The March of Dimes is asking Eastern Shore residents to save the date in Spring 2009 for the March for Babies. Wicomico County will host a walk on Sunday, April 19, 2009, starting from the Salisbury Moose Lodge at 10:00 AM. Caroline County will be the site of a march on Sunday April 26, 2009, starting at 10:00 AM in Federalsburg. Worcester County has selected Assateague as the site for the walk on Saturday, May 2, 2009, beginning at 10:00 AM. For more information, visit March of Dimes or March for Babies, or call 410-546-2241. The goal of the March of Dimes is to “help moms have healthy pregnancies and give hope to families of babies born too soon or sick.”

There are various products available for people to use at home in an effort to brighten those pearly whites. The next trend will be to introduce the Teeth Whitening System to the spa, salon and resort setting. The ShineWhite system offers an added revenue stream with a 30 minute treatment that can be administered by existing businesses. Shiny white teeth in as few as 30 minutes.

The weather has taken a quick turn to colder temperatures, and it won’t be as easy to head outside and take a walk around the block. We have added a compact elliptical trainer to our game room, and a small folding treadmill might provide an additional opportunity to keep a regular exercise schedule during these short winter days. The Treadmills Guide at TreadmillsGuru.com provides reviews of 40 different treadmills from affordable models to high end fitness center equipment.

Monday November 3rd from 3:00pm – 5:00pm
$1 for every pound of candy!
Support the troops and your community!
In an effort to promote a safe and healthy Halloween for children, Krause Pediatric & Orthodontic Dental Care will buy back the candy that young trick-or-treaters collect this year and donate the candy to the troops serving our country overseas.

Candy can be brought to Krause Pediatric & Orthodontic Dental Care at 560 Riverside Drive, A 205, Salisbury, MD 21801 on Monday, November 3rd between the hours of 3:00 pm– 5:00pm. Krause Pediatric & Orthodontic Dental Care will pay $1 for each pound of candy that is brought in (10 pound maximum per child). Children can write personal messages to the U.S. troops that will be included into the boxed candy that we will send overseas. Everyone wins at this event that is put together by Dr. Jerry & Dr. Mark.

It seems that the longer we live in this area, the more sensitive we become to the allergens that are in the air during the various seasons. When I first moved here, I had no problems with allergies of any kind, but now after twenty years, I am beginning to notice more frequent bouts with allergy symptoms. We use humidifiers in our house during the winter to combat the dry heated air, and I am starting to think that we might also need to use an air cleaner to improve the indoor air quality. There are lots of choices in air cleaners, from HEPA filters to ionic air purifiers. I guess while I do some research to find the best solution, the generic form of Claritin will continue to grace the shelf of our medicine cabinet.

St. Jude Medical has created an interactive video library that can inform you or a loved one about all areas of heart health at HeartLibrary.com. The video series includes information about how the heart works, coronary circulation and heart anatomy. Visitors can also learn about the causes of heart failure such as an enlarged heart. Atrial Fibrillation, Tachycardia, and Sick Sinus Syndrome are examples of the heart conditions covered by videos in the Heart Library. The heart is the most important muscle in the body. Please forward this site to a friend or family member that might benefit from this information.

The month of April brings more athletic events to the Delmarva calendar. The 2008 Eastern Shore Senior Games will kick off the month beginning on April 3rd with the golf competition followed by opening ceremonies and various events on April 4th. Senior Games events include swimming, tennis, track and field as well as many others. The games are organized by Salisbury University, and competition is open to participants age 50 and above.

St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church wants you to “Catch the Spirit” at a 5K Run/Walk on April 12th. The event will be held at The Billy Gene Jackson Park on Jersey Road in Salisbury. In addition to the 5K, the event will offer a one mile walk, DJ music, a post race party, and prize drawings. Registration will start at 8:00 AM with the 5K race beginning at 9:00 AM. The Catch the Spirit 5K benefits the Jessie L. Parker Scholarship Fund. The cost of entry is $12 in advance or $15 on race day. The first 100 registrants will receive a free t-shirt. Entry forms are available at Vernon Powell.

April 12th is also the date for the Ocean City Half Marathon and 5K. The Half Marathon will begin at the inlet in Ocean City. The 5K will start from the park and ride in West Ocean City. Registration information is available online along with race details. The event will be followed by an after party at the Francis Scott Key resort.

The Pemberton Panda 5K will also take place on April 12th which proves to be a busy day for running events this year. This is a 1st Annual event for the Pemberton Elementary School PTA. The 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will take place at Pemberton Elementary School with check in from 7:30-8:45 AM followed by the 5K start at 9:00 AM. All participants that pre-register for the event will receive a free t-shirt. The 5K race will be timed by the Eastern Shore Running Club. Registration forms are available online.

The Zoo Stampede 5K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, April 19th. The event supports the Salisbury Zoo. Race day registration will take place from 7:30-8:30 AM at the East Gate of the Salisbury Zoo. The 5K race will start at 9:00 AM, rain or shine. The entry fee is $18 in advance or $20 on race day which includes a free long sleeve tech shirt to the first 125 applicants. Entry forms are available at Vernon Powell or online. The Zoo Stampede will be followed by Earth Day activities from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Salisbury Zoo.

The 3rd Annual Ben Layton Memorial 5K Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, April 26th, at the east entrance of the Salisbury Zoo. The event benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Participants may also follow a 2 mile fun walk course. Event registration will begin at 5:30 PM followed by the 5K Run at 6:30 PM and the 2 mile fun walk at 6:40 PM. The 5K also includes a free buffet dinner provided by the Local Owner Restaurant Association for all registered participants along with shirts for the first 200 entries. The early registration fee will be $25 until April 11th and $30 after that date. Registration forms are available on benlayton5k.com or you can register online at active.com.

Another event that will take place on April 26th is the Wee Race at Wicomico Stadium in Salisbury. The event benefits the Beautification Committee of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and it is sponsored by VP Shoes in Salisbury where you can pick up an entry form. The race fee of $8.00 allows youth ages 2-9 years old to compete in four race divisions from 100 yards to 440 yards.

The Seashore Striders of Delaware list several events taking place in April including The Race for Jill Sunshine 5K in Milton, DE, on April 5th, the Arbor Day 5K Run in Ridgely, MD, on April 12th, the Oxford Day 10K Run in Oxford, MD, on April 26th, and the LDAF Race For Autism 1/2 Marathon/Team Relay/5k/Kids Fun Run in Lewes, DE, on April 27th.

Registration is already closed for the April 26th Pedal Delmarva event, but you can check out their web site for future cycling tours.

Another source for shore events is the Talbot County Multi-Sport Calendar.

With all of these events taking place in our region, there are plenty of opportunities for residents to support local organizations and improve health and fitness through participation in these great activities.

The March calendar is full of opportunities to support local organizations while you follow the 5K courses laid out for upcoming events. Four weekends in March will be occupied by 5K events in the Salisbury area including the 5th Annual Tim Kennard 10 Mile River Run and 5K Run/Walk which will kickoff the month on Sunday, March 2nd. The race is named for a man who lost a courageous battle with cancer, and loyal friends have carried on the cause which benefits Coastal Hospice programs for pediatric cancer care as well as programs for grieving children who have lost a sibling or parent to cancer. The River Run starts at the Maggs Gym on the campus of Salisbury University with 10 mile runners leading the way at 8:30 AM. The event is preceded on Saturday with a Family Sports and Fitness Expo along with registration at the Maggs gym and a pasta dinner at the SU Commons. Registration forms are available online, or you can register at Charmcityrun.com or Active.com.

The Mid-Shore Family YMCA will host the Funny Bunny 5K Run/Walk on March 8th with a starting time of 9:00 AM. The morning will also include a 100yd Bunny Dash, 1/2 Mile Kids Run and an Easter Egg Hunt. Your $15 registration includes a Funny Bunny t-shirt. The registration form can be printed online or you can register on the YMCA web site.

The 9th Annual St. Paddy’s Day 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk will take place on Saturday, March 15th, at the Salisbury Elks Club. The St. Paddy’s Day Run supports the Alzheimer’s Programs & Services of MAC, Inc. The first 200 entries will receive a race t-shirt, and the event will be concluded with a post race awards party. Registration is available on Active.com, or you can sign up on race day. Registration begins at 2:00 PM followed by the start of the run at 3:00 PM.

Rounding out the 5K events for March is the Bennett Middle PTA Viking 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 29th, at Pemberton Historical Park. The Viking 5K is a departure from the normal road races in the area. The Viking 5K will take place on the woodland trails of Pemberton Park with scenic views of the Wicomico River and Pemberton Hall. The first 100 entries for the Viking 5K will receive a free t-shirt. Registration forms for the Viking 5K can be printed online, or you can sign up on race day. The Viking 5K is part of an effort to promote exercise and fitness at Bennett Middle School. Race day registration will start at 9:00 AM followed by the 5K start at 10:00 AM.

The Eastern Shore Running Club is an active supporter of all of these local events, and the ESRC web site is an excellent source for information on local and regional running events.

Blood Bank of Delmarva has launched the country’s largest diabetes screening program. The program is expected to screen more than 50,000 people on Delmarva in the first year alone - and isolate about 4,000 unreported cases of diabetes during that time.