Medication take-back
Unused or expired medication can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Walker County Civic Center, 10052 N. Highway 27, Rock Spring, Ga. The Walker County Sheriff's Office will have the medication destroyed as part of a program sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration. For more information, visit www.dea.gov or call 800-882-9539.
Mammograms
Epiphany Salon & Day Spa's 2012 Breast Cancer Event will offer complimentary cut and style lessons, brow technique and much more, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 8, at 330 Frazier Ave. Memorial's Mobile Health Coach will provide mammogram screenings for women age 40 and over who haven't had a mammogram in the last 12 months, with or without insurance. Call 495-4040 or toll free 866-591-2254 to schedule appointment.
Health Fairs
• Annual Health and Wellness Fair today, 4 to 7 p.m. at the North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102, Hixson. Seminars and free screenings include bone density, balance, blood pressure, spine, dental, vision and BMI waist-to-hip ratio. For information, call 870-8924.
• Community Health Fair, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Hixson United Methodist Church, 5103 Old Hixson Pike. 877-1246. Noon lunch with speaker Dr. Nell Mohney, $8. Offerings include mammogram, hearing, bone density, balance and blood pressure screenings, massage and spine chairs, assisted living representatives and more. Blood Assurance blood drive is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For mammogram appointment with Memorial's Mobile Health Coach from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., call 495-4040 or 866-591-2254.
• Free The Walk of Life community health fair, 10 a.m. to 2p.m. Saturday at Bradley Square Mall, Cleveland. Screenings include asthma-spirometry, blood pressure, bone scan, HIV/AIDS, dental, vision, hearing and more. For information, contact Jonathan Porter at 423-596-0740 or Oscar Kelley at 423-413-8768.
Diabetes
Diabetes education class, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 4, at Erlanger Chattanooga Lifestyle Center. This class explores ways to manage diabetes. Call 778-9400 for information on physician referral and insurance reimbursement.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
Free screening to detect bulges in artery walls for men and women 65 or older with no previous diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm and no abdominal CT in the past five years. Screenings during October at Memorial Hospital Glenwood, Memorial Hospital Hixson and Memorial Ooltewah. Registration and appointment required by calling 495-6000.
Weight-loss surgery
Chattanooga Bariatrics will hold a free seminar on gastric banding (Lap-Band and Realize Band) and the new sleeve procedure for people at least 75 pounds overweight at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 10 at 7405 Shallowford Road #160. Call 899-1000 for reservations. Free insurance verification.
Pancreatic cancer
The Chattanooga Affiliate of Pancreatic Cancer Action network will sponsor a free Purple Light Chattanooga event on Sunday at the Hunter Museum of American Art. Names will be read and candles lit in honor or memory of those afflicted with pancreatic cancer or who have lost the battle. Register at www.purplelight.org. For information, call Emily Lewis at 894-2744.
T'ai Ji class
Living Tao T'ai Ji class at Historic St. Elmo United Methodist Church, 4626 St. Elmo Ave. The eight-week series begins Saturday. Cost is $10 per class. For information, email Christopher Campbell at timefortaiji@mac.com or call 821-8947.
Diabetes group
The kick-off for the new Chattanooga Diabetes Sisters PODS Meetup will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Chattanooga First Church of the Nazarene, 5455 North Terrace. This free monthly meeting for women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hosted by Partners & Peers for Diabetes Care, will be held the first Thursday of every month. For more information, visit www.diabetessisters.org or contact Claire Blum at cblum@partnersandpeers.org
Back/neck pain assessment
Rehab South is offering a free back and neck pain assessment in October and November and will discuss therapy options. Allow 30 minutes for screening and results. Call 877-4599 to schedule screening.
Autism Center Open House
The Chattanooga Autism Center's open house from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 1400 McCallie Ave., will unveil its new space, including the Autism Resource Library, offices, a therapy room and conference room. Light snacks. For information, visit ChattanoogaAutismCenter.org or call 260-1115.
Items for this column are due the Friday before Thursday's publication date. Write to Linda Weaver, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447; fax 668-5071; e-mail lweaver @timesfreepress.com.