FREE WEEK PLANNED AT SMITH WELLNESS CENTER IN HONOR OF LONG-TIME FRIEND, MARY BARBARA SMITH

A free week is being planned at the Smith Wellness Center in Emmetsburg in honor of Mary Barbara Smith, a long-time friend of the Center.

The public is welcome to celebrate the magnanimous life of Mary Barbara Smith, who died last month in Emmetsburg. Smith’s parents left a ‘trust’ following their deaths. It was that trust which was the lead gift that began the fundraising for the Arthur and Audrey Smith Wellness Center. It was opened in the summer of 1997, a partnership between the college, the city of Emmetsburg and the citizens of Palo Alto County.

The free week will start Monday, Oct. 31 and run through Sunday, Nov. 6. The public is invited to use any of the facilities free of charge during the hours of operation: Mon-Thurs., 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

The typical $4 per day fee will be waived for the week. In addition to waiving the day fee, during the free week, all exercise classes will be offered at no charge.

The Smith Wellness Center features an Olympic size heated swimming pool; cardiovascular room; weight room; aerobics room; gymnasium (which also doubles as a convention center); sauna; and, racquetball court. The facility also has city and college libraries which include a public computer lab and a genealogy resource area. The library will be open its regular hours during this week.

“It’s only fitting that we open the Smith Wellness Center in honor of Mary Barbara Smith for a free week,” said Deb Knight of the Wellness Center.

“Mary Barbara was a good friend of the Smith Wellness Center and we know she’ll be looking down on us that week smiling from ear-to-ear.”

Anyone with questions may contact the Smith Wellness Center at (712)852-5311.