PITTSBURGH: UPMC St. Margaret offers ongoing monthly community education and support programs, designed to help people who have cancer and their families. The following are the cancer support programs: Library and Internet Resources: Amy Haugh, Medical Library Director, will have a presentation on library and internet resources, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 19. Learn how to make these resources work for you. Free program. Details: 412-622-1212. Reach to Recovery: Trained volunteers sponsored by the American Cancer Society who are breast cancer survivors offer support, encouragement and information to women with breast cancer after diagnosis and during treatment. Details: 1-800-227-2345. Look Good...Feel Better: A free program sponsored by the American Cancer Society to help women undergoing cancer treatment learn to cope with appearance-related side effects of treatment and regain a sense of control over their lives. The support group meets every first Monday of each month. Details: 412-919-1100. Cancer Support Group: A support group for people with cancer to share common experiences, concerns, and emotional support with their family and friends. The support group meets in the hospital's Conference Center the first and third Monday of each month. Details: 412-622-1212. ETNA: The following events and dates have been scheduled by the Borough of Etna as its "Free Concerts in the Park" series. Etna Neighborhood Association's Picnic and Field Day: 1 to 3 p.m. May 17 entertainment by Dixieland Jazz Spirit; 7 to 9:30 p.m. The Maguires, both at the Etna Veteran's Field Dedication service at 1 p.m. June 1 for the Grand Reopening of the Clarence Fugh Memorial Pool and Playground, Performance by the River City Youth Chorale will follow. The Softwind concert from 8 to 10 p.m. June 20 at the Etna playground. Gashouse Annie performance from 89 to 10 p.m. July 12 at the Etna playground. Etna Community Days and Elvis Lives from 8 to 10 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Etna playground. Smoking Section concert 8 to 10 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Etna playground. The borough also will have free craft programs. The you classes will be at the playground. Adults will learn the art of basket weaving. Details: 412-781-0569. Funding for the craft and concert programs are provided by the Commonwealthof Pennsylvania through a grant fron the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by an annual appropriation and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal Agency and the Borough of Etna. Indiana Township will have its annual "Youth Day Saturday" from noon to 4 p.m, May 17 at the Township's Emmerling Community Park along Cove Run Road off Route 910. The event will feature appearances and demonstrations from various businesses, and local government agencies. Festivities include a landing of a Stat Medivac helicopter, performances from local dance and baton teams, a martial arts exhibition, and the Allegheny County Police SWAT team. Free refreshments will be provided and prizes, including three bicycles, will be raffled off to those present. The event is free and open to all residents of Indiana Township. The event is sponsored by the Neighborhood Watch, Concerned Citizens, Indiana Township Police Department and employees, and the Township Park and Recreation Board. Special parking for the handicapped is available by contacting Patrolman Kirk Vandenbord at 412-767-5333, Ext. 45. O'HARA: The Fox Chapel Area Football Booster will have a benefit night from 4 to 9 p.m. May 20 at Pep's, 1340 Freeport Road. All are welcome to enjoy good food, refreshments, music, and fun time. Pep's, the sponsor of the event, will donate a portion of the profits to the Fox Chapel Area Football Boosters. SHARPSBURG: The Kerr Elementary School Fourth and Fifth Grade Chorus will have a spring program for district senior citizens at 12:30 p.m. May 23 in the New Image Senior Center at the Northern Area Multi-Service Center, 209 Thirteenth St., Sharpsburg. The program is free and reservations are not necessary. Approximately 40 students will perform the program. Refreshments will be provided. PITTSBURGH: McDonald's in the Harmarville section of Pittsburgh debuts its new PlayPlace at 9 a.m. May 17. Ronald McDonald will lead Sam Boak, President and Mike Liko, Fire Chief, from the Harmar Township Volunteer Fire Department and students from Acmetonia, Hartwood, Kerr and O'Hara elementary schools in a special ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the PlayPlace. The ribbon, construct for 200 one dollar bills, will become a cash donation from McDonald's to the fire department. The student participants, selected by their teachers, represent more than 300 children who took part in the "Can You Imagine The McFabulous PlayPlace?" coloring project sponsored by McDonald's. The results of their efforts are on display throughout the restaurant. The PlayPlace also includes Tiny Tykes area sure to delight event the youngest visitors. "This new PlayPlace is our way of thanking this community for its ongoing support and providing a safe, fun spot for families to enjoy some time together", says store manager John Bordonaro. PITTSBURGH: Service Corps of Retired Executives will present a Small Business Basics Workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17 in The Library Center, 414 Wood St. The workshop is designed to help people succeed in starting a new business and in growing an existing small business. The agenda includes: planning, financing, marketing, insurance, human resource management, legal aspects, record keeping and business taxes for small business. The cost for advance registration is $60; the cost for registering on the day of the workshop is $65. Reduced rates are available for group registrations. Details: SCORE 412-395-6560, Ext. 130. HAMPTON TOWNSHIP: North Hills Community Outreach, 1975 Ferguson Road, in the Allison Park section of Hampton Township will have a on-site recruitment day for Primerica Financial Services from 9 a.m. to noon May 20. A representative will be on hand to share information about carers at Primerica. Bring a resume and dress for an interview. Walk-ins welcome. Details: Carolyn Pschirer 412-487-6316. The Allegheny County Health Department is reminding consumers, especially those with health problems or on medications, to always talk to their doctor, pharmacist or a registered dietitian before taking a dietary supplement in any form or as an ingredient in a drink. Many of the increasingly popular "designer" beverages which have come on the market in recent years and are often sold in the fruit drink section of supermarkets contain dietary supplements that can be harmful if taken with certain prescription or over-the-counter drugs? "Think before you drink," warns County Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon. "Read the product label to see if it contains dietary supplements that may pose a danger. Remember, just because a supplement is labeled "natural" doesn't make it safe." A recent study found some of the new "natural" and "exotic" fruit drinks contain varying amounts of dietary supplements such as echinacea, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John';s work, guarana, lemongrass, spirulina and astragalus. The most susceptible to adverse reactions of drug interactions from taking dietary supplements include the following: Children, seniors, pregnant or breast-feeding women, women on birth control pills, people with weak immune systems, diabetes, epilepsy, heat, liver or kidney problems, people taking blood thinners, sedatives or mental health medications, transplant patients, and anyone scheduled for surgery blood work or other laboratory test. The adverse reactions or interactions related to dietary supplements include: St. John's wort reducing the effectiveness of birth control pills, gingko magnifying the effect of blood thinners and causing bleeding problems, ginseng causing dangerously low blood sugar levels in people taking insulin or oral antidiabetic medications, and echinacea stimulating the immune system and interfering with the effects of immunosuppressants. Health officials again strongly recommend you talk to your doctor, pharmacist or a registered dietitian before taking any dietary supplements to protect yourself from potential adverse reactions or interactions, no matter what medications you're using or what your health status is.

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