By Christine Galeone

With COVID-19 Omicron variant cases rising during January, Grafton’s Board of Health recently instituted a mandate that unless a health condition makes it unsafe, everyone age 5 and older must wear masks in indoor public and private places, including businesses, churches, offices, etc. It also temporarily closed the Municipal Center, and the Town returned to remote operations. The decisions were made in an effort to help protect people from becoming infected.

With the pandemic still part of our everyday lives, and with a new year before us, it’s not surprising that many people are resolving to become more fit. And while there are some wonderful online resources that can help people achieve that goal, such as CDC.gov/quit and smokefree.gov, which help people to quit smoking – one of the best things people can do for their health and fitness – there are many exhilarating ways people can become more fit thanks to Grafton organizations and businesses.   

Did you ever go skating back in the day? Maybe it’s time to go again. In South Grafton, the Town of Grafton Recreation Department and Parks Department have, once again, made a temporary ice skating rink freely available to everyone. The rink is open daily through February from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (weather permitting) at Mill Villages Park, which is located at 61 Main Street. People must bring their own skates, and all children must be accompanied by adults. If you prefer hiking snowy trails, the Recreation Department also has free snowshoe rentals available. More information can be found on the department’s Facebook page.  

If thoughts about outdoor winter activities leave you anything but warm, you might want to consider indoor classes. Both Premier Sport Taekwondo in North Grafton and Dance Soul Motion in South Grafton offer a variety of classes. Premier Sport Taekwondo, www.premierkick.com, teaches martial arts, karate, taekwondo and self-defense classes for kids, teens and adults. Although they might be sold out by the time this column goes to press, special highly-discounted two-week passes to the studio’s family martial arts classes are being offered through mid-February or until they sell out. Dance, Soul, Motion, www.dancesoulmotion.com, is an adult Yoga, Barre, Zumba and Pilates studio. In addition to the limited-size classes it holds in its studio, it has live-stream options for people who would prefer to take classes from home.   

For adults, teens and children who want to get fit and express themselves through dance, there are a few Grafton businesses that can help. Dance classes for children, teens and adults of all ages (including people with special needs) are available at Grafton Common-based Beatz Dance Studio, www.beatzdance.com. In addition to its drop-in adult Zumba and Tap Fit classes, the studio just added adult Ballet Fit and Jazz classes. Studio and Zoom dance classes for all ages are also available at North Grafton’s Dance It Up, www.danceitup.com. It offers adult classes in Jazz, Ballet and Barre. And Irish dance classes for children and teens can be found at Murphy Academy of Irish Dance, www.murphyacademy.com. Like the others, the studio limits class size and implements COVID-19 safety measures at its new studio, located at 16 Ferry Street in South Grafton.

Elsewhere in South Grafton, Crossroads Nutrition wants to help people with weight loss, weight gain and nutrition goals. The shop, which sells protein shakes, refresher teas and protein snacks, infuses its offerings with a variety of fun flavors. On various days this month, its specials have included banana split shakes, pumpkin turtle cheesecake shakes, peach pomegranate refreshers and blackberry dragon refreshers.   

If better hearing is what will help you to become more fit, a local business should have everything you need. Dr. Mary Ellen Curran Rancourt, who runs Hear Joy Audiology, recently posted some helpful tips about protecting hearing devices during winter months on her South Grafton practice’s Facebook page. Above all, with state-of-the-art testing equipment, Hear Joy Audiology can help people to be more fit by helping them to hear more clearly.     

A nonprofit might be able to offer support to parents who want to reduce the stress of funding their teens’ college education. The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is currently reaching out to offer support for high school seniors in Grafton and throughout Worcester County. It’s now accepting scholarship applications. The available scholarships generally range from $300 to $5,000. Students can apply through the foundation’s website, www.greaterworcester.org, through Tuesday March 1.

Finally, the Grafton Public Library is offering its patrons a chance to learn helpful ways to set goals. The library’s Inspirational Book Group will be discussing “This Year I Will…How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution or Make a Dream Come True” by M.J. Ryan on Tuesday Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. on Slack. For more information about the virtual discussion or how to borrow the book, you can visit the library’s website, Grafton Public Library (graftonlibrary.org), and click on Events.  

Getting more fit many not be easy, but gaining strength, vitality and better health is certainly worth the effort. And Grafton organizations and businesses can make the process much more enjoyable.

Please note that this information was correct at the time the column was written. However, because the pandemic is rapidly changing things, it’s best to check the websites and social media pages of any business to see if new changes have been implemented. Contact Christine with your business news items at [email protected].