Recreation
Square dance: 7-9:15 p.m. Oct. 28; Fran Carlton Center, 11 N. Forest Ave., Apopka. Pirates Square Dance Club will have a Pirates Ball. $4 for members, $5 for guests. 321-231-3203.
Support Groups
Mended Hearts: 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 24; Orlando Regional Lucerne Hospital, 818 Main Lane. The Central Florida Chapter of Mended Hearts, an affiliate of the American Heart Association, will meet in Classroom 1. A cardiologist will discuss cardiac risk factor reduction. Free. 407-333-4334.
Huntington’s disease: 7:30-9 p.m. Oct. 24; Florida Hospital Orlando, 601 E. Rollins St. A meeting for those with Huntington’s, caregivers and family members. Free. 407-719-2291.
Widowed: 1:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Nov. 8; Casselberry Senior Center, 200 N. Triplet Lake Drive. The Widowed Persons Service is for recently widowed men and women. This is an AARP program. Free. 407-649-9209.
Epilepsy: 6 p.m. Oct. 25; Epilepsy Association of Central Florida, 1221 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 103, Orlando. The group is for adults with epilepsy and their families and will focus on day-to-day coping with seizure disorders. Free. 407-422-1416.
Leukemia and lymphoma: 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 25; Orlando Fashion Square, 3201 E. Colonial Drive. The Tri-County Family Support Group for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is for patients, family members and caregivers of those with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or other blood-related diseases. Free. 407-898-0733.
Post-Polio: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 28; Southland Suites Assisted Living of Longwood, 342 S. Wayman St. The Post-Polio Resource Group will have a program about wheelchair and scooter safety including new developments in that equipment. Free. 407-260-9238.
Male Alzheimer’s caregivers forum: 10 a.m. Nov. 2, Nov. 16; Bakely’s Restaurant, 345 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park. The Men’s Breakfast Club, a casual forum for men who are caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Sponsored by the Alzheimer Resource Center. Meals may be purchased. Free. 407-843-1910.
Sickle Cell disease: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16; Pine Hills Community Center, 6400 Jennings Road, Orlando. The Sickle Cell Disease Association of Tri-County (Orange, Seminole and Osceola) will meet. Free. 407-296-5157.
Lectures, Seminars
Lecture series: 10:30 a.m. Mondays, Oct. 23 and Nov. 6-27; Winter Park Public Library, 460 E. New England Ave. A series of one-hour programs titled “Notables in Our Time,” featuring historians and scholars. Free. 407-623-3486.
Dance performance: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 28; Lake Eola Amphitheater, 1 N. Rosalind Ave., Orlando. Elizabeth Parsons School of Dance & Community Dance theater will present dance companies from Orlando and the surrounding area. Free. 407-876-4604.
The Minorcans in Florida: 2:30 p.m. Nov. 8; Woman’s Club of Winter Park, 419 S. Interlachen Ave. Veteran broadcast journalist Ben Aycrigg will discuss the Minorcans and Greeks who were brought to Florida in 1768, almost as slaves, to work on indigo plantations in New Smyrna Beach. Free. 407-647-2330.
Outdoors, Environment
Landscape maintenance for homeowners: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 24-Nov. 28; Seminole Community College, 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford. Learn to maintain a beautiful Florida landscape. Howard Jeffries will present solutions for common problems affecting lawns, shrubbery, trees and gardens. $69.80. 407-708-2121.
Fun with Flowers workshop: 10 a.m. Oct. 25; Florida Federation-Garden Club, 1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park. Make a horn of plenty using fall flowers. Bring scissors or clippers. $20 includes flowers and horn. 407-644-5770.
Owl Prowl: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27; Audubon of Florida’s Center for Birds of Prey, 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland. Activities include owl walks, folklore, family friendly activities and games. Costumes are welcome. Free. 407-644-0190.
Water conference: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 2; Winter Park Civic Center, 1050 W. Morse Blvd. A conference about the preservation of valuable water systems in Central Florida. Tom MacCubbin, Think Two spokesman for the St. Johns River Water Management District, will moderate. $20 in advance includes all programs, refreshments, lunch and door prizes, $25 at the door. 407-644-5770.
Native plants: 7 p.m. Nov. 7; Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando. The Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will have a presentation by Gil Nelson, writer, naturalist and educator. He will discuss landscaping with native plants and wildflowers. A book signing reception will begin at 6 p.m. Free. 407-647-5233.
Culture
Czech art glass exhibit: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday (second Wednesdays until 8 p.m.); Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park. “The Art of Bohemia: Czech Glass” features works by glass artisans of the Czech Republic. Artists of the Czech Republic still create most of their exquisite crystal and glass by hand. Organized by Legend Glass of Princeton, N.J., this exhibit explores the imaginative wonder, technical virtuosity and visual opulence of contemporary art glass. $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students with ID, free for members and ages 12 or younger. 407-647-6294.
Chamber music series: Nov. 5; Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park. “Ayako Yonetani at the Polasek” features three programs of classical masterworks presented in the elegant salon of the Polasek residence. A varied selection of music has been chosen for each concert featuring internationally acclaimed soloist Ayako Yonetani. Concerts are followed by a private reception in the gallery. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. $150 for three-concert series. 407-647-6294.
Academic symposium: Nov. 15-17; Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park. “Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald: Icons of an Era,” an academic symposium in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition “Zelda By Herself: The Art of Zelda Fitzgerald.” The symposium will feature the top Fitzgerald scholars in the United States, with lectures at Rollins College and the Polasek Museum. Advance paid registration of $100 is required to attend the three-day event; individual tickets are available for the keynote address and for the closing reception. 407-647-6294.
Health
Exploring myeloma: 6 p.m. Oct. 23; Mall at Millenia, 4200 Conroy Road, Orlando. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will present the program “Exploring Myeloma: An Overview for Patients and Caregivers.” The speaker will be Gage Gwyn from Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. Free. 407-898-0733.
What to Expect During Pregnancy: 6-7 p.m. Oct. 25; Loch Haven OB/GYN, 235 E. Princeton St., Suite 200, Orlando. A seminar for women who are considering having a baby or those in the early stages of pregnancy. It will address the pregnancy process from conception to delivery, normal and high-risk care, ultrasounds and blood work. Free. 407-303-1444, Ext. 8.
News in Medicine: Breast Cancer: 7 p.m. Oct. 26; Dr. Phillips Stirling Sotheby’s Real Estate Office, 7722 W. Sand Lane Road, Orlando. Dr. Nikita Shah, breast cancer specialist with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, will share the truths and myths about breast cancer and discuss inflammatory breast cancer, a topic unfamiliar to most women. Reservations required. Refreshments provided. Free. 407-992-8900.
Breast cancer awareness walk: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 28; Pine Hills Community Center, 6400 Jennings Road, Orlando. The Orlando Chapter of Sisters Network’s second annual Gift for Life Block Walk where breast cancer survivors and community volunteers go into under served neighborhoods door-to-door to distribute breast cancer information. Speakers include Ella J. Gilmore, deputy director of Orange County Health & Family Services, and associate member Gloria Lockhart. The walk is from 9-10:30 a.m. and reception, refreshments and prizes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $10. 407-962-0036.
Understanding and preventing lung cancer: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando. Learn about risk factors, silent symptoms and what you can do to protect yourself as well as the latest about clinical trials. Reservations required. Free. 407-648-7899.
Pain seminar: 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 1; Calvary Assembly of God, 1199 Clay St., Winter Park. Dr. Scott Brady of Florida Hospital will discuss and sign his book, Pain-Free for Life: The 6-Week Cure for Chronic Pain Without Surgery or Drugs. Free. 407-303-8217.
Classes
Dance: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays; Winter Springs Civic Center, 400 N. Edgemon Ave., Winter Springs. Learn ballroom steps through round dancing. Class will be closed to new entries on Oct. 19. $4 per couple. 407-327-7027.
Yoga in the Garden: 8 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. Saturdays; Maitland Art Center, 231 W. Packwood Ave. Two separate classes will be offered in the Studio 6 courtyard. Each class meets for one hour. Registration is required. $6 for members, $8 for nonmembers. 407-539-2181.
Infant-child CPR and drowning-prevention class: Oct. 26; Seminole County Public Safety Building, 100 Bush Blvd., Sanford. The Safe Kids Seminole County Coalition will teach residents strategies and skills to keep children safe around water. The class is about three hours and is a noncertification course. Free. 407-665-5126.
Safe cycling: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 28; Azalea Lane Recreation Center, 1045 Azalea Lane, Winter Park. MetroPlan Orlando will sponsor a Better Urban Cycling Skills class in partnership with the Florida Bicycle Association. The program is designed for riders of all skill levels who are 12 or older. Certified instructors will teach in classrooms and on the road. Bicycle and helmet are required. Participants younger than 18 must have a liability waiver signed by a parent or guardian to participate. $25. 407-481-5672, Ext. 319.
Libraries
Family law: 2 p.m. Oct. 28; Southeast Library, 5575 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando. From divorce to adoption, learn about your rights from an Orange County Bar Association expert and discover resources available for families who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Reservations required. Free. 407-835-7481.
Festivals, Shows
Community festival: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 22; St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 861 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs. CommunityFest 2006 includes live entertainment, rides and games, an international food court, arts and crafts, bingo, auction and children’s activities. Free parking at the festival and free park-and-ride service from the Embarq Communications office in Altamonte Springs will be available. Admission is free. 407-831-1212.
Heritage festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28; Spear Park, 331 N. Tubb St., Oakland. The ninth annual Oakland Heritage Festival features Model A car rides, hayrides, history tours, live music, chili cook-off, silent auction, children’s games and activities. Admission is free. There will also be narrated boat tours of Lake Apopka. The cost is $10. Proceeds from the boat tours, raffles and silent auction will benefit the Oakland Nature Preserve. 407-905-0054.
Singles
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m. Oct. 25; Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex, 99 E. Marks St., Orlando. Belles and Beaus Dance Club will have a “Monster Mash” dance and costume contest. Music by the Soft Touch. Singles and couples are welcome. $4. 407-277-7008.
Youth
Etiquette workshop: 10-11 a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 28-Dec. 9; Seminole Community College, 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford. An etiquette workshop for children in second through fifth grade will teach manners and social graces to help build confidence and self-esteem. Topics include posture, table etiquette, introductions and conversation techniques. $39.30. 407-708-2121.
Scary campfire tales: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28; Museum of Seminole County History, 300 Bush Blvd., Sanford. Children ages 7 to 11 will gather around a campfire and hear scary stories and learn about Seminole County history and folklore. Reservations required by Oct. 26. Free. 407-665-2489.
Youth birding 101: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 18; Audubon of Florida’s Center for Birds of Prey, 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland. For ages 9 to 12. Participants will learn basic bird anatomy, bird identification, nature journaling and binocular use. Advance registration required. $25. 407-644-0190.
Fundraisers
5K run: 8 a.m. Oct. 28; Lake Eola Park, 1 N. Rosalind Ave., Orlando. The 26th annual Dick Batchelor Run for the Children will benefit child-abuse prevention and treatment programs. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Opening ceremony is at 7:30 a.m. There will be a Halloween Kids Fun Run 9:15 a.m. $18 to $30 depending on date of registration. 407-898-1313.
Monte Carlo and Bingo Night: 6:30-11 p.m. Oct. 28; Maitland Civic Center, 641 S. Maitland Ave. The third annual Monte Carlo and Bingo Night benefiting Congregation Bet Chaim includes a buffet, live music, raffles and silent auction. $25 includes $10,000 in play money for the gaming tables and bingo. 407-830-7211.
Lobster and comedy: 6 p.m. Nov. 9; OUC Camp Down Park, 3409 Maguire Road, Windermere. The Windermere Rotary Club’s fourth annual “Lobster, Laughter, Lend a Hand” will feature a fresh lobster dinner plus the entertainment of magician, comedian and inspirational speaker Eric Anderson. There will also be a silent auction and art show. Proceeds will benefit Health Central Park Nursing Home, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Princeton House and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Casual dress is recommended. $65. 407-876-0280.
Seniors
Halloween tea dance: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 31; Beardall Senior Center, 800 S. Delaney Ave., Orlando. The annual Halloween Costume Tea Dance will include smooth dance music by the 10-piece band George Skeet and the Escorts, refreshments, and prizes for best costumes. Free. 407-246-2637.
Senior games: Nov. 4-10; Sanford Senior Center, 401 E. Seminole Blvd. The 32nd annual Golden Age Games will take place throughout the Sanford area. Games include tennis, bowling, cycling, swimming, boccie, track and field, shuffleboard, talent show and golf. Registration begins Nov. 1 at the Sanford Senior Center. $8 for the first event, $2 for each additional event. 407-302-1010.