Our Lady of Lourdes hosts 'Ethel'
International touring artist, ValLimar Jansen, will present a one-woman show featuring the jazz age songs of the legendary Ethel Waters July 20-21at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Northridge.

Jansen will sing 16 of Waters' signature songs during the show, including Waters' classic, "Stormy Weather," as well as hits such as "My Handy Man," "Am I Blue," and "His Eye is on the Sparrow." A cantor and presenter at the Religious Education Congress for the past decade, Jansen has received a special commendation from the Kennedy Center for her dramatic portrayal of Waters' life and musical legacy.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show sponsored by the parish 5:30 Choir "Harmonia" are available at the door of OLL's Stroup Hall, 18405 Superior St, Northridge. For more information, call (818) 349-1500 or e-mail: mkj_bear@yahoo.com.

Children's Bureau seeks foster, adoptive families
A parent orientation for single or married adults interested in being foster or adoptive parents will be held July 21, 10 a.m.-noon at the Children's Bureau's office located at 11815 Riverside Dr., North Hollywood.

Training is provided by Children's Bureau, a licensed foster family and adoption agency founded in 1904. The children's agency provides professional treatment and prevention services to more than 9,000 abused and neglected children and their families each year throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties.

Both English- and Spanish-speaking adults are encouraged to attend the introductory presentation. Qualifying families receive training, certification, funds and 24-hour support to aid in the care of foster or adoptive children. More information is available by calling (818) 985-8154, or visiting the bureau's website at www.all4kids.org with downloadable applications.

Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center using latest radiotherapy system
Clinicians at Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center in Mission Hills are using an advanced form of image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) to treat patients with breast, prostate, head and neck, lung and gynecological cancers.

The center's radiotherapy system from Varian Medical Systems combines imaging and treatment technologies in a single machine for fast and accurate radiotherapy that maximizes the dose to the tumor and reduces the side effects of treatment.

"This new approach to treating cancer makes it possible for us to fine-tune our targeting so that we can do a better job of protecting the surrounding tissues during treatment," said Nancy Ellerbroek, MD, medical director for radiation oncology at the center.