Op saves life of sickle cell boy

A BAHRAINI teenager born with sickle cell anaemia has made a full recovery after undergoing pioneering surgery in Singapore.

Abdulhameed Sogra, 13, is now completely free of the condition and looking forward to going back to school after his sister donated bone marrow required for the procedure.

Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) consultant haematologist Dr Najat Madhi said the youngster, whose trip and procedure were funded by the Health Ministry, is one of four people to have completely recovered from the condition.

He said Abdulhameed underwent a successful transplant which resulted in full remission of his disease.

Prior to the surgery, the teenager was frequently hospitalised after suffering from severe pain.

"Four youngsters were sent over the last 18 months to the same facility in Singapore, the Children’s Haematology and Cancer Centre, ParkwayHealth, but unfortunately one of them died of complications during the treatment," said Dr Madhi.

"The other three, including Abdulhameed, have completely recovered."

Dr Madhi said two more children had been lined up to make the trip and several others were now in the process of being tested.

"We can only proceed with the process after we are satisfied a perfect bone marrow match exists," she said.

"This is generally bone marrow from a sibling.

"Very exhaustive tests are then carried out to determine full and exact compatibility so as to avoid any complications later."

Dr Madhi said the chances of complications from undergoing such surgery were very high, but fortunately the procedures had gone very well in all but one of the cases.

"Complications can, however, happen even with the most perfect match," she said.

Dr Madhi said Abdulhameed had been doing well,pendants, although he studied at home for his examinations.

"He will go to school in the new term," she said.

Abdulhameed’s father, Jalal said the family were relieved everything had gone smoothly in his son’s case.

"It’s good to see him up and about and free of pain,Atlas charm bracelet," he said.

He did not wish to discuss the case, but thanked all those involved.

"God has been kind," he added.

The number of Middle East medical tourists travelling to Singapore has witnessed average annual increases of 20 per cent from 2006 to 2008, according to figures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

They show approximately 1,000 healthcare tourists from the region arrived in Singapore in 2008, around the same number as US medical care travellers — putting both destinations among the top markets for overall number of healthcare tourists visiting the country. STB said common procedures and treatments undertaken by visitors included live donor liver transplants, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF),bracelets, heart procedures, stem cell transplantations and cancer treatments.

"Middle East populations are realising the benefits of travelling to Singapore for a wide range of medical procedures, which has resulted in year-on-year double-digit growth in the number of regional healthcare tourists opting for Singapore,tiffany," said STB Middle East and Africa area director Jason Ong.

He said Singapore had 13 hospitals and speciality centres catering for medical travellers that have received international accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), which certifies international standards of care.

"Middle East patients can be certain that they will receive the highest quality of treatment and follow-up care in Singapore, which has repeatedly shown to be on par with the best in the world,key rings," said Mr Ong.

"They can be certain that their cultural and religious needs are attended to with Arabic-speaking service personnel, halal food and even Arabic TV channels during their hospital stay."

mandeep@gdn.com.bh

Structural renovations at OHS almost finished

Most of the structural work on Ogden High School is finished, and now workers face the long task of making the interior look like a school again.

A new roof has been put on the theater, installed in one marathon session starting last Tuesday right before midnight and ending at 2 a.m. Thursday, said Tim Sobotka, Hughes Construction project superintendent.

It is one of the many upgrades being made from a $95.3 million bond for Ogden School District, passed in 2006. In addition to the bond, the Ogden School Foundation has raised $7.2 million of its $9 million goal for historic preservation and restoration.

Construction workers are pushing hard to get as much done as possible before school starts later this month.

"We just do it,pendants," Sobotka said. "We just go. Summer is the best time for us."

Sobotka said the structural upgrades are almost complete and now it is largely the interior that needs to be finished.

In addition to seismic upgrades and other improvements, he said, access for those with disabilities will be much better.

Some windows also have been replaced, which Sobotka said makes a big difference in the temperature of the classrooms. Finding windows that looked like the old ones, while still meeting the needs of the upgrade,tiffany, was a challenge for the foundation, said Janis Vause, executive director of the Ogden School Foundation.

"They look just like the old bank of windows," Vause said after seeing them in the school.

While it has been a challenge to work in a historic school, that’s also been part of the fun, Sobotka said.

"After this project, a lot of the projects that follow will seem a little mundane," he said. "How often do you find a high school with marble in the bathrooms?"

Vause said the amount of money they’ve raised during a recession shows how much the community cares about Ogden High and education.

Donna Corby,key rings, Ogden School District spokeswoman, agrees, saying, "It’s funny that it (the school) was built in the Depression. Now we’re doing it again in a recession. It just shows this commitment.

"I don’t know what it is about this community, but that’s a commitment to education."

Vause said the preservation is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy to the community.

She knows historic preservation is more expensive than demolishing would have been, so she is happy that private donors have stepped up to help fund it.

For Vause,bracelets, seeing the details begin to come together to create a hybrid of old and new is the most rewarding part of the project.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine

New research, ‘Pulse pressure and coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 64 channel cardiac computed tomography analysis,’ is the subject of a report (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Type-2-Diabetes.html> Type 2 Diabetes). "Identification of high risk sub-groups for early initiation of preventive medical therapy requires widespread population screening using simple,earrings, inexpensive tests. High pulse pressure has been shown to predict adverse coronary events," investigators in Haifa, Israel report.

"We examined if this correlation was related to a greater coronary plaque burden in patients with high pulse pressure using 64 channel coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study included 427 consecutive asymptomatic diabetic patients with no history of coronary disease, (age 55-74 years, 58% women), undergoing CCTA as part of a prospective outcomes study. Coronary atheroma was present in 76.6% of patients, multivessel coronary atheroma in 55.1% and luminal stenosis (>or=50% of diameter) in 22.9%. Pulse pressure (adjusted for age,key rings, gender, mean blood pressure and heart rate) correlated with number of coronary arteries with atheroma (p=0.005) and with multivessel coronary atheroma (odds ratio 1.24 95%CI 1.06-1.43 for each 10 mm Hg pulse pressure, p=0.009). The correlation was independent of Framingham and United Kingdom Prospective Diabetic Study risk scores (p=0.027 and p=0.036 respectively). Adjusted pulse pressure also correlated with quartiles of coronary artery calcium score (p=0.009),Charm bracelet," wrote D.A. Halon and colleagues, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine.

The researchers concluded: "Elevated pulse pressure was a useful independent marker of presence and extent of pre-clinical coronary artery disease in an asymptomatic diabetic population."

Halon and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Cardiology (Pulse pressure and coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 64 channel cardiac computed tomography analysis. International Journal of Cardiology, 2010;143(1):63-71).

For additional information, contact D.A. Halon, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Dept. of Cardiovascular Medicine, Haifa, Israel.

Keywords: City:Haifa, Country:Israel, Arterial Occlusive Diseases, Arteriosclerosis, Atherosclerosis,money clips, Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases, Endocrine System Diseases, Endocrinology, Glucose Metabolism Disorders, Metabolic Diseases, Non insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Vascular Diseases.

Hackman cards 3-under 32 in Lady Braves’ win

It was another hot day to play golf on Tuesday at Cascades Golf Course’s Ridge Course in Bloomington, but Allyson Hackman didn’t let that bother her one bit.

The Brownstown Central junior fired a 3-under 32 to earn medalist honors and help her team to a 184-205 win over Edgewood. It was Brownstown’s first nine-hole dual match of the season.

"She played flawless golf," Lady Braves coach Jennifer Chastain said of Hackman, whose round consisted of three birdies and six pars.

Chastain even felt the urge to quote the late professional golfer and coach Harvey Penick, who always said "Take dead aim."

"That’s what Allyson did," Chastain said. "She took dead aim. And the result…a fantastic score. She should be proud of herself. Not many girls at this level can say they ever broke par,Charm pendant, and Allyson can say she did that."

Chastain compared the Ridge Course to the Braves’ home course,rings, Hickory Hills Golf Club, in that some holes are tight and you have to keep it in the fairway.

"You have to play smart golf and know where to put the ball," she said. "Club selection off the tee is important here. You don’t even need to pull out your driver on every tee shot."

Hackman didn’t find trouble, but some of her teammates did,watches, Chastain said.

Erin Bane had the next-best score for Brownstown with a 49, while Haley Hackman shot a 50 and Taylor Morrow shot a 53.

"Erin and Taylor have a few things to work out with their swing, but they’ll come around," Chastain said. "Haley is coming into it each and every round."

The Braves are back in action on Thursday, playing against Floyd Central and Jennings County at Valley View Golf Club in Floyds Knobs.

Results

At Cascades Golf Course (Ridge Course), Bloomington

Brownstown Central 184,key rings, Edgewood 205

Medalist: Allyson Hackman (BC) 32

Other Brownstown Central: Erin Bane 49, Haley Hackman 50, Taylor Morrow 53, Nora Silence 55, Jordan Stevens 57

Purple bracelets promise teenage girls support against dating violence

Have you noticed numbers of teenage girls wearing similar bright lavender bracelets lately and perhaps wondered what they might mean?

It’s about violence. Girls helping each other to prevent violence in their dating relationships, that is.

“Girls got each others’ backs,” proclaims the card that comes attached to more than 2,500 of the bracelets being passed out to girls at local high schools, among other places, to call attention to the fact that October is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

The free bracelets are being distributed by the La Casa de las Madres Teen program.

“Let a friend know she can count on you, and give her one of these bracelets,” the card reads. “Too many teen girls don’t know who to turn to when they are in an abusive dating relationship. If you or someone you know is being hurt, emotionally or physically, there is help.”

“Tell a friend, and call La Casa de las Madres Teen support line – - 1-800-923-0700.”

According to the Department of Justice’s Special Report: Intimate Partner Violence 2000, women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest per-capita rates of domestic violence. One in three teenagers will experience some degree of dating violence.

These numbers ring strikingly true even closer to home. According to Talia Korenbrot, Teen tiffany and co Program Manager at La Casa, “There are girls in high schools in every San Francisco neighborhood who are experiencing emotional and/or physical abuse by their partners.”

“Teenagers often have difficulties talking to authority figures about their lives, never mind any abuse they may be experiencing. But they will talk to their girlfriends. So that’s where the solution has to start, giving girls the resources to help themselves and one another,” said Ms. Korenbrot.

Underscoring the importance of “girls got each others’ backs” and La Casa’s purple bracelet campaign, Ms. Korenbrot emphasized that, “Girls who have strong support networks are less likely to be in an abusive relationship, and if they do find themselves in one, close friends or trusted confidants make it much easier for girls to reach out for help.”

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown recently recognized La Casa’s Teen program and its role in “building a necklaces community where violence against women, teens and children is not tolerated,” declaring October “Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in San Francisco.”

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Supporters are wearing purple ribbons. “But we thought girls would find these bracelets much more attractive. And everybody seems to wear ribbons for one thing or another. These bracelets are unique,” Ms. Korenbrot noted.

The free bracelets have been distributed through various school programs that La Casa supports, and are available at several San Francisco outlets of The Body Shop, a frequent supporter of La Casa programs.

Since 1976, the community has trusted La Casa to respond to the needs of women, children and teens who are victims of domestic violence. La Casa de las Madres strives to empower all women to know their strengths and control their lives, offering them safe shelter, advocacy, counseling and support.

La Casa operates a 35-bed residential shelter at an undisclosed location in the city to provide safe refuge for women seeking to escape from an abusive relationship in which they may be in danger. La Casa also operates a drop-in counseling center in The Mission District where women come for advice, counseling and help with key rings a variety of problems that often compound an abusive relationship. It also staffs two statewide, toll-free, 24-hour crisis telephone lines for emergency response. Its services are offered in confidence, and in a variety of languages.

In the last year (ended June 30, 2002) 4,546 women and teens received counseling, resources and referrals through the crisis lines. The shelter provided refuge for 232 women and 215 children for up to 60 days per stay. The Drop-In Counseling Center provided continuing assistance to 364 women, through a total of 1,916 visits. Another 136 teens received assistance through 972 activities of the Teen Program.

For more information about La Casa de las Madres, or to make a contribution or volunteer to help, please see La Casa’s Web site at http://www.lacasa.org. Color photographs of the Teen Dating Violence Prevention bracelets can be easily downloaded in a form specifically designed for print publication at www.GiveMeMore.com/LaCasa.

La Casa de las Madres Teen Violence statewide, toll-free hot line: 1-800-923-0700.

New ID bracelet available for Alzheimer disease

MedicAlert, an emergency medical information service, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) necklaces will begin marketing a new identification bracelet with a color- coded symbol specifically designed to symbolize Alzheimer disease and related dementias in order to help individuals in emergency situations.

The dementia ID bracelet is part of a newly formed strategic alliance between the two nonprofit organizations. The groups will work together to raise awareness of Alzheimer disease and related dementias, and the need for emergency preparedness, including marketing the bracelets, developing educational brochures and providing information about both organizations to each other’s members.

The new identification bracelet has a teal MedicAlert emblem to denote that an individual has Alzheimer disease or a related dementia, marking the first time that MedicAlert is utilizing a colored emblem to symbolize a specific disease.

In an emergency, the emblem alerts medical professionals or first responders to call MedicAlert’s tiffany jewellery 24-hour hotline to access electronic health records containing vital medical and contact information about each wearer.

Caregivers can easily obtain and update personal information in the system, including medication dosages, allergies, implanted devices, physician and family contacts, insurance information, organ donation specifications, and advance directives.

Membership in MedicAlert, which includes a bracelet with the teal emblem, a printed electronic health record summary, 24-hour emergency response service, patient identification, emergency contact and family notification service, and 24-hour customer service, costs $35 the first year and a $20 subscription each year thereafter.

AFA and its member organizations will provide a special code that offers a $5 discount off the first year key rings of membership.

“In an emergency, MedicAlert is a catalyst for the aid and safety of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The teal symbol answers the critical need for quick assessment and identification, and gives families an added level of comfort,” said Eric J. Hall, AFA’s chief executive officer.

According to the AFA, an estimated five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer disease. By mid-century, this could triple to 16 million. Symptoms of dementia typically include loss of verbal skills and wandering patterns, both of which place individuals at high risk and prompt the need for identification tools such as MedicAlert.

This article was prepared by Health Insurance Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2005, Health Insurance Law Weekly via LawRx.com.

Noront Resources announces Ring of Fire project development plans

TORONTO, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Noront Resources Ltd.tiffany (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to provide an update on their project development plans for their Ring of Fire deposits.

The Project development milestones identified were:

-__ Establish feasibility schedules for various project components

-__ Initiate socio economic studies

-__ Complete environmental baseline and environmental studies

-__ Initiate project consultations with First Nations earrings communities

-__ Environmental review and permitting

-__ Complete marketing and sales studies

-__ Define project execution plans including Private Public partnerships

for infrastructure development

Noront’s projects are the most advanced in the Ring of Fire and we estimate key rings that Feasibility Studies could be completed on the Eagle’s Nest (nickel, copper, PGE’s) and the Blackbird (chromite) deposits by the first quarter of 2011. Due to the different complexities of the two types of deposits, Noront believes the Eagle’s Nest deposits could be put into production by the first quarter of 2016 while the chromite development is expected to follow as a result of increased infrastructure requirements.

The main differences in the two time schedules are driven by many factors, which are largely out of Noront’s control. These differences include:

-__ The Eagle’s Nest deposit is a much higher grade deposit and as a

result can withstand additional inventory costs and could likely be

developed with seasonal access;

-__ The Blackbird chromite deposits, along with other chromite deposits

in the region, will require significant infrastructure development in

order to be economic;

-__ The chromite deposits will require the development of all season

access that will require the evaluation of numerous options, for both

routing and mode of transportation, and will require extensive

consultation with First Nations communities;

-__ The subsequent development of a ferrochrome smelter will require

extensive environmental review and will be further complicated by the

requirement of significant power supply in the order necklaces of 400-500 mega

watts; and

-__ Noront’s due diligence shows that it is unlikely that Ontario’s

current power generation or transmission capacity can handle this

expanded electrical load and the development of the power supply

project alone is likely to extend the ferrochrome project past 2016.

Noront is confident in the project milestones currently established and in support of achieving these milestones has taken the following steps:

-__ Engaged SNC Lavalin to complete a transportation study that includes

numerous routes and modes of transportations. SNC Lavalin is expected

to finalize the feasibility study on the preferred routes and mode of

transportation, as well as the other alternatives considered, by the

fourth quarter of 2010. This work, including the evaluation of

alternatives, will be a significant part of the project Tiffany Accessories approvals and

consultation process;

-__ Environmental baseline studies are currently underway;

-__ NI 43-101 resource reports have been initially completed for Eagle’s

Nest and are being finalized for Blackbird and as a result we are

confident that our procedures and quality analysis and quality

control protocols will meet or exceed industry standards;

-__ Noront is currently reviewing qualifications from various contractors

in support of the feasibility studies and expects to have all major

contractors engaged by early 2010; and

-__ Through discussions with our First Nations Advisory Board, Noront is

developing a consultation schedule and intends to initiate the

consultation process with the First Nations communities in the first

quarter of 2010. This will include the expansion of consultations as

project definitions are finalized during the feasibility study

process.

Mr. Paul Semple P. Eng, Noront’s Chief Operating Officer stated, “The development plans and schedules we are currently proposing are based on months of strategic planning and numerous conversations with First Nations leaders, industry professionals and Federal and Provincial government officials. We are confident of the schedules that we are proposing for the nickel copper projects and at the same time we intend to work diligently on developing the more complex chromite projects. These projects are multifaceted and will require extensive consultations, discussions and negotiations. Until we complete these steps, we cannot responsibly report on the development plans including the capital costs, schedule Tiffany Keys or the project economics of the Ring of Fire chromite deposits.” Mr. Semple further stated, “Based on Noront’s due diligence regarding the chromite market, the technical demands of a ferrochrome project, the unknown aspects of the permitting process, the complexity of developing a large infrastructure project especially as a private public partnership along with the current the status of Ontario’s infrastructure, we currently believe that the project costs, scope, smelter location, project economics or development timeline can not be accurately forecast or estimated. We believe any forecasts on the chromite projects, at this stage, absent of a project definition being completed, consultation with impacted First Nations being initiated and intensive discussions with the Provincial and Federal governments is purely speculation.”

About Noront

Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on its significant and multiple, high-grade nickel-copper-platinum-palladium, chromite, gold and vanadium discoveries in an area known as the “Ring of Fire”, an emerging multi-metals district located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, Canada. Noront is the dominant land holder at the Ring of Fire and continues to delineate and prove up its discoveries with NI 43-101 technical and economic reports and an aggressive and well financed drill plan for the remainder of 2009 and 2010. All material information on Noront can be found on the Company’s website at www.norontresources.com or at SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Wesley (Wes) Hanson

President & Chief Executive Officer

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion, growth of the Company’s businesses, operations, plans and with respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting time lines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation and timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic studies.

Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “planning”, “planned”, “expects” or “looking forward”, “does not expect”, “continues”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “potential”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, or “belief”, or describes a “goal”, or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the company’s publicly filed documents. Although Noront has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Rotary aids PI club in fundraising for building: Snowmobilers’ facility to be done by Christmas

First, a fire destroyed the club-house. Then the club found out the insurance tiffany and co it had would not cover the losses. A few months later, much of the material it had acquired to re-build the clubhouse was stolen.

But just in time for winter, the dark clouds have cleared away.

With help from the Presque Isle Rotary Club, officials with the snowmobile club said Thursday they expect the new clubhouse to open in time for Christmas.

On Jan. 25, an early afternoon fire of undetermined origin de-stroyed the quarter-century-old clubhouse, which was located off State Park Road. Nobody was in the building at the time of the fire.

The fire destroyed a building that housed an active nonprofit organi-zation that serves the region in many ways, from long volunteer hours grooming trails vital to The County’s lucrative snowmobile industry to sponsoring an annual sled ride for mentally challenged youths and adults. The site of memories of weddings money clips and recep-tions, holiday parties, family gath-erings, community suppers, fund-raisers, class reunions and more also went up in flames.

“We were in shock after the fire. We didn’t know what to do,” Ted Roberts, a longtime club member, said Thursday. “We were continu-ously being asked about rebuilding. People loved that building.”

Surrounded by the ruins, club members gathered to review their insurance policy. It was then they realized insurance would cover only about 70 percent of what was lost.

Still, the club pressed on. Vol-unteers rallied to rebuild the club-house, and approximately $11,000 worth of material to do so was pur-chased and stored in a locked building near the old facility.

In early spring, someone broke into the building and walked away with windows, caulking supplies and other materials. The theft re-mains under investigation, and the perpetrator has not been caught.

That loss was covered by insur-ance, and volunteers are nearly done building a new $325,000 pendants log club-house that will be more modern and spacious. Roberts said Thursday the project would have been hampered if not for the support of the Presque Isle Rotary Club.

To help offset a $100,000 short-fall, members of the snowmobile club told their story to the Rotary Club. They asked whether the or-ganization would consider joining forces with the club by taking on the rebuilding of the snowmobile club-house as its 2009 special project, to ensure a new building would go up in time for the coming snowmobile season.

“When they said they would help, I could not tell them how much that meant to me or the other club members and the community,” Roberts recalled. “That building is so vital to us, and there were a lot of memories there.”

Under the direction of Presque Isle Rotarian project co-chairmen Jason Parent and Dan Bagley, a committee composed of fellow Ro-tarians and members of the snow-mobile club got to work early this fall to raise $20,000 to $25,000 to go toward the clubhouse rebuilding project.

In recent weeks, committee members have spoken before civic organizations throughout central Aroostook earrings County. They prepared and sent a mailing to more than 600 businesses, organizations and indi-viduals throughout the area, as well as downstate and out of state, solic-iting donations for the cause.

“This is a very special project for the Rotary,” Parent said Thursday. “The building really is a place known and visited not just by area snowmobilers, but many community members as well.”

He pointed out that the Rotary Club is among dozens of commu-nity groups that use the snowmobile clubhouse annually.

“The Presque Isle Snowmobile Clubhouse is more than just a place where people come together. It is truly a community icon,” said Nancy Fletcher, Rotary Club presi-dent. “We were so pleased to select this worthwhile cause as our special project for the year.”

The committee’s work will cul-minate in the coming weeks during the Rotary Club’s annual radio and television auction Dec. 1-3. As is tradition with the special project, airtime will be devoted to raising funds for the effort and acknowl-edging donors.

Roberts said the new snowmobile clubhouse will resemble the one destroyed by fire and is being con-structed on the footprint of the pre-vious facility. New amenities in-clude an entryway connected to the building, wheelchair-accessible restroom facilities and slightly larger capacity, as the former area set aside for a barbecue pit on the back side of the old facility will become part of the new building’s square footage. It also will have a larger kitchen.

The building itself is a kit from Houlton-based Ward Log Homes. Central Aroostook contractor PNM Construction key rings was hired to do most of the building work, and snowmo-bile clubhouse volunteers are do-nating their time to complete the interior finish work.

“The rebuilding effort is very im-portant to us, and we are sure that the generosity of the community at the auction is going to be a huge benefit,” he said.

Donations to support the rebuilding effort can be sent to the Presque Isle Rotary Club, Attention “Special Proj-ect,” P.O. Box 641, Presque Isle 04769. Viewers and listeners of the auction that will air live on cable television Channel 9 and on 96.9 FM radio also can call in their pledges.

Local group to send Christmas gifts to soldiers

A local group hopes to send holiday cheer to soldiers in Kosovo.

The recently formed Kosovo Force Dickinson satellite Family Readiness Group says it is gearing up to send items to soldiers overseas and welcomes donations, from homemade treats to letters.

The group is comprised of family members of the KFOR 12 North Dakota National Guard soldiers that were deployed in August on a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo, group officials said.

There are four main KFOR FRG’s and Dickinson is a satellite group, said Lana Bergmann, Kosovo Family Readiness assistant.

The family readiness groups, organized through the North Dakota National Guard, tiffany jewelry aim to bring families with deployed soldiers together for support.

Dickinson’s group will soon package items collected from area businesses and others, said the group’s co-chairman Bill Bosch.

Bosch said the goal is to help families.

“The Family Readiness Group meets as a group to assist families any way they can to make the deployment of their soldier less stressful, or help the families anyway that we can to make their deployment a little bit easier,” Bosch said.

Bosch said the shipment will act as a Christmas present for the soldiers earrings.

Bergmann estimates there are 25 to 30 family members in the area with Guard soldiers deployed.

Anyone with Guard soldiers deployed is encouraged to send a package, she added.

“We do have Guard soldiers in several different locations, Kosovo just happens to be our largest with about 650 soldiers,” Bergmann said. “We have some that are in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a group of soldiers in Africa.”

Soldiers appreciate books, magazines, newspapers and homemade treats. “Just stuff from home that they miss,” she said.

Group member Cathy Lindborg, whose son is in Kosovo, said letters thanking and key rings remembering the soldiers are welcome.

“If they feel like they are not forgotten, it means a lot to them,” Lindborg said. “I think things like that would mean the world to them.”

Bergmann said the items will take about seven to 10 days to arrive in Kosovo.

Group co-chairman Joe Boespflug has a deployed son. He said the group will be helpful, especially to those families with small children.

To donate items, contact group secretary Deb Barros at 701-290-5583 or by e-mail at necklaces gdbarros@goesp.com. Or contact Lindborg at 701-483-7282. Friday is the deadline to donate items.