Parkinson's group to meet

CARDIFF -- The North County Parkinson's Support Group will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Belmont Village, 3535 Manchester Ave. Care and Share meeting. Call 760-295-0540.

Parkinson's group to hold picnic

CARLSBAD -- The North County Parkinson's Support Group will hold its annual picnic from 11:30 a.m.â€"2 p.m. July 8 at Aviara Park, 6445 Ambrosia Lane. Reserve to 760-723-8887. No meeting at the Vista Senior Center in July or August.

Sites hosting blood donations

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Blood Bank is hosting these donation opportunities. Call 800-469-7322:

- 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Souplantation, 17210 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego

- 1:30-7 p.m. Monday, CVS/pharmacy, 12358 Poway Road, Poway

- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Cymer, Inc., 17075 Thornmint Court, San Diego

- 2-7 p.m. July 8, Regal Cinemas, 350 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido

- 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 9, City Hall, 13325 Civic Center Drive, Poway

- 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 12, Vons and Subway parking lot, 13255 Black Mountain Road, San Diego

Free classes offered at Centre for Health Care

POWAY -- These free classes are offered through the Centre For Health Care at Pomerado Hospital Campus, Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, 15611 Pomerado Road, Ste. 400. Call 858-613-8900 and press 6 for reservations:

- 10 a.m. July 9, Living With Diabetes, Centre For Health Care, 1236 Main St., Ramona

- 10 a.m. July 13, Nutrition for Diabetics, Centre For Health Care, Poway

- 12:30 p.m. July 28, Heart Rhythm Problems, Centre For Health Care, Poway

PPH offers free and low-cost classes, screenings

SAN DIEGO -- Palomar Pomerado Health will host these free and low-cost health education classes in July.

- 10:30 a.m. July 8, "Kidney Stones: Cause, Prevention and Treatment," at OASIS, Westfield Shoppingtown,

280 E. Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido; register to 760-432-0635. Fee: $3.

- 1 p.m. July 9, "Celebrate Your Body!" Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, 15611 Pomerado Road, Poway. Register to 800-628-2880 or visit www.pph.org. Free.

- 6 p.m. July 10, "Babysitting Basics," Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, 15611 Pomerado Road, Poway. Register to 800-628-2880 or visit www.pph.org and click on "Classes and Events." Fee: $20.

- 6 p.m. July 13, "Eating Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment Options," Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, 15611 Pomerado Road, Poway. Register to 800-628-2880 or visit www.pph.org. Free.

PPH offers free screenings in July

SAN DIEGO -- Palomar Pomerado Health will host these free screenings in July. Walk-ins welcome; no registration required.

- Blood pressure:

Noon-2 p.m. second Tuesday, Pomerado Hospital lobby; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. first Friday, Palomar Medical Center lobby; noon-2 p.m. second Monday, OASIS (Westfield Shoppingtown, Escondido)

- Blood glucose screenings:

9-11 a.m. first Wednesday, Palomar Medical Center lobby; 9-11 a.m. second Wednesday, Pomerado Hospital lobby; 9-11 a.m. third Wednesday, Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion lobby.

Scripps offers lectures, events

Scripps Health offers these free lectures and events at its medical centers:

- 7 p.m. Monday, "Aloha Stress Management," Scripps Coastal Medical Center locations. Call 760-806-5881.

- 6 p.m. July 9, "Creating the Perfect Plate," Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, 354 Santa Fe Drive. Call 760-633-6501.

- 7 p.m. July 13, "Reducing Risk for Osteoporosis," Scripps Coastal Medical Center locations. Call 760-806-5881.

- 12:30 p.m. July 15, "Osteoarthritis Pain-Free," Scripps Coastal Medical Center locations. Call 760-806-5881.

Health weekend July 11-12 in Carlsbad

CARLSBAD -- The city of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Community Health and Fitness Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11 in the southwest parking lot of Westfield Plaza Camino Real. The event features a Fitness Activity Circuit, where participants can engage in a variety of physical activities, as well as demonstrations, products and informational booths offering tools and resources for getting healthy and staying healthy at any age. Call (760) 434-2826, or visit www.carlsbadca.gov/recreation.

Free session on 'take shape' program offered

VISTA -- Losing the battle of the bulge? Join Dr. Wendy Martin and Sue Callaway at 6 p.m. July 14 at the Cassidy Medical Arts Building, 145 Thunder Drive, for a free session to learn about the Take Shape For Life program. Call 760-716-0525.

VCC offers breast cancer support groups

VISTA -- Breast cancer survivors are invited to join the support circle at the Vista Community Clinic and share personal experiences, gain support and information with others in similar situations. The English-speaking group meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month and the Spanish-speaking group meets the second and fourth Mondays, both at Vista Community Clinic's Health Promotion Center at 846 Williamston St. Call 760-407-1220, ext. 154.

Hospice offers free workshop

ESCONDIDO -- The Elizabeth Hospice Center for Compassionate Care offers a free workshop on how to plan for quality care when coping with a serious illness from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 11 at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. This workshop will address the emotional aspects of making the decision to begin hospice care and to help make the experience a positive one.

Call (760) 737-2050.

Lecture on 'Medications From the Mind'

OCEANSIDE -- A. Gordon Ray of Horizons Unlimited International presents "Medications From the Mind" from 7-9 p.m. July 16 at the Oceanside Inn and Conference Center, 1680 Oceanside Blvd and I-5 South. Cost is $49 and includes a CD. Reserve by June 30 and price is reduced to $39. Reserve to 760-967-1295, e-mail to huintl@aol.com or visit www.agordonray.com.

Hospice center offers free workshop

ESCONDIDO -- The Elizabeth Hospice Center for Compassionate Care offers a free workshop on exploring options when caring for someone who is aging at 6 p.m. July 29 at the Center for Compassionate Care, 930 Canterbury Place. Learn what options and what choices need to be considered and are available when providing care for a loved one, ranging from at-home caregivers to skilled nursing facilities and everything in between. Reserve to 760-737-2050.

Alzheimer's seminar offered in SM

SAN MARCOS -- "The Caregiving Journey: Practical Advice from Experts in the Field" will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 30 at the Lake San Marcos Resort Conference Center, 1025 La Bonita Drive. Continental breakfast will be served. This free educational forum for family caregivers will address the issues facing a family caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. A panel of experts will discuss issues facing those assuming the role of the caregiver. Sponsors are Health Care Group's ActivCare-Residential Alzheimer's Care facilities and the George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers Inc. Free adult day care during the event at the Glenner Encinitas Center. Reservations are required. Call 760-635-1895 at least one week before the event. To sign up for the free Town Hall Forum, call 858-565-4424.

Expresscare centers offer specials

SAN DIEGO -- Palomar Pomerado Health expresscare is offering Summertime Screenings Specials until July 31 at its centers at Rancho Penasquitos Albertsons/Sav-On Pharmacy, 14340 Penasquitos Blvd., and Escondido Albertsons/Sav-On Pharmacy, 1509 E. Valley Parkway. The Specials provide screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and obesity for a discounted fee of $10 each, and cholesterol screenings and smoking cessation consultations for a discounted fee of $15. Discounts for free and $5 screening specials will be provided only on the designated days:

- Tuesdays: Free blood pressure (hypertension) screenings and free blood pressure cuff calibration checks (bring your blood pressure cuffs from home to be examined by an expresscare clinician to ensure adequate readings)

- Wednesdays: Free blood sugar (glucose) screenings (fasting required)

- Fridays: $5 cholesterol screenings

- Saturdays: Free blood sugar (glucose) screenings (fasting required)

Visit www.pphexpresscare.org or call 760-746-1562, Escondido or 858-672-2065, Rancho Penasquitos.

Mental illness group to meet

CARLSBAD -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness meets from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays in Parish Hall, at St. Michael's by the Sea Episcopal Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd. Call 760-722-3754.

OCD support group to meet

ESCONDIDO -- A professionally led obsessive-compulsive disorder support group will meet at 7 p.m. the last Monday at 502 W. El Norte Parkway. Call 760-715-7273.

Mental illness group to meet

OCEANSIDE -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Mariposa Clubhouse, 506 Greenbrier Drive, Suite C-E. Call 760-439-2785.