Health briefs: Deadline approaching to enroll in Utah's Primary Care Network

Health coverage for uninsured

Friday, March 30, at 5 p.m. is the deadline to enroll in Utah's Primary Care Network (PCN), a preventive health coverage plan for uninsured adults. It covers doctor services, prescriptions, dental services, eye exams, emergency-room visits, birth control and preventive care.

U.S. citizens or legal residents between the ages of 19 and 64 may apply. To qualify, applicants must not be covered by other health insurance, qualify for Medicaid or have access to student health insurance, Medicare or veterans benefits. They also must meet income guidelines. For more information or to apply, go online to health.utah.gov/pcn or call the PCN hotline at 1-888-222-2542.

Another gluten-free product

Shirley J, a food company based in Orem, has introduced a gluten-free cooking base that cooks can use to make soups, sauces and gravy without flour. Whisk Bliss is a just-add-water mix. A 32-ounce bag of Whisk Bliss Gluten Free costs $19.95. It is available online at shirleyj.com, at the company headquarters, 15 E. 400 South, Orem; and in various retail stores.

Bike commuting workshop

For those who want to ditch the car and ride their bike to work, this free workshop offers tips about equipment, route choices and safety. A representative from Salt Lake City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program will talk about shared lanes, bike turn boxes and triggering traffic lights. Free Salt Lake City Bikeways maps will be available.

When • Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m.

Where • REI, 3285 E. 3300 South, East Millcreek

Cost • Free

Celiacs raise a glass!

Epic Brewing Co. recently launched the Glutenator, a gluten-free beer made with millet, brown rice, sweet-potato puree and molasses along with plenty of American hops. A 22-ounce bottle costs $5.89 and is available in the cold cases at the downtown brewery, 825 S. State St., Salt Lake City.

The Glutenator has "a tawny color, aromas of hops and yams with a sweet grain flavor and a clean, sorghum-free finish," said Epic brewmaster Kevin Crompton. It took about four months of recipe development and testing before Crompton was ready to start brewing. "It was hard to make gluten-free substances taste like a normal beer," he said, noting that initial batches had an apple cider taste. "We tried to get away from the cider-y flavors. We wanted it to taste like beer."

Camping with kids

Travel and skiing writer Helen Olsson hosts a family workshop to discuss her book The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids: How to Plan Memorable Family Adventures and Connect Kids to Nature. It is a helpful and humorous guide packed with family camping anecdotes.

When • Saturday, March 31, 4 p.m.

Where • King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City

Cost • Free

Details • 801-484-9100 or jenny@kingsenglish.com.