Like it or not, the long, cold winter months are right around the corner. Is your house ready to take on the elements?

“The overall energy efficiency of the home is crucial, especially when entering the winter season,” said Jim Stroehlein, co-owner of Prime Time Energy Services, 67 Sheldon Ave., Depew. “The sooner any needed work is completed, the sooner the homeowner will begin realizing both the financial and comfort benefits. For example, a home insulated with cellulose or spray foam and properly sized heating equipment has been proven to save an estimated 20 to 30 percent off utility bills.”

Suneel’s Light, a Western New York non-profit foundation with the mission of raising funds for research that will lead to a cure of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and to increase public awareness of the genetic disease, has announced that local philanthropist and nationally renowned restaurateur, Russell Salvatore will serve as the 2016 Honorary Chairman of Suneel’s Celebrity Gala, the Foundation’s annual “Dancing with the Stars” inspired fundraiser. Peter M. Vito, retired commissioner of Erie County Central Police Services and chairman and CEO of Peter M. Vito & Associates, Inc., and his wife Elizabeth R. Donatello, Esq. Niagara County Assistant District Attorney were also named Event Chairs. Funds raised by Suneel’s Celebrity Gala in Buffalo help this local non-profit foundation support critical research for treatments in search of a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a lethal genetic childhood disease. 

(ProActive Sports Rehab offers a weekly column promoting health, fitness and physical therapy. Please be sure to check back each week for a new topic!)

Every 42 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack — but you needn’t be among them. 

Consider this: Julie Kubala was one of those statistics. She’s working now to ensure she doesn’t become a different stat — about 21 percent of women and 17 percent of men age 45 and older will have another heart attack within five years of their first one.

To help, the American Heart Association (AHA) launched a new educational campaign aimed at reducing the number of repeat or recurrent heart attacks by arming survivors with simple but effective steps.