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Bo, the Obama family dog, plays in the snow in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
TO ALL OUR LOVERLY READERS!

Area Church Congregrations Urged to GO RED for Women's Heart Health on Valentine's Day

Every Sunday, people across the region attend church to improve their spiritual health.

On Valentine’s Day, members of congregations in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia can strengthen not only their faith but also their hearts.

Churches Go Red will be held Sunday, Feb. 14.

Congregations will be wearing red to raise awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women. It’s all part of Go Red for Women, sponsored by the Wellmont Regional Heartcare Network and the American Heart Association.

“Churches are the place people go for a boost to their spiritual health,” said Gary Metcalf, director of spiritual care at Holston Valley Medical Center. “But on Valentine’s Day, we want to send a loving message that churches are also interested in the physical well-being of those sitting in the pews.”

Worshipers can show their love for their sisters, daughters, mothers and wives in a visible way. They can wear something red. Churches interested in participating in Churches Go Red can download a free event kit at wellmont.org/goRed

First United Methodist Church in Bristol is one of the churches to sign up for the event. The Rev. Joe-d Dowlingsoka, the church’s pastor, said the event ties in well with the church’s concern for people’s well-being.

“We’re excited about anything that helps our people live better, live healthier, live more wholly,” he said. “What matters is people’s health – body and soul.”

When women throughout the region look in their closets on Feb. 14, the hope is they’ll pick something red as part of their clothing ensemble – perhaps a dress, maybe shoes or possibly a bracelet.

But the event is not limited to women. Men are encouraged to wear a red tie or – if you don’t mind the chuckles – that red sport coat left over from the 1970s.

Congregation members will not be asked for a donation. The point of the event is to make a bold statement that heart disease is a serious health concern for women.

“While heart disease kills more women than the next five leading causes of death combined, research has shown that diet, exercise and not smoking could prevent a women from suffering a cardiac event,” said Amanda Cascio, regional director of the American Heart Association. “Women who join Go Red for Women will learn how to make small changes that can have a big impact on their heart health.”

In addition to finding information about Churches Go Red, people can enroll in Go Red for Women at wellmont.org/goRed. Membership is free.

TN Proclaims February
National Career and Technical Education Month

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce students and faculty in 3,400 career and technical education programs of study in the state will celebrate February as National Career and Technical Education month. The theme of this month’s celebration, “CTE: Invest in Your Future,” highlights the importance of career and technical education in providing the essential skills necessary for future success.

“Career and technical education provides students with a real-world career connection,” Governor Phil Bredesen said. “CTE programs in turn foster a well-educated, college- and career-ready student body, ready to contribute to our workforce.”

Tennessee’s CTE programs include Agriculture, Business Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, Marketing, Technology Engineering and Trade and Industry. Other CTE initiatives include High Schools that Work, Jobs for Tennessee Graduates, Contextual Academics, and Work-Based Learning.

“CTE programs are preparing students to become future leaders,” said Ralph Barnett, Assistant Commissioner of Career and Technical Education. “We hope families and communities will come out and support the 300,000 CTE students in our school districts across the state.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, eighteen of the 20 fastest growing occupations within the next decade will require career and technical education. Of the 136 school districts in Tennessee, 126 include CTE programs in their curriculum.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@tn.gov

VOICE ADDS FREE LOCAL CLASSIFIED SECTION, CHURCH EVENTS SECTION, AND CHURCH DIRECTORY!

All of our readers can take advantage of new features in the Voice.

We have installed a free classified section.

Send your ads to our e-mail at: classifieds@publicist.com,

Church Events to: churchevents@publicist.com,

Church Directory Listings to: churchlistings@publicist.com

or any of the above may be sent to us snail mail to:
216 E. Market St. # 9, Kingsport, TN 37660.

You may check our the new classified page by clicking the menu at the bottom of the page and going to Ze Local Classifieds.

Your participation is the key to the success of these features!

Send your information today!

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