February 2018 - Upcoming Events!

Call Us: (207) 664-0339

23 Commerce Park

Ellsworth, ME 04605

Happy Valentines Day!

In the Spotlight ~

News: New Board Officers; Our Winter Volunteer Drive
In Focus: Volunteer Daphne Bradford Testimonial
Winter Kitchen: Turkey Chili
Mark Your Calendars: New Caregiver Support Groups; Drop Spinning Wool Class; Tuning In: Music for Stress & Pain Management

Beth Wright Center Board

Appoints New Officers

We would like to announce that 2018 brings the appointment of new officers on the Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center Board of Directors.

Thelma Beal has been named as the new board President and Myna Coffin as Vice President. Janet Stanley, RN will continue to serve as Secretary and Nancy Owens will also stay on as Treasurer.

We want to say a very special thank you to Donna Fricke , outgoing President, for her six years of service as board President. Donna will continue to serve as a board member.

Our Winter

Volunteer Drive

The Value of Volunteers

Our Volunteers are amazing! They may be the friendly voice on the other end of the phone or the smile you see when you come through the front door.

Each one of them are dedicated to helping us to achieve our goal - serving cancer patients and their loved ones. Volunteers are an essential part of the Beth Wright Cancer Resource Centers day to day operations and we are in need of more. Can you join in and become part of this very special team?

Call us at 207-664-0339 or Sign Up Today

In Focus - Volunteer Daphne Bradford, Her Story

Daphne Bradford

Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center Was There For Me:

A PERSONAL STORY

Waking up in the recovery room from breast cancer surgery, I felt a silent, warm, tear roll down my face. “What is your pain level?” The nurse asked.

“A ten,” I said. She increased the pain medication and relief came quickly. When consciousness returned, she was by my side again. She placed a soft cushion under my arm where lymph nodes had been removed. It was a comfort to me, like having my cuddly, red tabby cat “Joey” beside me. I used that cushion often during the healing process. Maine Coast Memorial Hospital provided excellent care and upon leaving, I was given a gift bag full of helpful recovery aids. I noticed a tag on one of the gifts that read: “Hand made by Beth Wright Cancer Center volunteers.”

In my first post-op visit with Dr. Molly Collins I inquired about the Beth Wright Center. I was grateful for their healing gifts and wanted to thank them. She gave me one of their informative pamphlets to read and recommended them highly.

When I grew stronger, I decided to check out the Center and was impressed with what they had to offer. I learned that they were in need of front desk volunteers and felt it was time to give back. I joined their caring group of volunteers.

That was over two years ago and I have met many men and women who walked into Beth Wright in need and walked out with hope. Not a day goes by that I don’t leave The Beth Wright Center with a sense of fulfillment and always a big thank you.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and need financial assistance, transportation to and from treatments, a support group, a wig or headscarf, they will fulfill your needs.

To help you heal they offer programs like Yoga, Reiki, Chi Gong, Massage and Healing Touch sessions and more.

Michael Reisman, the director, has a wealth of knowledge and is available to talk with you about your specific needs.

The Center also has a library full of updated, informative books and pamphlets about cancer that you are welcome to use. Beth Wright Resource Cancer Center is here for you, your friends and family. What they offer is all at no cost.

Come visit us. I believe you will leave there with hope in your heart too.

Volunteer,

Daphne Bradford – Jan. 2018

Two New Caregiver Support Groups

Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but also stressful. We often lose track of what is important to us. Support from others can help us on this journey.

We are happy to announce two new Caregiver Support Groups. You are invited to join us in Blue Hill or Ellsworth.

Blue Hill Group

Date : Friday, Feb. 23, 2018

Time : 10:30 am - 12:00 Noon

Place: Blue Hill Public Library

Ellsworth Group

Date: Tues., Feb. 27, 2018

Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 noon

Place: Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center

Alice Hildebrand will facilitate the group. All are welcome to attend. Questions? 207-664-0339

Step into Our Winter Kitchen...

One of the fun things about the Winter Season is huddling around the warm kitchen stove to prepare a nourishing, hot meal. Our feature meal this month is:

Turkey Chili with Pinto Beans

This recipe is an all-time favorite.It uses ground turkey instead of beef which seems blend well with the Fiesta Brand chili powder.

Here's what you will need:

2 Tbls. olive oil

1 large sweet onion, chopped

1 sm to med. sized Pablano pepper, chopped ( ONLY use seeds if you like it very spicey)

1 medium green pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

4-5 tsp. Fiesta Brand chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 pound ground turkey, 85 percent lean

1 15.5 oz can, low-sodium pinto beans

1 29 oz can, low-sodium chopped tomatoes

1 29 oz can, low-sodium tomato sauce

In a large kettle, heat the olive oil.

Add the onions and green peppers, cook until they begin to soften.
Add the Poblano peppers, cook until all are soft
Add garlic, cook briefly
Add the ground turkey, mix well with vegetables
Add chili powder, salt and pepper and cook turkey until lightly browned and heated through.
Add the tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes and pinto beans.
Bring to a light boil and reduce heat. Adjust seasonings and simmer, stirring regularly for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

You can also prepare this and transfer to a crock-pot and set on low and cook for 4 hours.

Serve with home-made corn bread and a nice garden salad or cole slaw.

Remember to add a big dollop of sour cream to your bowl of chili! Enjoy!

Send in your favorite recipe and we will publish it here! Simply email it to us here

Mark Your Calendars!

Learn the Ancient Art of Drop Spinning Wool

The ancient art of spinning wool with a drop spindle is thousands of years old. The technology required is a wooden dowel (the shaft ) a disc with a center hole (the whorl) a hook or notch and a length of carded wool. That’s it. This relaxing hobby was once the initial manufacturing process for all fabric. Drop spinning predates the spinning wheel by about 9000 years.

Amy Reisman will be teaching this interesting craft at the Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center in Ellsworth on Tuesdays, February 13, 20, 27 and March 6, from 2:00 – 3:45 pm. learn more

Tuning In: Music for Stress & Pain Management

Are you looking for ways to reduce your stress and take better care of yourself? Do you struggle with acute or chronic pain? Music is a powerful and enjoyable way to improve your wellbeing.

This talk will explore music-based wellness and stress management techniques to help you learn to tune out stress and tune into yourself. Carla Tanguay, MA, MT-BC, is a board certified music therapist will guide us through this talk.

Join us on Friday, March 9 at 11:30 at the Beth Wright Center. Soup will be provided for lunch after the talk.

Our Wellness Offerings

The following is a list of the free offerings we provide in Hancock & Washington Counties to cancer patients, their caregivers, families, friends and interested community members:

Complementary Therapies

Reiki - BWC, Ellsworth - Mondays at 2:30 pm No Reiki Feb.19

Chi Gong - BWC, Ellsworth - Mondays at 1:00 pm No Chi Gong Feb. 19

Yoga - BWC, Ellsworth - Tues. 4 pm & Thurs. 1 pm

David Walker Yoga Studio, Blue Hill - Mondays - 3 - 4 pm

Bucksport - Bucksport Regional Health Center - Weds. - 3:30 - 4:30 pm

Yoga for Cancer - YWCA, Bar Harbor - 4 - 5:30 pm

Cancer Exercise Recovery - Downeast YMCA, M, W, F - 10 - 11:00 am

(Call Robin Clarke at 207-667-3086)

Be In Motion - UMaine Machias, T & Th - 11:30 - 12:30 pm

(Call Samantha Williams at 207-214-6516)

Exercise Recovery - Harbor House Fitness Center, SW Harbor (Call to set up appointment at 207-244-9555)

Call for appointment sessions - 207-664-0339

Massage

BWC, Ellsworth - Feb. 9, 1 - 3 pm

Healing Touch

BWC, Ellsworth - 1st & 3rd Fridays, 3 - 5 pm

Reflexology

* BWC, Ellsworth - 2nd & 3rd Tuesdays, 1 - 4 pm

* Blue Hill, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital - 2nd Weds, 12 - 3 pm

* St. Aidan's Church, Machias - 2nd Friday of month, 2-4 pm

Support Groups

Caregivers Support Group - Facilitated by Alice Hildebrand,

* Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill - Fri, Feb. 23, 10:30 am - 12:00 noon

* BWC, Ellsworth - Tues., Feb. 27, 10:30 am - 12:00 noon

Calais Breast Cancer Support Group - Calais United Methodist Church, Calais - 4th Friday of month, 3:00 pm

Harrington Support & Resource Meeting - Harrington Family Health Center, Harrington - 4th Thurs of month, 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Lubec Support & Resource Meeting - Lubec Regional Medical Center, Lubec - 1st Friday of month, 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Machias Support & Resource Meetin g - St. Aidan's Church, Machias - 2nd Friday of month, 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Eastport Cancer Support Group - Facilitated by Barb Vitton, Eastport Health Care, Eastport - 2nd Tuesday of month, 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Crafting Group

Sewing & Knitting Group - Beth Wright Center - Ellsworth, Meets most Fridays - 1 - 3 pm. Call ahead to make sure, 207-664-0339.

More Details here

If there is anything you'd like to see published in our newsletter, please email us to let us know. Also contact us for more information or requests. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center

23 Commerce Park

Ellsworth, ME 04605

(207) 664-0339

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