Burlington hospital makes interim chief permanent

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's largest hospital has made its interim chief executive permanent.

Burlington's Fletcher Allen Health Care announced Monday that Dr. John Brumsted will move from interim to permanent president and CEO. He had served on an interim basis since August, when former hospital chief Dr. Melinda Estes left.

Brumsted will head up the hospital and its affiliates including Fletcher Allen Partners, the parent organization of the Burlington hospital and Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin. Fletcher Allen also is affiliated with the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

The 59-year-old Brumsted, a graduate of Dartmouth College and its medical school, has taught at the UVM medical school and previously held several senior positions at Fletcher Allen. Brumsted lives in Shelburne.

Blood drives set

PLATTSBURGH — There are many opportunities to give blood in February through the North Country Regional Blood Donor Program.

Here's the schedule: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, AuSable Forks Ambulance Service; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, CVPH Laboratory Conference Room; 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 17, H&R Block, Hammond Lane; 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 21, Morrisonville Ambulance Service; 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 23, Wilmington Fire Department; 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24, Alice Hyde Medical Center; 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 27, Keeseville Fire Department; 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 27, West Chazy Fire Department; 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Angell College Center, Plattsburgh State; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 29, Massena Memorial Hospital.

The Blood Donor Center, 85 Plaza Blvd., is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-in donors are encouraged. To learn how to host a drive, call 562-7406.

IC Hope meets Wednesday

PLATTSBURGH — IC Hope, a brain-tumor support group, meets every third Wednesday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Newman Center, 90 Broad St., Plattsburgh. This is a self-help group, so participants are invited to come listen, talk or just support others. This group is for survivors as well as family and caregivers.

For more information, call 593-7327 or 593-2202, or visit www.ichope07.org.

Region's MS Society president to speak

LAKE PLACID — The public is invited to an open discussion with Stephanie K. Mincer, president and CEO of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Upstate New York Chapter at 4 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Lake Placid Public Library, 2471 Main St.

Mincer will talk about the latest updates in MS and the new No Opportunity Wasted (NOW) initiative. Light refreshments will be provided.

Call (800) 344-4867 to register.

Workshop teaches ways to manage chronic conditions

PLATTSBURGH — "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions," a six-week workshop that teaches people with a chronic condition or caregivers to manage the condition and lessen its effects, will kick off Feb. 21 at Russell H. Barnard Apartments.

According to a news release, individuals who have completed the workshop report an increase of self-confidence, frequency of exercise and relaxation and a decrease in pain, depression and physician visits. The program will run from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through March 27.

Registration is required by calling 314-3683 or 314-3681 by today.

The free workshop is sponsored by Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network and Northern Adirondack Medical Home.

Biggest Loser program expands to Champlain

CHAMPLAIN — Applications are now available for Northeast Biggest Loser, a sister program to the North Country Biggest Loser program that is in progress at the City of Plattsburgh Gym.

The new program starts on March 16 at Northeastern Clinton Central School. Coaches will be Robb Garrand and Mary Duprey. Applicants must be 18 or older; available from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, March 16 through June 8 (no classes over spring break, April 6 to 14); and must pay the $125 non-refundable fee by the first class. A portion of the cost will be donated to the Cougar Outdoor Academy, a program for students seeking additional mentoring.

Applications must be completed by Feb. 20 and are available at Stewart's and Cornerstone Drug in Rouses Point, Kinney Drugs and Rite Aid in Champlain, L&M in Mooers, Labarre's Market in Ellenburg and Stewart's in Chazy. Successful applicants will be notified by March 2.

For questions, call Garrand at 297-3346 or Duprey at 297-2192.