AROUND LEXINGTON COUNTY

Is “healthy” your goal for the new year? It can be found in your diet, exercise, increased learning and even in your wallet!

Here is a good plan from Donna Bundrick Griffin to follow:

Enjoy more vegetables, such as kale, collards, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, green beans, cauliflower, turnips, sweet potatoes and carrots. Add fresh fruits to meals as side dishes or desserts.

Include lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, and tofu for proteins and seafood for omega fatty acids.

Eat more whole grain and whole wheat goods.

Switch to low fat dairy products.

Reduce salt intake.

Avoid high sugar foods.

Stay hydrated with water.

Exercise for 30 inutes daily.

Make changes a little at a time so you will not be overwhelmed and lose focus.

Our Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission offers many opportunities for exercise and wellness.

The Lexington Leisure Center has walking hours Monday through Friday. You might want to call 957-7828 for available hours.

The center also has various classes like Zumba, chair yoga, racquetball and dance that can enhance your exercise.

The Wellness Center offers many machines to tone and build muscle and stamina. You can purchase a membership at any time throughout the year.

Want to increase your learning and develop new skills? And as an added benefit, make new friends? You must enroll in Lexington’s popular Shepherd’s Center classes.

This adventure in learning winter session starts January 34 and continues until February 28. Call 803-359-6838 ext 110 or visit www.sclex.org .

Classes includes chair yoga, Just Google It!, Knit and Crochet, Travel Know Before You Go, American Politics 2019, the History of Lexington County, and Apple iPhone Basics. There are also hour-long lunch and program presentations such as Congaree National Park, AARP Agenda for Seniors in 2019 and Gold Star Fathers.

Do you have a healthy walltet? Experts say you should check your finances. Pay off credit cards, spend less, work more hours to increase your income–maybe get a second job.

Coming up is the Lexington County Chili Cook-off January 28, noon to 5 pm at the Icehouse Amphitheater. Proceeds benefit Lexington County First Responders and families in need. For information, call 803-254-3474.

A Night to Remember, Lexington’s Father-Daughter Dance, is Febryary 9, 6:30-9:30 pm. Sponsored by the Lexington County Main Library, the event is held at the Lexington High School cafeteria.

The Lexington County Museum Gala, “Love Letters from the Past: Honoring Our Veterans,” is February 16 at the Lexington Municipal Comples. Call 359-8369 or email museum@lex-co.com to learn more about the event.

Congratulations to Lauren and Jay Scurry, who welcomed a baby boy, “Tripp,” on Decmeber 22.

Happy birthday to Pete Calvert, Hampton Caughman, Raymond Caughman, Caroline Ingram, Edith Millter, Bill Mathias, Gail Bundrick, Randy Halfacre, C-Ann Able, Ashley Manini, Charles Young, Ginger Hull, Bobby Belcher, Jessica Merkel, Maya Blashka, Jackson Rein, Kim Scircle, Joe Shealy, Wesley Sox, Kathy Tomashita, Alex Jenkins, Gloria Koplin, Lea Lauziere, Sara Shealy, Patricia Trayer, Reed Carroll, David Hendrix, Jimmy Sox, Savannah Fowler, Julie Harper, Candice Ralston, Jordan DAvis, Bob Looney, Chuck Meetze, Eric Russell, John Keisler Jr., Charlie Mayer, Shannon Troglauer, Tony Waites, Sonya Roof, Wendy Trudeau, Chris Broome, Brad Bruner, Thad Bruner III, Craig Fields, Allyson Griffin, Chad McMurray, Presley Sherman, Ben Stogner, and Lance Westberry.