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3 recognized for promoting health
Students participate in a game of dodge ball Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Kellogg Elementary School in Huntington. The game is part of "peaceful playground" as an effort to provide a healthy environment for students.
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HUNTINGTON -- A running enthusiast, a school program and a local restaurant are the winners of the first Herald-Dispatch Healthy Community Awards, which will be presented this weekend at the fourth annual Family Health and Fitness Expo.
The newspaper is recognizing an individual, organization and business that are working to improve the health of the community. The efforts include organizing an athletic event, helping kids find the link between fun and exercise, and providing healthy food options for busy downtown diners.
"There's no shortage of bad news about the state of health and fitness in our area, but there are good stories to tell, also," said Amy Howat, director of advertising and marketing for The Herald-Dispatch. "We have many people and groups working to make our communities and families healthier, and it's important to highlight that."
The awards not only recognize the positive efforts being made by Pat Riley, Kellogg Elementary and Schlotzsky's Deli, but lift them up as examples that others can follow, Howat said.
"We hope that people will see these award winners and think, 'I can do something like that,' or 'my business can help, too,'" she said.
"If there's one thing we know from working with people on all sides of the issue, it's that there is no single, easy answer to the health challenges our community faces. At the same time, we know that the more people and groups who choose to tackle parts of the problem, the more likely we are to make progress. These awards show that it's not only possible, but starting to happen already."
The awards were based on nominations from The Herald-Dispatch readers and selected by a committee of newspaper employees. The award winners are as follows:
Individual Award
Pat Riley is the recipient of the individual Healthy Community Award for organizing the largest 5K recorded in Huntington.
More than 500 people finished the West Virginia 5K Championship Run/Walk in downtown Huntington in early June. That shattered the previous record of 351 during last year's Bun Run. The event raised $4,000 for the United Way of the River Cities.
Riley's inspiration to organize the event was an Associated Press story last year that profiled the Huntington-Ashland metro area as the unhealthiest area in the country.
"The article has been a catalyst for not just the race, but for countless others in this area to look at themselves and make fundamental changes," said Riley, a track and cross country coach at Barboursville Middle School. "To see so many people and sponsors jump on board with the race so quickly was tremendous. I think it shows our area is moving in the right direction with our fitness and health."
The race wasn't a one-time event, either. Riley said a committee already has been formed to plan a 5K run for 2010.
Organization Award
Kellogg Elementary is receiving a Healthy Community Award for being a healthy organization.
Kellogg has proven its commitment to health and fitness with its after-school dance classes, walking club and fitness initiative.
Principal Eugenia Damron said the efforts continue to be important.
"We've got these really smart children who also need to know it takes more in life. They've got to get active and get involved," she said. "With obesity comes things like juvenile diabetes. We see those things more and more in schools every year. We've got to take care of our children's health."
The school is raising money to upgrade its playground to make a "fitness circuit," with stations such as an outdoor "stairmaster," chest press, and pull up bars, Damron said.
While Kellogg continues to work to complete that initiative, the school also is in the middle of other projects. Last spring the school held a 5K, and this year staff and students revved up a mileage club. Every year students participate in the St. Mary's Medical Center mileage club, which requires students to walk every day, Damron said. This year, faculty allotted time in the morning for walking, as many students arrive to school as early as 7 a.m. and class doesn't begin for at least 45 minutes.
"Kids can walk a half a mile or more in the morning before they even start their day," Damron said.
A student's name is written on a foot for every mile walked and those feet are posted in the school, she said.
"We're just really encouraging our kids to walk and get moving," Damron said.
Fourth- and fifth-grade students also are invited to participate in an after-school dance club that offers aerobics, Zumba and more.
The school also recently purchased "Peaceful Playgrounds" stencil sets to encourage children to be active and participate in activities such as four-square and hopscotch.
"You don't need a friend to play. You just need to go out and play around," Damron said. "Don't wait to get picked for softball or kickball. These are games every single kid can play."
The school's efforts also include working with Marshall University's kinesiology department. Through that program, Dr. Eric Arnold works with the school and teaches them about muscle development and exercise, Damron said.
Business Award
Schlotzsky's, owned by David and Cynthia Stuart, has earned the first Healthy Community Award for a local business.
The franchisees, who own the deli at 844 4th Ave. in downtown Huntington, have created new, healthy menu items unique to the Huntington location because the couple felt compelled to give customers healthier options, David Stuart said.
"If I knew 15 years ago what I know now about food and nutrition, I wouldn't be in this business," David Stuart said. "Food is addictive, just like tobacco, alcohol and narcotics. My wife realized years ago that she lived every day not feeling well, and she made changes. She's the one primarily working on this."
Schlotzsky's has some menu options that could be considered light, David Stuart said, such as its Light Smoked Turkey Sandwich, Asian Chicken Wrap, Shaved Chicken Breast Sandwich and Mozzerella Portabella Panini.
But on Monday, the Huntington Schlotzsky's introduces three salad options and a drink that can be considered both light and healthful.
The new salads, all of which will be made with spring mix and Romaine lettuce for its greens, include the following:
Chopped green apples and cranberries.
Chickpeas, purple onion, olives and grape tomatoes.
Mandarin oranges, pecans, cranberries and celery.
New dressings will be offered as well, including a wild blueberry vinegar dressing, a balsamic vinegar dressing and a sweet and spicy pecan vinegar dressing. The ideas for the dressings came from Dr. Joe Fuhr, David Stuart said.
Huntington Schlotzsky's also will offer a new herb-based energy drink beginning Monday. The drink is called Neuro and has one gram of sugar, David Stuart said. It's made with green tea, rhodiola, and essential oils -- great brain food, he said.
The drink is manufactured and distributed by ViSalus Sciences, owned by Huntington native and multimillionaire/entrepreneur Ryan Blair, Stuart pointed out.
Meanwhile Schlotzsky's will continue to serve the less healthy fare. Unfortunately, David Stuart said, that's what sells, especially locally. It would be hard to find many truly healthy options at restaurants throughout the Tri-State because they're not the most popular, he said. When Stuart said his wife goes out, she usually asks the waiter to alter menu items to make them healthier, he said.
So they wanted to offer healthy choices that need no alterations.
"Next to addressing people's spiritual condition, we need to help them with their physical condition," David Stuart said. "As business owners, we feel compelled to make sure people have healthy options when they go out to eat, whether we get slammed or not."
Family Health and Fitness Expo
WHAT: The fourth annual Family Health and Fitness Expo, sponsored by The Herald-Dispatch, will offer a variety of health- and fitness-related businesses, services, agencies and organizations. Local hospitals and health care providers will offer a variety of screenings, including blood and cholesterol screenings, back and spine assessments, glaucoma screenings and blood pressure checks. Germ City will teach about proper hand washing, and demonstrations from local dance and fitness experts will be going on throughout the day.
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.
WHERE: Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington.
FOR THE KIDS: There will be a Kid's Corner, which will encourage fun and exercise on a variety of inflatables. In addition, kids (in or out of costume) are invited to trick-or-treat among the event's booths for a variety of non-candy treats.
HEALTHY AWARDS: During the expo, The Herald-Dispatch will recognize the winners of its inaugural community awards for individuals, businesses and organizations working to improve the health and wellness of the Tri-State area.
PRIZES: Those attending may register to win a Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit, which will be given away with a drawing at the end of the event.
WHO'S THERE: Vendors planning to participate are: St. Mary's Medical Center; Cabell Huntington Hospital; American Health Center; Cervical Cancer Prevention; HealthSouth; Weight Watchers; Sarah Care Adult Day Care; Scott Orthopedics; Pro Imaging; Medical Weight Loss; Western Southern Consultants; Best Home Medical; Jennifer Anderson; West Virginia Organ Affiliates; St. Mary's Wound Center; Healthy Life Market; Drug Emporium; Anne Greybeal Consultant; HIT Center; First Church Christ Scientist; Cabell County EMS; Westmoreland Chiropractic; Moore Chiropractic; Connie Back Consultant; Cabell-Huntington Health Department; Ebenezer Medical Outreach; AARP Huntington Chapter; Cabell Surgery Center; Mountain State Oral & Maxillofacial; MCTC; and Germ City.
MORE INFORMATION: Advertising/Marketing Director Amy Howat at 304-526-2820.
