Annual dinner to highlight heart disease, staying healthy

     DERBY - In conjunction with National Heart Month, Griffin Hospital’s Women and Heart Disease Committee will host its 7th Annual Women and Heart Disease program Feb. 2 at Grassy Hill Lodge, 77 Sodom Lane.
    The event is open to the public. Cost is $35. Reservations may be made by calling 203-732-7584 or 203-732-1137.
    Registration and a silent auction will start at 5 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by dinner and the program.
    Guest speaker will be Samantha Heller, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Coordinator at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.
    Heller is a nationally known health and media expert, consultant, and author of “Get Smart: Prescription for Boosting Brain Power & Optimizing Total Body Health.” She is a regularly featured health expert on TV shows such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Dr. Oz, among others.
    Heller has also written numerous nutrition, health, wellness and fitness articles that have appeared in such magazines as Today’s Health & Wellness and Heart Healthy Living.
    Highlighting the evening is the presentation of the Annual "Caring Heart" Awards. This year’s recipients will be the Lower Naugatuck Valley Boys and Girls Club and Father Leonard Kvedas, pastor of St. Michael's Parish in Beacon Falls.
    The “Caring Heart” awards are presented each year to an individual and a community organization in recognition of initiatives that support, promote and improve the general health and wellbeing of the community.
    According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills nearly twice as many women in the United States than all types of cancer combined, yet fewer than one out of four women think heart disease is a threat to their health.
    The Women and Heart Disease Committee - consisting of members of the Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nurse Program, healthcare professionals, and volunteers from the community - hosts the annual event to educate women about heart disease.
    Daun Barrett and Dee Klingaman are co-chairs of the Women and Heart Disease Committee for 2012. Committee members include Lisa Bisson, Laura Bracci, Joann Brejwo, Luisa Canestri, Laurie Casey, Maureen Coffey, Jeannette Connelly, Dorothy Gandy, Joanne Halstead, RN, Anita Jain, RN, Eunice Lisk, Maria Silvestre, RN, Mary Swansiger, RN and Barbara Ziemer.
    For information, call 203-732-7584 or 203-732-1137.