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Asthma aware Friday, April 18, 2014
Health District contest promotes knowledge of chronic condition By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER
If you know more than 10 people, you probably know someone with asthma. Being in their presence at any given time, you are affected by and affect their condition, whether that means preventing an attack or helping to handle one. Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs which causes breathing problems. Symptoms include breathlessness, coughing, wheezing and a feeling of tightness in the chest. When these are not Volume 53, No. 66
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under control the airways can become inflamed, making breathing difficult. According to the Central Connecticut Health District, in 2011 it was estimated that 25.9 million Americans had asthma, including 7.1 million children. In 2010 that translated to 9.2 percent of adults and 11.3 percent of children. A 7-year-old Southington boy even passed away of the disease late in January. “We don’t really have any local data and that’s a statewide problem for each town,” Hilary Norcia, CCHD community health coordinator, said Wednesday. But what health officials do know is that asthma can be See ASTHMA, Page 9
Erica Schmitt | Staff
Art teacher Courtney Molter with some of the works created by her students.
Town Hall to display students’ art
By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER
Newington student-athletes and scholars are honored in a variety of ways through competitions and awards ceremonies, but what about those whose talent takes the route less traveled? Student-artists of all ages stand center stage next week inside Town Hall, where the Annual Newington Public Schools Town-wide Art Show will be open to the public from April 23
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through May 28. “This whole floor will be covered in artwork,” Courtney Molter, art educator at Ruth Chaffee and Anna Reynolds Elementary Schools, said on a recent afternoon, while hanging up pieces made by her students. Since she teaches 31 classes total among both schools, Molter sees about 571 students every week. That’s a lot of art to grade, but she tries to let each student See STUDENT, Page 6
Erica Schmitt | Staff
One of the artworks in the show.
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