American Red Cross Northern California - Blood Drive

American Red Cross Northern California Blood Services Region announced today that several blood types, especially type O, are at extremely low levels. Red Cross currently has less than a one day supply of both O-negative and O-positive blood. Traditionally, blood donations decrease during the summer months. To avert a crisis, Red Cross is making an urgent appeal for local residents to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or log onto beadonor.com and make an appointment to donate blood.

American Red Cross

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like Tropical Storm Gustav, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the American Red Cross Bay Area at 85 Second St, 8th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. 

League of Women Voters - VOTE411.org

The League of Women Voters would like to remind you that the voter registration deadline is coming up and asks you to visit VOTE411.org to get more information on how to register to vote for the upcoming elections. That’s VOTE411.org.

California Telephone Access Program (CTAP)

If you or someone you know has difficulty hearing, seeing, speaking, moving or remembering, CTAP - the California Telephone Access Program has specialized phones available at no cost if you qualify.  This is a state funded program so call 1-800-806-1191 or visit www.ddtp.org for details.

Oakland Public Library -  Second Start

Second Start at the Oakland Public Library trains and matches volunteer tutors with adults 16 and older who want to improve their reading and writing. Call 510-238-3432 or ask at the library. Second Start is also looking for volunteer tutors. To sign up for an 18-hour training session, call 510- 238-3432 or ask at the library.

San Francisco Public Library - One City One Book

Join readers in the One City One Book: San Francisco Reads - Citywide Book Club, presented by the San Francisco Public Library in September and October. Pick up a copy of the book,” West of Kabul, East of New York", at your local library or bookstore, and for more information about upcoming events and programs visit sfpl.org.

31st Mill Valley Film Festival

The 31st Mill Valley Film Festival takes place October 2nd to October 12th in Mill Valley and San Rafael.  For screening times and theater information visit www.mvff.com.

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Run! Jump! Fly!

Now through January 2009  jump into an action-packed family adventure at the Bay Area Discovery Museum's brand new exhibit, Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action. You and your kids can test your balance, strength, coordination and endurance in many fun-filled ways. For more information visit baykidsmuseum.org.

Free Quit Smoking Classes

Free Quit Smoking Classes sponsored by the Tobacco Prevention Program, Berkeley Public Health Division with 6 Saturday sessions October 4^th to November 8^th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the North Berkeley Senior Center in Berkeley. To enroll  or for more information, please call 510 981-5330 .

ROCK (Real Options for City Kids) - 6th Annual Rock Open Golf Tournament

ROCK  -  Real Options for City Kids presents their 6th Annual Rock Open Golf Tournament, Thursday, October 9th at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco.  For more information click on golf.rocksf.org.

The 7th Annual Oakland International Film Festival

The Seventh Annual Oakland International Film Festival gets underway, October 9-16.  On Opening Day, October 9th enjoy a day of Golf at the Metropolitan Links and the evening it’s a Red Carpet Ceremony as “Traces of the Trade” opens the festival.  “FamilyHood Connections” and “First Tees Mentoring Program” benefit from the Oakland International Film Festival.  Visit www.OIFF.org for details.

Congregational Church in Belmont - 26th Annual Chocolate Festtival 2008

The 26th Annual Chocolate Fest 2008, October 10, 11 & 12, at the Congregational Church in Belmont. The festival will be presented in four sessions.  For details or for ticket information visit www.uccbelmont.org or call 650-593-4547.

American Lung Association - Healthy Air Walk

Help thousands of Bay Area residents with lung disease breathe easier by joining the American Lung Association’s Healthy Air Walk, Saturday, Oct. 11 at Lake Merritt in Oakland. To learn more, visit HealthyAirWalk.org.

American Diabetes Association - Step Out to Fight Diabetes

Join the American Diabetes Association – the nation’s leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.  You can help raise awareness and find a cure by registering to Step Out to Fight Diabetes. Step Out is a family-friendly fund-raising walk taking place in Walnut Creek @ Civic Park or San Jose in Guadalupe River Park on Sunday, October 12th. To learn more or to register, visit diabetes.org/stepout or call 888-DIABETES.

March of Dimes - Signature Chefs Auction

Oct. 14th the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction will be held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco starting at 6 PM.   To purchase tickets or for more information please call 415-788-2202 or visit marchofdimes.com/CA.

Doctors without Borders -  Refugee Camp in the Heart of San Francisco.

\Visit Doctors Without Borders “A Refugee Camp in the Heart of San Francisco” and meet aid workers who will show you how Doctors Without Borders provide shelter, food, water, and medical care.  Free and open to the public, this outdoor interactive exhibit is held at Little Marina Green Park east of Crissy field, October 15^TH  -19^TH   from 9 am to 5:30 pm each day.  Details at doctorswithoutborders.org or call 1-800-490-0773.  

Marin Center for Independent Living - Angels by the Bay

Angels by the Bay, Marin Center for Independent Living’s First Annual Fundraising luncheon will be held Thursday, October 16th at the Corinthian Yacht Club in downtown Tiburon.  There will be a private shopping extravaganza and a live auction with proceeds benefiting the programs at the Marin Center for Independent Living.  For more information or to purchase tickets call 415-459-6245 or visit www.marincil.org.

International Gift Faire

International Gift Faire: Fair trade folk art and handicrafts from ten thousand villages, a non-profit job creation-marketing program for artisans in 30 developing countries. Fri. Oct. 17, 9am-8pm; Sat., Oct. 18, 10am-4pm., Lincoln Glen Fellowship Hall, in San Jose.  For more information visit www.internationalgiftfaire.com.

Mayor Gavin Newsom's 4th Annual Family Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens

Saturday, October 18, San Francisco families with children are invited to join the free fun at Mayor Gavin Newsom’s 4th Annual Family Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens. From 11:00 until 3:00, children of all ages can enjoy entertainment, carousel rides, a climbing wall, jump houses, and roving circus acts while their parents find information from 100 community resources. Plus - in celebration of Family Festival, all kids ride MUNI free from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on October 18. Yerba Buena Gardens is at Third and Mission Streets in San Francisco. Family Festival is free. Sponsored by the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth & Their Families. Find details at www.SFkids.org or call 311 in San Francisco.

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival takes place October 18^th & 19^th  9 am to 5 pm with home-style foods and live entertainment.  The festival will be held on historic Main Street in Half Moon Bay, and admission is free, for details call 650-726-9652.

American Cancer Society - Making Strides San Franisco and San Jose

Did you know breast cancer is the most common cancer among women?  But it’s 95 percent survivable if caught early.  This October, help us make strides against this disease.  Join Kevin Brown and KBLX for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on October 18th in Golden Gate Park and at Guadalupe River Park in San Jose on October 25th.  For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-877-906-7222.

Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center - Fiesta on the Hill

Sunday, October 19th, don’t miss “Fiesta on the Hill" from 11am to 6 pm on Courtland Avenue between Bocana & Folsom in San Francisco.  This is an energetic street fair and 20th annual fundraiser for the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center.  For more information visit www.bhnc.org/fiesta  or call 415-206-2140.

Rock the Runway Fashion Show

October 25^th at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland, the Rock the Runway Fashion Show will be held to raise funds for the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, and other East Bay charities.  To purchase tickets or more information visit www.me2mag.com or call 510-472 0782.

San Francisco Film Society - Sundance Kabuki Screenings

This summer, the San Francisco Film Society will begin programming one screen at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, bringing the most ambitious, interesting, provocative and masterful films to Bay Area audiences each and every night. The screen will showcase what the Film Society does best: finding a home for the finest international, independent and documentary feature films, films that you rarely have the opportunity to see in a theater. For more information on the SFFS Screen, visit www.sffs.org.

W.T. Woodson in Fairfax class of '68 is having their 40-year reunion on Saturday, October 25th at the Hyatt Fair Lakes Hotel in Fairfax.