Dec. 23--Central Florida Alliance will host the 2009 Spirit of Women "Day of Dance for Cardiovascular Health" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28 in the gymnasium at Lake-Sumter Community College off U.S. Highway 441 in Leesburg.
The program is designed to inspire women and their families toward better overall health by exercise, which can be fun and beneficial to the heart. The event will incorporate a variety of dances, from ballroom to salsa to swing.
Other activities planned include free health screenings, consumer education on heart disease, face painting, women's health issues and refreshments.
Local dancers and dance troupes will perform at the event.
"Day of Dance" is presented by affiliate hospitals of the Spirit of Women Health Network in more than 55 cities nationwide.
Spirit of Women aims to educate women in a way that emphasizes total well-being of the body, mind and spirit, and affects all aspects of a woman's life, including family, health and work.
The event is free to Spirit of Women members.
Women may sign up to become Spirit of Women members at cfhalliance.org. Membership is free.
To register or for more information, go to cfhalliance .org or call 352-323-5525.
Garden club
Members of the Lady Lake Garden Club decorated a Christmas tree with poinsettias designed from dried magnolia leaves painted in seasonal colors.
Each year the club members decorate a Christmas tree and present a horticulture/design display at the Lady Lake Public Library, 225 W. Guava St.
The display runs through Monday.
The garden club recently celebrated its 55th anniversary.
Pick a Christmas tree
The USDA Forest Service is selling permits to select Christmas trees from the Ocala National Forest.
Each permit will cost $7 and may be purchased at the Lake George Ranger District office, 17147 E. State Road 40, Silver Springs, and the Seminole Ranger District office, 40929 State Road 19, Umatilla, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
Permits are available through Wednesday.
Each permit allows the cutting of one sand pine from a designated area. All permit buyers will receive directions to the designated tree-cutting sites.
Details: Lake George, 352-625-2520, or Seminole district, 352-669-3153.
Ideas discussion group
The Great Ideas Discussion Group at the Lake Eustis Institute meets at 4 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month through June, except for December, at the institute, 135 N. Grove St., Eustis. The series is a schedule of readings about faith and politics.
Here's the schedule:
Jan. 20 -- The Book of Esther.
Feb. 17 -- Secular Authority: To What Extent It Should Be Obeyed by Martin Luther.
Mar. 17 -- Henry VIII by Shakespeare.
April 21 -- Utopia by Thomas More.
May 19 -- Theologico-Political Treatise (selections -- chapters XIV-XX) by Baruch de Spinoza.
June 16 -- The Lame Shall Enter First by Flannery O'Connor.
Details: 352-357-3995 or lakeeustisinstitute.org.
Organize your finances
The Lake County Extension Office will present "Organize Your Financial Life," a free program in the "Timely Topics" series, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Lake County Agricultural Center, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares. The program will be repeated from 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 7.
Participants will learn what records are needed, what to keep and what to throw out.
"Timely Topics" series schedule:
*"Strategies for Successful Aging" -- develop a plan to maintain an active and productive lifestyle -- 11 a.m. to noon and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4.
*"Closing Your Florida Home" -- tips for closing your seasonal home -- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 20.
*"Nutrition Hot Topics" -- learn about the latest research on health and nutrition -- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 3 and 11 a.m. to noon March 4.
*"Size It Right!" -- understanding nutrition labels, portion sizes and good nutrition -- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 7 and 11 a.m. to noon April 8.
Registration is suggested but not required. To register, call Rene Bass at 352-343-4101 or e-mail rcbass@ufl.edu.
Singles dances
Sumter Singles has a mixer dance with live music from 8 to 11 p.m. the first and third Fridays of each month at the Lake Panasoffkee Community Building on County Road 470. Singles and couples are welcome.
Participants are encouraged to bring finger foods to share. Details: 352-424-1688.
Crafters for cancer victims
Crafts for Cancer, a volunteer group that supports the Lake-Sumter Unit of the American Cancer Society, is seeking crafters to make items to be sold at fundraising events. Volunteer crafters meet from 9 to 11 a.m. the first and third Mondays of the month from November through March.
The group meets in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Grove St., Eustis. Some of the handmade items are given to cancer patients, and others are sold to buy patients personal items, prosthetics and wigs.
Proceeds will benefit cancer patients in Lake and Sumter counties. Details: Joan Grant, 352-357-7704.
Mail community news to Debbie Manis, Orlando Sentinel, 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778, fax 352-742-5938 or e-mail dmanis@orlandosentinel.com.
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