Life Line Screening

AUBURN — Residents living in and around the Auburn community can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture. High Street Congregational Church will host Life Line Screening on Wednesday, March 14, at 106 Pleasant St.

Four key points every person needs to know: Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability; 80 percent of stroke victims had no apparent warnings signs prior to their stroke; preventive ultrasound screenings can help you avoid a stroke; screenings are fast, noninvasive, painless, affordable and convenient.

Screenings identify potential cardiovascular conditions such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.

Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Preregistration is required.

La Leche meeting

AUBURN — Expectant women and breastfeeding mothers are all invited to a La Leche League meeting to be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, at 102 Bennett Ave. Babies are always welcome.

This month’s discussion, “Breastfeeding: Great Beginnings For Mother and Baby,” will focus on avoiding and overcoming difficulties. Pregnancy is an ideal time to begin attending meetings, and mothers find continued attendance provides support throughout their breastfeeding experience.

All concerns about breastfeeding are welcome for discussion. For more information or breastfeeding help, call the La Leche leader at 782-6645.

Parenting workshops

LEWISTON — Raising a healthy child with emotional and behavioral health concerns is a lifelong pursuit. Parents facing difficult and stressful situations need to know they aren’t alone and that there are peers who can help.

G.E.A.R. Parent Network provides an opportunity for parents to support each other and work together, family to family, and offers workshops and classes in most Maine communities throughout the year.

“Supporting Stress in Children and Area Resources” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at Central Maine Medical Center, and Wednesday, March 21, at Stephen’s Memorial Hospital, Norway. The workshop will focus on types of stress children and youth experience and how to help them cope. A panel of area representatives will be available to tell about their programs and resources available in the community.

All G.E.A.R. workshops are free to parents, grandparents or caregivers of children with emotional and behavioral health concerns. For full workshop descriptions and other class listings, visit www.gearparentnetwork.com or call 1-800-264-9224.

New knitting group

LISBON — A newly formed knitting group, Eager Beaver Knitters, will be meeting at Beaver Park Lone Pine Lodge every Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Bring knitting needles, crochet hooks and long overdue projects that need  finishing touches. Knitters of all experience levels are welcomed and encouraged to join in the fun.

Contact Verla at Beaver Park for more information and to join the group at vbrook@lisbonme.org or 353-9075.

Lisbon Historical

LISBON FALLS — The Lisbon Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the MTM Center, 18 School St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Entrance and parking is at the rear of the building. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Jo-Jean Keller, librarian at the Lisbon Falls Community Library, will be a guest speaker to share ideas and seek information from members of the community for the 2012 Summer Reading Program. The theme is, Your Library: Link to a Lisbon Adventure!

Members of the historical society, as well as the public, are invited to share their knowledge and experiences of days gone by, as it relates to the Lisbon community. Areas of interest include: history, heritage, businesses, historical sights, school days, community life, styles of clothing, types of games, chores, etc. The society will be working with Keller to develop information to be used for the Summer Reading Program. Volunteers are being sought to help with this effort. The Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the library for students K-6, and older students when there is interest.

Refreshments will be served following the presentation. Wear something green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day for a prize drawing.

For more information, contact Dorothy J. Smith at 353-8510; email LHS.2011@yahoo.com or visit lisbonmainehistory.org

Bridge winners

LEWISTON — The Lewiston-Auburn Social Bridge Club winners at the Multi-Purpose Center on March 5 were as follows: first, Jan Arey and Linda Leotsakos; second, Jeanine Kivus and David Lock; third, Nancy Lindgren and Les Buzzell; first in B, Cindy Kirchherr and Marta Clements.

The L-A Duplicate Bridge Club winners on March 6 were: first, Mary Ann Trafton and Mike True; second, Nancy Lindgren and Les Buzzell; third/fourth tie, Jeanine Kivus and Kathleen Burden with Patricia Garcia and David Lock; first in B, Jim Krainin and Pete Cummings.

Games are played every Monday and Tuesday at 9 a.m. and a partner is always guaranteed. Call Rosemarie Goodwin at 754-1431 for more information.

Career transition

AUBURN — Financial expert Nancy Gagne, of Baystate Financial Services, will present a one-hour workshop on how to financially survive a career transition at noon Thursday, March 15, at the Auburn Public Library. Whether you have lost your job or are changing jobs, this informative workshop will provide essential skills to survive this transition period.

Focus areas of the workshop include how to utilize strategies to help reduce cash flow requirements, restructure debt to make it more manageable and how to establish an accurate and working budget for the transition period. Everyone who attends the workshop will receive a full-color 20 page workbook packed with worksheets, exercises and questions designed to help you make sound financial decisions during your employment transition. To reserve space and workbook, call the library at 333-6640, ext. 4.

Author at library

AUBURN — Maine author and Portland Magazine editor Colin Sargent will be at the Auburn Public Library at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, to talk about his latest novel, “Museum of Human Beings.”

The historical fiction novel covers the fantastic life and times of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, Sacagawea’s son as he struggles to find his identity. The boy’s education, sponsored by Clark, his travels with European nobility and his return to his own roots as a guide and explorer are vividly brought to life.

In case of bad weather, the signing will be held on March 22 at 6p.m.

Paying for college

Lewiston — Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice in partnership with its Planned Giving Committee will hold a free educational seminar, “Don’t let the cost of college become a barrier: replace college debt with savings!” The seminar will be presented by Karen Vigue, College Savings Officer at Finance Authority of Maine.

The seminar is scheduled for Thursday, March 15, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, 15 Strawberry Ave. RSVP by contacting Jim Bouchard at 795-9405 or by email at james.bouchard@ahch.org.

This practical seminar will provide an overview of the various federal/state programs, grants and other financing options available to help families pay for college, while leveraging financial aid opportunities, at whatever point you are in the process.

Topics for discussion will be an overview of college financing options, explanations about a 529 Plan, the impact of college savings and financial aid opportunities, special benefits for Maine residents, NextGen initial matching grants, Harold Alfond College Challenge Grants and the impact of how Maine tax deduction can help you.

For more information on Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice and all of its services, visit www.AHCH.org.

Colorectal cancer

LEWISTON — The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center is offering a free workshop for anyone interested in learning about colorectal cancer. “Surviving and Preventing Colorectal Cancer” will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at CMMC, 12 High St., Conference Room I.

March is colorectal cancer awareness month. A panel will discuss the latest on how to prevent, treat and beat this often ignored disease from a cancer survivor, and the doctors and nurses on the front lines of cancer care. The panel includes Dr. Nicholette Erickson, director of CMMC Comprehensive Cancer Center; Dr. Catherine McCrann, gastroenterologist; Sarah Morrill, RN, GI Oncology Patient Navigator; and Rick Sabine, colon cancer survivor.

Preregistration is available by calling the Dempsey Center at 795-8250; toll-free 1-877-336-7287 or online at www.dempseycenter.org.

Legion meeting

LEWISTON — Post 22 American Legion will hold its monthly membership meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the Multi-Purpose Center, 145 Birch St. Unit 22 Auxiliary will meet at 5:15 p.m.

A special segment of the meeting will be devoted to the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the American Legion. Unit 22 Auxiliary will have a special cake made for the occasion. A lunch will also be served.

There will be a 50/50 raffle and prizes will be awarded. Members attending should bring their covers and a paid-up 2012 membership card. For more information, call adjutant Jerry DerBoghosian at 353-7435, 782-5700 or 376-5257.

Historical society

NEW GLOUCESTER — Sister Frances Carr, head of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community and kitchen deaconess, will be the speaker at 7 p.m. for the Thursday, March 15, meeting of the New Gloucester Historical Society. The public is invited to hear her presentation on the traditions of Shaker cooking.

The March meeting will be held at the Dwelling House, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Rd.