On the morning of Thursday, February 5, Newtown Health District’s Community Health Nurse Joan Santucci, LPN, hung out at a table in the lobby of Newtown Community Center to provide free blood pressure checks for the community. February is American Heart Health Month and getting one’s blood pressure checked is an easy, noninvasive way to check that the heart is operating at its fullest capacity.

Newtown Community Center Director Matt Ariniello took a few moments to get checked out. He said, “It’s a great partnership between Newtown Community Center and Newtown Health District ... We’re so fortunate to offer this to members and residents for Heart Health Month.”

Santucci said that she hopes everyone comes out and gets checked. Santucci will be back at Newtown Community Center doing blood pressure readings on February 17, 4-6 pm, and February 23, 9:30-11:30 am.

Donna Culbert, director of health for Newtown Health District, invited employees to wear red for "National Wear Red Day" on Friday, February 6. Culbert said, “Wearing red not only reminds us to love our hearts, it helps to emphasize the fact that heart disease is not just a man’s disease — heart disease claims the lives of one in three women.” She added, “It was so great to see our co-workers, who are really our work family, come together and be together as we promote heart health. It strengthens our efforts to raise awareness and take action when we are reminded that we are not alone, we are together as we strive to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit.”