Public forums look at cancer prevention
Nearly half of all Idahoans will develop cancer during their lifetime, according to estimates by state health officials.
With that in mind, the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has scheduled a series of public forums to generate ideas for how to reduce cancer in the state.
The forums are meant to identify issues and barriers associated with prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, quality of life and survivorship.
The state will develop a statewide cancer plan based on the information gathered at seven scheduled forums around the state.
The Coeur d’Alene forum is from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Shilo Inn, 702 W. Appleway. Participants are asked to register five days in advance by calling Marsha Bracke at (208) 442-1760 or e-mailing her mbracke@earthlink.net.
Domestic violence victims honored
Sandpoint Society’s dirty laundry will be hung out for public viewing Oct. 27 at the Sandpoint Community Hall.
The Clothesline Project is designed to honor victims of domestic violence in and around the community, and raise awareness of the impact of domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence, or friends and family of victims, are invited to add T-shirts symbolic of abuse to the clothesline.
White shirts symbolize those who have died from domestic violence; yellow or beige represents victims of battery or assault; red, pink or orange are for victims who were raped or sexually assaulted; blue or green are for survivors of incest; and purple or lavender represent those who were attacked because of their sexual orientation.
Shirts can be enhanced with special messages or artwork and delivered to the Victim Advocate Services Team (VAST) office in the Bonner County Courthouse by Oct. 25, or hung at the event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27.
For more information, contact Elizabeth or Cherie at VAST at 265-3586.
Cemetery requests flowers removed
In another reminder that winter is coming, Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls is asking lot owners to remove flowers and other decorations before Nov. 12, the day after Veterans Day.
After that, the cemetery will discard any remaining items so they won’t interfere with snow plows or get ruined by the snow.
For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 773-0539.
Grant moneys to help air quality, traffic
Local agencies and organizations interested in enhancing the transportation system and improving air quality are invited to apply for federal grants this fall through the Idaho Transportation Department.
Idaho has up to $9 million in federal money to fund the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) and Transportation Enhancement (TE) programs statewide.
Projects that help solve transportation-related air quality problems may qualify for CMAQ funding, such as the purchase of buses or ride-share vans, dust abatement and traffic signal coordination. Applications for these funds are due by Dec. 2.
Projects that create more livable communities – such as bike paths, landscaping and preservation of historic transportation facilities – may qualify for TE funding. Applications for these funds are due by Jan. 30, 2006.
For more information online, go to www.itd.idaho.gov/planning and follow the links of the programs. Or call 334-8201 to have an application mailed to you.
New Medicare drug coverage for seniors
On Nov. 15, seniors can start signing up for prescription drug coverage under a new Medicare program, and many seniors may need help with deciding which prescription drug coverage plan to use.
A user-friendly Internet tool to help with the process will be demonstrated during a free training session from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Silver Lake Motel Banquet & Convention Center in Coeur d’Alene.
The training is provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is sponsored in part by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
The online plan finder tool is an easy way to identify plans that best meet a person’s prescription needs, taking into account the financial situations of applicants, according to Michelle Britton, Region 1 director of Health and Welfare.
Britton encouraged people willing to help seniors with the sign-up process to attend the training. For more information, or to reserve a seat, call 769-1515, Ext. 360.
Financial director addresses council
If you have questions about property taxes, Post Falls financial director Shelly Enderud will be giving a presentation at today’s council meeting.
Enderud will address issues such as how taxing works, as well as how new construction and urban renewal districts affect property taxes.
It’s a complicated issue, Enderud said, adding that she will simplify it as much as she can at the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. in City Hall at 408 Spokane Street.