24 ways to improve your life in 2024
As a new year begins, experts across Butler County offered up advice for residents to improve their health and their lives.
Life in Butler County could improve this year by visiting state parks and downtown communities, by rediscovering music or taking an art class.
People can get involved with a service club or be proactive about their health by scheduling an appointment with an eye doctor or foot doctor.
Following are 24 changes that the people of Butler County can implement over 2024.
According to Heidi Nicholls Bowser, membership and healthy living director at Butler YMCA, the facility offers more than 65 fitness classes per week on site, and even more off-site classes through its partnerships.
Eating a variety of food groups can be done easily if you remember to “eat the rainbow,” according to Patti Cipolla-Kuniak, lifestyle coaching program manager for Independence Health System.
Sheriff Mike Slupe suggested homeowners keep their exteriors well-lit to prevent break-ins. He suggested motion detector lighting as an additional resource.
To prevent house fires, Chief Justin O’Hara of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department said smoke detectors should be installed in every room of a home and should be tested twice a year.
To expand your horizons and get out of your comfort zone, look no further than your local library.
If you find yourself in a literary rut, start with a fresh reading list at the library, or one curated by the Washington Post, Time Magazine or the New York Times, said Dianne McCauley, adult services librarian at the Butler Area Public Library.
Make a resolution this new year to safeguard the family against whatever 2024 throws at them with the most up-to-date vaccinations.
Dr. Brian Donnelly, with Allegheny Health Network Pediatrics in Seven Fields and Cranberry Township, said vaccinations are a proven first line of defense against disease in the coming year.
Keeping your cat or dog safe and healthy in the new year goes beyond the basics of a nutritious diet, access to clean water and shelter from the elements, according to a Butler County veterinarian.
Dr. Lori Love, a veterinarian with Moraine Grove Veterinary Clinic, said not only should people take their pets to the vet annually, but they also should stay up to date on their shots to avoid disease or other conditions circulating among pets. A vet can give pet owners specific recommendations about how to keep your pet happy, healthy and entertained.
Zelienople-based musician Jacob Beck of band Fisherman’s Paradise said intentionally carving out time from your busy schedule for a creative project or endeavor — whether it be an hour or two a week — can help you learn to dedicate energy toward creative thinking.
Being preventive instead of reactive to health issues or concerns is the number one way to keep up with your overall health, according to Dr. Alexys Allen with Independence Health System in the women's health group and the family medicine group.
Smaller mechanical issues can develop into large, expensive ones for your vehicle if left unchecked.
“A lot can happen,” said Jeff Allison, store manager at Butler’s Monroe Auto Service and Tire Center. “The cooling system can plug up, it could overheat your engine, just cause bigger issues.”
Making a trip to the symphony — or to Dirty Ramen Skate Shop in downtown Butler — could open the door to a year of live music performances.
John Furman, executive director of the Butler County Symphony Association, encourages locals to experience the high-caliber musical performances that are a rare treasure in a small town.
William Thiele, director of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau District 15 and a local dairy farmer, said people should shop locally to get their food.
Keeping up with your eye health is about more than just seeing, according to Dr. Claudia Gonzalez, optometrist and co-owner of Stirling Eyecare Center in Butler.
There are three state parks in Butler County — Moraine State Park, McConnells Mill State Park and Jennings Environmental Education Center. Each park is open year-round, even during the winter, and offers a wide variety of outdoor activities.
When it comes to taking care of your feet, the simple things can be the most important.
“Inspect them and keep them clean,” said Gretchen Perschke, a doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Family Foot Care. “Feet are not meant to be dirty.”
Edward Smith remembers well the positive impact that Scouting had on him during his youth. Now the scoutmaster of Troop 16 in Butler, he helps current scouts realize the same benefits.
Donna Lamison, executive director for NAMI Butler County, believes that the best way to boost mental health is to start slowly and methodically.
As holiday spending winds down, the New Year is the perfect time to take control of your personal finances with a personal budget.
And the first step — according to Joseph Motisi, a financial adviser at ARMCO Credit Union — is a simple one.
Adding spice to your space is possible in 2024, if only you train your eye, according to Kayla Campbell, who is a graphic designer by trade and an instructor at Abstract Studio on Main Street in Butler.
Towns across the county are filled with activities from shopping to dining to crafting to gaming that people can take part in alone or as a group, according to Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau. As he put it, “the area's diverse offerings of small, historic towns all have their own hidden gems.”
Bored and want something to do in the new year? Join the club — literally. More specifically, join one of these clubs in Butler County.
In municipalities across the county, you’ll find a service club of some kind, perhaps even more than one, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club or Elks.
Twenty-seven years ago, Carol Lambert retired as principal at Slippery Rock Area Elementary School.
“I needed to find something to do,” she said. “This community had been so good to me and my husband over the years, I felt it was my responsibility to give back.”
People could have a better year this year and in the future by registering to vote and then voting to have their say in local, county, state and federal issues, according to the local election bureau. The 2024 election cycle includes races for the presidency, Congress and some state offices.
Across Butler County, there is no shortage of opportunities to give something back to the community.
There are seven senior centers run by the Butler County Area Agency on Aging, who are always looking for volunteers to perform various functions. According to Brittany Gilfillan of the agency, volunteers are mainly responsible for serving meals.
Closing out “24 ways to improve your life in 2024” is a reminder to stay informed with a subscription to Butler County’s long-standing news source: the Butler Eagle.
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