As a person with Medicare, you have certain rights and protections. And it's worth knowing what they are. You have rights whether you're enrolled in original Medicare — in which you can choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare — or Medicare Advantage, in which you get care within a network of health-care providers.

St. Barnabas Church, 1400 Sixth St., is among the several faith groups throughout the Bay Area that are once again teaming up with American Red Cross to help maintain the community's blood supply during the summer months. During this second annual interfaith drive, one of the largest Red Cross blood drives in history.

Unless you're a Sumo wrestler or one of those "I want to be the fattest woman in the world" specimens from the tabloids, no one wants to be truly fat: morbidly obese. Although scientists have determined that many folks are genetically pre-disposed to obesity via appetite-satiety mechanism and food-metabolism deficiency syndromes.

Join Mastick Senior Center on a trip to the Oakland Zoo and a visit to the Ninth Annual Healthy Living Frstival. Meet at the center,, 1155 Santa Clara Ave., tomorrow, Friday, July 20, The group will return at 2 p.m., The fair promotes health and wellness for Alameda County's older adults. Enjoy "healthy living" programs and opportunities.

Lina Krubnik and Stan Yee pumped some iron for a good cause last Saturday at Bladium Sports & Fitness Club. Yee and Krubnik were among the 26 Alameda CrossFit members who competed in two high-intensity workouts during the "Charity Challenge," to raise money for Alameda Boys & Girls Club.