaningful.”

Female cycling enthusiasts who enjoy riding for a cause are reminded by Deborah Ladner, health education coordinator for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, that the seventh annual Women’s Ride for Heart Health begins at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 1, at the L.L. Bean Casco Conference Center on Casco Street in Freeport.

BCM “sponsors the ride to raise awareness about heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Maine women,” according to the release.

The entry fee is $20 for the event that is open to all ages and fitness levels with rides of five, 10 and 25 miles.

Proceeds benefit the BCM education mission of teaching bike safety annually to more than 15,000 Maine schoolchildren.

For information, or to preregister, visit www.BikeMaine.org or call 623-4511.

U.S. Cellular’s Brewer store manager, Gary Hebert, invites the public to participate in Wireless Safety Week. It runs Monday through Sunday at both Brewer and Bangor U.S. Cellular stores.

Wireless Safety Days are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, at U.S. Cellular, 403 Wilson St., Brewer, and at U.S. Cellular, 33 Mid Mall Boulevard, Bangor.

The event offers free safety products and safe driving tips “designed to teach individuals about wireless phone safety,” according to a company release.

The program will include how to access wireless AMBER Alerts, encourage cell phone users “to adopt some wireless rules of the road,” discuss how to keep lines of communication open during storms and show children how to use its 911 program.

For more information, call the Brewer location at 989-3291 or the Bangor location at 942-5218.

Jennifer Therrien of the Challenger Learning Center of Maine reports the spring series of home school events ends with “a hands-on lesson learning about the unique features of the moon” from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, at the center, 30 Venture Way in Bangor.

The cost is $15, and registration is required.

To register by phone, call 990-2900, ext. 4.

To register online, visit www.clcofme.org.

Sue Kircheis, secretary of the Simpson Memorial Library board of trustees, wrote that the Carmel library has a summer full of activities for young readers, who are encouraged to sign up for those events in May and early June.

The Summer Read Program, “Catch the Reading Bus,” will be 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning June 24 and ending Aug. 5.

Special events feature Candis Veilleux “and her fascinating menagerie of animals called The Pony Xpress” on June 24 and beekeeper Carolee Tully on July 8.

There is also a teddy bear picnic for children ages 3-5, Aug. 9, featuring Jan Zimmerman with her “delightful program of animal stories and music for children and parents to enjoy.”

For more information, visit the library or call 848-7145.

Sandra Gordon of Waldo County Healthcare said Waldo County General Hospital will repeat the American Red Cross Adult CPR class for the public from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 5. The popular course will be presented at the hospital’s Education Center on Northport Avenue in Belfast.

Taught by ARC instructor Lonie Brown, the course costs $35. You must call the hospital education department at 338-2500, ext. 4154, to register, pay and obtain your CPR book.

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