The SPA Datebook

If you provide a public service, or have a special community- or business-related event that you'd like to post on AM 1000 KCEO, AM 1450 KFSD, and/or AM 1510 KSPA and their associated websites, please e-mail Gordon Brown, Public Service Director, with your announcement attached. Please allow at least three weeks before the event date for timely posting. Thanks!  ~ G.B.

Orange County and the Inland Empire

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. Doctors Without Borders is issuing an urgent plea to donate as much as possible to help victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake recover and rebuild. Please click this link to donate, or click the image at right.

The California Tax Education Council asks: Is your tax preparer legal? State law mandates that only attorneys, Enrolled Agents, CPAs, or CTEC Registered Tax Preparers can prepare your tax returns for a fee. Not sure which one your preparer is? You had better find out! Otherwise, you could pay the consequences. Protect yourself, and do your research; you have a right to ask your preparers for their credentials. For more information, call 877-850-CTEC, or visit online.

LifeStream—the official Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties—has issued an urgent plea to persons with B-negative and O-negative blood types to give the gift of life and donate blood as soon as possible. These blood types are urgently needed to treat surgery patients, trauma victims, and patients with life-threatening illnesses. Please schedule your life-saving donation today. For more information, call 1-800-879-4484, or visit LifeStream online.

The internationally-acclaimed play Menopause: The Musical will be staged for the first time in Palm Springs at the Annenberg Theatre of the Palm Strings Art Museum. The show opens Friday, February 5th and runs through March 28th. For tickets, call the Annenberg Box Office at 760-325-4490, or visit online.

The Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Paloma Valley High School will hold a swap meet on Saturday, March 13th in the student parking lot. This event will raise funds to support the school's Military Ball and Mini Boot Camp. Vendor spaces are on sale for $25 apiece. Paloma Valley High School is located at 31375 Bradley Road in Menifee. For details, please call 760-917-3196, or 951-672-1321.

The City of Desert Hot Springs and the Cabot's Pueblo Museum Foundation announce the First Annual Earth Fest @ Cabot's, on Saturday, April 24th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cabot's Pueblo Museum grounds, located at 67-616 E. Desert View Ave. in Desert Hot Springs. Under the theme A Celebration of Sustainability, the festival will showcase environmentally friendly products, groups, and activities, and feature an all-star musical line-up, an interactive family area, and organic and ethnic cuisine. There will also be a local art show featuring prominent desert-area artists, including a pit-firing pottery demonstration by renowned potter Tony Soares, and adjudication of local student art projects. Artists' booths are still available in limited numbers, but filling fast. Admission to this event is free of charge, but free-will donations are suggested in order to benefit the Museum's restoration efforts. For information on how you can participate as a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, please call 760-315-7416, or visit online.

The 10th Annual Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival will take place Thursday, May 13th through Sunday the 16th at the Camelot Theaters in Palm Springs. Founded in 2000 by the late mystery author and Palm Springs community leader Arthur Lyons, the popular Film Noir festival includes an eclectic mixture of rarely seen and sometimes obscure stylish black-and-white "B" movies of the 1940s and '50s, a genre filled with sexual motivation, cynical attitudes, and intriguing crime dramas. The festival will also feature a scintillating array of "A" list actors for Q & A, autographs, and book signings. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the non-profit Palm Springs Cultural Center. For additional information, visit online.

The National Credit Union Administration, or NCUA, is the federal agency that insures the vast majority of credit unions in the United States. NCUA insurance for credit unions is equivalent to FDIC coverage for banks, and federally insured credit union members are now protected up to at least $250,000. NCUA insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Not one penny of insured savings has ever been lost by a member of a federally insured credit union. For more information, go online to the NCUA Insurance Coverage Tool Kit to verify that your credit union is insured, and for details about your insurance coverage.

Business owners: Get the information you need to better manage your business! Keep on top of all the government rules and regulations that affect you. Business.gov is a one-stop shop for free business information from all levels of government—federal, state, and local. Whether starting out or branching out, Business.gov can help make sure you're getting it right. Visit Business.gov, the official business link to the U.S. Government. A public service message from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The American Council on Education, the Lumina Foundation for Education, and the Ad Council have launched KnowHow2GO, a national campaign devoted to educating students in grades 8 through 10 about the steps they need to take to prepare for college. KnowHow2GO focuses primarily on students in low-income families, and those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. For more information, call 209-549-2441—or visit online.

California Conservation Corps crews from throughout the state were dispatched to this year's devastating wildfires. The CCC is looking for more young men and women to help out. It's a chance to do something for your state, and perhaps find a career. The Corps also offers a chance to work outdoors; protect the environment; and advance your education. If you're between 18 and 25, call the CCC at 1-800-952-JOBS; or visit online.

Every two seconds, another human being dies of hunger. Even here in America, 33 million Americans have a tenuous food supply, and many are going hungry. But you can help. Give to the Help End Hunger Now Foundation. One hundred percent of your donations provide nutrient-dense foods to hungry people. No administration costs are deducted, and that means every dollar you give puts food in someone's stomach...and lends another chance at life. Call 877-410-GIVE; or visit online.

Forte is a non-profit foreign-exchange program which provides international high-school students the opportunity to study for one year in an American school. Forte is currently looking for people to work in its organization, and also seeks prospective host families in San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire. If your family is interested in hosting a foreign-exchange student, or you'd like to inquire about employment, call 1-202-833-4185; or visit online.

Wildhaven Ranch is a non-profit organization in the San Bernardino Mountains that is dedicated to providing a protective environment where sick, injured, and other disaffected wild animals can be nurtured, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild. For animals who cannot be adequately rehabilitated, Wildhaven provides a sanctuary where they can live safe, fulfilling lives. Learn about these and other aspects of the program, including a Learning Center for community members and children especially, by visiting online.

Is your family overextended with credit spending? Have you been rolling over your auto loans until you owe more than your new vehicle is worth? Are you caught in the squeeze of a non-fixed mortgage? If one or more of these conditions obtains, you may be on the brink of a major debt crisis. That's why the National Foundation for Credit Counseling is non-profit, independently accredited, and community-governed: so they have a real stake in helping you. To find an NFCC agency near you, call 800-388-2227, or go online.

San Diego's North County Senior Dance expands into Orange County, with a "Tea Dance" every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lakeview Senior Center, located at 20 Lake Road in Irvine. Enjoy good dancing and good music provided by the Irvine Senior Band. To find out more about North County Senior Dance, call 760-480-8716.

When you have nowhere to turn, just dial 2-1-1. Connect with Health and Social Services in your area through United Way. Call 2-1-1 for help anytime 24/7. Visit online for more information.

We all feel pressure...but there's a pressure that's good...and that's the pressure in your tires. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Keeping your tires properly inflated not only reduces the chance of blowouts; it also improves your gas mileage and lengthens tire life, saving you money. Check your tire pressure right away. The longer your tires stay on your car, the longer they stay out of landfills...and that keeps the pressure off all of us. A message from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

The Freeway Service Patrol for the San Bernardino Valley has hit the road—helping stranded motorists for free, every Monday through Friday—during peak commute hours. Watch for the roving team of tow trucks from Montclair to San Bernardino on the I-10 and from Ontario to Rancho Cucamonga on the I-15. This is a free service, including tows to a CHP-approved location. Call 909-884-8276 for more information.

Basically BOOKS is a non-profit bookstore run by the Friends of the Diamond Bar Library. They are open five days a week and need volunteers to staff the store. All proceeds from the store benefit the Diamond Bar Library. The store is located at the Country Hills Towne Centre on Cold Spring Lane. Call 909-594-9954 for details on how you can get involved and help out.

Did you know that a family of four can make up to $50,000 a year and still be eligible for government health insurance for their children? It's true. There are 3 million Californians who are eligible for government health insurance, but have not signed up. The Foundation for Health Coverage Education is ready to help you—call 310-556-9612.

Every day our gas-guzzling cars, buses, and trucks spew tons of pollutants into the air we breathe...and it's making us sick. The American Lung Association is encouraging everyone to help protect the air we all breathe by taking steps to improve air quality and supporting all efforts to reduce air pollution. Visit online for details on how you can help—or call 800-LUNG-USA.

Protect your business with an emergency preparedness plan. Visit ready.gov for free checklists, templates, and other tools to help you develop an affordable plan that fits your business. It's free from the Department of Homeland Security and the Ad Council.

San Diego County

Pianist, singer, and storyteller Bruno Leone returns to the Athenaeum Library in March with the three-part lecture/performance series that will have you kicking up your heels and singing along. Through an engaging odyssey of songs and stories, Mr. Leone will trace the development of musical comedy, from its obscure origins in a 19th-century New York City theater called Niblo's Garden, through Broadway's "Golden Age," to the grandiose musicals that largely define contemporary Broadway. The Broadway Musical: An American Invention takes place on three consecutive Tuesday evenings, March 9th, 16th, and 23rd, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each evening at the Library, located at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla. Tickets for the entire series are $30 for Library members, $45 otherwise, with individual performances priced at $12 and $17 respectively. For tickets and information, call the Athenaeum at 858-454-5872—or visit the Athenaeum's Lectures Page.

The Fallbrook Art Center presents The World of Watercolor, an exhibition that includes the Inaugural Signature American Watercolor Exhibition and the National Watercolor Society's traveling exhibition, and features 59 paintings by the finest water media artists working today. The exhibit is in place through March 28th at the Center, located at 103 South Main Avenue in Fallbrook. Admission to the exhibit is $5, and all FAC members, active military, and children under 18 are admitted free of charge. For details, call 760-728-1414, or visit online.

North County Senior Dance has some great dance action in store this week, beginning Monday, March 8th, as The Music Men do their thing at the Ed Brown Center in Rancho Bernardo from 1 to 3. On Tuesday the 9th, swing to the stylings of The Harmonaires, at the Escondido Center from 1:30 to 3:30. The Cradit Union will perform on Wednesday the 10th from 1:30 to 3:30 at Belmont Village, 3535 Manchester Avenue in Cardiff. For dancers in the South County, there will be a special Oscars Dance Party on Thursday the 11th from 1 to 3:30 in beautiful Balboa Park, featuring music by The Kinda Mellow Band. And night-crawlers, don't forget the two Saturday-evening dances from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Escondido Center this week, featuring The Billy Harper Band on March 6th, and The Vidals on the following Saturday, the 13th. These great events are open to dancers of all ages, and admission is just two to five dollars. Find out more by calling North County Senior Dance at 760-720-2011. (For detailed scheduling information, senior center addresses, etc., click on the calendar icon to view the schedule in PDF format. You must have Adobe Reader® or similar PDF software installed. Download Adobe Reader® here.)

AMCR Institute is looking for individuals with type 2 diabetes to volunteer for a clinical research study that begins on March 1st. The study will help determine whether an investigational medication is safe, and whether it can help provide better control of blood glucose levels in diabetic individuals than another medication approved for use. Participants must be at least 18 years old, and on a medical regimen that includes oral metformin, alone or with other medications, to treat their type 2 diabetes. Qualified participants will receive all study-related care and study medication at no cost, and may be compensated for time and travel. For more information, or to volunteer for this study, contact AMCR Institute at 877-567-2627, or visit online.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside proudly presents its First Annual "Give Back" Luncheon, on Saturday, March 13th at Outback Steakhouse, 2845 Vista Way in Oceanside. Enjoy your choice of steak, chicken, or salmon and a non-alcoholic beverage. Tickets are just $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12, with two seatings available at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. One hundred percent of your tax-deductible contribution will benefit the children at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside. Purchase your tickets by calling Amy at 760-433-8920, or online.

The North San Diego Wild Heritage Campaign is conducting a series of outings to various wilderness areas in north San Diego County and south Riverside County. The purpose of these guided outings is to inform the public about natural places that are being proposed for protection through Federal Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River designation in the 49th Congressional District. All outings are free of charge, but reservations are required. The next outing will be a hike to Tenaja Falls on San Mateo Creek, on Saturday, March 13th at 8 a.m. To reserve, call 858-442-1425, or e-mail geoffrey@partners4nature.com. For directions to the outings and other information, visit online.

Registered Dietician Danielle Lipparelli will present a lecture entitled Creating the Perfect Plate for Diabetics, Thursday, March 18th at 5:30 p.m. in Classrooms B and C of Scripps Mercy Hospital, 4077 Fifth Avenue in San Diego. Learn how to incorporate healthy, portion-correct carbohydrates into your meal plan while achieving the glucose control needed for living with diabetes. Admission is free of charge. For details, call 1-800-SCRIPPS—that's 1-800-727-4777. Learn more about Ms. Lipparelli's entire series of lectures for 2010 by visiting this webpage.

The Carlsbad Senior Center will present two events of interest to seniors. Join them Friday, March 19th from 10 to 11:30 a.m., as the Center presents A Simplified Look at 2010 Medicare Advantage Options. Representatives of Senior Security Insurance Services, a local company specializing in Medicare insurance programs, will discuss important changes to the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the coming year. The four basic "parts" of Medicare will be explained, to help you make educated decisions regarding health care coverage during your retirement years. Also, for people over the age of 65, loss of balance, and falling, are leading causes of injury and admissions to the hospital. Without good balance, your risk of falling increases significantly. If you are interested in testing your balance, In-Home Therapy Services of San Diego will provide free personal 10-minute balance screenings at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Avenue, on Thursday, March 25th from 9 to 11 a.m. Call 760-602-4650 to reserve your 10-minute screening.

The San Diego Museum of Man will present Science Family Day, Saturday, March 20th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Museum, 1350 El Prado in Balboa Park. This event features forensic anthropology workshops that will encourage children and adults alike to think like forensic scientists, anthropologists, and archaeologists, as they examine reproductions of the bones and skulls of humans and other primates. Admission for children 17 and under is free with paid adult admission. For details, call 619-239-2001, or visit online.

On Tuesday, March 23rd at 5:30 p.m., Dr. William Tontz, Jr., orthopedic surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital, will discuss new technologies for treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that can cause severe back pain. The presentation takes place in the West Auditorium of Scripps Mercy Hospital, 4077 Fifth Avenue in San Diego. Admission is free of charge, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 1-800-SCRIPPS—that's 1-800-727-4777.

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy's series of lectures by noted naturalists continues Friday, March 26th at 1 p.m. on the MiraCosta College San Elijo campus at 3333 Manchester Avenue in Cardiff. Speaker Margaret Fillius will lecture on the subject of Wildflowers of the Lagoon. And on Sunday the 28th, Ms. Fillius will lead a hike from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning at the Rios Avenue trailhead. For directions and other information, call 760-436-3944, or visit online.

The Vista Academy Foundation Charity Golf Tournament will raise funds for arts-based learning at the Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, a K-through-8 public school in the Vista Unified School District. Tee-off begins at noon on Monday, March 29th at Twin Oaks Golf Course, 1425 North Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos. Admission is $125 per player, and includes a round of golf, a delicious dinner and awards ceremony following play, numerous hole contests and prize opportunities, and a charity auction. Sponsorships are available at a special reduced rate. Not a golfer? Join them for the dinner and auction for only $30. Reserve your spot today! Entry forms are available by calling 760-845-7172—or e-mail smartzz@yahoo.com.

The Cardiovascular Disease Foundation of Carlsbad presents its 7th Annual Walk for Life and Free Community Health Fair, Sunday, April 18th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Oceanside Pier and Amphitheater at 200 North Strand. This event includes a fundraising 5K Walk that is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly; and the Health Fair features over 30 vendor booths plus free health screenings for such risk factors as cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and body fat. Entry fee for the 5K is $25, with a $5 discount for advance registration and military, fire, and police personnel and their families; kids 12 and under are admitted free. For details, call 760-730-1471 —or register online.

The 9th Annual Point Loma Garden Walk takes place Saturday, April 24th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the wooded area of Point Loma. This event is presented by the Dana Unit of Rady Children's Hospital Auxiliary, and all proceeds will benefit Craniofacial Services of Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. In addition to the garden and home tours, there will be a boutique featuring unique garden gifts created by local artists, as well as the Garden Club's plant sale. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the event, and can be purchased online or at Walter Anderson Nursery in Point Loma, Mission Hills Nursery on Fort Stockton Drive, Cottage Antiques in Ocean Beach, Armstrong Garden Center on W. Morena Blvd., or Green Gardens Nursery on Cass Street in Pacific Beach. For more information, call 619-518-8663, or visit online.

Get your taste buds ready for the spicy traditional foods of India! The second event in the San Diego Museum of Man's Tower After Hours series for 2010 will take place Thursday, April 29th from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Museum's main floor. After closing, the Museum will be transformed into a celebration of one of the world's most diverse countries, with spicy curries, stunning dances, and an alluring vocal performance by the talented Indian singer Apurna Pie. Tickets are $10 for members; $15 for military and students; $20 for non-members. The Museum of Man is located at 1350 El Prado in Balboa Park. For more information, or to reserve a spot, call 619-239-2001—or visit online.

Join the nationwide week-long Bake for Hope event! Bake for Hope hosts volunteer-run bake sales across the country the week before Mothers' Day, May 2nd through the 8th. Proceeds benefit local women in your area with breast cancer treatments, through your Susan G. Komen for the Cure local affiliate. Participation is easy and great for groups or individuals. Volunteers can sign-up as Bake Sale Organizers, Bakers, Communicators, or Area Coordinators. Or attend a Bake for Hope sale in your area. For more information, e-mail info@bakeforhope.org or visit online.

Mama's Kitchen hosts its 19th annual, can't-be-missed Mama's Day, on Friday, May 7th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla Aventine. More than 70 local chefs and restaurants will serve gourmet cuisine to the more than 700 guests expected for this event. Mama's Day 2010 is a major source of funding for Mama's Kitchen, the only organization that prepares and delivers three meals a day, seven days a week at no cost to San Diego County residents afflicted by critical illnesses such as AIDS and cancer. Tickets are $125 per person, and are available for purchase online.

CONNECT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining the growth of innovative technology and life science businesses in San Diego. Since 1985, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of over 2,000 companies, and is widely regarded as the world's most successful regional program linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success. More than 25 countries and regions have adopted the CONNECT model, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, and China. For more information, please call 858-964-1300—or visit online.

The Charter School of San Diego is currently enrolling new students in grades 7 through 12. This is a tuition-free public school with 20 convenient school sites located throughout San Diego County. If your children can benefit from a rigorous education that's personalized to meet their specific needs, call 858-678-2020, or visit online. Charter School of San Diego is there for you, and daring to make a difference.

Pit Bull Rescue San Diego is a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) non- profit organization devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing pit bulls in San Diego area shelters, as well as educating the public about responsible pet ownership, and advocating against the inhumane and unethical activities of dogfighting, backyard breeding, and housing discrimination by breed. Pit Bull Rescue San Diego also maintains a directory of apartments, condo complexes, and property-management companies that are pit bull-friendly. Find out more by calling 760-231-1909. or by visiting online.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, is a non-profit organization providing education, support services and advocacy to improve the lives of everyone affected by mental illness. NAMI offers two programs called Family To Family and Peer to Peer. Each is a set of courses designed to provide guidance for persons with mental illness or brain disorders, as well as their families. These courses are provided free of charge, and some courses are available in Spanish. Call the NAMI San Diego Helpline at 619-543-1434, or 800-523-5933 to enroll—or visit NAMI San Diego online and click "Services" for more information.

Challenge Center is a non-profit organization devoted to transforming dramatically the quality of life of persons with severe mobility disorders through exceptional physical therapy, and specialized fitness and wellness programs, in an environment of hope and possibilities. Challenge Center is located at 5540 Lake Park Way in La Mesa. For more information about Challenge Center, or to donate, call 619-667-8644, or visit online.

Mama's Kitchen brings daily sustenance and hope to more than 1,500 people in San Diego County who are living with AIDS, cancer, or other critical illnesses. Won't you make a contribution of $35 or more to help? A donation of just $50 provides three meals a day for six days. Mail your donation to Mama's Kitchen, 1875 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. For more information, call 619-233-6262, or visit online.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency has launched a campaign to inform the public about a recent rise in three sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Many believe that these diseases have been wiped out through advances in medicine, but in fact, cases of syphilis have increased nearly 200 percent in the last five years. The County urges the public to get tested for all STDs, and to take proper precautions during sexual activity. For further information, visit online.

Do you like to meet and greet the public? Learn about California's Superior Court by staffing the information desks at various court locations. Volunteer training is provided. Call 619-450-7443, or consult the Volunteer Opportunities Section of the Court's web page.

Flat tire? Engine trouble? Battery died? Phone 5-1-1 first. By dialing 5-1-1 from your cell phone, you can now access tow services while remaining safely inside your vehicle. Simply dial 5-1-1 from your cell phone, and say "Roadside Assistance" when prompted. Each call is directed to the Call Box Answer Center, which will help you to receive roadside assistance. In non-emergencies in San Diego County, when roadside assistance is needed, phone 5-1-1 first from your cellphone. For more information, visit online.

The Helen Woodward Animal Center asks you to remember the pets of homebound elderly and disabled persons, some of whom have to choose between feeding themselves, or feeding their beloved companions. Donate pet food to the AniMeals Program of the Center, at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe...or in the AniMeals bins at San Diego PETCO stores. Visit online for more information, or call 858-756- 4117, extension 341.

And the Helen Woodward Animal Center's Pet of the Week is Hilton, a ten-month-old, neutered-male, Shepherd/Alaskan Malamute Blend. Hilton knows some basic commands, but with a refundable deposit, comes with free training sessions! He's quite reserved at first meeting, but with time and patience will bloom into a devoted companion. Hilton is well-suited to a home with other dogs, but human occupants should ideally be at least 18 years of age. For more information about Hilton, or any of the delightful dogs and cats available for adoption into loving homes, call the Center at 858-756-4117, or visit online.