Allegheny General Hospital-Suburban campus will hold a Healthy Living Guest Lecture Series program entitled "Metabolic Syndrome - Me?"

The lecture will be conducted at Ohio Townships Community Park Nature Center, 325 Nicholson Rd., on Aug. 25, 1-2 p.m.

A doctor will discuss metabolic syndrome's implication in heart disease and diabetes and how people can protect themselves from the syndrome.

The program is offered at no cost to any interested adult. Registration is required by calling Physician Access at 1-877-284-2000.

There are any number of serious subjects in the news this week, and I certainly could blog about any of them in some detail.

But it's Pet Photo Contest Week in The Citizen, so let's deal with those pesky serious issues and get on to the fun stuff.

Allegheny General Hospital-Suburban Campus was awarded the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania's (HAP) Achievement Award for excellence in community education.

AGH-Suburban Campus was among 18 HAP Achievement Award winners chosen from 168 applicants in Pennsylvania.

The Hospital's Community Health and Wellness Program kicked off with the popular Twenty Week Challenge interactive lecture series, which encouraged participants to change their eating and exercise habits gradually over 20 weeks and adopt a sustainable healthier lifestyle.

Eleanor Dvorsky Eleanor H. Herstich Dvorsky, 82, of Ross Township, wife of the late Joseph A. Dvorsky, died Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Mrs. Dvorsky retired as a nurse from Suburban General Hospital where she worked for 20 years. She was a member of St. Gabriel Parish and Risen Lord Church.

Raymond Seekford Raymond Seekford, 69, of Emsworth, died Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Mr. Seekford was retired and a member of Iron Workers Local #3 for 43 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Korea.

There was more than a little fun and excitement thrown in as Bellevue held a Health and Safety Day at Bayne Park last Saturday. Sponsored by the Bellevue police and fire departments, Allegheny General Hospital and NorthWest EMS, the event offered an afternoon full of educational and entertaining attractions for people of all ages. Pictured here, LifeFlight pilot Bryan Bly makes sure that Owen McKee, 4, of Ross, is strapped in tight in the helicopter seat.

A Pittsburgh man has been charged with attempted homicide after he reportedly stabbed another man in the stomach.

The assault occurred Sunday morning, when police were called to the intersection of Elizabeth Avenue and Ohio River Boulevard, where a man was bleeding heavily from a stab wound to the left side of his stomach.

Notices sent to Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus employees and the state labor department have raised concerns about a massive lay-off at the Bellevue hospital, but West Penn Allegheny Health System is saying the concern is premature, and not warranted.

WPAHS plans to change the way the local hospital is used, eliminating inpatient care, outpatient surgeries and the emergency room later this summer. Long term acute care services will be broadened, and an urgent care center will replace the E.R.

Physicals for Northgate students who will participate in fall sports will be given at Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus on Wednesday, June 16, 6-8 p.m.

West Penn Allegheny Health System confirmed Thursday that it will no longer offer inpatient services at its Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus in Bellevue, which will necessitate closing the local emergency department.

According to a statement issued by WPAHS, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has been advised that inpatient services will be discontinued in 90 days. Because state law requires inpatient beds to be available in order to operate an emergency room, the local hospital’s E.R. also will be closed.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month and Allegheny General Hospital - Suburban Campus Department of Outpatient Rehabilita-tion Services will host the program "Stroke - A Brain Attack" at several locations.

Members of the community are invited to learn if they are at risk for stroke, discuss signs and symptoms, and find out about rehabilitation.

The program will be presented at the following locations/times:

AGH-Suburban Campus, Bellevue, seventh floor conference room, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on May 12. Complimentary coffee served at 9 a.m.

Editor:

There are two very popular programs on television: “Survivor” and “The Biggest Loser.” I watch The Biggest Loser because I sincerely root for all the people working 100 percent harder than I ever could to become healthier, look better and live longer. That they may gain quite a bit of money in the doing is of no concern to me. “Survivor,” on the other hand, is all about putting everyone else out of commission. Ironically, I think the titles of these two programs should be reversed.