Downtown Association coordinates events to promote health in
February
Downtown Association coordinates events to promote health in February
Downtown Hollister businesses will again promote heart health awareness with the Hollister Get Red campaign, running Feb. 1 through Feb. 29.
The month-long endeavor coincides with the Go Red For Women campaign by the American Heart Association to increase awareness of heart disease for women in the month of February. The local campaign will feature displays at local businesses, special events and weekly promotions.
“A lot of the things that were popular last year will be returning,” said Brenda Weatherly, executive director of the Hollister Downtown Association. “We are doing the dog walk and the evening walks after work.”
According to the American Heart Association, the key factors to reducing the risk of heart disease – which can lead to stroke or heart attack – are exercise, a healthy diet and abstaining from smoking.
The Hollister Dog Owners Group will sponsor a dog-friendly walk at Dunne Park on Feb. 11 dubbed “Bark For Your Heart,” and California Mutual Insurance will be hosting the evening walks every Thursdays for the month.
Juli Vieira, of California Mutual Insurance, led the evening walks last year and will guide walkers again this year. She said 10 to 20 people participated each week last February.
“I hope that more people will participate in the walks because you do get to see a lot of the neat downtown buildings and a lot of the older homes,” Vieira said.
The walkers will take a different route each week. The walks will begin at the Veterans Memorial Plaza and go for 30 to 45 minutes at a pace that is accessible to walkers of all abilities.
“We like to support the downtown association and be involved in our community,” Vieira said. “This is one way we can give back and get others involved.”
The San Benito County Historical Society is also hosting a walk Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. Reservations are required and there is a cost of $5 per person or $8 per family, which includes a copy of a walking tour map. The historical society will also have a display of vintage red items at the museum on Fifth Street that can be viewed Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
New this year will be a four-part series hosted by San Benito Bene on the health benefits of some locally-produced or grown items such as olive oil, honey, goat milk products and apricots.
The lectures will be held at the YMCA office on Tres Pinos Road from 6 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 8, 15, 22 and 29. The events will all include a show, taste and tell that will allow guests to try the products as they learn about the unique qualities of each.
In addition to the events, some businesses will offer special promotions throughout the month. Some of the downtown restaurants are offering discounts on meals while others are offering specials that include heart-healthy foods such as fresh fish. Other businesses are providing discounts on products all month.
For a full list of activities and promotions, visit the Hollister Downtown Association at www.hollisterdowntown.org. Additional activities may be added throughout the month.
Special events
Feb. 3
Fashion show at the Knife and Fork Café, free with paid lunch, Noon to 1 p.m.
Feb. 4
Historic Walking Tour, San Benito Historical Society, $5, 9 a.m., reservations required. Details: 524-2292
Brighton Party, Drapoel-Teezerz. Free drawing for special prizes (no purchase necessary)
Feb. 8
Get Healthy = Local Wise, San Benito Bene. Sons of Sicily Olive Oil Show, Taste and Tell. Held at the YMCA office, 6 to 7 p.m., free
Feb. 11
Bark For Your Heart, Hollister Dog Owners Group. 11 a.m., free. Meet at Dunne Park, West and Sixth streets
Open House, YMCA
Learn about activities and memberships at the YMCA of San Benito County. 8 to 10 a.m.
CPR class, American Red Cross. 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., $110
Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day Dinner, the Knife and Fork Café. Make reservations for dinner by Feb. 10 and receive 15 percent off dinner on Valentine’s Day night
Feb. 15
Get Healthy = Local Wise, San Benito Bene. Bray’s Honey Show, Taste and Tell
Held at the YMCA office, 6 to 7 p.m., free
Feb. 22
Get Healthy = Local Wise, San Benito Bene. Bell Hill Goat Milk Products Show, Taste and Tell. Held at the YMCA office, 6 to 7 p.m., free
Feb. 29
Get Healthy = Local Wise, San Benito Bene. B&R Farms Show, Taste and Tell. Held at the YMCA, 6 to 7 p.m., free
Weekly events and promotions
Saturdays and Sundays
Vintage Red Display, San Benito Historical Society
1 to 4 p.m., free
Wednesdays
Blood Pressure check up at Penny Wise Drug, sponsored by Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., free
Thursdays
Walk For Your Health, sponsored by California Mutual Insurance. Starts at Veterans Memorial Plaza, free. 5:15 to 6 p.m. (cancelled for rain)
Fridays
$25 gift card promotion, Drapoel-Teezerz. Customers receive a $25 gift card with $75 in purchases (one card per customer
Signs of a heart attack
1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
Signs of stroke and TIAs
1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5. Sudden severe headache with no known
