Steals + deals: Back to school freebies

The Minnesota State High School league requires a physical exam of all students participating in high school sports, but on Thursday any high school student athlete with no known pre-existing health problem can get a free physical exam. Athletes with diagnosed health conditions should consult with their physicians for more in-depth physicals. About 10 physicians from Twin Cities Orthopedics and Allina Medical Clinic administer the physicals, which take about 15 minutes. Appointments are not necessary, but students or parents are asked to call 952-456-7000 to RSVP by 4 p.m. Thursday.

Students are asked to bring a form to the event and to come with their parent or guardian. If a parent cannot attend the event, the form must be signed in advance by the parent or guardian. Download and print the form at www.startribune.com/a1605.

The exams will be given from 5 to 8 p.m. at Twin Cities Orthopedics, 4010 W. 65th St., Edina. In addition to the exam, other freebies include sports drinks, nutrition bars and drawstring backpacks.

How about a free haircut to go along with a clean bill of health? J.C. Penney is offering kids in kindergarten through sixth grade a free haircut all month long. It's a $14 value (haircut only, no shampoo or style). Salons in the Twin Cities area include Rosedale (651-631-3330), Southdale (952-920-8101), Ridgedale (952-544-6000), Eden Prairie Center (952-944-6807), Maple Grove (763-416-1708) and Maplewood (651-779-3040). Appointments are requested but not required.

Other salons will also offer haircut specials, although not a free cut. Great Clips will be sending out coupons in the mail soon. Fantastic Sams will mail out coupons in the Valassis insert starting Sunday. A kid's haircut will be $9.99 and an adult haircut will be $10.99. Haircuts at Fantastic Sams include a free shampoo, conditioning rinse and a basic blow dry. Other sources for haircut coupons are Valpak.com and Moneymailer.com.

Tent sale at National Camera Save up to 50 percent or more on new and refurbished cameras, lenses, camcorders and binoculars at the National Camera Exchange tent sale Friday through Sunday. Three of the best deals, according to vice president Mike LaMotte, include a Nikon Coolpix S-6100 refurbished camera for $80, which is $170 new, a Nikon Coolpix S-9100 refurbished camera for $150, regularly $270 new, and a Canon EOS Rebel T2i refurbished camera with an 18-55 IS lens for $500, regularly $700. Refurbished cameras come with a 90-day warranty. The sale is at 9300 Olson Memorial Hwy., Golden Valley, 763-546-6831, www.natcam.com.

No Thymes warehouse sale this year Arguably the most popular warehouse sale in the Twin Cities, the annual Thymes soaps and scents sale will not be held this year, according to a company e-mail sent in late July. "In previous years we sold discontinued or obsolete inventory," the company said in its e-mail. "This year, we do not have enough product for such a large sale." Fans can minimize their disappointment by signing up for the e-mail list at Thymes.com or liking Thymes on Facebook. Several times a year, recipients get notices of sales on a small selection of products.