Charity events
• The Mercy Foundation is holding its annual Reindeer Ball for children from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the ballroom at the Westin Convention Center. RWS Productions from New York City is slated to perform "A Holly Jolly Jubilee." Peggy Finnegan of WPXI-TV is serving as mistress of ceremonies. The cost is $30, $40 for children, and proceeds benefit A Child's Place at Mercy. The deadline is Nov. 21. Call 412-232-7504.
Screenings
• Alden Courts is hosting a memory testing and open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at its North Hills location, 1125 Perry Highway, Ross. Reservations are required for the testing. Call 412-369-7887.
Blood drives
• To find a blood drive near you call:
The Central Blood Bank, 412-209-7000 or 1-800-310-9551.
The American Red Cross, 1-800-448-3543. For bloodmobile locations, check http://www.redcrosslife.org.
Seminars/lectures
• The Western Pennsylvania chapter of the American Liver Foundation is holding a "Living Well with Liver Disease" program from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Greensburg Country Club, Jeannette Road, Hempfield. The cost is $5, including continental breakfast and lunch, and scholarships and continuing education credits are available. Call 412-434-7077.
• Canonsburg General Hospital is sponsoring holiday-oriented programs in the McNary Conference Center:
"Surviving the Holiday Food Gauntlet," 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8. Call 1-877-284-2000.
"How Will I Get Through the Holidays?" program on grief, 6 p.m. Nov. 16. Deadline: Nov. 12. Call 724-745-6100 ext. 4118.
• Paramount Senior Living at South Hills, 100 Knoedler Road, Baldwin Borough, is holding a program on 2008 Medicare supplement changes and Medicare part D from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 14. The deadline is Nov. 8. Call 412-655-3100.
• Jefferson Regional Medical Center is sponsoring a program, "Greening Your Life -- Safeguarding Your Health," from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 in the auditorium on the South campus of the Community College of Allegheny County, 1750 Clairton Road, West Mifflin. Keynote speaker is Maryann Donovan of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Advance registration is required and space is limited. Call 412-469-7100.
• UPMC Health Plan, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, is sponsoring a lecture, "Healthy Eating over the Holidays," at noon Nov. 8 at the visitor center in Schenley Park as the last segment of its Healthy Living Lecture Series. Speaker is Cynthia L. Donovan of UPMC Health Plan. Call 412-682-7275 ext. 214.
Classes/workshops
• The Western Pennsylvania chapter of the American Red Cross is holding the following health and safety classes at its Washington County location, 524 E. Maiden St., Washington, unless otherwise indicated. The cost is $30 unless otherwise indicated. Call 724-222-4750.
CPR, adult, 5:30 to 10 p.m. today.
Standard first aid with CPR and AED, adult, 5:30 to 10 p.m. today and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 8. Cost: $45.
First aid, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 8.
First aid, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 13, Fayette County location, 108 Morgantown St., Uniontown.
• Excela Health is sponsoring the following classes in auditorium B of Latrobe Hospital unless otherwise indicated. Call 1-877-771-1234.
Car seat safety, 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12.
Child care services, for new parents, 8 to 9 p.m. Nov. 12.
Infant sign language, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 13.
HeartSaver CPR class with AED, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 14, auditorium A, Latrobe Hospital.
• The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is sponsoring an pediatric CPR class from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at its Forbes Regional campus, Monroeville. The cost is $30 for a single and $45 for a couple. Call 1-877-284-2000.
Special opportunities
• The Wilkinsburg School District is offering free dental clinics through Smile Pennsylvania in its schools to all students through January. Students attending district schools are to receive permission forms; students attending other schools need to call 412-871-2104.
• The Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary is selling poinsettias, mumsettias, pine wreaths and white pine roping. Order forms are available in the hospital's hospitality shop. The deadline is Nov. 19. Orders may be picked up at the hospital on Dec. 5. Call 724-832-4540 or 724-832-7059.
• The Mercy Hospital School of Nursing is sponsoring an open house for prospective students from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Sister Margaret Mary Laitta Auditorium, fourth floor, Building B (Ermire Building) of Mercy Hospital. Registration is requested by the day before. Prospective students, parents, and guests may meet faculty and students and tour the school and hospital. There will be opportunities for questions regarding the application process, financial aid and a signing bonus for graduates who accept employment at the hospital. Light refreshments are being served. Call 412-232-7940 or 412-232-7950.
• Have you talked to your children about sex? A University of Pittsburgh study is developing a program to help families talk with their children about this difficult topic. They are inviting African American parents/guardians and their teens (ages 15-17) to tell how their family talks about sex. To participate, at least one parent and one teen from each family will be asked to attend a 21/2-hour focus group session at Magee-Womens Hospital or a community site. Each family member will receive a gift certificate for participating. For more information, call: 412-641-4984.
First Published: November 7, 2007, 5:00 a.m.
