Center offers free diabetes prevention class

For the Gazette

The Hilltown Community Health Center in Huntington is offering a free National Diabetes Prevention Program for adults who are prediabetic and at risk for developing the serious, life-altering disease.

In the 12-month program, participants will learn about healthy eating, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated and other healthy behavior changes, all in a comfortable and confidential setting.

The curriculum was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation. The goal is to have people gradually lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and increase the amount of moderate exercise they do to 150 minutes per week.

Research shows that those steps can significantly delay or eliminate the risk of developing Type II diabetes.

According to the CDC, approximately 84 million American adults have prediabetes. Risk factors include being overweight, being over 45 years old, having a parent or sibling with diabetes, being physically active less than three times a week, having had gestational diabetes and having polycystic ovary syndrome.

“I strongly recommend the class to other people,” Peg Whalen of Chesterfield, who has taken the class, said. “If you meet the characteristics that put you at risk for becoming prediabetic, this class is very helpful.”

People who participate in the program get help and support from one another in making changes that can be difficult to do on their own.

“Participants share experiences, encourage each other, and help each other solve problems along the way,” Janet Dimock said. Dimock is a Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle coach and Health Center community health worker.

Whalen says that the program has worked wonders for her.

“During the first 6 months of the class I have made new friends, I have lost over 15 pounds, I am active five to six days each week, and I have dropped two sizes in clothing,” she said. “I am saving money on groceries, feel less stressed, and know that I finally have conquered my previous inability to stick with regular exercise.”

You do not need to be an HCHC patient to participate.

The first meeting will be on Tuesday, March 20, at 4:30 p.m. at the Hilltown Community Center, 9 Russell Road. Anyone interested in finding out more about the program is welcome at the first meeting.

For more information or to sign up, contact Community Health worker and trained and certified facilitator Ellie Brasil at the Huntington Community Center, 667-2203 ext. 322 and at ebrasil@hchcweb.org. Buy your tickets now for 14th annual Meltdown

Goshen’s popular icy fundraiser is well underway and there is still time to get your bets in on when the meltdown flag and its 69-pound cement block with break through the thawing ice on Hammond Pond.

This year, half of the contest proceeds will be donated to the renovation of the Town Hall kitchen. Several groups in town, including the Goshen Women’s Club and Council on Aging, frequently use the kitchen, but the 1950s era appliances don’t make that easy. They are in serious need of replacement.

The other half will go to the lucky person who comes closest to guessing the time and date that the flag sinks into the pond, without going over that time.

Tickets are $1 and you can submit as many tickets and guesses as you wish.

Last year the block officially went down on April 11 at 5:07 p.m., and the charity raised over $1,300 for a defibrillator for the New Hingham Elementary School in Chesterfield.

According to event organizer Bob Labrie, despite some warm days, the ice on the pond is still fairly deep. measuring roughly 15 inches as of last Sunday.

“Based on the long range forecast, the ice will only get thicker,” Labrie said.

The deadline for ticket submissions is April 1. Tickets can be purchased by going to the Goshen Fire and Rescue website, www.goshenmafire.com/meltdown.html. Cummington Town Caucus to be held

A Town Caucus will be held at the Community House on March 15, 2018, at 7 p.m. for the purpose of nominating candidates for town officers to be elected at the Annual Town Election to be held on May 14, 2018.