RUMFORD – Saturday, April 30, is earmarked for the second annual celebration of women’s health, “Every Day in a Woman’s Life,” at Rumford Hospital. Women and girls of all ages are invited to have cholesterol screenings, get a facial or a massage and have a mother/daughter photo taken from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A healthy, light breakfast buffet will be available as well as samples of healthy foods and recipes for them. Rumford Hospital diabetes educator Anne Marie Mahar will be there to chat with people about healthy diets and how to adapt to a healthier lifestyle.

Joining Mahar will be Red Hill Foods with samples and to answer such questions as, “What is the difference between white and wheat bread?” Tastefully Simple will bring spices, and The Pampered Chef will have kitchen gadgets to try.

In the “Pamper Yourself” area, Mary Kay, Paradise Spa, Trendsetters and Dancing Violet Herbals will offer skin care tips and facials. Arbonne International will offer sea salt scrub “handicals” and display hormone balancing creams.

Labella Bellezza will evaluate fairgoers’ colors and do make-up. The area will be hosted by Cindy Toher, Rumford Hospital Pharmacy.

“Bring Joy to Your Life” will be hosted by cardiac rehab nurse Deborah Gorham, who will also perform Reiki, as will Rhonda Ouellette of Earth Spirit Healing Center. Joan Burnham, Irene Haynes and Rhonda McVicker will offer free massages. Rumford Hospital Social Worker Mindy Worthley will lead stress reduction sessions.

The “Exercise for the Health of It!” section, hosted by Rehabilitation Manager Kim Swasey and ultrasound technician Joan Gerrish, will feature Curves, Generation and Expressive Movements. Beginning about noon, Expressive Movements’ Debbie Murphy will teach fairgoers a few dance steps, which will be performed just before the fashion show at 12:30.

The “Take Care of Your Health” section will offer clinical skin exams, osteoporosis and cholesterol screening. Androscoggin Home Care will do blood pressure checks. The American Cancer Society will be there with a machine that shows sun damage to facial skin.

Fairgoers can learn about folic acid, hypnobirthing and Centering Pregnancy from Nick Nolette and Kathy Sutton of the RH Birthing Center. Living will/advanced directives forms and information will be available from Anne Dolloff, RN. Sandy Bouchard, RN, and Sandy Gates, RN, will offer full ScoreKeeper heart health screenings. A representative from Pfizer will be on hand with bladder control information. The section will be hosted by Rumford Hospital Director of Nursing Jane Aube.

After all the check-ups, “Laughter Is the Best Medicine” will feature the Red Hat Mommas of Western Maine and mother/daughter photos by Jane Bubar, Rumford Hospital Community Relations.

Those photos may be used in the “Creative Health” area to create a scrapbook page, perhaps with stamping embellishments with help from Christine Moore. Also in this area, hosted by Operating Room Manager Becky Hall, will be Mary Pulsifer with quilting, Eileen Laperle with basketry and Diane York, RN, master gardener.

Three presentations will highlight the morning. At 9:30, Rhonda Ouellette will answer the question, “What is Reiki?” At 10, Daisy Goodman, certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner, will present “Herbal Remedies.”

Finally, beginning at 11 a.m., Dr. Gary Baldwin from Swift River Health Care will answer questions. Some women will be interested in menopause and hormone replacement therapy; others might want to know more about infertility or bladder control.

The celebration will wind up with a “Red Dress Fashion Show.” The red dress symbolizes awareness and prevention of heart disease in women. Some models will wear their own clothes; others will be dressed by Carlisle’s, Wal-Mart and Fashion Bug.

Everything is free. No sales will be made at the fair, but some of the participants will take orders.


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