Griffin in Oxford to offer free diabetes prevention program

OXFORD - The Griffin Center for Healthy Living will host a session of Living Healthy to Prevent Diabetes, its free diabetes prevention program this January to help empower individuals to lower their risk for the chronic health condition.

This six-week program helps individuals develop a structured lifestyle change program that can cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%, and, with sustained behavior, continues to lower risk for years to follow. At weekly meetings, Diabetes Care & Education Specialist Mary Swansiger, RN, CDCES, will guide participants in learning about healthy eating, weight management, physical activity, coping skills, healthy lifestyle goal setting and stress management.

There will be a session on Tuesdays Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, and 24, and March 3 and 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Griffin Health Center for Healthy Living, Quarry Rock, 300 Oxford Road.

This free wellness program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improve community wellness through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease. Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

Register at www.griffinhealth.org/living-healthy-to-prevent-diabetes or contact The Griffin Center for Healthy Living coordinator at 203-732-1369 to sign up or for more information.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

 

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers smoking cessation program

DERBY - Griffin Health offers education, advice, and support to help individuals prepare to quit tobacco and nicotine with an upcoming session of its free cessation program.

“That’s It! Learn to Quit!” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit tobacco and nicotine over the course of six weekly meetings. 

There will be a session Tuesdays Oct. 28, and Nov. 4, 11, and 25, and Dec. 2 and 9 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

The program encourages participants to acknowledge and honor past successes in their goal to quit tobacco. 

The goal is to help individuals learn how to stop using tobacco and nicotine without the guilt, shame, and fear of failure by teaching several different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. 

Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habits. 

Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all six sessions. 

To register, visit griffinhealth.org/ tobacco-nicotine-cessation or call 203-732-1369.

This free tobacco and nicotine program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and in promoting overall wellness. 

Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Adult Tai Chi workshops offered at Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton

Adult Tai Chi Program

Days: Thursdays, Aug. 21 and 28

Time: 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Location: Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton

Plumb Memorial Library is offering Tai Chi workshops for adults. They will be held in the Library’s Meeting Room.

Join instructor David Bailey to loosen your bones and clear your mind.

The program is free and open to the public. No registration needed.

Shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton moves Tai Chi class day

SHELTON - Plumb Memorial Library is offering Tai Chi workshops for adults.

Starting in July, the sessions will be held on Thursday mornings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room.

The class will be taught by Debbie Wooley, a certified instructor with the Health Institute who has been practicing Tai Chi for the past 10 years and been teaching it for five years.

She will be teaching the Tai Chi for Arthritis method which uses the Sun style. Each class will begin and end with a series of warm up and cool down exercises.

There is no prerequisite to participate in this class. No equipment is necessary and participants may do this seated if they feel more comfortable.

The program is free and open to the public.

The Library is at 65 Wooster St.

Shared from the Shelton Library System Facebook page.

Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center to host Babes in Arms sensory hike

Learn to hike with confidence at Ansonia Nature Center program

ANSONIA - Not sure if you’re ready for a hike? Being prepared leads to a better, more worry-free enjoyable hike. 

Learn the tried and true methods at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Ansonia Nature Center to ensure you are prepared for a day in the woods. 

In this program, we will use the Ten Essentials and Leave No Trace principles to plan and map our hike. 

Bring a small backpack, 2 liters or 32 oz water, nonperishable snacks, a hat, bug repellent, and hiking or trail running shoes with synthetic or wool socks (not cotton). 

FREE, for ages 12 to adults. Register at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org

The Nature Center is at 10 Deerfield Lane.

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.

Learn about geocaching at free program at Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center

Ansonia Nature Center photo

ANSONIA - Join ranger Dawn from 2-3 p.m. June 10 for an introduction to a fun and thrilling activity called Geocaching. 

Learn the terminology, how to log caches, and a brief history of this interactive “game.” 

The Nature Center has several located on its property. Be prepared to go on a hike to find some of the hidden surprises. Once you learn how easy this is, you can go outside and explore the many places in nature where these have been placed for your enjoyment. Wear appropriate foot gear and bug spray. 

The class is limited to 30 participants. The Nature Center is located at 10 Deerfield Lane.

To register, contact us at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org for this FREE program. Family-friendly.

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.

Take a hike Sunday at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - Staff at the Ansonia Nature Center will lead a Sunday hike at 1 p.m. Feb. 19.

Need to get out and breathe the fresh air? Enjoy the winter with this guided hike through our beautiful woodland and fields. Great exercise during the heart of winter. 

This program is geared toward adults and older children. 

Please register in advance at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org. Wear the appropriate attire for the weather.

This is shared from a press release.

Learn fall prevention at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.- noon June 21 at the hospital.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: 

assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home, and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death, and hospital admissions for trauma. 

Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline. The hospital is at 130 Division St.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther, 203-732-1523, or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Learn to prevent falls in program at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital to host a fall prevention program Dec. 7./ Contributed photo

DERBY -The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 7 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 
For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death, and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther, 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Walnut Hill Community Church in Derby to hold Coffeehouse Showcase

DERBY - Walnut Hill Community Church will host Coffee House Showcase from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 6 at the church, 27 9th St. 

Admission, coffee, and light refreshments are free.

A house band will perform for sets 1 and 3 offering a wide variety of music from various eras and genres. 

Set 2 will feature individual and group karaoke, an opportunity to showcase and perform vocally and/or instrumentally. 

The goal is simply to create a fun, free event where people from all over the Valley can kick back, enjoy themselves, and maybe even make some new friends.

This is shared from an online community calendar sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and The New Haven Independent.

Learn to quit smoking at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY - Griffin Hospital offers free education, advice, and support to help individuals prepare to quit smoking with its four-week smoking cessation program starting July 5.

“That’s It – Learn to Quit” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit smoking. 

The program consists of Wednesday night meetings from 5:30-7 p.m. scheduled for July 5, 12, 19, and 26 at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

There is also a “reunion” for graduates of the program at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 2 in the Center.

“The goal of the program is to help you learn how to quit,” said Carrie O’Malley, RN, a co-coordinator of the program. “There are different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. If one method didn’t work for you in the past we’ll help you understand all your options.”

Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habit. 

Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are all discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all four sessions.

To register for “That’s It – Learn to Quit,” call 203-732-1476.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Ansonia Library to hold scarf tying program

Photo from Ansonia Library website 

ANSONIA - Ansonia Library, 53 S. Cliff St., will hold a free program on scarf tying from 11 a.m.-noon Jan. 30.

We will be showing you the basics, along with some more advanced ties. 
Be sure to bring a scarf or two to practice with (we will have a few available too)! 

Registration is required; space is limited. 

To register, call the Library at 203-734-6275.

This is a press release from Mary Ann Capone, Director, Ansonia Library.