Get screened to prevent stroke, bone fractures

Bel-Ridge Baptist Church will host Life Line Screening on Feb. 13 at the church, 108 Monterey Ave.

Residents can be screened in an effort to reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture.

Screenings identify potential cardiovascular conditions, such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women. Many sites offer finger-stick blood tests to check for cholesterol and glucose.

Four key points every person needs to know are:

* Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability

* 80 percent of stroke victims had no apparent warning signs prior to their stroke

* Preventive ultrasound screenings can help you avoid a stroke

* Screenings are fast, noninvasive, painless, affordable and convenient

Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Life Line Screening was established in 1993 and has since become the nation's leading provider of preventive screenings.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-697-9721 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.

Event to benefit Choral Society

The First Thursday at Midtown Market on Kings Way will be in full swing this Thursday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The charity for this month is the Augusta Choral Society. Volunteers from this organization will be collecting the "cup" fee. The contribution to the ACS is based on attendance, and this is one you do not want to miss.

There will be new art, food, beverages and music.

Needlepoint Guild to meet

The Aiken Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild will meet on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Aiken County Library at 1 p.m. The second in a series of five classes on "Couching Laid Threads" will cover pattern-couching and Italian-couching. Visitors are welcome. For additional information call 803-783-0239.

Rivien to perform at Music Live

Tuesday's Music Live will present Rivien, in a free concert at noon on Feb. 7 in the nave of St. Paul's Church, 6th and Reynolds at the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta.

Lunch following the concert is $10 per person, and advance reservations can be made online, www.TuesdaysMusicLive.com or at the Box Office, (706) 722-3463. Lunches are catered by Crum's on Central and are served in the River Room following the concert.