Healthy minds and bodies focus of Feb. 22 Healthy Family FunFest

January 23, 2015

Being healthy in body and mind is the focus of the 6th Annual Healthy Family FunFest on Sunday, Feb. 22, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This fun-filled day for people of all ages features exhibits and vendors centered on healthy living, education and green initiatives. This free event will be held at the Aqua Turf Club, 556 Mulberry St., in the Plantsville section of Southington.

One core area, Healthy Minds, will explore many aspects of mental and behavioral health through screenings, interactive demonstrations, pet therapy, resources and other happenings to engage visitors.

Thanks to the Bradley H. Barnes & Leila U. Barnes Memorial Trust at Main Street Community Foundation, guest speaker Dave Caperton, an award-winning educator, writer and comedian, will present five lighthearted sessions throughout the day. His upbeat approach to life focuses on incorporating joy, optimism and laughter into everyday living, bringing mental and physical benefits. “Healing and compassionate humor can help us to be more hopeful, connected and joyful; it may even help us to live longer,” Caperton commented. “Participants will leave well equipped with attitude choices, concrete actions and a new commitment to bringing more joy, laughter and gratitude to every aspect of their lives.”

While visiting the Healthy Minds area, guests will have the opportunity to take the Stop the Stigma pledge, a campaign of Hartford HealthCare’s (HHC) Behavioral Health Network (BHN) designed to eliminate stereotyping and hurtful attitudes toward people with mental health and substance abuse issues, and learn more about the services offered by the HHC BHN affiliates, including Rushford, Natchaug Hospital, Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living and The Hospital of Central Connecticut. A special station will be set up where visitors can take a community mental health survey using tablet technology, courtesy of the Calvanese Foundation Green & White Fund for Behavioral Health at Main Street Community Foundation.

The Healthy Family FunFest will also offer an array of information through screenings, entertainment and demonstrations, wellness tips on eating right and exercise, a kids’ section, food samples, free giveaways, contests and challenges, and much more. Radio personalities Renee DiNino and Cory Myers will also be on hand.

Non-perishable food items will be accepted for Southington’s neighbors in need.

This exciting event is presented by Central Connecticut Senior Health Services, the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA and The Hospital of Central Connecticut at Bradley Memorial. Main sponsors include Health New England, Bradley H. Barnes & Leila U. Barnes Memorial Trust at Main Street Community Foundation, Bristol Press, Connecticut Prime Time and New Britain Herald.

For more information, visit www.healthyfamilyfunfest.com or call Nicole Spagnoletti, Healthy Family FunFest sponsorship coordinator, at 860.378.1268.

The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) is a 414-bed, 32-bassinet acute care teaching hospital with two campuses, New Britain General and Bradley Memorial in Southington. A member of Hartford HealthCare, HOCC services include emergency, inpatient, surgery, laboratory, outpatient, and radiology. Among specialty areas are cardiovascular care, metabolic health, obstetrics, oncology, orthopedics, and psychiatry/behavioral health. For more information, please visit www.thocc.org; for a physician referral, call 1.800.321.6244.