Free workshops focus on life issues

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- It’s an unusual event coming to a theater near you.

Beginning this weekend, the marquee at the Edwards Big Newport in Fashion

Island will have a different title added to the list of first-rate

features -- “The Empowerment Education Series.”The series of monthly

workshops are designed to give attendees the tools needed for long-term

health and financial planning. Created by a coalition of six Orange

County health-care groups, the series is aimed at baby boomers and

elderly citizens who want to know more about life issues. The workshops

are free.

“It’s a gift we want to give back to the community,” said Linda Scheck,

executive director of the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County, one of the

groups sponsoring the event. “A lot of people don’t have the information

they need to make life-altering decisions.”

Some of the topics that will be covered in the two-hour session held

every third Saturday of the month include employment rights, assisted

living and adult clubhouse programs. Organizers have arranged a keynote

speaker for each workshop. All of the speakers have donated their time

for the sake of informing the public about these topics.

“Our goal is to provide Orange County residents with a wide range of

timely, accurate information and resources on health-care issues on a

monthly basis throughout the new year,” Scheck added.

The project was funded, in part, by a matching grant from the Margaret E.

Oser Foundation.

The first session will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. Those scheduled to speak

are Fay Blix, a Laguna Hills attorney, and journalist Jane Glenn Hass.

Edwards has agreed to provide workshop organizers one of the stadium

theaters every month for the series. Seating is limited and those

interested should call to reserve a spot. For more information, call

(800) 880-1992, ext. 40.