HRMC fitness center celebrates 10th anniversary

Haywood Regional Medical Center is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its fitness center, and Center Director Scotty Setser invites the community to tour the facility and meet the staff in an open house Saturday, Dec. 6.

Administration felt that a hospital-based health and fitness program would help create a positive expansion of healthcare services for Haywood County residents.

“When we moved over here it was like Christmas,” said Bill Fleming, a gymnastics instructor at the center.

The center has remained the leading hospital-based fitness center in the 17-county Western North Carolina region, currently serving more than 4,500 members.

The 54,000-square-foot two-story facility is equipped with complete lines of cardiovascular and strength equipment, and offers a wide range of group exercise programs and strength training classes. Personal trainers are available.

The center has a six-lane indoor heated swimming pool.

There is an indoor track, gym, and also programs for diet and nutrition, and stress management. The center is also home to rehabilitation services, the Diabetes Treatment Center, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, a steam room and sauna.

Memberships are $39 per month with a six-month membership. Daily passes are $8; weekly passes are $20. Family, student, senior citizen and corporate rates are available. Nursery care is available from 8:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. for children 3 months to 7 years of age. The cost is $1 per hour per child.

During the open house event the first 40 new memberships will receive a gift and the initiation fee will be waived on six-month memberships. There will be a drawing for a free six-month membership.

Hours are 5:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays; and 1p.m.- 7 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information about the event or about memberships call 828.452.8080.

“Look Good, Feel Better” at WestCare

The American Cancer and WestCare Health System will offer “Look Good, Feel Better” from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1 at Harris Regional Hospital. The program is for women dealing with appearance related side effects that occur with cancer treatments. A trained volunteer cosmetologist will share ideas to help deal with hair loss and skin changes using products donated by the cosmetics industry. Sessions are offered bimonthly on the first Monday. RSVP required at 828.586.7801.

Shearer to discuss pet health issues

Dr. Tami Shearer, owner of Shearer Pet Health Services in Dillsboro, will present a program to the Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov.19. The program will be held in the auditorium of the Jackson County. Community Service Center on Hospital Road in Sylva. The public is invited.

Dr. Shearer will introduce some new and unique treatment options for debilitated pets, aging pets and for pets recovering from surgery. She will discuss physical rehabilitation and pain management strategies to help improve or maintain a pet’s comfort. In addition, she will discuss how pet hospice care can improve the quality of life remaining for terminally ill pets, and at the same time provide emotional support to the pet’s family. Dr. Shearer’s work on hospice care for pets has been featured in the Washington Post, and she lectures about rehabilitation and hospice care at veterinary conferences around the country.

Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month alternately in the Jackson County Community Service Center in Sylva, or at Creature Comforts Boarding and Training Center in Junaluska. All visitors and prospective members are welcome to attend. For more information on the upcoming program or the kennel club, please call Margo Gray at 828.586.8248.

Community pride contest seeks nominees

The Commission for a Clean County (CCC) announces its eighth annual awards program, “Community Pride,” that recognizes those who help bring about a clean environment.

Categories are litter control, recycling and cleaning of the environment. Beautification efforts are also eligible.

Entry forms can be picked up at town halls in Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, and the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce.

You may also request an entry form by calling CCC Secretary JoAnna Swanson at 828.452.1550.

Entry deadline is Dec. 5.

Macon women voters host speaker Nov. 13

The Macon County League of Women Voters will hold a program with Reid Conway from the North Carolina State Energy Office at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

Promoting energy efficiency and striving toward a sustainable energy future for North Carolina is the mission of the Energy Office. The office develops and promotes renewable energy production within the state as a means to boost local economies and bring jobs and renewable industries to the state.

Mr. Conway will be focusing on legislation that is currently in place in North Carolina concerning energy efficiency and also an update on the energy code work being done. He will discuss methods found throughout Western N.C. to save energy for free.

For more information, call Mary McLaughlin at 828.369.5007 or email lwvmacon@wild-dog-mountain.info. Please arrive for the program at 12:10 p.m.

Rogers to address peace fellowship Nov. 20

James C. (Charlie) Rogers, a member of the National Board of the Beyond War movement, will be the guest speaker at the Nov. 20 meeting of the Haywood Peace Fellowship. Rogers is a retired IBM executive and lives in Hendersonville. He will review the purposes and goals of Beyond War, talk about future plans and explore ways in which the local peace fellowship may be able to effectively pursue some of its goals with the newly elected Obama administration.

The Haywood Peace Fellowship is a non-sectarian group interested in sensitizing the community to various peace issues, helping to lift up these issues to the general public and finding ways to meaningfully address these issues. All are invited. The Nov. 20 meeting will be at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville.

Haywood sponsors mapmaking contest

The Haywood County Land Records/GIS Department is seeking contestants for a mapmaking contest.

Entries must be received at the temporary County Administration Building, 81 Elmwood Way in Waynesville, by 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17.

Categories are Adult/Professional and Youth/School. Entries can be created electronically or by hand.

First-place winners will receive a $25 gift certificate to Wal-Mart and second will receive a GIS Day T-shirt.

The event is part of the 10th annual GIS Day.

For more information contact the Haywood County Land Records/GIS Department at 828.452.6644.

Children’s Home marks adoption month

The Children’s Home/Family Restoration Program in Franklin is observing National Adoption Month.

Children’s Home/Family Restoration Program is working to recruit foster and adoptive families. Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a licensed foster parent or a foster to adopt parent can contact The Children’s Home at 828.349.6002 or visit Web site at www.tchome.org.