H.I.P.P, the Municipal Employee Wellness Program, presented a series of programs targeted to women at the Fall River Government Center during February, 2009, the American Heart Association's month-long focus on women and heart disease. Starting with the Commit To Quit smoking cessation program on February 10th, the series also included Wear Red Day on February 13th, and a program on the risk factors for heart disease and heart-healthy food shopping by staff from the Southcoast Hospital Cardiac Prevention Program. The program continues with blood pressure screening and a heart-healthy cooking demonstration by Jessica Williams of the U-Mass Extension Nutrition Education Program. The Southcoast mobile van also held a blood drive for Government Center employees on the 19th of February. The Wellness program has included a Mega Mileage Club that encourages employees to increase their walking using the ten walking routes designated by the Healthy Lives Program, as well as other routes of their own choosing. Employees have also been encouraged to take the stairs rather than the elevator when going between floors in the building. A Weight-Watchers group also meets weekly in the City Council Hearing Room. For more information about the Municipal Employee Wellness Program and sign-ups at any time, contact Julianne Kelly at 508-324-2405.

(Top row, left and right) Southcoast Hospital Cardiac Prevention Program dietitian Amanda Szot talks to Government Center employees Carol Walsh, Claudia St. Pierre-Mello and Barbara Szargowicz about food purchases that can support a heart-healthy diet. (Top row, center) Municipal Employee Wellness Coordinator Julianne Kelly welcomes participants to the program that took place in the City Council hearing room at Government Center. (Middle row, left) Southcoast Hospital Cardiac Prevention Program nurse Donna Querrim goes over some of the risk factors in the development of heart disease in women as Shannon Lyonnais, Pauline Martins-Texeira, and Peg Guinen listen. (Bottom row, left) Barbara Szargowicz and Julie Kelly listen to a menu suggestion from Children In Balance project manager Marcia Picard. (Bottom row, center) Julie reminds participants of the upcoming cooking class. (Bottom row, right, left to right) Nadine Castro, Barbara Szargowicz, Christine Cusick, Brenda Ritz, and Claudia St. Pierre-Mello pick up educational materials at the end of the session.