Get The Exercise Bugg …

Looking to keep your New Year’s resolution for a healthier you? Gold’s Gym in Charles Town is now offering a comprehensive weight management program, thanks to a little gizmo called bodybuggTM. “This program is internet-based, measuring calories-in versus calories-out,” said Laurie Ogden, corporate relationship manager and bodybugg FitPro at Gold’s Gym. “Nutrition is 80 percent of weight loss. It’s about behavior modification, making decisions on your own with your own food.” The program consists of the bodybugg armband that tracks all movement (calories out) and bodybugg online, a personal health diary that calculates the calories you have consumed (calories in). Pairing these two components gives users  a detailed look at how they are spending their time and their calories.

Gold’s Gym in Charles Town introduced the bodybugg program there in September and already have over 100 people participating. “Membership in the program includes four sessions with a bodybugg FitPro,” Laurie stated. “We review the member’s measurements, food log, and activities, then provide tips to keep them on track.” New participants in the bodybugg program have already seen results. “The bodybugg has helped me become accountable for my health and weight loss,” said April Koontz. “It shows me how many calories I burn no matter what I’m doing, so I’m encouraged to stay active throughout the day.”

Records Management Solutions Names New VP

Records Management Solutions (RMS), a document storage and destruction company and the local leader in information compliance, recently announced the appointment of Kevin Knowles as vice president of business development. Knowles will be responsible for building and directing RMS’s market strategy throughout the Eastern Panhandle. He has over 20 years’ experience in client development and customer relations.

“I joined the RMS team because of their reputation as a leader and visionary in the field of information management services and because of their exemplary management team and solutions,” said Knowles.

Prior to joining RMS, Knowles served as president of Knowles Marketing Solutions and director of community development for ICT Group. He is involved with a number of nonprofit boards and owns Day’ Javu in downtown Martinsburg with his wife Dana.

Said Jim Scott, president and CEO of RMS, “The addition of Kevin to our team furthers our strategy of providing products with a singular focus on compliance and proper management.”
For information about Records Management Solutions, (304) 263-0199.

Kevin Knowles has been named VP of business development for information compliance for Record Management Solutions.

Panhandle Live! The Voice in and around the Eastern Panhandle

Discussing the issues that are important in the Eastern Panhandle, WEPM’s Panhandle Live! tackles business, healthcare, politics, and a variety of other subjects. “We place a high value on current events,” said host David Welch. “Our guests represent a variety of state and local organizations. We want the discussions to be timely and relevant.” Panhandle Live hosts regular political roundtables, news weeks in review with editors from local media outlets, discussions with delegates and other government representatives, and representatives from other local organizations that impact our community.

“We try to provide equal balance to all sides, especially on controversial issues,” Welch said. “In a small community, it becomes personal. We want to consider everyone’s point of view.”

After 12 years as the Thursday morning co-host for The Political Week in Review, Welch was asked to fill in as Panhandle Live host for a couple of weeks. Those weeks turned into months and now he is the permanent host. He does his own show prep, and has a group of professionals that he regularly calls on to co-host. He especially enjoys when his wife Debra acts as co-host. “She teases me in a way nobody else can … it’s refreshing,” Welch said.

Panhandle Live can be heard every morning from 9:05 to 10:00 am on 1340 AM. Visit their website at www.wepm.com to listen to live streaming or to view the upcoming schedule.

Dinner Made Healthy by Good Natured

You can learn to cook delicious meals with whole grains, natural sweeteners, fresh veggies, and little or no meat with the folks at Good Natured, a green general store in Martinsburg. Good Natured recently started a series of monthly “Wholefoods Dinner Parties.” Participants learn new recipes, menu ideas, and tips for cooking with whole foods. “We’re trying to create meals with no MSG, no refined sugar or flour, no preservatives,” said Pam Smith, owner of Good Natured. “This month, we made almond yellow pepper soup, chick pea burgers, and vanilla spice cake. For Valentine’s Day next month, we’ll be creating some chocolatey desserts.”

The idea for the whole foods dinner parties came from Smith’s commitment to “promoting products that are safer and better for the environment. It’s just another step in the thought process of being more environmentally friendly,” she said.

The Wholefoods Dinner Parties will be held the second Thursday of each month at 6:15 pm. The cost is $11 per person, with kids 10 and under free. Good Natured, 209 South Raleigh Street in Martinsburg. The shop hosts Open Mic the third Thursday of each month at 7 pm. For information about their products or the dinner parties, call (304) 262-9909.

Compassionate Care At Willow Tree

Serving Jefferson County for over 40 years, the new management team at Blue Ridge Care and Rehabilitation Center, now known as Willow Tree Manor, realized the need to update their Charles Town facility. One of the first steps was to form partnerships with Harpers Ferry Family Medicine and the WVU School of Medicine, with Dr. Konrad Nau providing medical directorship at Willow Tree. This relationship provides a high level of care for the patients and educational opportunities for students in the WVU School of Medicine.

Another step in the process was the new name: Willow Tree Manor. “We wanted to make the name more comforting and inviting,” said administrator Charles Ritchey.