West Cook News

The Town of Cicero hosted its annual Healthy Heart event on February 20, 2025, at the Cicero Community Center. The event offered various health services, fitness activities, and educational resources to residents. It was organized by the Cicero Health Department with support from Town President Larry Dominick and the Board of Trustees.

Vanessa Parrish, Director of Health Management, emphasized the significance of the event in promoting community health. “We are very, very happy to be able to provide the services that we do and provide the information that we do to our community,” said Parrish. “With the support of President Larry Dominick and the board of trustees, we’re able to put these on for our community, and we’re going to grow.”

The event included activities such as Zumba classes, yoga sessions, and a blood drive. Wellness puppies from a local animal shelter provided interactive experiences for attendees.

Dr. Katherine Skurski, Medical Director, highlighted available health screenings and fitness classes. “We will be offering not only Jazzercise classes and Zumba but also chair yoga for our senior citizens,” Skurski stated. “Additionally, we are conducting vital signs checks, blood glucose checks, and simple CBC lab tests to monitor residents’ health.” She stressed diet and exercise importance while advising residents on sodium intake monitoring and physical activity.

Assistant Fire Chief Steve Schwar spoke about emergency preparedness education initiatives by the Cicero Fire Department during the event. He mentioned free smoke detector distribution and CPR training's importance: “We now have CPR classes every third Thursday of the month for the public,” Schwar noted.

Marissa Buscemi, Director of Clinical Services expressed enthusiasm for focusing on cardiovascular health at this year’s event: “Our annual Healthy Heart event is our favorite event to put on at the Cicero Health Department,” she said.

A blood donation drive led by Claudia from Community Blood Center encouraged participation despite conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure if necessary health requirements were met: "We want all blood types but O-negative is always in high demand," she explained.

This initiative aims at promoting overall wellness within Cicero through its combination offerings hoping expansion reaches more residents over coming years.