Richmond Roundup

UCSF offers medical class sessions
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSF begins the winter quarter by offering new courses for the public starting in February.

A special course on "Health Care Issues for Older Adults" will meet on Saturdays, March 11, 18, and 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. It costs $50.

In addition, two six-week classes entitled "Medical Heroes: Great Discoveries, Great Care," and "Understanding the Human Genome and the Future of Medicine" will be taught by UCSF faculty members.

Classes begin Tuesday, Feb. 21, and run from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The cost for each course is $75. All classes will be held at the UCSF Medical Sciences Building, 513 Parnassus Ave.

For more information, call 476-2557 or register online at http://lifelonglearning.ucsf.edu.

Local teen honored
The SF Board of Supervisors recently honored Chhu Seng Ieng, one of the Richmond District YMCA's teen members, at the fourth annual Youth Recognition Day ceremony in December.

Each year, the San Francisco Youth Commission recognizes the community contributions of one youth from each city district. Ieng, who was nominated by his program leaders, represented the Richmond District YMCA and the entire local community through his active involvement and participation in the Richmond District YMCA's Teen Leadership Council, FLEX fitness program and Outdoor Club.

"Ieng is a committed and caring member of the community," said Josh Leonard, the Richmond YMCA's teen program director.

Students aid African school
Students in the third, fourth and fifth grades at Argonne Elementary School forfeited a day of instruction to participate in an all-day readathon to help students a world away. The students raised $1,400 from family and friends, which will be sent to the Nkomo Primary School, located in Mnqobokazi, South Africa.

The school is located in the KwaZulu-Natal region, near the Mozambique border. When founded in 1998, students would gather underneath trees for instruction. Now, students have a building that supports some 800 youth, with about 95 students per classroom.

After reading for a good part of the day, the Argonne students wrote personal letters to the students at Nkomo, which is the brainchild of Principal N.H. Zikhali. The monetary donation from the Argonne students will help build another classroom.

Two teachers, Kim Towsley and David Allyn, were instrumental in organizing the event.

Sixty Plus programs at SF State
Men and women 60 years of age and older who are interested in continued learning for personal growth, enrichment and socializing are invited to join Sixty Plus at San Francisco State University.

Members take courses at the university, attend twice-monthly afternoon meetings on campus to hear speakers, and can also use the opportunity to make new friends. Other membership benefits include local and out-of-town bus tours, use of the university library and reduced ticket prices to various events, including the SF ballet, opera, symphony and other performing arts events.

The registration deadline for Sixty Plus spring semester classes is Tuesday, Jan. 24. The fee is $40 for the partial year, from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31.

For more information or for an application, call 566-9347.