Health fair encourages Alpine residents to keep moving

"Get moving," was the motto-of-the-day last Saturday at the Alpine County Health Fair, organized by the Health and Human Services Department. The multi-purpose room at the Alpine County Early Learning Center was filled with multi-colored displays that attracted young ones and their elders alike.

Freebies kept people eager to get moving from one booth to the next. Pens, mugs, caps, stickers, sewing kits, pedometers, bottles of water and swim passes were proffered, along with a blizzard of flyers, brochures, newsletters and program announcements.

Choices for Children handed out a flyer announcing that a five part workshop series, called Children and their Art, will be taught by esteemed art teacher Lisa Kratt. Children and their adult caregivers will create works of art side-by-side in the multi-purpose room at Hung-A-Lel-Ti. The first session is scheduled for Feb. 28. Since space is limited to 20 people, please phone (530) 694-2129 to reserve a place.

Fair attendees not only had the opportunity to win raffle prizes every 15 minutes, but also to meet interesting people like Loren Nakai, the community relations liaison for the Native TANF Program. Though Navajo himself, he represents the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. He spoke of the 109 different tribes in California alone and described them as belonging to seven distinct language families. Native TANF provides assistance to needy families, with a goal to end dependence of families for government benefits by promoting work opportunities; to reduce out of wedlock pregnancies and to encourage formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

California Highway Patrol trooper Jeff Gartner encouraged people to take bumper stickers against drinking and driving, followed up by donning "legally-drunk" goggles to see how their motor skills are impaired. When asked, "What gets you moving," harking to the theme of the fair, Gartner replied, "My kids." The same answer was given by Superior Court Officer Lisa Cobourn, Detective Ed Braz and Choices for Children Director Rachel Brothers. Rhonda Medicine Crow has four children, who all play basketball in Indian tournaments, and she plays on the women's team.

The library display included activities involving crayons and guidance for children to create personalized bookmarks.

Judy Wickwire, who owns Horse Feathers Fly Fishing School, not surprisingly said that fishing is her favorite activity, and husband Russell, retired fish biologist, nodded in agreement and added, "At this time of the year, I go ice fishing, usually at Red Lake."

Deputy Don Skinner said that his German shepherd dog keeps him moving along. Sherri Smith claimed that, "Music, like the Blues, gets me moving." Office Assistant at Health and Human Services Gail Day also finds "all kinds of music" to be the key to exercising.

"I want to be healthy, so I walk and cross country ski, and now I'm trying to like lifting weights," exclaimed Cheri Warrell.

Retired educator Irving Krauss finds that his participation in political conventions for the Democratic Party and membership in county and state boards keep him active. Public Works employee Julie Ola goes out into nature to pursue her hobby of photography and necessarily "gets moving."

Supervisor Skip Veatch explained, "I really don't believe in New Year's resolutions, but this year I'm resolving to exercise more and to eat less."

As the nurses at the health department were taking blood pressure readings, they commented that they were happy to see so many residents at the fair. Registered Nurse Lynette Bennett said that she is watching her intake of calories. Public Health Nurse Shelly Taplin said that she has been a member of Curves in Minden for two years and, "I enjoy it very much."

Bernie Combs, School Readiness Coordinator and Director of the Early Learning Center summed up the fair's theme with her quote, "The children of Alpine County keep me moving."

n Gina Gigli is a Markleeville resident. Reach her at ginagigli@villagigli.com.