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The Calvert GazetteThursday, August 23, 2012 8STORYGazette Joins ‘Calvert Can:Eat Right and Move More’ InitiativeBy Corrin M. HoweStaff WriterA change in the culture and improvedhabits are goals for a county-wide movementto positively impact the lifestyle choices ofCalvert residents.Representatives from Calvert County’sHealth Impact Council want to be the catalystfor residents to improve overall health,according to Margaret Fowler, director ofCommunity Wellness at Calvert MemorialHospital.Calvert’s United Way formed the healthimpact council with representatives from thelocal government, businesses, schools andnon-profit agencies to address findings ofa 2010 Maryland Behavioral Risk SurveillanceSystem. According to the United Waypress release, the survey found that 73 percentof Calvert County adults are overweightor obese and 60 percent of county residentsdo not meet the daily recommended 30minutes of moderate exercise.The impact council’s goal is tospread the message throughout otheragencies and businesses that “CalvertCan: Eat Right and MoveMore.”The Calvert Gazettehas taken up thechallenge and willrun regular storiesabout the initiativestarting with thissummary of the genesisand the goals ofthe program.Calvert MemorialHospital, withlocal partners, receivedEAT RIGHTMOVE MOREGazetteCalverta grant to provide free and low-cost fitnessand nutrition programs to populations mostat risk, which will benefit an estimated 500residents.“We want our programs to be easy andaccessible so that ‘Calvert Can Eat Right,Move More’ becomes part of our culture,”Fowler said.Jennifer Moreland, director of UnitedWay Impact Councils, adds, “A lot of theseprograms already existed. We just neededsomeone to be able to pull them all togetherinto a resource center.”The grant requires tracking metrics toprove the program’s success in impacting theoverall trends during the next five years, saidMoreland. The trends should show loweringthe average weight of residents and increasingthe number of adults and children meetingthe daily minimum exercises levels.Calvert Can, an abbreviated name forthe campaign, is beginning to hit its stride asstaff work through obstacles and brainstormnew ways to “transform the county into aculture of wellness,” Fowler said.For example, the citizens can signupfor an online “interactive reportcard/food suggestions system poweredby Vitabot.” The programstates that “nutrition is muchmore than just counting calories.This patent-pendingsystem finds nutritional deficienciesin your daily mealplan,and then uses yourfavorite foods to helpyou correct them.”Fowler saidthat using the programhas provenoverwhelming for somebecause scientists and engineers for the astronautprogram developed it. So an idea formaking the program more accessible to theaverage citizen is to have the person writedown what they eat for 3 to 14 days and bringit into the Wellness Center. Someone will enterthe data and help the citizen learn how toinput their own meals.“Most people eat pretty much the samethings, so once we get it started, it should beeasier for them to maintain,” said Fowler.Another part of the program is to getresidents moving more. One piece is called“Walk Off Weight,” an eight-week challengewhich can begin at any time. Thoseinterested can download a 32-page PDF(www.calverthospital.org/body.cfm?id=729)of tips, sample stretches, a log and 13 suggestedwalking locations within the county.Call 410-535-8233 to find out where a localWOW station is nearby to weigh and recorddistances anonymously.Future ideas to involve the entire communityinclude talking to local restaurantsabout including a Calvert Can: Eat Right,Move More logo on healthy meal choices,mapping out “count your quarters” trails, andsponsoring a local Biggest Loser contest, accordingto Fowler.The first contest is tentatively scheduledto begin in the fall.Other programs include getting othersinvolved.“We’d like different sized businesses tohave “challenges” within their companies,making “wellness part of their business culture.”Fowler said.Fowler said they are hoping that localbusiness will be willing to donate money andin-kind gifts in the future since grant moneywill run out eventually. One way a companyLocal Man Loses 220 Poundscould help is to pay for the time and expenseof running the online meal suggestion program.Right now the program is free to Calvertcitizens, but in the future, the programmay be forced to charge a small fee to coverthe operating expenses.“Count Your Quarters” signs will beginpopping up all over the county soon. Thesesigns will mark quarter mile increments indesignated areas such as Town Centers.“The idea is that as someone is in thecenter buying groceries or eating dinner, theywill see the signs and remember they haven’twalked their 30 minutes yet. The route is alreadymapped out for them and they can walkby four signs and satisfy their daily exerciserequirement,” Fowler said.Businesses can donate these signsand even have areas around their businessmarked out.Churches, daycares, home-schoolgroups, non-profits and more are invited tocall and ask about Community Care Coordinatorsto come to their location and tell themmore. Fowler said at a community presentationabout the program, a Mom’s group approachedher about learning more.The primary way to address heart disease,diabetes and other health issues is totackle weight management and lack of exercise,according to Moreland.“Small steps make big changes. All youhave to do is take the first step,” said Fowler.Keep picking up the Calvert Gazette tolearn more about the county-wide initiative,including more programs available to thepublic, regular updates on progress and futuresuccess stories.corrin@somdpublishing.netBy Corrin M. HoweStaff WriterIn March 2012, Merrill “Monk” Wellsleft for the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu,having won a month stay through a Facebook“Year of You” contest. During that five weekshe lost 67 pounds, and since he’s returned anadditional 50.From his heaviest point, Wells has lost220 pounds, but he still has 90 pounds to goto meet his goal.“Since I’ve been back, I’ve had myup days and down days. When I was at theBiggest Loser Resort I didn’t have to worryabout work, family or paying bills. But now Iremind myself to take one step at a time, oneday at a time,” Wells said.Wells was the top vote getter in the onlinecontest using his message, “FirefighterSaving Own Life.” About 20 months ago, hewent in for knee surgery and discovered hewas over 500 pounds. He didn’t know howmuch over because the scale only went to500. He decided to take control of his life forhis son Mason’s sake. He wanted to live longenough to watch Mason grow up.Since returning, Wells said he’s hadmany small accomplishments which makehim feel good about himself, in control of hislife and motivated to keep on working. Mostrecently he said he went to a ballgame anddidn’t have to worry about whether or nothe’d fit in the seat.“I know where I am going to fail. I loveto go to ballgames, but instead of eatingthere, I packed a lunch and water bottles andI didn’t feel hungry.”The highlight of his time away at theresort was to be able to focus on himself. Atypical day began at 4:35 a.m. when he wasrequired to work-out until 8 a.m. At that pointthe residents had to go on timed walks.“Straight up a mountain or on the beachuntil 11:30. We had 30 minutes to clean upand get to class which was more work-outson machines, like the treadmill, in the poolor aerobics.”Lunch was followed by sessions learninghow to eat, count calories and cook. Thenback to the machines,dinnerand lecturesuntil 8 p.m. Itwas that wayevery day exceptSaturdaywhere it wasthe same until1 p.m. “Thenwe’d get ourbutts kicked inMonk Wells and his son, Jason.obstacle coursesfor an hour and a half.”Sunday was weigh-in.Wells admits the last few weeks hehasn’t being hitting his program hard. He’sneither gained nor lost weight. He’s in theprocess of trying to juggle his work schedule,family and coaching football and make timefor exercise.The worst part about being away thosefive weeks was missing Mason. However,Wells said that Mason inspired him to keepgoing.“I had a picture of him on a key chainaround my neck all the time except for whenI was sleeping or showering. If I started to getdiscouraged, I’d look down at his face.”Wells said that he wants to support anyonestruggling to lose weight. He couldn’t doit without all the support he’s received. “I’llfriend anyone on Facebook who wants to talkto me about how I’m doing it.”He also has a blog at http://monkwells.blogspot.com/corrin@somdpublishing.net
9 Thursday, August 23, 2012The Calvert GazetteGuest EditorialOf All The Problems in the World,Maryland is Fixated on Gambling and Pit Bulls?By Marta Hummel MossburgMaryland politics is like a badly dubbedmovie where actors' mouths move out ofsync with the sound.Big debates are happening in the nationabout big issues, including what it means tobe an American and how to pay for our wayof life.President Barack Obama ignited a firestormin the media and in homes around thecountry last month when he said, "you didn'tbuild that," giving credit to government forentrepreneurs' success. Voters in San Diegoand San Jose, Calif. dramatically slashedpreviously sacrosanct government employeepensions by overwhelming margins in Juneto help keep their cities solvent. Thousandslined up at Chick-fil-As around the nationto show appreciation for a company someprominent national politicians said theywanted to block from their cities becauseits founder believes in traditional marriage.And Republican presidential candidate MittRomney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan as avice presidential running mate means theeconomy, national debt and the future of entitlementprograms will be at the center ofpolitical debate in the remaining time beforethe election.But you wouldn't know it living here.Gov. Martin O'Malley is still blaming formerPresident George W. Bush for the Great Recessionon national television like a wind-uptoy. And he called legislators into a specialsession — supposedly a prerogative reservedfor emergencies — to debate whether to expandgambling.And while legislators are at it, they alsodebated how to handle liability for pit bullattacks and other issues of alleged consummateimportance to the future of Maryland.It is as if the governor and legislators are busyplanning a bachelor party for a wedding thathas been called off.This is a state that thousands leave eachyear. Thousands more flee high-tax, highregulationcounties including Baltimore Cityand Montgomery County for more hospitableplaces like Frederick, Carroll, and HarfordCounties. It's a state that has been losingjobs for 4 months in a row despite the previouslyimpenetrable backstop of the federalgovernment.And this is a state whose pension system— which the Pew Center on the Statesranks as one of the worst-funded in the nation— earned a .36 percent return over thepast year, and 5 percent over the past decadewhile predicting an annual 7.75 percent return.In fact, the pension system board is soconfident in its projections, members votedin July to affirm that rate of return despiteall evidence it is as impossible to achieve asdisgraced financier Bernie Madoff's fakeperpetual profits.Those are issues worthy of a specialsession, not least because a growing numberof cities around the country are consideringbankruptcy to escape overwhelming publicPublisherThomas McKayAssociate Publisher Eric McKayEditorSean RiceGraphic Artist Angie StalcupOffice Manager Tobie PulliamAdvertising sales@somdpublishing.netEmailinfo@somdpublishing.netPhone 301-373-4125Staff WritersGuy LeonardSarah MillerCorrin HoweAlex PanosLETTERSLaw EnforcementGovernment, EducationCommunity, BusinessStaff Writerto theEditoremployee pension burdens. Three in Californiaalone have declared bankruptcy sincelate June. And high-tax states includingCalifornia and New York are hemorrhagingpeople just when they need new jobs and thetaxes generated by them to dig them out ofchronic deficits.Governor O'Malley denies these areproblems. Instead, he blames the Bureauof Labor Statistics for faulty jobs numbers."With all our economic indicators demonstratingpositive trends, we would not be surprisedif the Bureau of Labor Statistics onceagain significantly revises these preliminarynumbers," he said in a July news release. Healso personally attacked Larry Hogan ofChange Maryland for publishing federal datashowing people migrating out of Maryland,but he did not address why people are leaving.Ridiculing the messenger may be goodpolitics. But it will not improve the job prospectsfor those living in a state still strugglingto return to pre-recession employment.And while gambling may increase employmentslightly in Maryland, it will notimprove state finances unless the governorand legislators stop promising to spend morethan the tax base can support. Until then,expanded gambling is just one more falsemessiah waiting to be proven wrong by nextyear's budget.Marta Hummel Mossburg is a senior fellowat the Maryland Public Policy Institute.Your Online Community For Charles,Calvert, and St. Mary’s Countieswww.somd.comDeadlines for Classifiedsare Tuesday at 12 pm.To Place a Classified Ad, please email your adto: info@somdpublishing.net or Call: 301-373-4125 or Fax: 301-373-4128 for a price quote. Officehours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm.The Calvert Gazette is published each Thursday.ClassifiedsReal Estate RentalsPriced to Sell !!!!! . High End Island Cottagelocated in the heart of Solomons Island.Fully Restored Like New !!!! Stainless SteelKitchen !!, Amazing Master Suite !!, GasFireplace !!, New carpet!!, New HVAC unit!!- Please call 443 -975 9292. Price: $335,000.Real Estate RentalsThis spacious, well-maintained, move-inready home is located in the desirable Lusbyneighborhood of White Sands. This homeincludes: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, living room,large finished walkout basement with bar andhalf bath, dining area off of the kitchen, new33’ x 16’ deck, and shed situated on 1.5 acrewooded lot in a quiet cul-de-sac. Laminatefloors throughout living area with carpetedbedrooms and basement. Brand new indoorand outdoor HVAC units and washer/dryer.20 minute commute to NAS Pax River.Subject to credit/reference check. Renter’sinsurance is required. Call (301)-848-1422 oremail: Timcayers51@aol.com. Rent: $1800.VehiclesFor Sale: ‘96 F150 XLT 5.0L AUTOMATIC.136k Miles. Runs great. Very clean, two-tone.Power locks and windows. Cold A/C. Call orText (240) 538-1914 for details or pictures.EmploymentSAGE Dining Services is seekingexperienced cook candidates for a privateschool food service operation in Leonardtown.Excellent hours, benefits available. Mustcleanly pass a drug and background check.Please call 301-475-2814 x442or email your resume/contact informationto acaruso@sagedining.comBy Appt. OnlyImportantThe Calvert Gazette will not be held responsible forany ads omitted for any reason. The Calvert Gazettereserves the right to edit or reject any classified ad notmeeting the standards of The Calvert Gazette. It is yourresponsiblity to check the ad on its first publication andcall us if a mistake is found. We will correct your ad onlyif notified after the first day the first publication ran.Contributing WritersJoyce BakiKeith McGuireSusan ShawSherrod SturrockCalvert GazetteP. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636Theresa Windsortheresa@coletravel.biz46924 Shangri-La Drive Lexington Park, MD 20653Let me plan your next vacation!301-863-9497The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of CalvertCounty. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper ispublished by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, andpolicies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse anyproduct or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signedand may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims madeby its advertisers.
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