Arthritis help

Arthritis help
NILES -- The Arthritis Exercise Program is offered at the Niles Senior Citizen's Center, 14 E. State St., beginning Monday. The cost of the program, sponsored by Eschman Physical Therapy in Howland and The Arthritis Foundation, is $16, which includes 2 classes weekly for 8 weeks. The program will be on Monday's from 3 to 4 p.m. and Friday's from 11 a.m. to noon through Oct. 30. Pre-registration is required. Call (330) 372-5800.
New Start program
NILES -- Health professionals from the St. Joseph New Start Treatment Center will present Voices of Recovery, a program to help the community understand alcohol and drug addiction and assist families in the recovery process, at noon Sept. 18 and again at 5 p.m. Sept. 21 in the meeting room of St. Joe's at the Mall, Eastwood Mall (Sears entrance). The program is free and open to the public, and registration is not necessary. It is presented in conjunction with National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in September.
Adoption session
WARREN -- Northeast Ohio Adoption Services, 5000 E. Market St., Suite 26, is offering singles or couples considering adopting a school aged child or becoming a foster parent an informal open house on Sept. 26 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Information packets will be available and visitors can talk to staff members.
NOAS offers free classes to cover a variety of issues at the Warren office from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 17, 21, 23, 25, and 28. NOAS does not charge fees to families for adoption. For information or to register for the open house or classes, call (330) 856-5582.
Cancer patient help
CANFIELD -- The American Cancer Society offers the Patient Navigator Program to provide guidance for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers to help them navigate the cancer experience. The Patient Navigator pilot program was started in Mahoning County in 2001 to help cancer patients navigate the systems they face as they combat their cancer. This includes medical, financial, insurance, social and support systems.
American Cancer Society Patient Navigators have been strategically located in areas of Ohio that demonstrate the greatest need. Navigators receive referrals through Society offices.
To locate the Patient Navigator in your area, call toll free at (888) 227-6446.
Divorce recovery
WARREN -- The Divorce Recovery Workshop offered by North-Mar Church, 3855 East Market St., for people who are divorced or separated, begins Oct. 5. The workshop will be on six consecutive Thursday nights through Nov. 9 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The fee is $30, but a $5 discount is available if the paid registration is postmarked by Sept. 28. Each participant will receive a copy of Jim Smoke's book, the study guide for the workshop. Childcare is available.
For more information or to register, call (330) 856-3496.
Cancer survivors
AKRON -- "Beyond the Cure," a free conference for childhood cancer survivors and their families is on Sept. 30 from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Akron General Health & amp; Wellness Center, 4125 Medina Road.
The conference will address the possible late medical effects of childhood cancer, school re-entry, making the transition from treatment to life after cancer, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and spirituality. The keynote speaker, Dr. Melissa Hudson of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, will present, "Staying Healthy After Childhood Cancer."
In the afternoon, there will be special sessions for cancer survivors 14 years and older, parents and school personnel. Health care professionals are welcome to attend. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
"Beyond the Cure" is sponsored by Akron Children's Hospital, Akron General Medical Center and Summa Health System, in conjunction with the National Children's Cancer Society. To register, call (330) 543-3343.
Older driver aid
AUSTINTOWN -- The Mahoning County District Board of Health offers the 55 Alive program, an eight-hour classroom refresher course for experienced motorists age 50 and older. The course addresses the physical and mental changes that can affect driving ability and behavior, and ways to compensate for those changes. The course is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 11 and 12 at the county health office, 50 Westchester Drive. To register, call Jane Warga at (330) 270-2855.
Get a piece of pie
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon will recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month by serving a free piece of Ma Peg's Pie to every woman who comes to the Womancare Center, 875 N. Hermitage Road, for a mammogram during October. Ma Peg, also known as Peggy Leonard, a retired UPMC Horizon employee, traditionally bakes pies for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Call (724) 347-7700.
Red Cross meeting
BOARDMAN -- The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross will have an open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday for those interested in joining its Disaster Action Team. The team provides Red Cross disaster assistance to the community, and are trained to assist in fires, floods, tornadoes, transportation accidents, hazardous material spills, and other man-made or natural disasters. Call (330) 726-6063.
Heroes nominations
BOARDMAN -- The Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting nominations of local heroes for its 2007 Heroes of the Mahoning Valley breakfast, which is at 10 a.m. Jan. 13, 2007, at Antone's Banquet Centre.
The heroic act must have occurred between Sept. 1, 2005, and Sept. 1, 2006, and must have taken place in the Mahoning Chapter's jurisdiction, which is all of Mahoning County and Hubbard, Liberty and Girard in Trumbull County. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 10.
Nomination categories include: Firefighter; law enforcement; medical; good neighbor, over 21; youth Samaritan, 21 and under; animal, either human caregiver or animal hero; workplace safety; educator; and community impact.
Call (330) 726-6063 for more information.
Vehicle restraints
BOARDMAN -- Free children's vehicle safety restraint checks will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 16 at Babies R Us, 1240 Doral Drive, and State Farm Insurance, 1499 Boardman-Canfield Road. Technicians will check seats for proper installation. Each seat takes about 20 minutes to inspect. Reservations can be made by calling (330) 884-4031. Drive-ins are also welcome. The event is sponsored by the Mahoning Valley SAFE KIDS Coalition, State Farm, Babies R Us, Tod Children's Hospital, and Greenwood Chevrolet.
Well-child clinic
GIRARD -- The well-child immunization clinic is at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Girard Health Department, 100 W. Main St. The clinic is free of charge to Girard City children. Parents are reminded to bring a copy of their child's immunization record. A parent or guardian must accompany children under the age of 18. Preregistration is required. Call (330) 545-6048.
Dinner for diabetes
YOUNGSTOWN -- A dinner and show Tuesday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Youngstown Crab Co., 3917 Belmont Ave., will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. The cost of the shrimp and fish fry dinner and a concert by the Youngstown-based band Relic and their special guests, The Redlights, is $25 per person. Call (330) 797-2700 for reservations.
Heartburn, SIDS talks
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown-Warren, Ohio Black Nurses Association is offering two health education programs at Northside Medical Center that are free and open to the public. They are: Heartburn update, 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26; and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Snacks will be provided.