Great American Health & Safety Fair Set For Sept. 20

By John Voket

The 15th Annual Newtown Health & Safety Fair will be held at the Newtown Middle School on Queen Street Saturday, September 20, from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be more than 45 exhibitors participating, ranging from medical services to a variety of health, family, and environmental information — and many freebies.

The fair will also showcase the Newtown Health District’s efforts to promote heart health. According to Health District Director Donna Culbert, educating residents to know their HDL (high-density lipoprotein) numbers and heart health risks empowers them to be able to have a direct impact on their own health.

“Taking action to improve their heart health reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes, as well as improving blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall health and fitness,” Ms Culbert said. “The benefits are limitless.”

Among the many other health fair exhibitors, the Health District will be providing free cholesterol screening. Ms Culbert said these screenings will provide visitors with both their total cholesterol level, as well as their HDL, or good cholesterol count.

“These are important numbers to know and are a terrific step in taking an active role in understanding your health status,” she said.

Exhibitors will be set up in the Middle School gym. Some of the health screenings will use classrooms and some participants will be outside on the school’s front lawn. All of the local volunteer fire companies, Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR), and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps will also be set up in the front of the middle school.

Paproski’s farm and the Big Top will be featured on the front lawn with demonstrations. And the Newtown Chamber of Commerce will once again sponsor a free bicycle raffle.

Sponsors include Aqua Environmental Lab, Ashlar of Newtown, Danbury Visiting Nurse Association, Inc, Family Health Care Center, The Newtown Bee, Newtown Chamber of Commerce, and the Newtown Lions Club among others, Ms Culbert said. And the following health screenings will be offered free to the public:

*Newtown Lions Club sponsors vision and cataract screening

*The Parish Nurse program for St Rose and Newtown Congregational Churches, the Danbury Visiting Nurse Association Inc, Bethel VNA, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Danbury Hospital will be doing blood pressure screening

*Colonial Chiropractic Centre will be doing scoliosis/posture screening

*Dental Associates will be doing Toothprints ID.

*Dr Notaro will be doing skin cancer screening with assistance from the Newtown VNA.

*Newtown Health District – Impact Health will be doing cholesterol screening

*Kevin’s Community Center will be determining body mass index (BMI)

Ms Culbert, who is also co-chair for the Health Fair Organizational Committee, said she is very excited at level of community involvement and collaboration that is going into this year’s fair.

“I’ve been to several health fairs in different communities over the years, and I can say that this certainly is the biggest,” Ms Culbert observed. “It’s got something for everyone. It has all of our community partners — local physicians, dentists, Visiting Nurses, the public school system, our Parks and Recreation Department, our Public Works, all of emergency first responders, and many area agencies and businesses. And it is all free.”

On behalf of all the sponsors, participating exhibitors, and her committee, Ms Culbert invites all Newtown residents to come out for this event

“All ages, all folks, single, married couples, families — we want to give health to the community in whatever form most interests them,” Ms Culbert said. “After all, this event is for them.”