Great American Smokeout planned for Thursday

November 16, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

The American Cancer Society’s 33rd annual Great American Smokeout is Thursday. That is the day ACS encourages all tobacco users to try and quit for one day in the hope they will continue their attempt for a longer period of time, or forever, said Al Stabilito, Northeast Ohio Public Relations Direct of ACS.

Despite progress in helping millions of people quit smoking, lung cancer remains the top cancer killer among men and women. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths in the United States, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke, Stabilito said.

Adoption information available Monday

WARREN — People interested in becoming an adoptive parent can visit an Adoption Information Corner, offered by Northeast Ohio Adoption Services, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Wendy’s Restaurants at the Eastwood Mall, 5711 Youngstown-Warren Road (U.S. Route 422) and at 4001 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. November is National Adoption Awareness Month.

A miniature version of the NOAS Warren office Angel Tree, with some Angel wish lists for local deserving children, will also be available for restaurant patrons to choose from. They can select an angel card, then shop and wrap up some holiday surprises. If they return the gifts by Friday, December 5 and drop them off at NOAS in Warren at 5000 E. Market, Suite 26, that child’s social worker can deliver them in time for the holidays.

First aid course

BOARDMAN — The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter is offering a standard first aid course from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the chapter house at 8392 Tod Ave. Adult C.P.R. is a pre-requisite for the class. The cost is $35. Call (330) 726-6063 to register.

Community forums for hospice information

YOUNGSTOWN — During November, National Hospice Month, SouthernCare Hospice and Signature Health Care are offering free community forums on hospice and home health care at the following locations: Monday, 2 to 4 p.m., Renaissance North, 2473 North Road, Warren; Tuesday, noon to 2 p.m., St. Charles Church, 7325 Westview Drive, Boardman; and Nov. 24, noon to 2 p.m., Carnegie Public Library, 219 E. 4th St., East Liverpool.

SouthernCare and Signature are also offering end-of-life training for professionals on Nov. 25 from noon to 2 p.m. at Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek MetroPark.

CPR training

BOARDMAN — The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter is offering Adult CPR training from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at the chapter house at 8392 Tod Ave. The cost is $35. Call (330) 726-6063 to register.

Alzheimer talks

CANFIELD — An update on Alzheimer research will be offered by the Alzheimer’s Assistance and Referral Network on Monday at 7 p.m. at Lane Family Center, 45 N. Broad St. Speakers are from University Memory and Aging Center at Case Western Reserve and the Alzheimer Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh. There is no charge, but reservations at advisable. Call (330) 788-9755.