Briefing RSM Thru Sept. 22: Blood, Sweat and Fears

By Martin Henderson

A look at what's going down and coming up for Rancho Santa Margarita and residents of the surrounding area.  

• If you have blood type O negative, A negative or B negative, the American Red Cross really wants you. A blood drive Thursday, 11 a.m., takes place at Head to Toe Wellness in Plaza Empresa. Click here for more details. You can also donate on your way home from work; it continues until 7:15 p.m.

• The football season continues for area schools on Friday. By the way, all four schools fed by Rancho Santa Margarita area students are ranked in the Orange County Top 10. The games are: No. 6 Santa Margarita Catholic at Carson, No. 7 Tesoro at Ontario Colony, No. 8 Trabuco Hills at No. 10 Huntington Beach, and No. 2 Mission Viejo against No. 3 La Habra at Cerritos College in the game of the week. Click on the links to go to Patch articles about last weekend's games.

• Newly branded UFC Gym RSM is offering women a self-defense class and Mixed Martial Arts seminar on Saturday. Each two-hour class is free, but the gym is accepting $10 donations for Laura's House. The classes will be taught by Razor Rob McCullough, a former champion who trains out of Huntington Beach. Self-defense is at 10 a.m., MMA at 1:30 p.m. Click here for more details.

• Is it too early to be thinking about the Dove Dash? The annual run and walk (and pancake breakfast) is Sept. 29. You won't want to put it off to the last minute.  

• If you have an interest in knowing what scouting is like Sunday will be a good day. Saddleback Valley Boy Scouts are presenting their Scout Expo at Oso Lake. It's an opportunity for parents and kids to see what being a scout is all about. It's for boys 10-17 years of age and girls 14-20. Click here for more details.

• Don't be caught off guard in the event of an emergency in Orange County, whether it's earthquake, wildfire or other event. Register this week for the AlertOC test, which takes place next week (Sept. 24). Don't wait to the last minute, or wait until it's too late, to get onboard an emergency information tool that may save your life or your property.  

• The deadline to contribute to Scott Johnson via Kickstarter.com to help him cover operating costs and replacing new equipment for his electrified Singing Pumpkin House is Sept. 19. Although he has reached his goal of $1,000 (exactly $1,000 as of Sunday night), any additional contributions will no doubt help keep the project going in 2014.