BOSTON BRUINS MASCOT BLADES participated in a drumming session hosted by Roman Music Therapy at the Healthy Living Expo on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Americal Civic Center. (Gail Lowe Photo)
Published in the September 18, 2017 edition.
By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce along with the Board of Health for Wakefield, Melrose and Reading, held their first annual Healthy Living Expo on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Americal Civic Center on Main Street.
The free Expo focused on health, wellness, fitness, lifestyle changes and financial retirement health, along with complimentary and interactive health screenings, fitness demonstrations, healthy food presentations, giveaways, prize drawings and a flu clinic.
Hundreds of people attended to receive flu shots from Hallmark Health Medical Associates, watch fitness demonstrations, participate in music thearpy and meet the Boston Bruins mascot Blades. The Expo also featured a raffle for prizes such as a Mary Kay basket and amazon.com gift card from The Savings Bank. A face painter and balloon artist were also on hand to delight the younger set.
Co-chair Roseann Russell, owner of Move to Joy, a company focused on yoga and mind/body movement classes said that since health is her passion, she volunteered her time to help move the Expo along for the Chamber of Commerce. She shared responsibilities with Co-chair Sarah MacDonald and Janice Casoli, president of the Chamber’s board of directors, to get the event off the ground. Marie Smith, administrative assistant for the Chamber, was also instrumental in helping to make the Expo a success.
“Former Executive Director Marianne Cohen started the Expo,” said Russell. “It was the signature program for members to get behind healthy living. All the businesses involved perform good services, including health and fitness, for people.”
Rebirth, a fitness company, was on hand to demonstrate how fitness can be achieved without using weights. Roman Music Therapy held a drumming session. A Zumba demonstration was performed by dancers from the Reading Burbank YMCA of Greater Boston, and a martial arts demonstration was also held..
“The turnout has been really good,” said Russell on Saturday around noon. “We probably had about 150 people by the time 11 a.m. rolled around.”
Sponsors of the Expo included Gold sponsors Hallmark Health and Lahey Health, Silver sponsors Rebirth and Whole Foods and Bronze sponsor the Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield.
