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When Lisa Wallace wanted to get healthier, she turned to her church.

The church has always saved souls.

Now it was time to save bodies.

Wallace, a director of analytics for a financial services company, participated in a program at Atlantas Salem Bible Church called The Journey, which seeks to get people on a healthier path for mind, body and spirit. It includes lessons on healing, transformation, empowerment and growth.

Wallace was prehypertensive. Her mother, father, sister and aunt were all on medication for high blood pressure.

She was worried that would be her likely fate as well and was determined to reverse that trend.

She lost 10 pounds in six weeks, and her blood pressure was lowered.

Im a living testimony, said Wallace, who said she also grew in her faith. I think that the mind, body and spirit are all aligned. You cant just pray everything away. Were instructed to take care of our temple. We only have one.

>> RELATED |Some Georgia counties are a bright patch in black health disparities

Whats going on at Salem is being repeated more and more in African American sanctuaries around metro Atlanta. Its not a new trend, but its growing and some churches have established ministries specifically dedicated to physical and mental health.

Its particularly important in the black community, which typically has higher rates of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Since an intensive holistic program, The Journey, began in 2012, participants have lost an estimated 14,000 pounds, said Joseph L. Williams, senior pastor at Salem, which has 10,000 members in Atlanta and Lithonia. Those involved in The Journey include members of Salem and other congregations. The program includes diet, and exercise is encouraged, but not required.

The Journey is a holistic transformation of mind, body and spirit.

People form teams and work on individual goals. There is meditation, reflective journaling, diet, prayer and reading of the Word.

The program is free, but when individuals complete it, they are asked to make an optional donation to the ministry.

One person lost 55 pounds. The average blood pressure reading among participants dropped 7%.

The church is still a great institution in our community, Williams said. And the local pastor has equity in his parishioners that others do not have. As pastor, I want to positively motivate people.

From 2016 to 2019, a companion program, the 40-Day Turn Up, which is focused mostly on weight loss and weight management, has resulted in more than 16,000 pounds lost among more than 1,200 participants.

>> RELATED |Study finds correlation between diabetes and obesity rates within black churches

More faith communities are offering programs that address the well-being of their members from partnering with health advocacy groups, to holding health screenings and HIV/AIDS testing, to promoting healthy eating by stocking fresh fruit and vegetables in their food pantries.

Some, like New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, have gyms on their campuses.

Ebenezer Baptist Church has a Faith & Fitness group, which meets on Saturday mornings to walk, run and jog around the city. The church rents gym space at a site owned by the city of Atlanta. It has a health ministry led by doctors and nurses who are also members of the church.

Pretty much every month, we have a different health focus mental and physical, said the Rev. Bronson Elliott Woods, assistant pastor, Young Adults and Outreach.

During the month of December, for instance, the church focused on HIV/AIDS awareness.

Were trying to take care of what God has given us, he said. Thats our mind, body and soul. We have to do more than preach about it. We have to live it, we have to walk it and we have to run it.

Recently, the American Heart Association and WW International (Weight Watchers Reimagined) launched the EmPOWERED & Well Healthier Church Challenge, which is designed to support and expand ongoing health and wellness activities of black women and their faith-based communities.

According to the American Heart Association, a recent study found that black women have three times the risk of sudden cardiac death compared to white women.

Women are the chief medical decision-makers in their homes and community, said Kimberly Wright, vice president of the American Heart Associations Health Strategies-Metro Atlanta. The value of this program allows women to focus on themselves to be healthy and in turn improve the health of their family members and community.

>> RELATED |How the Center for Black Womens Wellness is helping Atlanta women thrive

The challenge will kick off the week of Jan. 19 in Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. The 12-week pilot program will help participants with weekly coaching and science-based health education. Ten of the 54 churches selected to participate are in metro Atlanta.

They include Elizabeth Baptist Church, Greater Springfield Baptist Church and World Changers Church International. Two winning churches will each receive $5,000 and a wellness celebration at their church.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. They are more likely to suffer complications from diabetes, such as end-stage renal disease and lower extremity amputations.

Lakeview Seventh-day Adventist Church in Powder Springs has also made good health a priority.

MaYa Thornton, co-director of the health ministry, said the church recently held a health fair that included fitness information, a Hula Hoop contest, a program on natural remedies, preventive health, food demonstrations and speakers. The church plans to hold another in 2020.

It also started an eight-week series on ways to prevent and reverse diabetes.

Thornton also leads a seminar on plant-based foods.

Earlier this year, the church provided the congregation with a snapshot of what is plaguing the community: glaucoma, heart disease and mental health issues. This forum gave participants a chance to hear updates from leading experts on prevention and control activities in the U.S. and globally involving HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes and heart disease, as well as ways to address mental health issues.

In fact, according to a study published earlier this year in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers reported that black churches have a long history of caring for disadvantaged communities.

It also outlines how faith-based organizations can lead the way to removing the stigma from some illnesses adversely affecting the African American community with programs for substance abuse, mental health and suicide prevention.

The black church could use its inuence to transform negative beliefs toward those struggling with mental illness to supportive attitudes and initiatives that promote psychological well-being as a part of spiritual well-being, according to the article. Mental health could easily be integrated into church-based health interventions focused on health.

It makes sense, said Ellen Idler, the Samuel Candler Dobbs Chair of Sociology and director of the Religion and Public Health Collaborative at Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health.

The social capital of congregations is that congregations know how to organize and mobilize, she said. Faith-based organizations are able to use their networks, and they have the space, facilities and resources that can be put to use. People know that this is a safe space and not some scam. It makes so much sense for public health to collaborate with faith-based organizations because they reach into every community regardless of race, ethnicity and religion, especially among immigrant communities.

Williams, Salems senior pastor, knows the health battles well.

In his late 20s, Williams tipped the scales at 330 pounds. He had issues with his knees and back. He moved slower, was prediabetic and had high cholesterol and hypertension.

I was tired of that lifestyle and wanted to do something about it, he said.

Hes now about 200 pounds.

I never saw myself getting into the space of health and fitness, said Williams. But when I saw the needs of the congregation and other people, I felt it was my responsibility to speak out.

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Faith-based organizations have vital role to play in health of congregations - Atlanta Journal Constitution

In a bustling kitchen at a Toronto-area community health centre,Hayfa Mousa pauses as she reflects on the last seven years of her life.

Her eyes fill as she recalls the stress and isolation she felt before finally findingcommunity andcalm. Originally from Iraq, the 56-year-oldcares for an adult daughter who underwent a heart transplant.

"It changed my life," says Mousaof the facility in suburban Etobicoke in Toronto as she glances around the kitchen. Its countertops are stacked with bright fruit and vegetables, and people samplefresh guacamole and spicy tacos.

The Stonegate Community Health Centre is one of 11 sites across Ontario taking part in a pilot project to testsocial prescribing encouraging patients to enhance their well-being with healthier food, more physical activityand greater social contact.

It's not quite a new idea.

For years, doctors have encouraged patients struggling with loneliness and isolation to exercise, eat better, and socialize.

"It's not a replacement for the clinical care that you need, but it can really help," says Kate Mulligan, director of policy and communications with the Alliance for Healthier Communities, a network of community-based health-care organizations, who says other provinces have also shown interest in the pilot project.

"What's new about social prescribing is that it helps connectmore people to those services. The kinds of people that maybe need a bit more of a nudge."

That nudge comes in the form of a prescription for activities like cooking classes and tai chi.

For Gina Caradonna, 63, it was enough to get her out of the housesomething she admits wasn't always easy.

"Because I'm disabled, just even getting up in the morning ," she says, shaking her head. "This has been a real challenge."

The jewelry maker was skeptical when her doctor first brought up the idea. But she was willing to give it a try.

She signed onto the FoodFit program, a 12-week healthy eating and exercise regimenfor people living on low incomes.

Caradonna says she hasn't missed a sessionand she's usually the first to arrive.

"Coming here every week has given me a purpose and something to look forward to," she saysas she dices up tomatoes for salsa.

"It doesn't matter who you are, what youlook like.There's no judgment."

One in three patients isdealing with chronic stress, chronic anxietyand depression, according to Dr. Shannon Cohane, who practises at the community health centre.

And it can be anyone, of any age, from seniors to new Canadians.

"This is an epidemic, especially in our city where we have lots of very poor individuals living alone. They don't have community, they don't have extended family around," she says.

"It's critical to bring people together so they know they are not alone. It really helps their mental health."

Nurse practitioner Cristina Hermenegildo says having social programming almost all of it free under the same roof atthe clinic makes all the difference. She'll often walk patients over, and introduce them to class instructors and other participants.

"We are trying to prevent illness and not only treat it when it's a big problem."

And the improvements are often obvious and long-lasting.

"Their mood is better," she says. "Theyfeel they are connected to something, and it's that connection or feeling [that] improves their health."

Mousa says her stress has lessenedso much that she stopped taking antidepressants. She now not only participates in programs, butalso volunteers.

"You forget about your problems and the stress in your life at least for two, three hours," she says.

"You are not thinking about your problems. You are here, you are taking care of yourself."

Mulligan says a final report on the social prescription pilot project is expected in March.

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'It changed my life': New pilot project tests health benefits of social prescribing - CBC.ca

BOYLSTON

Tower Hill Happenings: Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive. For information, visit towerhillbg.org or call (508) 869-6111. Tower Hill will be closed to the public in January.

Hope Lives Here: loss support group, organized by Boylston teacher Patty Inwood, meets at Hope Lives Here Headquarters, 1085 Main St., Holden, at 6:30 p.m. General Loss, Jan. 9 and 28; Addiction/Suicide Loss, Jan. 14; Child Loss, Jan 16; and Spouse Loss, Jan. 21. For information, contact Patty Inwood at hope@hopeliveshere.com or (774) 345-9080.

Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee survey: to ascertain the public's wishes for future use of open space, and the preservation and future acquisition of open space land in town, is available online at https://www.boylston-ma.gov, or in hard copy at the library, post office and town clerk's office. Deadline to complete it is Jan. 10.

Wachusett Reservoir Watershed Programs: Hike, Saturday, Jan. 18, 10-11:30 a.m., meet at Gate 8, intersection of Cross Street and Route 70 for a two-to-three mile round trip family friendly hike. Be prepared for cold weather and wind; dress in layers and wear winter boots. Dogs not permitted. Check the status at (774) 262-2809 or email Kathryn_Parent@Mass.gov. "Where is the Watershed?" Wednesday, Jan. 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Boylston Public Library, 695 Main St., for an interactive photo presentation of trails and view around the watershed.

Council on Aging Exercise Programs: Boylston Town House, 599 Main St. For information, call (508) 869-6022. Super Seniors with Lena Scaplen, 9:30 a.m. Thursdays. Become a super senior with a full body workout. All levels. Tai Chi with Kristin Higgins, 10:30 a.m. Mondays. No experience necessary. Flex and Tone with Rebecca Reber, 12:30 p.m. Mondays. This class will use yoga blocks and straps along with a variety of stretching methods to improve flexibility, range of motion, promote circulation and improve strength. Zumba Gold with Rita Vazquez-Torres, 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays. This low-impact dance fitness program focuses on balance, range of motion and coordination. Yoga with Kristin Higgins, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. This slower-moving yoga class is for seniors and can be done both standing and seated. Walking Club, 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Call or email the COA for meeting locations.

Special Education Services Child Find: is an effort to identify and provide services to Berlin and Boylston children with special education needs. Direct written inquires to Karen Molnar, director of Pupil Personnel Services, Berlin-Boylston Public Schools, 215 Main St., Boylston, MA 01505, or call (508) 869-2837, ext. 1106. The Berlin-Boylston Public School System invites parents of public and private school-age children, ages 3-21, to contact the special education office for information regarding the special education screening referral process, eligibility criteria for special education and special education services.

Volunteers Wanted: Boylston Historical Museum, 7 Central St. Call Kim Foster at (508) 869-3125. The historical museum needs help setting up displays. Help and see interesting items from the vault.

WEST BOYLSTON

Watershed Hikes: All programs free, children must be accompanied by an adult. Reasonable accommodations available upon advanced request. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Dogs and domestic animals are prohibited on watershed lands, except service dogs. For information, contact education staff by email Kathryn.Parent@Mass.gov or call (774) 261-1809. First Day Hike, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., meet at Gate 22, Route 140. Learn the history behind the water supply. Slow pace. Saturday, Jan. 4, 10-11:30 a.m., meet at Gate 25, Route 140, start of Goodale Street for a two-to-three mile hike. Saturday, Jan. 25, 10-11:30 a.m., meet at Gate 22, Route 140, near 211 Temple St.

Integrated Preschool Applications: for the West Boylston Public Schools 2020-2021 school year accepted until Wednesday, Jan. 7. Lottery will be held Friday, Jan. 10. Half-day preschool for 3 and 4 year olds runs five days a week, 8:30-11 a.m. Tuition is $2,500. The full-day preschool for 4 and 5 year olds runs 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (with a half day on Wednesday, 8:30-11 a.m.). Tuition is $4,500. For information and applications, contact Haley Gaughan at (508) 835-4461, ext. 210, or haleygaughan@wbschools.com.

Beaman Library Adult Programs: 8 Newton St. For information or to register, visit http://www.beamanlibrary.org, or call (508) 835-3711. Monthly green living group, Fridays, Jan. 10 and Feb. 7, 1 p.m. Group will discuss a variety of topics; suggestions welcome. Mystery Book Group forming; watch for meeting dates or contact the library. Italian Conversation Circle, 10 a.m.-noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Dungeons and Dragons for Adults and Teens, 6-7:45 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month (no meeting Dec. 26). Call the library to verify dates.

Senior Center Programs: 120 Prescott St. For information or to register, call (508) 835-6916. Blood pressure clinic, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No appointment necessary; sign in when you arrive. Clinics are held the first Wednesday of every month. Fluid Motion with Gypsy, Mondays, Jan. 13 and 27, 10 a.m., $5 per class. Ask an attorney, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (second Tuesday of the month) with Nicholas Daviau. Chair volleyball with Marty, Wednesday, Jan. 15 and 29, 1:30 p.m., $3 per class per person. Movie Matinee, "Poms," Friday, Jan. 24, 1:30 p.m. SHINE counselor, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 9-10:30 a.m., call for an appointment. Caregivers Support Group, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (third Wednesday of the month). Podiatry clinic, Thursday, Jan. 23, 8-11 a.m. (third Thursday), call to reserve a time. Cancelled for January: Mindfulness meditation and Gentle Yoga; both return in February.

Happy Travelers 2019 Trips: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, Museum Day in Boston (MFA and Isabella Gardner). Cost is $99, which includes a $10 lunch voucher. Saturday, March 14, Boston Flower Show with lunch at Maggiano's and a stop at Boston Market. Cost is $109. Sunday, April 26,"Matilda the Musical" at the Stoneham Theater, with lunch at the Chateau Restaurant in Burlington. Cost is $133 per person. May 14-17, Ottawa Tulip Festival, including Canadian War Museum and Ottawa River Cruise. Cost s $739 per person, $889 for a single, $699 per person for three in the room. Sept. 20-30, Canyonlands, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Moab, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Zion and back to Las Vegas. Call for prices and details. For information, call Gladys Merrow at (508) 835-4312 or (508) 612-5312, or email glady2@verizon.net. Fliers available at the West Boylston Senior Center.

Wachusett Watershed Recycle Center Information: 131 Raymond Huntington Highway. Hours: 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and 8-11 a.m. every first and third Saturday through February. Accepting all reuse, bulk, recycle and electronics (some with fee). The center welcomes bicycles, seashells, evergreen cones, small smooth stones, yarn, home goods, reusable furniture, crafts, sporting goods and appliances for swap or to be passed on to families in need. There is a fee for disposal of furniture, hazardous materials and appliances. Check http://www.wachusettearthday.org or town websites for updates.

Beaman Library Teen Programs: 8 Newton St. For information or to register, visit http://www.beamanlibrary.org, or call (508) 835-3711. Reading Glasses Collaborative Book Group for Millennials, 7 p.m. one Thursday each month at OConnors restaurant. Call for information. Dungeons and Dragons, 2-5 p.m. first and third Saturday of the month. Sign up at the library. Experienced or new players. Grades 6 to 12. Sign up by the day prior to the afternoon.

Ongoing Children's Library Programs: 8 Newton St. For information or to register, visit http://www.beamanlibrary.org, or call (508) 835-3711. Drop-in Story Time, Saturdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Mother Goose on the Loose, Tuesdays, 10:15-11 a.m. Stay 'n Play, Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m. Sensational Story Time, Wednesdays, 4:30-5:15 p.m. Books 'n Blankies, Thursdays, 9:15-10 a.m. and 10:15-11 a.m. A senior version is Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.-noon.

Senior Center Ongoing Activities: West Boylston Senior Center, 120 Prescott St. For information, call (508) 835-6916. Chair Yoga with Marty, 12:45-1:30 p.m. Mondays. Free. Quilting Club, 10 a.m. Mondays; an experience teacher will guide you through a project, call for information. Cribbage/Mexican Train dominos/cards, 1 p.m. Mondays. Free, and space for other days as well. Pool lessons with Joe, 1 p.m. Tuesdays. Free. Zumba Gold with Rita, 11:15 a.m.-noon Tuesdays. Cost is $3 per person, per class. Low-impact Exercise, with Grace, 10-11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Free. Gentle Yoga with Carol, noon Tuesdays. Not offered the first Tuesday of month. Free. Tai Chi with Sifu Gary, 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost is $3 per class. Country Line Dancing with Linda, Wednesdays. 11 a.m.-noon beginners; 10-11 a.m. intermediate. Cost is $3 per person. Painting with Janice, 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cost is $10 per class. Mindfulness Meditation with Carol, noon Thursdays . Not offered the first Thursday of month. Free. Pilates with Jennifer, 11:15 a.m.-noon Thursdays. Cost is $5 per class. Bingo, 1 p.m. Thursdays. Wii Bowling, 10 a.m. Fridays. Free. Pitch with Toni, 1 p.m., Fridays. Writers Group, 1 p.m., first and third Fridays, open to anyone interested in writing. Mahjong with Judy, Friday, 1 p.m.

West Boylston Child Find: the schools wish to identify all West Boylston children with disabilities, ages 3 to 21, who may be in need of special education services and who have not graduated from high school. Additionally, the school district wishes to identify any children who may be currently homeless and therefore have certain educational rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Anyone who can identify a child with a disability or a child without a permanent home who is not receiving educational services, should have the parents or any interested person contact the West Boylston Special Education Department at (508) 835-3391.

Sew What: 5:15-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Beaman Memorial Library, 8 Newton St. "The Sew What" group is making simple quilts and burp cloths for infants in the neonatal units of area hospitals, as well as breast pillows, port pillows and large fleece blankets for cancer centers, as well as donations to local nursing homes. If interested, call Sue Smith at (508) 835-3711, ext. 229. To donate clean fabric or batting for this project, call the library at (508) 835-3711 to arrange pickup, or bring them in directly. To help if you cannot make the scheduled time, arrangements can be made to provide materials and patterns.

Caregiver's Support Group: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month; First Congregational Church, 26 Central St. For information, call (508) 835-6916 and ask for Lisa. Caregiver stress is highly prevalent. Most caregivers experience it, and usually feel lost when it happens. One of the most common features is feeling alone, with no one to speak with, no place to find answers. Peer run with occasional guest speakers and opportunities for support and service information.

Personal and Confidential Prayer: 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays (bimonthly); The Healing Room Ministry at Freedom Worship Center, 141 West Boylston St. For dates, visit http://www.freedomworshipcenter.us or call (508) 832-3322. The Healing Room provides personal and confidential prayer for emotional, physical and spiritual healing.

Volunteers Needed: at the Wachusett Regional Recycle Center. The center has opportunities for volunteering Monday through Saturday, at all levels of physical activity. If you share a passion for reuse, recycling and reducing the waste stream, and can spare several hours a month or even every week, visit wachusettearthday.org or call (508) 464-2854. Leave a message with your name and a phone number.

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Boylston and West Boylston calendars - The Item - Worcester Telegram

UNION COUNTY, NJ The Gateway Family YMCA Winter Program Session registration is going on now at YMCA branches in Elizabeth, Rahway and Union and online at http://www.tgfymca.org. Winter programs begin January 2nd and include family wellness programs, youth sports, swim lessons, active older adult programs and chronic disease self-management. In addition, The Gateway Family YMCA is offering a membership special December 26 through January 15 including No Joiner Fee when joining in person or online for all membership types. The YMCA is also offering an Open House January 4-5, free to the community.

Providing a place where families come together in a safe and healthy environment, creating shared memories is at the heart of our mission here at the Y, stated Krystal R. Canady, CEO. Throughout the year we provide financial assistance to ensure that everyone has access to programs and services to ensure the Y is available for all.

We have a fundamental desire to provide opportunities for every family to build stronger bonds, achieve greater work/life balance, become more engaged with their communities, and have fun together, stated Melynda A. Mileski, EVP/COO. We provide programs to meet the needs of the communities we serve, including opportunities for our youngest members in childcare, swim lessons and parent/child programs, through the continuum of youth and teen programs in the arts or sports, through adult group exercise, chronic disease programs and adult social day services.

The Gateway Family YMCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, health and community service organization of caring staff and volunteers dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community and stands For Youth Development, For Healthy Living and For Social Responsibility. The Gateway Family YMCA impacts the community by providing quality services to people of all ages, races, faith or incomes. The Y doesnt just strengthen bodies it strengthens people, families and communities.

For more information about programs and services provided by The Gateway Family YMCA, visit http://www.tgfymca.org or contact the Elizabeth Branch at 908-355-9622, Five Points Branch 908-688-9622, Rahway Branch 732-388-0057, Wellness Center Branch 908-349-9622, WISE Center Branch 908-687-2995 or Youth Development Branch 908-355-3061.

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Winter Programs at The Gateway Family YMCA - NJ TODAY

More than a year and a half after two consecutive winter storms battered the region and left thousands without power for up to a week or longer, the executive branch has announced a $10.5 million settlement -- the largest ever for failure to follow a utilitysemergency response plan.

According to a release provided by the Governors office concerning the settlement,NYSEG acknowledged and admitted to 18 violations of its state-approved emergency response plans, and RG&E acknowledged and admitted to three violations.Company shareholders will pay $10.5 million to compensate customers: $9 million from NYSEG and $1.5 million from RG&E. The moneywill be usedto provide customer benefits at the direction of the Public Service Commission.

Nearly two years have passed since many of our neighbors were forced to live over a week without power. While we were fortunate many good Samaritans and benevolent businesses stepped up to volunteer and help our community, one thing is for certain - the management at these utility companies were utterly unprepared said Assemblyman Kevin Byrne. It is fitting that NYSEG shareholders will now pay the largest settlement in New York State history for failing to follow its own emergency response plan.

In the immediate aftermath of March 2018 Winter Storms Riley and Quinn, Assemblyman Byrne joined colleagues from various levels of government across the region demanding additional investigation and action in order to strengthen our regions storm response and address various failings from utilities.

Following the storms, Assemblyman Byrne participated in a number of public hearings and forums to investigate the utilities slow response times. This included attending both New York State Senate and Assembly Public Hearings that reviewed the regions storm response, providing personal testimony at the Department of Public Services (DPS) Public Statement Hearing in Carmel, and hosting a forum with then state Senator Terrence Murphy and utility representatives to provide ratepayers an opportunity to question the utilities directly about their lackluster service.

Additionally, Byrne served as a member of United Westchesters Executive Committee. This bipartisan coalition, led by co-chairs Assemblyman David Buchwald and Westchester County Executive George Latimer, assembled to find solutions to better respond to crippling storms in the future. United Westchester presented a report with specific recommendations which the DPS cited multiple times in its own investigative report.

Putnam County ratepayers were hit extremely hard throughout the duration of these two storms.

While we are glad that customers will be compensated, we hope that NYSEG has made the changes necessary to prevent future outages, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said. This is a public utility and, as we have noted many times, our residents need to know that they can depend upon dedicated line crews to cut, clear and open the roads to reduce the stress on our volunteer first responders, police and fire departments.

Then serving as Chief of Staff to state Senator Terrence Murphy, Yorktown Supervisor-Elect Matt Slater attended multiple forums regarding the utility companies inadequate storm response. Yorktown was the epicenter of disaster during Winter Storms Quinn and Riley," said Slater. "Utility companies failed to properly communicate to customers and government officials . Considering our energy rates are the second highest in the nation, and rising, more must be done to hold the utility companies accountable to ratepayers. We should be getting more for what we pay, starting with adequate storm response.

According to the Governors website, the companies will also do the following:

In the near term, NYSEG will hire and maintain 20 additional employees with storm restoration responsibilities; additionally, PSC staff and NYSEG will review long-term staffing needs and requirements;

NYSEG will maintain at least 175 damage assessment trained employees, excluding employees who perform restoration work during an emergency event;

NYSEG and RG&E's Emergency Response Organization will form a group to develop a Storm Response Exercise program to include in-the-field activities and non-table-top storm response exercises, including testing their enhanced life-support equipment customer contact and tracking procedures, as well as communication and coordination with which will include municipal and county governments;

NYSEG agrees to retain a third-party consultant, subject to consultation with Commission staff, to audit and assess the companies' storm response training and training exercise programs and NYSEG agrees that shareholders will bear any incremental costs for the term of engagement for the consultant.

Additional information regarding the settlement may be found on the Governors website HERE

A copy of the Department of Public Service Report is accessible HERE

A copy of the United Westchester report is accessible HERE

See more here:
BYRNE AND LOCAL OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON NYSEG SETTLEMENT WITH STATE - HamletHub

Gerry Jennings, a board member for Get Fit Great Falls, leads a group of novice cross-country skiers during Winter Trails Day, which is Feb. 2 this year.(Photo: Get Fit Great Falls)

Looking to feel better and have more energy in the new year?

How about adding a vegetable to whatever you are cooking? Or snowshoeing in the surrounding mountains? Or walking instead of driving to get where you are going?

Get Fit Great Falls has several ways to help with your goals of being healthier, and the best part is they are easy, affordable and fun. Thanks to continued funding from United Way, Get Fit has new events to pair with its ongoing efforts to help people get active and make healthy choices.

We are in the mindset of having a healthy lifestyle throughout the year, not just in January when you hit the reset button, said Erin Merchant, Get Fit Great Falls president. We want to help Great Falls residents make a behavioral change they can stick with rather than having a goal that only lasts a month or two.

Just Add a Vegetable is Get Fits latest idea on its mission to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Once a month, nutrition experts will spend the afternoon in the produce section at a local grocery store and talk to shoppers about adding a vegetable to whatever happens to be on the breakfast, lunch or dinner menu.

If they are making soup, they can just add some celery or carrots, said registered dietitian Susan Cooper. If they are making pizza, just add some mushrooms. Or maybe get creative and add chopped beets or kale.

We want people to focus on a simple change, to just add a vegetable to whatever they are making, she added.

So far, 2Js and Super One Foods have hosted Just Add a Vegetable events. Albertsons on 10th Avenue South will be hosting an event Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Abigail Lichliter and Clark Carlson-Thompson, Get Fit Great Falls volunteers, paint crosswalks downtown. The effort aims to make downtown more friendly and walkable.(Photo: Get Fit Great Falls)

Along with learning how to combine veggies with the foods they already love, people can learn how to shop smart to minimize food costs, how to meal plan to minimize spoilage and how to introduce veggies to family members who fear them. Shoppers also can enter a drawing for a basket of fresh produce.

Another way Get Fit can help with your health goals is its annual Winter Trails Day, which is coming up Feb. 1 at Silver Crest Winter Recreation Area near Showdown. This is an opportunity for people of all ages to try out snowshoeing or cross-country skiing for free.

It starts in the morning and goes through the afternoon, said Jody Murray, Get Fit board member and prevention specialist with Great Falls Public Schools. The guides are people who are good at it and love it.

All the equipment is provided, though people need to register ahead of time. Registration opens Jan. 22 online at http://www.getfitgreatfalls.com.

Its very popular and fun, Murray said. There are 1, 2 and 3-mile hikes, a beginning cross-country ski tour and a kiddie snowshoe loop.

Along with the snowshoe adventure, kids can get another helping of exercise through Fitness, Food, Family and Friends or F4, a 2-year-old program that brings active play and nutrition information to the HANDS after-school program.

Last year, Get Fit partnered with HANDS in 13 elementary schools to offer the 8-week program, which teaches students about nutrition along with fitness skills that can be incorporated into fun games. Everything necessary for the program fit into a tote that traveled from school to school.

Each week, the kids take home a worksheet with the moves of the week, things that strengthen their legs and strengthen their core, said Murray, adding those skills are then used in games at HANDS. The sheet also has nutrition information, everything from making sure you are drinking enough water to trying to eat new fruits and vegetables. It gives them something to take home and get their parents involved with.

Pretests and post-tests have shown the F4 program is working, with more than 85 percent of the students either showing improvement or staying the same in at least half of the tested skills. This program was possible thanks to grants from United Way of Cascade Country, Montana Federal Credit Union, Benefis Healthcare and the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation. Now, each school has its own tote so HANDS can offer the program several times throughout the year.

A big focus for Get Fit is on kids because we know healthy kids usually become healthy adults, Merchant said. And we see that reversed statistically. If you are obese as a kid, you are more likely to be obese as an adult.

Park Pals is another way Get Fit works to keep kids active. Through this summer program, exciting science projects and physical activities are planned every weekday at local parks. The Great Falls Public Schools food truck partners with the program so kids can get a free meal before or after they come out to play.

In 2019, we were able to recruit volunteers from the AmeriCorps Vista program to help with Park Pals, so we were able to expand our number of parks, said Merchant. Adding more parks last year means serving more students and hitting more demographics.

As part of the Building Active Communities Initiative, Get Fit volunteers transformed Davidson Plaza into a temporary active space which included a ping pong table, giant checkers, grass, plants and benches.(Photo: Get Fit Great Falls)

Get Fit volunteers dont just want to improve its programs to get people to be active. They also are working to improve the parks themselves by making them more accessible and improve other spaces around Great Falls through the Building Active Communities Initiative, or BACI.

A few years back, some of the leading experts in this statewide initiative held a free training in Great Falls.

The trainers walked us around downtown and pointed out to us places that could be better, more connected and turned into spaces where the community could gather and be active, said Kim Skornogoski, a Get Fit volunteer and United Way's marketing director. After that training, we continued to meet and build our team, bringing on different partners and coming up with ideas.

One of the groups first efforts was transforming Davidson Plaza into more of an active space during the downtown summer sidewalk sale.

We had ping-pong table set up and large checkers on the ground, Skornogoski said. We took a couple of parking spaces and created a seating area with grass and put grass in the plaza itself. We brought in bands. We basically brought in different elements of what would be part of an open, active space.

Throughout the day, they asked people what they would like to see in an active space in Great Falls. Now they are trying to bring those ideas to life.

Another big project weve done is the crosswalk painting, said Skornogoski. That does a number of things people dont even realize. It inspires traffic to slow down. It also connects spaces. And when spaces are connected, people are more inspired to walk between them.

Several local organizations are involved with this initiative to create a more vibrant downtown. Get Fit is hoping that by changing the environment, people will change their behavior and walk more. The business organizations are hoping for a more active downtown so people will shop and enjoy the great restaurants. Partners like NeighborWorks are hoping an increase in activity downtown will decrease the amount of crime in that area.

All of these people have different particular goals as part of their organizations mission, Skornogoski said. But by doing these things, we all are achieving our goals. Its been really fun, and all of our efforts have been really well received by the community.

More crosswalk painting, including school crosswalks, is yet to come. They also are planning morestudies on how walkable the community is to identify problem areas in parks and downtown.

The other big goal is called wayfinding,Skornogoski said.The idea is if you have signage that points to the Rivers Edge Trail or a sign that says the C.M. Russell Museum is five blocks away, it will increase the use of those places and also encourage people to walk to them.

Like many efforts funded by United Way, Get Fits projects and programs are successful because of many organizations coming together to make things happen.

Its critical that we have so many great partners who are advancing the work together, she said. Get Fit is entirely volunteer-run, and we operate on a shoestring budget. For the last four years, United Way has provided around $5,000 in funding, which amounts to about half our costs for our different efforts every year.

Get Fit has brought many people together in the effort to create a healthier lifestyle in our community, and the efforts are working.

In the past, we never really measured how events like Summer Trails Day, Winter Trails Day and Come Out and Play with Abby Wambach were changing behavior, Skornogoski said. Now, being part of the United Way grants process, we are looking at the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in schools and seeing that investing in our kids is already paying off. Theyre eating more vegetables, getting more involved with sports and exercising more. Kids are actually changing their behavior.

United Way of Cascade County asks for money once a year. Money raised during its fall campaign supports 34 local nonprofit programs and United Ways community impact work. People can give monthly or one-time gifts through our website at http://www.uwccmt.org or can send donations directly to United Way at PO Box 1343, Great Falls, MT 59403.

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Looking to get healthy in 2020? These easy food, exercise tips will help - Great Falls Tribune

It's not easy to maintain your outdoor workout regimen during the Wyoming winter. Streets are snow-packed and icy andit can be too cold to stay outdoors for an extended period of time. But the good news is, there are some easy ways to burn calories outdoors if you're prepared.

We know this is obvious, but shoveling is a great workout. It burns roughly 223 calories for every half hour of shoveling. Shovel a couple of your neighbors' driveways for an extra workout.

There is seemingly an endless number of cross country ski trails all across Wyoming. Skis are usually affordable, just remember to pack as much winter gear as possible and some good boots.Skiing for an hour at 2.5 mph burns over 400 calories.

Half an hour of ice skating can burn about 250 calories. If you're good at it. If you're bad at it, you might burn even more because you have to pick yourself up so much.

Increasing in resistance training popularity, snow springs require heavy-duty winter gear and really good hiking shoes or boots. The idea is to run, jump, and play in a snow-packed area.

Don't you just sit down to sled? Yes, and then you have to get back up the hill... and again, and again. Or, try pulling your kids around behind a sled. The calories will shed right off, and you'll make winter memories.

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5 Ways To Still Exercise Outdoors In Wyoming Winter - laramielive.com

One thing we all have in common as human beings is the need to maintain our bodies, which is easier said than done if not armed with knowledge of how to listen to our bodies and address its physical requirements in a healthy way. Heather Panning, Barton Community Colleges new Health, Physical Education & Recreation Instructor, is on a mission to make sure Barton students are well equipped to take care of themselves after college.

St. John native Jordon Willinger, freshman in ceramics, is taking Physical Fitness from Panning, and said she has already noticed a big difference in unexpected ways.

Ive noticed Im more toned and I can lift more, and Im more confident, she said. The ceramics wheel is easier now that Im stronger, too; it really helps you perform better in every other aspect of life if youre staying fit and healthy.

She said she signed up for the class so she can be in charge of her body and learn which exercises were the most beneficial, but the curriculum teaches way more than just which exercises to do and good form. Some of the most impactful things she has learned include time management, self-discipline and a long-term view of the role of fitness in her life.

If you dont know how to discipline yourself into doing it, nobody else is going to do that for you, she said. Its essential for everyone to stay healthy in their life, and an hour of exercise out of your day isnt that much to make your body a little bit better so it can serve you better.

I want my physical body to be long-lasting; I dont want to be feeble when I get old.

Willinger said that while the course has been pragmatic, eye-opening and useful, its also been fun.

I like doing the leg press because I can outlift my guy friend, and I think thats kind of funny, she said.

Willinger plans to run a ceramics studio when she is finished with her education.

More about Health, Physical Education & Recreation (HPER) Courses

Panning said the HPER courses at Barton are great for students, but she encourages the community to reach out to learn more, as theyre open to everyone and many meet only once or twice a week in the evenings. Yoga, scuba, tae kwon do, ballroom dancing, target shooting and physical fitness are just a few of the options to choose from.

My goal for this program is to get students to understand how to have a healthier life. I want students to not only do well in my class, but also to learn lifelong skills that will improve their lives forever, she said. I encourage students to explore what fitness activities that they enjoy so that they will look forward to working out. Fitness is so much more than the way one looks. I like to talk a lot about the way it makes you feel. Working out and making fitness apart of your life has so many health benefits. One of the biggest benefits is mental health. Being able to be proud of yourself and what you accomplish is a wonderful achievement that improves all aspects of ones life.

Story byBRANDON STEINERT/Barton Community College.For a complete listing of Bartons HPER programs and courses, visit HPER.bartonccc.edu or contact Panning at panningh@bartonccc.edu.

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HPER programs teach lifelong wellness strategies - Great Bend Tribune

Jim Miller, Savvy Senior Published 8:55 p.m. CT Dec. 22, 2019

Jim Miller(Photo: File)

Dear Savvy Senior,

Ive read that people with heart problems need to be extra careful during the winter months because heart attacks are much more common. Why is this?

Cautions Senior

Dear Cautious, Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but many dont know that its also the prime season for heart attacks too, especially if you already have heart disease or have suffered a previous heart attack. Heres what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself.

In the U.S., the risk of having a heart attack during the winter months is twice as high as it is during the summertime. Why? There are a number of factors, and theyre not all linked to cold weather. Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Here are the areas you need to pay extra attention to this winter.

When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to help the body maintain heat. This causes blood pressure to go up and makes the heart work harder. Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase the risk for blood clots. So, stay warm this winter, and when you do have to go outside, make sure you bundle up in layers with gloves and a hat, and place a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air before you breathe it in.

Studies have shown that heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days after a major snowstorm, usually a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with the cold temperatures and the risks for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, hire a kid from the neighborhood to do it for you, or use a snow blower. Or, if you must shovel, push rather than lift the snow as much as possible, stay warm, and take frequent breaks.

Every Jan. 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part of their New Years resolution to get in shape, and many overexert themselves too soon. If youre starting a new exercise program this winter, take the time to talk to your doctor about what types and how much exercise may be appropriate for you.

People tend to eat and drink more and gain more weight during the holiday season and winter months, all of which are hard on the heart and risky for someone with heart disease. So, keep a watchful eye on your diet this winter and avoid binging on fatty foods and alcohol.

Less daylight in the winter months can cause many people to develop seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a wintertime depression that can stress the heart. Studies have also looked at heart attack patients and found they usually have lower levels of vitamin D (which comes from sunlight) than people with healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, consider taking a supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day.

Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heart attack risk. Its known that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting which can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people. So, if you havent already done so this year, get a flu shot for protection. And, if youve never been vaccinated for pneumococcal pneumonia, you should consider getting these two shots (given 12 months apart) too.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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Why the risk of heart attack rises in winter - The Baxter Bulletin

The Associated PressBy Robert Steadman

Architect Ray Kendras beautiful design for the new Senior Center has been presented to both the Traverse City Commission and the Grand Traverse County Commission.

This community jewel will allow expansion of our current Senior Center (county-wide) action programs including thousands of hours given each year to educational classes; a vast number of community programs, health screenings, wellness information, fitness and exercise programs; tax and elder financial law assistance and education; a variety of recreational and social events and multiple approaches to the improvement of health for all seniors.

The inevitable truth is that many seniors face the loss of a spouse, family members or lifelong friends. Seniors over age 60 spend an average of more than 10 hours alone per day. Almost 20 percent have no personal contact for two weeks or more. They often suffer intense feelings of loneliness, depression and despondency, including thoughts of suicide. They are so thankful for personal contact they become easy targets for scams.

Many families cannot provide the needed, daily contact with parents and grandparents. The Senior Center provides a place to help heal the sense of loss of friends and family, a place to fight loneliness with new friends and activities. It empowers seniors to live independently and improve their quality of life.

The additional space needed to provide these critical services is a necessity.

Cost estimates for the building are in the range of $5 million. There are additional costs for demolition, landscaping, relocation of the tennis courts and parking improvements.

We believe the cost of this tremendous community asset should be shared by the community. A one and done, one-year only, countywide millage of 1 mill ($5.7 million) will pay for the new center, the additional site costs and required equipment and furnishings. We also propose 0.2 mills per year for 10 years beginning in 2021 to pay for the centers maintenance and staffing. After 20 years of waiting, delay is not only unacceptable but will be very costly. Construction costs continue to rise each year. The millage is the fastest way to completion.

We believe the centers county-wide programs (including Acme, Fife Lake, Kingsley and Interlochen) and its compassionate service have overwhelming community support. Voter approval of this one and done millage will allow occupancy in 2021 and eliminate the crippling interest costs of revenue bonds.

About the author: Robert A. Steadman, of Traverse City, is president of the Senior Center Friends. About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by emailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

About the author: Robert A. Steadman, of Traverse City, is president of the Senior Center Friends. About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by emailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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Opinion: One and done for the new senior center - Traverse City Record Eagle

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