SPRING HILL Hernando County Medical Society Alliance will present an evening of fun, friendship and empowerment from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Monday, April 28, at the Stolte Eye Center located at 11115 County Line Road, one-quarter mile east of Mariner Boulevard. Networking, meet and greet will be held at 5:30 p.m., with a short presentation by Kim Palmer, president of the Alliance, at 6 p.m. Women's self-defense techniques by Joe Lotrecchiano, martial arts instructor, will be featured. The self-defense presentation will be held at 6:15 p.m. If participating in the class, the cost will be $25 per person; wear comfortable attire. Refreshments will be served and sponsored by Quality of Life Home Health Care. Black Swan Spa will present a demonstration and giveaways; and Marina's This and That will feature designer handbags and bling. Display tables will be available to showcase events, programs, etc. To attend, RSVP by Thursday, April 24, to 352-650-9006 or mosey217@hotmail.com.

Breast Cancer Support Group To Walk As Team At Relay For Life

BROOKSVILLE The breast cancer support group which meets at Florida Cancer Institute-New Hope center has formed its own Relay for Life team and will walk as a unit of breast cancer survivors during the Brooksville Relay for Life on Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, at Hernando High School located at 700 Bell Ave. To date, the support group has raised over $9,000 for Relay for Life, with a goal of $10,000. The group will be located at booth 35 and will carry a banner. The breast cancer support group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Florida Cancer Institute-New Hope center located at 7154 Medical Center Drive, Spring Hill. The support group is coordinated by radiation technologist Tambra Randazzo. For more information, call Tambra at 352-592-8128.

NAMI Hernando Seeking Volunteers

National Alliance On Mental Illness/NAMI Hernando is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization whose mission statement is to promote mental health awareness in the community through education, support, advocacy and outreach while improving the quality of life toward recovery for all who are living with mental illness, their families and their supporters. NAMI Hernando speakers group is available to church ministries, civic groups, including military veterans and their families, senior citizen groups and parent teacher associations. Speakers offer insight of what NAMI Hernando is all about.

NAMI Hernando is seeking volunteers as follows:

Professional with knowledge of bi-polar disorder to act as a facilitator for a bi-polar support group;

Person with marketing knowledge to help launch and organize fundraising and other community events;

Parent of adolescent with mental illness to become a trained teacher for adolescent family-to-family education classes;

Education Committee seeking churches, halls, hospitals, or any large conference room to hold the educational classes that NAMI offers.

Arts and crafts instructor needed for two afternoons per month.

For more information, call Darlene at 352-686-0004.

Beautiful Mind Outreach Center Offers Support And Education

SPRING HILL Beautiful Mind Outreach Center, 10554 Spring Hill Drive, in the Brothers I and II Plaza, is a self-help rehabilitation and recreation center which helps those with a mental illness help themselves and also offers support and education to their families. The Center provides support groups, education groups, friendship groups, bingo, arts and crafts, computer classes, bowling, scrapbooking, guest speakers, social activities and more. For more information, call the Center at 352-684-0004 or Ginny at 352-686-2687.

Overeaters Anonymous Announces Meetings

SPRING HILL Overeaters Anonymous is a 12-step program which holds meetings in Hernando County for anyone who is suffering from compulsive overeating, food addictions, anorexia or bulimia. The meetings are held as follows:

From 1 to 2 p.m. every Friday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in the Coulton Building of the church located at 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill.

From 7 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at Spring Hill Health & Rehab Center in the conference room of the center located at 12170 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill.

For more information, call Karla at 352-200-7311.

New Support Group Will Meet Fridays

SPRING HILL Loved & Remembered Support Group is a new support group that will meet at 7 p.m. Fridays in Classroom 4 of the Cabrini Center at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Blvd. The group is open to all parents who have lost sons and daughters due to any cause at any age. For more information, call Dorothy at 352-684-1369 or Carole at 352-686-1310.

WOW Program Is Being Offered At YMCA

SPRING HILL Hernando County Family YMCA is offering a new Working on Weights program that meets twice a week for four weeks on the Wellness Floor of the facility located at 1300 Mariner Blvd. The program features one-on-one instruction with a personal wellness trainer to help achieve personal goals while addressing personal limitations and comforts. The program has a choice of Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $75 for facility members 14 years old and up. Sign up early since class is limited to six participants per session; online registration is also available at www.ymcasuncoast.org. For more information, call Olivia Matles at 352-688-9622.

Cancer Institute To Hold Support Group

SPRING HILL The Florida Cancer Institute holds its Leukemia/Lymphoma Support Group meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Florida Cancer Institute's Spring Hill Center, 10441 Quality Drive, Suite 203, in the Medical Arts Building next to Spring Hill Regional Hospital. Topics that are frequently discussed are: the importance of early detection, signs and symptoms of leukemia-lymphoma, prognosis, disease stages, the various treatment options, and especially the latest research and treatment modalities. For more information, call Jeff Haight, R.N., support group facilitator, at 352-688-7744.

Celebrate Recovery Offered At Three Local Churches

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered 12-step program that offers healing for addictive behaviors, hang-ups and hurts. An open invitation to the program is extended from three churches, and child care will be available at each session.

The churches offering the program are as follows:

Christian Church in the Wildwood, 10051 Country Road, Weeki Wachee, holds worship and large group at 7 p.m. Fridays. Men's and women's discussion groups are offered. For information, call 352-596-1388 or visit www.celebraterecovery.com or the church's Web site at www.ccwildwood.com.

First Baptist Church, 7279 Pinehurst Drive, Spring Hill, holds worship service and large group at 7 p.m. Fridays. Men's and women's 12-step program meets at 7 p.m. Mondays. For information, call the church office at 352-683-2863 or the church's Web site at www.firstbaptistchurchsh.com.

Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill, holds worship service and large group at 7 p.m. Thursdays. Men's 12-step program meets at 7 p.m. Mondays, and women's 12-step program meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. For information, call Steve Celinski at 352-683-5882 or visit the church's Web site at www.nbchurch.org.

Free Jazzercise Classes Offered For Children

Jazzercise instructors Becky Mooneyham and Tracie Morse will offer free Jazzercise classes to children ages 12-18 with an adult registration. The 60-minute class includes a warm-up, high-energy aerobic routines, muscle toning and cool-down stretch segment. Jazzercise combines elements of dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing and more to create programs for people of every age and fitness level. Alternative formats include Jazzercise Lite, Junior Jazzercise, and Jazzercise Personal Touch.

Classes are available at locations in Spring Hill and Brooksville. For more information on times and locations, call Mooneyham at 352-442-8595 or Morse at 352-796-4796.

Ostomy Group To Meet At Oak Hill

BROOKSVILLE The Hernando County Ostomy Association meets from 2 to 4 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Oak Hill Enrichment Center located at 11375 Cortez Blvd. New members are welcome.

For more information, call Joan at 352-686-1077 or Nancy at 352-597-7733.

Cardiac Support Group To Meet Second Wednesday

SPRING HILL Cardiac Support Group will meet at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month at Evergreen Woods Health & Rehabilitation, 7045 Evergreen Woods Trail, off State Road 50. Topics of public interest and presentations by medical professionals from the area will be featured. Breakfast will be served. Since seating is limited, RSVP to 352-584-7644.

AA Meetings To Be Held At Faith Evangelical Church

BROOKSVILLE Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. Mondays for men and at 5:30 p.m. Fridays for young adults at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 200 Mt. Fair Ave. For more information, call 352-428-2012.

Yoga/Hatha Yoga Classes Have Been Discontinued

BROOKSVILLE Yoga/Hatha Yoga classes at the Inner Peace Bookstore and Wellness Center have been discontinued until further notice. For more information, call Maria at 352-544-0304.

Oak Hill To Offer Healthy Heart Support Group

BROOKSVILLE Heart Institute at Oak Hill Hospital will offer a Healthy Hearts support group from 4 to 5:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Enrichment Center at Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd. The next meeting will be held April 14. The purpose of the support group is to provide information and answer questions regarding all aspects of the heart. Anyone who wants to learn more about heart disease is encouraged to attend.

For more information, call the Enrichment Center at 352-597-6331 in Hernando and 352-628-6441 Ext. 6331 in Citrus or visit www.OakHillHospital.com.

Breast Cancer Support Group Meets At Oak Hill

SPRING HILL Breast Cancer Support Group for Hernando County meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Spring Hill Enrichment Center located behind Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd.; follow signs. For more information, call Shirley at 352-684-4549.

Celiac Support Meeting To Be Held Fourth Saturday

CRYSTAL RIVER A support meeting for people who have celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis is held from 10 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of every month in the Community Room at the Coastal Region Library located at 8619 West Crystal St. For more information or to assist, call Mary Lou Thomas at 352-628-9559.

Qi-Yoga To Be Held at Delta Woods Park

SPRING HILL Qi-Yoga will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at Delta Woods Park, 3400 Deltona Blvd. Dr. Richard Klein, acupuncture physician and doctor of oriental medicine, will be the instructor. Qi-Yoga is a noncompetitive activity and is intended to help the body relax while gaining strength, balance and flexibility. The slow, gentle movements help to promote health and healing. All levels of ability are welcome. The cost is $45 per month, or $8 per class.

To register or for more information, call the Hernando County Recreation Department at 352-754-4031 or visit its Web site at www.hernandocounty.us.

Wishes on Wheels Has Power Wheelchairs Available

Wishes on Wheels has electric power wheelchairs available for nonambulatory senior citizens 65 years old and up, and the permanently disabled of any age, if they qualify.

For more information, call 1-800-823-5220 or visit www.threewishes2.com.

Enrichment Centers Announce Activities

Department of Veteran Services of Hernando County will be addressing concerns and answering questions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Brooksville Enrichment Center, 670 Broad St., Brooksville; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday at the Spring Hill Enrichment Center, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill. Capri Home Care will be checking blood pressure and will host a question-answer session about general health concerns from 10 to 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Brooksville Enrichment Center. Contours Express will be sending a personal trainer to assist the exercise class at 8:45 a.m. every Wednesday at the Brooksville Enrichment Center.

For more information, call the Spring Hill Enrichment Center at 352-597-6331 or the Brooksville Enrichment Center at 352-544-5900.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Holds Support Groups

SPRING HILL St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2030 Deltona Blvd., is offering the following Community Support Groups:

Divorce Care will meet at 7:30 p.m. every Monday in the Parish Hall. For more information, call Susan Bruno at 352-686-4602.

Griefshare meets at 3 p.m. every Tuesday in the Parish Hall. If you or someone close to you has suffered a loss, you are welcome to join the group. For more information, call Janet Moorman at 352-200-7422.

Centering Prayer is a rewarding and peaceful program that meets at 7 p.m. every Monday in the Church library.

For more information, call Sarah Madsen at 352-796-0868.

Cancer Institute To Host Look Good — Feel Better Program

BROOKSVILLE Florida Cancer Institute has announced that it will host the American Cancer Society's “Look Good…Feel Better” program once a month in its conference room. The program is held on Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.

This is a free group program that teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients to help combat the appearance-related side effects of treatment. “Look Good… Feel Better” is free and open to all women cancer patients in active treatment.

Reservations are required.

For more information and to make an appointment for one of the future sessions, call Mary Capo at 352-596-1926 Ext.150.

Cancer Institute To Host Caregiver Support Group

BROOKSVILLE The Florida Cancer Institute holds its Caregiver Support Group from 4 to 5 p.m. the second Thursday of every month at the Florida Cancer Institute's Spring Hill Center, 10441 Quality Drive., Suite 203, in the Medical Arts Building next to Spring Hill Regional Hospital. For more information, call Dorothy Hiller M.L.T, support group facilitator, at 352-688-7744.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meets Wednesdays

BROOKSVILLE Al-Anon support group for friends and families of alcoholics will meet at 10 a.m. each Wednesday at Spring Lake United Methodist Church, 4191 Spring Lake Highway.

Spinal Cord Rehab Group Held Second Thursday

BROOKSVILLE The 'It's all about you' spinal cord support group meets the second Thursday of every month. The meetings will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, 12440 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville.

For more information, call Dee at 352-592-7237.

Spring Hill Gamblers Anonymous Meets Fridays

SPRING HILL Do you borrow money to finance gambling? Is your life a nightmare from the downhill spiral of compulsive gambling?

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) helps people worldwide who have a gambling problem to return to normal, happy lives. There are no fees or dues for membership — only the desire to stop gambling.

In Gamblers Anonymous, compulsive gambling is treated as an illness, not a malicious vice. Problem gamblers, who could not stop by themselves and failed, have found the necessary strength through Gamblers Anonymous Fellowship. This self-destructive addiction is a progressive illness.

If you are one of more than 12 million Americans suffering from this problem, act now and get immediate help by attending the meetings held at 7 p.m. every Friday at Spring Hill GA, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6193 Spring Hill Drive, one-half mile east of U.S. 19. For more information, call 352-666-0694.

American Cancer Society Needs Volunteer Drivers

The American Cancer Society needs community help in transporting chemotherapy and radiation patients to treatment. The ACS's Road to Recovery program is in desperate need of volunteers who are willing to drive these patients. Schedules are flexible, and training is provided. Requirements are a safe driving record, valid driver's license, insurance and a smoke-free, dependable vehicle.

For more information, call Joan at 352-799-9078.

Editor's note: Healthy Happenings events will only be listed as space permits. E-mail submissions to Karen Raimondi at kraimondi@hernandotoday.com, with a copy to Paula Nelson, Health Today editor, at pnelson@hernandotoday.com.