RUMFORD – Anne Marie Mahar, a registered nurse at Rumford Hospital, made sure no one passed her by Saturday afternoon.
Great plates of fresh, colorful fruit, and mounds of crunchy vegetables were just what people should be eating, she told everyone who came within earshot.
“Don’t skip meals, watch portion size and get moving,” she said. “Everything in moderation.”
Her healthy eating booth was one of more than a dozen set up at the Black Mountain lodge Saturday afternoon. The first annual Fitness Fair was a combined effort of Black Mountain of Maine and the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Next to Mahar was Brian Arsenault, a 15-year-old from Mexico who was showing off his mastery of the dance mat. He followed directions on a television screen that showed him where to place his feet while accompanied by a rapid musical beat.
Panting at the end of a song, he said he wished more young people would get involved with the dance mat as a way to exercise.
The booth was sponsored by the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition. This year’s focus, said coalition coordinator, Patty Duguay, was to boost membership and the number of activity options at the recently organized Teen Scene center at the Mexico Recreation building.
She said the group is looking for a part-time teen center coordinator and more volunteers to help out at the site.
While representatives from various organizations were promoting their take on health and fitness, a group of more than 30 teenagers from throughout western Maine were lining up outside the lodge on the deck for a photo.
They were in the middle of a daylong dry land training camp for skiers.
“We’re trying to share knowledge of how a young athlete can get the most out of a training program,” said Craig Zurhorst, marketing manager at the mountain.
The Ski Depot, also housed at the mountain, was showing the latest ski equipment.
That night, a public pasta feed was planned and Sunday’s schedule included 1K and 5K foot races.
All proceeds will help fund future events by the chamber and Black Mountain, said Rebecca Rooftree, the chamber’s director.
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