Special events

Monongahela Valley Hospital is sponsoring a tour of its Women's Health Center at its Mon-Vale HealthPLEX from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 12. Featured guest is Emily Wills, Miss Pennsylvania. Refreshments are being served. For more information, call 724-379-1900.

Charity events

Triple B Farms, 823 Berry Lane Road, Forward, Allegheny County, is sponsoring a pumpkin festival throughout the month of October. Festivities include hayrides, the Big Blue Boo Barn, a slide tube, farm animals, children's activities and more. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Face painting proceeds benefit the "Cribs for Kids" campaign of SIDS of Pennsylvania in recognition of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month. Call 724-258-3557.

Screenings

The Washington Hospital is offering free screening for depression from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow in the Garden Room. Walk-ins are welcome. Call 724-229-2658.

Blood drives

To find a blood drive near you call:

The Central Blood Bank, 412-209-7000 or 1-800-310-9551.

The American Red Cross, 1-800-993-6667. For bloodmobile locations, check http://www.redcrosslife.org.

Seminars/lectures

Medtronic Minimed and CCS Medical are sponsoring a free informational program on insulin pump therapy for diabetes patients from 2 to 4 or 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Sheraton Hotel, Station Square. Call 1-800-306-9678 ext. 80206.

Excela Health is sponsoring "Living with Diabetes, Looking Forward," a three-week series, at its affiliated hospitals. Call 1-877-771-1234.

1 to 4 p.m. beginning Oct. 11, Latrobe Hospital

6 to 9 p.m. beginning Oct. 11, Westmoreland Hospital.

9 a.m. to noon beginning Oct. 12, Frick Hospital.

Excela Health is sponsoring an information session on bariatric surgery for weight loss from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Frick Hospital. Call 1-877-771-1234.

The Western Pennsylvania chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, in conjunction with the Healthy Congregation Project, is sponsoring "Living with Arthritis, A Joint Effort" from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 11 at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Oakland. To register, call, 412-621-6566.

Classes/workshops

Excela Health is sponsoring the following classes at its affiliated hospitals. Call 1-877-771-1234.

Lactation station, for breastfeeding mothers and babies, 5 to 6 p.m. Oct. 4, Latrobe Hospital.

Childbirth and beyond, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8, Westmoreland Hospital.

Breastfeeding success, 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 9, Latrobe Hospital; and Oct. 11, Westmoreland Hospital.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter of American Red Cross is sponsoring the following health and safety classes at its Downtown headquarters, 225 Blvd. of the Allies, unless otherwise indicated. To register, call 412-263-3106.

Standard first aid with CPR and AED for adult victims, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 7, 10 and 21. Cost: $55.

Instructor training, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 9, 13 and 16. Cost: $225.

CPR for the professional rescuer, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12. Cost: $70.

Pediatric first aid, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 14. Cost: $55.

Standard first aid with CPR and AED for pediatric victims, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 14. Cost: $50.

Baby sitter's training, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Cost: $35.

CPR/AED for adult victims, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 14, PNC Bank, 8500 McKnight Road, McCandless; and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 17.

The UpStreet Center for Women, Suite D, 2008 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, is hosting an introductory session for its roundtable discussion on body image and self-esteem, "If It Were Not For My Body, I Might Be Okay," from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Subsequent meetings take place every second Wednesday of the month. The cost for the first session is $20, which must be paid in advance and may be applied to the total package of $110. Call 412-422-2141.

Research

The Department of Physical Therapy of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is sponsoring a six-week study examining the effects of exercise on knee osteoarthritis. Subjects should be over 40, diagnosed with osteoarthritis and be able to walk normally. Call 412-973-3342.

Support groups

Self Help Group Network, a service of HelpLine, provides a database of support groups. Call: 412-255-1155.

Monongahela Valley Hospital is sponsoring a support group for those with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 in the hospital's education conference center. Call 724-929-9492.

Special opportunities

The Canonsburg Ambulance Service is sponsoring a subscription drive. To receive an application or for more information, call 724-745-6591.

Birthright, the pregnancy support center, is offering volunteer training and orientation sessions for new volunteers from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 and 21 at its office, 201 S. Craig St., Oakland. Call 412-621-1988.

To look at last week's health calendar: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06270/725185-114.stm

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Correction/Clarification: (Published Oct. 6, 2006) At the pumpkin festival at Triple B Farms in Forward every day this month, proceeds from face painting will benefit Cribs for Kids. The source of donations was incorrect in this online listing as published Oct. 4, 2006.