Dr. Ted Suzelis will be presenting a lecture titled "SUPER BUGS: THE DANGERS OF ANTIBIOTIC OVERUSE" at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, at his Boardman office, 725 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite K-4, Boardman. Suzelis will discuss the benefits and dangers of antibiotic use, along with when it is appropriate to forgo antibiotic use and what can be done instead. For more information or to register for the event, please call the office at 330-729-1350 or go to www.ohiond.com. Free admission.
The Ohio State University Extension is offering a free HEALTHY HOLIDAY COOKING CLASS from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, at the First Community Church of Leavittsburg, 4640 W. Market St., Leavittsburg. Come learn how to prepare easy and healthy holiday foods that are prepared safely, low in fat, sugar and calories. Class will include cooking demonstration, healthy recipes and tasting.
This program is cosponsored by Trumbull County Health Department and The Ohio State University Extension, Trumbull County. Class size is limited so call to make reservations at 330-638-6783.
Glenbeigh Center of Niles is hosting its fifth annual CHRISTMAS BANQUET from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, at Ciminero's Banquet Center, 123 Main St., Niles. There will be a DJ, buffet dinner, dancing, recovery countdown, AA lead, Chinese Auction and more. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Please call 330-652-6770 for more information.
A WELL-CHILD IMMUNIZATION CLINIC will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Girard Health Department in the city building. The clinic will charge a $5 administrative fee per child, and Dr. James Enyeart, medical director, conducts the examinations. Parents are reminded to bring a copy of the child's immunization record. A parent or guardian must accompany children younger than 18. Parents must pre-register the child prior to the clinic. For more information, call the health department at 330-545-6048 Monday to Friday.
The Alzheimer's Association will be holding its monthly Caregiver Support Groups on the following dates:
l 10 a.m. today at the Senior Center of Mahoning County, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.
l 10 a.m. Dec. 15 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, 1350 East Market St., Conference Room F, Warren.
For more information, call 330-533-3300 or 800-272-3900.
The American Cancer Society is offering the PATIENT NAVIGATOR PROGRAM to help to individuals who may have trouble getting a ride to and from cancer treatment; lack insurance or prescription coverage; need information about their cancer diagnosis; and a number of other individual issues.
For information, call 800-227-2345. Saundra Hall is patient navigator for Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, 888-227-6446, Ext. 8053.
The WARREN CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT has influenza vaccine available for children ages 6 months to 18 years of age. The vaccine will be given at a regular childhood clinic on Dec. 20. The walk-in clinic hours are from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. The cost is $5. Unison and CareSource are also accepted. Parents should accompany children and bring their shot record.
Adult influenza vaccine is also available by appointment. Cost of the vaccine is $20. Pneumonia vaccine is also available free of charge to those who qualify.
For more information, call 330-841-2596.
VAYDA COSMETIC LAZER CENTER, 4681 Mahoning Ave. N.W., Champion, is offering free skin cancer screenings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 17. This will be a visual full body exam for skin cancer.
ANKLE AND FOOT CARE CENTERS in the area are ready to accept donations of shoes for the podiatrists' 2010 shoe drive now through Jan. 7. Shoe collection stations are now in place at eachof the group's 19 locations, all of which are accepting new or nearly new shoes. Locally, there are centers in Austintown, Champions, Howland, Liberty, Niles, Warren and Youngstown.
CHRONIC FATIGUE AND/OR FIBROMYALGIA SUPPORT GROUP will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 20, at the First Presbyterian Church, 256 Mahoning Ave., Warren. Members and guests are invited for the holiday party. Bring snacks to share if you can. For more information, call 330-847-7001.
THE NILES CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT will hold a child immunization clinic from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 15. Children younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Those attending must have child's immunization records.
WARREN WEST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, 716 Tod Ave., Warren, is offering a flu clinic from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. daily. Medicaid and Medicare will be accepted. All others are $20 each. Walk-ins are welcome. For information, call 330-373-0222.
The Kids' Crew of Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley is planning holiday events to benefit the local pediatric hospital, including:
In addition to a visit from Santa Claus, children's activities will include face painting, crafts, cookie and ornament decorating.
For a donation of $10, contributors can sponsor a light on the holiday tree in honor or celebration of a special child by contacting JoAnn Stock at 330-746-9122.
Cost is $30 per person and advance reservations are required by visiting www.akronchildrens.org/mv or by calling 330-746-8712
THE Q CLUB FITNESS FACILITY is offering a free workout the third Saturday morning of each month. Offered are aerobic classes, zumba classes and water classes.
The Q Club Fitness Facility also offers Arthritis Foundation water classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:15 a.m. Instructed by a certified Arthritis Foundation instructor. For more information on Q Club Fitness Facility events, call 330 856-4777.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Ave., Warren, and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at the church. This group is for those with or those who know someone with a mental illness. For more information, call the church at 330-392-6276.
ST. JOE'S AT THE MALL is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and is located next to Sears at the Eastwood Mall. Call 330-652-7542 to register.
The schedule includes:
NORTHSIDE MEDICAL CENTER Community Calendar:
HILLSIDE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
TRUMBULL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
ST. ELIZABETH HEALTH CENTER recently received re-verification as a Level I Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee, an ad hoc committee of the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma. This places St. Elizabeth in the company of fewer than five percent of hospitals nationwide that provide this level of care for critically injured patients, and reestablishes it as the only Level I center between Akron and Pittsburgh.
SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY HOME HEALTH announced that it has been named one of the top 500 home health agencies in the country, according to the 2010 HomeCare Elite. Now in its fifth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of home health agencies in the United States and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement, and financial performance.
AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL is enrolling patients in a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a nasal spray used to treat adolescents with moderate to severe migraine headaches.
Akron Children's is part of the worldwide, multi-center TEENZ clinical trial. TEENZ is an acronym for "Trial of Evaluation and Efficacy of Nasal spray for ZOMIG."
To be eligible, adolescents should have a confirmed diagnosis of migraine headache and should typically experience two or more moderately-to-severely disabling migraines per month.
ZOMIG (zolmitriptan) is a fast acting, single dose medicine approved for use in adults. The study will evaluate if the nasal spray can reduce the pain of a migraine within two hours, compared with placebo.
The adolescents in the study will be expected to keep a diary about their headaches and visit their doctor several times during the course of the study.
If you would like to learn more about the study and think your child may be eligible, call 330-543-5012. Any costs associated with the study will be covered for the participants.
NORTHSIDE MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES presented the United Way of Mahoning Valley with a check for $36,000. The check represents employee contributions for 2011, which nearly doubled from 2010. The goal for this year's campaign was $25,000. Northside was able to surpass that goal by hosting awareness initiatives such as "Root Beer Float Days" and by educating its employees about the United Way and how it supports 70 programs through 27 local non-profit agencies. The mission of the Youngstown United Way is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the Mahoning Valley.