Free nutrition workshop in Carlsbad

CARLSBAD -- "Metabolic Syndrome: What Is It and How to Reduce Your Risk" is a free nutrition workshop offered from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday by the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation at 3088 Pio Pico Drive. Reserve to 760-730-1471. Visit www.CVDF.org.

Oceanside offers 'Healthy Happy Hour'

OCEANSIDE -- The city's fourth annual "Healthy Happy Hour," for Oceanside's seniors 55 and up, will be from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday at the Mottino Family YMCA, 4701 Mesa Drive (just east of College Avenue). See how you can choose a healthy way to socialize after work while enjoying free nutritious snacks and drinks. This event will include free nutrition advice, demonstrations and information on fitness programs and healthy lifestyles, and exercise. Call 760-435-5250.

Sites available for blood donations

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Blood Bank is hosting these donation opportunities. Call 800-469-7322:

- 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Wal-Mart, 13425 Community Road, Poway

- 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Souplantation, 17210 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo

- 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 30, Stater Brothers, 9909 Carmel Mountain Road, Rancho Penasquitos

- 7:30 a.m.-noon May 31, Community Lutheran Church, 3575 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido

- 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 1, Pat & Oscar's, 12045 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego

- 1:30-7 p.m. June 1, CVS/pharmacy, 12358 Poway Road, Poway

- 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 2, Escondido Union School District, 2310 Aldergrove Ave., Escondido

- 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. June 5, GEICO, 14111 Danielson St., Poway

- 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 7, Hope United Methodist Church, 16550 Bernardo Heights Parkway, San Diego

- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 7, RB Alive Community Day, 16701 W. Bernardo Drive, San Diego

- 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 9, County Health & Human Services Building, 620 E. Valley Pkwy.,

Escondido

- 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. June 10, Mitchell 1 parking lot, 14145 Danielson, Poway

- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 11, HME/Kontron America, 14110 Stowe Drive, Poway

- 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 11, Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort, 777 Harrah's Rincon Way,

Valley Center

Stop-smoking program begins Tuesday

OCEANSIDE -- Tri-City Hospital is sponsoring a six-session Smoking Cessation Program starting Tuesday at the Cardiac Wellness Center. The foundation will pick up most of the cost, which brings the fee down to $60 and includes all materials. Sessions are 90 minutes and start at 6:30 p.m. weekday evenings. The May 26 meeting is for introduction and signup. Participants should not plan to stop smoking until June 2. Call 760-940-3092 or e-mail duvel@sbcglobal.net (in the subject line, put "Smoking Cessation Program").

Hospice offers Alzheimer's workshops

ESCONDIDO -- The Elizabeth Hospice Center for Compassionate Care offers "Living With Alzheimer's," a four-part workshop, at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. Call 760-737-2050:

- 6 p.m. Saturday, "Didn't I Just Say That?"

- 11 a.m. Saturday, "Managing Your Frustrations"

- 6 p.m. May 28, "Memorable Visits"

First aid, CPR classes offered

OCEANSIDE -- The American Red Cross is again offering CPR/First Aid and AED (defibrillator) training from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at the Oceanside Campus, 1 Barnard Drive, Room 4809. Registration is requested but not required. The fee for the class is $65 per person. Participants receive certifications (cards) upon completion of the class. Call Michael Porteous at 949-648-0059 or e-mail Michael642@Redcrosscalifornia.org.

AAUW hosts heart doctor

SOLANA BEACH -- The American Association University of Women, Del Mar Leucadia, presents its 2009-2010 Installation/Fundraiser Brunch from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. May 30 at the Loma Santa Fe Country Club, 1505 Loma Santa Fe Drive. Cost is $25. Guest speaker is Dr. Mimi Guarneri, FACC, founder/medical director of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. She will also be signing her book, "The Heart Speaks." Proceeds benefit educational science and technology programs and scholarships for women. Reserve by Tuesday; send brunch reservation (reverse side) and check to: Jane Sanders, 672 Laguna Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Questions? E-mail jane4taxes@aol.com.

Sleep Apnea Association to meet

OCEANSIDE -- The American Sleep Apnea Association and its AWAKE division will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Tri-City Hospital. Speaker will be Susie Justus, from Resmed, a major C-PAP manufacturer.

She will explain in everyday language the problems and concerns you have using your C-PAP breathing apparatus and mask. Free. Call 760-630-1964.

Red Cross blood drive set for Tuesday

ESCONDIDO -- Dr. Derek Brunton and Grand Chiropractic hold their third annual blood drive with the American Red Cross from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Starbucks/Home Depot, 1485 E. Valley Parkway and Harding. Co-sponsors are Starbucks and 24 Hour Fitness. Plenty of giveaways for donors, including a seven-day 24 Hour Fitness Workout Pass and Starbucks food and drinks. To make an appointment, call Grand Chiropractic at 760.432.6459 or sign up at www.givelife.org (code:GrandChiro).

Teen pregnancy prevention workshop set

OCEANSIDE -- A teen pregnancy prevention workshop will be offered from 5-7 p.m. May 27 at the San Luis Valley Resource Center, 521 Vandergrift Blvd. The workshop is being hosted by North County Health Services and the Teen Involvement Program through North County Lifeline. It will include information on teen pregnancy prevention, a youth discussion, interactive activities and opportunity drawings. Food will be provided. Visit www.nchs-health.org or call 760-736-6767.

Peer support training explained

CARLSBAD -- Lisa St. George of Recovery Innovations of California speaks about Peer Employment Training from 1-3 p.m. May 27 at Pilgrim Church, 2020 Chestnut Drive. PET trains those who have experience of recovery from mental health and/or addiction challenges to work as peer support specialists. Call 619-542-1660 or the North Coastal National Alliance on Mental Illness at 760-722-3754.

Homeopathy lecture offered

ESCONDIDO -- Sybil Ihrig speaks on "Miracles of Homeopathy" at 6:30 p.m. May 27 at La Vida Sana Massage & Herb Retreat, 998 W. El Norte Parkway, in the Vons shopping center west of I-15. Free; reserve to 760-781-1005.

Free seminar on managing hip pain

CARLSBAD -- Dr. Andrew Cooperman and Dr. Joel Heiser, both orthopaedic surgeons, will share the latest information on joint pain and treatment options at a free event from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. May 28 at the Tri-City Wellness Center, 6250 El Camino Real. Reserve to www.tricitymed.org/edu or call 760-940-5789.

Post-prostate cancer seminar offered

CARLSBAD -- Urologist Dr. Bradley Frasier presents "There Is Life After Prostate Cancer -- Treatments for Male Incontinence and Erectile Restoration," from 6-8 p.m. May 28 at the Tri-City Wellness Center, 6250 El Camino Real, Carlsbad. Reserve to www.tricitymed.org/edu or call 760-940-5789.

Digestion workshop set

OCEANSIDE -- Learn natural approaches to understanding and maintaining a healthy digestion at a free workshop at 7 p.m. May 29 at the Mission Branch library, 3861 Mission Ave. Reserve to Amber at 203-915-3581.

Free installation on Lifeline offered

ESCONDIDO -- Palomar Pomerado Health is offering free Lifeline installation (a $75 savings) through May 31. Service is $39 per month on a month-to-month basis with no long-term contract to sign.

Lifeline is an easy-to-use personal response service that ensures older adults living at home will receive quick assistance when needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call Palomar Pomerado Health Philips Lifeline at 858-675-5371 or 888-704-2774 or visit www.pph.org.

Exercise studio hosts grand opening

OCEANSIDE -- Indigo Energy and Fitness, an exercise studio, marks its grand opening at 4:30 p.m. June 3 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and two free group fitness classes for the community: Indigo Core Fusion at 5 p.m. and Nia & Yoga at 6 p.m. Healthy snacks and refreshments served for everyone. The studio is at 1839 S. Coast Highway, Suite 100. Call 760-696-7084 or e-mail Kelly@IndigoEnergyandFitness. Visit: www.IndigoEnergyandFitness.com.

Murrieta man offering DVD on wheelchair exercise

MURRIETA -- A Murrieta man is now offering a DVD of personal exercise and nutrition information for those in wheelchairs who have neuromuscular illnesses. The DVD features Kerry Westfall of Murrieta, who was featured in a North County Times/The Californian story in July. Westfall and runs a charity called Westfall Foundation that aims to find treatments for it. The DVD, called "Commit To Your Health," features a detailed personal training session with Westfall, who uses a wheelchair, and his instructor, Ed Ferrell, plus interviews with doctors about nutrition, neurology and osteopathy, and a Question and Answer segment. The cost is $20, and Westfall said all profit generated from the DVD go back to the public in the form of medical research grants. Contact him at kerrywes@westfallfoundation.org; visit www.westfallfoundation.org; order the DVD at www.committoyourhealth.org.

MS lecture set June 7

CARLSBAD -- "MS In Balance: Strategies for Managing Your MS," is the topic for Dr. Daniel Wynn, a neurologist from Chicago, at 10 a.m. June 7 at the Windmill, 890 Palomar Airport Road. Free. Register to 877-329-8327.

Cancer survivors to celebrate June 7

LA JOLLA -- Scripps Cancer Center will host a free celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 7 for area cancer survivors, their families and the community as part of the 22nd annual National Cancer Survivor's Day at the Valerie Timken Amphitheater at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. "A Celebration of Life" will include inspirational stories from area cancer survivors, plus a special musical performance. A Scripps oncologist will discuss new research that may help doctors improve the way they monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The event is open to anyone living with a history of cancer, regardless of where they received treatment. Scripps Green Hospital is at 10666 N. Torrey Pines Road. To register to attend, call 858-554-8533 by June 1. Parking will be free.

Six-week seminar on MS offered

LA JOLLA -- Scripps Memorial neurologist Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary and the Center for Neurologic Study offer at six-week interactive course on "Optimizing Multiple Sclerosis: Fighting Back With Your Body's Own Defenses," from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays from June 10-July 15. Topics include "Decoding Your DNA," "You Are What You Eat" and "Stretch Your Limits." Tuition is $250 for the course. Register to 858-646-0400 or e-mail staff@wellspringhealth.net.

Fitness seminar offered for seniors

ESCONDIDO -- The Elizabeth Hospice Center for Compassionate Care will offer a free educational workshop focused on keeping physically fit as you age from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 13 at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. Participants will be asked to perform very light exercises recommended by the National Institute on Aging. Please wear comfortable clothing. Register to 760-737-2050.

Seminar set on memory strategies

ESCONDIDO -- The Elizabeth Hospice Center for Compassionate Care will offer a free educational workshop focusing on strategies to keep your memory sharp from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. June 18, at the Center for Compassionate Care in Escondido, 930 Canterbury Place. A speaker from the Alzheimer's Association will provide information on how to keep your brain healthy and help reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. Register to 760-737-2050.

'Mind boxing' classes offered

OCEANSIDE -- The ancient art of Xingyiquan (zingy-qwan), also known as "Mind Boxing," is now being offered in classes from 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10-11 a.m. Saturdays. The art improves balance, mind-body coordination and circulation. Classes are $50 a month and are held at Old Dragon Kung Fu, 3320-E Mission Ave. Call 760-470-4998.