🩺 Mobile Mammograms in Hixson Oct. 21, Free Flu Shots Oct. 20 and a Seed Bag Check: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Wheels, Fight Flu TN in the Valley, Global Handwashing Day and One Broccoli-Seed Recall

Saturday feels like the week when the fridge calendar fills up with good errands — not scary ones. A mammogram you can book on a mobile unit in Hixson. A free flu shot day at our own health department. A simple handwashing reminder that lands the same Wednesday Medicare Open Enrollment opens. And one seed bag for the home sprouters to check.

Here’s what’s in this report: mobile mammography at Morning Pointe of Hixson on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Fight Flu TN free shots on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Marion and nearby departments (plus Hamilton County pop-ups), Global Handwashing Day on Wednesday, Oct. 15, a broccoli sprouting-seed Salmonella recall for folks who grow sprouts at home, and a short calendar note for next weekend’s free RAM clinic and Medicare season.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Due for a mammogram? CommonSpirit Memorial mobile unit at Morning Pointe of Hixson, 5501 Old Hixson Pike, Wed., Oct. 21, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Appointments required: 423-495-4040. Open to the public.
• Want a free flu shot? Fight Flu TN, Tuesday, Oct. 20. Sequatchie County Health Department in Dunlap: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Central. No appointment. Ages 6 months and up.
• Wednesday, Oct. 15: Global Handwashing Day (CDC) and Medicare Open Enrollment starts. Two sticky notes, one day.
• Grow sprouts at home? Check for Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds (1 lb., UPC 848137042889, “Packed for 2027”). Discard; do not sprout or eat.
• Still on the calendar: RAM free clinic next weekend, Oct. 17–18, Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga.

🎀 Mobile Mammograms Roll Into Hixson Oct. 21

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and The Chattanoogan reports that Morning Pointe of Hixson and Life Care of Hixson are partnering with the CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital Mobile Health Program to bring a mobile mammography unit to campus.

• When: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where: Morning Pointe of Hixson, 5501 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson
• Who: Open to the public. Appointments are required.
• Book: Call 423-495-4040
• Bring: Doctor’s full name, driver’s license or state ID, insurance card if you have one, and a completed registration form (available through the CommonSpirit Mobile Mammography program)
• Uninsured or underinsured? Ask when you call about coverage and financial assistance

Statewide, the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program also offers free screenings at county health departments for women who qualify (generally Tennessee residents, uninsured or underinsured, income guidelines apply). Call your county health department or 1-877-969-6636.

What it means for you: Think of it like the mobile library van — the care comes closer so the errand gets smaller. If someone in your family has been putting off a mammogram because of drive time or childcare, this Hixson stop is worth a phone call this week. Churches and workplaces, a short note on the bulletin board with that phone number is a kindness that costs almost nothing.

👉 Read more (Chattanoogan: Mobile mammography Oct. 21) · Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program

💉 Reminder: Free Flu Shots Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Fight Flu TN

We’ve mentioned Fight Flu TN before, and the date is still the same: Tuesday, Oct. 20. The Tennessee Department of Health’s Southeast Regional office refreshed the hours this week for our counties. No appointment needed. Ages 6 months and older. While supplies last.

Local / Valley hours (Central Time unless noted):

• Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave., Dunlap: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Central. Chamber listing says no insurance required. (423) 949-3619 / (423) 949-7608
• Bledsoe County Health Department, 334 Frazier Ave., Pikeville: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. Central
• Marion County Health Department, 24 East 7th St., Jasper: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central
• Grundy County Health Department, 278 N. Industrial Park Road, Coalmont: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Central

If you work or shop in Hamilton County (Eastern Time for these two):

• J.A. Henry Community YMCA, 3500 Dodds Ave. #108, Chattanooga: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Samaritan Center (Health Department mobile unit), 9231 Lee Hwy., Ooltewah: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hamilton County notes bilingual staff and an ASL interpreter on site. Can’t make the 20th? Pharmacies and clinics still offer flu shots most weekdays — call ahead for walk-in hours.

What it means for you: Write it on the same sticky note as the grocery list. One Tuesday, one stop, and flu season feels a little more managed. Employers, a 15-minute flex for a lunch-hour shot is a gift that comes back in fewer sick days.

👉 Read more (TDH: Fight Flu TN) · Sequatchie Chamber: Free flu shots Oct. 20 · Hamilton County locations

🧼 Wednesday, Oct. 15: Global Handwashing Day (and Medicare Season Opens)

The CDC marks Global Handwashing Day every Oct. 15 — a calm, free habit that helps cut down colds, flu-like bugs and foodborne illness. Soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds (hum “Happy Birthday” twice). If soap isn’t handy, use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Key times: before and after food prep, before eating, after the bathroom, after blowing your nose or coughing, after touching pets or garbage, and after caring for someone who is sick.

That same Wednesday, Medicare Open Enrollment opens and runs through Dec. 7. You don’t have to change anything. If your doctors, drugs or budget shifted this year, it’s the window to compare. Changes take effect Jan. 1. This is general information, not plan advice — talk with Medicare, SHIP or a trusted counselor before you switch.

What it means for you: Two fridge notes, one day. Teach the grandkids the 20-second scrub, and if you’re on Medicare, set aside one quiet evening next week to glance at the mailers — no rush, just a glance.

👉 Read more (CDC: Global Handwashing Day) · Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment

🌱 Home Sprouters: Broccoli Seed Recall for Possible Salmonella

If you grow broccoli sprouts or microgreens at home, the FDA has posted related recalls tied to seed lot W4105. On Oct. 8, Gardeners Basics recalled Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds sold nationwide online:

• Package: white and green resealable pouch, 1 pound (454 g)
• UPC: 848137042889
• Marked: “Packed for 2027”
• Sold through Amazon, gardenersbasics.com, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy

Do not eat the seeds or any sprouts grown from them. Seal and discard. Contact Gardeners Basics for a refund if needed: info@gardenersbasics.com or 801-769-6181 (text/voicemail). Eden Brothers also recalled Calabrese broccoli seed lots linked to the same supplier lot. No illnesses were reported to Gardeners Basics as of Oct. 6 in connection with their product.

What it means for you: Most Valley kitchens never buy sprouting seeds — if that’s you, skip this and move on. If you ordered a bag for fall sprouts, two minutes at the pantry shelf is enough. Restaurants and school gardens that sprout broccoli: pull that SKU and wipe the grow trays.

👉 Read more (FDA: Gardeners Basics broccoli seeds) · FDA: Eden Brothers Calabrese seeds

📅 Calendar Sticky Notes: RAM Next Weekend

Quick reminder from earlier this week: Remote Area Medical still plans free dental, vision and medical care at Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga, Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 17–18. First-come, first-served. No ID or insurance required. Doors open early Saturday. Details stay on the RAM event page if you’re packing the cooler.

👉 Read more (RAM: Chattanooga clinic)

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ✅ Due for a mammogram? Call 423-495-4040 for the Hixson mobile unit on Oct. 21. Or ask the health department about free screenings if you qualify.
• ✅ Mark Tuesday, Oct. 20 for a free flu shot at the Dunlap health department (9 a.m.–4 p.m. CT) or your nearest Fight Flu site.
• ✅ Wednesday, Oct. 15: practice the 20-second handwash, and if you’re on Medicare, note that Open Enrollment starts.
• ✅ Grow sprouts? Check for Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 broccoli seeds (UPC 848137042889). Discard if found.
• ✅ Need free dental/vision/medical next weekend? Plan an early start for RAM Oct. 17–18 in Chattanooga.

Practical rule: Book the screening, mark the flu day, wash for a song-length, and check the seed bag once — four small habits that keep October calm.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what’s right for you and your family. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• Mobile mammography: A specially equipped vehicle or unit that brings breast X-ray screening to a community site so you don’t have to drive to a hospital radiology department.
• Fight Flu TN: The Tennessee Department of Health’s yearly day when local health departments offer free flu vaccines as both a public service and a readiness exercise.
• Global Handwashing Day: An annual Oct. 15 reminder, supported by the CDC, to wash hands with soap and water at key times.
• Salmonella: A germ that can contaminate food and cause fever, diarrhea and stomach pain. Higher risk for young children, older adults and people with weak immune systems.
• Medicare Open Enrollment: The yearly Oct. 15–Dec. 7 window when many people with Medicare can change Advantage or drug plans for the next year.
• Remote Area Medical (RAM): A Tennessee-based nonprofit that runs free pop-up clinics for dental, vision and medical care.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an appointment for the Hixson mobile mammogram?

Yes. Call 423-495-4040 to schedule. Bring your doctor’s name, ID, insurance card if you have one, and the registration form.

Do I need an appointment or insurance for Fight Flu TN on Oct. 20?

No appointment is needed, according to TDH and local listings. The Sequatchie Chamber listing for Dunlap says no insurance is required. Ages 6 months and older may participate while supplies last.

Is every broccoli seed recalled?

No. This report covers Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds (UPC 848137042889, “Packed for 2027”) and related Eden Brothers Calabrese lots tied to supplier lot W4105. Check those products specifically.

Do I have to change my Medicare plan on Oct. 15?

No. Open Enrollment is optional. Use it if your doctors, drugs or costs changed. Changes made by Dec. 7 take effect Jan. 1.

Where can I get free mammograms if I don’t have insurance?

Ask about the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program through your county health department or call 1-877-969-6636. Eligibility rules apply.

🔗 Other Resources

• Chattanoogan: Morning Pointe Hixson mobile mammography
• Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program
• Tennessee Department of Health: Fight Flu TN
• CDC: About handwashing
• FDA: Current recalls and safety alerts
• Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment
• Remote Area Medical: Chattanooga clinic
• Hamilton County Health Department

🌻 Small Habits, Steady Week

Nothing here calls for panic. A phone number for a mammogram van, a Tuesday flu stop in Dunlap, a 20-second scrub on Wednesday and one seed bag to glance at. That’s a short list for a healthier fall, and you’re probably already halfway there.

We’ll keep watching for clinics, screenings and free services so you don’t have to. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.