The 10th Annual Great American Health And Safety Fair

Several hundred people attended the town health department’s 10th Annual Great American Health and Safety Fair held on Saturday, October 4, at the Newtown Middle School grounds and gymnasium on Queen Street.

The free four-hour-long event provided participants with 25 health screenings and more than 50 exhibits. Outdoor exhibits were keyed to safety, with indoor displays focusing on health topics.

The event provided health screenings for a wide range of subjects including scoliosis, posture, blood pressure, skin cancer, eyesight, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, chiropractic, hearing, weight, height, and blood cholesterol. Such screenings are basic, and provide participants with a general idea of whether they need to pursue further testing.

Several dozen organizations participated in the fair including Kevin’s Community Center, the Interfaith AIDS Ministry, the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force, the American Red Cross, Castle Hill Farm, the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association, Danbury Hospital, and the Newtown Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, among many others.

The Lifestar helicopter, which is used for the aerial evacuation of seriously injured patients, was scheduled to make a landing and provide a demonstration at the fair. Mechanical problems with the helicopter, however, prevented it from making the trip to the fair, said Newtown and Ladder Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dave Ober.

The Pumpkin Walk was a new feature at the fair. Several dozen residents participated in the event, involving a walk along Queen Street and Grand Place. The Pumpkin Walk was a fundraiser for Newtown Youth Services.

The Newtown Woman’s Club sponsored a poster contest for children in Grades 1 through 6. The Newtown Chamber of Commerce conducted a drawing for a mountain bike. Also, fairgoers had an opportunity to see barnyard animals from Castle Hill Farm.