Benefit Bingo

BREWER – A Children’s Miracle Network Benefit Bingo will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Brewer Eagles Club. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The event offers 16 games and two cover all games.

Refreshments, a silent auction and 50-50 raffle also will be available. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Affiliated Healthcare Systems, 931 Union St., Bangor, 973-6700; Westgate Pharmacy, 915 Union St., Bangor, 973-6788; Riverside Pharmacy, 431 State St., Bangor, on Eastern Maine Medical Center campus, 973-8888 and the Airline Pharmacy, 405 N. Main St., Brewer, 989-2424.

All proceeds will benefit Children’s Miracle Network. For information, call Kelley at 973-6709.

Medicare benefits

BANGOR – Jean Nowak, Medicare specialist at Beacon Hospice and Cindy Small, social worker at Beacon Hospice, will present a program, “Medicare Benefits You May Not Know About,” in honor of National Alzheimer’s Month. They will give their talk 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Westagate Manor, 750 Union St. For information, call Kristie Miner at 942-7336.

Sleep center program

BANGOR – The St. Joseph Hospital Center for Sleep Medicine will present dietitian Krista Connor at the meeting of the Sleep Center’s Patient Support Group 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the St. Francis Center, 294 Center St. Her topic will be “Eating Light for the Holidays.”

The support group is open to the public and holds meetings quarterly for people with sleep disorders and their family members. Refreshments will be served, compliments of ResMed. To register or to obtain information, call 262-1774.

Living with Cancer Conference

ORRINGTON – The American Cancer Society’s first Downeast Living With Cancer Conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at the Holiday Inn, Ellsworth. It is a free, daylong program for cancer patients, family members, caregivers and medical professionals.

“This event is about providing support, community and hope for those who have been touched by cancer,” said Elisa Madore of the American Cancer Society. “We are grateful for the generous support from conference sponsors and other local businesses that make it possible for the American Cancer Society to offer this valuable educational opportunity to the Downeast community.”

Dan Bahr of Orrington will be a member of the survivor panel discussion. Bahr’s 37 years in emergency medical services has included stints as an EMT, paramedic, administrator and health educator.

Late in 2002 Bahr was diagnosed with poorly differentiated throat cancer that required a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.

“I was told that the therapy might render me unable to speak, because of severe burning to the vocal chords,” Bahr said. Nonetheless he made it through the treatments, his ability to speak returned and he went back to school to earn a degree in community health education.

“Today I am approaching five years cancer-free,” he reports. “And my goal is to give back to the system of care that literally saved my life.”

Bahr, who serves as co-chairman of the Relay For Life of Hancock County, and was a Celebration on the Hill Ambassador in 2006, has attended previous Living With Cancer Conferences in Augusta.

“The annual conferences in Augusta are terrific,” he said. “I always come away feeling positive, optimistic and full of hope. Now that this same type of conference is coming to Ellsworth, it will be much easier to attend for those living in the area who are affected by cancer.”

This year’s conference is “Hope, Progress, Answers: A Path to Healing and Wellness.” Guest speakers include Dianna Emory, author and cancer survivor, Mt. Desert Island and Dr. Daniel Reinke, family physician and three-year cancer survivor. There will be several vendor exhibits, a panel discussion with cancer survivors, demonstrations of light stretching exercises and a performance by the Ellacapella Singers.

To register or to learn more, call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345.

New support group for infant, pregnancy loss

BANGOR – Empty Arms, a support group for parents grieving infant and pregnancy loss, will be held 7-8:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month in Lactation and Perinatal Education Center on Phillips-Oliver 5 at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Take the MRI entrance and go up to the fifth floor.

For information, contact Aimee Gerbi, 827-4364, aimee.gerbi@gmail.com; Pam Houston, 973-8742, phouston@emh.org; or Dawn Simpson, 973-7841, dasimpson@emh.org.

Physical disabilities support

BANGOR – Candace Guerette, director of the Greater Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, will be the guest at the Physical Disabilities Support Group at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at Alpha One, 1048 Union St.

Family and friends also are welcome to attend.