FARMINGTON – The Healthy Community Coalition is offering free health education once a month from October to June.

These sessions will be offered from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Ben Franklin Education Center at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Light refreshments and child care will be available.

The one-hour sessions will focus on physical activity, nutrition and tobacco. Unhealthy practices involving those factors account for 70 percent of all premature deaths in Maine.

The first of the series, on Thursday, Oct. 21, will focus on walking one’s way to fitness. Everyone who attends will receive a free pedometer.

People can learned about HCC’s strides physical activity incentive program, which provides participants with a calendar to set their own health goal and record their progress. Participants will also have a chance to win a prize offered by participating local businesses. Walking maps and information on indoor walking sites in this area will also be available.

Other planned sessions include:

Nov. 18: “Ready, Set, Quit!” which will offer support and tools to quit smoking as part of the Great American Smokeout.

Dec. 9: “Healthy Holidays,” where participants will learn ways to enjoy the holiday food feast guilt-free.

Jan. 13, 2005: “Get off the couch!” in which UMF Health and Fitness Center staff will provide easy indoor activities and tips on becoming active in winter.

Feb. 10: “Have a Tobacco-Free Valentine,” showing the best way to support partners, family or friends as they quit smoking.

March 10: “Herbs!” on how to use herbs to spice up meals.

April 14: “Great adventures in your own backyard,” which will cover places to hike, bike and ski in the state, with slide show.

May 12: “Tobacco Industry Targets our Children” will show people how they can resist tobacco advertising.

June 9: “Fruits and Vegetables,” which will show easy ways to get one’s recommended five servings a day.

More information may be obtained by calling 645-3136 or 1-800-525-3136.