JACKSON — More than 2,000 Valley residents have taken advantage of a variety of services and activities offered at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center, since its opening in April of last year.

Jacqueline Hough | Daily Herald Northampton Cultural and Wellness Center Facilities Coordinator Pudden Gorlesky, right, talks with county employees Brenda Parks, Laura Spatorico and Shannon Driver as they work out during their lunch break at the center. Advertisement

Facilities Coordinator Pudden S. Gorlesky said the goal of the center is to provide all citizens with a variety of leisure opportunities, activities and programs and activities addressing the health and well being.

“We started with zero,” Gorlesky said. “And now we are up to 2,000 members with an average daily attendance of 61. Ninety percent of the membership is Northampton County residents.”

The center was build with a $1.8 million low interest loan and a $500,000 and a $100,000 grants. Membership and services are free. The center is opened Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. “Anyone can come and workout,” Gorlesky said. “We have people who come from Bertie and Halifax counties,” she said.

 There are several exercise classes:

• Walk for Your Health on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m.

• Salsa Dance Cardio on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 p.m.

• Dancercize on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:05 p.m.

“It is a mix of classes. We change it often,” she said.

Gorlesky’s husband Sgt. John Gorlesky will demonstrate the muscle failure routine on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5:30 p.m. Sgt. Gorlesky uses this routine in physical training exercises for the Army. It is an intermediate to advanced routine with push-ups, sit-ups, crunches and flutter kicks.

Recently, a Weight Watchers group started meeting every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

Many members have come to the center after having hip or knee replacements and use the center in addition to their regular therapy. “I have really seen them grow in their progress,” Gorlesky said. “Some will come in with a cane and in a month, they are walking without it.”

She noted there are no licensed trainers at the center. Gorlesky has nine years of experience in wellness and fitness. She is a certified aesthetician and is working on her doctorate in health education.

Northampton County offers a Worksite Wellness program for county employees twice a month. It is one hour of education with 30 minutes of fitness.

Department of Social Services employees Laura Spatorico and Shannon Driver worked out together everyday for the last month. “We do it on our lunch hour because a lot of times when you get off from work, you’re tired,” she said. Both are seeing their hard work pay off. “I see a difference in how I feel,” Driver said.

The center has four tennis courts, two basketball courts, five ball fields, a kids playground and a concession stand with restrooms. It has a fitness room with treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bikes. “We’re thriving to meet each age group the best we can,” she said.

During business hours there is a meeting room that seats 15-18 people that is free of charge to use.

Brenda Parks works in the county’s soil and conservation office across the road from the center. She has come to the center since it opened for the convenience. “I think it is a great service the county has offered,” she said.

Gorlesky said to keep people informed of activities at the center, she does a quarterly newsletter distributed in January, April, July and October. The newsletter is available at the center or via e-mail. She also showcases a monthly recipe.

The center also is the site for many community events such as back to school celebrations, wellness fails, Red Cross drives and cultural and arts festivals.

Future plans for the center include adult softball, a volleyball court and activities focused on preteens and teens.

In addition to wellness and recreational activities, the center’s auditorium is available to rent for family reunions, wedding receptions and civic and social events.

The recreation office and the Office on Aging are also located in the center.

For more information about the center, contact Gorlesky at 252-534-1303 or pudden.gorlesky@ncmail.net.