Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Walingford and Meriden Health News September 2008

Health News and Events for Central Connecticut – September 2008 Keeping You Healthy: Meriden Health Department September Events Total Cholesterol Screenings September 15 and 25, from 1:00-3:00 both days. Screenings are held at 165 Miller Street. The cost is $10.00, and includes the screening and cholesterol tracking card. Call 630-4234 to make your appointment Stress Management and Your Heart Health Tuesday, September 16, 2008, from 6:00-7:00pm at the Meriden Public Library, located at 105 Miller Street. Mary Beth Rolan, from Midstate Medical Center, will be the presenter. A free stress ball will be given to all attendees. Healthy snacks will be available. This event is free and open to the public; call Lea Crown, Community Health Educator, at 630-4238 to RSVP. Meriden Family Day 2008 Saturday, September 20, 2008, at the Quinnipiac River walking trail (at the corner of Oregon Road and Route 70 in South Meriden) from 10:00am to 12:00pm. The event is sponsored by the Meriden Health Department, Meriden Linear Trails Committee, and the Meriden Kids Walk Safe Coalition. Families will enjoy a scenic walk down the paved walking trail. Pedometers and walking logs will be distributed to families and bicycle safety bells to children who arrive on a bicycle (first come, first serve). Fresh fruit and bottled water will also be available to enjoy. Call 630-4238 for more information. Healthy Cooking Demo The Center for Successful Aging and MidState’s LaPlanche Clinic invite you to attend a Healthy Cooking Demo on September 23, 2008 from 10:30-11:30am in the mezzanine of the Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Center, located at 22 West Main Street in Meriden. Laura Fault will be the presenter. This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information please call Rita Kowalchik at the Meriden Health Department, 630-4222. _____________________________________________________________________________ Connecticut Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program Income Eligibility April 5, 2008 – June 30, 2009 The Connecticut Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program has posted their 2008-2009 Income Eligibility Guidelines. WIC is the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. WIC provides education and healthy foods to eligible participants. Family Size Annual Monthly Bi-Weekly Weekly 1 19,240 1,604 740 370 2 25,900 2,159 997 499 3 32,560 2,714 1,253 627 4 39,220 3,269 1,509 755 5 45,880 3,824 1,765 883 6 52,540 4,379 2,021 1,011 7 59,200 4,934 2,277 1,139 8 65,860 5,489 2,534 1,267 For each additional family member add: 6,660 (Annual) 555 (Monthly) 257 (Bi-Weekly) 129 (Weekly) For more information on the WIC program, please contact the Meriden WIC office at 630-4245, or visit http://www.meridenhealth.com/. _____________________________________________________________________________ Meriden School Readiness Are you looking for affordable quality preschool programming for your 3 or 4 year old? Look no further. School Readiness offers full-time and part-time care in several child care centers throughout Meriden. Family weekly fees are calculated using a sliding fee scale, based on family size and gross annual income. The weekly family fee may be reduced if the family has more than one child that needs child care services. School Readiness is for children between the ages of 3 and 5 who are Meriden residents. For more information, contact Jessica Stewart, School Readiness Facilitator at 203-630-4236. ___________________________________________________________________________ Don’t Wait – Vaccinate! Meriden Health Department Immunization Program As our attention turns to getting our children ready to go back-to-school, the Meriden Health Department’s Immunization Program would like to remind parents and guardians about making sure their child is up-to-date on their vaccinations. Children get vaccines (or “shots”) not only keep them healthy, but to keep other children healthy as well. Vaccines protect children from diseases that could make them very sick. In fact, by keeping children up-to-date on their shots before age 2, we can protect them against 14 different diseases! The Meriden Health Department’s Immunization Program can help parents and guardians make sure their child is up-to-date on his/her vaccines. Through a program called CIRTS (Connecticut Immunization Registry and Tracking System), we keep a record of your preschool-aged child’s shots ever if you move away or change doctors. We can also give you a copy of your child’s vaccine records if needed. Remember these tips: Talk to your child’s doctor to make sure their shots are up-to-date and that all doses were given. See if you can combine shots – this means less pain for your child, and less hassle for you! Never skip shots! Your child needs protection now. Make up missed shots. Talk to your doctor if your child has missed a shot. Keep a record of your child’s shots. Bring it with you every time your child goes to the doctor. For more information on the Meriden Health Department’s Immunization Program please call Ana Guajardo, Immunization Action Plan Coordinator, at 630-4251. Love them. Protect them. Immunize them. ______________________________________________________________________ MidState Medical Center’s Cancer Survivors’ Day to be held at Hubbard Park The Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center announces its annual Cancer Survivors’ Day to be held on Sunday, September 14, 2008, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This year the event will be at Meriden’s historic Hubbard Park near the band shell. The event has grown tremendously since its inception, and MidState is fortunate to have a new location that provides ample open space for the 150-plus attendees and their families who will join in the carnival-themed celebrations this year. Cancer Survivors’ Day is a family-oriented event complete with all the offerings you’d find at a carnival—face painting, balloon animals, caricature drawings, refreshments and more. Survivors can even treat themselves to a relaxing chair massage. Music will be featured by hospital staff members, with opening performances by survivor and local Meriden musician, Joe Cadena. While Cancer Survivors’ Day is a national event commonly celebrated the first Sunday in June, MidState chose to celebrate the day in September to set it apart from all of the fundraising events that take place during that month, including Race for the Cure and Relay for Life. Staff at the Cancer Center wanted the day to have only one focus: “This is a celebration of life,” said Kathy Clements, MidState’s Breast Care Coordinator. The day is truly one designated to celebrate and honor the lives of so many individuals who are living with the physical and emotional challenges associated with cancer. To complement the carnival theme, the Cancer Center is using the tagline, “Survivorship: The Ride of Your Life” to signify the ups and downs of the cancer experience. Cancer Survivors’ Day was initiated in 1993 when MidState was known as Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center. It wasn’t until 2003 that the event returned annually thanks to Kathy and MidState’s Oncology Social Worker, Diane Lafferty. Kathy commented on the way Cancer Survivors’ Day has grown since its inception saying, “In 2003, we had 40 people in the cafeteria. In 2006, we had 150 people. Last year we had close to 200.” Many people living with cancer come out to hear the inspirational messages delivered by the day’s guest speakers. Both cancer survivors and caregivers, as well as Cancer Center physicians and staff take part. “Caregivers are especially encouraged to attend,” said Lafferty. Their tremendous support and advocacy for the patient are great contributors to the healing process, and they, too, should take part in the celebration of life. For more information or to register for Cancer Survivors’ Day, please contact the Cancer Center at MidState, 203-694-8353. Registration is preferred. MidState Medical Center’s Pink Partini Fashion Show Returns Governor M. Jodi Rell Serves as Honorary Chair Treat yourself to a Ladies’ Night Out. Call up your friends for an evening of fun. And see fall’s latest fashions—all while supporting MidState Medical Center’s Cancer Center. The Pink Partini Fashion Show was a tremendous success last year, and will be held again at the Aqua Turf on Tuesday, October 28, 6-9 p.m. Come see a whole new cast of models—cancer survivors, administrators, directors, nurses, physicians, and their children— strut their stuff down the catwalk. MidState is privileged to have Governor M. Jodi Rell serve as the Honorary Chair at this year’s event. Governor Rell, also a breast cancer survivor, received the Mary Waterman Award from the Breast Cancer Alliance for her “outstanding individual achievement in the search for a cure for breast cancer.” Depending upon her schedule, Governor Rell may or may not be present for the event. We are also pleased to once again have the Medical Oncology and Hematology, PC group as the Pink Partini’s major sponsor. Last year, over 400 people attended the first ever Pink Partini Fashion Show. The Aqua Turf was transformed into a pink wonderland with lighted martini glass centerpieces and signature pink ribbon pins worn by every attendee. MidState Medical Center staff hopes to match the excitement of last year’s event. This year’s fashions are courtesy of Kimberly Boutique of West Hartford, The Dressing Room of Wallingford, Lyn Evans of West Hartford, Kuboo’s Children’s Boutique of West Hartford, and Modern Formals of Meriden, North Haven and Southington, with hair styled by Hilites and makeup provided by Motives. Guests will enjoy hors d’ oeuvres, desserts, cocktails, a signature “Dream Girl” martini, complimentary hand massages and pink ribbon nail appliqués. The “Think Pink Boutique” will feature porcelain dolls, handmade jewelry, handbags, body creams, soaps, and notable Breast Cancer Awareness items. Musical entertainment is provided by Rico Entertainment. Tickets are $50 and include open bar and refreshments. All proceeds benefit MidState’s Cancer Center. The Pink Partini Fashion Show was a sold-out event last year, so those who wish to attend are encouraged to reserve tickets as soon as possible. For more information, contact Dawn Papallo at the hospital’s Development office at 203-694-8742. Cause a stir for a great cause!

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