COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The 19th Annual Women’s Health Fest and Expo hosted nearly 300 women from Branch County and beyond at the Branch Area Careers Center in Coldwater Saturday. Participants visited over 40 exhibitors and had the opportunity to attend two of seven workshops offered during the morning. Women’s Health Fest and Expo is a free event for women of all ages and is sponsored and organized by local businesses and organizations.
Comments such as “very well done,” “both sessions great,” “Great informative day,” “it was fun and can’t wait for next year,” and “this was my first time and I enjoyed it” were made by participants. Workshops included:
- Gardening with Raised Beds and Containers – Kent Neitzert from Neitzert’s Greenhouse and Florist
- CrossFit for Everyone – Corey Parker
- Flavorful Herbs – Mary Sue Miller, R.N.
- Home Repairs – Bill Earl, CHC Facility Operations Director
- Essential Oils 101 – Kyla Depew
- Making a Better You – Trienne Topp
- Internet Safety & Identity Theft – Amy Bailey, BlueOx Credit Union and Ginger Kesler, Century Bank and Trust
The presenters provided their time free of charge to benefit women.
Over 40 exhibitors were on hand to showcase their services and merchandise between sessions. Free on-site childcare was provided, as were refreshments throughout the morning. Goody bags were handed out on the day of the event.
Registered attendees were also entered in a chance to win several great door prizes donated by area businesses. Winners were:
- Peggy Albright – $150 Kiess Jewelry gift certificate
- Bonnie Lafferty – Silver necklace from Culy’s Jewelry
- Lola Sebring – 2 Little River Railroad tickets and a $50 Sauk Trail Trading Post gift certificate
- Jennifer Barkman – $100 Taylor’s Stationer’s gift certificate
- Becky Bethel – All Things Serenity yoga gift basket
- Carole Bolton – Dinner for 2 at Broadway Grille and 2 tickets to Tibbits Summer Theater
- Pat Furney – Dinner for 2 at JT’s and 2 movie tickets
- Judy Hale – Airbrush tanning package from Studio 17
- Julie Ardoin – Nutritional counseling and massage from Coldwater Alternative Medicine
Sponsors for this year’s event were Altrusa International of Branch County, BlueOx Credit Union, Century Bank and Trust, Community Health Center of Branch County, Honor Credit Union, Pines Behavioral Health, Southern Michigan Bank and Trust, and WTVB AM1590. A special thank you to the Broadway Grille, El Cerrito Mexican Restaurant, Jeannie’s Diner, JT’s Billiard Bar & Grill, North Woods Coffee Company, and Stoagie’s Family Room Cafe for providing special discounts on lunch for those attending the Women’s Health Fest and to those donating to the goody bags.
Women’s Health Fest is planned and staged by women from area businesses and organizations. The first event was held in 1998 and has been held annually ever since. Women’s Health Fest is one of the few free events of this kind in Michigan. Each year the Health Fest has attracted 250 – 350 women who have consistently rated it as excellent on participant surveys. Planning committee members for the 2016 event were Rochelle Agar, Debbie Batchelder, Bobbi Gagnon, Cindy Gardner, Jocelyn Godfrey, Mary Guthrie, Sue Jarzynka, Mashaun Schabloski, Patricia Sigerson, Karen Smith, Julie Stratos, and Sonya Wilkins.
The planning committee will meet again in August to make preliminary plans for the 20th annual event tentatively set for Saturday, March 4, 2017, at the Branch Area Careers Center. Volunteers are always welcomed on the planning committee. For more information, email womenshealthfest@gmail.com.
