As the 2013 calendar flips over, millions of Americans get a new beginning by looking to live healthier lifestyles in the new year. In addition to extra hours at the gym, many grocery shoppers will also spend more time ensuring their carts are filled with healthier options to feed their families. Today's plethora of labels and buzzwords that adorn food packaging only makes the trip to the market even more daunting. In fact, many of the labels, such as "grass-fed" and "organic," that often suggest food is healthier refer only to how it was raised, not to the nutritional content.

Confused? You aren't alone. Volunteer farmers with the CommonGround program, a grassroots movement to start conversations about farming and food, want to help shoppers demystify several common food labels and make their trip to the market a little less stressful.

Angel Medical Center Auxiliary’s Board of Directors voted to donate $22,000 to Angel Medical Center which was used, in part, to purchase a cardiac stress test machine which monitors the electrical activity of the heart. Funds were also allocated to refurbish the Intensive Care Unit’s waiting room. Arthur Chikka, AMC Auxiliary President, said, “when the auxiliary donates funds to AMC, enabling the purchase of new equipment, such as this stress test machine, the auxiliary is fulfilling its stated mission of assisting the medical center in treating its patients more efficiently and thoroughly.”

Angel Medical Center (AMC) is fortunate to have community leaders who make the commitment to serve the hospital as members of the Board of Trustees says Bonnie Peggs, director of marketing and public relations. The board consists of 17 members including representatives of different parts of the community that AMC serves. Each member serves a four-year term and can serve one successive term with the chairman serving one additional year as immediate past chair. Board members also each serve on a sub-committee and take part in a number of hospital events and activities. Most importantly, the board provides governance and leadership in setting the overall strategic direction of our health system.

A free informative presentation to help explain Medicare and benefits will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. at Macon Senior Services located in the Dorothy R. and John L. Crawford building at 108 Wayah Street, near the Chamber of Commerce. This presentation will be done by SHIIP (Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program). Several months before turning 65, you should begin to learn more about your Medicare options and how it relates to your circumstances. Also, people that are new to Medicare due to disability will benefit from this presentation.

There were 103,000-plus North Carolinians who turned 65 in 2012. You must anticipate and plan for becoming a Medicare beneficiary. Don't wait until you're 65 to start thinking about your Medicare choices.