Go Red For Women
To The Editor:
In its ongoing effort to elevate public awareness about cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is teaming up with Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Banks to share the truth about the No. 1 killer of women. More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood. Additionally, stroke is the No. 4 leading cause of death of women and the No.1 cause of long-term disability. That’s why Go Red for Women is asking the New Jersey women to participate in the 9th Annual National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 3, 2012, to make ending heart disease a reality
Currently some 8 million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat. In fact, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
Be the Difference
Go Red For Women is asking women to take action by participating in this year’s National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 3. Women can wear red in support of the cause, learn more about their personal risk of heart disease, and get involved with local events and register for a free red dress pin at GoRedforWomen.org or Facebook.com/GoRed.
Roll out Your Red
Join the excitement of our first-ever Wear Red Daily Challenge as we spotlight our most spirited supporters. Go to Facebook.com/GoRed to review the 13 Wear Red Award categories of the friendly competition. Record a video or take photos of your efforts to “Go Red” and submit them on the Wear Red Day Challenge tab on your Facebook page from Jan. 23 to Feb. 23. Encourage others to vote for you by “liking” your submissions; winners will be announced for each category on Feb. 25.
Elizabeth Banks Stars in “Just a Little Heart Attack” and New PSA
Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Banks directs and stars in the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women new public service announcement and short film, “Just a Little Heart Attack” inspired by the real-life stories of women who have been affected by heart disease. The entertaining yet poignant film, which can be viewed on Facebook.com/GoRed, provides a powerful wake-up call to women across America to understand their risk for heart disease and empower them to put their health first.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co, Inc.
Courtney Nelson
Regional Director of Communications
The American Heart Association
Robbinsville, NJ
A Regular Couple
To the Editor
RE: “Moral and Immoral” letter by John C. Hendrickson, TRT Jan. 27
I write as a Rumson native and a longtime TRT subscriber in response to John C. Hendrickson’s letter (“Moral and Immoral,” January 20). I now live in New York City, although I frequently return to the Two River area, where my family still resides. More importantly, though, I’m writing as a 32-year-old gay man in favor of marriage equality. Studies have shown that knowing even one gay person can help sway opinions in favor of equal rights, even for those who cite religious arguments about so-called traditional marriage. So, I would like to introduce myself. I’m a product of the same environment that many of you are, and I share many of the same values. I’m a graduate of Forrestdale, RFH, and Northwestern University, where I also received my master’s degree in journalism. My partner of nearly five years, Chris, is a successful magazine editor. We are the proud uncles of my sister’s four kids. We share a small apartment, work too many hours, have a terrific group of friends, don’t cook as much as we should, are trying to save money to buy a place of our own, and are focused on our shared future. Basically, we’re like every regular couple we know. In New Jersey, however, our straight friends have a leg up: they can legally marry. Marriage equality has already passed in several states, including my own adopted state of New York. Not only has the sky not fallen in, but lawmakers — and many religious leaders — who were once outspoken detractors of marriage equality have come around. Perhaps they got to know couples like Chris and me, or perhaps they realized that marriage is, in fact, the civil rights issue that advocates have been claiming for many years. Contrary to destroying the institution of marriage and bringing fire and brimstone upon us all, as Mr. Hendrickson fears, allowing gays to marry has expanded rights and has reaffirmed the importance of the institution for much of society. I assure you that equal rights under the law — and marriage, and only marriage, confers those rights — is much more on our minds than is upending civilization. I’m proud of New York and the bipartisan legislature that passed marriage equality last June. But I’d be even more proud if lawmakers in my home state, including Governor Christie, listened to their consciences, got to know people like me, and understood that the only real gay agenda we have is equal rights for all.
Cub Barrett
New York, N.Y.
(Rumson native)
Scouting Anniversary Week
To The Editor:
Scouts from across Monmouth County will be participating in a variety of Scouting Anniversary Week activities February 5-11 to celebrate the founding of Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. The New Jersey Scout Museum is hosting a free program, open to the public, to explore the history of scouting in Monmouth Council on Friday, Feburary 10, at 7 p.m. The program includes photographs and a discussion about the book Monmouth Council Boy Scouts (Arcadia Publishing, 2011) by Dave Wolverton, which was recently republished by the museum. The museum opens at 6 p.m. and is located at the Monmouth Council Service Center,705 Ginesi Drive, Morganville, N.J. For information call (732) 536-2347 or visit http://www.NJScoutMuseum.org. Many scouts will take part in Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath programs which involve the presentation of religious medals earned by the scouts and participation in special religious ceremonies at local houses of worship across the county. Cub Scouts will participate in Blue and Gold Celebrations which mark the birth of the scouting movement and recognize scout achievements. Boy Scouts will participate in Courts of Honor where they will achieve their rank advancements in Boy Scouts.For 101 years, the Boy Scouts of America has served over 100 million young people across the country by providing a rich heritage of scouting programs that emphasize citizenship, character development and community service. Monmouth Council, BSA provides scouting programs to over 7,000 young people through Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Learning for Life and Exploring programs across Monmouth County. For more information call: (732) 536-2347, or go to: www.monmouthbsa.org
Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts
Morganville
Prevent Disease With Healthy Diet
To The Editor:
Celebrity chef Paula Deen’s announcement that she has diabetes should be a wake-up call about the dangers of eating meat, cheese, butter, and other fatty, cholesterol-laden foods. A recent Harvard School of Public Health study even suggests that eating processed meats and red meat can increase one’s risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 50 percent.
Fortunately, people can prevent—and even reverse—diabetes by eating a healthy, yet tasty, plant-based diet. Researchers have even found that diabetics who eat low-fat vegan foods are able to stop taking medications—or at least take fewer of them—to manage the disease. Many people have also lost weight and lowered their cholesterol just by eating vegan foods.
If you want to eat healthier, but enjoy the taste of meat and dairy products, try eating great-tasting vegan versions of your favorite foods. Choose soy sausage instead of pork sausage, beefless tips rather than beef tips, and faux chicken, not chicken flesh. For product suggestions and free vegan recipes, see www.PETA.org.
Heather Moore
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, Va.
Trails Training
To The Editor:
Love the Monmouth County Park System’s 120+ miles of trails and interested in becoming part of the Park System’s Trails Team? Head over to the Thompson Park Annex Training Center, 53 Longbridge Rd., Holmdel, on Saturday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to noon and learn more about joining this dedicated group. Prospective volunteers (age 16 and up) are invited to this free training workshop that serves as an introduction to Park System safety rules, tools and equipment and maintenance overview. To register, please contact Melissa Kelly at (732) 842-4000, ext. 4283, or mkelly@monmouthcountyparks.com.
Held one or two Saturday mornings a month, trail work sessions are scheduled at various county parks throughout the season. During these sessions, volunteers assist in maintaining old trails and constructing new ones. To learn more about the Trails Team and other Park System volunteer opportunities, please visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com or call (732) 842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks, and Recreation agency.
Karen Livingstone
Public Information
The Monmouth County Parks System
Lincroft
