Participants are enjoying zumba at this years Health and Fitness Festival.

What do you do in January on a beautiful seven degree day? You start moving to stay warm. This is exactly what many Rockford residents did at this year’s Health and Fitness Festival. Along with several area health professionals to offer health screenings and answer medical questions many came out for the activity as well.

The REF Zumba Fundraiser was an overwhelming success with Natalie Maj and other guest instructors keeping the energy level at an all time high.

This year’s “Dashing Through the Snow” winter run awarded Valley View elementary school the winners of the “Healthy Challenge 2010” trophy for most participants.

The overall ½ mile race winners were: Boys, Gabriel Gunneson 3:17 (Roguewood Elementary), Nolan Darby 3:18 (Meadowridge) and Ryan Blackburn 3:27 (Crestwood). Girls, Julia Scheffler 3:46 (Roguewood), Caitie Usher 3:56 (Belmont) and Megan Lindeboom 4:01 (Valley View).

Rockford Community Services would like to thank the Early Bird Running Club for their involvement in our first “Dashing Through The Snow” race as well as all of the other businesses and health care professionals that took part in this event. A special Thank You to Spartan and Meijer stores for their sponsorships.

The Rockford Education Foundation would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their silent auction and giveaway donations which lead to a successful event: Bev Thiel and Kelly Wass of YMCA, Maureen McKay of Eastern Floral and Gifts

Genesis Salon and Day Spa, Angela Mann of Hampton Inn Suites, Tip off Bar and Grill, Carrie Yandl of Arbonne, Pat and Lisa Harig, Karla Galvin , Niah Whitley and Natalie Maj

Additionally we would like to thank the instructors who participated:

Junito Moore, Natalie Maj and Stefanie Minlethaler of the YMCA; Kandi Holmstrum of Rock Hard Boot Camp and Leslie Romoni of Riverview Athletic Club.

The beginning of the new year is a time many evaluate health and fitness goals. Rockford Public Schools can help establish those goals. On Saturday, Jan. 30, Rockford Community Services (RCS) will host the third annual Health & Fitness Festival. This year’s festival is sure to be a crowd pleaser and will have something for everyone.

Kids can take the “healthy challenge” and come “Dashing Through the Snow” for a competitive half-mile run/walk to see which elementary school has the most healthy participants. First place receives a trophy that can proudly be displayed at their school. Sign up online at www.rpssignmeup.com.

Staff at RCS will join forces with the Rockford Education Foundation (REF) and Zumba instructor Natalie Maj for an exciting fitness fundraiser. Join Natalie and her fellow instructor from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as they motivate the crowd with Zumba dance instruction to help raise monies for the REF and help put resources into local classrooms and promote educational opportunities. This will be an afternoon filled with music and many exciting giveaways.

Michigan Blood Center will be on site for a blood drive in their mobile unit. The need for donors is constant and often urgent. Please consider donating. The drive will be going on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This event will have several other resources available for participants to consult healthcare professionals about medical questions, healthcare screenings, fingerprinting for the safety of the younger children, and speed and agility presentations for the serious athlete. The goal is to bring awareness to

the importance of healthy living to

the community.

The Health & Fitness Festival will be held at North Rockford Middle School from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Anyone interested in participating or booth information should call the RCS office at (616) 863-6322.

By DR. JOHN P. KLOOSTER, DDS, PLC
Belmont Denistry

There are several different approaches to bleaching or whitening your teeth. Options range from utilizing “whitening” toothpastes and take home kits to professionally having your teeth whitened at a dental office. The first thing to be aware of is that bleaching is only effective on your natural tooth structure. Crowns, fillings and other artificial teeth cannot be lightened with bleaching. This is important to realize because if you do bleach more that likely your previous dental work will appear darker than your now lighter bleached teeth. It may be necessary to replace previous work after the leaching process for a more balanced and matched look. The second thing to be aware of is that bleaching works predominately on external staining of the teeth. This includes staining or darkening as a result of smoking and/or consistent coffee or tea drinking. Internal staining caused from trauma, previous root canal therapy or developmental issues may not respond to external bleaching techniques. To lighten or bleach internal staining it may be necessary to have a specialty service called internal bleaching where bleach is placed within the tooth for a specified amount of time. This requires a dentist to place, monitor and remove the bleaching material. It also may be necessary for place a veneer or porcelain crown to ultimately achieve the shade you need to match the rest of your teeth.

Typically professional bleaching offered through your dental office will achieve tha most predictable results. It usually involves applying concentrated bleaching gels to the teeth either directly within the office or with a customized take home tray. It’s a nice route to go because the office can help to customize your care in response to your desired result. Also, if sensitivity is a concern most offices will have strategies to help to minimize and often eliminate it as a side effect.

We’d be happy to discuss with you further and exciting prospect of whitening and improving your smile! Give us a call today at (616) 284-3200 for a free consult.