Health Update: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce to hold inaugural Health & Wellness Expo – What Experts Say

WESTFIELD — With New Year’s Resolutions still fresh in mind, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce invites residents and interested members of the public to focus on well-being at its inaugural Health & Wellness Expo on Feb. 18 at the Westfield River Elementary School.

A variety of chamber businesses will have tables at the expo, which will be held from Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 4-7 p.m., and will offer advice, information, and resources to those who attend — and perhaps a few promotional gifts to fill goodie bags.

“From home health services to fitness trainers to financial advisors, we have businesses that will provide a wealth of information and resources to attendees,” said Amanda Waterfield, executive director of the chamber.

The idea for the expo, which is free to attend, came from a conversation Waterfield had with chamber member Harlene Simmons, the owner of All Natural Reiki.

Waterfield said she was at a similar event recently and saw how popular it was, not only for people seeking health and wellness information, but also for the businesses and organizations that participated.

Simmons said both were looking for something different to offer area residents and decided to put together an event focusing on health and wellness, which Waterfield agreed with.

“We said, ‘let’s do this in Westfield,’” Waterfield said.

Simmons had another reason.

“We live in a tumultuous world, and we need wellness,” she said.

They came up with an idea that was focused on attracting folks who are looking for that information, but broad enough to attract different kinds of businesses not typically associated with health and wellness — like Cambridge Credit Counseling, an event sponsor with Baystate Health, and the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail.

When asked why the elementary school was being used for the expo, Waterfield said that it should attract people to the expo who haven’t had a chance to walk through the new school that opened last year.

“With February break, it seemed like a good fit,” she said.

Simmons said having it at the school would allow some quiet spaces in a classroom for vendors to demonstrate their services like hers, where silence is important.

Schools for students statewide are closed from Feb. 16-20.

The local businesses being featured at the expo are:

• Armbrook Village
• CHD Cancer House of Hope
• All Natural Reiki
• Baystate Health
• Health New England
• Full Plate Strength & Conditioning
• Highland Valley Elder Services
• Serendipity Psych
• The Arbors at Westfield
• BHN Center for WellBeing, Westfield
• Vivid Hair Salon and Spa, Inc.
• YMCA of Greater Westfield
• Fore Point Retirement
• Visiting Angels
• YMCA of Greater Westfield
• Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail
• Stanley Park of Westfield
• Christina Beeke                 
• Wash Works
• Deborah Calvanese, LMHC
• Momentum Health & Performance
• Colonial Life
• Holyoke Medical Center, Inc.
• Baystate Health Office of Research
• Mary’s Accessible Travel LLC
• GFM VIP Inc.
• Gandara Center
• Anytime Fitness

Businesses interested in registering as an exhibitor should contact the Chamber at 413-568-1618 or register at www.westfieldbiz.org/events. Chamber members can participate at no cost; there is a fee of $75 for nonmembers to participate as a vendor.