MS self-help group meeting Wednesday

| Sunday, June 15, 2008 12:26 AM PDT ∞

for j15

MS self-help group meeting Wednesday

ESCONDIDO ---- The Escondido Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Group will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday in room 5 at the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Ave. Presentation will be on the MS medication Copaxone from a representative of TEVA Neuroscience Inc., followed by Q&A. Open to anyone with MS, caregivers or family members. Call Beth at (760) 747-9096.

Free health classes offered

POWAY ---- "Tips to Prevent Falls: Senior Adults" is a free class offered at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Centre For Health Care, Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, 15611 Pomerado Road. Reserve to (858) 613-8900, and press 6 for reservations.

Bloodmobile visits coming up

The San Diego Blood Bank bloodmobile is making these regional stops to receive blood donations from the public. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, in good health and weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood. A good meal is recommended before donation:

-- 1-6 p.m. Monday, V.G. Donut & Bakery, 106 Aberdeen Drive, Cardiff by the Sea.

-- Noon-4 p.m. Tuesday, Albertsons, 7660 El Camino Real, Carlsbad.

-- Noon-6 p.m. Tuesday, Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, 200 Saxony Road, Encinitas.

-- 2-7 p.m. Tuesday, Albertsons, 1459 Main St., Ramona.

-- 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mitchell 1, 14145 Danielson, Poway.

-- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, UltraStar Cinemas, 13475 Poway Road, Poway. Donors will be awarded a movie pass.

-- 8 a.m.-1 p.m. June 22, St. Michael's by the Sea, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad.

Wellness Center offers free seminar on using food

SAN DIEGO ---- The Cushman Wellness Center at the Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion presents a seminar at 6 p.m. Tuesday to help you get the most out of your body so you're ready to tackle your next workout. Dr. Christine DuPraw, a certified specialist in Sports Dietetics, a registered dietitian and professor of nutrition at Mesa College, will share tips and tools for using food to your advantage. Register to (800) 82-SHARP or visit www.sharp.com/cushman.

Palomar offers CPR course in Escondido

ESCONDIDO ---- Palomar College Escondido offers "CPR for the Healthcare Provider" from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Cost is $80. This eight-hour course covers: one-person CPR and two-person CPR for adults, children and infants using mouth to mouth, mouth to mask and bag valve mask techniques; training for Automated External Defibrillator (AED); obstructed airway training for adults, children and infants; Chain of Survival. The Escondido campus is at 1935 E. Valley Parkway. Call (760) 891-7626 or visit www.palomar.edu/venture to enroll or for details.

Alzheimer's group to hear speaker Thursday

VISTA ---- The Vista Caregivers Support Group affiliated with the Alzheimers Association meets at 1:30 p.m. Thursdays at Acadia Place, 1080 Acadia Ave. This week's speaker will be Mary Sundsmo, program director for Shiley-Marcos Alzheimers Disease Research Center, who will discuss the latest research. Call (760) 727-9089.

'Successful aging' topic of lecture

LA JOLLA ---- "Successful Cognitive and Emotional Aging" is a lecture offered from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday by Dr. Dilip Jeste, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and chief of the Geriatric Psychiatry at UC San Diego and Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care. He will review strategies for successful aging, which involves mental and physical health, and research at UCSD's Stein Institute for Research on Aging. The lecture is at Garren Auditorium, UCSD Basic Science Building. For free parking, call (858) 534-6299 at least three days before the event.

TARA support group meets Wednesday

OCEANSIDE ---- TARA (Treatment and Research Advancements Association for Borderline Personality Disorder) holds its monthly support group for families at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Tri City Medical Center, 4002 Vista Way, Oceanside. Call Sandy Boone at (760) 729-5748.

NAMI hosts speaker Thursday

CARLSBAD ---- Jane Fyer will speak on "Board and Care, Independent Living Unit, or Alternative Housing?" at the next meeting of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Michael's Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 2775 Carlsbad Boulevard. Fyer is involved in multiple activities for mental health. Refreshments will be served after the presentation, followed by a NAMI support group for family members in the Parish Hall Library. Call (760) 722-3754.

Wheelchair tennis event set for June

SAN DIEGO ---- The San Diego Business Clubs of America will hold its second annual charity event, a wheelchair tennis tournament and luau, at Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma on Friday and Saturday. More than 50 disabled/wheelchair-bound professional, semi-professional and recreational athletes from throughout California are expected to participate. This year, representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records have been invited to sanction the event as the largest wheelchair tennis tournament in the world. The event features two days of tournament play, clinics with guest coaches, entertainment, live and silent auctions and other family-friendly activities. Proceeds will go toward sports recreation and wellness programs, as well as equipment to enhance mobility and exercise ability. Learn more at www.wheelchairtennisandluau.com, or call (888) 738-7808.

Cancer-fighting foods are topic

SAN DIEGO ---- The Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at 10 a.m. Saturday at Moore Cancer Center, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, with Dr. Gordon Saxe. Saxe will speak on foods that fight and prevent cancer. Call (760) 749-4560.

Stop-smoking workshops set

OCEANSIDE ---- Tri-City Hospital is sponsoring a six-session Smoking Cessation Program starting July 1 at the Cardiac Wellness Center. The foundation will pick up most of the cost which brings the fee down to $60. This includes all materials. Sessions are 90 minutes and start at 6:30 p.m. weekday evenings. The July 1 meeting is for introduction and signup. Please don't plan to stop smoking until July 8. Call (760) 940-3092 or e-mail: duvel@sbcglobal.net (fill in the subject line with reference to Smoking Cessation program).

Scripps Encinitas offers free health classes

ENCINITAS ---- These free classes are offered by Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, 354 Santa Fe Drive. Register to (800)-SCRIPPS:

6:30-8 p.m. July 10 and Sept. 11: Recapture the Beauty: Varicose Veins. Dr. Brian Shore discusses the latest advancements in treating varicose veins, spider veins and leg ulcers without surgery.

6-7:30 p.m. July 22: Heart Healthy Nutrition. Lower your risk factor for heart disease and high blood pressure; learn about the types of fat, low sodium principles, how to read labels and making healthful food choices with a clinical dietitian.

6-7:30 p.m. July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16: Learn About Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Jay Rosenberg will discuss common symptoms and the latest scientific research on causes, as well as the importance of developing a comprehensive approach to managing MS.

Training offered for marathons

CARLSBAD ---- In Motion Fit, the official training program for the Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon, will kick off its 13th season July 12 with orientation sessions at 8 a.m. at Poinsettia Park in Carlsbad (6600 Hidden Valley Road) and at Hospitality Point at San Diego's Mission Bay (2581 Quivira Way). In Motion Fit is a comprehensive 26-week training program designed to prepare participants of all abilities to run or walk the Carlsbad Marathon or Carlsbad Half Marathon, scheduled for Jan. 25, 2009. In Motion Fit is also open to people who just want to get into shape or run with a group of new friends. Cost of the program is $110. The July 12 orientation sessions are free. Call (760) 692-2900 or visit www.inmotiontraining.com.

Camp offered for children with bipolar disorder

SAN DIEGO ---- STEP Up for Kids, Inc. has joined with the local group Club Xcite LL to host its second summer camp in San Diego for children 8-12 years of age who have bipolar disorder. Themes of this year's session include enhancing positive thought patterns and self-esteem, mastering fear, controlling emotions, strategies for succeeding in school, friendship building and teamwork. Activities such as Frisbee, bowling, karate class, sailing, go-kart racing, a day at the beach, a visit to the aquarium, a water park, Nickel City, and Game Universe are included in the cost.

The camp will be from July 28-Aug.1 and Aug. 18-22. Campers may attend one or both weeks. Information: (617) 851-4083; email: emilyoconnell@comcast.net. Applications are being accepted, as are donations for scholarships. Visitwww.stepup4kids.com or write to STEP Up for Kids, Inc. 435 Furnace St., Marshfield, MA 02050.

Program offered on ADD/ADHD

CARLSBAD ---- The Genesis Center offers a nine-session training program for families and kids to help improve ADD/ADHD, autism, social interaction and academic performance. The HEROES Training Program is dedicated to finding the "hero" in every child. To attend a free seminar explaining the program, please call (760) 720-2384.

Aldrin to headline aging summit

ESCONDIDO ---- Aging Summit 2008 features prominent speakers on the topic of "Lifelong Learning," including keynote speaker astronaut Buzz Aldrin and a group of San Diego residents who are more than 100 years old. The summit will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 26 at two locations: the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., and at Town & Country Resort and Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. The speakers will be simulcast to the North County site. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. the day of the summit. Reservations are required; call (800) 827-4277. The Aging Summit is free to those 60 and older or who are disabled; cost for others is $40 and includes lunch and two continuing education credits.

Aldrin, nearly 80, one of the first men to walk on the moon, is the featured keynote speaker. Attendees will also hear from members of a Century Panel, active 100-year-olds who will encourage people to keep mentally and physically active, regardless of age.

Dr. Paul Nussbaum, author of "Love Your Brain," will discuss what can be done to improve our minds and the impact of learning on longevity. Nussbaum is a neuropsychologist and professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Sponsors of Aging Summit 2008 include Aging & Independence Services, Behavioral Health Services and Public Health Services (all divisions of the County's Health and Human Services Agency); Sharp HealthCare; AARP; At Your Home FamilyCare; Health Care Group; La Vida Del Mar/La Vita Real; Mount Miguel Covenant Village; Secure Horizons; SignOnSanDiego.com; and Silverado Senior Living. The summit will also include a variety of exhibits at both sites.

Fashion show to benefit Scripps Encinitas

CARLSBAD ---- Sophisticated fashions will be a highlight of the fourth annual Circle of Life 100 Luncheon and Fashion Show, on Aug. 5 at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad. The event will support leading-edge digital mammography equipment at Scripps Memorial Hospital to enhance early cancer detection and treatment. The event will feature a luncheon, a live auction and a high-society fashion show presented by Peaches En Regalia and Ryan's Collection. Mary Ellen Grant will be honored for her service to the hospital. Tickets are $130 per person or $1,300 for a table of 10. Call Suzanne Swanson at (858) 678-6364.

Cancer prevention study seeks volunteers

LA JOLLA ---- The American Cancer Society's Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research is inviting men and women between ages 30 and 65 who have no personal history of cancer to join a research study. The goal is to enroll 500,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the U.S. The CPS-3 study aims to better understand the factors that cause or prevent cancer and to ultimately eliminate cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations. Study enrollment will take place at the La Jolla Relay For Life from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 28, at the UC San Diego North Track, 9500 Gilman Drive. (Those who choose to enroll don't have to be registered Relay team participants.) For more about CPS-3 and the Relay For Life events where enrollment will take place, visit www.cancer.org/cps3, e-mail cps3@cancer.org or call (888) 604-5888. Also, you're invited to tell friends and family around the country to visit www.cancer.org/cps3 or call to learn more about this study and how to become involved in their community.

Exercise class offered twice weekly

OCEANSIDE ---- First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside hosts a free Active Older Adults & Seniors exercise class twice weekly, funded by the County of San Diego Aging & Independent Services. Classes are from 9-10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays to strengthen major muscle groups and educate about the benefits of exercise, health and fitness. The class meets in the Great Hall of the church, 2001 El Camino Real at Fire Mountain Road. Call (760) 757-3560.

Clinic offers help with health insurance

Vista Community Clinic offers help to low-income families in need of health insurance by assisting with the applications for Healthy Families and Medi-Cal. The service is free, but an appointment is required. These documents will be required for the application process: copy of birth certificate; Social Security card; proof of income (example: pay stubs for the most recent month; employer's letter. If self- employed, bring copy IRS Form 1040, etc.). Call (760) 407-1220, Ext 126.

VCC offers immunizations

Worried about measles? You can avoid many diseases including measles by getting immunized. Low-cost or no-cost immunizations for children and low-cost immunizations for adults are available daily at the Vista Community Clinic on a walk-in basis. Vaccinations available include: measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, varicella, HPV, hepatitis B, Tuberculosis test, etc. Call (760) 631-5000 or visit www.vistacommunityclinic.org.

Clinic offers INS healthcare exams

ESCONDIDO -- Neighborhood Healthcare offers INS medical exams, a requirement for anyone applying for legal residency or citizenship in the United States. Exams are available weekdays at the health center, by appointment only. The health center is at 460 N. Elm St., Escondido.

The exam costs $85 plus laboratory fees. Additional costs may vary, depending upon specific government requirements for type of application and country of origin.

Patients will also need to bring a government-issued photo ID and BCIS physical forms, which may be obtained online at www.bcis.gov/graphics/surgeonportal.htm, from INS or from their attorney.

For details or to make an appointment, call (760) 520-8100. Exams are also available weekdays by appointment at Neighborhood Healthcare ---- Pauma Valley, off Highway 76. Call (760) 742-9923 to make an appointment in Pauma Valley.

Affordable medications through Vista clinic

VISTA ---- Vista Community Clinic's Patient Assistance Program is designed to help low income patients receive medications they could otherwise not afford. To qualify for help, you must be enrolled in care with a VCC physician, be uninsured, be a resident and able to provide proof of low income either through 1040 tax form and/or current month pay stubs. Interested persons must make an appointment with a physician at the clinic. Annual $30 application/enrollment fee. Medications are shipped to the home at no charge. Call (760) 631-5000.

Volunteers sought for adult center

ENCINITAS ---- Glenner Alzheimer's Center in Encinitas is seeking volunteers and arts and crafts donations for its Alzheimer's day program. Please call (760) 635-1895 and ask for Dawn.

Clinic offers low-cost immunizations for kids

ESCONDIDO ---- Neighborhood Healthcare ---- Escondido, a nonprofit community health center, is offering walk-in immunizations at 460 N. Elm Street in Escondido from 1:30-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays. The clinic accepts a variety of insurances and provides services based on a sliding scale fee. Call (760) 737-2000.

VCC offers breast cancer support group

Vista Community Clinic's Breast Health Program offers a support group for breast cancer survivors and those in treatment. The group meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Members of the group share experiences and resource information. Call (760) 407-1220 Ext. 167, or (760) 407-1220 Ext. 154.

Speakers available from VCC

Vista Community Clinic provides guest speakers for group luncheons or meetings and provides health education booths for health fairs. The clinic speakers bureau can present a variety of health education topics such as:

n Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Prevention Programs: Learn about substance abuse issues that affect the local community, public health initiatives that work, and what local citizens can do to get involved in combating these problems.

n Breast Health Education Program: Learn about breast health issues, mammograms, free services offered to target populations, special event schedules.

n Junior REACH and Project REACH: Learn about REACH after school programs for at-risk youths in Vista and Oceanside, challenges facing today's youth, and REACH success stories.

Contact Betsy Heightman at (760) 631-5000, Ext. 1139 to request a speaker.

Anger management classes back

OCEANSIDE ---- A Superior Court-approved 12-week anger-management program is offered from 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays, designed to assist individuals who have difficulty managing angry feelings and behaviors. The program's goal is to teach appropriate expressions of anger and to reduce violent and self-destructive behaviors. This co-ed group meets weekly for 60 minutes. Enrollment is "open," with individuals welcome to join at any time. Cost is $60 enrollment fee (including workbook) and $20 session fee. Proof of enrollment and completion certificates are provided. Contact Pacific Coast Counseling at (760) 439-1124.

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.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.