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45 Years of Service | 1972 - 2017 7 Wellness in Action Healthy Mind, Spirit and Body! Vinnie's Jump and Jive e swing revival was hot in the late 1990's, with every- body into it. So, in 2000, Mark Masselli borrowed space on Main Street in Middletown from local businessman Vincent Amato and became the first federally qualified health center in the nation to open up a dance hall, Vinnie's Jump and Jive. "We offered classes in all kinds of dance to all kinds of peo- ple," says Masselli, who capitalized on the fad to help all ages participate in fun and healthy movement. Today, Vinnie's Jump and Jive is open every day with opportunities to move, whether its hip hop, yoga, swing or salsa, because building a healthier community can be fun. Roof Top Garden Club When its new building opened in Middletown in 2012 with a green roof and huge garden space, CHC promptly invited the Middletown Garden Club, working with developmentally challenged adults from MARC Community Resource, Inc. to plant and maintain garden beds on the site. Today, spring through fall, the group gathers weekly on the roof to plant, water, and weed their freshly grown flowers and produce, which is donated to local food shelters. e time spent on the roof yields not only healthy food and activity, but also an appreciation for life and renewal. Plant-Based Cooking and Living As evidence grows for the benefits of plant-based eating, CHC welcomes the community for monthly demonstrations of plant-based cooking and nutrition. A local ob-gyn phy- sician and a local nurse, both committed to healthy eating, share their knowledge of and skill with plant-based nutrition to empower others to embrace healthier lifestyle changes. OM — Mindfulness in Healthcare Beth Robins Roth began practicing meditation as she was completing her master's degree in nursing and beginning her career as a nurse practitioner. In 1993, she founded the Mind- fulness-based Stress Reduction Program at CHC in Meriden. She teaches the eight-week meditation course in Spanish and English to inner-city patients with chronic and life-threaten- ing illnesses, helping them improve their quality of life. n