1999 Mileage Rate -- The Internal Revenue Service has reduced the mileage rate allowance for the business use of an automobile. Beginning April 1, the mileage rate will be $.31 per mile. This represents a decrease of 1.5 cents from the 1998 rate of $.325 per mile. All expense reports submitted on or after April 1 must reflect the rate of $.31 per mile. Expense reports submitted prior to April 1 may reflect the current rate of $.325 per mile. For information, call 410-550-7246.

Blood Drive -- The next blood drive for the East Baltimore campus is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 30 and 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Turner Concourse.

The Johns Hopkins Blood Drive Committee would like to thank all the donors, recruiters and volunteers for their help during the 1998 Hopkins blood drives; 1,941 units of blood were collected, all of which went to Hopkins Hospital.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt -- The Johns Hopkins International Society's annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Decker Garden on the Homewood campus.

This free event, open to all members of the JHU community, includes a traditional egg hunt, complimentary refreshments, games and a small prize for each child. The Easter Bunny will be present to meet the children and to help with the egg hunt and games. Participants should bring a bag or basket for eggs, and dress in casual, comfortable clothes. The event will be held rain or shine.

For more information, call 410-955-3370.

Community Health Initiative -- The School of Medicine, the University of Maryland and the American College of Physicians have joined together to work with the People's Community Health Center to offer free health screenings. The annual Community Care Initiative is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Greenmount Avenue and 32nd Street, in the Waverly community.

Free health screenings will be available for blood pressure, cancer, prenatal care, alcohol and substance abuse, smoking cessation, vision, diabetes, tooth care and asthma, as well as free immunizations for children. For information, call 410-576-9355.

Parents in a Pinch -- JHU employees can get assistance with care for their children and elderly parents at special subsidized rates as an employee benefit, administered by WORKlife Programs.

Regular, full- or part-time employees can call for help when they need to work on a Monday holiday but have no child care coverage; need to work extended hours or on a weekend; a child is too sick for day care but can play quietly at home; an elder dependent is ill or confused and the employee must work; an elder parent is released from the hospital and the employee would like to keep a watchful eye; an elder dependent's regular caregiver cannot work.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Care providers are available days, evenings, weekends and overnights. Parents in a Pinch screens applicants, checks references and criminal records and requires completion of a health and safety program. For up to 30 hours of care, JHU employees pay $8 per hour directly to the child care or elder care provider. JHU has an additional subsidy program available for employees whose net family income is less than $40,000. If an employee needs more than 30 hours of care, there will be a charge of $25 per day added to the hourly charge for this service. Most care will be arranged within four to 24 hours of the request. Giving as much notice as possible would be appreciated.

All employees who would like to use this backup care benefit must pre-register with WORKlife Programs to confirm eligibility.

For more information about Parents in a Pinch, call 800-688-4697.

Summer at Homewood -- University employees and their families can take courses in two summer terms, June 1 through July 2 and July 6 through Aug. 6. Undergraduate credit courses are available in 31 disciplines, as well as a pre-college program for high school students and intensive English language classes. Morning, afternoon, midafternoon and evening classes are available.

Employees who take Arts and Sciences and Engineering summer courses receive 100 percent tuition remission. Children and spouses receive 50 percent tuition remission. For more information on tuition remission, call 410-516-6800.

To receive a Hopkins summer catalog, call 410-516-4548, email at summer@jhu.edu, visit the Web site at www.jhu.edu/summer/ or visit the Office of Summer Programs in person at 102 Macaulay Hall on the Homewood campus.