INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Content for the weekly Health and Wellness section is selected from e-mail submissions to Bonanza editor Kevin MacMillan at kmacmillan@tahoebonanza.com. Please send the 5w’s: who, what, when, where and why, plus website and contact information.

Honor your own sweet heart

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During February, American Heart Month, Tahoe Forest Health System will offer heart health programs and free health talks, focusing on educating about the threat of heart disease and promoting how to stay fit through diet and exercise. Join “An Afternoon of Heart Health” on Monday, Feb. 24, at the Incline Village Recreation Center, 980 Incline Way, Incline Village.

Free yoga class 11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m., Group Fitness Room, maximum of 10 drop-ins, RSVP required 775-832-1300

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Join Jill Whistler, RD and Kelly Brennan, RD for “Eating for a Healthy Heart” and a healthy lunch provided by the IVGID Health & Wellness Initiative, 12:15 p.m., Recreation Center Lobby

Wendy Buchanan, MS, presents “Optimize Your Exercise,” 1 p.m., Recreation Center Lobby

Free blood pressure screening/education, provided by the Incline Village Community Hospital and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Incline Village Community Hospital (IVCH), Community Room, 880 Alder Ave., Incline Village and Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1:15-2:15 p.m. in the Incline Village Recreation Center Lobby, 980 Incline Way, Incline Village.

For more information on ongoing Heart Health Fitness at the Incline Village Recreation Center visit http://www.inclinerecreation.com.

Tahoe Truckee Youth Suicide Task Force to meet

Feb. 27, 5:3-7:3 p.m., Kings Beach Elementary Cafeteria to review Task Force work and engage lake side families. Contact: tahoewards@gmail.com

The Know the Signs campaign is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.

These initiatives are funded by the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

This campaign is intended to prepare individuals to prevent suicide by encouraging them to know suicide warning signs, find the words to offer help, and reach out to local resources.

The Tahoe Truckee Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force has chosen this educational campaign as the main focus for prevention strategies.

Find out more at http://www.SuicideisPreventable.org.

Patient and family support volunteers needed

Tahoe Forest Hospice is offering a volunteer training in April for hospice patient and family support volunteers to help patients and families who live in Truckee, North Tahoe, Incline Village and the Sierra Valley. Volunteering is an opportunity to help patients at end-of-life in your community

Provide companionship and friendship

Provide a break (respite) for caregivers

Errands and shopping

Other activities including reading, playing games, gardening and help with meals

Flexible hours

Training is a combination of online and in-person training at the Hospice Volunteer and Bereavement Center. The training is a total of 20 to 25 hours. For details contact Volunteer Coordinator Val Sutter at 530-582-3534 or vsutter@tfhd.com.

Loving Solutions and Parent Project

Empowering parents of strong willed children, classes are ongoing, call the North Tahoe Family Resource Center for information of to sign up at 530-546-0952. Loving Solutions is a seven-week program offering parents a concrete framework for working with children pre-school through 12 years of age. Parent Project is a 10-week program offer parents a concrete framework for working with children 10 to 18, plus young adults. Program will help you: Identify ideals, rules, and tools for the family; learn techniques and strategies to bring about positive behavior change in your child; respond appropriately to children’s choices; learn about the purpose of time outs and how to use them; structure concrete solutions for challenging situations; improve communication skills within the entire family; understand more about ADHD/ADD; learn how to appropriately respond to emotional children; and recognize and support success. Contact class facilitator Kim Jennings at 530-412-0401 or for classes in Spanish contact Patricia Sarmiento at 530-546-0227.

The North Tahoe Family Resource Center is located at 8321 Steelhead Ave. in Kings Beach. Visit http://www.northtahoefrc.org.

Bar Effect for Tahoe SAFE Alliance

Get the Bar Effect in February and proceeds will be donated to Tahoe SAFE Alliance Monday and Friday in February, 6 a.m. only, at The Bar Effect, The Sanctuary, 205 State Line, Crystal Bay. Cost is $12 (all proceeds go to Tahoe SAFE Alliance). Cash and check only.

The Bar Effect is a total body workout that lifts your booty, tones your thighs, legs, arms and flattens abs. Utilizing the bar to perform small isometric movements set to music, The Bar Effect is the fastest, most effective, yet non-invasive way to change your body. Sign up in advance at http://www.thebareffect.com or call 530-386-3635.

For more information about Tahoe SAFE Alliance call 775-298-0010.

Season for Nonviolence Weekly Meetings

On Wednesdays, through April 9, 6-7 p.m. “Be the Change Visioning and Meditations” will be held at the Center for Spiritual Living Tahoe-Truckee, 700 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, above the Tahoe City Marina. Join ministerial student Maggie Wattle and to focus on and create a more peaceful, nonviolent existence for the world. This coincides with the annual Season for Peace and Nonviolence (www.64days.org). Love donation accepted.

“A Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world.” (www.64days.org). For more information call 530-581-5117.

Affordable lab screenings

A simple way to start taking charge of your health. Affordable lab tests and screenings each month at two convenient locations, the Tahoe Forest Laboratory Draw Station in Truckee, Calif. and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village. No appointment is necessary. Regular physical exams by your healthcare provider and screening tests are an important part of preventive healthcare.

Incline Village Community Hospital, 880 Alder Ave., Incline Village. Second Friday of the month, 8-9 a.m., March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12.

Tahoe Forest Laboratory Draw Station, 10956 Donner Pass Road, Ste. 230, Truckee, Calif., inside the Medical Office Building. Second Wednesday of the month, 7-9 a.m., March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, and Dec. 10. For more information call 530-582-3277.

For more information call 775-833-4100.

Complete blood count (without differential) $11; comprehensive metabolic panel (fasting required) $26; lipid panel (fasting required) $31; Vitamin D, 25 hydroxy $40; hemoglobin A1C $25; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone $30; PSA, prostate specific antigen $79.

Patients should fast for 10-12 hours prior to lab test. This service is a low cost laboratory screening that is not necessarily reimbursable by your insurance company. Photo ID is required. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. Tests are available to individuals 18 years or older.