The story below is a preview from our May/June 2017 issue. For the full story Subscribe today, view our FREE interactive digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!
As the Roanoke Valley gains a better sense of its identity as a place to live and work, so too does it become more aware of how to take care of itself. Here’s an alphabet full of good stuff happening in and around Roanoke to make us healthier and happier.
A number of high-profile businesses have embraced the Roanoke region in recent years—most notably Deschutes Brewery and Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits—as the ideal location to expand their growing companies.
Not surprisingly, courting by local business leaders has included emphasis on Roanoke’s flourishing reputation as a hotbed for quality health care, advanced medical research and education, and an outstanding outdoor recreation culture.
In fact, there’s so much going on in the region, you may not have been able to keep up with it all. Following is a roundup—from A to Z—of some of the more notable health and wellness-related news, along with some suggestions for getting out and enjoying activities that contribute to what makes the Roanoke Valley so attractive.
A: Anthem’s GO Fest, a free three-day festival that highlights healthy, active outdoor recreation opportunities in the region, saw attendance soar to approximately 25,000 last year. With nearly 125 activities and events, the RoanokeOutside initiative is a can’t-miss event for outdoor enthusiasts that will take place Oct. 13-15 at Rivers Edge Sports Complex in Roanoke. roanokegofest.com
B: If you or a loved one suffers from chronic medical conditions, you may want to check out BetterLiving 65 from Carilion. Designed to help Medicare patients better manage two or more chronic conditions (such as diabetes, COPD, high blood pressure or congestive heart failure), the program uses a team approach where specialists work together to help patients better manage their health. carilionclinic.org
C: Carter Athletic Center in Roanoke is among a growing number of facilities in the valley that have added pickleball to their wellness offerings. Played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net, the sport is a cross among tennis, badminton and ping-pong that uses a paddle and plastic balls with holes. Easy to learn, pickleball can be played as singles or doubles. Find active groups in the Roanoke Valley by searching “pickleball Roanoke” on Facebook.
D: YMCA of the Roanoke Valley has relaunched its Diabetes Prevention Program for adults with prediabetes. Participants meet and work together in small groups to learn how to adopt healthy habits, including healthier eating and increased physical activity, in an effort to reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes. ymcaroanoke.org/preventdiabetes
E: Extension of the Roanoke River Greenway will begin in June. Another half-mile section will be added on the north side of the river, picking up at a stretch near the Salem city limits at Aerial Way and continuing east. The work will take about a year to complete and will include installation of a new bridge. greenways.org
F: Friendship Retirement Community’s new adult medical day care center is open on Hershberger Road in Roanoke. The Feinour Center offers a safe, nurturing environment for adults Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. With activities that include music, art, tai chi, cooking, guest lectures and games for memory stimulation, the center meets patient needs while offering daytime respite for caregivers. friendship.us/living/feinour-center
G: Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke County recently completed a significant renovation. The 76,000-square-foot wellness facility added hundreds of pieces of new, upgraded equipment, including more technologically advanced treadmills and bikes, as well as new weight racks. greenridgerecreationcenter.com
H: Roanoke Parks and Recreation’s new handicap-accessible playground at Smith Park is now open for play. The Civitan Club, which built the original playground in the early 1990s, donated $35,000 to the project, which includes a number of features and equipment that meet standards for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Enjoy slides, swings, a climbing tunnel, sprocket and gear panels, and connecting ramps that are wheelchair accessible. playroanoke.com
I: A fresh idea in community giving has cropped up in Salem. A partnership between the City of Salem and Salem Presbyterian Church, the Salem Fresh Ideas Garden is a 30-by-104-foot in-ground garden that provides vegetables to the Salem Food Pantry. In 2016, the 100-percent volunteer effort donated nearly 3,000 pounds of veggies and hopes to top 3,500 this year. Facebook.com/SalemFreshIdeasGarden
J: Jefferson College of Health Sciences has started offering two new doctoral-level programs to its 25 existing healthcare-related degrees and programs for certification. Students a JCHS, a part of Carilion Clinic, now have the opportunity to earn a Doctorate of Nursing Practice and a Doctorate of Health Sciences. jchs.edu
K: Kids in Franklin County and the surrounding area have a new option for pediatric care. Dr. Kathryn Self practices at Carilion Children’s Pediatric Medicine clinic, which opened earlier this year on South Main Street in Rocky Mount. A fall opening is projected for Carilion’s new, 10,000-square-foot family-medicine facility in Rocky Mount, across from Lowe’s. It will replace the Rocky Mount Family Practice on Maple Avenue. carilionclinic.org
L: The new LewisGale Daleville Medical Pavilion opened earlier this year, offering Botetourt County residents convenient access to family medicine, as well as services for cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology. It is located adjacent to the LewisGale Imaging Center Daleville, which offers digital mammography, X-ray, CT and ultrasound. The facility will begin offering pediatric care starting later this summer. lewisgale.com
M: Angels of Assisi and the City of Roanoke’s parks and rec department have teamed up for a dog walking wellness program called Marla’s Miles. First developed by Marla Robertson, a city employee who adopted a rescue dog, the program encourages volunteers to walk a dog from the shelter on their lunch break, or before or after work. Complete an orientation, find a dog that fits your pace and enjoy some outdoor exercise. playroanoke.com
N: LewisGale has begun construction on a new stand-alone emergency medical facility in the Tanglewood area of Roanoke County. A three-story building was demolished to build the structure, which won’t be open until mid-2018. Hospital officials say the new ER will ease overcrowding at the Salem ER and allow LewisGale to treat more emergency medical patients in the valley. lewisgale.com
O: The Bradley Free Clinic, which has offered healthcare services for low-income and uninsured in the region since 1974, will focus on expanding its community outreach projects this year. The clinic has partnered with a number of local healthcare agencies to introduce a Women’s Health Program, which will provide preventative care, as well as increased access to reproductive health services and diagnostic procedures. bradleyfreeclinic.com
P: Paddleboarding, also referred to as standup paddleboarding or SUP, is a fast-growing watersports trend enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Several local businesses rent paddleboards, which generally range from 9 to 12 feet, so you can give it a try without a big monetary commitment. Roanoke Mountain Adventures offers guided trips along the Roanoke River. At Smith Mountain Lake, a number of businesses rent SUPs, including Bridgewater Marina, Crazy Horse Marina and Sups 2 Go.
Q: Quash your tennis opponents at one of six new courts now open at River’s Edge Sports Complex in Roanoke. The courts, which feature wirelessly controlled lighting so matches can be played early in the morning and into the evening, are laser-graded and brightly painted to help players better determine if a ball is in or out. In addition to being able to host tournaments and local league matches, the new facilities provide more court time opportunities for casual players. playroanoke.com
R: Looking for a cycling route that’s fun, scenic and convenient? Check out the Salem Bike Route, an 11.2-mile road course that winds through downtown Salem, along the Roanoke River and skirts the bucolic campus of Roanoke College. Designed for all ages and skill levels, the route provides easy access to Salem shops and restaurants. Download a map via the Parks and Recreation tab on salemva.gov.
S: Carilion Wellness Center at Smith Mountain Lake Retirement Village is due to open in the fall at Westlake Towne Center. Part of Runk and Pratt Senior Living Communities the 18,000 square-foot facility caters primarily to residents 50 and older offering exercise programs, nutritional counseling, group exercise, personal training, aquatic therapy, educational programs, health screenings and more. carilionclinic.org
T: Franklin County Parks and Recreation is offering tubing on the Pigg River every Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tube rentals are available by the hour for the one-mile float with a shuttle to Waid Park. Life jackets are supplied free of charge. playfranklincounty.com
U: Carilion Clinic has transformed the former Ukrops building on Franklin Road in Roanoke into the 117,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences. More than 200 medical professionals use a collaborative model to consult on diagnosis and treatment plans related to joints, brain and spine, sports medicine, hand and upper extremities, pediatric orthopaedics, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more. carilionclinic.org/ion
V: Dr. George Chaconas, who has practiced family medicine in Franklin County since 1989, has transitioned to a personalized health care model through MDVIP, a network of more than 800 physicians in the U.S. A limited number of patients pay an annual fee for an extensive wellness program, acute-care visits and enhanced coordination of specialty care. Chaconas also operates the Center for Advanced Lipid Management, a part-time practice in Roanoke where he sees referrals for complex cholesterol issues. georgechaconasmd.com.
W: Ride a 900-foot zip line, climb a 50-foot real rock wall, canoe, kayak, hike and more at Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing, a 500-acre retreat with stunning scenery in Craig County. Adventure Weekends allow individuals and families to choose from a variety of activities on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 10 a.m. Fees vary and reservations are required. Camping and lodging available.wilderness-adventure.com
X: FitRx is an optional membership program offered by Carilion designed to meet the individual wellness needs of patients. Available only on the recommendation of a health care provider, the program lasts 60 days, costs $60 and provides access to all Carilion Wellness locations. Other benefits include two fitness consultations and InBody assessments, four one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer and development of an individualized fitness plan that patients follow on their own. carilionwellness.com
Y: Fundraising continues for construction of a 43,000-square-foot Botetourt Family YMCA at Daleville Town Center. Plans call for a basketball gym, three workout studios, community meeting space, modern workout equipment and pools for swimming, warm-water recreation and therapy. Organizers plan to raise $10 million and are shooting for an early 2019 opening. ymcaroanoke.org/botetourt
Z: Zagster, a Massachusetts-based startup, plans to bring a bike share program to Roanoke this spring. Ride Solutions, a local transportation company, will implement the program, which aims to place 50 bikes at 10 stations around the city. Common in larger cities, the model allows a rider to visit a share station to rent a bike, ride it for as long as he or she chooses then return it to the station. zagster.com
Extra: YMCA of the Roanoke Valley is providing assistance to participants in The Rescue Mission of Roanoke’s Recovery and Tabitha Program. The Y will offer equipment orientations, trainings and screenings to participants through a partnership with Carilion Wellness, which donated 18 pieces of fitness equipment the Rescue Mission. ymcaroanoke.org
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