tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22026294444648839942024-03-02T17:47:18.316-08:00Middlesex YMCAA community of caring people who support families, build character and promote wellness.Michele Rulnickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314466535123007015noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-39699894793320396512023-07-06T10:20:00.000-07:002023-07-06T10:20:14.763-07:00Member Impact Story: Cathy Guadagni<b>Participation in the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Program helped Cathy Guadagni take charge of her health and life.</b>
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When I was finishing treatments for my breast cancer, I knew that I had to be proactive about diet and exercise to help prevent the return of cancer. While meeting with the Middlesex Health Nutritionist, we talked about the importance of exercise. She suggested I look into LIVESTRONG at the Y.
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During my intake, the Healthy Living Director, Jill listened so carefully and had such enthusiasm for how the program would help me. The Y immediately felt like it was exactly what I needed to help me get back into exercise and get the endorphin rush I was craving.
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I’ve belonged to other gyms. This is not just a gym, this is a community. Every time I walked into the Y, I felt like everyone genuinely cared. The structure of the program with time to gather and connect and check in with each other about our day, our treatment, etc. is what makes it more powerful than being part of a group exercise class. After the first week of sharing and fitness evaluations, the walls came down, the group bonded and held each other accountable. We were all at different levels but all going through the same type of experience. The coaches allowed me to own my progress. They would ask “Are you ready to do more?” They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. We gradually began to trust the ability of our bodies to become stronger and increase our weights and reps or length of time on the treadmill.
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Now that I’m a member of the Y, I feel a sense of belonging and have continued to become stronger and reclaim my body, my brain and my life.
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<a href="https://www.midymca.org/livestrong-at-the-y">Learn more about LIVESTRONG at the YMCA</a>
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<a href="https://groups.google.com/g/ctnewswire/c/_jyYNKZ5yec?pli=1"><b>Read The Connecticut General Assembly Press Release</b></a>
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<b>“These funds will support Northern Middlesex YMCA's efforts towards a major upgrade to the facility, enriching the lives of Middletown's youth. I am grateful for the Y’s leadership in helping secure this funding. Thank you to Governor Lamont and the Bond Commission for their commitment to Middletown,”</b> said Rep. Belton.
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As the Northern Middlesex YMCA prepares for a number of special projects in alignment with a new strategic plan, these funds will be important to take the next steps.
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<b>“With the renovation and addition of dedicated youth space, we would expect to expand our already vibrant youth programming, growing our services in excess of the 500+ teens we currently serve,”</b> said YMCA President/CEO Michele Rulnick. <b>“We provide financial assistance for the majority of our youth members, therefore this bonding support will assist in solving our space needs to allow more opportunities.”</b>
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For more information, contact Rich McCarty, Vice President of Healthy Living and Social Responsibility at 860-343-6207 or <b>rmccarty@midymca.org<a href="rmccarty@midymca.org"></a></b>.
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About the Y
The Northern Middlesex YMCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1886. The organization currently serves tens of thousands in Northern Middlesex County (Cromwell, Durham, East Hampton, East Haddam, Middlefield, Middletown, Portland) through various programs that encourage youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. A strong community relationship has made it possible for the Northern Middlesex Y to have a significant reach and provide quality service to all regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation or financial status.
Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-62057522138700742072023-04-27T08:08:00.000-07:002023-04-27T08:08:12.978-07:00Child Abuse Prevention Month | Our YMCA Employee Code of ConductThe development of children is the core of which the Y’s values were built. This is why the safety of all children in our care is our number one priority. Staff and volunteers at the Northern Middlesex YMCA follow our Code of Conduct to ensure the safety of all children who come through our doors, whether they’re regular program participants or only visit once a year. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2yXxLAMxvI3LNZzDRoKr8PA58g9NxBMvfDqphGh5GJaZJpAFETYnCJDr73zkBXUjkJtQHkAvUfQvnEL3ouX1rK1-ZReLhDzuntOhcYdyGnfy-FhAvCaN96vtqzEA428jDn5x5raT7GMK0BRWQja12OYVaXM4IDlIQugYF66bbowcSY_SHVvu0VHx/s1080/1a.%20Child%20Abuse%20Prevention%20Month%20IG.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2yXxLAMxvI3LNZzDRoKr8PA58g9NxBMvfDqphGh5GJaZJpAFETYnCJDr73zkBXUjkJtQHkAvUfQvnEL3ouX1rK1-ZReLhDzuntOhcYdyGnfy-FhAvCaN96vtqzEA428jDn5x5raT7GMK0BRWQja12OYVaXM4IDlIQugYF66bbowcSY_SHVvu0VHx/s320/1a.%20Child%20Abuse%20Prevention%20Month%20IG.png"/></a></div>
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During Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Y wants to make sure that all members understand this Code of Conduct. A key tool in abuse prevention is knowledge, so it’s important that parents and caregivers are informed of the Y’s policies around children. Together we can work to ensure all children in Middlesex County reach their full potential.
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Click <b>HERE<a href="https://www.midymca.org/abuse-prevention-at-the-middlesex-y"></a></b> to visit our Abuse Prevention at the Y page on our website to view our Code of Conduct.
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In addition to our Code of Conduct, the Y also has a number of safety measures intended to keep kids safe.
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A principal endeavor of the Middlesex Y is to provide an atmosphere for the growth and development of youth and children.Thus, the mistreatment or neglect of youth or children and the resulting severe effects are of primary concern to the Y. Child abuse is mistreatment or neglect of a child by parent(s) or others resulting in injury or harm. Abuse can lead to severe emotional, physical and behavioral problems. Because of its concern for the welfare of children and youth, the Y has developed policies, standards, guidelines and training to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.
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1. All employees are screened and background checks are conducted upon hiring or rehiring. Additionally, employees who have contact with children and youth receive training in recognizing, reporting and preventing child abuse, which includes training in recognizing signs that a child is being groomed for abuse.
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2. Before employment, all staff must complete Praesidium's Armatus Child Abuse Prevention Training. These online modules of training include "Duty to Report, Mandated Reporter", "Keeping Your Y Safe", "Preventing Sexual Activity Between Young Children", "Meet Sam", and "It Happened to Me".
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3. All employees are required to sign and abide by our Codes of Conduct, Work Rules, Childcare Code of Conduct, and our YMCA Policy Preventing the Abuse and Mistreatment of Youth.
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If you have questions about the Y’s Code of Conduct or our child safety measures policy, please contact
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Candace Crane, VP of Youth Development & Community Relations
860.343.6204 or <b>ccrane@midymca.org<a href="ccrane@midymca.org"></a></b>
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Rich McCarty, VP for Healthy Living & Social Responsibility
860.343.6207 or <b>rmccarty@midymca.org<a href="rmccarty@midymca.org"></a></b>Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-3836573965381560792023-04-17T10:06:00.000-07:002023-04-27T07:44:00.455-07:00Join Five Days of Action to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, April 24-28April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of our commitment to protecting the children in our community, we’re participating in the Five Days of Action - a week-long campaign to increase awareness of child sexual abuse and empower and equip us all to prevent it. By taking part in this important campaign and through implementing abuse prevention practices year-round, The Middlesex Y is committing to the safety of all children in our community.
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The Know. See. Respond. campaign is back this year, tying in three impact areas – preventing child sexual abuse at both summer camp and in youth sports, and internet safety. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, U.S. Center for SafeSport and Praesidium have shared resources to support this campaign.
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<b>Summer Camp</b>
KNOWing about child sexual abuse can help adults better understand what to look for and how to prevent it. As parents, caregivers, and trusted adults to the young people in our lives, we play an important role in protecting them from abuse. This requires our commitment to continually learn and then ask questions about the safety of our loved ones.
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The Y – and other youth serving organizations – implement a series of measures to keep the kids in their care safe. Next time you enroll your loved one in a new program, ask them about their child protection practices. For this summer, you can use this list.
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<b>See: Youth Sports</b>
When we SEE boundaries being crossed or suspect a child is being abused, we can and should act quickly. Sports should be safe places for children to grow, both as people and athletes. As a parent, caregiver, coach, or volunteer, it is up to you to make sure any environment in which children in your care interact is free from abuse. Learn more about the signs and how you can help prevent child sexual abuse in youth sports at https://uscenterforsafesport.org/parents/.
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<b>Respond: Internet Safety</b>
Did you know that you don’t need evidence to report abuse—only reasonable suspicion? But even for adults, reporting abuse is hard. We don’t want to falsely accuse someone or get someone in trouble. On the other hand, reporting might be the one thing that saves a child – or children – from abuse. It is our responsibility to RESPOND to any and all disclosure, discovery or suspicion of child sexual abuse.
As adults and children alike have turned to digital tools for school, work and socialization, online safety matters now more than ever. Many online dangers put children at risk, such as cyber bullying, online enticement and more. As an adult, keeping an open line of communication with any children in your care who may access online content can be key to helping prevent sexual abuse. Learn the facts, how you can keep kids safe, and how to respond to online victimization at <a href="https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz">https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz</a>.
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We take our commitment to child protection seriously and we hope you do too. Check out our protection policy here<a href="about:invalid#zSoyz"> https://www.midymca.org/abuse-prevention-at-the-middlesex-y</a> to learn more about how we keep kids safe in Middlesex County.
Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-29833301855348853762023-03-13T07:25:00.002-07:002023-03-13T07:25:19.503-07:00GENDER EQUITY Workforce Gender Equity Begins With Affordable, High-Quality Child Care by YMCA of USA CEO Suzanne McCormick<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB65TvSFPTnjhm7YHtpXaWZfJSf2BW5lT3yyicLfOFvnWCwthuF94j7aHQ4xAILJZAheQkm_4ktkM8FzPk7jGNxbT8430TYc7U8-CkOfpdEl04g8_h4CudmTVgPtITtOhu5s1XBN4Z3TmhrrgDQh1-tEK6hZ7cn4T75_OZ_Vbvli698hbT6-AMgXn/s1620/mccormick-gender-equity-1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB65TvSFPTnjhm7YHtpXaWZfJSf2BW5lT3yyicLfOFvnWCwthuF94j7aHQ4xAILJZAheQkm_4ktkM8FzPk7jGNxbT8430TYc7U8-CkOfpdEl04g8_h4CudmTVgPtITtOhu5s1XBN4Z3TmhrrgDQh1-tEK6hZ7cn4T75_OZ_Vbvli698hbT6-AMgXn/s320/mccormick-gender-equity-1.jpg"/></a></div>
As a mother and the first woman to lead YMCA of the USA, access to affordable, quality child care is an issue especially close to my heart. When my children were growing up, one of the greatest stressors in my life was finding quality care for them while my husband and I worked.
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Access to affordable child care has been a problem in this country for a long time, and today it seems to be reaching a breaking point. We know that so many parents – mostly women – left the workforce to care for their children during the pandemic, and many have struggled to return.
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This trend threatens to slow the progress women have made in recent decades. Not only do we now account for more than half of the college-educated workforce, but for the first time, women are leading 10 percent of Fortune 500 companies.
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During Women’s History Month, I want to celebrate the steps society has taken toward narrowing the gender gap in the workforce. But I also want to recognize that there is a lot more work to be done, and that increasing access to affordable, high-quality services is essential if we are to continue narrowing the gap.
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A (brief) history of child care at the YMCA
Most people today know the Y as a youth development organization, serving nearly 5 million kids and teens a year through our programs, including afterschool, early care and education, overnight and day camp, youth sports and more.
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YMCAs have developed and evolved these programs over time, always in response to the specific needs of their communities. For example, YMCA preschool programs emerged during World War II and were a vital part of the nation’s support for the millions of women who were entering the workforce because of the war.
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When women’s participation in the workforce steadily increased between 1960 and 1980, so did the demand for affordable, accessible child care. Recognizing this growing need, YMCAs launched formal child care programs in the 1970s.
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Today, this responsiveness remains central to who we are as an organization. When COVID-19 forced school and daycare closures across the country, more than 1,000 YMCAs quickly began offering emergency child care services for essential workers and first responders. While they were leaving their homes every day to care for our country during a time of crisis, they at least had some peace of mind knowing that their kids were being cared for and kept safe.
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During World War II, the YMCA offered weekly nursery services to Service wives. Source: https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll379:4306Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-65989003992768833912023-03-06T08:44:00.001-08:002023-03-06T08:44:21.165-08:00Nine Healthy Eating Tips for the Entire Family!By Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN in partnership with Eggland’s Best
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<b>Post a snack list on the fridge</b>
Have a list posted on the fridge of available and healthy snacks so it’s more likely everyone will choose those nourishing options when hunger hits. Snacks that have protein + produce are great options such as an Eggland’s Best hard-cooked egg + cucumbers, nut butter + celery, cheese stick + apple, edamame + orange slices, or yogurt + berries.
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<b>Play “Try It Tuesday”</b>
Trying new foods is such a great way to get a wide variety of nutrition and create more adventurous eaters. Make Tuesday theday each week to open everyone’s mind & palate to try a new snack, a new side dish, a new recipe, or even just take a bite of a new fruit or veggie.
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<b>Team up in the kitchen</b>
Cooking together makes it feel more fun and when kids play a role in prepping, they are more likely to enjoy the meal. Teaching kids how to cook is a valuable life skill that you can start teaching at any age, it’s never too early or late. And bonus, the better kids get in the kitchen, the less work it ends up being for parents!
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<b>Count the color on your plate</b>
One of the best ways to eat better is by adding more colorful fruits & veggies to meals and snacks. So have kids count the colors on their plate and the more colors the better. Take it to the next level and create a family chart to track the colors eaten through the week or month!
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<b>Learn the superpowers of each food group</b>
Each food group does powerful things in your body. And when kids (and adults) focus on the superpower benefits of food, it becomes more meaningful and fun to choose nourishing options. For example:
• Protein foods like Eggland’s Best eggs, chicken, and beans help grow and repair muscles.
• Fruits & veggies give us vitamins & minerals to protect our cells.
• Whole grains like whole wheat, oats, and brown rice give us energy.
• Fats like nuts, avocado, and olive oil support our organs.
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<b>Create a water station</b>
Staying hydrated helps keep us healthy and energized. Keep a pitcher of water that’s easy to see on the counter or in the fridge. And nearby have cups/water bottles and some slices of cucumbers, lemons, limes, oranges, mint, and/or berries so kids can create their own special flavor combos. Keeping water available and fun encourages the whole family to drink more of it.
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<b>Give everyone their own day of the week</b>
To help make dinner a peaceful, complain-free zone, give each family member a day of the week that they pick what’s for dinner. It makes planning easier and kids love having a say in what they are eating. Pro-tip: Even when kids ask for mac & cheese, chicken nuggets, or pizza, you can make those classics healthier by rounding out the meal with plenty of veggies.
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<b>Make dinner a digital detox</b>
Enjoy meal time without phones, games, or TV. It creates more mindful meals and more connection and conversation. Need help coming up with what to talk about, read the next tip!
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<b>Create a bowl of conversation starters</b>
Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with things to talk about at the dinner table, so write questions on pieces of paper, put them in a bowl, and each night grab one or two to help get the conversation flowing. Questions like “What was the best part of your day, What was the funniest thing you heard/saw today, If you got one wish from a genie what would yours be?”
Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-4777406044951419122022-09-26T13:08:00.002-07:002023-03-06T08:39:12.609-08:00BINGOpalooza 2022 Raises $20,000With more than 120 participants, 12 beautiful designer handbag donations and $20,000 in funds raised, spirits were high and records were broken at the 2nd Annual BINGO event on 9/15/22. Of the 10 rounds of BINGO played, half of them resulted in a two way or three way tie which added an extra element of excitement for the crowd. Senior Director of Development, Rich McCarty kept the crowd entertained with an intermission game of Heads or Tails. More than 25 paid to test their luck by choosing heads or tails in this fundraiser game of elimination that was fun for everyone.
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Our Open Doors Program makes sure that everyone who wants to use a service at the Y is eligible to do so regardless of economic barriers. This financial assistance program is funded by charitable support.
The Y is doing a great deal of work to support the community. We cannot do it alone without the support of our sponsors, our business partners, individual donors and everyone who attends fundraising events.
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For those that are not familiar with the work we do, President and CEO, Michele Rulnick provided some highights of the work that is being done beyond wellness programming related to fitness and swimming.
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This past summer, we provided FREE swim lessons to about 120 children in order for them to be safe around water.
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Beyond that, we have begun to focus on food insecurity issues within our community. There are 62 men who reside at the YMCA in our single room occupancy housing. The Y is their home. Without cooking facilities, they struggle to make ends meet. The Y has also set up a food pantry. Grant funding has allowed us to provide weekly home cooked meals. We partnered with First Church to provide weekly meals throughout COVID.
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Food Insecurity programming has also expanded to support youth in our Summer Enrichment Day Camp program held at the YMCA. There are typically 35% of the youth in attendance who are on some type of financial assistance. This year, Candace Crane, VP of Youth Development and Community Relations was able to work with the Middletown Board of Education to get a nutritious meal delivered to the Y for all of of Summer Enrichment campers. This is critical because families are struggling to pay for groceries. The Y is making sure that we are doing everything we can to help families.
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As far as our teen programming, we're looking at a mentoring employment program.
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We have a full preschool program for the first time since pre-COVID which is amazing.
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This summer, we had 1200 children come to enjoy the beauitful 76 acre property where YMCA Camp Ingersoll runs day camp sessions. Our friends at First Student were in attendance and received a shoutout for providing safe and reliable bussing throughout the summer.
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It truly takes a village to make a difference and we are incredibly grateful for our village!
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Special Recognitions were given to
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*volunteers, Johanna Bond, Kelly Smith, Karen Warren and Y staff
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*YMCA Volunteer Board of Directors
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*Development Team: Rich McCarty and Betsy Schroeder
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*Event Sponsors: Liberty Bank, Middlesex Health, Atlantic Wealth Advisors, Webster Bank, Peach Pit, Comcast, Controlled Air, 2QA + M Architecture, Peach Pit Foundation, NFP, Butler Construction, Whittlesey Advising, Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Centers. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcp-bPsGd3Ie9Rc1RfnfCTbW_g4C0TaBJXVNPD40AcnjBpXavtaRxoYfRts4ggi5fWTOjtsqY8Zbgk4yJJyvtXsC3uIMBwbXhXMLzXZe1-fh-pbN9CVa6EKZmLCN_XOZ1595xYk6EWeuYNz5fYu4q3ywhHoB08vqPv27LPpOyDuPwdSwRSA8wJ4zp/s424/Screenshot%202022-09-26%20141337.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcp-bPsGd3Ie9Rc1RfnfCTbW_g4C0TaBJXVNPD40AcnjBpXavtaRxoYfRts4ggi5fWTOjtsqY8Zbgk4yJJyvtXsC3uIMBwbXhXMLzXZe1-fh-pbN9CVa6EKZmLCN_XOZ1595xYk6EWeuYNz5fYu4q3ywhHoB08vqPv27LPpOyDuPwdSwRSA8wJ4zp/s320/Screenshot%202022-09-26%20141337.png"/></a></div>Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-1115380055623496872022-05-02T13:31:00.001-07:002022-05-02T13:31:35.704-07:00<b>The Northern Middlesex YMCA ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY TO SHARE MENTAL HEALTH FACTS
</b> <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEboA4KonxdX1IpuCwtVlbyd02N6OJ1f6nqY_GKRQMJKVEXm-x-v65T6HHNmpnS6odY1dXhGlrz3kZ_kR2XgNDrNFj8eubp-25WGJfUA9Bzzn3jY9c9-9ZhkV1inKnhdr6ruzxI_tQhcnpAHzBBaZeJ0BqRySwUm6sO4izzh037P68ojWwHjJoC1N/s852/3.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="852" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEboA4KonxdX1IpuCwtVlbyd02N6OJ1f6nqY_GKRQMJKVEXm-x-v65T6HHNmpnS6odY1dXhGlrz3kZ_kR2XgNDrNFj8eubp-25WGJfUA9Bzzn3jY9c9-9ZhkV1inKnhdr6ruzxI_tQhcnpAHzBBaZeJ0BqRySwUm6sO4izzh037P68ojWwHjJoC1N/s320/3.png"/></a></div>
<br>In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Middlesex Y is encouraging community members to join the conversation about mental health.
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<br>Mental health is how we think, feel and act. At the Y, we recognize that we all have mental health, and mental health is an important part of our physical health and social-emotional well-being, as well as a core component of our identity.
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<br>“We can all play a role in supporting each other’s mental health – at the Y and in our communities,” said Candace Crane, VP of Youth Development & Community Outreach. “The first step is to start talking in our communities about what mental health really is.”
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<br>Help the Y get the conversation going about mental health this Mental Health Awareness Month by sharing these facts with your friends and family:
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<br><b>FACT:</b> We all have mental health, not just those who live with a mental illness. Everyone faces challenges in their life that can impact our mental health.
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<br><b>FACT:</b> There are many things we can do each day to positively impact our mental health. A few examples include:
• moving, fueling and resting our bodies
• being mindful of how we’re feeling and what’s going on around us
• connecting with others, and
• asking for help when needed
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<br><b>FACT:</b> In addition to biological and environmental factors, mental health is influenced by health inequities that can be attributed to systemic racism, the social determinants of health and exposure to trauma. Ys and community organizations can support mental health by addressing barriers that prevent marginalized communities from having access to the support they need.
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<br><b>FACT:</b> Mental health and physical health are interconnected, and both can impact your overall well-being. For example, research shows that exercise can alleviate long-term depression.1
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<br><b>FACT:</b> Positive mental health can be supported in community settings, like the Y, in addition to traditional clinical settings. The Y supports the mental health of individuals and communities in all of the work we do to help people reach their full potential—whether that’s supporting youth in our summer camps, helping people achieve their best physical health or providing newcomer immigrants access to services.
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<br><b>FACT:</b> We all can support the mental health of our community through bringing empathy, compassion and kindness to our interactions with others. Something as simple as intentionally asking “how are you?” and encouraging honest answers can provide us an opportunity to normalize mental health and help others when they need it.
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<br>If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, know that help is available. Visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for a list of resources. For immediate help 24-hours a day, call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741.
Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-78213559339162371112022-04-13T09:45:00.002-07:002022-04-13T09:45:59.753-07:00<b>COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO PROTECT CHILDREN</b><br>
The Northern Middlesex YMCA joins the Five Days of Action to protect children from sexual abuse.<br><br>
The Northern Middlesex YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action, April 18-22, 2022. The Five Days of Action is a week long campaign to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. <br><br>
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The Y encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week as we come together to make the community a safer place for children to live, learn, and play. With summer right around the corner—when children gather for activities and camps, it is a wonderful time to bring attention to the simple ways we can all make the children in our community safer. <br><br>
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During the Five Days of Action, The Northern Middlesex YMCA will be engaging these critical steps of prevention, KNOW. SEE. RESPOND. that will help adults better protect children. When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations about how we can all work together to prevent it from happening. <br><br>
“The children of Middlesex County have the right to a happy and safe childhood, and it's our responsibility as adults and organizations to stand up to protect that right,” said Candace Crane, VP of Youth Development and Community Relations. “By joining in the Five Days of Action’s KNOW. SEE. RESPOND. campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members of our community to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”<br> <br>
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A principal endeavor of the Middlesex Y is to provide an atmosphere for the growth and development of youth and children. Thus, the mistreatment or neglect of youth or children and the resulting severe effects are of primary concern to the Y. Child abuse is mistreatment or neglect of a child by parent(s) or others resulting in injury or harm. Abuse can lead to severe emotional, physical and behavioral problems. Because of its concern for the welfare of children and youth, the Y has developed policies, standards, guidelines and training to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.<br><br>
1. All employees are screened and background checks are conducted upon hiring or rehiring. Additionally, employees who have contact with children and youth receive training in recognizing, reporting and preventing child abuse, which includes training in recognizing signs that a child is being groomed for abuse.<br><br>
2. Before employment, all staff must complete Praesidium's Armatus Child Abuse Prevention Training. These online modules of training include "Duty to Report, Mandated Reporter", "Keeping Your Y Safe", "Preventing Sexual Activity Between Young Children", "Meet Sam", and "It Happened to Me".<br><br>
3. All employees are required to sign and abide by our Codes of Conduct, Work Rules, Childcare Code of Conduct, and our YMCA Policy Preventing the Abuse and Mistreatment of Youth. These documents can be found under the About Us tab on our website www.midymca.org.<br><br>
Resources for Parents/Guardians
A parent or guardian is the best person to teach a youth about personal safety. However, the staff at the Y will also be communicating similar messages. It is important for adults to be delivering a similar message. Please click on the About Us tab on our website www.midymca.org to access information on how to keep your youth safe, personal safety skills youth should have, ways to protect youth from abuse, and how to respond if your youth discloses abuse.<br>
<br>
The Northern Middlesex YMCA, with support from the YMCA Champions for Child Protection, YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, Redwoods Group Foundation, Monique Burr Foundation for Children, and American Camp Association, have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing child sexual abuse.
For more information about preventing child sexual abuse, visit www.fivedaysofaction.org.
Materials are derived from YMCA of the USA’s “Know. See. Respond.” copyrighted in 2020.<br><br>
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE STATISTICS - PROVIDED BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
One in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
90% of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser.
Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone.
False reports are rare. Research shows that only 4 to 8% of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated. <br><br>
WHAT TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED - PROVIDED BY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
You do not need to have proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that you have witnessed maltreatment or boundary violations, either in the child or adult, or both. Or, you have received a disclosure from a child about abuse, neglect, or boundary violations towards them.
Child sexual abuse reports should be made to the police and/or state child protective services.
Contact the Darkness to Light Helpline at 866-FOR-LIGHT or text LIGHT to 741741 to have questions answered by trained counselors at no charge. <br><br>
###<br>
<br>
Media Contact
Linda Heidorn, Communications Coordinator
<br><br>
About The Northern Middlesex YMCA
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Middlesex YMCA is one of Connecticut’s leading YMCA branches with over 11,000 people served annually. YMCA Camp Ingersoll located in Portland, CT is operated by Middlesex YMCA and exists to allow children to explore nature make new friends, and acquire new skills.
<br><br>
About Darkness to Light
Darkness to Light is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, Stewards of Children®, is an evidence-informed, award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. More than 1.9 million adults have been trained using Darkness to Light trainings. For more information, visit www.D2L.org.
<br><br>
About Redwoods Group Foundation
The Redwoods Group Foundation supports programs that can change the world and helps them reach more people than ever before, through funding and backbone support. We currently focus on child sexual abuse prevention, drowning prevention, and growing the field of social entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.redwoodsgroup.com.
<br><br>
About the Monique Burr Foundation for Children
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by providing the best comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education programs. MBF prevention programs educate and empower children and relevant adults with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to the four types of child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect), exploitation, bullying, cyberbullying, human trafficking, digital abuse, and other digital dangers. MBF is now a leader in prevention education with our programs having reached over 4.5 million children throughout Florida and the United States. For more information, visit www.mbfpreventioneducation.org.<br><br>
About American Camp Association
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA Accreditation provides public evidence of a camp's voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-18328886620272064692022-04-07T10:41:00.004-07:002022-04-07T11:16:14.266-07:00<b>State of Connecticut Community Challenge Grant</b><br /><br />
<b>"The YMCA is a proud partner of this City Initiative. The investments from this grant are going towards upgrade of our housing. It’s helping us preserve housing for low income men in this community. We are really proud to be part of this with other great partners."<i></i></b><br /> Michele Rulnick, CEO and President<br /><br />
<b>#housing #historicpreservation #collaboration #socialresponsibility</b><br />
<br />
Reshare of Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim's post: <br />
<br />
Today was a big day for downtown Middletown-- I was thrilled to join Governor Lamont to announce our city as one of 12 awardees out of 50+ applications for the State of Connecticut Community Challenge grant program. This award will bring $4.5 million in funding to redevelop historic buildings to meet modern community needs from one end of Main Street to the other-- housing, healthy food, community spaces, and beyond. I want to thank the City’s partners in our successful application, the developers and on-the-ground program providers who will be putting this funding to work going forward: J.R. Hargreaves (545 Main Street), DeMartino Investments (418/422/584 Main Street), and the Middlesex YMCA.
Today’s announcement follows $2 million in recent state bonding approved for 545 Main Street as well as combined $3 million in state and federal funding for renovations at the R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park and $580,000 in state grant funds for continued improvements to recent local park renovations. This represents a total of over $10 million and counting in competitive state and federal investment secured for Middletown this fiscal year.
Huge thanks to our state legislative delegation, Governor Lamont, and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz for their confidence in our city, the Middlesex Chamber for their outstanding and constant advocacy for Middletown’s business community, and to the amazing staff on my team who put in the long hours needed to get the job done on this funding. Now the real work begins, and we can’t wait to share the progress with you!
#middletownmeansbusiness
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Tu8BeKZMA4CcCJT3KEK_W7DmCWHB4IfIewYohrxF5MPmjcCT9JcWHev2ci3W0LRN7LYg08BDbQLkZ4V8iBMaDTtV42IXFZuTJexb__964MZjb_Qd79RytIhc_kg7Z5Ypuu9kVjl7G4g9fy3IKG_HDO6Rjn8TmX14aQl35QHoUqnyBWP9nnjB4Vpa/s697/Screenshot%202022-04-07%20132856.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="697" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Tu8BeKZMA4CcCJT3KEK_W7DmCWHB4IfIewYohrxF5MPmjcCT9JcWHev2ci3W0LRN7LYg08BDbQLkZ4V8iBMaDTtV42IXFZuTJexb__964MZjb_Qd79RytIhc_kg7Z5Ypuu9kVjl7G4g9fy3IKG_HDO6Rjn8TmX14aQl35QHoUqnyBWP9nnjB4Vpa/s320/Screenshot%202022-04-07%20132856.jpg"/></a></div>Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-1917289797429929212022-03-17T07:30:00.006-07:002022-03-17T07:39:29.409-07:00Eating Right for a Healthy Weight<b><b>Food, Nutrition and Health Tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics</b></b>
<br />
<br />
Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight can <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSrJW2Iq3HJFMJiprAUEwRzT7UDtUL0dqkkOQUgmeEr1qlfJxFuYMX-8Wps5WVsnJGuQKjP8FtSpu6efvAkix3ubOehZXcskuZkvjueGB-EoUF3v1VSm3BXVRMy4BOVRsOR4Wd027vnS5eziyyixLvb1B359_LVTe3cR_WBCfpSjhNK5-3vhYgZMRU=s1180" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSrJW2Iq3HJFMJiprAUEwRzT7UDtUL0dqkkOQUgmeEr1qlfJxFuYMX-8Wps5WVsnJGuQKjP8FtSpu6efvAkix3ubOehZXcskuZkvjueGB-EoUF3v1VSm3BXVRMy4BOVRsOR4Wd027vnS5eziyyixLvb1B359_LVTe3cR_WBCfpSjhNK5-3vhYgZMRU=s200"/></a></div>
contribute to your overall health and wellbeing.
Losing even a few pounds, if you are carrying
extra weight, or preventing further weight gain,
has health benefits.
<br />
<br />
Are you ready to make changes in your lifestyle and move toward a healthier weight?
<br />
<br />
Here are some tips to get you started.
<br />
<br />
<b>Start with a plan for lifelong health</b>. Focus on the big
picture of achieving overall good health – not just short-term weight loss.
<br />
<br />
<b>Set healthy, realistic goals.</b>
You are more likely to succeed in reaching realistic goals
when you make changes step-by-step. Start with one or two specific, small changes at a time.
Track your progress by keeping a food and activity log.
<br />
<br />
<b>Get a personalized eating plan.</b> Go to www.MyPlate.gov for a plan that will give you the
amounts of each food group you need daily. If you have special nutrition needs, consult a
registered dietitian nutritionist for personalized nutrition advice.
<br />
<br />
<b>Plan your meals ahead of time.</b> Whether you’re eating at home, packing a lunch or eating out,
an overall eating plan for the day will help keep you on track.
<br />
<br />
<b>Balance your plate with a variety of foods</b>. Half your plate should be filled with fruits and
vegetables, one fourth with protein foods like lean meat, poultry, fish or beans, and one
fourth with grains. To round out your meal, add fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese.
<br />
<br />
<b>Start your meal with lower calorie foods like fruits, vegetables and salads.</b> These foods
are packed with nutrients your body needs.
<br />
<br />
<b>Focus on your food.</b> Pick one place to sit down and eat at home. Eating while doing other
things may lead you to eat more than you’re hungry for. Switching from a large plate to a
smaller one may also help you become more mindful of portion sizes.
<br />
<br />
<b>Know when you’ve had enough to eat.</b> Quit before you feel full or stuffed. It takes about
20 minutes for your brain to get the message that your body is getting food. When your
brain gets this message, you stop feeling hungry. So, fast eaters—slow down and give your
brain a chance to get the word.
<br />
<br />
<b>Get plenty of dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains</b>. Dietary fiber
can help you feel full longer and may lower your risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
<br />
<br />
<b>Watch portion sizes to manage your calorie intake</b>. This is the key to an effective weight management
plan. To make sure your portion sizes are “just right,” visit www.MyPlate.gov for healthy
eating guidelines in household measures and
refer to the Nutrition Facts Label for serving size information.
<br />
<br />
<b>Snack smart.</b> Snacks can fit into a healthy eating plan, if they’re planned right.
To prevent hunger between meals, choose nutritious foods from the MyPlate food groups.
Keep portable, healthy snacks in your desk, backpack or car.
<br />
<br />
<b>Find your balance between food and physical activity</b>. Regular physical activity
is important for your overall health and fitness – plus, it may also help reduce
the risk of chronic disease, promote a feeling of wellbeing and help manage body weight.
<br />
<br />
<b>Find ways to be active throughout the day.</b>
Aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes, or more, each week of moderate-intensity
aerobic activity, such as brisk walking. Muscle-strengthening activities at
least two days per week are also recommended. If you are currently inactive,
check with your doctor about increasing physical activity first.
<br />
<br />
<b>Is it right for you?</b>
<br />
<br />
Make sure your weight management plan is right for you.
<br />Does it include:
<br />
<br />
• Foods from all five food groups?
<br />
• The right number of servings from each group?
<br />
• Food you will enjoy eating for the rest of your life?
<br />
• Foods you easily have access to?
<br />
• Some of your favorite foods?
<br />
• Foods that fit your budget and lifestyle?
<br />
• Regular physical activity or exercise?
<br />
<br />
You’re more likely to have success and stick with your weight management
plan with every question you answer “yes” to above.
<br />
<br />
A registered dietitian nutritionist can work with you to develop a
personalized weight management plan that meets your individual needs.
<br />
<br />
For more information about healthy eating, visit www.eatright.org and www.MyPlate.gov.
Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-72648233002972374122019-01-31T11:24:00.001-08:002022-02-17T11:28:15.639-08:00<p><span style="color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHuiTUA107chyefpRnZoaWDzOgyXrC66pA4LXmx7bDn8YQzlRNlpGBQG0_TWr_P6ZNMj4TnsnB3_zl42BsB9BXmr2fx_sYCJLlzV_zo1lrB0WDXOP3LQnHZHK1Qw8pTX_2ZBRXg_eU58kuqiT-tMKHWidFdNSgabNco_W0341yQC-JEbwLFwPnFbaI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="516" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHuiTUA107chyefpRnZoaWDzOgyXrC66pA4LXmx7bDn8YQzlRNlpGBQG0_TWr_P6ZNMj4TnsnB3_zl42BsB9BXmr2fx_sYCJLlzV_zo1lrB0WDXOP3LQnHZHK1Qw8pTX_2ZBRXg_eU58kuqiT-tMKHWidFdNSgabNco_W0341yQC-JEbwLFwPnFbaI=w430-h241" width="430" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Confucius once said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” But if your heart isn’t healthy enough, the “wherever you go” part may be limited. Your heart is such an important part that often gets overlooked or taken for granted. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular (heart) disease is the leading cause of death in the world, accounting for 17.3 million deaths a year—a number only expected to rise in the coming years. Make the goal today to treat your heart better through nutrition and exercise.</span></span></p><div class="_6SyeS" data-hook="post-description" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 25px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><article class="blog-post-page-font" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><div class="post-content__body" style="--ricos-action-color-fallback-tuple: 0, 174, 239; --ricos-action-color-fallback: #00aeef; --ricos-action-color-tuple: 0, 174, 239; 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margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="kvdbP _2msPJ _189VQ _1O7aH" data-id="rich-content-viewer" dir="ltr" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3286.64px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_1hN1O _2S8BH _3EPBy" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; height: 3286.64px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; tab-size: 40px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap !important; width: 516px;"><div data-hook="rcv-block4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3cfr2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here at the YMCA, we want you to be as healthy and happy as possible, so here are some great heart-healthy foods and exercises to get you started:</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><h1 class="_3qzEG _1j-51 _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ara8b" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-h1-color,var(--ricos-text-color,#212121)); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-h1-min-height,42px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-h1-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></h1><div data-hook="rcv-block6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><h1 class="_3qzEG _1j-51 _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5omi5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-h1-color,var(--ricos-text-color,#212121)); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-h1-min-height,42px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-h1-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Food for Your Heart</span></span></span></h1><div data-hook="rcv-block9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="_2vd5k _208vH" id="viewer-78ef9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 15px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_17-_F _3zuP8 _3zuP8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; margin: 0px 40px 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 221px; z-index: 1;"><div class="_2kEVY" data-hook="imageViewer" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0"><div class="_3WJnn _2Ybje" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="OzAYt _3ii3f" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_65fc6c5604e946efa30c3aeb5145b95a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_221%2Ch_178%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg" data-pin-url="https://www.midymca.org/single-post/february-is-healthy-heart-month" height="178" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_65fc6c5604e946efa30c3aeb5145b95a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_221,h_178,al_c,q_20,enc_auto/file.jpg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; filter: blur(8px); height: auto; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 221px;" width="221" /><img class="OzAYt _3xs9_" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_65fc6c5604e946efa30c3aeb5145b95a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_221%2Ch_178%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg" data-pin-url="https://www.midymca.org/single-post/february-is-healthy-heart-month" height="178" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_65fc6c5604e946efa30c3aeb5145b95a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_221,h_178,al_c,q_90/69843c_65fc6c5604e946efa30c3aeb5145b95a~mv2.webp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 221px;" width="221" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="rcv-block10" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="image"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2n7pb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oatmeal</span> is filled with omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium that all help to keep your heart and body healthy. Because it is so fiber-rich, it actually lowers LDL cholesterol (aka the bad kind), which helps keep arteries clear and prevent heart attacks and other diseases. Try coarse or steel-cut oatmeal instead of the instant kinds for best nutrition.</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block11" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3qt99" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block12" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-esr79" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block13" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="_2vd5k _208vH" id="viewer-6mio5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 15px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3VL_9 _3QGur _3QGur _3vo3y _2pwP3 _2pwP3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; min-width: 285px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 281.28px; z-index: 1;"><div class="_2kEVY" data-hook="imageViewer" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0"><div class="_3WJnn _2Ybje" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="OzAYt _3ii3f" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_a31d45536a8e4f0e9d182ea4466730a0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_430%2Ch_282%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg" data-pin-url="https://www.midymca.org/single-post/february-is-healthy-heart-month" height="282" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_a31d45536a8e4f0e9d182ea4466730a0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_300,h_197,al_c,q_20,enc_auto/file.jpg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; filter: blur(8px); height: auto; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 350px;" width="430" /><img class="OzAYt _3xs9_" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_a31d45536a8e4f0e9d182ea4466730a0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_430%2Ch_282%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg" data-pin-url="https://www.midymca.org/single-post/february-is-healthy-heart-month" height="282" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_a31d45536a8e4f0e9d182ea4466730a0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_350,h_230,al_c,q_90/69843c_a31d45536a8e4f0e9d182ea4466730a0~mv2.webp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 350px;" width="430" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="rcv-block14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="image"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5e75d" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salmon</span> contains omega-3 fatty acids which lowers your triglyceride (blood fat) levels. This will help reduce blood pressure and prevent clotting. Wild salmon is always healthier than farm-raised, as it lacks the pesticides and other chemicals used in salmon farms. Other oily fish like mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines can also give your heart the same benefits!</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block15" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-31fcv" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block16" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-7tghm" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block17" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div class="_2vd5k _208vH" id="viewer-1mjde" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 15px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_17-_F _3zuP8 _3zuP8 _3vo3y _2pwP3 _2pwP3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; margin: 0px 40px 0px 0px; min-width: 285px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 281.28px; z-index: 1;"><div class="_2kEVY" data-hook="imageViewer" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0"><div class="_3WJnn _2Ybje" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img aria-hidden="true" class="OzAYt _3ii3f" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_05aa939154474969b0372a933b166a24~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600%2Ch_800%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg" data-pin-url="https://www.midymca.org/single-post/february-is-healthy-heart-month" height="800" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_05aa939154474969b0372a933b166a24~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_300,h_400,al_c,q_20,enc_auto/file.jpg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; filter: blur(8px); height: auto; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 350px;" width="600" /><img class="OzAYt _3xs9_" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_05aa939154474969b0372a933b166a24~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600%2Ch_800%2Cal_c%2Cq_80/file.jpg" data-pin-url="https://www.midymca.org/single-post/february-is-healthy-heart-month" height="800" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/69843c_05aa939154474969b0372a933b166a24~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_350,h_467,al_c,q_90/69843c_05aa939154474969b0372a933b166a24~mv2.webp" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.8s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 350px;" width="600" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="rcv-block18" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="image"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fmrcc" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Avocado</span> is one of the best sources for heart-healthy fats or monounsaturated fats. These lower that nasty LDL cholesterol while also raising the amount of HDL (aka the good kind) cholesterol in your body. Plus, avocado works well with almost any food. Try substituting avocado for mayo in your next sandwich.</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block19" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fvpnd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block20" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-34gia" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Olive oil</span> is another great source of monounsaturated fat, which lowers LDL levels and reduces the risk of developing heart disease. Consider using olive oil instead of butter!</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block21" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-brkah" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block22" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fnbb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Legumes</span> contain omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and soluble fiber that makes your body happy and healthy. Plus, the extra fiber will help you feel full faster!</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block23" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><h1 class="_3qzEG _1j-51 _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-5pumh" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-h1-color,var(--ricos-text-color,#212121)); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-h1-min-height,42px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-h1-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></h1><div data-hook="rcv-block24" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><h1 class="_3qzEG _1j-51 _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2mnvf" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-h1-color,var(--ricos-text-color,#212121)); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-h1-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-h1-min-height,42px); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-h1-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Exercises for Your Heart</span></span></span></h1><div data-hook="rcv-block25" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="h1"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cpmk9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity 5 days a week and moderate to high-intensity strength training activity twice a week.</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block26" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-20sk3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are many different exercises for you to try to keep variety in your workout schedule:</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block27" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-46n6r" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block28" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-ev0km" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swimming</span> is a great exercise that uses practically every muscle of your body. While giving yourself an invigorating cardiovascular workout, you will also be toning your muscles and getting in great shape. Check out our pool schedules here: </span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block29" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3svn" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3Bkfb _1lsz7" data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.midymca.org/2-schedule-options-by-date" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_top"><u class="_3zM-5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://www.midymca.org/2-schedule-options-by-date</span></u></a></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block30" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-15t7d" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block31" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-adp2d" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Running/walking</span> is also a great and easy way to workout your heart. If you can’t run very well, start by speed walking on the treadmill and slowly work your way up through interval training. New to cardio equipment? These helpful equipment tutorial videos will boost your confidence!</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block32" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-394j9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3Bkfb _1lsz7" data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.midymca.org/exercise-equipment-tutorials" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-link-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-link-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><u class="_3zM-5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://www.midymca.org/exercise-equipment-tutorials</span></u></a></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block33" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-d4dqf" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block34" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9639n" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The elliptical</span> is another option if you’d rather not use the treadmill. This is a great option for cardio exercise, as it’s a low-impact exercise on your joints while also giving allowance to push yourself every day.</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block35" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9qhki" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block36" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-fc60v" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sports</span>, such as racquetball or basketball, are other great cardio options to keep your heart pumping and your enjoyment levels high.</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block37" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-2nbf8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block38" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3rhkb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-variant: inherit; font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Middlesex YMCA is here to help you reach your heart and health goals. Please let us know if we can help you in any way or if you would like assistance or training with any of our cardio equipment.</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block39" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: var(--ricos-font-family,HelveticaNeue,Helvetica,Arial); font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="mm8Nw _1j-51 _1atvN _1FoOD _3M0Fe _2WrB- _1atvN public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cvjvj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); direction: ltr; font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br role="presentation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block40" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: var(--ricos-font-family,HelveticaNeue,Helvetica,Arial); font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="empty-line"></div><div data-hook="rcv-block-last" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: var(--ricos-font-family,HelveticaNeue,Helvetica,Arial); font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" type="last"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article></div><div class="_1AZWZ mxwvP" id="post-footer" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); 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margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 18px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="g7Wot" data-hook="post-stats" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.8; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><button class="fVjr-" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span aria-live="off" class="_3KwtW" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; clip-path: inset(50%) !important; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px) !important; color: #231f20; font-family: wfont_69843c_4b8ea529bc2a47748ba48c92c3f5dd51, wf_4b8ea529bc2a47748ba48c92c, orig_cachet_book; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: 1px !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap !important; width: 1px !important;">Post not marked as liked</span><span class="_1l1q9" data-hook="like-button-with-count__like-count" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #231f20; display: inline-flex; font-family: wfont_69843c_4b8ea529bc2a47748ba48c92c3f5dd51, wf_4b8ea529bc2a47748ba48c92c, orig_cachet_book; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="like-button _18fcf" data-hook="like-button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 19px;"></div></span></button></div></div></div>Middlesex YMCAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041270799465468629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-72957405553956457092014-12-24T08:23:00.000-08:002014-12-24T08:23:55.127-08:00The Middlesex YMCA: We're more than a Gym<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152657381787092.1073741950.175771982091&type=3" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Youth Activities Facebook Album" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M99K72a3_ETXwg3KiDyZh1stL_g4qBk8CknfEdnxPNmak3elK0e0chvT5vub7Xf6v0GsrAtZZo3D4dO-AY7-Yjy7ulJBf9s8j4oXRQfFQmfwfVlaPjKCjiUJi4L4d1avfdy4SmAyP6s/s1600/IMG_2320a.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>You’ve heard it before: we’re more than a gym, we’re a cause. What does that
mean; especially if many of our classes take part in the gym? It means we offer
more than just games...while playing games. The Y is for youth development,
social responsibility, and healthy living. These three concepts can be found in
all of our programs. Youth Sports are more than dribbling, kicking, or throwing. We
teach social skills: how to greet peers and share commonalities, how to work
together with a partner, and how to be comfortable sharing achievements and
interests. Children learn that healthy living can be fun. It shouldn’t be a
chore to work up a sweat in youth classes, and it isn’t at the Y. Our
activities are participation based, exciting, and all inclusive! We also
introduce community involvement by donating to local food banks and supporting our camp scholarship fund by contributing to the Polar Plunge at
YMCA Camp Ingersoll.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQMehZMxoa-SFJfKAgNpSIiz2eEzeqONAJ5cUp7K4Xs7trj6d9oRHHU1jHKjhQSl8f06G7qyqmZ2sgOqlKQPHs1d8NLqsnMdtFklAiAmWXwNx0-qDqMpKs3kEMtKvd08Psd5g7mfH-7A/s1600/Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQMehZMxoa-SFJfKAgNpSIiz2eEzeqONAJ5cUp7K4Xs7trj6d9oRHHU1jHKjhQSl8f06G7qyqmZ2sgOqlKQPHs1d8NLqsnMdtFklAiAmWXwNx0-qDqMpKs3kEMtKvd08Psd5g7mfH-7A/s1600/Banner.jpg" height="80" width="200" /></a>That’s right; our first Polar Plunge at YMCA Camp Ingersoll! Every year
thousands of children come to Camp Ingersoll to make friends, learn skills,
create memories and have fun. We believe this invaluable experience should be
accessible to every child, and we are working our hardest to bring more
children to camp. If you would like to help change a child’s life please
consider joining our Polar Plunge, coming to the event on the 17th, or
supporting one of our jumpers! <a href="http://www.midymca.org/images/Polar_Plunge_Packet_2015.pdf">Click here to
learn more about our Plunge.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We hope to see you soon!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Contact Benjamin Silliman, <i>Assistant Youth and Camp Ingersoll Director, </i>with
questions. <br />
<a href="mailto:BSilliman@midymca.org">BSilliman@midymca.org</a> / 860-343-6239</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135313335410884435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-50876921699215335882014-12-02T13:35:00.000-08:002014-12-02T13:50:20.777-08:00My Y Story: Jordan Tragash<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPFaFrv12sa8iIH82OAtIjOiuLjg5wcrj8PF5i4CxyTi77EicRKygqd38NoifARK4m6-X_wqSMiE0zxHM-7qeoHO5TJJ9Q_v0tX_xdsS8FwucVyZam5lleobYZJR7d3HzHoP3o52Ab1qV/s1600/jordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPFaFrv12sa8iIH82OAtIjOiuLjg5wcrj8PF5i4CxyTi77EicRKygqd38NoifARK4m6-X_wqSMiE0zxHM-7qeoHO5TJJ9Q_v0tX_xdsS8FwucVyZam5lleobYZJR7d3HzHoP3o52Ab1qV/s1600/jordan.jpg" height="320" width="309" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started my Y career 16 years ago at the very same
YMCA that I now work for. At the age of 2, I took Mommy and Me swim
lessons in Middletown and stayed a member at various YMCA's across Connecticut
through high school. In the summer of my junior year I began working for the
Wheeler YMCA in Plainville and have been with the Y ever since. I took
the job in Middletown because I knew that with my transition to school I would
be losing a Y family who had always been so great to me. Luckily, I
managed to find a new one here! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Over the years, the YMCA has helped make me who
I am. Whether it was a tightly knit community full of kind coworkers or a
facility full of staff members who welcomed me with open arms the Y has always
been a constant in my life. As I continue my career here I hope that I
can be that kind coworker and welcoming staff member to all who enter our
doors. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-33083606128314342342014-09-12T10:02:00.000-07:002014-09-12T10:15:26.700-07:00Citizens Bank Donates Backpacks Full of School Supplies at Middlesex YMCA<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExsBlez7AO_B-HpfPExIu_PtLK2ih3EByxBmMMC1p5xRVYc5qhlH8fS352JQRnX5yQe7W8xYHB6BrU0hzlnXgQe3JJo_P95us_NWlUTidqrao64VTJc6d5c7_aij-UC_54_Ea77OJH11g/s1600/DSC04248_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExsBlez7AO_B-HpfPExIu_PtLK2ih3EByxBmMMC1p5xRVYc5qhlH8fS352JQRnX5yQe7W8xYHB6BrU0hzlnXgQe3JJo_P95us_NWlUTidqrao64VTJc6d5c7_aij-UC_54_Ea77OJH11g/s1600/DSC04248_0550.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(</span></i></b><span style="background: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Left to Right): Citizens Bank Volunteers Jeff Roy, Chris
Migliaro, Kailani Gadlin, and Glenn Taylor and Michele Rulnick, Middlesex YMCA
CEO smile with preschoolers from the Phelps Ingersoll for Children at Middlesex
YMCA after they received their new backpacks.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Smiles went across the faces of new kindergarten students as
they received backpacks filled with school supplies on August 18 donated by
Citizens Bank. The backpacks were donated as part of the Great for Grades
program, which collects school supplies for elementary school students that
might otherwise not have the needed supplies.<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLxoi0YsKzX-BFKmT-bOinExZnSjgUA_9F3soQXkWHsZuB0PAPAdCN16t3Dyh_9JQmeW6YBUgZEIb3HSIjZ-TO6mmJkophbrgetV334bfJRzaj4oILWmfOirE8-Ky36JgUtN0pIST0BDl/s1600/DSC04243_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLxoi0YsKzX-BFKmT-bOinExZnSjgUA_9F3soQXkWHsZuB0PAPAdCN16t3Dyh_9JQmeW6YBUgZEIb3HSIjZ-TO6mmJkophbrgetV334bfJRzaj4oILWmfOirE8-Ky36JgUtN0pIST0BDl/s1600/DSC04243_0545.JPG" height="200" width="131" /></a></div>
</span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“At Citizens Bank we always
try our best to work with youth because they are an essential part of our community,”
said Glenn A. Taylor, Site Manager at Citizens Bank in Main Street Middletown. “It
always a bright spot when you see a child smile"<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">In addition to the supplies
donated by Citizens Bank, supplies were collected in the lobbies of Middlesex
YMCA, and were collected outside of Walmart in Cromwell, CT. The supplies were
first given to preschoolers at the Phelps Ingersoll Center for Children at
Middlesex YMCA who are entering kindergarten, and then will be given to
elementary schools throughout the greater Middletown area.</span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“My wife was a kindergarten
teacher for years, and knows that budgets are tight for schools and for
families so it means a lot to give children a fresh start before the head off
to the classroom,” said Taylor.</span></span></h2>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-48027095361940846112014-06-18T11:04:00.000-07:002014-06-18T15:49:53.459-07:002014 Kid's Korner Talent Show a Success<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE45iTCU_FsVSvTZ6QjH_1iZKXd5LiJ8LO7pGM0O_u16XAVvxDrIdzqLk8NXR5oFg_7VfrkI1-4JlVoQeoo1rBUC2je4HwyzxorFQFSqOCOa56DspGP6FDSQ4Ywk_yQ1iEd8jWoYdO-V5o/s1600/DSC03277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE45iTCU_FsVSvTZ6QjH_1iZKXd5LiJ8LO7pGM0O_u16XAVvxDrIdzqLk8NXR5oFg_7VfrkI1-4JlVoQeoo1rBUC2je4HwyzxorFQFSqOCOa56DspGP6FDSQ4Ywk_yQ1iEd8jWoYdO-V5o/s1600/DSC03277.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">The sounds of minions, wild things, and other
creative performers boomed from the stage of Middletown's Woodrow Wilson Middle
School as students from the Middlesex YMCA Kid's Korner program performed in
their annual talent show on Wednesday evening. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">"We loved it,
this is the first talent show we've been to, and we really liked the effort all
the school put into it," said Barbara Humble, whose daughter Camille
attends the Macdonough School Kid's Korner program. Macdonough performed a
Beyonce-inspired medley called "Return of the MAC." </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd6BxGtDRX7Hc7WgNXkNdy_cYCDtmXygnXWjFmfvFMY2J0DL_HUC115dcpDw8WCFPVRFVgKYruvcvliSPb2E4xSoESQm2PXouBeu-qce6PHdx6iat7SF5Us7956CW3WSux1eU_K_sJPrj/s1600/DSC03347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd6BxGtDRX7Hc7WgNXkNdy_cYCDtmXygnXWjFmfvFMY2J0DL_HUC115dcpDw8WCFPVRFVgKYruvcvliSPb2E4xSoESQm2PXouBeu-qce6PHdx6iat7SF5Us7956CW3WSux1eU_K_sJPrj/s1600/DSC03347.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"> "I think Kid's
Korner is a lifesaver and a work saver," said Humble on what the childcare
program means to her family.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">"What I love
about this talent show is that it helps kids boost their self
esteem," said Melanie Carfora, School Age Child Care Director at
Middlesex YMCA, adding; "It backs up what we talk about all the time
about positive youth development."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Other acts in the show
included an informative skit on bullying by Snow School and a beauty and
talent pageant by Woodside Intermediate School in Cromwell.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">"It was great,
the kids had a lot of heart," said Jason Hinners, a Cromwell parent whose
daughter Olivia strutted her stuff in Woodsides' pageant.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAoFa4PKuVaOanvFjibRQeuO_OwztJE1A6LTdKGeIzaM_TO7VTCso5w5Fw4rcIeILbKGYiYWg3p2ToHQYPrbxr0zXXvFrU9c1eZl0wSjJydXWcsjX36vUgBdQ3i-GMN8fKxFFUVyk79Qj/s1600/DSC03317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAoFa4PKuVaOanvFjibRQeuO_OwztJE1A6LTdKGeIzaM_TO7VTCso5w5Fw4rcIeILbKGYiYWg3p2ToHQYPrbxr0zXXvFrU9c1eZl0wSjJydXWcsjX36vUgBdQ3i-GMN8fKxFFUVyk79Qj/s1600/DSC03317.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">"What makes this
Kid's Korner program so special is the support of the families, because without
their support we couldn't have events like tonight," said Carfora.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Hinners also praises
the staff involved in the program noting the growth his daughter has seen by
being in the program; "She loves it, she's grown, she's made great
friends. We are very happy she is in the program."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">"Tonight you
could see how much the staff really do love the kids and want them to do well.
That's what makes our program so unique, " said Carfora. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-37867033963307031172014-06-15T16:41:00.001-07:002014-06-15T16:59:30.293-07:00Father's Day Started at the Y & Continues Every Day at Middlesex YMCA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More than a century ago, the
first Father's Day<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">was celebrated at the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910.
Sonora Louis Smart Dodd, the daughter of a single father and Civil War veteran,
was inspired by a Mother’s Day sermon and wondered why there was no holiday for
fathers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">After receiving support from Spokane ministers, the YMCA celebrated
the first Father's Day 104 years ago.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On Sunday,
June 15, the Middlesex YMCA joins the nation in celebrating Father’s Day and
recognizing the impact fathers and adult male role models make in children’s
lives. A leading nonprofit in fostering positive youth development, the Y
remains dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for fathers to
further involve themselves in the well-being and development of their children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">
The Middlesex YMCA offers a variety of programs that foster understanding and
companionship between children and their caregivers such as Parent/Child
Dance,Sports and Movement, Octoberfest Open Camp, and Parent/Child Aquatics. In
communities across the country, the Y is committed to ensuring that the 9
million children and teens in YMCA programs reach their full potential by helping
them grow—physically, mentally and socially—from young children into active,
engaged members of their communities. To learn more about programs and
activities available at the Middlesex YMCA view our <a href="http://issuu.com/midymca/docs/2014_progguide_summer/1?e=10795677/7934384" target="_blank">Summer 2014 Program Guide</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or visit </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://midymca.org/">midymca.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-18724635560769757342014-05-12T06:16:00.001-07:002014-05-12T06:20:00.585-07:00The Y Participates in World Book Night<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">On Wednesday April 23rd, Kids' Korner at Macdonough School
hosted the fourth Family Night Event of the 2013/2014 school year:
Kn-'OWL'-edge is Power Family Fun Night: A World Book Night Event with Sandbox
Arts and A Hope for Raptors.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> Kids' Korner site director Chaelyn Lombardo put in an application for </span><span style="color: #444444;">World Book Night which was approved and her request for the book <i>Hoot</i> by Carl Hiaasen
was accepted! She quickly began planning for an owl-themed literacy event. The event was held on April 23rd, following our after school program for the day.
A group of our fifth grade participants assisted in setting up the room for the
event beforehand. The first 25 families to arrive received the WBN copy of
Hoot. The first 30 children who arrived were given a card-stock owl crown which
boasted, “Look Whooo's Great!” Each family was provided with a KIP Passport and
an ink owl stamp to keep. Over a pizza and salad dinner, Chaelyn and staff explained to the
families that they were going to travel around the cafeteria, completing a
variety of owl-themed centers and challenges. Families were instructed to
independently explore the centers and stamp the corresponding space on their
passport as they completed each activity. We urged families to return their
completed passports for a chance to win some owl-themed prizes that we had
purchased (mugs, water bottles, stuffed animals, books, etc.). Each center featured
a correlating FUN FACT about owls and a detailed explanation of the center's
activities, with explicit directions. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Our WBN Kn-OWL-edge is Power Centers were
as follows:</span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">World Book Night Welcome Center: Create a customized owl book mark for your new copy of Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot using provided bookmarks and colored pencils. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Owl” Do Some Math Center “Create an Owl” Dice Game: Each roll of the dice earns a owl body part. Head, Wing, Talon, etc. A complete owl wins. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night3.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “Owl” Do Some Math Center 2-“Color an Owl” Dice Game: Each roll of the dice earns another crayon color for a color-by-number owl picture provided. A complete owl wins.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Super Science Center 1-Owl Puke: Owl Pellet Dissection Station, with bone charts and explanation sheets. Explore sterile owl pellets and decipher the bones within.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night2.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Super Science Center 2-Owl Eyes: Owl Eyes-Spy Books and Eye-Spy Game to test visual acuity in comparison to an owl’s eyesight. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/photo0798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/photo0798.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Super Science Center 3-Owl Friends: Meet a REAL Owl (A Hope for Raptors, a raptor rescue organization with 2 live owls to share: One Barn Owl. One Great Horned Owl).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night7.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/famiy-night-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/famiy-night-6.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-owls1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-owls1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">NEST-le Up in the Owl Book Nook: Choose from a variety of Owl-themed fiction and non-fiction picture books and completed a FAMILY MINI-REVIEW Book Report.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/photo0812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/photo0812.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Owl” Make Some Music Center: Sing some Owl Finger-Puppet Plays and Songs with plastic owl finger puppets and take-home song sheets provided.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-4.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sandbox Arts Movable Mural Art Center: Paint the Movable Mural with Sandbox Arts (a local art co-op that brings a large movable canvas to paint our owl theme upon). Follow the Owl/Knowledge is Power theme.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/sandboxarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/sandboxarts.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Owl Arts and Crafts Center: Great Horned Owl Toilet Paper Roll Craft. Create an owl using recycled toilet paper tubes, designer paper cuts and craft eyes.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Origami Owl Center: Owl Origami. Fold a square piece of paper into an origami owl using the take-home directions provided.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Barn Owl’s Dinner-A Literal Scavenger Hunt: Barn owls eat 12 mice a night. Spot the 12 mystery mice hidden around the room before the WBN Family Night is over.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Owl Art Gallery: Famous Owl Art Pictures from around the world/history, set up behind the food station. Enjoy some artistic owl pictures.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Owl Celebrity Search: Spot the 10 “famous” owls around the room from movies, television, books, and more (Woodsy, Hedwig, Jareth, Soren, and more).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Owl-ing” Photo Booth: Pose for the camera based on the Internet sensation of “owling.” Though we aren’t sure if these are legit owl poses...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-9d.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-9d.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a><a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-9c.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a><a href="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-9e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://kkatmac.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/family-night-9e.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our World Book Night event hosted 94 people, with 28 of our program’s families in attendance. It was our biggest Family Night Event turnout of the school year (of many years, actually). At the end of the night, every copy of Hoot was distributed. Each owl crown was atop a child’s head. Families were enthusiastically involved in the centers; thumbing through their free copies of Hoot, basking in the natural wonder of our live owl exhibit, painting an artistic owl rendering on the 8 foot mural, breaking apart owl pellets and marveling over the interesting discoveries within. A fun time was had by owl!</span></div>
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Melanie Carforahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02017234678663094938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-7367269271704377982014-05-06T10:38:00.002-07:002014-05-06T10:40:49.435-07:00NBA Star Returns to Middlesex YMCA<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, Andre Drummond, starting
center of the Detroit Pistons, stopped in at the Middlesex YMCA for some
pick-up basketball. The 20-year-old NBA player is well on his path to stardom,
but it all started for him on the courts of the Middlesex Y. He started as a
camper at YMCA Camp Ingersoll and later instructed basketball camp at the Y. Drummond
recalls growing up playing ball with the older kids at the Y who took him under
their wing. Drummond’s cousin and several childhood friends many of whom were Y
members, arrived to join in the memories. Several games of pick-up ensued as
many of the current young Y members looked on in aspiration. At 6’10”, Drummond
towered over everyone else on the court that night. With all of his success in
such a short period of time, Andre is still the same guy said his cousin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is very modest and is not afraid to credit
the Y, “I owe a lot to the YMCA, for letting me come in to play ball day in and
day out.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andre stayed for nearly 2
hours that night playing ball and he was sure to give time towards the end of
the night to get all of the younger kids on the court for the chance to go one
on one with a rising NBA star who was once in the same shoes as them. Andre
Drummond is truly a shining example of a Y success story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-27430876418398713572014-04-23T12:02:00.000-07:002014-04-23T12:02:44.312-07:00Once a Member, Always a Member
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since 1886, the Middlesex Y has
been a gathering place for people in Middletown and the surrounding areas. For
76 of those years, Leo Kania has been a member here at the Y. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This
has been like a second home to me for many, many years. I will always belong to
the Y,” says Leo. He has seen the Y go through many changes over the years. He
was around during the time when a bowling alley was a part of the facility and
pin boys were paid a nickel by the bowlers to set up pins. Leo started coming
to the Y to use the swimming pool after finishing grammar school. He talks
about his early years at the Y, during the time of the great depression. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Everybody was poor back then
during the depression time. Mr. Hubbard helped us out, gave the Y a few dollars
to pay for us kids that didn’t have money; kept us off the streets and we had a
good time.” Leo and his peers formed the Hubbard club to show their
appreciation of the prominent businessman. They would meet twice a month and
hold raffles and other events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Leo graduated from high school
and turned 18, he got a letter from Roosevelt to get a physical and join the
army. He reminisces how over 5,000 people lined the streets to send off the 5
buses of local young men to the service. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I still kept in touch with the Y
while I was in the service. I would just drop a line…” Upon returning from the
service, Leo continued his active lifestyle at the Y along with his young
family. His three boys took swimming lessons here. His youngest son went on to
become an All-American high school swimmer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I know when I have friends, I tell
them to line their kids up for swim lessons,” exclaims Leo. He talks about the
smile it puts on a parent’s face to see their kids swim, “and before you know
it they’re on the freshman team in high school.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leo’s lifetime of exercise at the Y
has had its benefits. “I can thank the YMCA because when I go for a physical
the doctor says, ‘I have never seen anybody your age like you. Perfect
Heartbeat.’ ” He mentions how walking in the pool was the best therapy when he
had his new hip put in. Several of Leo’s good friends here at the Y enjoy our
aquatics programs regularly and never miss a water exercise class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Middlesex Y is proud to have been a part of the local community for over 100
years and is proud to serve long-time members such as Leo Kania. We continue to
dedicate ourselves to providing services in the areas of youth development,
healthy living, and social responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-25477805120414749382014-03-29T08:31:00.000-07:002014-03-29T08:31:10.242-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="userContent">What better way to get ready for the summer than taking some swim lessons?<br /> <br />
Swimming helps saves lives by teaching everyone both safety and
swimming techniques that help to make our summers as safe and fun as
possible. Registration is now <span class="text_exposed_show">available for our upcoming Spring 2 and Spring 3 sessions. Space is limited and spots are filling up fast. <br /> <br /> Visit our website to register online with our new and improved registration system!</span></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-41407309688119332792014-03-13T07:50:00.000-07:002014-03-13T07:50:13.696-07:00MIDDLESEX YMCA COMMUNITY SUPPORT CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: At Jackson Chevrolet
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Middlesex Y held the 2014 Community Support Campaign
Kickoff this past Thursday at Jackson Chevrolet in Middletown. The Y has raised
$71,000 already for their 2014 campaign, a first in Middlesex YMCA Campaign
history. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kelly Smith, Campaign Chairperson, said, “I fully believe
in our mission at the Y. I exercise there and my kids learned how to swim there
and went to camp at YMCA Camp Ingersoll.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In attendance were Y program directors,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids Korner Director, Melanie Carfora, YMCA
Camp Ingersoll Director, Tony Sharillo, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aquatics Director, Bill Evison, Director of
Member Services, Sue Dionne, and others. Many volunteers of the Middlesex Y were in
attendance as well as major donors and business partners including May, Bonee
& Walsh; Comcast; A&A Office Systems; and TJ, General Manager at Jackson
Chevrolet, who hosted the event. Michele Rulnick, President and CEO of the
Middlesex Y, thanked donors, board members, volunteers and staff for their
efforts in raising funds to provide community access to the Y. David Flood,
whose son, Jackson, was able to attend YMCA Camp Ingersoll thanks to the My
Time scholarship fund, told the story of how helpful that assistance was to his
family. The My Time fund is made possible by donations to the Annual Campaign
and helps families who have been affected by cancer. Overall, the event was a
huge success, with over $9,000 in donations pledged just that night. The Y
gives away over $300,000 in scholarships each year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Middlesex Y offers a variety of programming including swim lessons,
swim team, therapeutic mentoring, active older adult exercise programs, YMCA
Camp Ingersoll day camp, and a variety of group exercise programs including
yoga, zumba, hip hop, and cycling. The YMCA also offers a full time preschool
program, which recently earned the Middlesex United Way Community Impact Award
for 2014. The money raised through the Annual Campaign allows the Y to offer
tiered pricing for YMCA Camp Ingersoll as well as scholarships for memberships
and swim lessons. There is plenty of opportunity to donate. You can give today
by visiting midymca.org.</span></span><br />
<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistbyAV1yzwRw8_PCqICYfCbyrFdYFydG42pY-NbIRPeBiipcALLe4asYT3BF_faPBtd1z_nYEgbwPB9j1rEo-FX0GSM7FxtcsN2WYldFdXhgFO6_8u3h_IkQGXzYxnkvU2rDHL-s-S0s/s1600/Campaign+Kickoff+020.JPG" style="left: 739.34px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2264.29px;" width="96" />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrm_Up6L5AQPTbl2ToWt5SblAGsv6kRnmzeI4DZrn2HZ1XOYoHbofnfWKVyx_fW-O3ZJ-mHQhrGtVIScf2XEOOBROYXBACewWZwWPNvo2rFEQUcHx-RrMjMl0zmJ0A5IblYpF6WYtE2ko/s1600/China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrm_Up6L5AQPTbl2ToWt5SblAGsv6kRnmzeI4DZrn2HZ1XOYoHbofnfWKVyx_fW-O3ZJ-mHQhrGtVIScf2XEOOBROYXBACewWZwWPNvo2rFEQUcHx-RrMjMl0zmJ0A5IblYpF6WYtE2ko/s1600/China.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteering at a migrant school in Suzhou, China</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGmhdgstT_yP2e4h_5Sfhok8zK8ULixSJmc-3dZdpxGUJ4aX_aXMjg6SWcmO1hEuS7MOFL690NcMqNY4-jtOTeWJ-eCOLfE1JDg5fg0QrRIG4T-DwxmExokfgzTQQW6VWulmXxe3AVw0/s1600/HB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New experiences can be a formidable obstacle; especially for young
children. Young children have less prior knowledge on which to draw
information from. They may have difficulty predicting an outcome and
that can result in a perceived, or very real, loss of control. The
inability to control or influence a situation can be frightening for a
person at any age; but imagine a child who lacks the beneficial
assurance of "surviving" similar circumstances in the past. Every first
swim class, first ride on the bus, or first new friend can be a dramatic
adventure into the unknown. I'm sure as parents you're much more
qualified and prepared to deal with these unpredictable situations than I
am. However, as a provider of many of these new experiences for
children in Kazakhstan, China, and the Middletown YMCA I feel I can be a
qualified advocate for providing new experiences for children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4fsNKhR6MC01kjp96Y0z4m44zsePFOff918OUmConGShLxKQT_yXppfBr7xSba93XgvXqTXEGSwmuSYbRVvJoCALE8GcLsiP73oFoZw3S-98x_LzoWLduUKbOr2IPiyk96TUKtEAPCs/s1600/KZ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4fsNKhR6MC01kjp96Y0z4m44zsePFOff918OUmConGShLxKQT_yXppfBr7xSba93XgvXqTXEGSwmuSYbRVvJoCALE8GcLsiP73oFoZw3S-98x_LzoWLduUKbOr2IPiyk96TUKtEAPCs/s1600/KZ.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my students in Baltabai, Kazakhstan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4fsNKhR6MC01kjp96Y0z4m44zsePFOff918OUmConGShLxKQT_yXppfBr7xSba93XgvXqTXEGSwmuSYbRVvJoCALE8GcLsiP73oFoZw3S-98x_LzoWLduUKbOr2IPiyk96TUKtEAPCs/s1600/KZ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />Everyone
develops differently. Some children are comfortable in new situations,
while others take time to adjust. However your child develops, there are
theories of cognitive development that lend some insight into the
process influencing a child's behavior. Jean Piaget's stage theory
(1932) implies there are four stages of development in children. You can
take a look at the four stages in this <a href="http://wiki.ggc.usg.edu/images/b/b2/PaigetChart.PNG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link: http://wiki.ggc.usg.edu/images/b/b2/PaigetChart.PNG">simple chart</a>.
Since 1932, criticisms of this theory included the rather streamlined
focus of overall development. This is known as "domain general", which
means learning is developed consistently over all the domains, or <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GlHZgy9m7Qk6ls-eiimMFA_1dp6l71gyLcmRI3SgcVj1OrL-Qp6VczyekyntCehgckOJG0ZuwKzwD2PVdE0hYeb4-mCdRT-9CdI_FOtvIWq4d4ojTe5S8lCJlz2WRFa22d_48ZIxk0A/s1600/multiple+ints.gif">intelligences</a>.
There is a belief that these domains develop independently of each
other and everyone develops these intelligences uniquely. This theory
has also been criticized as of late, as do things amongst progression of
technology and more information.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGmhdgstT_yP2e4h_5Sfhok8zK8ULixSJmc-3dZdpxGUJ4aX_aXMjg6SWcmO1hEuS7MOFL690NcMqNY4-jtOTeWJ-eCOLfE1JDg5fg0QrRIG4T-DwxmExokfgzTQQW6VWulmXxe3AVw0/s1600/HB.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGmhdgstT_yP2e4h_5Sfhok8zK8ULixSJmc-3dZdpxGUJ4aX_aXMjg6SWcmO1hEuS7MOFL690NcMqNY4-jtOTeWJ-eCOLfE1JDg5fg0QrRIG4T-DwxmExokfgzTQQW6VWulmXxe3AVw0/s1600/HB.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting some of the Horseback Campers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGmhdgstT_yP2e4h_5Sfhok8zK8ULixSJmc-3dZdpxGUJ4aX_aXMjg6SWcmO1hEuS7MOFL690NcMqNY4-jtOTeWJ-eCOLfE1JDg5fg0QrRIG4T-DwxmExokfgzTQQW6VWulmXxe3AVw0/s1600/HB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><br />Although the Stage Theory has
been debated, Piaget's thoughts on how children process and internalize
outside stimulus (assimilation and accommodation) are still utilized.
Assimilation describes a situation in which a person receives new
information and inserts it into previously identified knowledge
(schema). This new information might not be consistent with reality
because it is made to fit into the current knowledge of the child. This
can be observed when a young child learns the word for dog. That child
might call all animals dogs because his/her current schema does not
differentiate between specific animals. Accommodation is the process of
adjusting the current schema appropriately based on new external
information. Using the prior example: the child now recognizes that the
duck in front of him/her has very different characteristics than a dog
and thus, cannot be called a dog. Ideally, both processes are working
concurrently. Children are first accommodating new information using
their senses, and then assimilating this new information into their current knowledge. <br /><br />Most
of us know that new experiences are beneficial to child development.
Understanding the processes involved in this growth are essential in
creating appropriate opportunities for your child to develop. It is
difficult to watch a person struggle to accommodate new information and
then discover how to assimilate that information into their existing
perceptions. How can we set up children to succeed in these new
environments? Children should be encouraged to challenge themselves, but
success should be achievable. They should be comfortable in their
environment and encouraged to explore and discover for themselves. They
should be given the necessary tools to start and create new
relationships; whether being encouraged to give high fives or sharing
similar interests in group activities.<br /><br />Friends, teachers,
parents, and coaches all offer different learning perspectives. As a
youth sports instructor and an assistant camp director at YMCA Camp
Ingersoll I see relationships form and children develop every day. Many
campers are experiencing basketball, hockey, archery, ropes, the pond,
and camp crafts for the very first time. At the YMCA, we intentionally
create peer interaction and challenging but achievable goals for our
participants. We work to provide a fun and inviting atmosphere children
can become more comfortable in every day. We are also offering some
brand new programs this Spring, which can help to prepare you child for
camp, school, or just plan life. <a href="http://midymca.org/" title="Link: http://midymca.org/">Visit the Middlesex YMCA's website to learn more about our programs.</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135313335410884435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-66349847412098923542014-01-28T11:23:00.001-08:002014-01-28T11:25:14.373-08:00Middlesex Y Recieves Community Impact Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09EbkkuIx8jOfzDYA2dSxWrMQNCBoGyp4tHFGNCwtKFvGDR6R_J8hyRM-lVSRkoKWxOQKf4ZjIHBrV2-nQzVItw_oiuf6cVuPYws5HLl0nN9rV4LYld_eVtfhh71i9rOHND-5rRLVaCE/s1600/Community+Impact+Award+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09EbkkuIx8jOfzDYA2dSxWrMQNCBoGyp4tHFGNCwtKFvGDR6R_J8hyRM-lVSRkoKWxOQKf4ZjIHBrV2-nQzVItw_oiuf6cVuPYws5HLl0nN9rV4LYld_eVtfhh71i9rOHND-5rRLVaCE/s1600/Community+Impact+Award+007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your beliefs become
your thoughts,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your thoughts become
your words,<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your words become your
actions,<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your actions become
your habits,<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your habits become
your values,<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your values become
your destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~ Mahatma Gandhi<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Middlesex Y is honored to accept the 2013 Community
Impact Award from the Middlesex United Way. As a charity partner, we support
the efforts of the United Way to make a positive and lasting impact on our
community. The Y’s commitment to preparing children for their educational
career is completely in sync with United Way’s focus on education and
increasing children’s readiness to learn by school entry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the words of the United Way, “<span lang="EN" style="color: #454545; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Learning
starts long before school does, and the early years of childhood development
are critical.” </span>These shared values and goals strengthen our partnership
and leverage the United Way’s investment into Y programs in order to produce
significant, positive outcomes to prepare our children for their educational
future. Our partnership is successful and thriving as it is based on mutual
trust and shared beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a great example of strong partnership. If it wasn’t
for the willingness of Pat Charles, <span class="st1"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jon Romeo,</span></span> and <span class="st1"><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jeff R. Fournier, to partner
with us and provide their space, we wouldn’t have been able to meet the
additional needs of the low-income families in the area. In order to offer high
quality early childhood education programs, you have to have dedicated, high
quality staff. Karin James and her team work hard to prepare their students for
lifelong academic success. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We thank the Middlesex United Way for encouraging our
efforts to prepare children from all walks of life so they can ultimately
become independent, successful and productive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today more than ever we need our children to be prepared for rigorous
academic standards even at very young ages. The Y’s programs help children and
parents to make a smooth transition so that kids can move forward with
confidence and ease. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Education is the
most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Michele Rulnick, President and CEO, Middlesex YMCA</span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202629444464883994.post-50020123311756202262014-01-22T10:47:00.001-08:002014-01-22T10:47:24.349-08:00The Value of Adult Role Models<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I grew up with two brothers and a sister. Saturdays were
spent in a mini-van traversing across Middlesex County from soccer practice,
baseball games, and dance classes. In hindsight, it's no small feat that my
parents could navigate the chaotic landscape of four eager and outgoing
children. They could have simply locked the door and forced us to fend for
ourselves forgoing expensive gas stops, temper tantrums, and who knows what
else we put them through.<br />
<br />
However, they persevered through all the headaches because they saw the value
in these experiences. They saw us laugh with new friends. They heard us shout
triumphantly when we mastered a new skill. They acknowledged the relationships
we built with our coaches and instructors as essential to our growth and
development as part of a community.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrb6uqXZ2x7ZOsbwIFV27qObT-OF7HM-BNBS65frCICfYwdGKlrMCboz7M1HGr6JPzZ9czwvCOIuFk1Nbsmum0u5TQYLwBPLr-gVW101pSDDAhLQNSXzDRG1IXXY2K6jIzl2kgohKTSm8/s1600/P1080523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrb6uqXZ2x7ZOsbwIFV27qObT-OF7HM-BNBS65frCICfYwdGKlrMCboz7M1HGr6JPzZ9czwvCOIuFk1Nbsmum0u5TQYLwBPLr-gVW101pSDDAhLQNSXzDRG1IXXY2K6jIzl2kgohKTSm8/s1600/P1080523.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
I am forever grateful for these childhood experiences my parents were willing
to provide me. But, to be honest, I remember very little of the lessons or
practices themselves. What I do remember are my coaches. I remember how cool
they were. I remember trying my hardest to impress them in order to get
the "good job" or "high five". It wasn't a chore to get me
to those practices or lessons. I waited eagerly for Saturday and my coaches
were the catalyst behind that desire. <br />
<br />
These non-parental adult role models occupy a large portion of my childhood memories.
They have positively influenced my life <b></b>by volunteering time,
reinforcing positive values, and showing me examples of what it means to be
part of my community. The "Journal of Extension" talks about
how "Youth have a tendency to listen more closely to another adult other
than their parent. They even accept advice and accept challenges by
non-parental adults". <br />
<br />
At the Middlesex YMCA our mission drives our responsibility to provide adult
role models for our community. Our Youth Mentors, Kids Korner Staff, Camp
Counselors, and Youth Sports Coaches all strive to provide an atmosphere of
inclusion and growth for our participants. We emphasize the four character
traits of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility while creating age and
developmentally appropriate activities for all of our children. We are aware of
our influence on the youth of our community and are always excited for the
opportunity to create lasting memories with our participants.<br />
<br />
New memories will be made at our Winter 2 Session of youth sports starting on
February 2nd. <a href="http://midymca.org/images/Program%20Guide%20Winter%202013%20website.pdf" title="Link: http://midymca.org/images/Program%20Guide%20Winter%202013%20website.pdf">Click
here for our Winter Program Guide.</a><br />
<br />
If you are interested in reading more about the importance of non-parental
adult role models please visit this <a href="http://www.joe.org/joe/2010october/tt4.php">article</a> on the Journal of
Extension's website.<span style="color: #1f497d;"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135313335410884435noreply@blogger.com0