“Finding Purpose and Passion in Life’s Balance”

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An impressive ensemble of experts will explore the issue of work/life balance and its effects on our health on Saturday, October 29 when holds its 11^th Annual Women’s Symposium at the Chalet on the Hudson in Cold Spring.

The event will be held from 8:30 am-2 p.m. Tickets are $45 and include breakfast, lunch, lectures, gift bag and raffle prizes.

Keynote speakers for this year’s event will be Darlene Rodriguez, co-anchor of WNBC’s award winning “Today in New York” and Elizabeth Ailes, publisher of the Putnam County News and Recorder and the Putnam County Courier. Rodriguez and Ailes will talk about their experiences balancing their hectic careers and home and family life.

Rodriguez has covered numerous breaking news stories including the shooting of Amadou Diallo, and coverage of the crash of Flight 587 en route to the Dominican Republic as well as Pope John Paul II’s meeting with U.S. Cardinals regarding the Catholic Church’s sex abuse scandal. She was the first television reporter in New York on the scene in Vieques, Puerto Rico when news broke about the clashes between residents and the U.S. Navy.

Rodriguez was honored by Hispanic magazine with a “Latina Excellence” Award and received a New York City Proclamation for her coverage of the Hispanic community.  She is also the recipient of a Silurian Award for Best Spot News Coverage for her report on a Queens Subway Crash. 

She resides in Westchester with her husband and family.

Elizabeth Ailes is a 20-year veteran of NBC News, CNBC, and America's Talking, the forerunner of MSNBC.  She has brought her intensity of journalistic focus to both The Putnam County News & Recorder and The Putnam County Courier as publisher of both papers.

Mrs. Ailes, began her career at NBC News Radio and NBC News and was the first producer hired at CNBC and part of a 3-person team responsible for launching the network in April 1989.  Mrs. Ailes later became Director of Business Programming at CNBC, before becoming Vice President of Programming at America’s Talking, the predecessor to MSNBC.

Mrs. Ailes is the owner of the Hudson Valley Freedom Press, which publishes two weekly newspapers in the Hudson Valley: the 145-year-old Putnam County News & Recorder and the Putnam County Courier, New York State's oldest, continually published weekly established in 1841. 

She is married to Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO of the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network. They have an 11-year son Zachary and live in Garrison, NY.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the day will feature Dr. Pond Kelemen of the Ashikari Breast Center at HVHC and Dr. William Higgins and Ellen Higgins, FNP of the Westchester Medical Practice, a married couple who will talk about balancing responsibilities at home. Also featured will be yoga instructor Patty Holmes of the Yoga Garden and astrologer Demitra Vassiliadis.

Kacey Morabito Grean, of WHUD’s Mike and Kacey in the Morning will be Mistress of Ceremonies and will moderate the Q&A portion of the program. Questions for Rodriguez and Ailes can also be submitted in advance on-line by visiting Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s Facebook page at www.hvhc.org.

Tickets are $45 including breakfast, lunch, raffle ticket and gift bag. For registration information call Hudson Valley Hospital Center at 914-734-3557 or register on line at www.hvhc.org/events/calendar.