Mary Rathman

Replicas of Columbus’ ships the “Nina” and the “Pinta” will dock at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., on March 18 until the ships’ departures on March 30.

The ships will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., for self-guided tours. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, and $6 for students ages 5 to 16. Children younger than age 4 are free. No reservations are necessary.

Proceeds to to The Columbus Foundation, which aims to educate the public on the type of ship (the “carvel”) that Columbus used to discover a new world in the year 1492. Columbus made four voyages, totaling 12 years, on ships like these. The foundation displays and maintains the only traveling replicas in existence today.

For information, visit NinaPinta.org.

Oak Hill Hospital will host a panel of orthopedic and podiatric specialists to present a symposium on “Orthopedics: From Your Nose to Your Toes” on March 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Palace Grand, 275 Della Court in Spring Hill. The panel will discuss orthopedic conditions and treatments related to the spine, knees and shoulders. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. A complimentary dinner will be served. Admission is free. Reservations are required. For information and to register, call (352) 597-6333.

The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida will have a battery giveaway on March 11 from 10 a.m. to noon, at its office, 4443 Rowan Road in New Port Richey. Free hearing aid batteries in the most common sizes of 10, 13, 312 and 675 will be offered, while supplies last. For information, call (727) 834-5479.

The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a free seminar on “The Way to Your Heart from Your Wrist: Cardiac Catheterization Reinvented” on March 11 at noon. Dr. Rami Akel will discuss a new approach to cardiac catheterization through a small artery in the wrist and the benefits to patients. A complimentary light lunch will be served. Reservations are required. For information and to RSVP, all (727) 834-5630.

Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host its second Social Work Conference on March 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., centering on issues of mental health and violence in society. The event is open to area professionals. The keynote speaker will be Paolo del Vecchio, director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Mental Health Services. Concurrent workshops are also planned on topics including gang participation, mass shootings, illness among the veteran population, and domestic violence. For information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

The obstetrics program at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer these community events:

• March 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Infant CPR for family and friends
• March 12 from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.: Tour of obstetrics department
• March 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: breastfeeding course
• March 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: childbirth six-week series

For information and reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is hosting a free community informational meeting at the Zephyrhills Wesleyan Church, 38924 C Ave., in Zephyrhills, on March 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. OA is a recovery program for people who suffer from food obsession, overeating, bulimia and undereating. The program is based on the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The meeting is free and open to all women, men and teens. For a list of regular weekly meetings, visit OA.org.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., will host a Cardiac Cath Lab Open House & Mega Heart Expo on March 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can get a sneak peek to learn more about the second cardiac cath lab with the latest technology, and the Mega Heart (a portable walk-through heart exhibit) will be onsite and available for tours. Admission is free. To register, visit FloridaHospital.com/Wesley-chapel/events, or call (813) 929-5432.

The Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave., N.W., will offer these upcoming health presentations:

• March 14 at 10:30 a.m.: “Preparing to Sleep Well”
• March 16 at 1 p.m.: “March for Meals,” an intergenerational walk. Admission is a nonperishable food donation. Call for details.
• March 18 at 11 a.m.: “Medications that Impair Memory,” presented by the USF College of Pharmacy.

For information, call (813) 264-3804.