Annual Fair Celebrates Health And Safety

By Tanjua Damon

The seventh annual Newtown Health and Public Safety Fair drew a sizeable crowd Saturday, as 37 exhibitors provided information to the general public designed to help people lead happier, healthier lives.

The fair had a harvest theme. From 10 am until 2 pm, information about various medical issues including cholesterol, skin cancer, fitness, CPR, ticks, glaucoma, scoliosis, and posture, among other things, was dispensed from various booths in the Middle School gymnasium.

According to Mae Schmidle, health fair director, a record crowd attend the event Saturday.

“It’s steady. People come and go after their activities,” Mrs Schmidle said.

Two cows, Candy and Miggy, could be seen on the front lawn of the middle school. The Paproski Castle Hill Farm provided the cows for the fair. They were a big hit with the children attending the fair.

Connecticut Tick Control brought information about ticks to the fair. Pat Porter and David Whitman told the crowd that the wet spring this year will lead to more ticks next year.

“There can be 2,000 to 3,000 ticks at any one time on a deer,” Mr Porter said. “They like humid moist areas, under leaves and shrubs.”

“This fall will be horrendous,” Mr Whitman added. “Experts say next year will be worse.”

Janet Zamary brought her two daughters Shannon and Stephanie to the health fair this year. Shannon thought it was fun.

Mrs Zamaray said she brought the girls “just so they can be exposed to different health aspects.”

Joan Ardry of Southbury won the raffled bike from TC Cycle that was donated by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

There were nine Healthy Slogan Contest winners. The winners for Grades 1-3 were: Kurt Vinci, grade 3 – Don’t Spare The Fresh Air; Samantha Testanero, grade 2 – Be Smart And Exercise for a Healthy Heart; and Christina Midlik, grade 2 – Eating Right Keeps Your Body Healthy And Brite.

The winners for Grades 4-6 included: Vincent P. DeAngelis, grade 4 – Eat Light, Drink Water With Might, Sleep Tight; Marina Virgalla, grade 5 – A Heavy Knapsack Can Injure Your Back; Jimmy O’ Brien, grade 5 – HEALTHY (Hugs, Exercise, Apples, Laughter, Tomatoes, Happy, Yams).

In Grades 6-8, the winners were: Jeff Bonaccorso, grade 6 – Exercise, Eat Healthy, No Drugs, Doctor When Sick; Sara Regensburger, grade 6 – How Can You Be Sure Your Pump Is Working; and Liam Cawley, grade 8 – Eat Right, Play Safe, Leads To Better Place.

The winners received prizes of gift certificates, and a backpack from Colonial Chiropractors. The Newtown Woman’s Club sponsored the slogan contest.