Partners for a Healthier Community

	Healthy City Fall River Update - April 29, 2013 Click here for a pdf copy of the Spring 2013 CONNECTION Newsletter
*Click here to learn about Fall River becoming a national Roadmaps to Health Prize Winner!*	*Click here to view the video the City of Fall River produced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation*
	Nearly 200 contestants from all over New England and as far away as Florida, Maryland and Virginia gathered at B.M.C. Durfee High School for the third annual Dodgeballin' for Kids fundraiser for the Fall River Children's Museum on April 27, 2013. The event was expected to raise more than $15,000 that will be divided among the Children of the Boston Marathon Tragedy, Children's Museum of Greater Fall River, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Fall River YMCA. The contest was originally organized by Robert Costa Jr. as part of a sports marketing class at UMass-Dartmouth. Five members of the New England Patriots, led by running back Stevan Ridley, were also on hand early in the day to compete. Ridley’s team played a series of games against various opponents. Participants paid to compete in three age categories (Toss for 11-12, Throw for 14-17 and Launch for 18+). Competing teams included "Balls Against the Wall" from B.M.C. Durfee High SchoolClick here for a video of the event and here for more photos and text..
	The Fall River Street Tree Planting Program worked with the City of Fall River to plant a tree in fromt of the former Bristol County Court House and present location of the Fall River Children's Museum to help celebrate national Arbor Day. Street Tree Planting Program, Inc. coordinator Mary Ann Wordell and Museum President Jo-Anne Sbrega were joined by parents of pre-school children in the ceremonial planting. Mayor William Flanagan used the occasion to announce that the City's new tree farm will be dedicated to Ms. Wordell, pending City Council approval. The tree was donated by the Street Tree Planting Program. at the request of its members for the Childrens Museum and planted by tree stewards Ed Sousa and Stephen Plasski. Click here for a a 10-minute video of the event and here for more photos and text describing the short ceremony in front of the Children's Museum.
	The Henry Lord Middle School hosted a Family Fun Night on April 25, 2013 to engage both students and their parents in some healthy fun while learning about nutrition and a range of community resources that they can access to maintain or improve their health. About 75 participants were offered a talk about food by Southcoast Hospitals dietitian Amanda Raposo, a workout to music by Partners staff Brittany Bertone and Annemarie Sharkey, and the chance to speak with representatives of agencies including ,BOLD, Family Service Association, Family Service Association, Girl Scouts, Partners for a Healthier Community Soda-free Pledge; Greater Fall River Re-Creation, Southcoast Hospitals' Cardiovascular Prevention Program, and Time Exchange. The event concluded with a drawing for five bags of groceries and a gift card. Click here for a for a twelve-minute video of the event and here for more photos & text.
	The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth invited community leaders, faculty, and students to gather on April 25, 2013, at the Woodland Commons for the fifth annual Civic Engagement Summit. Organized by the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at UMD. The Summit began with a panel moderated by Dr. Baldwin and including Dr. Keith Motley, Chancellor of UMass-Boston, Meg Mayo-Brown, Superintendent of Fall River Schools, Rear Admiral Richard Gurnon, President of the Mass Maritime Academy, and BCC President John Sbrega. It was followed with a keynote addresses by Founding Director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships Dr. Ira Harkavy of the University of Pennsylvania. Following lunch, participants divided into six discussion groups to cover a variety of programs throughout Southeastern Massachusetts that integrate school and college programs through internships, service-learning and other civic engagement activities. Click here for a video of the event and here for more photos and text.
	Students at the Tansey Elementary School gathered for an all-school assembly on April 24, 2013 to hear about bicycle safety from Fall River Police Officer Matt Silvia. After being introduced by -Principal Kristen Farias, Officer Silvia covered the importance of wearing bicycle helmets, the basic rules of the road and other related topics to ensure that young riders know how to make riding safe. Principal Farias also announced an upcoming "bike to school" event to take place the following week and answered questions from the children about the event. Students have also been participating in the City-wide Fitness Challenge by participating in Walking Wednesdays and Fit Fridays where they walk, run, or jog around an outdoor walking route. Click here for photos of last year's bicycle safety presentation and here for more photos of this year's presentation with Officer Silvia at the Tansey School.
	A group of five media students at B.M.C. Durfee High School were awarded a prize package in the 2013 "Dance, Don't Chance" prom and graduation video contest held in the school auditorium on April 24, 2013. The statewide contest was hosted by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division (EOPSS-HSD) which has supported the contest for several years. Durfee students won the same award in 2011. Over thirty videos were submitted by high schools across the state, emphasizing the importance of safe and sober driving during the prom and graduation season. EOPSS-HSD representative Ellen Frank from the Office of Grants and Research emceed the program that included respresentatives from Fisher College, In Control Advanced Driver Training, and Boston Limo. Fall River Police Chief Dan Racine also praised the students for creating the award-winning message. Click here for a four-minute video interview, here for a 12-minute video of the award presentation, and here for more photos and text .
	The City of Fall River held its second annual Urban Forestry Workshop at Government Center on April 22, 2013, in an effort to provide information about the value and stewardship of the City's urban forest. The workshop was led by Emily Hamilton of Davey Resource Group and included presentations by Eric Seaborn and Mollie Freilicher of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), David Donoghue of National Grid, Richard Harper of UMass Extension, David Bloniarz of the US Forest Service, Andrew Hillman of the Davey Resource Group, Thomas Fraley of the Urban Ecology Institute, Louise Kaczynski and John Sylvia of the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program, Linton Harrington of the Trustees of Reservations, Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly, Victoria Carlos of the Durfee Green Team and Neighborhood Coordinator Perry Long talking about the new City urban tree farm. Click here for a a 50-minute video and here for more photos and text..
	The twenty-fifth scheduled Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge event took place on April 20, 2013 at Greater Fall River Re-Creation's headquarters on Bank Street. Fitness Fusion team leader Greg Medeiros led over thirty Challenge participants in an hour-long workout, first at nine exercise stations and then through some core exercises on the floor mats. "It's so great to see so many people staying with these Challenges," noted Challenge Coordinator Annemarie Sharkey. Dr. Weed also offered one of his Low-Carb talks to several of the participants following the event.Sponsored by Partners for a Healthier Community and Southcoast Hospitals, the event was organized with the participation of All Generations Fitness, the Diabetes Association, Inc., Fitness Fusion, General Fitness. Greater Fall River Re-creation, Healthy City Fall River, and the Fall River YMCA. The Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in the Greater Fall River Area to get fit, lose weight, have fun and win prizes. Click here for an eleven-minute video of the event and here for more photos.
	City employees gathered in the lobby of Government Center for a Health and Benefits Fair on April 17, 2013 and a press event in which the City of Fall River received the fifth annual Municipal Blue Innovation Award from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts. "Employee health care costs are one of the largest budget items we face," said Mayor William A. Flanagan of the City of Fall River. "Recognizing the benefits health plan changes and wellness programs can have on moderating costs, we have taken important steps to implement plan design changes and educate and motivate our employees about wellness through programs aimed at early detection of cancer and diabetes, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits." This award recognizes cities and towns for successfully implementing plan design changes and health and wellness initiatives that make health care more affordable, while improving employee health. Click here for more photos and text.
	The Fall River Bicycle Committee sponsored a bicycle tour of Fogland in Tiverton, RI on Patriots' Day, April 15, 2013. The four-hour tour started at Grinell's Beach in Tiverton and took riders along historic and scenic routes including the famous Pease Field where Benjamin Church and local colonists battled the local natives during the King Philip War. From there, the group headed south and then west throught the Fogland Beach Recreation Area to Point View Drive. "It was a terrific Spring day for a ride," commented Committe Chair Brian Pearson. "The weather couldn't have been nicer." The group got to see some early signs of spring and see a lot of the waterfront up close the way only bike riding makes possible. Click here for pictures of a South End history tour. Click here for photos of a bike history ride of the City's North End held over Memorial Day weekend and here for one held last October. Click here for more photos of the bike trip taken by Brian Pearson.
	Mayor William Flanagan, working with Carlos Cesar of the Flint Business and Neighborhood Associations, helped to bring Rockwell Amusements to Lafayette Park in the Flint Neighborhood on April 13, 2013. The week-long event was planned to coincide with the April school vacation. "This is a great opportunity for the families, especially during the Spring Break, to come down here and have a great time," stated Flanagan who recalled going to Lincoln Park and Rocky Point as a child. Owner Harold Fera of Rockwell Amusements in North Scituate, RI was on hand for the opening as was former Flint Association Neighborhood Association president Cathy Assad and current Association president Carlos Cesar. The event is expected to raise funds for the Association which is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Flint neighborhood. Click here for a four-minute video of the event and here for more photos and text.
	The twenty-fourth scheduled Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge event took place on April 13, 2013 at Greater Fall River Re-Creation's headquarters on Bank Street. FitWorks fitness instructor Tabitha Gendreau led about 20 participants in a 45-minute "Zumba in the Circuit workout. "It was a good one for flexibility and balance," noted Challenge Coordinator Annemarie Sharkey. Dr. Weed offered one of his Low-Carb talks to several of the participants following the event.Sponsored by Partners for a Healthier Community and Southcoast Hospitals, the event was organized with the participation of All Generations Fitness, the Diabetes Association, Inc., Fitness Fusion, General Fitness. Greater Fall River Re-creation, Healthy City Fall River, and the Fall River YMCA. The Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in the Greater Fall River Area to get fit, lose weight, have fun and win prizes. Click here for a five-minute video and here for more photos and text..
	United Interfaith Action (UIA) held a meeting at St. Michael's School with local officials on April 10, 2013 to address job issues and funding for City and school budgets and services. About a hundred residents from local churches listened as a variety of speakers called upon the Mayor, the School Superintendent, the Youth Services Director and each of the three State Representatives to support a number of measures, including a higher minimum wage, improvements to tthe proposed transportation package, and support for job training grants for Fall River residents. "We need jobs and good paying jobs," stated Felix Gonzalez of St. Mary's parish. Each of the legislators was asked a series of "yes or no" questions on a number of related actions they might take in the current legislative session. Leaders and clergy of the Church of the Holy Spirit , St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Michael's, St. Josephs,and First Baptist Church organized the meeting. Click here for a 53-minute video of the meeting and here for more photos and text.
	The Shepherd Center of Fall River, an interfaith volunteer organization, held one of its Lifetime Learning sessions on April 10, 2013, at Bay View in the City's North End. These sessions share knowledge, talents, skills and new interests in a mutual quest for life-long learning and personal growth among seniors in the Greater Fall River community. The Spring Semester included presentations on spring flowers in art, the evolution of human intelligence, gardening, and the humanities. The April 10th session invited Healthy City Fall River coordinator David Weed to talk about the recent Roadmaps to Health Prize that the City received in recognition of the past ten years of work to improve the health of the community. "I've presented to this group over the years to report on our progress, and it was wonderful to receive this national award for the work in which literally hundreds of people have been engaged," said Weed. Click here for more photos and text describing the presentation..
	The Fonseca Elementary School hosted a Family Fun Night on April 10, 2013 to engage both students and their parents in some healthy fun while learning about nutrition and a range of community resources. About 100 participants were offered a talk about food by Southcoast Hospitals dietitian Amanda Raposo, a workout to music by Americorps Vista Brittany Bertone, and the chance to speak with representatives of agencies including BMC HealthNet,BOLD, Child and Family Services; Children's Advocacy Center; Citizens for Citizens Early Education, Early Childhood/Family Community Engagement, Family Service Association, Food Pantries, Family Service Association, Girl Scouts, HealthFirst Dental Program; Katie Brown Educational Program, Letourneau PTO, Partners for a Healthier Community Soda-free Pledge, People Incorporated; Greater Fall River Re-Creation, Saint Anne's Hospital, Southeast Recovery Learning Community, Southcoast Hospitals' Cardiovascular Prevention Program, Time Exchange, United Neighbors, and WIC. Click here for more photos and text..
	A city-wide clean-up effort organized by Mayor Flanagan was announced in the Mayor's office on April 9, 2013. The Mayor invited about fifty representatives of groups such as Fall River Park Advocates, numerous agencies and businesses, city departments and people representing volunteers from neighborhood associations, schools, local employers and home owners to hear about the plan. In addition to a new city-wide street sweeping schedule, Flanagan announced a citywide cleanup that will begin on April 28th starting at 9:00 a.m., and end with a barbecue at Kennedy Park at 1 p.m. Clean-ups will then be scheduled in various neighborhoods in coming weeks with dumpsters placed in strategic locations. Residents will also be able to check out tools to help them in the clean up from a trailer that the city will move from place to place. Click here for a related article in the Herald News. Click here for a video of the start of the event and here for more photos and text descibing the event.
	Participating community organization representatives and school support staff for the 21st Century programs that are running in the Doran, William S. Greene and Watson Elementary Schoolsl and B.M.C. Durfee High School gathered on April 9, 2013 to exchange information about the various community resources that are linked to the program and to discover ways they could work together better. Coordinated by Beverly Pavao, and administered by Title I Program director Siobhan Ryan, the 21st Century program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. Click here for a twelve-minute video of the first part of the event and here for more photos and text.
	School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard, whose position is funded through Partners for a Healthier Community, invited "Coach Kim" Ferrara to meet with the health and physical education faculty for the Fall River Schools at their April 8, 2013 monthly meeting, at the Spencer-Borden Elementary School. Coach Kim operates "WiggleKids," a privately-funded business in Swansea, MA, that promotes healthy habits and physical fitness through songs, dance, games, activities and education for children and their families. She spent over an hour sharing what she's learned works to get kids moving while having loads of fun. Using low-cost objects, such a foam pool noodles and giant hop balls, she gets kids moving and having fun while getting lots of exercise. She also incorporates music and rhythm to stimulate brain activity that improves cognitive skills. The teachers plan to incorporate her techniques into upcoming physical education classes in the elementary and middle schools. Click here for a 7-minute video of portions of her presentation and here for more photos and text.
	Members and participants in Social Capital Inc. organization celebrated the work of this year's volunteers at the 6th annual Social Capitalist Luncheon held at the Sheraton Boston on April 3, 2013 where over $75,000 was raised to continue efforts to connect for community impact. The SCI Idealist Award, presented each year to leaders who dedicate their lives and engage their social capital to address some of the most pressing community needs, was given this year to Josh Kraft, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and Robert Lewis, Jr., President and Founder of new nonprofit initiative, Home BASE. Brittany Bertone, who has been sponsored by Partners over the past year, was chosen to speak on behalf of the enitire group of Americorps volunteers before the 350 people in attendance. She spoke about her experiences with United Neighbors and the food programs that she has been working on. Click here to read her presentation, here for a video, & here for more photos..
	The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, a free service of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) that promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school, held a forum at the Sheraton Framingham on March 13, 2013 to celebrate a historic milestone. The 500th Safe Routes Partner School was recently enrolled, making SRTS the first statewide SRTS program in the country to achieve this level of participation. Fall River School Wellness coordinator Marcia Picard was also acknowledged as the only school sytem in Massachusetts to get 100% of elementary and middle schools participating in the the Massachusetts Walk to School Day, over 5,000 children! She was also praised for her professional development efforts with the Fall River school physical education teachers, encouraging them to "walk across America", form walking clubs and encourage their students to walk or bike to school. Click here for more photos and text describing the award ceremony.

Fourth Annual Southcoast Health & Wellness Conference Thursday, May 9, 8:30 a.m. to Noon, $35/$15 James Prochaska and Debra Wein	Dr. James Prochaska, will discuss his research in understanding how people change health-related behavior, and applying ‘stages of change’ to improve the health of employees in the workforce. Debra Wein, CEO of Wellness Workdays based in Hingham, MA will share the latest evidence on ROI (return on investment) for worksite wellness, which when coupled with new wellness credits offered to Massachusetts employers, make a strong case for implementing worksite wellness programs. A panel will conclude the morning program by highlighting state and local resources to help employers establish no or low cost wellness programs. Panel participants will include Claire Blais, MA Department of Public Health; Angie Bras, Partners for a Healthier Community; Kerry Mello, Community Benefits Manager for Southcoast Hospitals Group; and Michelle Karn, from the American Heart Association. Click here for complete registration and conference details.

Farmers’ Market at Saint Anne’s Hospital back by popular demand	Starting on May 13th, enjoy fresh, locally grown produce and other healthy goods at Saint Anne’s Farmers’ Market on Mondays, May through October. Held in conjunction with Silverbrook Farm of Dartmouth, the weekly market will feature locally grown produce and locally made products, as well as information about community programs and services aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle, demonstrations, recipes, and samples of healthy food offerings using seasonal ingredients sold at the market. Select patients enrolled in the hospital’s diabetes education program may use weekly “Steward Rx” vouchers for this market. Other accepted forms of payment include cash, check, debit and credit cards, and SNAP. The Market will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., near the hospital’s main entrance on South Main Street. Free valet parking is available at this entrance. For more information, visit Saint Anne's Hospital or call 508-235-5055.

Diabetes Education and Support	A new Diabetes Education and Support, the monthly series sponsored by the Steward Diabetes Education Program at Saint Anne’s Hospital, will begin a new series on May 13th. This month’s topic: “Seasoning Without Salt.” This free monthly program for adults with diabetes and their families is offered by Saint Anne’s certified diabetes educators. There is no charge, and participants do not need to be patients of Saint Anne’s Hospital. NEW TIME: The group meets monthly on the second Monday, 1-2 p.m., Nannery Conference Room, Clemence Hall, Saint Anne’s Hospital, Fall River. Guests may use free valet parking at the entrance to the Hudner Oncology Center on Osborn Street. For more information, call 508-674-5600, ext. 2490.

Treat Yourself Well: Celebrating Mothers and Women Part of Saint Anne’s Hospital’s popular monthly digital mammography and health education series.	Join Saint Anne’s Hospital Women’s Health Services for screening mammography at the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Center for Breast Care … and enjoy special women’s health education extras at no charge. Please note: A physician’s referral for screening mammograms is not required. Appointments are required for mammograms. Mammograms are billed to your health insurance. Women of all ages invited to stop in for health information at no charge – no appointment, no referral required. 2:30-6:30 p.m., Stoico/FIRSTFED Center for Breast Care, Saint Anne’s Hospital, 795 Middle St., Fall River. To schedule a screening mammogram or get more information, call 508-235-5353.