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New York Post
29-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
NYC's best kept fitness secret: free classes in the park
From her window across the street, Jodi Popper couldn't help but notice the lively group lunging, squatting, jumping and laughing together every Thursday evening in Astoria Park. 'I was curious about it for the longest time, and it took me months and months until I finally worked up the bravery to check it out,' she told The Post. A year later, the 68-year-old has become a regular at the Low Impact Bodyweight Circuit Training class, one of more than 100 free workout sessions offered through the New York City Parks and Recreation Department's Shape Up NYC program. Advertisement 8 Thousands of New Yorkers participate in Shape Up NYC fitness classes every year. Kim Max for 'I'm retired, but I work twice a week as a high school guidance counselor,' Popper said. 'Thursday nights, I'm wiped out, and then I come here and I'm rejuvenated.' From humble reps to citywide gains Shape Up NYC hit the ground running in 2003 as part of a public health push by former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The program initially focused on Harlem, the South Bronx and central Brooklyn, home to alarmingly high rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. 'The life expectancy in these neighborhoods is lower than everywhere else in the city,' said Kendra Van Horn, director of Citywide Fitness for NYC Parks. Advertisement Now, Shape Up NYC is citywide with 100% free workouts offered in parks, libraries, community centers, beachfront boardwalks and even online. Van Horn said dance-based classes are consistently the most popular, with one Zumba class in Flushing drawing more than 100 participants each week. New Yorkers can also belly dance in Brooklyn or break a sweat at a high-energy dance cardio class with sweeping river views at West Harlem Piers. Advertisement 8 Shape Up NYC offers free fitness classes in all five boroughs. Stefano Giovannini for For a sweat-drenched, mood-boosting workout, try intenSati in Forest Park, or swing by Midtown for a high-intensity class combining bodyweight resistance training with conditioning for a full-body burn. In Bed-Stuy, beginners can dive into mat Pilates, while yoga lovers find their zen with slow-flow classes in the East Village. Up in The Bronx, there's even a running group to help you train for your first 5K. Shaping minds and bodies Advertisement Shape Up NYC classes — funded by an annual budget of $160,000 — are led by a mix of paid and volunteer instructors who undergo a 12-week training program. 'Before I came to Shape Up, I was a miserable person working a 9 to 5,' said Gretchen Simmons, 53. 'I was overweight, unhappy and knew I needed to do something different.' 8 Shape Up NYC classes can be customized to fit each participant's fitness level and physical needs. Kim Max for When a fitness studio in her neighborhood offered a summer special, she seized the chance to try a few classes. It was yoga that truly resonated with her. 'It really helped me to ground and center myself. I started being a happier person in my job, my life,' said Simmons, who's shed over 100 pounds through yoga. 'I realized I wanted to give that to other people.' 'Not everybody can afford a membership to a high-end gym. Not everyone can afford to go to a personal trainer.' Gretchen Simmons Now a certified yoga instructor, Simmons teaches three Shape Up NYC classes a week, including a virtual session on Saturday mornings and a chair yoga class in The Bronx tailored to older adults and those with mobility issues. 'A lot of the people who take my classes, they've continued to show up and they've improved tremendously in their lives,' she said. 'I've had some women who have had mobility issues and now they can do tree pose.' Tailored for every body Advertisement Shape Up NYC welcomes all ages and fitness levels. You don't even need to be a New York City resident to attend, and preregistration is not required in most cases. Schedules are available online. 8 Pre-registration for most Shape Up NYC classes is not required. Stefano Giovannini for The program has become a staple for thousands, particularly women in their 50s. Instructors are trained to tailor workouts to accommodate the diverse needs of participants. 'Nobody wants to go to a class and feel like they can't do it,' Van Horn said. 'We want them to feel like they can accomplish something.' Advertisement At the Low Impact Bodyweight Circuit Training class in Astoria Park, instructor Matt Schoenstein guides disciples through four sets of three exercises each, offering different options for varying fitness levels. In one circuit, Schoenstein demonstrated a full chest-to-floor pushup for anyone ready to take on a challenge. Alternatively, he offered a more accessible option by showing how to engage the shoulders, arms and chest with standing pushups using a railing for support. 8 Shape Up NYC offers classes like dance fitness, bodyweight circuit training, yoga and bootcamp. Kim Max for It's not just about the physical transformation. Mental health perks and community-building are two of the biggest benefits that participants report in internal surveys and focus groups. Advertisement For some participants, their only daytime interactions are with their Shape Up NYC classmates, according to Van Horn. 'I would say the sense of community and belonging are on par with the physical benefits of exercise,' she said. 8 Shape Up NYC aims to foster connection among New Yorkers. Stefano Giovannini for Get moving, New York Advertisement Despite being around for more than 20 years, Shape Up NYC remains relatively unknown to many New Yorkers — unless, like Jodi Popper, they happen to stumble across it. 'There's so much going on in New York, and there are just so many options that most people don't know about,' Van Horn said. On tap is a major 2026 expansion in The Bronx, where volunteer numbers dropped during the coronavirus pandemic. 'We want to send resources to the neighborhoods that need it most,' Van Horn said. 'There are still parts of the city that are underserved.' 8 Shape Up NYC has been active for more than 20 years. Kim Max for 8 Fitness instructors go through a 12-week training course. Kim Max for For Simmons, who's Bronx-born and raised, this mission hits home. 'Not everybody can afford a membership to a high-end gym,' she said. 'Not everyone can afford to go to a personal trainer.' By providing free fitness resources to those who might otherwise have limited access, Simmons believes the program delivers benefits immediately — and over time. 'People need to get up and keep moving. It's going to help you thrive now and live well as you get older,' she said. 'You want to enjoy life, so just get out there and do it.'
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
‘Shop local' queen beat tariffs with store of NYC-made goods
Tariffs busting your budget? One charming NYC shop is here to save your wallet — and your conscience. Tucked away at 434 Sixth Ave. in the West Village, the Locavore Variety Store is helmed by 'shop local' queen Caroline Weaver, an entrepreneur on a serious mission to change the way New Yorkers consume. Since opening a year ago, the 'shop about shopping' has become something of a gold mine for quirky, homegrown finds — sourced within 100 miles of the Big Apple. Advertisement 8 Since setting up shop a year ago, the Locavore (above) has morphed into a hot spot for offbeat, locally made loot — sourced within 100 miles of the Big Apple. Kim Max for Amid candy-colored decor, quirky displays show off 700 products from over 130 regional makers. There are household essentials — cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils — pantry staples like green goodies made by Eddie's Pickles in Maspeth, Queens, and unusual notions and gifts like cigarette lighters made with Dum Dum gum wrappers by comedian and downtown denizen Amy Sedaris. 'I want to remind people that shopping is fun,' Weaver told The Post. 'It's about going out, experiencing our neighborhoods, discovering something new and having fun.' Advertisement Weaver's retail journey started with the beloved CW Pencil Enterprise, a cult-favorite stationery spot she ran from 2014 to 2021 on the Lower East Side. But when the iconic address shuttered during the pandemic, the city cheerleader found herself dreaming of the ultimate buy-local boutique — giving birth to her latest retail baby not long after. 'The shop was always meant to be my demonstration of what shopping local really means — that it's friendly, it's fun, it's about things that are made in our communities and that have stories,' Weaver explained. 8 Inside the Locavore, you'll find a parade of offbeat displays, showcasing 700 handpicked products from over 130 local makers. Kim Max for Advertisement 'That's the storytelling part of it, and that's something Amazon and big box stores will never be able to compete with. My hope is that as the economic squeeze tightens and small businesses start to struggle, people will really begin to see why it matters to shop local,' Weaver said. The selection is as unexpected as it is charming — think Wiffle Balls straight outta Shelton, Connecticut, or wool dusters created by a Bronx family business, all waiting under the watchful, cardboard-cutout eye of another local staple: the pigeon. And Weaver has opted to keep things as simple as they are amusing, featuring grocery store-style shelving sourced from a Canarsie warehouse — she even sanded and stained the floor herself. 8 Shopping at the Locavore is like stepping into a treasure trove of local finds. Kim Max for Advertisement But this isn't just a smile-inducing spot for a browse — the passionate proprietor wants to spark excitement in her customers for a full exploration of Gotham's gargantuan selection of worthy mom-and-pop shops. Since 1990, big corporations have slashed 4 million jobs, but small businesses added 8 million, according to the Small Business Administration. As that number grows, Weaver has made it her job to catalog every independent retail space in the city — hoofing it through all five boroughs to track down all the hidden gems, going back to 2021. Four years and 14,000 stops later, she's almost done. 8 This ain't just a feel-good pit stop — Weaver's on a mission to get New Yorkers hyped about exploring the city's hidden gems and unsung mom-and-pop shops. Kim Max for To save New Yorkers a ton of legwork, she's put out the Locavore Guide — a pint-sized version of her epic database, spotlighting 670 of the city's coolest indie shops like Village Revival Records in Greenwich Village and Beadkraft in Chelsea, to name a few. And you can shop her store without even leaving the house — Weaver also recently caved and launched an online operation to bolster revenue and make her finds accessible beyond NYC. Katie McClure, who helped Weaver set up her entertaining emporium, said the Locavore has become more than just a retail space. 8 The selection's a delightful grab bag of the unexpected — think Dum Dum lighters handcrafted by Amy Sedaris and old-school C. Howard's gum at the counter, which Weaver likens to a classic 'bodega setup.' Kim Max for Advertisement 'People who come in here are friends. I've made friends with customers, and also very randomly, a lot of people run into each other here,' McClure said. Emily Dean, who started working at the Locavore before its official opening, said the close-knit nature of the shop and its locally made items are what make it special. 'People come in and say things like, 'Oh, I know the person who made this,' and I'm, like, 'No way, that's a real person that makes that, and they're right around the corner.' Things like that just bring in a lot of joy,' Dean said. 8 Weaver's kept it stripped-down and spirited, decking out the shop with old-school grocery store shelves from a Canarsie warehouse — and she even sanded and stained the floor herself. Kim Max for Advertisement Weaver explained that she wants shopping at the Locavore 'to feel democratic,' and that she sells items in 'every price range and category' so that everyone who walks in 'can feel like there's something for them.' Weaver also wants her store to be the opposite of shops that 'make you feel like you're not allowed to touch anything' and encourages customer curiosity and exploration. Cleo Le-Tan, who knows a thing or two about running a small biz, is a happy customer. She owns Pillow-Cat Books in the East Village — and she's in love with the Locavore's vibe. 8 Weaver's on a mission to map every mom-and-pop shop in the city — pounding the pavement across all five boroughs since 2021. Four years and 14,000 stops later, she's nearly there. Kim Max for Advertisement 'I like that you can just get all this different stuff — it's kind of a sort of deluxe convenience store. There isn't really that anywhere,' Le-Tan told The Post. 'My 6-year-old daughter does ballet upstairs, so we always come down after. She always wants to come here — she calls Caroline 'Coraline,' like the movie,' the professional bookworm added. Le-Tan's daughter Alpha told The Post that she loves the store's locally made fruit leather from small biz Joray — with 'strawberry and cherry' her two current favorite flavors. For Weaver, these visits — Alpha's candy runs, or the children who come in for their weekly Eddie's pickle fix — are exactly why she opened the shop, and why she loves being part of the community. Advertisement 8 Weaver's all about breaking the 'don't touch' vibe of stuffy shops — instead, she wants the Locavore to invite hands-on browsing and playful exploration. Kim Max for 'I grew up in rural Ohio, and I became a shop owner because of all the memories I made as a kid in little shops like this,' she said. 'That's why it matters so much to me to create those kinds of experiences for other people's kids now.' For Alpha's birthday last month, Weaver tied up a bouquet of her favorite flavors as a special gift. 'It's moments like that — being part of these kids' lives — that really matter to me,' she said with a smile.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mitchell High School honors graduating seniors at awards, recognition ceremony
May 8—MITCHELL — The Mitchell High School Class of 2025 is ready to wrap up their high school experience. With graduation around the corner next week, many are finalizing plans for the next stage of their lives, be it as part of the workforce, college or military service. Many of those seniors were celebrated Wednesday night at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center during the Mitchell School District's annual Senior Awards Night, an event that sees the graduating students acknowledged for their scholarly accomplishments, including honors for academic excellence and scholarships received. "You have strived to graduate from high school, and that is a goal that you have met and to be proud of. Some students will start a post-secondary journey to a technical college or university, and others will join our armed forces or enter the workforce," Kim Max, counselor at Mitchell High School who served as emcee for the evening, told the assembled seniors. "All of you are to be celebrated in every way." Many awards and recognitions were presented, including scholarships from dozens of civic organizations, such as the local Kiwanis and Exchange clubs, as well colleges and technical schools. Students came to the stage as their names were announced to receive their certificates and awards, with warm rounds of applause rising from the audience of friends, family and well-wishers. The event was also a chance to hear from a former Mitchell High School graduate who was already out making his way in the world. Carson Max, a 2019 Mitchell graduate and a 2023 South Dakota State University graduate who was recently commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, is currently attending the University of South Dakota for medical school. He took the stage after being introduced by his mother, Kim Max, and urged the graduating seniors to look inward as they look to step outward to the next phase of their life in an address titled Who Am I? "You're all about to cross a huge milestone, and the typical message is — you finished high school. Now what? It's a valid question, but it can feel a little overused. Usually it's followed by a variation of — find your dream, work hard and you'll achieve it," Carson Max said. "While it does have some validity, sometimes you forget about all the steps along the process." Citing himself as an example, he noted that the path forward in life is not always smooth or clearly marked. His own journey in college was not what he expected, he said. As a younger student, he shared the dream of many, wanting to become a professional athlete. But as he got older, he embraced the reality that the NFL would be a difficult goal to achieve with him being "5-foot-10, 200 pounds and not very fast." But he found a passion in health and medicine, and set his sights on that career field at the relatively young age of 12. He had visited a doctor for an injury, and the appointment would change his journey from professional athlete to doctor. It was a revelation that set in motion events that would eventually take him to medical school. "Sounds a little out there, a little lofty. Doesn't make a lot of sense. But nonetheless, 14 years later, I'm in my second year of medical school, and had to learn a lot along the way of what a dream actually looked like," Carson Max said. "Most importantly, how did that dream fit a calling? A meaning? And what am I going to do with it to serve others?" He said knowing who one is goes beyond one's name, profession, alma mater or even family. Those are all important in knowing your identity, but he encouraged the seniors to dig deeper as he once did, asking himself difficult questions about why he chose to work hard toward his goals and why he chose to approach those goals the way he did. Within his experience as a medical student, he cited how he approached working with patients and conveying to them that he was there to do everything he could to help them with their problem. He also said meeting his wife while in college changed his perspective, allowing him to embrace his shortcomings and work to overcome them. He offered three ways for students to begin the process of knowing themselves: self awareness, self regulation and humility. Self awareness covers the ability to know one's faults. Self regulation allows one to determine what to do with those feelings and to realize that doubts are part of a complex process of self-realization. Humility gives one the ability to admit when they fall short and to move forward toward a solution. "It took a lot of time, a lot of lost sleep, a lot of worry, and I realized I didn't actually know myself. Am I willing to admit when I fall short? Can I stand up here and say that I'm probably not the best speaker in the world? Absolutely. That's just a small example of walking through that process," Carson Max said. "How I'm engaging with reality at this present moment is something you all have to do at any given point in time, and more so as you go from a big leap of high school and beyond. Graduation is the beginning of a new time in a student's life, and he encouraged them to begin that journey with the broad question of "who am I?" He invited them to wrestle with the question and not be afraid when searching for the answer becomes difficult or uncomfortable. That is part of the process, and he urged the new graduates to lean into it. He admitted that, at 25, he still does not know completely who he himself is. He still does not know all his shortcomings and blind spots nor the boundaries of his talents. But that's OK. The important part is that he has started that introspection, and knowing who he is is part of knowing what he can do for the world. "It's a starting point. Lean into it and say 'this is where I'm starting.' So, class of 2025, I hope you realize I've left you with an abstract question, but one that once you begin to wrestle with opens up a broader door, a cornerstone, a harvest that keeps on giving," Carson Max said. "I encourage you to find peace in the process of discovering exactly who you are, what you're meant to do and the purpose you're meant to serve." Dozens of awards, recognitions and scholarships were announced at the ceremony. Those included but were not limited to the following: Military Recognition Kane Grajkowske, Tayle Liedtke, Dawson Ward Academic Excellence Award Lauren Hofer, Brady Trefz, Rachel Ziegeldorf Outstanding Achievements Floyd Korzan, Ashlyn Reynolds, Addison Ellis, Lainee Forst, Joshua Machado Carolynn J. Austin Scholarship Amelia Gerlach PE Mentorship Recognition Alex Hauser, Van Long, Payton Hunter, Kayleigh Maus, Raegan Sperl, Brady Trefz, Lani Thompson, Jaeda Stunes, Reese Amick, Ava Eliason, Grace Hempel, Cesia Mendoza, Joslin Sommerville, Markus Talley, Greyson Peterson, Lora Titze Mitchell Rotary Carl Sprunger Educator of the Year Award Leslie Rylance Gertie Belle Rogers PTA Scholarship Makenzie Peterson L.B. Williams Alumni Scholarship Amelia Gerlach Longfellow PTO Scholarship Camryn Swanstrom St. John Paul II School PTO Scholarship Grace Hempel
