Pearce Hosts Open House to Showcase New Indoor Cycling Bikes

Pearce Community Center invites the public to an open house to experience the new Matrix IC7 indoor cycles on Monday, May 1 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Fifteen new state-of-the-art indoor cycles were purchased by the Pearce Foundation to upgrade older bikes. Pearce staff rebranded its indoor cycling program and enhanced the cycling room with fresh paint and signage. All cycling instructors have completed training on the new bikes, including the new Coach by Color® training system that delivers real-time, color-coded biofeedback to the rider.

During the open house, Pearce Cycling instructors will measure participants Functional Threshold Power (FTP), a test to help measure a user‘s fitness and establish their training zones. Once an individual‘s FTP is determined, users know their intensity zones to accurately target their effort for the best customized results.

After the brief FTP test, participants can try the bikes during an instructor-led demonstration. Four time slots will be offered for the test and trial ride: 5:00 to 5:10, 5:15 to 5:25, 5:30 to 5:40, and finally 5:45 to 5:55 p.m. The regularly scheduled Pearce Cycling class will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Refreshments will be served and a drawing for Pearce Cycling punch cards will be held.

The Pearce Foundation was established to provide an endowment fund for planned gifts and donations to Pearce. Since established, Pearce membership fees have only covered day-to-day operations of the Center. The Pearce Foundation has provided needed funds for facility improvements and upgrades including the new indoor cycles. Foundation memberships support the Foundation and provide extensive program and product discounts and guest privileges. 

Senior Strong Cross Training Returns to Pearce

Pearce Community Center will launch Senior Strong, a cross training program for seniors. This one-hour class will feature cross-training techniques tailored to mature adults to help them gain greater strength, endurance, and flexibility to perform everyday tasks with ease. Squats will strengthen legs which will help improve ability to climb stairs and sitting to a couch or toilet; overhead press exercises will make it easier to reach overhead to get something out of a cabinet; and stretching and mobility exercises will improve range of motion to be able to reach down and pick something up off the floor.

Beginning May 2, Senior Strong will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.  The cost is $60 per month for Foundation members, $80 per month for members; and $100 per month for non-members.

Retirement Celebration for Ben Alvarez

Pearce Community Center Director Ben Alvarez will retire from Pearce April 30 after many years of service. The Pearce board of directors is hosting an open house for Alvarez on Saturday, April 22 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come wish Ben and his wife Terri well.

Refer a Friend!

Pearce members can earn one month free when they refer a friend to Pearce!

Monthly Senior Potluck

Pearce will host the monthly senior potluck at noon on Tuesday, April 25. All seniors are invited to bring a side dish and their own table service and join in the fun. Fried chicken and drinks are provided. This month, musical entertainment will be provided by Mary Sherwood on piano.

Closed Easter Sunday

Pearce will be closed Sunday, April 16 for Easter.

Sweat

By Raquel "Rocky" Herron, Fitness Manager

Sweat; that beautiful, glistening substance that lets us know we're working! I see a good deal of sweat in my profession and I couldn't be happier! Sweat shows me that people are working hard and bettering their bodies one bead at a time. 

Why exactly do we sweat and why do some sweat more than others? How do different environments affect our sweat?  Are there special clothes I should wear to help with sweating? These are some questions I've been asked before, and I thought I'd give a lesson in all things sweat. Sit back, get comfortable, and let's dive into the wonderful world of sweat!

 

Sweating is a physiological response to exercise. As our bodies heat up, moisture is excreted through our pores and then evaporates, thus cooling us. Why does it seem that some people sweat more than others? There are several factors that affect sweating. According to scienceabc.com, such factors include: intensity of work, as in, how hard you're exercising, as well as the environment you're working out in. Obviously a hotter environment will lend to more sweat. Gender also plays a role, as males tend to sweat more than females. Higher body fat percentages are said to increase the amount of sweat, as higher percentages act as an insulator, which increases core temperature. Ok, so now we know why we sweat and what increases the amount of sweat, so what can we do about it?

 

It's important to pick out the proper clothing when working out. Sweat-wicking material is a must! Technical shirts and dry-fit material reign superior in helping us feel cooler when working out. Generally speaking, 100% cotton is not our friend when working out, whether its socks or shirts. Cotton tends to weigh us down as it gets wet, plus, as Women's Health points out, "...cotton duds can cause chills and skin irritation or body breakouts." If you're serious about working out, invest in some great workout clothing and your body will thank you.

 

Last, but not least, I must mention the important issue of hydration. Knowing you'll be sweating, and especially if you're walking into a warmer workout environment, it is essential to hydrate before, during, and after exercise. Since excess fluid will be leaving your body, you must prepare beforehand by making sure you're properly hydrated. Coming into a workout dehydrated will not make for an enjoyable experience. 

 

Sometimes it's just plain uncomfortable to sweat, but it's essential in the cooling process! Sweating is a natural occurrence that shows us our bodies are working.  Some may sweat more than others, and as we've seen, there are reasons to explain that. To help with sweating, proper workout clothing and hydration are a must!  And as always, listen to your body.  If it's saying, "slow down," then do just that.  If you're newer to exercise, you'll need to go slower than someone who has been at it for a while. 

Thanks for spending some time with me.  Now go get your sweat on!

Senior Strong Cross Training Returns

Pearce will launch Senior Strong, a cross training program for seniors. This one-hour class will feature cross-training techniques tailored to mature adults to help them gain greater strength, endurance, and flexibility to perform everyday tasks with ease. Squats will strengthen legs which will help improve ability to climb stairs and sitting to a couch or toilet; overhead press exercises will make it easier to reach overhead to get something out of a cabinet; and stretching and mobility exercises will improve range of motion to be able to reach down and pick something up off the floor.

 

Senior Strong will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. beginning May 2. The cost is $37.50 per month for Foundation members; $50 per month for members; and $62.50 per month for non-members

Summer Camp Registration in Full Swing

As the kids return to school after spring break, everyone's thoughts turn to the next break: SUMMER! Where to go on vacation, buying new shorts and a swim suit, getting the boat ready, and registering children for Summer Camp at Pearce. 

Registration began March 1 and is setting a record pace. Operations Director Carie McIntyre explains the reason for the camp's success. "We have a very high quality program." 

McIntyre focuses on three key areas to build quality: curriculum, staff, and value. The curriculum is diverse and provides a variety of ways for campers to interact with the subject matter. Reading, science, and math are core subjects, but cursive handwriting will also be presented along with yoga, and art. Although there is not a lecture period and text book, responsibility and social development are a large part of the curriculum and taught in every aspect of camp. And what would summer be without fun? Swimming, field trips, organized and free play, dodge ball, and inside and outside games provide campers with a well-rounded day.

Exceptional Summer Camp counselors bring this curriculum to life. Intelligent and motivated, summer camp counselors represent some of the brightest young adults in our community. Kyle Kerr and Sophia Vojta are just two examples of the staff members who spend their summer with Pearce campers. 

	Kyle Kerr

Kyle is a full-time nursing student in his junior year at Methodist College in Peoria. After graduation, he would like to practice psychiatric nursing.

Kyle joined Pearce in 2013. He has served as a counselor in Summer Camp, Day Camp, and Before and After School Care. He has supervised the Exergame Room, dance parties, and many other youth activities and events. When he's not with the children, you can find him at the front desk, greeting members and answering questions. Kyle has also earned the Members First award for excellence in member service.

During high school, Kyle served as vice-president of the student body and president of Key Club. He was a member of the marching and jazz bands, National Honor Society, and president of the Spanish National Honor Society. In college, Kyle is a member of the Student Nurse's Association and Student Government Association and has earned a spot on the honor roll.

	Sophia Vojta

This summer will be Kyle's fifth year as a counselor. "I enjoy watching the campers grow up," says Kyle. "And I like being a positive influence in their lives to help shape them into kind and compassionate adults."

Sophia Vojta grew up participating at Pearce in soccer, basketball, and After School care.

Sophia is currently a senior at IVC where she is a member of the National Honor Society and the German National Honor Society. She is also captain of the Chillicothe Girl's Rugby team and in cheerleading, band, and two choir groups. After graduation, she will attend Bradley University to study Music Business.

	Priscilla Reny

Her involvement in Summer Camp began in 2013 as a volunteer junior counselor. In 2015, she became a camp counselor. "I love working with the kids because there is never a dull moment," says Sophia. "There is always something exciting happening or something silly to laugh about! We work hard to make Pearce a fun and constructive environment."

Leading the Camp staff this year will be Priscilla Reny as the Youth Programs Coordinator. Priscilla joined Pearce last year, teaching tumbling and working as a counselor. She also led last year's Extra Fun Specialty Camp Braids, Bows, & Beautiful Nails. Our youth programs will benefit from her background in healthcare, art, and dance. 

Pearce Director to Retire

Pearce Community Center Director Ben Alvarez will retire from Pearce April 30 after many years of service. The Pearce board of directors is hosting an open house for Alvarez on Saturday, April 22 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

	Ben Alvarez

 

Alvarez was the original director of Pearce when it opened in 1990. He worked in unchartered territory as he developed programs, assigned tasks to large numbers of devoted volunteers, and managed the day-to-day operations of the facility. Despite the satisfaction he felt creating an organization that was universally accepted and supported throughout the community, he left in 1993 to return to work in the retail shoe business, his original profession.

 

After years of travel and time away from home, he was thrilled to return to Pearce in 2006 when the board asked him to come back and lead the Center again. Community involvement had always been his passion, and the position allowed him to grow the Center from a fledgling organization to the $1.3-million-dollar non-profit organization it is today, serving nearly 6,000 members. "Pearce has evolved from just a few pieces of exercise equipment to a fully equipped fitness and recreation center," says Alvarez. "We can compete with any national chain or local fitness facility. We offer all of the fitness industry programs and equipment, and a highly educated, certified, and experienced staff. And Pearce offers the best value in the state." In addition to fitness, Alvarez also led the development of the aquatics and youth programs and many annual special events.

 

With his strong background in retail sales, he has been very focused on customer service and satisfaction. "I am so proud that I have been able to be part of creating something that truly improves the quality of life for so many people in our community," said Alvarez.

 

"Ben is an ambassador and promoter of Pearce Community Center," says Ty Fennell, president of the Pearce Board of Directors. "He has been the constant, driving force behind Pearce's transition from a startup community center to an established organization, an organization whose purpose is to provide a safe, fun experience for people to feel better. Ben epitomizes that mission."

 

Through the years, Alvarez has served as a board member for many local organizations including the Community Needs Agency, Chillicothe Township United Way, Chillicothe Bible Church, Pearce Foundation, and the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce. He served as president of the Chamber and the Rotary Club. He has served as a member of the Lions Club and the Mayor's Leadership Roundtable. Before he came to Pearce in 1990, he worked as the Chillicothe Economic Development Director.

Alvarez believes the change in leadership is coming at a good time. "Pearce is passing from its growth stage into a more mature cycle," he says. "This will require less of an entrepreneurial leadership style and more focus on maintaining viability far into the future through strong business and finance leadership."

"The upcoming years we face without Ben will be daunting as the shoes he leaves to be filled are big," says John Calhoun, member of the Pearce Board of Directors. "But because of the legacy he leaves behind, Pearce will continue to grow and thrive."

Ben and his wife Terri have two children: son Jeff of Chicago and daughter Cassie of New York. They plan to enjoy an extended vacation on the east coast, indulging their shared love of history visiting historic sites. They will then relocate to Arizona. 

The public is invited to the open house to honor and celebrate Alvarez and his long career of service. 

Junior Fitness Certification

Junior Fit Certification will be offered on Monday, April 17 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. for young members ages 13 and 14. After successfully completing the class and receiving certification, young members will be allowed access to the cardiovascular room, Selectorized equipment area, and group exercise classes.

Participants will learn how to use the equipment in a safe, productive manner. Additionally, they will learn fitness etiquette, and rules.

Pearce Foundation members pay only $9; members $12. Advance registration is required.

Final Day Camps Offered

Pearce will host the final two Day Camps of the school year for students in grades K-6 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Monday, April 14 and 17. Before camp care is also available beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Campers will spend enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, swimming in the pool, and local field trips. Bring a daily sack lunch that does not require refrigeration but can contain microwaveable items and a drink, swimsuit and towel, gym shoes, and a book. An afternoon snack will be provided.

Register in advance at Pearce. Foundation members pay only $31.50 per child per day; Members $35; and non-members $55.

Quilting Class

Pearce will offer a beginner quilting class this spring. The class meets Tuesday, April 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The class is designed to help participants learn, improve techniques, and allow more experienced quilters to share the best practices they have learned. Bring your own project to work on. Participants need to bring their own sewing machine.

The cost for the class is $15 for Pearce Foundation members; $20 for Pearce members; and $25 for non-members.  

How to "Spring-Clean" The Nutrition in Your Kitchen

Megan O'Reilly, AFPA Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant, FCS: Option Dietetics B.S.

Spring is here! Time to open the windows and tackle your spring-cleaning. Before you pull out cleaning supplies, consider starting your 'spring-cleaning' in the kitchen.

New Year's is a fine time to make health resolutions, but spring can be an even better time of renewed energy and motivation. Good food choices will lead to better health and lowered disease risks. It's that simple. We all know that our bodies feel better after eating fruits and vegetables, rather than Doritos and Coke.   We feel lighter and happier when we fit comfortably in our clothes, after just a few weeks of making healthier choices. So I urge you to get started cleaning out your kitchen. Let's begin with some easy how-to tips below.

 

Step One: Read the Ingredient List and Toss the Downers:

• Partially hydrogenated fat: Get rid of any food that contains partially hydrogenated fat, as they are the primary dietary source of artificial trans-fat. This artery-clogging ingredient is so bad for your body that the FDA is requiring food manufactures to remove it by June 2018 from ALL foods.
• Sugar check: Ditch foods with a lot of added sugar. The American Heart Association recommends women consume a maximum of 25 added grams a day, and men 36 added grams a day.  If the label lists high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, corn extract, or anything ending in -ose (such has fructose or sucrose) in the top five ingredients, you might want to toss it. If you must keep it, consider it a dessert or occasional treat rather than an everyday food.
• Refined grains: Throw out most of your refined and fiber-low grains such as white bread, white pasta, white rice, white flour tortillas, etc.  
• Canned soups: Dump the high sodium, high fat, high calorie soups. The American Heart Association believes a soup over 600 milligram of sodium is too high. When over-done, diets high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend we consume no more than 3,400 mg of sodium each day.
• Obvious culprits: Toss candy, sweets, potato chips, sugary cereals, fatty meat cuts, and other obvious unhealthy foods.
• Not-so-obvious culprits: Depending on your personal nutrition goals, you may consider ditching all products with fake, processed ingredients like monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulfites, sulfates, carrageenan, food dyes (like red #40), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), splenda, low-fat ingredients, fat-free ingredients, guar gum, modified food starch, "natural and artificial flavors", soy lecithin, malt extract or yeast.  

Step Two: Restock with Healthier Choices

• Fruits and vegetables: Load up your refrigerator and freezer with pre-cut, fruits and vegetables. Place them next to dips such as hummus and salsa for a quick grab and go snack.
• Smarter condiments and a variety of nuts and seeds. Try fresh salsa or hummus.
• Whole grains:  Choose breads that list either "100% whole wheat flour" or "whole wheat flour" as the FIRST ingredient.  Look for breads with two or more grams of fiber per slice.  Stock up with whole grain pastas, brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat wraps such as the Ezekiel wraps.  The National Fiber Council recommends 32 grams of fiber for a healthy adult, and the American Heart Association states 25 grams of fiber for the average 2,000 calorie diet.
• Canned or boxed soups: Stock up on soups fewer than 600 mg of sodium.  Check out brands such as Amy's Organic, Pacific Organic in a box, Healthy Choice, and Progresso.
• Cereals and oatmeal:  Use the rule of five when selecting cereal: five grams of fiber or more and five grams of sugar or less. Some good choices:  Uncle Sam Original Whole Wheat & Flaxseed Cereal, Shredded Wheat, Nature's Path Smart Bran Cereal Barbara's Puffins Original, Kashi Cereals - GO LEAN Crunch, Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal, Barbaras Multigrain Squarefuls, steel cut oats.
• Lean protein sources: Stock your cabinets with canned tuna and salmon, or choose BPA-free pouches. Choose chicken breast, fish, and ground lean turkey/beef as your go-to meats. There are also several delicious tasting black bean and other vegetarian burgers in the freezer section that make for a great meal base. When it comes to a healthy high protein Greek yogurt, FitnessMagazine.com recommends Fage Total 0% Cherry Greek Yogurt, Stonyfield Oikos 1.5% Organic Greek Raspberry, and Chobani 0% Blood Orange Greek Yogurt as some of their top choices. Stock up on eggs as well.

Some choices may be harder for you than others. For example, if you feel like the star of Hoarders, stubbornly remaining overly attached to your bag of Cheetos, I want you to relax. Spring-cleaning your 'kitchen nutrition' does not have to be an all or nothing painful task. Even small changes can grow, and motivate you to make larger changes in time. If you can't part with a particular unhealthy food, a small change might be to portion it out in individual serving baggies. Sign up for one of Pearce's upcoming nutrition classes to learn more about how you can choose foods that work for you! 

Pearce will relaunch Senior Strong, a cross training program for seniors, on May 2 . This one-hour class will feature cross-training techniques tailored to mature adults to help them gain greater strength, endurance, and flexibility to perform everyday tasks with ease. Squats will strengthen legs which will help improve ability to climb stairs and sitting to a couch or toilet; overhead press exercises
will make it easier to reach overhead to get something out of a cabinet; and stretching and mobility exercises will improve range of motion to be able to reach down and pick something up off the floor.

Senior Strong will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. beginning May 2. The cost is $37.50 per month for Foundation members; $50 per month for members; and $62.50 per month for non-members.

Challenge for Change Mini Session Begins Tomorrow!

Jenn Montgomery participated in the January session of Challenge for Change. "The class consisted of a lot of different circuits of cardio and strength training," said Jenn. "I loved it! Who'd have thought that I'd look forward to going to the gym! Thank you to Raquel for being an amazing trainer!"

Don't miss the Challenge for Change Mini Session beginning April 4!