CALENDAR of
HEALTH EVENTS
Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com. Continued from Page 8 This program will meet from 5-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday for three consecutive weeks. Freshstart is designed to help smokers plan a successful quit attempt by providing essential information, skills for coping with cravings, and group support. For more information or to register for this program, call Elyse Enea, Herkimer County HealthNet program coordinator, at 315-867-1552, email eenea@herkimercounty.org or register online at www.healthnetinc. org.
May 9
Laryngectomy support group to meet The Laryngectomy Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at noon May 9 in the Sister Regina Conference Room on the first floor of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center hospital building, 2209 Genesee St., Utica. The support group is sponsored by SEMC. Laryngectomy support group meetings are held at noon on the second Thursday of each month. The public is welcome to attend. Those with questions can call the speech therapy department at 315801-4475.
May 9
RMH honors cancer patients, survivors Rome Memorial Hospital Radiation Medicine and radiation oncologist Michael Fallon invite cancer patients and survivors to the annual Survivors’ Breakfast on May 18 in RMH’s cafeteria, 1500 N. James St. “Our cancer patients and survivors are extraordinary examples of hope, courage and strength,” said Amy Weakley, radiation therapist and certified medical dosimetrist at RMH Radiation Medicine. Each survivor or patient is encouraged to bring one guest. Breakfast will be served from 8-11 a.m. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required. Contact Weakley at 315-338-0897 before 4 p.m. May 9. Guests are encouraged to park in the Bartlett Wing lot, with easy access from East Oak Street. There will be signs to the cafeteria. This annual breakfast is an opportunity for area cancer patients and survivors to gather before the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life. The Rome Relay will be held June 1-2 at the NYS School for the Deaf. The Survivors’ Lap takes place at noon June 1. Survivors are encouraged to pre-register for the Relay for Life Opening Survivors’ Lap at the break-
fast, online at www.relayforlife.org, or by calling 1-800-227-2345. RMH is a sponsor of the ACS’s Relay for Life.
May 10
Breastfeeding Café opens at Rome Memorial The Mohawk Valley Breastfeeding Network in partnership with Rome Memorial Hospital is opening a new Breastfeeding Café to provide pregnant and breastfeeding moms and their families a place to support one another, socialize and get breastfeeding clinical support if needed. The group meets from noon to 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at Rome Memorial Hospital, fourth floor, 1500 N. James St. The next meetings will be on May 10 and May 23. There is no cost to participate and mothers can bring their babies to be weighed at the hospital’s “Weighto-Go” station. Snacks will be provided. Dads and grandparents are welcome. For more information, contact Laurie Hoke in RMH’s maternity department at 315-338-7291.
May 13
Support forum for patients, cancer survivors The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and cancer survivors will be held at 6 p.m. May 13. The cancer support forum meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month in the Cancer Center’s fireplace lounge on the main floor of Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. The forum, led by the Cancer Center’s social worker, offers support to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-5241.
May 13
Support group to meet at Rome Memorial Hospital The brain aneurysm, AVM (arteriovenous malformation) and stroke support group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. May 13 at Rome Memorial Hospital’s second-floor classroom. The group meets on the second Monday of every month. RMH is located at 1500 N. James St., Rome. For more information, call Deb Dunn at 315-533-6467 or email
Story idea? Call 315-749-7070
RomeNY@JoeNiekroFoundation.org.
May 15
Valley Health Services accepts syringes Valley Health Services is accepting the community’s medical waste of needles, syringes and lancets from noon until 2 p.m. on May 15. The service is available on the third Wednesday of every month. The waste must be in approved puncture-resistant containers available at local pharmacies and properly marked “biohazard.” The containers may be brought to the outpatient receptionist on the ground floor at VHS, who will contact the personnel responsible for medical waste disposal. VHS is located at 690 W. German St., Herkimer. Questions may be directed to Tammi King, infection control nurse, at 866-3330, ext. 2308.
May 17
VolunTeens program offers service opportunity A summer volunteer program at Rome Memorial Hospital will provide youths aged 15 to 20 an opportunity to earn hours toward their high school community service requirements or gain insight into the health care field. Those accepted into the VolunTeens program will become a valuable asset to the hospital, its patients and visitors and experience a variety of activities in a hospital setting. Applications are available online by going to the hospital’s website at www.romehospital.org and clicking on volunteers. Deadline for submitting an application is May 17. The VolunTeens program will require participants to volunteer at the hospital four hours each week during eight weeks of summer vacation, from June 24 through Aug. 16, for a total of 32 volunteer hours. The fourhour shifts may be in the morning or afternoon weekdays. For more information, contact education-volunteer coordinator Sue LoGiudice at 315-338-7143 or Julie Chrysler, director of education-volunteers-employee health at 315-3387134.
May 18
Class focuses on feeding newborn Human milk is the best possible nutrition for your baby. With knowledge and practice, both mother and baby can learn how to successfully breastfeed. Rome Memorial Hospital will be featuring classes where parents-to-be can learn about their baby’s nutritional needs, feeding by breast or bottle and other hand-feeding methods. All are welcome to attend regardless of feeding choice. International board-certified lactation specialist Amanda Huey N, IBCLC will lead the free class. Classes will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays on May 18, July 13, Sept. 14 and Nov. 9. Classes will be held in the hospital’s second floor classroom. No registration is required. For more information, call the education department at 315-338-7143.
May 2019 •
May 18
VRS to host several open houses Valley Residential Services, the first enriched housing and assisted living facility in Herkimer County, is welcoming new residents to open houses at the facility located at 323 Pine Grove Road, Herkimer. Its new expansion project has added 14 one-bedroom apartments, large enough for couples, and also a fully staffed wellness and fitness center. Open house events are scheduled for: — May 18: 10 a.m. to noon — June 20: 4-6 p.m. For more information or to RSVP to any of the open house dates, contact Christine Shepardson, director of community life, at 315-219-5700 ext. 3239.
May 18
Mohawk Homestead to hold barbecue The Mohawk Homestead, 62 E. Main St., Mohawk, will feature a chicken barbecue at 4:30 p.m. May 18 until all dinners are sold. It is recommended but not required that the public purchase advanced sale tickets. Tickets are available for $10 each by calling The Mohawk Homestead at 315-866-1841 or stopping at The Mohawk Homestead. A dessert is also included with a half-chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw and roll. Take-out meals may be picked up starting at 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of The Mohawk Homestead. The barbecue is a fundraiser to benefit residents at the nonprofit home. For more information, contact Joe Franco, administrator, at 315-8661841 or email jfranco@mohawkhomestead.com.
May 20
Family support group focuses on addiction Families who are dealing with the problems of addiction can find help and information at a support group meeting from 6-7 p.m. May 20 in the second floor classroom at Rome Memorial Hospital. The group meets the third Monday of each month and is free and open to everyone. Offered by the hospital’s Community Recovery Center, the support group provides an opportunity to discuss issues with others who are in the same situation. Certified by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the Community Recovery Center, 264 W. Dominick St., Rome, offers alcohol and substance abuse treatment for adolescents and adults. Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, the center participates with most major insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. A sliding scale fee is available for self-pay clients. For more information about the support group or the Community Recovery Center, call 334-4701.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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