Health Briefs: Feeling Fit Festival happens today

By: North County Times - | Saturday, October 6, 2007 3:35 PM PDT ∞

ENCINITAS ---- The Parks and Recreation Department hosts a free drop-in activity from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today at Leo Mullen Sports Park, 951 Via Cantebria, for all ages, featuring guided trail hikes, drop-in sports clinics, games, fitness class demos, music, health and fitness exhibitors, rock wall, jump houses, bicycle safety inspections and more. Parking available near the Target store in the Encinitas Ranch Shopping Center. Log on to www.EncinitasRecReg.com or call (760) 633-2740.

Tri-City Hospital Foundation hosts seminars

OCEANSIDE ---- "Health and Wealth" is the name of a series of seminars sponsored by the Tri-City Hospital Foundation with two guest speakers at each seminar, one focused on health, the other on finances. Seminars start at 2 p.m. Reserve to (760) 940-3370 or e-mail to plannedgiving@tcmc.com. The schedule:

Tuesday: Recognition and Emergency Treatment of the Heart Attack Patient/IRA Rollovers to Charities: Good Only Through Dec. 31, 2007

Oct. 19: Skin Changes and Damage With Sun Exposure; The Challenge: Generating Income for Life

Oct. 24: Keeping Your Life Healthy/Understanding Medicare and the Medicare Part D Drug Program

Flu shots available at Westfield locations

NORTH COUNTY ---- Two Westfield Shoppingtown locations are offering flu shots to adults for $30 from 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 20. Locations are Westfield North County (272 E. Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido, (760) 489-0631), and Westfield Plaza Camino Real (2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, (760) 729-7927). This program is only for those who are age 9 or older.

Post-polio group hosts speaker

ESCONDIDO ---- Dr. Bill McCarberg speaks at the next meeting of the North County Post Polio Support Group, 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Joslyn Senior Center, 728 N. Broadway. His topic is "Evaluating and Managing Pain." Call (760) 741-5075.

Parkinson's group to meet

VISTA ---- North County Parkinson's Support Group meets from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Program: a discussion on the September Parkinson's Symposium topics and Care and Share. Call (760) 940-2763.

Flu shots available at pharmacies

NORTH COUNTY ---- CVS Pharmacies offer flu shots from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at these places and dates. Cost will vary:

455 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas (760) 436-4055: Wednesday and Oct. 27;

318 W. El Norte Parkway, Escondido (760) 489-1505: Wednesday;

4615 Frazee Road, Oceanside, (760) 433-9597: Oct. 16;

1980 College Blvd, Oceanside (760) 945-4676: Nov. 1.

Flu shots available at Stater Bros.

NORTH COUNTY ---- Stater Bros. stores offer flu shots from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. now through Nov. 18 at participating supermarkets. Cost is $25 per vaccination by an approved Medicare Part B provider, so those eligible should bring their Medicare ID card to the clinic and they will not be charged. Clinics will be held during these hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Heart support group to meet

CARLSBAD ---- The San Diego North Coastal Chapter of WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, meets at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at GlenView Assisted Living, 1950 Calle Barcelona. Call (760) 438-5890.

Breast cancer support group meets

ESCONDIDO ---- The Women's Health Boutique Breast Cancer Support Group will meet from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at 1020 W. El Norte Parkway. Call (760) 746-5146.

Cancer center continues speaker series

SAN DIEGO ---- Dr. Christine Horner is the speaker at "Knowledge Is Hope," the next presentation at The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Horner will discuss "Harnessing the Power of Nature to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer." Free. The center is at 10905 Road to the Cure. Reserve to lgreve@skcc.org or call (858) 450-5990, Ext. 243.

Women's luncheon set for Thursday

SAN DIEGO ---- Fresh Start Surgical Gifts' third annual Women's Empowerment Luncheon will be from noon-1 p.m. Thursday at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley featuring Vista resident Michelle Renee, a national award-winning author and speaker. Lunch is $25 and all proceeds go toward Fresh Start's mission of giving free reconstructive surgery to children with facial deformities. Buy tickets at the door or online at www.freshstart.org.

Doctor donates Thursday fees for world vision

CARLSBAD ---- Optometrist Dr. Susan Daniel will donate fees on Thursday to Optometry Giving Sight's World Sight Day Challenge to help the more than13 million children who are blind or vision-impaired simply because they don't have a pair of glasses. To donate, visit www.givingsight.org or call (888) OGS-GIVE.

Diabetes support group meets Thursday

OCEANSIDE ---- The North County Diabetes Support Group meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Community Room of the Oceanside Public Library, 3861 Mission Ave. Call (760) 945-3559.

Fashion show, benefit Friday

SAN DIEGO ---- San Diego's Gracie apparel will highlight a fashion show and luncheon to benefit breast cancer awareness Friday at The Santaluz Club, 8170 Caminito Santaluz East. Breast cancer survivor and local singer Mattie Mills will perform. The third annual limited-seating event at the private golf club is open to non-members and raises funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Tickets are $75 for general seating and $100 for runway seating. Call (858) 759-3120.

Nurse-midwives hold open house

ENCINITAS ---- The nurse midwives of North County Health Services host a Meet the Midwives Tea open house from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at their office, 1130 Second St. Food, fun, information and door prizes, and more. Call Susan at (760) 943-9994.

Grand opening celebration Saturday

ESCONDIDO ---- Neighborhood Healthcare invites the public to a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday of its newest nonprofit health center, 426 N. Date St. The center, which opened this summer, will offer tours, a health fair, flu shots, dental screenings for children, a diaper-tossing contest and face painting. Free lunch and Starbucks coffee will be provided while supplies last. A drive-through Baby Donation Drop Off Center will be open to accept disposable diapers, baby food and new or gently used baby clothes for mothers in need. A brief presentation will be held at noon to thank the First 5 Commission of San Diego who awarded Neighborhood Healthcare a $2,706,920 million dollar grant to fund the center and Martha Rhodes for her support. Call (760) 690-5900.

Sjogren's syndrome group to meet

LA JOLLA ---- The San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 Saturday in the Corral Room at Thornton Hospital, 9300 Campus Point Drive. Audio CDs of presentations will be played: "Overview of Sjogren's Syndrome Manifestations" by Dr. Steven Carsons and "Impact of Stress in Autoimmune Diseases" by Dr. Esther M. Sternberg. Call (619) 303-9004.

Hearing group marks 20 years

ESCONDIDO ---- The Hearing Loss Association meets at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Joslyn Senior Center Auditorium, 120 Park Ave., to celebrate 20 years of activity. This chapter, formally known as SHHH, was sponsored by Rosemary Patterson, auditory assistant, and Dr. David Illich, audiologist, who will be guests. Call (760) 745-5408.

Project Walk hosts 2007 Steps to Recovery

CARLSBAD ---- 2007 Steps to Recovery will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Project Walk Center, 2738 Loker Ave., Carlsbad. The event will feature clients who will be taking steps after given little or no hope of walking again. Activities also include live music, a silent auction, and food and drinks (food tickets are $5). Volunteers are needed. Call (760) 431-3486 or visit www.ProjectWalk.org.

Support group for parents meets Oct. 18

POWAY ---- Parent Advocates Seeking Solutions, a support group for parents of children ages 15 and older who have developmental disabilities, will meet from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 18 at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 16275 Pomerado Road. Topic will be autism. Call (858) 748-2594.

Fibromyalgia group hosts health fair

SAN DIEGO ---- The San Diego Hope & Recovery Group hosts its annual health fair 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 20 at First United Methodist Church of San Diego, 2111 Camino Del Rio South. Speakers include Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., director of the national chain Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and author of books on fibromyalgia; Roopa Chari, M.D. and Deepak Chari, M.S., founders of The Chari Center of Health; and attorney Craig Fahey speaking about Social Security disability. Informational booths, entertainment, refreshments, raffles. Registration: $10 at door. Call (619) 216-9661 or e-mail to hope4recovery@cox.net.

Hospice to host town hall forum

ESCONDIDO ---- The Elizabeth Hospice will host a forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Escondido Library, 239 S. Kalmia St., to launch Health Care Decisions Week. The forum topic is "Starting a Conversation With Your Loved Ones: Your Future Wishes for Health Care Decisions and How to Complete an Advance Directive." The Elizabeth Hospice will host a series of workshops held at various times and locations throughout North San Diego County from Oct. 22-Nov. 17. Visit the Events Page at www.elizabethhospice.org for dates and times in your neighborhood. Call Liz Sumner at (760) 737-2050.

Free class on hip, knee pain

POWAY ---- A free class on "Total Joint Replacement: Hip and Knee Pain" is sponsored by the Centre for Health Care, Pomerado Hospital Campus, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Oct. 24, at 15611 Pomerado Road. Dr. Philip Balikian will be the speaker. Reserve to (858) 613-8900.

Breast cancer program set for Oct. 27

OCEANSIDE ---- The North County African American Health Coalition, a program of Vista Community Clinic, will host "A New You" from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 27 at Tri-City Medical Center. This breast cancer prevention and healthy lifestyle program will include a luncheon and fashion show. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Reserve to (760) 407-1220, Ext. 167. Tri-City is at 4002 W. Vista Way, Oceanside.

Clinical trial Web sites

Clinical trials recruit volunteers to test drugs and therapies. Many are held in and around our area. These Web sites list many clinical trials. Clinical trials have precise inclusion and exclusion rules, so when you find one that interests you, be sure to read the rules carefully:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/. Site of the National Institutes of Health.

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. Site of the National Cancer Institute.

http://www.centerwatch.com/. This site partners with WebMD.com to list 42,000 trials.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/clinicaltrials.html. This site sponsored by Medline/National Library of Medicine explains what you should know about clinical trials.