Fair Brings Diverse Health And Safety Information To Newtowners

By Larissa Lytwyn

Want to get a free massage? How about a complimentary vision screening? Ever wanted to learn more about drug and alcohol prevention or wondered how your tween-aged student could acquire a part-time job?

For the 11th consecutive year, Newtown’s businesses, nonprofit agencies, community and health care organizations united to give Newtowners of all ages information on how to stay fit and safe — all while having a little fun.

Mae Schmidle of the Newtown Woman’s Club, Health Director Donna Murphy, and chiropractor Della Schmid chair the event, which is sponsored by the Newtown Woman’s Club and Visiting Nurses Association.

This year, the fair took place on September 18 from 10 am to 2 pm in Newtown Middle School’s gymnasium.

Among the participants in this year’s fair was Newtown Ambulance, Newtown Search and Rescue, the American Red Cross, the Newtown Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Newtown Drug Center, Newtown Youth Services, Newtown Parent Connection, the Children’s Adventure Center, Mike Porco’s Academy of Karate, Ashlar of Newtown, the Family Counseling Center, Danbury Hospital, and many others.

Students in the town’s public elementary schools, plus Reed Intermediate School, competed in the fair’s annual poster contest.

This year’s theme involved illustrating one’s favorite physical activity.

Physician Bob Roseman helped determine the winners of the contest, which was organized by fair co-chair Mae Schmidle.

In the fifth and sixth grades, fifth grader Madeline Keane won first place for her depiction of trampoline jumping. Sixth grader Drew Robinson won second place for his drawing of playing baseball. Fifth grader Paige Cairnes won third place for her depiction of participating in gymnastics.

In grades 1 through 4, first grader Michael Grosso, a student at Sandy Hook school, won first place for his drawing of riding his bicycle. Fourth grader Dan Poeltl, a Middle Gate student, won second place for his depiction of playing baseball. Head O’ Meadow fourth grader Kristen Campbell won third place for her drawing of dancing.

The Newtown Chamber of Commerce raffled a $300-value mountain bike from World of Bikes to Helen Szamotula.

Among other highlights was the first-time appearance of Terry Stoller, founder of Smart Packs. The organization distributes ergonomically correct backpacks produced by the AirPacks system. The specially designed backpack distributes weight evenly and aligns posture.

“We’ve had a really good response today,” Ms Stoller said. “There was a lot of interest.”

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the American Academy of Orthpaedic Surgeons (AAOS) are among the groups that have been working to educate the public about the multiple risks of children carrying too-heavy backpacks.

Manufacturers and health and safety organizations have been working together to make the ergonomically correct backpacks, which range in price from $38 to $59, available to consumers.

Another notable newcomer was Patricia Coughlin, a certified hypnotherapist who recently launched a Newtown-based hypnotherapy practice specializing in hypno-birthing.

“The hypno-birthing childbirth method is particularly helpful for new mothers or those experiencing difficult pregnancies,” said Ms Coughlin. “The techniques greatly reduce anxiety and pain, easing the process of giving birth.”

The practice does not involve a trance or sleeplike state. Rather, the person engaging the techniques will be fully aware and in control, but profoundly relaxed.

“I’ve been speaking with a lot of women, as well as their partners, today,” said Ms Coughlin. “I’m happy to see that there has been some definite interest.”

Stationed nearby were pharmacists from the Newtown Drug Center.

For the first time, Ross Meyer of New Fairfield, a longtime beekeeper, came to the fair with two glass-paneled beehives. The Drug Center carries several varieties of Mr Meyer’s all-natural fresh honey.

Eight-year-old Angel Santos, a student at Reed Intermediate School, said he had “loved’ checking out the live bees. “It was cool,” he said, adding that it was his first time at the fair.

“I also really liked the karate [station],” he said. “I have an interest in that — maybe I’ll join!”

Mike Porco’s Academy of Karate, a longtime Newtown institution, has been a part of the health fair for several years. Mr Porco’s wife Sylvia said the fair helps generate interest from potential new members.

“When I first met [Mike], he was already very much into martial arts study,” said Ms Porco. “I became involved in it more recently. I find it gives me more patience, a greater sense of control.”

Several young Academy students, who spent the duration of the fair speaking with prospective new members and periodically performing live demonstrations of different karate movements, agreed.

“I initially became involved in karate about five years ago, through a Parks and Recreation program,” said Bonnie Lundblad, an eighth grader. “I think it’s given me a greater sense of discipline and focus.”

Another student, Sarah Milas, said karate made her more “alert.”

Alan Shwartz, who also became involved in karate through a Parks and Recreation class, said that the martial art has improved his concentration. The Newtown High School sophomore, who has been practicing for ten years, lauded the academy as a “great place” to make new friends. “I’ve definitely become more focused,” he said. “I improved my grades. It helped me gain further self-control.”

In addition to watching demonstrations, such as the karate exhibit, health fair visitors had the opportunity to take part in various health screenings.

The Lions, an international social service organization, first launched SightFirst, an aggressive campaign against rising case of blindness around the world, in 1990.

During the health fair, explained Newtown Lion Howard Gorham, the group organizes vision screenings, including glaucoma and diabetes-related blindness screenings, for participants to take part in. Mr Gorham credited obstetricians Joe Young and Roger Moore for their “immense support” during the organization of the 2004 Health and Safety Fair eye screenings.

Other local community service organizations, including the Newtown Woman’s Club, sought to arm the public with similar health and safety-related information. Newtown Woman’s Club member Nancy Brady discussed the importance of WHALE (We Have A Little Emergency) campaign, cosponsored by the Newtown Lions Club.

The program is an identification and information sticker package used on car and child safety seats. Information includes the child’s picture, name, date of birth, basic medical information, and emergency contacts.

“It’s a great, simple way for a child to be clearly identified and helped more quickly in the case of an emergency,” noted Ms Brady. “Everyone should know about this!”

Outside, at the American Red Cross booth, volunteer Robie Barile kept children and adults alike entertained with hands-on demonstrations of the Heimlich maneuver, among other lifesaving techniques.

For the Heimlich demonstration, Ms Barile placed a cotton ball in the mouth of an empty coke bottle marked only with a black circle near its base. The bottle represented a human mouth, neck and torso, the black circle a belly button. When the black spot was squeezed, the lodged “food,” the cotton, sprang out.

“This [demonstration] really helps people learn how to position their bodies and hands while performing the operation,” she said.

While the outside exhibits, including those by the Newtown Ambulance and Search and Rescue Team, are usually popular, this year, most people stayed indoors.

During the fair’s early hours, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan pelted the streets with rain and wind with monsoonlike strength. Fortunately, the storm had cleared to mere cloudiness by midday. Still, the late-summer air remained sharp and cool, bringing a touch of fall.

The less-than-lovely weather forced the cancellation of a visit by the Life Star helicopter, typically a major fair highlight.

Still, Ms Schmidle said she was pleased with the turnout the fair experienced, especially in the afternoon.

“It’s always a great way for the community to come together,” she said.