The Blue Zones. The Vitality Project. Moai walking clubs. Longevity foods.

Just mere months ago this was all a foreign language to Albert Lea and Freeborn County. Our community listened and learned and happily participated. We have made national news and become a healthier community. We like embracing healthy living, contributing to our sense of community and taking pride in being involved. Our residents have so much to offer and prove it time and time again.

One of the facts we have learned is that the Blue Zones are pockets across the world, each with particularities that has set them apart from others in regards to living longer and healthier. Unfortunately, research has shown that they all also have something else in common with Albert Lea: Domestic violence is all too commonplace, and is an issue that negatively affects the community.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month nationwide. In Albert Lea we will gather at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 8 at New Denmark Park near Katherine Island to hold the annual candlelight vigil in honor of victims and survivors of domestic violence. Community Candlelight Vigil Committee chairwomen Illene Grosham, Jeannie Jackson and I also want to celebrate the courage shown by all who have been affected by domestic violence and will do so with a butterfly release at 6 p.m. As we know, Albert Lea lost a community member to domestic violence in 2009 and once again families and friends lost a loved one. In St. Paul, a veteran police officer lost his life responding to the most dangerous kind of call for service — a domestic situation.

The Community Candlelight Vigil Committee is made up of people who believe that it is important to improve ourselves and our community, not only through eating well and exercising, but by standing up and saying that our community does not tolerate domestic violence and we support those victims.

The Albert Lea Vitality Project chose four practices to put into play that are crucial to health and longevity that include improving the community environment, emphasizing social networks, improving habitats and finding a sense of purpose.

Such basic concepts to improve our life, concepts we as a community have embraced. These concepts could easily be applied to helping others in the fight against Domestic Violence. We have proven Freeborn County is a great place to live, please consider attending or becoming involved with the candlelight vigil and once again show support to your community and to the many different victims of domestic violence.

Andrea Hall

Albert Lea