Collar Greens Health & Wellness Day in September 2019

Divabetic’s new outreach program, Collar Greens Health & Wellness Day, celebrates the positive changes both animals and people can make to affect each other’s heart health at Central Farm Markets in Falls Church, Virginia on Sunday, September 29, 2019, 9 AM – 1 PM.

Owning a dog can be wonderful. They provide great companionship, and are loyal, loving members of the family. They can also be trained for medical assistance such as diabetes alert and seeing eye dogs. Unfortunately people love their dogs so much they’re neglecting their own health issues as the humanization of pets continues as these statistics show:

Two-thirds visit the vet more than their doctor and more than half have called in sick at work to look after their dog.

Dog owners spend more on their dogs’ oral care than on their own according to the American Pet Products Association

Millennials (23-38 years old) expect to spend more money on their dogs over the course of the pet’s lifetime than they do on their own lifetime health care costs according to a TD Ameritrade survey.

With the majority of people putting their dogs’ health before themselves, Diabetic’s Collar Greens Health & Wellness Day offers cardiovascular disease and diabetes information in a dog friendly environment.

Divabetic is partnering with local veterinarians and service dog experts to leverage pet owners’ interest in their pets and in turn engage them in discussions about their own risk for diabetes and heart health with Virginia Hospital Center and Inova Health System professionals. 

Please join us! 

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Ricky Martin

We’re talking about ‘Diabetes & Pride’ on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Ricky Martin.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Stonewall Uprising (June 29, 1969). It is widely considered to be the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement.

Since Ricky Martin came out in 2010, he’s been a prominent voice for LGBT rights both in the U.S. and in his native Puerto Rico. Ricky Martin said, “I just wanna be free,” upon receiving GLAAD’s Vito Russo Award, which honors gay entertainers who promote equal rights. Martin opened up his life to Vanity Fair in its April 2012 issue and spoke candidly about his twins, Matteo and Valentino, and his longtime partner, Carlos Gonzalez.

As an openly gay man, Mr. Divabetic is honored to shine the spotlight on members from the LGBTQ+ community living with diabetes. Guests include Stephen Bernstein, Greg Rubin, Maria Salazar, Maya James and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a  lot.”

LISTEN NOW

Phantom of Okra Mystery Podcast

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic gets caught up in a murder mystery when he agrees to host the Red Tomato Carpet at the 6th Annual Bake Bethesda A Pie Contest at Central Farm Market in Bethesda, MD. 

Will orange be the ‘new black’ for Mr. Divabetic?

Find out what happens when Mr. Divabetic, the Diabetes Late Nite cast and some special friends try to solve this diabetes murder mystery, Phantom of Okra, loosely based on “The Phantom Of The Opera.” Enjoy diabetes self-care advice and nutrition information in between moments of suspense, wide-goose chases, and entertaining banter. 

Guests include: Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown (founder of the We Are Diabetes organization), Central Farm Markets Co-Founder Debra Moser, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Author Peter Arpesella, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDE, CDN, Leisa Chester Weir, Terri Seidman and Mama Rose Marie.

This podcast features song selections from “The Phantom Of The Opera” soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. 

LISTEN NOW

Phantom of the Okra Mystery Podcast

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic gets caught up in a murder mystery when he agrees to host the Red Tomato Carpet at the 6th Annual Bake Bethesda A Pie Contest at Central Farm Market in Bethesda, MD. 

Will orange be the ‘new black’ for Mr. Divabetic?

Find out what happens when Mr. Divabetic, the Diabetes Late Nite cast and some special friends try to solve this diabetes murder mystery loosely based on “The Phantom Of The Opera”. Enjoy diabetes self-care advice and nutrition information in between moments of suspense, wide-goose chases, and entertaining banter. 

Featuring Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown (founder of the We Are Diabetes organization), Central Farm Markets Co-Founder Debra Moser, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Good Like This Author Peter Arpesella, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDE, CDN, Leisa Chester Weir, Terri Seidman,  Mama Rose Marie and Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.

This podcast features song selections from “The Phantom Of The Opera” soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. 

LISTEN NOW

Caponata Quinoa Salad Recipe by Chef Jonathan Bardzik

Storyteller, Cook and  Author Jonathan Bardzik surely knows a thing or two about the importance of cooking with fresh ingredients! He’s one of the hottest chefs in the Washington D.C. area, as his ‘farm to table’  cuisine has lit up farmers markets, including Mosaic Central Farm Markets, and even on the shelves at local bookstore.
“I believe that life can and should be lived well, and that living well is within reach – across many economic levels – each and every day by preparing a simple meal, setting a table and sharing it with those you love, even – and maybe especially – when that is a table for one,” said Jonathan in an interview with Instinct magazine.
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
3 tbs olive oil
3 small eggplant in 1/2” dice
2 medium sweet peppers
3 tbs capers
1 lg tomato, diced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tbs chopped basil
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 cups cooked quinoa
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2/3 cups olive oil – the good stuff!
Directions:
Warm 2 tbs oil in 12” skillet over medium heat. Cook until lightly browned on all sides, then reduce heat to medium low and cook until fork tender. Remove from pan.
Warm 1 tbs oil over medium heat. Thinly slice peppers and add to pan. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add capers and cook until fragrant, 1 minute longer.
Toss together eggplant, peppers, tomato, onion, basil and parsley.
Mash garlic into a paste with a pinch of coarse salt. Whisk together garlic, red wine vinegar and mustard. Whisk in olive oil to form a creamy emulsion.
Dress salad and serve over quinoa.
Jonathan Bardzik is the author of three incredible cookbooks: Simple Summer’, ‘Seasons to Taste’, and ‘Fresh and Magical Vinaigrettes‘, all of which are chock full of delicious recipes that you can make for your own friends, family or that special someone all year round.
Storyteller, Cook and  Author Jonathan Bardzik will appearing at Collar Greens: Wellness Day & Dog Parade to help families and their pets to stay healthy and happy at Mosaic Central Farm Markets on Sunday, June 9, 2019. Check out all the amazing activities from this year’s Collar Greens event:

Collar Greens Wellness Day & Dog Parade Coming To Fairfax VA in September

Divabetic presents Collar Greens Wellness Day at Mosaic Central Farm Market to help families and their pets to stay healthy and happy on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

It’s our biggest diabetes outreach event of the year and it’s totally free!

Do you want the freshest, most flavorful food available in your area? In that case, consider taking regular trips to Central Farm Market. According to statistics from the Farmers Market Coalition, more than 85% of vendors at your local farmers’ market have traveled less than 50 miles to sell their products and produce. In comparison, produce found in chain supermarkets has often traveled on average more than 1,200 miles before reaching your local shelves.

Did you know that Journal of Physical Activity & Health found that dog owners are more likely to reach their fitness goals than those without canine companions?

Researchers at Michigan State University found that dog owners are 34 percent more likely to fit in 150 minutes of walking per week than non-dog owners. The study also found that owning a dog promotes health and fitness even after you take your pup for a stroll, increasing leisure-time physical activity by 69 percent.

Collar Greens Wellness Day & Dog Parade features:

A Fabulous Dog Parade hosted by Mr. Divabetic and Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay. See all breeds dressed to the nines with prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors

Healthy Food Tours: Buy foods and see how they fit with ChooseMyPlate. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

A Live Cooking Demonstrations with Chef Jonathan Bardzik aka “Farm Market Hero”.  Jonathan employs stories and food to bring people together, building connections at farm markets and dinner tables, in board rooms and at conferences – everybody eats! Jonathan’s cooking demonstrations, teaching dinners, corporate and non-profit team building events and conference presentations have been enjoyed by audiences across the country.

A Family-friendly Scavenger Hunt of the Farmers Market. Our Scavenger Hunts gives people hands-on experience in learning about seasonal produce.

Poetry Readings: Diabetes Late Nite podcast cast member, Poet Lorraine Brooks reads some of her most popular diabetes empowerment poems to lift your spirits.

Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM). Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will host free sight (including glaucoma) and hearing screenings for all visitors (men, women, and children). They will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

A Service Dogs Demonstration & Talk: Have you ever wondered what it takes to teach your dog to sense your oncoming low blood sugars and actually alert you to them? Internationally known Scent Detection Expert Debby Kay has 40 years of experience as a canine professional and pioneered many firsts in canine scent work. Enjoy an overview of the basics of dog training and dog care and details how your dog can sense your blood sugars and respond in different ways depending on whether your blood sugar is high or low.

Plate Poetry Project On Display: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and SongwriterRick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

LISTEN NOW: Hear what happens when Mr. Divabetic puts all of his guests inlcuding The Betes Bros, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle and Mama Rose Marie in the HOT SEAT for Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary Podcast Special

Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Day Postponed

Divabetic’s Diabetes Awareness Dayoutreach program at Mosaic Central Farm Market on Sunday, June 3, 2018 has been postponed due to weather.

Our biggest diabetes outreach event of the year, Diabetes Awareness Day features a colorful Dog Fashion Show, Health Screenings, Healthy Food Tours, Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstrations & Discussion, Plate Poetry Project Art Displays, and Live Folk Music with Rick Franklin at Mosaic Central Farm Market in Fairfax, VA.

Here’s a complete listing of Diabetes Awareness Day Events & Activities at Mosaic Central Farm Market which we will be rescheduling:

9:30 AM Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM): Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.

10 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal: Dogs of all breeds and sizes are welcome to compete on the red carpet for fabulous prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOW: https://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2 

10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour of Mosaic Central Farm Market with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center: Learn how the season’s best fruits, vegetables and artisanal foods can fit into your meal plan. Visit different booths to pick up tips on preparing seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.

11:30 AM Dog Fashion Show: See the best dressed dogs pose on the Red Carpet at our 2ndAnnual Dog Fashion Show. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic:

12 PM Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk: Find out how dogs help people manage their blood sugar high’s and low’s, answer your questions and share resources for purchasing a diabetes alert dog and/or training your own pet. Presented by internationally known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay and Health Educator, Kathy Gold RN, CDE

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and songwriter, Rick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

Tune in to Divabetic’s 8th Year Anniversary podcast, Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.  Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Awareness Day at Mosaic Central Farm Market

Divabetic presents Diabetes Awareness Day at Mosaic Central Farm Market featuring a Dog Fashion Show, Healthy Food Tours, Free Sight & Hearing Screenings, Plate Poetry Project Display, a Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration and Live Folk Music by Rick Franklin on Sunday, June 3, 2018.

8:30 AM  Lions Free Sight & Hearing Screenings for Adults & Children (until 12 PM). Lions Club District 24A Sight and Hearing Van will host free sight (including glaucoma) and hearing screenings for all visitors (men, women, and children). They will also offer a paper screening test for diabetes and blood pressure testing.
10 AM  Healthy Food Tour  with Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center. Buy foods and see how they fit with ChooseMyPlate. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.
10:30 AM Dog Fashion Show Registration & Rehearsal
10:45 AM Healthy Food Tour with Dietitian Nadine Young RD, CDE with Virginia Hospital Center. Buy foods and see how they fit with ChooseMyPlate. Visit different booths to pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy, grain and protein products so you can build your healthy plate.
11:30 AM  Dog Fashion Show hosted by Mr. Divabetic. Mr. Divabetic hosts a ‘GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS’ fashion show featuring dogs of all breeds dressed to the nines with prize awards compliments of Mosaic Central Farm Market vendors. REGISTER NOWhttps://goo.gl/forms/WWxkBrs7ugpfK38P2
12 PM  Diabetes Alert Dog Demonstration & Talk with Internationally Known Scent Detection Dog Expert, Debby Kay, Nationally Known Healthy Educator, Kathy Gold  RN, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mr. Divabetic.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to teach your dog to sense your oncoming low blood sugars and actually alert you to them?

Renowned dog expert Debby Kay provides an overview of the basics of dog training and dog care and details how your dog can sense your blood sugars and respond in different ways depending on whether your blood sugar is high or low.

Debby Kay has 40 years of experience as a canine professional and pioneered many firsts in canine scent work. She left her position as a research scientist for the Federal Government to become Training Director of International Detector Dogs Ltd., training the first toxic waste detection dog. She was an early pioneer in training dogs to help ecologists, geologists and field biologists find targeted specimens for their research. Debby trained some of the first classes of dogs and instructors for the ATF explosive dog program in Virginia.

Respected diabetes educator Kathy Gold RN, CDE  joins Debby Kay to share expert advice for treating hypoglycemia and/or high hyperglycemia for people living with diabetes.

1 PM Plate Poetry Project & Workshop: What’s Eating You? Fine Artist Susan McCalsin’s Plate Poetry Project explores the conversations that people have with themselves while eating. Divabetic volunteers help adults and kids to express their mealtime thoughts and concern after reading aloud several of her poems.

Acoustic Blues Musician and SongwriterRick Franklin will be performing throughout at Diabetes Awareness Day. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.

Diabetes & Divas: Dina Merrill

Actress Dina Merrill, who was also the heiress to two fortunes died at age 93 on Monday.

I consider Dina Merrill to be a ‘Divabetic’. She was both an icon of taste and sophistication as well as an amazing diabetes advocate.

Her life as t he daughter of the Wall Street broker E. F. Hutton and the cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post inspired me to write last year’s Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast: “Suspect Boulevard”.

I literally started making notes for a new mystery idea on my iPhone during my visit to her mother’s fabulous Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in Washington, DC. I spent the day in Washington after raising awareness for diabetes by hosting the Red Tomato Carpet at Central Farm Markets in Bethesda, MD.

A beautiful portrait of Dina Merrill as a child in her mother’s bedroom captured my imagination.  At the time I had no idea of Dina’s personal connection to diabetes nor her work in diabetes advocacy. I learned that Dina Merrill created a yearly award for scientific excellence in her  son David’s name for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in 1974. She also served as the International Ambassador for ORBIS International, the flying eye hospital, which teaches advanced eye care and eye surgical techniques all over the world.

The award was recently presented to the research team at ViaCyte, Inc., a San Diego, Calif.-based regenerative medicine company that is at the forefront of developing an encapsulated cell-replacement therapy that has the potential to provide long-term relief from daily insulin dosing. The islet implants would potentially release insulin on demand in response to the body’s rising blood-glucose levels.

Dina Merrill made her Broadway debut in John Van Druten’s The Mermaid Singing in 1945. She had a more substantial role in 1975’s revival of the drama Angel Street.

The New York Times referred to Dina Merrill as an elegant presence in most of her 30 or so mid-20th-century movies, Ms. Merrill played the betrayed wife who loses both her husband, Laurence Harvey, and her mink coat to Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8” (1960); the chic fashion consultant who loses Glenn Ford to Shirley Jones in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” (1963); and the steadfast socialite wife of an assistant district attorney played by Burt Lancaster in “The Young Savages” (1961). Her 100-plus TV appearances ranged from What’s My Line? to What Makes Sammy Run? to The Magnificent Ambersons.

We fondly will refer to this tireless and legendary philanthropist as a ‘Divabetic’.

LISTEN NOW: Mister Divabetic Mystery podcast: “Suspect Boulevard.” The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hopes to inspire you to become a Diabetes Detective will this third installment of Diabetes Mystery  Theater podcastOur cast includes Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, ‘We Are Diabetes’ organization founder, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDE, CDN, Chef Robert Lewis, USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes and Mama Rose Marie.

Throughout the podcast we will spotlight the wonderful music by the National Philaharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Charles Gerhardt courtesy of SONY MUSIC.