Lifestyles

Health notes

ALZHEIMER SEMINAR: The Alzheimer Network will present a free seminar on legal and financial issues regarding long term care often associated with Alzheimer's disease. The seminar will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2305 S. Canfield Niles Road in Austintown.

The lecture will be presented by the Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert Rusu Jr. and elder law attorney Charlene Burke. Handouts will be provided.

Preregistration is required by calling the Alzheimer Network at 330-788-9755.

FLU SHOT CLINIC: Mahoning County Public Health will offer walk-in flu shot clinics at various locations throughout the county.

The department bills insurance for the vaccines and most insurers cover them.

Mahoning County Public Health is a Vaccines for Children program provider and will have limited opportunities for children that are uninsured or underinsured to receive the vaccine free.

The walk-in flu shot clinics are:

• Friday -- 9 to 11 a.m., Southern Park Mall-Center Court, 7401 Market St., Youngstown

• Friday -- 9 to 11 a.m., Austintown Senior Center, 112 Westchester Drive, Austintown

• Oct. 4 -- 10 a.m. to noon, Boardman United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 6809 Market St., Youngstown

• Oct. 4 --2 to 5 p.m., Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 South Broad St., Canfield.

EATING DISORDER HELP: The National Association for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and other Eating Disorders, will meet 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Church of Notre Dame, 2325 Highland Road, Hermitage, Pa. For more information, call Renee at 724-981-5435.

SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET: The Youngstown Area Scleroderma Support Group will meet virtually at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The meeting is open to the public and focuses on issues of people affected in all ways by scleroderma. This includes patients, family, friends, or anyone interested in advancing the areas of support, education and research.

For more information and zoom meeting numbers, contact the group leader Leni Schulz at 330-654-2538, or by emailing Youngstown-sg@sfohio.org.

DISPOSAL BAGS AT LIBRARY: Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, distributed Deterra Drug Disposal Bags at various library locations. A limited supply will be available at each library location and one Deterra Drug Disposal Bag will be permitted per family.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal system is a simple, environmentally safe way for someone to get rid of unneeded medications. The Deterra Drug Disposal Bag allows users to safely deactivate and dispose of unneeded pills, patches, liquids, creams and films at home.

As an alternative to the Deterra Drug Disposal Bags, unneeded medications also can be disposed of at permanent drop-off locations that can be found in the lobbies at various local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.

Proper disposal of unneeded medications helps: keep children, pets, and others safe from accidentally ingesting unused or expired medications; prevent them from being misused or stolen; and keep the medication out of our water and soil.

MOBILE OFFICE: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Mobile Office is on site 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Carl Nunziato VA Outpatient Clinic, 1815 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. Anyone with questions regarding VA or Mahoning County benefits, or who needs to file a VA claim, can stop in. For more information, contact Susan Krawchyk, executive director, Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, at 330-740-250.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY: Celebrate Recovery, a support group to help those recovering from addiction or any kind of mental health issue, meets 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at 6779 Belmont Ave., Girard.

NAMI OFFERS SUPPORT: National Alliance on Mental Illness Mahoning Valley offers support and education for individuals and families dealing with mental illness.

• Family To Family, for families dealing with a member who has mental illness, and Peer to Peer, for individuals dealing with mental illness, meet periodically;

• Connection support groups, 2:15 p.m. Thursdays, Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown;

• Connection support groups, 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown;

• Free yoga, noon to 1 p.m. second Friday of each month, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown;

• Support through Expressive Arts, 6 p.m. every third Monday, Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown;

• Daytime Family Support Group, 11 a.m. the first Thursday of the month, Girard Library, 105 Prospect St., Girard;

• Evening Family Support Group, 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown.

Email info@namimahoningvalley.org, call 330-727-9268 or visit the website at www.namimahoningvalley.org for more information.

Lifestyles

Health Notes

Vindicator plans to honor breast cancer survivors: The Vindicator again this year wishes to share stories of local breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

The idea is to put a human face on this disease, to help those diagnosed by hearing voices of those who have experienced the journey, and to spotlight therapies and support that helped.

We also will honor the memories of those who lost their battle.

To share your story, or to honor someone and tell how they inspired you during struggles and triumph with breast cancer, send a brief description to Features Editor Burton Cole at bcole@tribtoday.com or Metro Editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com, or by mail to 240 Franklin St. SE, Warren, OH 44483. Include contact information.

Reporters will contact a few of the people suggested to be profiled in Vindicator publications throughout October.

THE MAHONING COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY BOARD: will meet at 5 p.m. Monday at the board office, 222 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Parking will be behind the building in the lot on West Commerce Street.

SELF-HELP GROUP TO MEET: Recovery International, a community self-help mental health group, will meet at 2 p.m. today at the Michael Kusalaba Public Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Mercy Health's Hospice of the Valley is seeking new volunteers to serve patients. Those interested must apply and attend upcoming training sessions 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28 at Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland.

For information, contact Hospice of the Valley volunteer department: Maureen McQuillan, 330-549-5902 or Jennifer Burgoyne, 330-549-5908.

FIRST RESPONDERS SUPPORT: The Mental Health and Recovery Boards of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties are committed to providing support to first responders in the Valley so they are hosting a free training for mental health professionals from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority.

Michelle Werth, clinical director at the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, and Katie Cretella, clinical director at the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, serve as the coordinators of the Mahoning Valley Critical Incident and Stress Management (CISM) team. A volunteer-based team composed of licensed mental health professionals and first responder peers help first responders to process the event and use positive coping skills after a traumatic event.

Michelle and Katie partnered with local first responders as part of an advisory committee that assisted in developing the curriculum for this all-day training.

This training is for mental health professionals and peers that are interested in working with first responders.

For the purpose of this training, First Responders are individuals who work as dispatchers, police officers, correctional officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Many first responders are veterans, which is a component that has been included in the training.

For more information, call Michelle Werth at 330-746-2959 Ext. 7976 or Katie Cretella at 330-675-2765 Ext. 117

FLU SHOT CLINIC: Mahoning County Public Health will have walk-in flu shot clinics at various locations throughout the county.

The department bills insurance for the vaccines and most insurers cover them.

Mahoning County Public Health is a Vaccines for Children program provider and will have limited opportunities for children that are uninsured or underinsured to receive the vaccine free.

The walk-in flu shot clinics are:

• Sept. 29 -- 9 to 11 a.m., Southern Park Mall-Center Court, 7401 Market St., Youngstown

• Sept. 29 -- 9 to 11 a.m., Austintown Senior Center, 112 Westchester Drive, Austintown.

Lifestyles

Health notes

LUPUS SUPPORT: Trumbull Mahoning Lupus Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. today at Panera Bread at the Eastwood Mall complex in Niles. Meetings are free. For more information, call Rhonda at 330-978-3749.

SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET: Multiple Myeloma Support group will meet at 6 p.m. Sunday. Anyone interested in joining is asked to email mgiambattista@yahoo.com.

THE MAHONING COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY BOARD meets at the board office, 222 W. Federal St., Youngstown, with parking behind the building in the lot on West Commerce Street. The ways and means committee will meet at 5 p.m. Monday. The board will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 25.

SELF-HELP GROUP TO MEET: Recovery International, a community self-help mental health group, will meet at 2 p.m. Sept. 19, at the Michael Kusalaba Public Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown.

For more information, call 330-747-176.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Mercy Health's Hospice of the Valley is seeking volunteers to serve patients. Those interested must apply and attend upcoming training sessions 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28 at Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland.

For information, contact Hospice of the Valley volunteer department: Maureen McQuillan, 330-549-5902, or Jennifer Burgoyne, 330-549-5908.

OSTOMY SUPPORT: The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group will meet 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mercy Health's Tibbetts Wick home care office, 979 Tibbetts Wick Road, Girard. In addition to ostomy patients, family members and people considering an ostomy are welcome to attend. Refreshments will follow the meeting and parking is free. For more information, contact Anna Fitzgerald at 330-480-3440 or AnnaFitzgerald@mercy.com.

DISPOSAL BAGS AT LIBRARIES: Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, distributed Deterra Drug Disposal Bags at library locations bag will be permitted per family.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal system is a simple, environmentally safe way to deactivate and dispose of unneeded pills, patches, liquids, creams and films at home.

Unneeded medications also can be disposed of at permanent drop-off locations in the lobbies at various local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.

Proper disposal of unneeded medications helps keep children, pets and others safe from accidentally ingesting unused or expired medications; prevent them from being misused or stolen; and keep the medication out of the water and soil.

OA MEETS: Overeaters Anonymous meets 7 p.m. Mondays. OA is for anyone with addictive problems with food, including compulsive overeating, bulimia, anorexia and other food-related problems.

For further information on location, contact Mary Beth at 330-301-0891 or check OA.org for more meetings.

MOBILE OFFICE: The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission Mobile Office is on-site 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Carl Nunziato VA Outpatient Clinic, 1815 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. Anyone with questions regarding VA or Mahoning County benefits, or who needs to file a VA claim, can stop in.

For more information, contact Susan Krawchyk, executive director, Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, at 330-740-250.

ADDICTION HELP: Celebrate Recovery, a support group to help those recovering from addiction or any kind of mental health issue, meets 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at 6779 Belmont Ave., Girard.

NAMI OFFERS SUPPORT: National Alliance on Mental Illness Mahoning Valley offers support and education for individuals and families dealing with mental illness.

• Family To Family, for families dealing with a member who has mental illness, and Peer to Peer, for individuals dealing with mental illness, meet periodically;

•Connection support groups, 2:15 p.m. Thursdays, Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave., Youngstown;

• Connection support groups, 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month, Alta Care Building, 142 Javit Court, Austintown;

• Free yoga, noon to 1 p.m. second Friday of each month, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown;

Email info@namimahoningvalley.org, call 330-727-9268 or visit the website at www.namimahoningvalley.org for more information.

ADDICTION SCREENINGS: Anyone struggling with methamphetamine addiction may call Narconon to find treatment to end the web that traps people in those in addiction. Visit https://www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/understanding-meth-addiction.html or call 800-431-1754 for free screenings or referrals.

ALZHEIMER NETWORK: The Alzheimer Network has scheduled the following volunteer support groups for Alzheimer caregivers. Call 330-788-9755 for information.

• Austintown -- 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2305 S. Canfield Niles Road;

• Boardman -- 7 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, St. Charles Catholic Church, Boardman Canfield Road;

• Canfield -- 10 a.m. fourth Friday of the month, Canfield Christian Church, 123 S. Broad St.;

• Girard -- 6 p.m. third Tuesday of the month, Guiding Light Presbyterian Church, 890 Churchill Road;

• Howland -- 10 a.m. first Wednesday of the month, Children's Rehabilitation Center, 855 Howland Wilson Road;

• Poland -- noon first Saturday of the month, Wickshire Senior Living, 355 W. McKinley Way, or call for time, third Thursday of the month, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road;

• Salem -- 6:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Emmanuel Education Building, 251 S. Broadway Ave.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS: The Alzheimer's Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter makes Alzheimer's caregiver support groups available for free to all caregivers, family members and friends with a loved one affected by the disease or another form of dementia.

The support groups meet:

• North Jackson -- 2 p.m. third Monday of the month, Antonine Sisters Adult Day Center, 2675 N. Lipkey Road;

• Canfield -- 1:30 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month, Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St.

Contact the Alzheimer's Association 24 / 7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for more information.

FREE FITNESS PROGRAM: The Stepping Out Program offers free fitness classes and activities online and in person throughout the Mahoning Valley. Call Doris Bullock, project coordinator, at 330-720-3293 or email her at dibullock<\@>mercy.com for information. For a schedule of virtual and in-person classes, visit www.mercy.com.

SENIOR SUPPORT: The Senior Support Action Group is a volunteer-based program that provides services to homebound seniors in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. It provides monthly food boxes, transportation to medical appointments and a phone pals companionship program. For more information or to sign up for services, call 330-424-7877, Ext. 2.

Local News

Health notes

VINDICATOR PLANS TO HONOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: The Vindicator again this year wishes to share stories of local breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

The idea is to put a human face on this disease, to help those diagnosed by hearing voices of those who have experienced the journey, and to spotlight therapies and support that helped.

We also will honor the memories of those who lost their battle.

To share your story, or to honor someone and tell how they inspired you during struggles and triumph with breast cancer, send a brief description to Features Editor Burton Cole at bcole@tribtoday.com or Metro Editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com, or by mail to 240 Franklin St. SE, Warren, OH 44483. Include contact information.

Reporters will contact a few of the people suggested to be profiled in Vindicator publications throughout October.

THE MAHONING COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY BOARD has set its September meeting schedule. All meetings will be at the board office, 222 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Parking will be behind the building in the lot on West Commerce Street. The ways and means committee will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 18. The board will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 25.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Mercy Health's Hospice of the Valley is seeking new volunteers to serve patients. Those interested must apply and attend upcoming training sessions 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28 at Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland.

For information, contact Hospice of the Valley volunteer department: Maureen McQuillan, 330-549-5902 or Jennifer Burgoyne, 330-549-5908.

DIVORCE CARE GROUP: St. Joseph Church in Austintown offers a free DivorceCare Support Group. DivorceCare is a 13-week course/discussion group for those who are going through or have gone through a separation or divorce. It addresses through education and discussion the most common issues associated with divorce/separation and promotes powerful healing so that attendees can move on to build a new life.

The three components of DivorceCare are video presentations, supportive group discussions facilitated by trained facilitators who have experienced divorce, and resources for home use.

DivorceCare will be offered at St. Joseph Church in Austintown for 13 consecutive Mondays, 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning on Sept. 11.

Contact Jim Merhaut at jmerhaut@stjosephaustintown.org to reserve a spot, or visit the St. Joseph website, http://stjosephaustintown.org/divorcecare/, for more information and to register online. Call 330-792-1919 for more information. Meetings will be in the Mackin Room in the St. Joseph School building.

LUPUS SUPPORT: Trumbull Mahoning Lupus Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at Panera Bread at the Eastwood Mall complex in Niles. Meetings are free. For more information, call Rhonda at 330-978-3749.

SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET: Multiple Myeloma Support group will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 17. Anyone interested in joining is asked to email: mgiambattista@yahoo.com.

SELF-HELP GROUP TO MEET: Recovery International, a community self-help mental health group, will meet at 2 p.m. today at the Michael Kusalaba Public Library, 2815 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. For more information, call 330-747-1176.

OSTOMY SUPPORT: The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group will meet 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Mercy Health's Tibbetts Wick home care office, 979 Tibbetts-Wick Road, Girard. In addition to ostomy patients, family members and people considering an ostomy are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will follow the meeting and parking is free. For more information, contact Anna Fitzgerald at 330-480-3440 or Anna -- Fitzgerald@mercy.com.

DISPOSAL BAGS AT LIBRARIES: Mahoning County Public Health, in partnership with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, distributed Deterra Drug Disposal Bags at various library locations. A limited supply will be available at each library location and one Deterra Drug Disposal Bag will be permitted per family.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal system is a simple, environmentally safe way for someone to get rid of unneeded medications. The Deterra Drug Disposal Bag allows users to safely deactivate and dispose of unneeded pills, patches, liquids, creams and films at home.

As an alternative to the Deterra Drug Disposal Bags, unneeded medications also can be disposed of at permanent drop-off locations that can be found in the lobbies at various local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.

Proper disposal of unneeded medications helps: keep children, pets and others safe from accidentally ingesting unused or expired medications; prevent them from being misused or stolen; and keep the medication out of our water and soil.