Events Mark TB Awareness Month

Tuberculosis cases in Los Angeles County have steadily increased since the early 1980s, according to the American Lung Assn. To increase awareness of this highly curable disease, the association will be sponsoring a variety of activities to mark TB Awareness Month through June.

In 1991, the most tuberculosis cases were reported since 1981, as a result of such things as the high number of homeless people, an increase in HIV-positive individuals and overcrowded living conditions, according to the association.

A recently released report on tuberculosis programs in Los Angeles County had many recommendations, including providing more community health workers and improved facilities.

For information on tuberculosis or on planned activities, call (213) 935-LUNG or (818) 797-LUNG.

BOTANY

“Native American Uses of Local Native Herbs” will be discussed at the meeting of the San Gabriel Mountains chapter of the California Native Plant Society on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center in Pasadena. Call (818) 398-5420.

On Sunday, chapter members will be leading an outing to Charleton Flats to view annual plants in bloom, as well as a variety of birds of the area. Call (818) 798-7270.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Children can learn about the cave pictures and animal stories of the Chumash Indians and create their own “rock art” stories in a “Whale’s Tales” natural history workshop at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call (213) 744-3534.

Science workshops for kids continue with classes such as “Kitchen Chemistry” for children age 5 and “Wacky Science” for 8- to 10-year-olds on Saturday at the California Museum of Science and Industry in Exposition Park. Other classes are scheduled through June. Call (213) 744-7444 for information.

HEALTH/MEDICINE

Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood will present a community seminar on “Women and Heart Disease” on Saturday at 10 a.m. Preregistration is required; call (800) 356-2824.

SCIENCE FOR SKEPTICS

Michael Shermer, a science historian, will discuss “Life After Death: Mortality, Immortality and the Quest for Transcendence” as the Skeptics Society lecturer in Baxter Lecture Hall on the Caltech campus on Sunday at 2 p.m. Call (213) 283-9773 or (818) 794-3119.