Staff and officials working at Branford's town offices stepped out in red on Friday, Feb. 7,  to support the American Heart Association's (AHA) efforts to raise awareness and help fund critical research to fight the number one killer of women, cardiovascular disease. February is Heart Disease Awareness month and National Go Red for Women Day is Friday, Feb. 7.

The dress-down/dress red day is one of several fundraising and awareness efforts underway in Branford this month.

On Friday, Feb. 7,　Branford's "Go Red for Women" committee is hosting its "Dinner and Red Dress Fashion Show" at　Season's wedding and banquet facility in East Haven featuring guests dressed up in red there to enjoy dinner and cheer on 10 local women, all impacted by heart disease, as they model fashions from A's Unique Boutique of Guilford. The event also is being supported with over 60 raffle prizes donated by local businesses.Bou

Branford's "Go Red for Women" committee includes Branford merchant Sally Attianese, Branford's Executive Assistant to the First Selectman Trista Milici (who is also a heart attack survivor); and Maggie Fitter, Development Director of AHA's Heart Walk.

Branford's "Go Red for Women" awareness and fundraising efforts will continue through the month of February, including lighting up Town Hall, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford Police Department, Branford Fire Department and the Branford Board of Education office (1111 Main Street) in red nightly.　 A four-foot wooden heart, painted red and decorated with 200 lights is also being lit nightly on the town green.

Town staff and officials are also hosting Paper Hearts fundraising drive at their worksites to benefit AHA.　Anyone visiting Town Hall, Blackstone Library, Branford Fire Department, Branford Police Department, Branford Recreation Department and Canoe Brook Senior Center (both located at Branford Community House) can purchase a paper heart for a dollar. Paper hearts will be added to individual "Go Red for Women" displays at each building.

Branford is also going red in February with creative "Go Red" themed displays lighting up windows of local businesses in the town center and beyond. Look for a photo gallery of the window displays, which be posted at the Town's Facebook page (find Town of Branford CT) during the month of February.