To have an item listed, mail to the Gazette-Packet, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. If you have any questions, call Elizabeth Orr at 703-917-6449.ee
Prostate Cancer Screening. Inova Alexandria Hospital Cancer Center will host a free prostate screening Thursday, Nov. 18, from 5-8:30 p.m. African-American men over age 40 who have not had a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test are strongly encourage to attend. Prostate cancer is more common in African-American men than any other ethnic group. Appointments are required and the number of participants is limited. Call 703-204-3366 to register.
Inova Alexandria Hospital is hosting a Women's Expo on Saturday, Nov. 6. Drop by between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for this annual health education event. It will feature seminars on uterine fibroids, varicose veins and heart health; screenings for cholesterol, osteoporosis, and blood pressure; and information booths. Advance registration is encouraged, or you can register at the event. For details or to register, go to www.inova.org/events or call 703-204-3366.
Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group. Meets second Thursday of each month, at 1 p.m., at Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane. The Nov. 11 meeting has been canceled because the Sherwood Library will be closed for Veteran's Day. Next meeting is Dec. 9, at 1 p.m., and will include a Christmas party. Call the Arthritis Foundation at 202-537-6800, ext. 3339.
Care-giving Tips. Learn practical tips and helpful community resources to use when caring for a family member in the home at the Mount Vernon Adult Day Health Center from 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4. Mount Vernon Adult Day is located at 8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 737.
Parkinson's Disease Support Group. 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 8, at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. Richard J. Redding, M.D. will speak on "What Does Alternative Medicine Offer For PD?" Redding is a family practitioner trained in both traditional family medicine and complementary and alternative medicine. Call Stephen Rosenfeld at 703-836-0485.
Burn Survivors Group. A group for people with serious burn injuries and their family and friends meet from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month in the American Red Cross Building, 123 N. Alfred St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-698-1626.
The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program will be offering two support groups for survivors of sexual abuse or sexual assault this fall, each of which are described below:
* Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Support Group: A 10-week psycho-educational support group for women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse will meet on Thursday evenings This group is sponsored by the Alexandria SARA Program. Call Kathy at 703-838-5030 for more information.
* Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group: An eight-week support group for women who are survivors of sexual assault will meet on Tuesday evenings, beginning Oct. 5. This group is sponsored by the SARA Program . As assessment is required. Call Temple at 703-838-5030.
The Fairfax County Health Department is launching a major volunteer recruitment drive to staff the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a program of the Fairfax County Citizen Corps. More than 13,000 medical and nonmedical volunteers are needed to respond to a full-scale public health emergency in Fairfax County. The Fairfax MRC needs volunteer physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, mental health professionals, as well as a large number of nonmedical volunteers are needed to provide general support. For more information or to volunteer, call 703-246-2485, TTY 703-591-6435, or e-mail donna.foster@fairfaxcounty.gov.
David C. Weintritt, M.D., a board-certified surgeon specializing in breast cancer, will present a free seminar on current and future advances in breast cancer treatment at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parker's Lane in Alexandria in the Engh conference rooms. For additional information or to register, call 703-204-3366. Attendees can also register at www.inova.org by clicking on education/classes.
Take off Pounds Sensibly, TOPS chapter VA #280, Alexandria, meets Thursdays, at 10 a.m., at the Hollin Hall Senior Center on Shenandoah Road. For more information, call Joan at 703-751-6086.
Alzheimer's Support Group. The Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month, at 4:30 p.m., at the Alexandria Adult Day Health Center. The group is free and open to the community. The Alexandria Adult Day Health Center is located at 1108 Jefferson St. Call 703-838-4224 before attending to verify time and location.
Alexandria Red Cross relies on volunteers to sustain its humanitarian mission for disaster relief efforts, to teach first aid and CPR, for the Friendly Visitor Program and other community service work, special events, administrative support, to work with the Junior Red Cross and for blood donation services for the citizens of Alexandria. Training is provided. Call 703-549-8300 or see the Web site at http://www.alexandriaredcross.org.
Haven of Northern Virginia sponsors several ongoing free bereavement groups meeting throughout Fairfax County. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
The Mount Vernon Community Wellness Initiative has published a free educational pamphlet, "High Blood Pressure: Learn the Facts and Reduce the Risks." The pamphlet is being distributed to churches, libraries, pharmacies, physician's offices and community organizations. For a copy, call 703-360-4000.
CrisisLink has been helping people deal with anxiety, stress and crisis throughout the entire metropolitan area for 35 years. Feel free to call them at 703-527-4077 or 1-800-784-2433, or learn more about their confidential, free hot line and crisis response services on the web at www.crisislink.org.
Emotions Anonymous (EA) is a 12-Step fellowship for people whose emotions are causing difficulties in their lives. A local group of Emotions Anonymous meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Shiloh Meeting and Conference Center (SMCC), 1400 Duke St. Call 703-660-8798, or send an e-mail to hemsidan@aaahawk.com.