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Versatile Deploys SyncSeer(TM) Solution to Summit Health

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:10:06 +0000

MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, Jun 29, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –Versatile Systems Inc. /quotes/comstock/11v!vv (CA:VV 0.10, +0.01, +11.76%) (AIM: VVS), today announcedthat Summit Health has implemented Versatile’s proprietarySyncSeer(TM) Asset Tracking and Temperature Monitoring solution athospitals in Waynesboro and Chambersburg, PA.

Utilizing both wired and wireless temperature probes and tags,SyncSeer(TM) provides a unique solution that allows the use of thebest sensor technology from several vendors. Automating previouslymanual processes allows staff additional time to focus on patientcare while meeting regulatory compliance mandates.

“As the primary healthcare provider for Franklin County, we havemany pieces of equipment and storage units that must be monitored fortemperature changes,” said Sam Shatzer, Vice President ofInformation Systems for Summit Health. “The solution offered bySyncSeer(TM) has allowed us to automate our manual processes, savingour staff valuable time. we will now receive real time alerts ontemperature issues. the alerts help to eliminate the potential ofdamaging tissues or medications due to temperature issues.”

Summit Health reaches across greater Franklin County to providehealth care services in areas previously underserved. the non-profitparent organization of Chambersburg Hospital and Waynesboro Hospital,Summit Health is the region’s primary health care provider andlargest non-governmental employer.

SyncSeer(TM) manages and monitors temperature sensors at hospitals tohelp maintain compliance with regulatory authorities. the system canbe used for monitoring refrigerators, freezers, blanket warmers,dishwashers, and mobile carts – any piece of equipment wheretemperature consistency is critical. the system replaces the timeconsuming and error prone manual system currently in place at manyhospitals. SyncSeer(TM) automatically generates an alert when atemperature sensitive item deviates from a predetermined temperaturerange. Temperature readings can be taken as often as every minuteevery 12 hours or any point in between. all readings are maintainedwithin the system. This allows detailed reports to be generated,providing a forensic trail to regulatory compliance.

“Summit Health has a history of being an innovator in the healthcare field. By incorporating a solution like SyncSeer(TM) into theirsuite, Summit continues to show leadership in application oftechnology,” said Bob Joyce, President, Versatile Systems Inc.”In addition, SyncSeer(TM) positions Summit Health to takeadvantage of many data sets beyond temperature, including Real TimeLocation Services (RTLS) and Voice over IP (VOIP). By automatingroutine operations, caregivers at Summit Health can focus on patientcare, which is what really matters.”

About Summit Health

Summit Health, the parent organization of Chambersburg and Waynesborohospitals, is dedicated to building a healthier community throughleading-edge medical technology, skilled physicians, caring staff,and convenient locations. Summit Health’s comprehensive selection ofservices and providers includes family physicians, surgeons,specialists, diagnostic services, a women’s health center, a fitnesscenter, and two award-winning hospitals. For more information aboutSummit Health, call (717) 267-3000 or visit www.SummitHealth.org.

About Versatile

Versatile provides business solutions that enable companies toimprove sales, marketing and distribution of their products.Versatile also provides information technology services for theimplementation, maintenance and security of mission-critical computerenvironments. Versatile has the ability to architect solutionsinvolving both proprietary and third party components. For moreinformation: www.versatile.com.

About SyncSeer(TM)

Versatile’s SyncSeer(TM) is an Intelligent Event Processing dataaggregation solution. a highly specialized tool, SyncSeer(TM)distinguishes itself with the ability to collect data across theenterprise, analyze it (using complex event processing technology andspatial analysis), and intelligently generate critical alerts andactions based on configurable workflow.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements relating toVersatile’s operations or to the environment in which it operates,which are based on Versatile’s operations, estimates, forecasts andprojections. these statements are not guarantees of futureperformance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult topredict or are beyond Versatile’s control. a number of importantfactors including those set forth in other public filings could causeactual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressedin these forward-looking statements. consequently, readers should notplace any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Inaddition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date onwhich they are made. Versatile disclaims any intention or obligationto update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as aresult of new information, future events or otherwise.

All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the AIM market of the London StockExchange have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for theadequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:Versatile Systems Inc.John HardyChairman and CEO1-800-262-1633 or International: 001-206-979-6760Versatile Systems Inc.Fraser AtkinsonCFO1-800-262-1633 or International: 001-206-979-6760www.versatile.com

SOURCE: Versatile Systems Inc.

http://www.versatile.com

Versatile Deploys SyncSeer(TM) Solution to Summit Health

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Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:10:06 +0000

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Foursquare keeps friends on same path

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:10:07 +0000

By Zachary Kaufman

Hoshino checks in outside LA Fitness in Hazel Dell using the location-based social media platform Foursquare.

Calling someone a “gym rat” can either be a compliment or an indictment of their priorities. Either way, it’s an intangible. In the world of Foursquare, however, “gym rat” is a literal badge of honor people work hard to earn.

Foursquare is a way of staying in touch with friends, as well as a game and a marketing tool, and it’s all about location.

how to use Foursquare

Foursquare allows users to share their whereabouts with friends, access special deals from participating businesses and accumulate points and badges as they patronize locations. People can choose to link their Foursquare accounts to their Facebook and Twitter pages.

Foursquare is free to use, and there are several ways to check in on the location-based social media platform.

Foursquare offers applications for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android. There are applications for Windows Mobile, Palm Pre, Nokia Symbian and iPad devices as well that have been developed by third parties. The global-positioning system chips in smart phones enable Foursquare to determine users’ locations.

People also can check in on the mobile Foursquare website (http://m.foursqua…). currently, this works from computers as well as cell phone Web browsers, though that could change in the future, said Foursquare public relations manager Erin Gleason.

Foursquare users in the United States can check in by texting a message such as “@ Esther Short Park” to 5055.

Some businesses offer specials for Foursquare users. to find participating businesses in a particular area, go to http://4squareoff…>

To learn more about Foursquare, go to http://www.foursq…>

Foursquare tracks users of its free, location-based social networking platform via the global-positioning system chips in their smart phones. Foursquare aficionados accumulate points by using their phones to check in on Foursquare from various places.

Enough points can translate into badges or even mayorships. Foursquare also allows people to track where their friends are and access specials from participating businesses.

Noland Hoshino was so happy to earn his Foursquare gym rat badge for visiting a fitness center 10 times in a month that he bought a physical badge to put on his real-world messenger bag.

He found the gym rat badge on http://www.nerdmeritbadges.com, a website that sells badges for Foursquare users as well as others wanting to tout various technological and intellectual achievements.

Hoshino also has on his bag the jet-setter badge (for checking in at five airports), the local badge (for being at the same place three times in a week) and the super mayor badge (for holding down 10 mayorships at once).

“It’s geeky,” laughed Hoshino, a 45-year-old Vancouver resident and co-owner and president of the social media consulting firm [B]cause Media.

But Hoshino is more than just a gym rat at the Hazel Dell LA Fitness where he works out. He’s currently “mayor” of the gym because he has checked in there more days over the past 60 days than any other Foursquare user. It’s good motivation to exercise because the mayorship is a transitory honor Hoshino works hard to defend.

“For someone to take it away from me, I’d be upset. I’d come here more often,” he said.

Foursquare isn’t the only location-based social network, but it’s the most popular, Hoshino said. The competition includes Gowalla, Brightkite, Loopt, MyTown, Yelp, Whrrl and Plancast. There also are platforms such as CauseWorld that add a charitable-giving component.

Foursquare and other location-based social networks are a relatively new phenomenon. The new York City-headquartered Foursquare launched at the 2009 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. It currently has more than 1.7 million users checking in nearly 1 million times per day. It’s adding between 12,000 and 15,000 users a day.

This spring Foursquare users in cities around the world checked in all at once on April 16 in honor of Foursquare Day. Fans converged at Whiffies Fried Pies at Cartopia in Southeast Portland between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. for a “SuperSwarm” party. People who attended earned a special badge commemorating the occasion.

It’s nowhere near as ubiquitous as Facebook, which, six years after its founding, has more than 400 million active users, but Foursquare is gaining momentum.

Hoshino attended this year’s South by Southwest, and said that Foursquare was the topic on everyone’s mind.

“There wasn’t a single conversation that didn’t involve Foursquare,” he said.

Business, pleasure

The competitive aspect of Foursquare is a major part of its appeal, but it serves several additional purposes. For one, it allows people to see whether their friends are nearby and, if they choose, to meet up with them.

“I can connect with friends and see where they are, and I can choose to join them at the pub, or I can live vicariously,” said Greg Shine, a Foursquare user from Portland and chief ranger and historian for Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

Shine, 42, added Fort Vancouver as a Foursquare location. he noticed people checking in at the Brigade Encampment and the grand opening of the Historic Village last weekend.

He also encouraged management at the nearby Grant House to add the restaurant to Foursquare. Grant House currently offers a free dessert to Foursquare users checking in there for the first time.

The promotion has been going on for the past couple of months, and several people have taken advantage of it, said Jessica DeRoest, event coordinator at The Grant House.

“If people are checking in at your restaurant and it’s going out to their friends, then it’s nice to thank them by giving them a little bonus,” she said.

The Grant House is one of a handful of local businesses with specials for Foursquare users. At Starbucks here and nationwide, for example, people who are mayor of a particular Starbucks can get $1 off a frappuccino at that location through Monday.

Foursquare’s business offerings are a big part of what attracted Hoshino to the network. as a social media consultant, he’s helped clients such as World Cup Coffee & Tea in Northwest Portland come up with special deals for Foursquare users. these specials can motivate people to frequent particular establishments, and when they do, their Foursquare friends hear about it. People also get alerts when they check in somewhere and a nearby location is offering a special.

If businesses in downtown Vancouver are able to harness the power of Foursquare, it could be a boon for the area, said Dene Grigar, associate professor and program director of digital technology and culture at Washington State University Vancouver.

Grigar, a 55-year-old Vancouver resident, has been experimenting with Foursquare since she got her iPhone in January. she takes advantage of the tips feature to leave suggestions for her Foursquare friends. she might encourage them to try Woody’s Tacos in downtown Vancouver or Sunday dinner at Lapellah, one of Chef Brad Root’s Vancouver restaurants. Foursquare also has a to-do function that allows people to leave notes to themselves about things to try and places to visit.

In addition to Foursquare’s potential benefits to local businesses and consumers, it’s also a fun game, Grigar said.

Grigar has enjoyed amassing mayorships at a number of locations, including City Hall.

“I should send (Vancouver Mayor) Tim Leavitt a note telling him about that,” she joked.

Competitive spirit

Grigar has fun competing against students for mayorship of WSUV locations. One such student, Aaron May, was her fiercest rival for the overall mayorship of campus. May recalled one week where the title kept being passed back and forth between the two of them before he usurped Grigar.

“That was entertaining,” said May, a senior majoring in digital technology and culture. he recently lost the title of WSUV mayor to a friend because he’s not taking summer classes.

May, a 25-year-old Vancouver resident, said he finds the process of accumulating points on Foursquare “addictive,” but that the platform is more than a game for him. he enjoys using Foursquare to explore new places and see which businesses are offering special deals nearby.

It’s also a good way to connect with friends at crowded events. May, Grigar and Hoshino all said they use Foursquare to meet up with friends at various galleries during First Friday Art Walk in downtown Vancouver. if people go to enough galleries (10, to be exact), they can score the Warhol badge on Foursquare.

In addition to meeting up with existing friends, Hoshino has actually met new friends through Foursquare. when he sees someone who’s mayor of a lot of places he goes, he sometimes sends that person a Foursquare friend request and strikes up a conversation. Sometimes those friendships in the virtual world even translate to the real world, he added.

Getting connected

There are several ways to connect with people through Foursquare. Depending on one’s user settings, check-ins can be communicated not just to Foursquare friends but also to Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

People also can use Foursquare’s “shout” function to send messages of 140 characters or less to their friends, either about a location where they’re checking in or just a general comment. Additionally, users can opt to receive “pings,” or notifications of friends’ check-ins.

Unless someone chooses to check in “off the grid,” meaning only to accumulate points and not to share that information with even Foursquare friends, then using the social network does come with some degree of risk.

Publicizing check-ins can put one’s person and property in jeopardy because it alerts others to where they are and the fact that their home is unattended, Grigar said. The website http://pleaserobme.com drove home this point by aggregating publicly shared check-ins to “rais(e) awareness about over-sharing.”

Because of the intimate nature of the information revealed by check-ins, many users are more particular about whom they accept as Foursquare friends than they are with other social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

As a matter of safety, Grigar has only about 40 Foursquare friends, compared to nearly 500 Facebook pals. she encourages people to be choosy about who they share check-in information with.

“It’s very personal stuff,” Grigar said.

Foursquare officials say that privacy is a top priority, which is why Foursquare allows people to choose whether they want to share check-in information with friends, and whether they want to publish their Foursquare activity to their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

“We take our users’ privacy very seriously, and we protect their information by making our sharing features opt-in,” said Foursquare public relations manager Erin Gleason.

That level of user control is one of the great things about Foursquare, Hoshino said.

“You make it your own,” he said.

Time will tell whether Foursquare is more than a passing fad. Hoshino, for one, thinks it has lasting power.

“I think geolocation is here to stay,” he said.

Mary Ann Albright: maryann.albright@columbian.com, 360-735-4507.

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Foursquare keeps friends on same path

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Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:00:07 +0000

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The Post and Courier – Hip-hop fitness – Charleston SC …

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:00:09 +0000

With its cul-de-sacs, neotraditional architecture and manicured lawns, Daniel Island isn’t exactly a hotbed of hip-hop culture.

Photo by David Quick

Nicole Evans, 26, of Mount Pleasant takes a moment to laugh at herself while learning dance steps at the hip-hop exercise class.

Photo by David Quick

Angel Roberts started the hip-hop exercise class more than two years ago and now holds it at three larger locations on Daniel Island, James Island and West Ashley.

if you go

What: Hip-hop adult classes.

When: 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the Daniel Island Middle School gym, 2365 Daniel Island Drive; 8 p.m. Tuesdays at James Island Recreation Center, 1088 Quail Drive; and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Bees Landing Recreation Complex, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd.

Cost: $10 per session.

Contact: www.peacelovehiphop.com.

Photo by David Quick

The hip-hop exercise class not only includes learning an original dance and dancing, but cardio, strength exercises and stretching — all in an hour and a half filled with music.

But a former costume designer from Los Angeles is tapping into beat-heavy music for a group exercise class that seems to have struck a chord with a mostly suburban mom crowd.

Like hip-hop itself, the class evolved in a very natural, grassroots way.

Angel Roberts, a Myrtle Beach native who spent 12 years in L.a., learned hip-hop dancing when she was a student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was teaching inner-city youths dance at a nearby Boys & Girls Club. They ended up teaching her hip-hop, an interest she kept while living in L.a.

Roberts moved to Daniel Island in July 2006 and six months later started teaching hip-hop to children at a small ballet studio on Daniel Island. Their moms loved what their children were doing and asked if Roberts would create a class for them. when she did, she emphasized exercise, incorporating elements of cardio,strength and flexibility, in what she calls “Peace Love Hip Hop” classes.

“I wanted to provide a full-on experience of a dance class but also incorporate exercise,” says Roberts. “I wanted to make it worth them getting a baby sitter for a few hours.”

The class started with 10-12 and grew exponentially.

In 2008, she struck a deal with the Charleston Recreation Department to use the gym at Daniel Island Middle School and started packing it with 60 people, overwhelmingly women.

She has expanded adult classes to the James Island Recreation Center and most recently to the Bees Landing Recreation Complex, in addition to keeping classes for children on Daniel Island and in Hanahan.

Roberts creates a new, original dance routine to teach in each session.

But besides the dance, she weaves in elements of sustained cardio, such as warm-ups that involve jogging and walking lunges, plyometric drills emphasizing high heart rates and strength, exercises that tap into core strengthening and yoga moves that involve flexibility.

Participants not only sweat and breathe heavily, but many also smile and laugh.

Nancy Abercrombie, 42, of Mount Pleasant has been participating in the hip-hop classes once or twice a week for nearly two years. She says it’s partly because the class is always different and partly because of Roberts herself.

“She’s got a contagious enthusiasm. without being like a cheerleader, she makes you want to work out. I feel great after every class,” says Abercrombie, who has two children and works part time for the Center for Birds of Prey.

Like others, Abercrombie also likes that Roberts only charges on a per-class basis, a $10 fee, instead of making participants pay for a series of classes or for a membership.

“My favorite part, though, is that she always comes up with a new routine. I’ve been to aerobics classes that are the same, over and over, and by the time you’ve done five of them, you feel like you could teach them yourself. her classes are always fresh and new.”

Reach David Quick at 937-5516 or dquick@postandcourier.com.

The Post and Courier – Hip-hop fitness – Charleston SC …

Luxe Living without the Crowds at Riviera Maya's Paraiso de la …

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:10:17 +0000

Five-Diamond Paraiso de la Bonita, a 90-suite beachfront oasis, offers supreme value up to 27% for those seeking the utmost in luxe living without the crowds from April 14 to October 31, 2007. Rates start at $695 per night based on double occupancy for an Ocean View Suite (compared to peak season rates of $920). the Lover’s Suite with private plunge pool and outside shower start at $960 per night (compared to $1,320). For a truly luxe living experience, the Master Suite with Plunge Pool starts at $1,175 per night for four (compared to $1,620) featuring 1,830 sq. ft of space, two master bedrooms and two bathrooms with a sunken bath for two. Bedrooms and living room open onto a large private terrace with plunge pool and double sun lounger. For reservations, contact

+52 (998) 872 8330 or www.paraisodelabonita.com.

Resort activities include an on-property tennis court, windsurfing equipment and kayaks, which are all complimentary to guests. the Thalasso Center, the only certified Thalasso Spa in North America, is a must for spa aficionados. the 16-room spa, housed in 22,000 sq. feet, uses seawater, marine algae and marine mud for body treatments. Rates include round-trip airport transfers in the resort’s private fleet of Lincoln Navigators; daily a la carte breakfast; an in-suite bottle of tequila and a designer beach bag per room. Complimentary use of the Thalasso Spa facilities including whirlppol, sauna, steam-room, sea-water hydrotherapy pool and 24-hour fitness center are included. Taxes and service charges are additional.

Created by owner, Carlos Gosselin, in homage to his wife, Elisa Gosselin, Paraiso de la Bonita (Paradise of the Beautiful) lies beachfront amidst 14 acres leading into the Caribbean Sea. the AAA Five Diamond property, which is well known for its dramatic architecture and striking use of color, features ninety ocean view suites, approximately 1,130 square feet in size, with large, private outdoor terraces (some with plunge pools); living rooms; and marble bathrooms with sunken bathtubs for two . Each of the suites is individually decorated with unusual fabrics, sculpture and antique treasures sourced by Carlos and Elisa during their travels to the Mediterranean, India, Africa, Bali, China and the Caribbean. Suites are named after geographic locations such as: Antigua, Jaipur, KwaZulu and Marbella and feature Bulgari amenities and an in-suite Tequila service.

The Thalasso Center Spa features the only certified Thalassotherapy Spa in North America, and offers a warm water hydrotherapy pool, outdoor aqua gym, fitness center, beauty salon, daily Pilates and Yoga and ‘Temazcal’, a Mayan-inspired sauna. ‘La Canoa’ restaurant offers fine dining. Afternoon tea with home baked pastries and ‘Madeleines’ is served daily at the ‘Birds Lounge’ as a complimentary treat for guests and the resort provides a never-ending supply of gourmet ‘Iced Tea of the Day’ with a new flavor for every day of the week. the second largest reef in the world is located directly in front of the property, offering guests world-class snorkeling and scuba opportunities.

Paraiso is only 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport by the property’s own fleet of air conditioned, White Lincoln Navigators, with chilled towels, iced water and individual CD menu. Cancun and Playa del Carmen are 30 minutes by road in either direction. www.paraisodelabonita.com

Tania PalafoxKWE Group

Luxe Living without the Crowds at Riviera Maya's Paraiso de la …

Gilyard: LA Fitness Story: Who are those guys?

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:00:06 +0000

a few months ago, I was trying to put together a story about the local expansion of the LA Fitness chain.

The company intrigued me. not because I exercise. I really don’t exercise.

They intrigued me as a business story. During the consistently sluggish economy over the last few years, the company has clearly been expanding at a rapid clip in the Twin Cities.

The Irvine, Calif.-based LA Fitness International LLC now operates a dozen local clubs and recently opened up in the refurbished Calhoun Square retail center in the Uptown area of south Minneapolis.

I was also intrigued by the company’s seemingly open-minded and creative approach to real estate decisions. They’ve gone into former industrial sites (in Edina and Roseville), a former car dealership (in St. Louis Park) and a former Mervyn’s store (in the Midway area of St. Paul).

And these are not small, hole-in-the-wall operations. The St. Louis Park location, for example, is about 48,000 square feet.

They have opened both suburban and urban locations.

Richfield-based best buy co. does not have a single retail store within the city limits of Minneapolis or St. Paul, its own backyard. but LA Fitness has a location in each city.

As Butch said to Sundance: “Who are those guys?”

I briefly labored under the delusion that an expanding company would be more than happy to talk to me about their growth and why they liked the Twin Cities market.

I quickly learned that the company had no interest whatsoever in talking to me — or even returning my calls. I further gleaned that anyone who even remotely does business with LA Fitness also had no interest in being anywhere near me.

I made a lot of phone calls and didn’t have much to show for my efforts. Somewhere along the way, the story got set aside.

But then a few months later, LA Fitness suddenly wanted my attention.

They sent me a brief note — to my home address, no less. they wanted me to drop by for a visit.

OK, I’ll admit that it was an impersonal piece of direct mail. The glossy, outsize postcard touted the opening of the new Uptown location. “Come and check out our new location!” the postcard blared.

What? I thought that this was supposed to be a big secret. and now they want everyone in town to know?

I had to chuckle. Sooner or later, the story always comes out.

Gilyard: LA Fitness story: who are those guys?

BodyScapes fitness chain opens third full-service center in Hingham

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:10:30 +0000

The growing BodyScapes chain has picked the former Hingham shipyard to open its third full-service fitness center. More than 30 full-time and part-time employees work at the 8,700-square-foot BodyScapes Fitness location, which opened last month at The Launch at Hingham Shipyard. In addition to the three full-service gyms, the Newton-based BodyScapes chain includes 13 One2One BodyScapes personal-training studios.

First-time franchise co-owner Gregg Cohen is confident the new BodyScapes center will do well. So far, the Hingham gym has nearly 80 members, and Cohen said he expects to sign about 500 members this year.

All memberships in Hingham include two free personal training sessions. As a summer promotion, the memberships will also include a pilates session with Lisa Johnson, owner of the Modern Pilates chain.

Johnson runs four pilates studios in BodyScapes locations, such as the new one in Hingham. Participation in Modern Pilates classes doesn’t require a BodyScapes membership. Johnson, who has been a pilates instructor since 1998, found that BodyScapes had a laid-back approach to getting fit, one that complimented her own style.

Having taught at several gyms in the past, Zoomba instructor Lena Andrade said the atmosphere at BodyScapes sets it apart. “It’s very relaxing, not all about membership and pressure to join,” Andrade said. “I saw that, even as an instructor.”

A grand opening celebration of the new facility is set for Saturday. Modern Pilates will hold training sessions and offer discounts on training packages.

The fitness center is among a number of tenants that have leased space at The Launch since the shopping center opened about a year ago. Others include Patriot Cinemas, Old Navy, Fresh Market, Petco, Curves, Bed Bath & Beyond and Eastern Mountain Sports.

Shaunna Gately may be reached at sgately@ledger.com.

BodyScapes fitness chain opens third full-service center in Hingham

CRUNCH Gym to Host Ailey Dance Fitness Class Today

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:00:07 +0000

As the dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater prepare for inspiring performances at BAM beginning June 10th, join former company member and Ailey School instructor, Tracy Inman, at CRUNCH Fort Greene on Monday June 7th at 7:30pm as he teaches a Horton group fitness class. The Horton technique, Ailey’s signature technique and featured in Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations, is designed to strengthen, stretch, and fortify the body, and known to develop a strong and lean physique, exemplified by the Ailey dancers.

CRUNCH will offer gym members a 15% Family Matinee discount to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s upcoming performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Discounts will be honored for Saturday matinees from June 12th to June 19th. for more information or to purchase tickets visit www.BAM.org.

Horton is one of the 25 dance and fitness techniques offered daily at The Ailey Extension. for a schedule of classes offered visit www.aileyextension.com. for two free classes and discounts on class cards during National Dance Week-NYC June 5-14, 2010, visit www.ndw-nyc.org.

Crunch is a health club chain that leads the industry in fusing fitness and entertainment. since opening our doors in 1989, our mission has been to make working out a good time. Today, we are renowned for creating one-of-a-kind group fitness programs and innovative and unique workouts. often cited as the gym with the “best classes,” Crunch has raised the bar for the entire fitness industry.

Crunch is based in new York City and serves over 60,000 members with locations in new York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles and we’re still expanding to keep up with the demand. Go to www.crunch.com for more information.

CRUNCH Gym to Host Ailey Dance Fitness Class Today

Passport to Fitness kicks off

Sat, 29 May 2010 19:10:04 +0000

By Russ Corey
Staff Writer

Alabama’s Passport to Fitness trails program is obviously geared toward improving people’s health, but it also can be a vehicle that will attract people to cities such as Sheffield and Tuscumbia, officials said.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs program kicked off in the Shoals on Thursday with a news conference at the new Sheffield overlook, the terminus of one of the trails included in the statewide project.

Passport to Fitness includes 85 trails, historic walking tours and tracks people can walk or sometimes drive in cities throughout the state. Participants can travel to a city, walk the trail and get their “passport” stamped to track their progress.

Ninon Parker, director of marketing for the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said the program could help attract people from other areas to Sheffield and Tuscumbia, the two Shoals cities participating in the program.

Susann Hamlin, the tourism bureau’s executive director, said the program has a two-fold purpose. it encourages individuals and groups to walk their way to better health and fitness. it also helps create an appreciation for each city’s early architecture and natural resources, she said.

“In turn, the project aids the economies of our cities and towns,” Hamlin said.

Participants can pick up a booklet from various locations throughout the state that contains maps and information on the 85 trails included in the program. The information also can be accessed from the ADECA website at adeca.alabama.gov/passporttofitness.

Go to the city, walk the trail and have the box for that city stamped on the passport to indicate the trail has been completed. The book lists locations in each city where the passport can be stamped.

In the Shoals, passports can be obtained at the Colbert Tourism office, Park place in Sheffield and Cold Water Books in Tuscumbia.

The colorful, fact-filled guide contains detailed directions to each trail and information on historic landmarks that will be encountered along the way. The website also provides global positioning system coordinates to locate places in the book.

“It’s opened up a lot of people’s eyes to what we have,” said Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford.

Tuscumbia Mayor Bill Shoemaker said he frequently encounters people from out of town taking in the sites and visiting historic places.

Sheffield’s trail stretches from Sixth to 14th Street on Montgomery Avenue while Tuscumbia’s trail loops through the city’s historic district from the Helen Keller home to Spring Park.

Russ Corey can be reached at (256) 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.

Passport to Fitness kicks off