]]> Stirn Contracting Celebrates Five Years As One of Cincinnati’s Finest Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Specialists

Stirn Contracting has evolved from Custom Home Builders in the 1970s to commercial contracting in the 1990s to family-owned Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Specialists today. This family-owned and operated business has more than 40 years experience in the building industry.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) August 31, 2011

Stirn Contracting celebrates five years as one of Cincinnati’s finest kitchen and bath remodelers. The company, originally started in 1971 by Robert Stirnkorb and his son Rick, went through major transformation during the housing downturn in the 1980’s. Rick took over when Robert retired and focused on commercial work, the logical path at that time. After working with Cincinnati Building and Contracting for nearly 20 years, both of Rick’s sons, Billy and Eric, wanted his experience and knowledge to add to their new family-owned company, Stirn Contracting. So Rick joined forces with his boys and quickly gained a presence as kitchen and bath specialists.

“As the economy changes, companies need to do the same,” said Rick Stirnkorb. “We have taken different roads in the same industry and now we have found our place, once again, working with homeowners. It seems this is the right spot for our company.”

When Billy Stirnkorb announced last year that he and his family were relocating to Florida to follow his wife’s career, Rick and Eric had to take another look at what they were doing at the time and make some adjustments. Billy had handled the bulk of the sales for Stirn Contracting. But with some reallocation of resources, they have continued on their path and gained a great reputation of being one of Cincinnati’s premier kitchen and bath remodelers.

“People like the fact that we are a small company, and that the owner is on the job site,” said Eric. “With my father’s experience, we can do just about any job for a homeowner. Even though we have done a lot of kitchens, we can do, and have done, everything from roofing to basements and everything in-between.”

When home prices deflate, as they have for the past couple of years, homeowners look at ways they can improve their property and stay put, rather than selling their home and taking a loss on them. By remodeling their kitchens and baths, even if they live there for several more years, those improvements generally increase the value of the home above homes without updated kitchens and baths.

With new countertops, cabinets, built-in appliances and decorative back splashes, a kitchen transformation makes a world of difference in a home. The variety of offerings to change what a kitchen looks like and how functional it can be, are innumerable. Cabinets have self-closing doors and drawers; countertops are made of dozens of materials; kitchen lighting adds mood and atmosphere; and tile or wood on the floors and walls can be personalized with the right colors and textures to please any dedicated chef. And all of that is before the expansive selection of kitchen appliances!

Stirn Contracting can help the homeowner from the beginning plans and recommend ways they can utilize their existing space or by adding on or removing walls to enhance their kitchens. Then the homeowners can work with designers, like those at Hyde Park Lumber and Design Center, to finalize their kitchen selections. Finally the appliances can be selected and the job begins. A typical kitchen remodel will take between four and six weeks, depending on the amount of work to be completed.

Stirn Contracting offers free estimates on all their work. They have a web site at http://www.stirncontracting.com and a photo gallery of kitchens and other jobs they have completed.
For more information, contact
Eric Stirnkorb
513-646-3909
Or
Rick Stirnkorb
513-497-3659

]]> Crispy Green Launches Crispy Cantaloupe: Keeping America’s Most Popular Melon in Season All Year Long

All Natural Freeze-Dried Cantaloupe Makes the Sweet Taste of Ripe Cantaloupe Available Anywhere, Anytime

Fairfield, NJ (PRWEB) August 09, 2011

Crispy Green Inc., the maker of Crispy Green® premium Crispy Fruit and FruitziO® freeze-dried fruit snacks, today announced the addition of Crispy Cantaloupe to its growing line of all natural and wholesome crispy fruit snacks.

Crispy Cantaloupe keeps America’s most popular melon in season all year long by delivering a burst of cantaloupe right at your fingertips. The healthy freeze-dried Crispy Cantaloupe delights the taste buds of children and adults alike with its sweet taste and light, crispy crunch.

Crispy Cantaloupe is made of 100-percent high-quality cantaloupe slices and nothing else – no added sugar, preservatives (including sulfides), colors, fat, cholesterol or sodium. Crispy Cantaloupe is also vegan-friendly, peanut/tree nut-free, dairy-free and gluten-free, and it is kosher-certified.

Crispy Cantaloupe contains approximately one serving of fresh cantaloupe in a single-serving bag that totals only 40 calories. Crispy Cantaloupe provides the same all natural fruit fiber and nutrients as fresh cantaloupe – without the messiness – and has a much longer shelf life (36 months)!

Available in convenient, moisture-free, 0.36-ounce single-serving-size bags (MSRP: $1.49) or the handy ‘Grab & Go’ 6-PACKS – six single-serving bags in one large, easy-to-carry bag (MSRP: $7.99). Crispy Cantaloupe is a perfect fit for today’s active lifestyle because it is tasty, portable and ready-to-eat anytime anywhere, from kid’s lunch boxes, to work break snacks, a ”no-guilt” after dinner treat, or an outdoor activity “take-along.”

“With the new USDA Dietary Guidelines – MyPlate, more and more people are looking for easy and convenient ways to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables,” says Angela Liu, president and founder of Crispy Green. “Cantaloupe is the most consumed melon in America, Crispy Cantaloupe is our latest exciting addition to our growing assortment of freeze-dried fruit snacks. Crispy Green is very proud to be a Community Partner of the USDA and in helping promote quick and simple ways to make healthy dietary changes based on the Dietary Guidelines.”

Crispy Fruit is also available in five other delicious flavors: Crispy Apples, Crispy Asian Pears, Crispy Bananas, Crispy Pineapples and Crispy Mangoes.

Crispy Green’s FruitziO® freeze-dried fruit snacks, which are also 100-percent all natural with just a hint of natural cane sugar, are less than 100 calories and available in the following flavors: Apples & Strawberries, Apricots, Kiwi, Peaches and Strawberries. (MSRP: $3.49).

Crispy Green’s products are available nationwide and can be found in the produce and grocery aisles of many leading supermarkets, natural and specialty food stores. To find a retailer in your area that carries Crispy Green’s products, go to http://www.crispygreen.com/where-to-buy.html.

For more information about Crispy Cantaloupe and other Crispy Green products, please visit http://www.crispygreen.com. For news updates, information and special offers, follow Crispy Green and FruitziO on Twitter @CrispyGreen and @FruitziO and become a fan at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/crispygreen.

About Crispy Green

Crispy Green Inc. (http://www.crispygreen.com) is the maker of Crispy Green Crispy Fruit freeze-dried fruit snacks and the new line of FruitziO freeze-dried fruit snacks. The company was founded in August 2004 with a vision to be the leading provider of high quality, natural food products desired by everyone who wants to live a healthy and better life. In 2005, Crispy Green introduced its line of Crispy Fruit in the United States. Since then, Crispy Green has been adding one new product every year to its Crispy Fruit product line to meet its rapidly growing distribution footprint. In 2009, Crispy Green launched FruitziO® Strawberry, the first product in its line of FruitziO® freeze-dried fruit snacks. The Crispy Green® and FruitziO® line of snacks are made of only the finest fruits available. A sophisticated freeze-drying process removes the water from fresh, sweet fruit, leaving behind the fruit’s true essence in a light and crispy texture that’s perfect for snacking. Crispy Green’s line of Crispy Fruit and FruitziO® are a delicious, convenient way to add more fruit to your daily diet. Crispy Green is a Community Partner of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Nutrition Communicators Network (http://www.choosemyplate.gov/index.html), and a sponsor of Produce for Better Health Foundation (http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/).

]]> New Programs from Online Amplify Help Businesses Learn Social Media

With social media profile creation and personalized coaching, Online Amplify’s new programs help businesses grow their social media effectiveness.

Reading, MA (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Many agencies are willing to create social media profiles for companies. But OnlineAmplify.com, based in Reading, MA, has introduced innovative programs which help clients learn to effectively use social media on their own. In addition to setting up social media pages, the programs provide ongoing one-on-one coaching to help business managers get comfortable using social media.

Each of the programs includes creation or editing of social profiles in LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, a comprehensive one-on-one tutorial at the client’s computer, and a series of coaching support calls. The basic programs, suitable for a business that is managing their social media but wants to improve their effectiveness, include one 20 minute call monthly for three months. The higher-end programs offer a weekly call for three to six months. “These programs guide business managers in building the social media routine and provide a helping hand with the process,” says Online Amplify President Nancy Wolff Leary. “We work as a team.”

The partnership starts with the tutorial and continues with the ongoing coaching calls. As the client’s comfort level with social media marketing increases, subsequent calls offer more advanced tips and tools. Navigating the social media sites is not always an intuitive experience, and having support readily available can reduce barriers to building the routine. “The learning is actualized when the client’s hands are on the keyboard,” Leary says.

In working with business clients, Leary found that often, the myriad of everyday priorities required to run a business made the social media learning curve too steep. Responsiveness and maintaining cadence are essential to achieving success in social media. “Despite their best intention to get active on social media, the task often fell to the bottom of the client’s list. Rather than creating an online presence for clients that wouldn’t be effectively managed, I realized that like any business priority, we had to schedule time to dedicate to it,” Leary says. The new programs were a direct outgrowth of this insight.

While the new programs focus on the coaching component to help clients learn social media, Online Amplify also supports clients who want to offload their social marketing to the experts. The company offers customized solutions which include maintaining a client’s social media presence, posting on their behalf on various social media sites, and writing content for blogs and email newsletters.

To learn more about the new social media programs or other services offered by Online Amplify, visit http://www.OnlineAmplify.com.

About Online Amplify
Online Amplify specializes in website optimization, content creation, and social media marketing, working with companies to improve their online presence and bring visibility to their websites. The company offers workshops around the Boston area and provides learning tips and insights in a quarterly email newsletter. Online Amplify can also be found on Facebook and posts as @onlineamplify on Twitter.

Contact Information
Nancy Wolff Leary, President
Online Amplify
781 844 9148
http://www.OnlineAmplify.com

]]> Concord’s Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association Announces Harvest Festivals in Bay Area Farmers’ Markets

The Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association announces several harvest festivals in farmers’ markets in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Concord, CA (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Concord’s The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA), a not-for-profit organization supporting farmers’ markets in the San Francisco Bay Area, announces there were several harvest festivals during the month of October in time for the fall harvest and in celebration of the abundance of California harvest.

Every Wednesday from 4 to 8 pm throughout the season, Castro Farmers’ Market on Noe Street at Market Street showcased its harvests of fresh fruits and vegetables. On October 19, fall produce was offered as a prize to anyone who was able to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin placed on display. On October 26, free pumpkins were given away and a booth decorating contest was held.

Divisadero Farmers’ Market on Grove Street at Divisadero opens on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. A pumpkin decorating contest was held on October 30. People dressed in costume received prizes and free pumpkins will be given away.

Other similar activities will happen at the Inner Sunset Farmers’ Market the Upper Haight Farmers’ Market.

“This is a great way to get in the spirit of the fall harvest season, to bring friends and family together in a fun community environment, and support your local farmers,” says Nate Jordan, Regional Manager of PCFMA.

For more information on Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, call (800) 949-3276 or visit them online at http://www.pcfma-bayarea.com. Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association is located at 5060 Commercial Cir. Suite A, Concord, CA 94520.

About Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association

The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association is a not-for-profit organization that develops, operates and supports Certified Farmers’ Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their mission is to establish and operate community-supported certified farmers’ markets and other direct marketing outlets that provide viable economic opportunities for California farmers and food producers, local access to farm fresh products, support for local businesses and community organizations and education concerning food, nutrition and the sustainability of California agriculture.

]]> Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center Named “Specialized Astigmatism Center” Providing the First Comprehensive LASIK Treatment of Astigmatism Approved by the FDA

Eyetracking allows lasers used during LASIK surgery to compensate for eye movements during the procedure, however, no eyetracker has been able to adjust for subtle rotations of the eye that occur during the laser treatment – that is until now.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire (PRWEB) August 05, 2011

More than one-in-three people in the US have astigmatism; many have been told they are not candidates for LASIK because they have astigmatism. (1) Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center has been named a “Specialized Astigmatism Center” by Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH (TPV), providing the first comprehensive LASIK treatment of Astigmatism approved by the FDA. Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center is the first practice in New Hampshire to offer Advanced Control Eyetracking (ACE) on its Technolas LASIK platform. Eyetracking allows lasers used during LASIK surgery to compensate for eye movements during the procedure, thus adding an important level of assurance. However, no eyetracker has been able to adjust for subtle rotations of the eye that occur during the laser treatment – that is until now. Since subtle eye movements are common during the LASIK treatmentthis unique tracking technology ensures that the intended treatment precisely matches the eye’s prescription. This is especially important for patients who have astigmatism in addition to their nearsightedness or farsightedness, which represents the majority of contact lens and spectacle wearers in the U.S.

“Many patients with astigmatism believe that they are not suitable candidates for laser vision correction. With the advent of ACE this is no longer true. We finally have a laser vision correction procedure that is ideally suited for the treatment of astigmatism,” said Dr. N. Timothy Peters, Medical Director. “This technology is one of a kind. Rotation of the eye during LASIK could result in less than full correction of astigmatism, which is very common among LASIK patients, and an increased chance of the need for a secondary enhancement procedure.”

“We have always been committed to bringing the latest technology available to Northern New England. Our LASIK practice has grown because we have been able to provide the best treatments for all of our patients with all prescriptions. This has enabled us to set ourselves apart from our competitors,” says Dr. Peters.

Review of Laser Vision Correction Technology Available Today

No other LASIK system available in the US can compensate for eye rotation during the LASIK treatment. Both the Technolas ACE and VISX S4 IR (Abbot Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA) trackers compensate for the cyclorotation of the eye that can occur between the sitting position during critical diagnostic measurements and lying down on the LASIK bed. However, only the Technolas ACE tracker can adjust the delivery of laser pulses in response to eye rotation during the LASIK treatment. Further, the Technolas ACE system is enabled for both conventional and custom wavefront-guided LASIK treatments, while the VISX S4 IR tracker cannot adjust for cyclotorsion associated with conventional LASIK treatments. The eyetrackers of the Wavelight and Ladarvision lasers (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) cannot compensate for eye rotation at all.

This new eyetracker also doubles the speed of tracking so as to allow the laser to rapidly adjust to the eye’s movements; response time with ACE is now under 7 milliseconds, or 0.007 seconds. ACE also adjusts for the pupil center shifting that can occur between light and dark settings, critical to the proper centering of customized LASIK treatments over the pupil.

About Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center

Founded in 1999 by sister company, Eyesight Ophthalmic Services, Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center was opened in response to the patient demand for a state-of-the-art LASIK vision correction center.

Specializing in eye surgery and fully staffed with highly-trained and exceptionally talented personnel and one of the top surgeons in the region, Clear Advantage provides patients with technically advanced procedures in a personalized and comfortable manner. Serving the New England community, Clear Advantage is centrally located in Portsmouth NH, and is just an hour from Boston MA, Manchester NH, and Portland ME.

Clear Advantage offers various types of vision correction treatments including Traditional LASIK, Zyoptix Customized LASIK, PRK, RevitalVision and the revolutionary implantable contact lens, the Visian ICL. Clear Advantage works with over 290 optometrists in the New England region and offers free follow up care for LASIK patients through any of their comanaging optometrists. Clear Advantage also offers 24 months of interest free financing through Chase Health and Care Credit and works with most of the major vision and medical insurance plans for discounted rates.

For more information regarding this article, or vision correction options, contact Clear Advantage at 603-501-5000 or learn more at http://www.ClearAdvantageLaser.com

]]> Specialized Fitness Resources Will be an Exhibitor at the Orlando Athletic Business Conference & Expo

Specialized Fitness Resources, the Miami-based leader in fitness, athletic, and specialty flooring, will be exhibiting their sports surfacing, flooring and equipment for CrossFit and rubber mats at booth #1429 at The Athletic Business Conference & Expo in Orlando December 1-3.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Join Specialized Fitness Resources, the experienced leader of the fitness industry, showing off their sports surfacing, flooring and equipment for CrossFit and premium rubber matsat booth #1429 for The Athletic Business Conference & Expo December 1-3 in Orlando, Florida. This premier educational event and trade show offers athletic, fitness and recreation professionals the educational and networking opportunities to succeed.

“We’re excited to be a part of The Athletic Business Conference & Expo to help the fitness, recreation and athletics industry grow,” said Ozzie Lopez, founder of Specialized Fitness Resources. “We want to help those in the industry, whether they’re an experienced administrator or new to the profession, to be more fit and healthy.”

The Athletic Business Conference & Expo will feature more than 300 exhibitors featuring hundreds of products and services dealing with sports, fitness, recreation, wellness and active-aging to help build and operate facilities and programs. 83 seminars, workshops, panels and roundtables are available for the community of professionals looking to connect with others and formulate new ideas.

This three day experience is the ideal environment for connecting with facility owners, managers and program directors throughout the world. Here visitors will learn from motivating speakers sharing practical solutions and creative strategies; and meet leaders, manufacturers and peers who share experiences and invaluable trade knowledge.

Featuring their products within the rubber and fitness industry, Specialized Fitness Resources will be showcasing their rubber mats, sport surfacing, gym wall padding, and the sports surface maintenance products they offer. Visitors and athletes alike can challenge themselves by testing out Specialized Fitness Resources’ latest equipment and techniques on the demo stage for all to see.

To learn more about what Specialized Fitness Resources can provide, please visit http://www.specializedweb.com/. For more information or to register for The Athletic Business Conference & Expo, please visit [http://athleticbusinessconference.com/.

About Specialized Fitness Resources:
Founded in 1993 by Ozzie Lopez, Specialized Fitness Resources has over 28 years experience in the rubber mats and fitness industry making them the leader in fitness, athletic, and specialty flooring. It provides eco-friendly sports surfacing for a variety of athletic activities in public facilities and at home. Specialized Fitness Resources has outfitted dozens of CrossFit affiliated centers, police and fire departments, military branches, university fitness centers, and celebrity home gyms.

Contact
Ozzie Lopez
info(at)specializedweb(dot)com
305-752-0451

]]> GW Hosts Rally to Kick Off Campaign to Collect 20,000 Used Cell Phones

Hundreds of George Washington University students and employees lined up today to donate their used cell phones to support maternal and child programs abroad. GW also made a new commitment to tackle infant mortality in the Washington, D.C., area by partnering with the National Healthy Mother, Healthy Babies Coalition to promote enrollment in its Text4baby program.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) October 18, 2011

Hundreds of George Washington University students and employees lined up today to donate their used cell phones to support maternal and child programs abroad. GW also announced its commitment today to improving the health of local families in the Washington, D.C. community through a new partnership with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition and its text4baby program.

The university held the “GW + Phones = Hope” kick-off rally today as part of a university-wide campaign to collect 20,000 used cell phones by March 2012. GW announced the commitment on Oct. 6 as host of the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Meeting in March. GW will collect the used cell phones and other portable electronic devices and work with an organization called Hope Phones to recycle them. The proceeds from the recycling program will go to fund maternal and child mobile technology health projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nepal.

“By making this pledge in the spirit of the Clinton Global Initiative, we are answering President Clinton’s challenge to make a difference in the world,” said George Washington University President Steven Knapp. “This collection drive will enable us to improve maternal and child health not only in developing countries, but also in the District of Columbia, which has one of the highest infant mortality rates in this nation.”

Special guest speakers at today’s rally included Chelsea Clinton, William J. Clinton Foundation board member, and Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts, an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal and child health. In addition, ABC News’ Emmy-award winning journalist Juju Chang, Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation, and Tierney O’Dea, campaign manager for Hope Phones also spoke at the rally.    

Phones and other portable electronic devices can be donated by downloading a pre-paid mailing label at http://www.gwu.edu/donate-phones/ or at designated collection sites at the following locations beginning Wednesday, Oct. 19 through March 30:
    GWorld Office on the ground floor of Marvin Center, 800 21st Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20052     The Faculty and Staff Service Center in Rice Hall, 2121 Eye St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20052     Virginia Science & Technology campus Library, Enterprise Hall, Room 179, 44983 Knoll Square #179, Ashburn, Va. 20147

In addition to addressing maternal and child health concerns abroad, the university also will extend its efforts to the local D.C. area. GW’s School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) is partnering with National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition to support enrollment in text4baby, a free text messaging program that provides timely health information to women via their cell phones starting in pregnancy and extending through their babies’ first year. GW students working under the direction of Dr. Amita Vyas will design and implement an outreach strategy to promote and enroll Washington, D.C., families in the greatest need in the text4baby service. GW will recruit volunteers throughout its university community to participate in the local outreach efforts. To volunteer, visit http://www.gwu.edu/donate-phones/.

“GW has a long tradition of service and a passion for giving back to our local, national and global communities,” said Lynn Goldman, dean of the School of Public Health and Health Services. “Now, through partnerships with Hope Phones and with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, our students and faculty will help raise awareness and bolster enrollment for important resources that will help mothers and families in our community and across the world raise healthy babies.”

In the heart of the nation’s capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.

About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which have already improved the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $69.2 billion. For more information, visit http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/.

About CGI U
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) challenges college students to address global issues with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U members do more than simply discuss problems – they take concrete steps to solve them by building relationships, creating action plans, participating in hands-on workshops and following-up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Their efforts have culminated in approximately 3,000 Commitments to Action. Previous CGI U meetings have taken place at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Miami, and have convened more than 3,500 students from 641 schools in 110 countries and all 50 states. The fifth annual CGI U meeting will be held at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. from March 30 – April 1, 2012. To learn more, visit http://www.cgiu.org/Default.asp.

About Hope Phones
The Hope Phones campaign began in 2009 as an innovative way to fund the global efforts of Medic Mobile, the parent organization that advances healthcare in 15 countries with mobile technology. Half a million cell phones are discarded in the United States every day and pollute the environment with tons of plastic and persistent toxins. Cell phone recycling through Hope Phones reduces hazardous waste in our communities responsibly, while providing a real public health benefit abroad. If Hope Phones can recycle just 1% of disposed phones each year, we can outfit 1 million health workers, improving the lives of 50 million people. For more visit http://www.hopephones.org.

About Every Mother Counts
Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal and child health. Every Mother Counts seeks to engage new audiences to better understand the challenges and the solutions while encouraging them to take action to improve the lives of girls and women worldwide. The keystone of the campaign is http://www.everymothercounts.org, an interactive platform providing the tools to raise awareness, education and action. To date, Every Mother Counts supporters have gathered 15,000 cell phones for Hope Phones to help equip the Democratic Republic of Congo.

]]> Eating Fruits for a Healthy Diet, The Latest "Appetite for Health" Segment on NewsWatch

On this week’s "Appetite for Health" Segment on NewsWatch, we take a look at the importance of fruits in our daily diet and how they can play a key role to eating healthy and nutritiously. NewsWatch is a nationwide consumer oriented show that regularly features top news stories and Satellite Media Tour interviews with experts and celebrities throughout the United States.

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) September 29, 2011

Everyone knows the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but it is important to know that a daily regimen that includes fruit and vegetables is a key to good nutrition. In our weekly “Appetite for Health” segment on NewsWatch, Registered Dietician Julie Upton and Katherine Brooking share why eating fruits are important to a healthy diet.

As Katherine and Julie explained during the segment, the MyPlate graphic says that half of our plate needs to be filled with fruits and vegetables. An easy way to fulfill a daily fruit regimen is to eat dried fruits. International Scientists of the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress agree that dried fruits and fresh fruits have equal health benefits. Dried fruits have the added benefit of being available year round, and they are also inexpensive and delicious. Many healthy and delicious fruit choices are dried fruits, plums, figs, and raisins. Consumers can even mix them with low-fat yogurt or add a fig spread on top of whole grain toast. A raisin or craisin couscous salad is always a great choice as well.

Fruits contain carbohydrates and a small amount of protein, but very little, if any, fat. Most fruits contain less than one gram of fat per serving. Calories in fruits come mostly from simple carbohydrates; that is, sugars such as fructose, sucrose and glucose. For more information, head to AppforHealth.com

Katherine Brooking is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition Education from Columbia University. She is dedicated to helping people achieve better health and richer lives through sound nutrition and healthy lifestyles. She is a frequent nutrition contributor to top-tier national morning shows including the TODAY show, Live with Regis & Kelly, The Early Show on CBS, Good Morning America Health as well as on local affiliate stations across the country.

Katherine co-hosts The Victory Project, an original web series from the creators of Project Runway, in partnership with MSN. The Victory Project helps women across America look and feel their best through better nutrition, fitness, and beauty care. Katherine also co-hosts and co-produces a weekly nutrition and fitness segment series, Appetite for Health, on The Daily Buzz, a nationally syndicated news program. As a writer covering health and wellness topics, Katherine has contributed to SELF Magazine, Prevention, Cooking Light and Woman’s Day and other leading news publications including The Washington Post and New York Daily News.

Julie Upton is a registered dietitian and communications expert specializing in nutrition, fitness and health. As a former New York City-based national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Julie is interviewed in hundreds of magazine articles and is a frequent guest on national and local television and radio stations. She has appeared on the NBC Today Show, CBS Evening News, ABC World News Tonight, CNN Headline News, and Fox News Fox & Friends. She has also appeared on MTV, Access Hollywood, E! Entertainment News and Extra to provide expert commentary on Hollywood nutrition trends.

Julie has authored several professional book chapters, co-authored nutrition research and has just completed her first sports nutrition book, Energy to Burn: The Ultimate Food and Nutrition Guide to Fuel Your Active Life, co-authored by Jenna Bell-Wilson, Ph.D., RD.

NewsWatch is a weekly 30 minute consumer oriented television show that airs nationwide. NewsWatch regularly feature top celebrities, health tips, technology products, medical breakthroughs and entertainment news on the show. The show airs in 180 markets nationwide as well as all of the top 20 broadcast markets in the country, and is the preferred choice for Satellite Media Tour and Video News Release Distribution. For more information, head to newswatchtv.com

]]> Super-trainer.com Opens a Personal Trainer Marketing Page

Super-trainer.com opens a personal trainer marketing page. Personal trainers on the site have welcomed the news.

Houston, TX. (PRWEB) December 30, 2011

Super-trainer.com has good news for personal trainers everywhere this week with the launch of their new personal trainer marketing page. This new page is designed to help any personal trainer increase their income by following some proven and powerful marketing strategies.

According to Rachel teen, one of the leading developers of this new page, “we have been working on this page for some time now and are really glad to finally see it up and running. We always got a massive amount of queries on the site from personal trainers about how to market their business so we eventually decided that having a dedicated personal trainer marketing page was the way to go for us. On this page we aim to provide personal trainers with some of the most cutting edge marketing strategies available in the industry today so they can grow their business and their income at the same time”.

There is a special little forum on the site that s dedicated to personal trainers and the issues that they face and news of this page has been trending strongly in conversation this week on the site. Some of the personal trainers are leaving comments on the forum that is reflecting a strong appreciation for what the team at site are doing. John Conway, from Ohio said that “I just love what the team on the site have done with this page and I personally am planning on using the new marketing techniques to land myself a lot more clients next year”.

The team at the site realize that practically all of their followers are doing personal training work for the sheer joy of it but their also realize the money is the bottom line for many people in the industry and the whole dream collapses unless the cash is there to back it all up.

The team on the site has decided therefore to provide a free report on how to hit a six figure income in the fitness industry which can now be downloaded for free at http://super-trainer.com/.

]]> Statewide Results from NutriGram® Confirm Need for Healthy Eating Education

Texas Department of Agriculture and The Cooper Institute® Offer NutriGram at No Cost to All Texas Public Schools

Dallas (PRWEB) November 10, 2011

When a group of about 1,800 third through fifth grade Texas children were asked how many times they ate fast food, 46 percent of them said two or more times per week. These same children also did not understand that low-fat milk is a healthier choice than whole milk.

These are just a few of the results the Texas Department of Agriculture and The Cooper Institute® released today from a statewide pilot program called NutriGram®, a fun and interactive nutrition education program for elementary students. The valuable information collected from NutriGram reaffirmed the importance of healthy eating education among Texas children.

“Poor nutrition impacts a student’s performance, and with one in five Texas children considered obese, Texas must do what it can to educate students about proper nutrition,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “NutriGram has the opportunity to be a breakthrough that can improve children’s lives and save taxpayers unnecessary healthcare costs. This program is a critical initiative for Texans and serves as the education component for the Texas Department of Agriculture’s 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right.”

The students from 14 elementary schools across Texas participated in a NutriGram pilot program earlier this year. The results released today provide schools, parents and the general public valuable information about the need for nutrition intervention for young students.

Following are a sample of the results:

School Meals
    The majority of children liked the school cafeteria food “some” or “most” of the time.     87% of children expressed interest in helping choose healthy foods for their school cafeteria.     88% reported that they would eat healthy breakfast items such as yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, granola and whole wheat toast if presented.

Food and Beverage Choices
    46% of children ate fast food two or more times per week.     When presented with a sample menu, children were equally likely to choose healthier options in place of less healthier options. For example: o    Children were equally likely to choose healthy options such as a turkey sandwich in place of less healthier options such as chicken nuggets.
o    Children reported consistently choosing healthier choices for a side dish, such as a fruit cup or steamed vegetables, over French fries and tator tots.
    Increasing variety is one way to get children interested in eating more fruits and vegetables.

Food Knowledge
    Children did not understand that low-fat milk is a healthier choice than whole milk.     Children did not understand that baked potato chips were a healthier choice than French fries.     The majority of children incorrectly thought diet soda contained sugar and sports drinks did not contain sugar.     The majority of children knew that consuming excess calories can lead to weight gain, but fewer knew that excess calories can also lead to heart disease.

“It’s a frightening reality that 17 percent of today’s children are obese,” said Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, Founder and Chairman at Cooper Aerobics in Dallas. “Through NutriGram we can learn what students know about nutrition and what food choices they are likely to make. This program acts as a catalyst for positive eating changes, empowering adults to better teach and implement proper nutrition, ultimately improving the health and lifestyle of our children.”

The University of Texas School of Public Health, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living analyzed the pilot data. The student demographics from the study include, Gender: about 53 percent female and about 46 percent male; Ethnicity: about 48 percent Hispanic, 28 percent White and 13 percent African American, plus other ethnicities; and Body Mass Index (BMI): about 54 percent are normal weight, 17 percent are overweight and 26 percent are obese.

See How NutriGram Works
NutriGram is designed to encourage healthy lifestyles through an online question-and-answer format featuring a 3-D nutrition education video game. Media are encouraged to download video and sound bites of children using NutriGram, click here.

NutriGram is available to all Texas public schools at no cost through May 2012, and the program is currently being used at more than 70 elementary schools across Texas to assess third- through fifth-grade students’ knowledge, behaviors and attitudes toward healthy eating. The information gained as a result of NutriGram will help empower adults to better teach and implement proper nutrition at earlier ages in an effort to curb the alarming rise in childhood obesity. Public, private and charter schools interested in implementing NutriGram can contact The Cooper Institute at 972.341.3200 or visit NutriGram.org.

About The Texas Department of Agriculture
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) provides numerous services to Texans through four key areas: growing the agriculture industry; protecting consumers; enabling healthy lifestyles; and developing our economy. Through domestic and international marketing initiatives and various biosecurity measures, TDA promotes and protects the Lone Star State’s $100 billion agriculture industry. The agency also protects Texans through programs to maintain the integrity of the state’s natural resources and by ensuring consumers get what they pay for at the fuel pump and the grocery store. Additionally, as the administrator of federal nutrition programs and economic development grants, TDA also advocates healthy lifestyles among all Texans and fosters the advancement of communities across the Lone Star State. Through research, regulation, funding and marketing, TDA is committed to growing Texas’ worldwide standing as a powerhouse of productivity. For more information, visit http://www.TexasAgriculture.gov.

About The Cooper Institute
Established in 1970 by Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, The Cooper Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated worldwide to preventive medicine research and education, housing one of the world’s largest databases on exercise and health. Each year The Cooper Institute develops engaged learners in fitness and health with its courses and nationally accredited Personal Trainer Certification exam. The Cooper Institute offers web-based tools for schools to track and report on youth fitness and nutrition: FITNESSGRAM® and NutriGram®. For more information, visit cooperinstitute.org.