NORTH COUNTY -- To help families with children who have emotional issues as a result of the recent fires, Palomar Family Counseling Service Inc. has opened new groups. There is no fee for these groups, and they will be available for as long as needed. The groups will be conducted at Palomar Family Counseling Service Inc. offices in Escondido, Poway and Fallbrook. For a schedule, call (760) 741-2660 in Escondido; (858) 748-3610 in Poway; and (760) 731-3235 in Fallbrook.

Flu shots available

These locations are offering flu shots. For more on vaccination locations throughout San Diego County, call (877) FLU-0202.

- Adventist Health Home Care will offer flu shots to those 50 and older from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Encinitas Senior Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. The vaccine will be given on a first-come, first-served basis and costs $12, made payable by cash, or a check made out to TSSI. Call (760) 943-2250 to register.

- Community Flu Vaccination Clinic from 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 11 at St. Michael's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd. Cost is $20. Shots for age 9 and older. Call (760) 729-8901.

- Tri-City Medical Center: Free shots for seniors 55 years and older by appointment at two full-day, free community flu shot clinics from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 15 and16, at the new Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, 161 Thunder Drive, Suite 112, Vista. Visit www.tricitymed.org/edu/events/flu/ or leave a voice message at (760) 940-5786.

- Stater Bros. stores offer flu shots from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 18 at participating supermarkets. Cost is $25 per vaccination by an approved Medicare Part B provider, so those eligible should bring their Medicare ID card to the clinic and they will not be charged. Clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays.

- Palomar Pomerado Health: For ages 18 and older. Cost is $15. PPH will bill Medicare for those patients who have straight Medicare, Medicare with supplement or Tricare for Life. Participants must bring their Medicare card to the clinic. A complete listing of scheduled clinics that are open to the public, along with general information about the flu, is available online at www.pph.org. Simply click on "PPH Flu Shot Clinics" from the home page.

- Vista Community Clinic: Flu and pneumonia vaccines available for high-risk patients on a walk-in basis from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday and Nov. 14 at the Vale Terrace Branch, 1000 Vale Terrace, Vista. Also, at the same times Tuesday at the Pier View Way Branch, 818 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Cost is $4 flu, $33 pneumonia. High-risk groups include adults over age 50, children under age 5, caregivers and people in any age category who have chronic illnesses such as chronic heart or lung problems, asthma, diabetes, etc., as well as anyone living with infants less than 6 months old. Call (760) 631-5000, Ext. 1115.

Gene therapy trial seeking heart patients

SAN DIEGO -- Sharp Memorial Hospital and San Diego Cardiac Center are participating in the first-ever human gene transfer therapy clinical trial in patients with heart failure. Three patients have already been treated at Sharp Memorial since the trial began in May and the trial continues to recruit candidates. The study is being conducted at approximately nine medical centers in the United States. Individuals with heart disease who are interested in the trial should have their physician contact the San Diego Cardiac Center at (858) 244-6890.

Infertility group starts

An infertility support group starts at 5 p.m. Monday. Call (760) 522-5659 for details and directions.

Free breast cancer seminar at Sharp

SAN DIEGO -- Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion hosts a free seminar on breast cancer and the latest in treatment options from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, 3003 Health Center Drive. Register to (800) 82-SHARP (800-827-4277) or www.sharp.com/classes.

Dental screening set Wednesday

ESCONDIDO -- Dr. Randy Jungman does dental screening from 8:15-9:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Joslyn Senior Center, 728 N. Broadway. Call (760) 480-0611.

Diabetes support group meets Thursday

OCEANSIDE -- The North County Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Community Room of the Oceanside Public Library, 3861 Mission Ave. Open to all diabetics or those who wish to learn more about diabetes. Call (760) 945-3559.

Health Expos set in November

NORTH COUNTY -- The Health and Wellness Exposition presented by Fresh Dining will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Featured are food tasting from Fresh Dining, wine tastings, live music, local celebrities and personalities, interactive demos, and a health fair. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Visit www.lifestylesinfocus.com or call (619) 987-9937.

Cancer benefit set for Saturday

ENCINITAS -- Moonlight Cancer Foundation is hosting their 7th annual "Harmony Harvest Benefit Concert & Silent Auction," with Tim Flannery & Friends at 7 p.m. Saturday at Seaside Center Auditorium, 1613 Lake Drive (next to Cardiff Sports Park). Sponsored by Genentech, this evening will feature recording artist Tim Flannery of San Diego Padres fame, along with Eve Selis and Berkley Hart. Doors open at 6 p.m. for silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and no-host bar. Tickets are $20 if purchased by Thursday, or $25 at the door. Call (760) 635-7820 for tickets, or visit www.moonlightcancerfoundation.org. Interested volunteers should contact Brisha Cordella at (760) 634-1453 or e-mail BCordella@cox.net.

Sjogren's syndrome group to meet Saturday

LA JOLLA - The San Diego and Imperial counties chapter of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday at Thornton Hospital, La Jolla. Emmy Garnica will give a free lecture on the benefits of yoga. Call (619) 303-9004 or visit sjogrens@cox.net.

Free yoga for those with cancer

LA JOLLA -- County residents living with a cancer diagnosis can enroll in a free gentle yoga workshop series sponsored by Scripps Cancer Center. Sessions are at 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 12 and Nov. 20, and will take place in the Great Hall of the Schaetzel Center on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, 9888 Genesee Ave. Most postures can be performed while seated in a chair and no previous experience is required. Register to (858) 554-9376. Cost for parking is $2.

Walkathon set for Nov. 11

SAN MARCOS -- A Family Walk-a-Thon, "Sight for Christian," will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at San Elijo Park to help pay medical costs for Christian Lee, diagnosed with a rare congenital glaucoma. Registration is $15 a walker and will include a T-shirt and live music. This fundraiser is also intended to teach young children the importance of helping others and allow them to participate. For details, contact Laurie Dufresne at sightforchristian@gmail.com or at (760) 550-2422.

Support group for women with heart ills

CARLSBAD -- The San Diego North Coastal Chapter of WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, meets at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 13 at GlenView Assisted Living, 1950 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad. Call (760) 438-5890.

NAMI speaker set for Nov. 15

CARLSBAD -- Dr. Sanjaya Saxena speaks on "Understanding and Coping with Anxiety" on Nov. 15 at the next meeting of NAMI North Coastal San Diego County, which will be at St. Michael's Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 2775 Carlsbad Boulevard. Refreshments served afterward, followed by a support group meeting for family members in the church library. Call (760) 729-8901.

Exercise class offered twice weekly

OCEANSIDE -- First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside hosts a free Active Older Adults & Seniors exercise class twice weekly funded by the County of San Diego Aging & Independent Services. Classes are from 9-10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays to strengthen major muscle groups and educate about the benefits of exercise, health and fitness components. Instructor Gretchen Vurbeff is a FallProof Certified Balance and Mobility Instructor. The class meets in the Great Hall of the church at 2001 El Camino Real at Fire Mountain Road. Call (760) 757-3560.

Free health talks

CARLSBAD -- Free talks on health, weight management, healthy lifestyles offered every second and fourth Tuesday in Carlsbad. Call Sharon at (858) 349-4452.

Bereavement groups

OCEANSIDE -- First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside hosts a bereavement support group, "Picking Up the Pieces," from 2-3 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Fireside Room of the church, 2001 El Camino Real. Call (760)757-3560.

Volunteers sought for adult center

ENCINITAS -- Glenner Alzheimer's Center in Encinitas is seeking volunteers and arts and crafts donations for its Alzheimer's day program. Please call (760) 635-1895 and ask for Dawn.

Clinic offers low-cost immunizations for kids

ESCONDIDO -- Neighborhood Healthcare -- Escondido, a nonprofit community health center, is offering walk-in immunizations at 460 N. Elm Street in Escondido from 1:30-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays. The clinic accepts a variety of insurances and provides services based on a sliding scale fee. Call (760) 737-2000.

VCC offers breast cancer support group

Vista Community Clinic's Breast Health Program offers a support group for breast cancer survivors and those in treatment. The group meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Members of the group share experiences and resource information. Call (760) 407-1220 Ext. 167, or (760) 407-1220 Ext. 154.

Clinic offers INS healthcare exams

ESCONDIDO - Neighborhood Healthcare offers INS medical exams, a requirement for anyone applying for legal residency or citizenship in the United States. Exams are available weekdays at the health center, by appointment only. The health center is at 460 N. Elm St., Escondido.

The exam costs $85 plus laboratory fees. Additional costs may vary, depending upon specific government requirements for type of application and country of origin.

Patients will also need to bring a government-issued photo ID and BCIS physical forms, which may be obtained online at www.bcis.gov/graphics/surgeonportal.htm, from INS or from their attorney.

For details or to make an appointment, call (760) 520-8100. Exams are also available weekdays by appointment at Neighborhood Healthcare -- Pauma Valley, off Highway 76. Call (760) 742-9923 to make an appointment in Pauma Valley.

Speakers available from VCC

Vista Community Clinic provides guest speakers for group luncheons or meetings and provides health education booths for health fairs. The clinic speakers bureau can present a variety of health education topics such as:

- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Prevention Programs: Learn about substance abuse issues that affect the local community, public health initiatives that work, and what local citizens can do to get involved in combating these problems.

- Breast Health Education Program: Learn about breast health issues, mammograms, free services offered to target populations, special event schedules.

- Junior REACH and Project REACH: Learn about REACH after school programs for at-risk youths in Vista and Oceanside, challenges facing today's youth, and REACH success stories.

Contact Betsy Heightman at (760) 631-5000, Ext. 1139 to request a speaker.

Clinical trial Web sites

Clinical trials recruit volunteers to test drugs and therapies. Many are held in and around our area. These Web sites list many clinical trials. Clinical trials have precise inclusion and exclusion rules, so when you find one that interests you, be sure to read the rules carefully:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/. Site of the National Institutes of Health.

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. Site of the National Cancer Institute.

http://www.centerwatch.com/. This site partners with WebMD.com to list 42,000 trials.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/clinicaltrials.html. This site sponsored by Medline/National Library of Medicine explains what you should know about clinical trials.