There’s hardly a better time of year than spring, when the bitter cold of winter gives way to wonderful, warmer temperatures framed by a Carolina blue sky with colorful blooms and freshly mowed lawns.

The crisp smell in the air is a great indicator that it’s time to set goals, re-establish routines and create good habits.

As calendars fill up with sports events, final school projects and vacations, we’d like to encourage you to add the following events to your schedule.

St. Luke’s Hospital and Hospice of the Carolina Foothills are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).

We are providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with North Carolina state laws.

Today at 10:30 a.m., the public is welcome to join us for “Coffee and Conversation: A Discussion About End of Life Issues.”

The program will be held at Isothermal Community College’s Columbus campus with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms.

Join Dr. Andrew Kamell, attorney Ed Harrelson and Chaplain Dr. Bob Lair, along with social worker Meg Hoke for a discussion on why you should make your future healthcare decisions known to family, friends and healthcare providers. There will also be staff there to assist in completing the forms.

The program will be held again at 6 p.m. at Inman Public Library in Inman, S.C. Attorney David Ingalls will join the panel here.

St. Luke’s Hospital is helping make sure blood is available for those in need by sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross Tuesday, April 26, from noon – 4 p.m.

By sponsoring a blood drive, St. Luke’s Hospital is helping save and improve the lives of individuals in need of blood. You can schedule your appointment by calling 894-2408. Drop-ins are also welcome.

Polk County’s Relay for Life will take place Friday, April 29, at Polk County High School. Relay For Life is a fun-filled event designed to celebrate survivors and raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society.

St. Luke’s is recruiting a team and hosting several fund raisers, including selling Hawaiian leis and lemonade to “e ‘lemon’ ate” cancer, a spaghetti lunch, bake sales and a hot dog lunch. From all hospital departments, everyone has pitched in for a good cause including Thomas Dashiell, MD, and John Kornmayer, DO, of Columbus Medical Associates.

Back for its second year is the waffle breakfast hosted by Dr. Jim Holleman and our surgery staff. This event is planned for Wednesday, April 20, from 7 – 9 a.m. in the St. Luke’s Cafe.

The community is invited. For just $5 you can give the doctor orders for a homemade Belgian waffle with all the trimmings, and all proceeds benefit Relay for Life.

We hope you’ll join us in supporting the Polk County Relay For Life. All money raised stays here in our community to help cancer patients and their families.

At St. Luke’s Hospital, we hope you’ll enjoy the season of warmer temperatures and a calendar full of opportunities for fun and learning, for health and wellness. We hope you’ll join St. Luke’s Hospital to support our local community events because they’re exceptional… and close to home.

St. Luke’s Hospital is a not for profit, acute care hospital affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare System of Charlotte, NC, for specialized management expertise, experience with developing strong community-based clinical services, and participation in revenue and purchasing contracts.

CHS is the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas and the third largest public system in the nation. St. Luke’s Hospital is committed to providing Exceptional Care, Close to Home.