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Honored nurse practitioner

BANGOR – Terry Marley-DeRosier, women’s health care nurse practitioner, recipient of the prestigious State Award for Excellence, was honored during the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 23rd National Conference in Washington, D.C., June 26-July 1.

The State Awards for Nurse Practitioner Excellence, founded in 1991, recognizes a nurse practitioner in each state who demonstrates excellence in practice, research, nurse practitioner education or community affairs.

Marley-DeRosier has been a nurse practitioner since 1979, with a focus on women’s health care. She received certification from Harbor General-UCLA.

Her work experience in the Bangor area ranges from family planning clinics to private practice.

She co-founded the nonprofit, independent Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center in 1984 and has served as its clinical supervisor since 1997. As a provider of prenatal and gynecological care, she has influenced the lives and health of thousands of Maine women and their families, officials said, and has served as a teacher and mentor to many nurse practitioner students.

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners was founded in 1985 and is the oldest, largest and only full-service national professional organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties.

For information about Marley-DeRosier and Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center, call Cindy Collins 947-5337, ext. 105.

Talk on writing therapeutic memoirs

BANGOR – The need to write, like all the arts, is basic to human nature.

Author Suzanne Loebl will talk about writing as a way to relieve the tension and stress of a crisis, as well as how to turn these writings into lasting memoirs 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, in the Lecture Hall of the Bangor Public Library.

The free event is sponsored by the Eastern Maine AIDS Network. Light refreshments will be served.

Loebl herself has found comfort through writing since she was a child when she was hidden from the Nazis during World War II.

Years later, while caring for her HIV-infected son, she wrote “The Mothers’ Group: Of Love, Loss and AIDS,” as a way to explore and come to terms with her son growing up gay, facing prejudice and hostility, and his fatal illness, as well as how she found strength and understanding in the companionship of other women dealing with the same complex life-and-death issues.

In her presentation, Loebl will talk about her experience as a memoir writer and, using her book as an example, show others how to use writing to face overwhelming problems and situations. Afterward, signed copies of “The Mothers’ Group” will be available for purchase from the author.

Loebl is an award-winning freelance writer, author, lecturer and co-author based in New York and Maine, specializing in science and medicine, art history and museums, and memoirs and biographies. For information, visit www.suzanneloebl.com.

Eastern Maine AIDS Network is a nonprofit agency that provides a variety of services throughout eastern and northern Maine, including HIV case management, community and outreach prevention education, as well as HIV antibody testing to the general public. For information, visit www.maineaidsnetwork.com or call toll-free 877-990-3626.

Grants for cancer research

The Maine Cancer Foundation has awarded six grants for cancer research totaling $480,000:

. Dr. Andre Kahlil of University of Maine will investigate wavelet-based image analysis of mammograms.

. Dr. Kevin Mills will explore genome stability and tumor suppression at The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor.

. Dr. Carol Bult will work on developmental genomics of lung cancer at The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor.

. Dr. Edward Bilsky of the University of New England in Biddeford will research the role of delta opioid receptors in bone cancer pain.

. Dr. Calvin Vary will look at a genetic model of TGFb receptor -ependent suppression of prostate cancer metastasis at Maine Medical Center Research Institute.

. Dr. Igo Prudovsky will study FGF-mediated tumor growth induced by notch signaling inhibition at Maine Medical Center Research Institute.

The awards are a 30 percent increase over the amount awarded in the previous year due to the public’s growing support of the foundation.

In addition to research grants, the foundation awarded $42,000 in grants for education and patient support in Maine.

The recipients are Camp Sunshine in Casco, campership for a family affected by cancer; Regional Medical Center at Lubec, regional cancer conference; Cancer Community Center in South Portland, support programs; Maine Breast Nurse Network, conference planning and education; Southern Maine Community College’s Radiation Therapy Program, advanced training for students; York County Community Action, transportation needs of cancer patients; Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, regional cancer conference; and Cary Medical Center in Caribou, community-wide prostate cancer awareness program.

The foundation also provides copies of the book, “Portraits of Courage, Voices of Hope,” to cancer patients, especially those newly diagnosed; underwrites Discovery Weekend whose final session was held last fall; supports the Maine Breast Health Cooperative?s Leadership Award and Blaine House Tea as well as the Sexuality and Breast Cancer Conference in November.

For information visit www.mainecancer.org or call toll-free in Maine, 866-627-2411.

DOVE Award

BANGOR – Officials at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center announced that Melissa Hayward, chief of volunteer services at the center, is the recipient of the DOVE Award, which recognizes a director of volunteer services programs who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities at all levels and shows outstanding management of volunteers.

Hayward received a plaque and pin on June 26, at the Maine Hospital Association annual recognition luncheon at the Samoset Resort in Rockland.

The Maine Society Directors of Volunteer Services presented the award. Hayward has been a member of that organization for six years.

Safety in canning food

ORONO – Rising food costs have persuaded more than the usual number of Mainers to plant gardens this year. Many may be thinking about preserving their harvest for the first time – or dusting off old canning equipment. Those who plan to can garden surplus this year should get up-to-date information.

Recommendations are available at University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in each Maine county. Call 800-287-0274 to find the nearest office.

A national survey conducted by the USDA-CSREES National Center for Home Food Preservation in 2000 found that many people use canning practices that put them at high risk for food-borne illness.

Over the years, changes in scientific expertise as well as canning equipment have occurred, so there is new information on the right methods, canners, jars and seals. For instance, there are two types of canners for home canning: the boiling water-bath canner, and the pressure canner. Using the pressure canner for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, poultry and fish is a must to prevent botulism. The water-bath canner is used for high-acid foods such as fruits, jams and jellies.

According to Extension Educator Jane Conroy, the first step is to take an inventory of canning supplies to determine what might be needed.

“Be careful to make sure the gasket on your pressure canner is in good condition, and get your dial gauge tested annually,” Conroy said.

Pressure canner gauges can be tested at most UM Extension offices, and some offices are offering canning workshops. Visit www.extension.

umaine.edu to access food safety and preservation publications and find out more about local Extension activities and programs.