HEALTH CALENDAR

June 5, 2005 1:08 am

Classes/Seminars/Events

Aikido Club of Fredericksburg, a Japanese martial-arts group, meets seven times a week at 4006 Leonard Drive. Call 582-9600 for details.

American Red Cross blood drive today at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and St. Patrick Catholic Church, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Monday, Episcopal Church of the Word, Gainesville, 2:20-6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Stafford Rescue Squad, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Thursday, Collegiate Funding Services in Fredericksburg, 1-5 p.m.; Friday, Tricord Homes in Fredericksburg, noon-4 p.m.; Saturday, Peace United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; also at General Washington Executive Center, 2217 Princess Anne St., Suite 104-A, Wednesday, 1-7 p.m. and Friday, 1-7 p.m.

Daybreak, a recreational respite program sponsored by the Association for Retarded Citizens-Rappahannock Inc. is held every Saturday, 2-5 p.m., for persons ages 2 and up who have mental retardation or other developmental disabilities. Cost: $3. Call 899-3789 to register.

disAbility Resource Center, 409 Progress St., board meetings open to the public on the second Tuesday of the month, every other month, 6-7:30 p.m. General discussion 6-6:15 p.m.

Gospel Aerobics, every Monday and Thursday, 7 p.m., and free blood-pressure screening every second and fourth Sunday following morning worship, Mount Olive Baptist Church, 395 Mount Olive Road, Stafford. 752-4296 or 657-6062.

GriefShare, a free seminar and support group for people grieving the loss of someone close, meets Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. at The Lake of the Woods Church, 972-9060; meets Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. at Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Room 247, 65 Toluca Road.

Group Meditation and Satsang, sponsored by Science of Spirituality, meets the first Thursday of every month, 7-8:30 p.m., Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Caroline Street. 804/633-4106 or 800/ 942-0839.

Heart Attack and Stroke Education classes, sponsored by the REACT program at Mary Washington Hospital. To schedule a presentation for a community group, call 899-1439.

Long-Term Care Seminar June 28, 7 p.m., Riverside Conference Center. Free. Sponsored by First Command Financial Planning. 540/659-7060.

Mary Washington Hospital Auxiliary Mobile Health Clinic visits Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford with a wide range of services for those who do not have health insurance or who lack access to health services. Call 888/487-7742 for appointments, locations and details.

National Federation of the Blind, Fredericksburg Chapter, meets the second Thursday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m., disAbility Resource Center, 409 Progress St. 540/760-3885.

Rappahannock Medical Reserve Corps, the Rappahannock Area Health District's auxiliary, meets first Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m., at 608 Jackson St.

Spiritual Journey Discussion Group for those interested in near-death experiences meets the third Saturday of each month, 11 a.m., Synergy Chiropractic Wellness Center, 305 Hanson Ave.; free. 582-2043.

Vegetarian Cooking Class, first Saturday of each month at Porter Library, Stafford, 2-3:30 p.m., followed by meditation class, 3:30-4:30 p.m.; fourth Saturday of each month at Salem Church Library, Spotsylvania, 2-3:30 p.m., with meditation class to follow, 4-5 p.m. 804/633-4106 or 800/942-0839.

Health agencies

The Rappahannock Area Health District offices offer free or low-cost health care. Here are some of the services provided at local health-department offices:

Dental health services are available from the Rappahannock Area Health District for people ages 3-21 at selected Stafford County schools. Call 659-3101 for an appointment.

Dental health services are available in Caroline County for children in grades K-5 who have Medicaid, FMIS or no private dental insurance. To learn more, call 804/633-5465, ext. 214.

The disAbility Resource Center in Fredericksburg offers free services to persons who receive Social Security disability benefits and are working or thinking about returning to work. A benefits specialist will help recipients understand how their federal payments and medical coverage will be affected by working. Call Debe Fults, 373-2559.

Every Woman's Life Program offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings and educational programs for women ages 50-64 who have no insurance and meet income eligibility. Call Rappahannock Area Health District at 899-4142 or 899-4794.

Family-planning clinics are held on Mondays and Tuesdays in Spotsylvania, 582-7155, and Stafford, 659-3101; Wednesdays in Caroline, 804/633-5465, King George, 775-3111, and Fredericksburg, 899-4142. Call for an appointment.

Fredericksburg Counseling Services, 305 Hanson Ave., Suite 140, offers no-charge counseling to qualified residents of Fredericksburg and surrounding counties. The program serves residents who have no mental-health insurance coverage, are not covered by Medicaid or Medicare, and meet established income requirements. Call 373-2320 for an assessment and appointment.

Free medical insurance for children in the Fredericksburg area whose families meet income requirements, through Quin Rivers Agency for Community Action, funded by Mary Washington Hospital. 804/633-5318.

HIV tests and clinics are held at the Fredericksburg Health Department on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Appointments are not required.

Immunization clinics are held on Mondays in Caroline, 804/633-5465; Tuesdays in Fredericksburg, 899-4142; Wednesdays in Spotsylvania, 582-7155; Thursdays in King George, 775-3111; and Fridays in Stafford, 659-3101. Call for times.

Moss Free Clinic, 435 Hunter St. in Fredericksburg, offers free medical and dental care for qualified residents of the city and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. The clinic serves those who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, who do not have other health benefits or insurance and who meet income requirements set by the Fredericksburg Area Regional Health Council. New patients are seen on Tuesday and Thursday evenings only. Call 741-1061 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday or Thursday to schedule an appointment for that evening. Closed on holidays.

Overseas-travel immunization clinics are held on Friday mornings at the Fredericksburg Health Department, 899-4142. Call for an appointment.

Prenatal and postpartum care clinics are held at local health departments on Mondays in Spotsylvania, 582-7155; Tuesdays in Stafford, 659-3101; Wednesdays in Caroline, 804/633-5465, and King George, 775-3111; and Thursdays in Fredericksburg, 899-4142. Call for an appointment.

Sexually transmitted disease clinics are held on Monday and Thursday afternoons at the Fredericksburg Health Department. Appointments are not required.

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program supplies free food and nutrition counseling to lower-income clients. Clinics are held on Mondays in Caroline, 804/633-5465; Thursdays in Stafford, 659-3101; Tuesdays in Fredericksburg, 899-4142; Wednesdays in Spotsylvania, 582-7155; and Thursdays in King George, 775-3111. Call for an appointment.

Miscellaneous clinics, which include HIV testing, immunizations and pregnancy testing are held from 8 to 9 a.m. on Fridays in Fredericksburg, 899-4142, King George, 775-3111, Spotsylvania, 582-7155, and Stafford, 659-3101; and Mondays in Caroline, 804/633-5465. Appointments are not required.

To have your event or group listed in The Free Lance-Star, send a notice to: Health Calendar, c/o Healthy Living Section, The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401. Include a phone number. Deadline is noon the preceding Tuesday.