AmeriCorps VISTA associates to be hired for summer program

PORTSMOUTH — The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food banks will place 165 AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates across the state this summer to help fight childhood hunger by boosting participation in programs that provide free meals to children in low-income areas.

Eight summer associates will be working through the AmeriCorps VISTA program in Portsmouth at Shawnee State University. They will help expand the capacity and scale of the Portsmouth Pantry Garden which will be located in the Sciotoville area this summer.

“The AmeriCorps Summer Associate VISTAs will maintain the four-acre garden, recruit and manage volunteers, fundraise and distribute their freshly harvested food and vegetables to local food pantries,” said Nikki Karabinis, coordinator for the Center for Community Service at SSU. “In addition, the VISTAs will host two workshops open to the community.”

Summer Associates must be 18 years old or older and be able to commit to eight weeks of full-time service from June 4 through July 29. Summer Associates are paid a modest living stipend and receive an end-of-service award (either a cash bonus or money for school) upon completing the eight-week term.

The program is an opportunity for individuals of all backgrounds to gain valuable work experience and make a difference in the community.

“We are looking for people with knowledge of vegetable seeds and plants and gardening in general who also have some basic knowledge of how to cook on a budget and how to use as much from a garden as possible when preparing meals,” Karabinis said.

Interested individuals can fill out an application online. Applications will be accepted through May 14. More information on the application process is available at www.cashf.org.

 

Leadership Tri-State accepting applications for Class of 2012

ASHLAND, Ky. — Leadership Tri-State (LTS), a non-profit community educational organization dedicated to developing the talents of the region’s current and future leaders, is now accepting applications for the organization’s next session of classes that will begin on April 27.

Leadership Tri-State’s program consists of eight monthly sessions from April through November. Each session is organized around a theme and is explored through speakers, discussions, field trips and other activities. Themes explored include government, law and justice, media, history, tourism, natural resources and agriculture. Holding sessions at different locations throughout the Tri-State is a key component of the program.

“This program is beneficial to current and aspiring business leaders in a number of ways. They learn more about our wonderful region and its resources. They have the opportunity to develop meaningful, lasting relationships with other participants in their class,” says Sharon Walker, Leadership Tri-State executive director.

“Leadership Tri-State is a great tool for promoting the surrounding communities of Ironton, Ashland and Huntington as one area. The river is just a river and what is good for one of these cities is good for all of them,” said Walker.

Leadership Tri-State participants are selected from southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia. Each participant must be dedicated to enthusiastic participation in the program and have a record of community involvement.

Once accepted into the program, each participant is billed a tuition fee of $695. The fee covers program costs as well as meal expenses for all eight sessions.

To receive an application, please contact Sharon Walker, Executive Director, at the Leadership Tri-State office by calling 606-324-1787 or by email at lsts_rcchc@windstream.net. Applications must be received by April 13, 2012.

Leadership Tri-State is a Fund of the Foundation for the Tri-State Community (FTSC). FTSC is a community foundation serving eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, and southwestern West Virginia, whose mission is to improve the quality of life in its community by encouraging, raising, administering and distributing gifts for charitable, cultural, educational and scientific purposes.

 

Printable trail permits now available online

NELSONVILLE — The Wayne National Forest is offering an easy and convenient way to purchase trail permits for its upcoming trail season that starts Sunday, April 15.

New printable trail permits are now available for purchase on the Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/wayne. Riders have the ability to purchase printable trail permits (Daily, 3-Day, and Seasonal) through an online vendor under the “Quick Links” section of the Forest website.

These permits may be purchased and printed from home or any location that offers access to a computer with internet service and a color printer. Permits should be visibly displayed on the ATV, horse, bicycle, or person when riding trails.

Traditional permits remain available for sale through local participating vendors throughout central and southeast Ohio. A complete list of vendors is available on the Forest website.

Free 8 ½ x 11 printable trail maps are also available on the Forest website under “Maps and Publications”.

For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/wayne or contact the Wayne National Forest Offices (Headquarters and Athens Unit), 740-753-0101, (Marietta Unit) 740-373-9055, or (Ironton Unit) 740-534-6500.

 

Follow the Wayne National Forest on Twitter: @waynenationalfs

 

St. Mary’s Breast Center first in the Tri-State to offer 3D mammography

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Women who undergo routine mammograms at St. Mary’s Breast Center now have the latest screening and diagnostic technology available to them.

St. Mary’s is the first in the Tri-State and among the first centers in the nation to offer 3D breast tomosynthesis for breast cancer screening with a Selenia Dimensions digital mammography system.

Selenia Dimensions is the latest generation of mammography equipment from Hologic, the women’s healthcare company, the world leader in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The Selenia Dimensions system offers exceptionally clear breast images, an advanced ergonomic design providing more patient comfort, and a ground-breaking 3D tomosynthesis platform designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic performance.

“St. Mary’s has always been a leader in breast care for women and we are proud to be among a select group of centers offering this technology to patients,” said Anne Hammack, RN, BSN, clinical manager of St. Mary’s Breast Center. “The clarity of image will most definitely result in a reduction of recalls for additional views and follow-up diagnostic tests, which will be wonderful news for our patients.”

Breast tomosynthesis is a revolutionary technology that gives radiologists the ability to identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue. During a tomosynthesis exam, multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D reconstruction of the breast.

There are more than 8,000 breast cancer screening sites in the U.S. and nearly 5,000 have at least one digital mammography system. Less than 100 have installed this newest generation of digital mammography equipment.

By offering women the latest technology in mammography, St. Mary’s Breast Center hopes to increase the number of area women who will be routinely screened. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97 percent.

If you would like to schedule a mammogram or have questions, please contact St. Mary’s Breast Center at 304-526-8221.

 

Hospice of Huntington seeking military veterans

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Hospice of Huntington in conjunction with the West Virginia Veterans Home will be conducting a special training for community veterans who are interested in becoming a specialized volunteer that visits hospice patients who are veterans.

The training will be held Tuesday, April 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Virginia Veterans Home located at 512 Water St. in Barboursville, W.Va.

Please call Lisa Floyd, director of Volunteer Services at (304) 529-4217 to register or for more information.

Veterans can offer unique opportunities to other veterans who are in the hospice program. This inherent bonding between veterans opens the doors to trust and understanding. This is just another way Hospice of Huntington seeks to improve the quality of life of our patients.

 

Suspicious fires in Huntington top 30 since January

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Some Huntington residents are on edge as an outbreak of suspicious fires continues.

Huntington Fire Chief Randy Ellis says 35 suspicious fires have occurred since January.

Media outlets report that the latest fire broke out early Wednesday morning in a vacant house.

Ceanna Adkins says she worries about the fires. She and her two daughters recently moved into a house that’s surrounded by vacant houses.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office is offering rewards of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest or conviction.

 

Estate planning is topic at support group meeting

ASHLAND, Ky. — The importance of estate planning will be the topic at the April 10 meeting of the Heart Failure Support Group sponsored by King’s Daughters Medical Center.

The group meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Conference Room 4, on the lower level of King’s Daughters Office Park, 835 Central Ave., Ashland. KDMC Social worker Kimberly Budig will talk about planning for the future and ensuring resources are available to meet those plans.

The Heart Failure Support Group is free and open to all people with heart failure and their families/caregivers. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and gain valuable knowledge.

RSVPs are requested and may be made by calling King’s Daughters Center for Heart Health at (606) 408-6000. Refreshments will be provided. Free, off-street parking is available in the Carter Avenue lot behind King’s Daughters Office Park.