ello Rotary Healthy Heart Health & Wellness Fair was palpable.  This event, which was sponsored by Jeff Bank, served as a new add-on to the 47th Annual WSUL Heart-a-thon held on Friday, February 21st at Resorts World-Catskills.

Research shows that the younger children begin healthy heart habits, the more likely they will be healthy and productive adults. Over forty students from the Fallsburg Central School District, Senior Citizens, and community members were able to ask a lot of questions and how to make better choices and garner helpful materials to bring home from the twenty-four vendor/organizations on hand for the event.

In addition, ten learning sessions were available throughout the day free of charge.  The focus of the sessions were designed to connect all the elements that lead to good health from movement to cerebral learning of healthy habits.

Bold Gold General Manager Dawn Ciorciari said, “The Health Fair was a huge success and we are getting a lot of amazing feedback on it.”  Ciorciari remembers being a “Bell Ringer” at the Heart-a-thon when she was in Middle School.  She said, “The Health Fair helps to introduce kids to the entire event,” further noting that they not only learn about healthy lifestyles, but community service as well done through an event such as the Heart-a-thon.

Crystal Tweed and Lori Orestano-James, members of the Monticello Rotary Club, co-chaired the Health Fair.  “We are delighted by the response and turn-out with this being our first Health Fair connected to the Heart-a-thon,” said Tweed, further expressing the positive participation and response from the students, teachers, and community members.  “Community agencies stepped up to make this all possible, each putting their own spin on fun ways to learn and grow through healthy living,” said Orestano-James.

All agree that the Health Fair is a positive addition to this long-standing Heart-a-thon tradition.  There is plenty of room to grow this event and looking forward to what it can bring to the Sullivan County community.

Special Thanks to Vendors/Organizations/Classes for the 2025 Monticello Rotary Healthy Heart Health Fair: New York Blood Center/Sullivan County Public Health/Sullivan 180 - Smoothie Bike/Hypnotherapy for Good Health/ SALT (Sullivan Allies Leading Together)/NY National Guard Countering Drug Task Force/Gift of Life/Hands Only CPR – Lee Karasik/MVP Health Care/Sullivan County BOCES New Visions-Nursing Program/SUNY Sullivan Nursing - Blood Pressure Screenings/NAMI/Sullivan County Drug Task Force/Sullivan County Office for the Aging/Cornell Cooperative Extension/Garnet Health: Know Your Numbers Cholesterol Screening/Fearless/EPIC (Every Person Influences Children), MVP/ Fidelis Care/Cornerstone Family Healthcare/ Sullivan County Workforce Development/Seven X Motors Healthy Heart Tips Table/RCLS (Library Services)/A Single Bite/Vet 2 Vet/Tai Chi with Pedro Tweed Mindfulness in Motion (Key to a Healthy Heart) STEAM/No Equipment, No Problem with Coach Maggi Fitzpatrick/Labryinth: Walking and Seeing Your Way to a Healthy Heart – NAMI/ Mental Wellness for a Healthy Heart - Lori Schneider, NAMI/Healthy Eating for a Healthy Heart - Cornell Cooperative Extension/Happy Heart through Hypnotherapy - Albee Bockman, Lic. Hypnotherapist/Energy Healing for Self – NAMI/Vision Boarding - NAMI