BRIEFLY.

Bereavement groups offered

LANCASTER -- Kaiser Permanente offers bereavement support groups for adults from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays at Lancaster Presbyterian Church, 1661 W. Lancaster Blvd.

The sessions are facilitated by trained bereavement volunteers provided by Kaiser's hospice department. The meetings are free.

For information, call [phone].

Senior programs topic for session

PALMDALE -- Heidi Valdez of the Palmdale Senior Center is slated to speak at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Antelope Valley Mall Courtyard food court at the monthly Mall Walker meeting.

Valdez, the center's recreation supervisor, plans to discuss the programs available to the senior community and the importance of staying active and informed as a senior.

The Mall Walkers meet the fourth Wednesday of each month and offer free programs.

Sun Plus Home Care will check blood pressure free from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesdays in the mall food court.

For information on Mall Walkers, visit or call Antelope Valley Mall's Guest Services at [phone].

Seniors can take AARP driver class

LANCASTER -- AARP will host a two-part Driver Safety Program on Aug. 19 and 26 at Lancaster Community Hospital, 43830 10th St. W.

The program offers drivers a chance to improve their general driving skills. The two-session course is open to motorists of all ages, and all participants will receive certificates from the Department of Motor Vehicles upon completion of the program.

The classes run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration and a $10 fee are required in advance. Drivers 55 and older who take the course are entitled to discounts from their auto insurance companies.

To register, call [phone].

Kids' book author Wyatt to speak

PALMDALE -- Cherokee Wyatt, an award-winning author of children's books, will speak Sept. 13 at the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators Antelope Valley Schmooze.

The Schmooze will be at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 39228 10th St. West, Palmdale.

A local author, Wyatt penned the series, ``The Adventures of Margaret Mouse.'' She will discuss self-publishing alternatives at the September Schmooze.

The Writers Marketing Association chose her book ``The Picnic'' for its Voices 2006 award for Best Children's Picture Book by the Writers Marketing Association.

Wyatt's Web site is margaretmouse.com.

Schmooze programs are free. For information, call [phone] or email [e-mail].

Easter Seals will benefit at derby

LANCASTER -- Easter Seals Disability Services and Century 21 Yarrow and Associates will host a Home Run Derby giveaway event at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 during the Lancaster Jethawks game at Clear Channel Stadium.

A raffle for a 2006 Chrysler 300C will be held at the event alongside other prizes. Tickets for the raffle cost $100, and only 1,000 are being sold. Prize winners do not have to be in attendance at the game to win.

A portion of the proceeds from the car raffle and game tickets will go directly to Easter Seals services in Lancaster.

Easter Seals Southern California provides services that help children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence.

For information or to buy game or raffle tickets, call Michell McKnight at Easter Seals at [phone], Ext. 209, or Joy Murphy or Chuck Linn at Century 21 at [phone].

Night Out kickoff planned Thursday

PALMDALE -- The city's public safety office will kick off National Night Out with a Public Safety program at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Poncitlan Square, 38315 9th St. E.

The event will feature crime prevention and safety-related activities. The Palmdale mobile command center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's traffic education trailer, a sheriff's patrol car, the sheriff's dirt bike patrol and bike patrol units will be on display.

National Night Out is a nationwide crime and drug prevention awareness campaign sponsored by National Association of Town Watch and designed to generate participation in anti-crime efforts. The program aims at strengthening neighborhood spirit and law enforcement-community partnerships.

Residents are encouraged to turn on their porch lights and spend evenings outside with neighbors throughout August.

For information, call [phone].

Hypertension is seminar subject

LANCASTER -- Hypertension will be the subject of a 9 a.m. Senior Life Seminar on Wednesday in Conference Room 1 at High Desert Medical Group, 43839 15th St. West, Lancaster.

Dr. Mihir Patel will be guest speaker and discuss symptoms of high blood pressure and treatment.

For reservations, call (6612) 951-3046.

-- Daily News