Fitness firms await New Year's resolutions

Fitness is the focus of two Brainerd businesses. And the workout options may be just in time for people who splurged over the holidays and are now thinking about resolutions for 2001.

Best Body by Sandy is located in Naturway Foods, at 220 W. Washington St. in Brainerd. The business is taking an outside the gym approach with a personal trainer consulting with clients.

Owner Sandy Lovald said she was convinced more emphasis needed to be placed on the physical side of fitness in regard to overall health after spending three years running the health food store.

Lovald received a certification from the National Council of Strength and Fitness as a personal trainer. Now she designs a fitness program tailored to each client's individual needs. Lovald assesses a client's current fitness status through a body composition analysis and designs a personalized fitness program, including general diet guidelines.

It is all about the type of exercise, frequency and motivation.

Additionally, Curves for Women, a new workout spot offering 30-minute exercise sessions for women, is opening on Washington Street near the Fourth Street Northwest intersection in Brainerd. The business has set a grand opening date of Jan. 15.

Tyke's Carpet Sales is moving into the former True Value Hardware location near the intersection of County Roads 3 and 11 just south of Crosslake. The log-fronted former hardware store has a sign outside announcing the Tyke's carpet store is coming soon to the Mission Mall location. Expectations are for a March 1 opening.

Work force needs in child care, particularly driven through welfare reform, was a driving force behind a construction project in southeast Brainerd that is nearing the final touches. The Child Care Center at the Tri-County Community Action Program building on Oak Street in Brainerd is scheduled to open Tuesday.

The addition to the TCC building meant an additional Head Start classroom, a Child Care Center and second-floor community services offices. The expansion project coincided with the 35th anniversary of TCC and Head Start.

Crosby-Ironton High School will be the site for a school-to-work job fair on Jan. 31 in a partnership between the school district and the Cuyuna Range Chamber of Commerce. A grant, obtained through the Central Minnesota School to Work Partnership, was used to develop the program.

More than 400 ninth- through 12th-grade students are expected to attend. Lunch will be provided for all participating businesses. Chamber membership is not required to participate in the event. Participating businesses are asked to respond by Jan. 5 so planning can begin for the event.

One of the event's goals is to expose students to a wide range of employment opportunities available on the Cuyuna Range. And it will allow students to talk with employers about career choices, educational needs, work ethics and job skills.

Businesses are asked to bring information job descriptions, skills required, pay ranges, education required, benefits offered and possible summer internships. Set-up time is from 8-9:15 a.m. Jan. 31 in the Woock gym. The job fair begins at 9:15 a.m.

For more information, contact the Cuyuna Range Chamber of Commerce at (218) 546-8131.

The Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner will being with a social hour at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Aitkin American Legion. Cost is $15. The event includes a buffet dinner, a keynote speech and the presentation of the Business of 2000, the Warren Potter Achievement Award, chamber year in review and door prizes.

Qwest Communications issued a reminder to people who may be programming wireless phones or hand-held electronic calendars -- to remember the changing area codes, particularly in the Twin Cities. The area code switch will take effect Jan. 14.

At that time the current 612 area code most of us have been familiar with for decades is changing, splitting into 612, 952 and 763. Minneapolis will keep the 612 area code. Northwest suburbs will become 763 and southwest suburbs will be 952. The rough dividing line for the area code split is the Highway 394 corridor.

So Happy New Year all. Welcome 2001. And remember -- whether reader or entrepreneur -- the only way the crowd can beat a path to your door is if you tell them when your business opened and where it is located.

Have a business news tip? Contact Biz Buzz at rrichard@brainerddispatch.com or call (218) 855-5852.