CORNELIUS – Pat Berch, owner of Lake Norman Nutrition, and Marianne Hendrix, 15-year Our Towns Habitat for Humanity volunteer, will team up in May to host a Weight Loss Challenge to raise money for the housing organization and help area residents start a health and wellness campaign.

The challenge is scheduled to run May 1-22. You can register online at www.ourtownshabitat.org. Entry fee is a $20 donation to Our Towns Habitat for Humanity. Read the full story

A new website will help you use carseats properly. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 through 12 years old. Based on NHTSA crash data in 2010, on average, almost 2 children (age 12 and younger in a passenger vehicle) were killed and 325 children were injured each day. This fatality rate could be reduced by half if the correct child safety seats were always used.

Read the full story

CORNELIUS – Pat Berch, owner of Lake Norman Nutrition, and Marianne Hendrix, 15-year Our Towns Habitat for Humanity volunteer, will team up in May to host a Weight Loss Challenge to raise money for the housing organization and help area residents start a health and wellness campaign.

The challenge is scheduled to run May 1-22. You can register online at www.ourtownshabitat.org.  Entry fee is a $20 donation to Our Towns Habitat for Humanity.  Read the full story

Jan Riebe of Gateway Therapeutic Massage held a grand opening reception Thursday for her Gateway Therapeutic Massage. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Health and wellness have long been important to Jan Riebe, but it wasn’t until four years ago that a career change gave her the chance to get hands-on. Six months ago she went out on her own, opening Gateway Therapeutic Massage on Davidson Gateway Drive.

“Health and well-being have always been my passions,” Ms. Riebe said Thursday, during a grand opening reception. Read the full story

Caitlyn Boyle

Charlottean Caitlin Boyle, editor of the “Operation Beautiful” campaign to end “fat talk” and promote positive body image, will speak Thursday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lilly Family Gallery of Davidson College Chambers Building.

The 27-year-old Ms. Boyle is the author of the book “Operation Beautiful: Transforming the Way You See Yourself One Post-it Note at a Time.” She is a longtime HealthyTippingPoint.com blogger about healthy lifestyle, and “Operation Beautiful” was launched from that blog in June 2009. Read the full story

The hospital was proposed off NC 115 at Verhoeff Road, south of downtown Huntersville.

Huntersville’s Town Board on Monday voted down a rezoning request that would have allowed Carolinas HealthCare System to build a mental health hospital on N.C. 115. Our news partner WFAE-FM reports Huntersville commissioners voted 4-2 against the request amid opposition from neighbors. Read the full story

Centers for Disease Control calls it a “public health problem”

The total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with just one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect) is approximately $124 billion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Read the full story

Runners have a variety of theories about winter training, such as the idea that you burn more calories in cold weather or it’s easy to get dehydrated. Triathlete magazine interviewed John Castellani, a physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Mass., so help separate the truths from the lies.

LINK: “Does Winter Running Burn More Calories?”

Neti pots have become a popular remedy for colds and sinus congestion, but health officials are warning people to use them properly in the wake of recent deaths.  For some, the thought of rinsing one’s nose is enough of a deterrent from using a neti pot. But the problem is not the idea of washing your nose – it’s what kind of water you use. In two widely reported cases  last year people used tap water, instead of distilled or sterilized water and wound dying of of water-borne brain-eating amoeba. Read the full story

It’s that time again – time for sweets, treats, and holiday indulgences, followed by New Years resolutions. Looking ahead to January, consider signing up for one of the many health and fitness classes offered by the Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department, including:

• Dance N’ Shed and Pilates -  Register now for our Monday evening sessions, beginning Jan. 9.
• DancinKids – Register now for dance classes for children ages 2-12, to begin the week of Jan. 12.
• Tai Chi – Register now for the next eight-week sessions of this ancient exercise form, held on Thursday or Saturday mornings beginning Jan. 12.
• Boot Camp – Register now for this six-week outdoor fitness program packed with fun and energizing activities.  Saturday morning sessions begin Jan. 14.
• Couch to 5K - Participants will be put through a running workout and learn proper warm-up techniques in this six-week session, beginning Monday, Jan. 16.

All classes will be held at  at Bailey Road Recreation Center.