October 26, 2017

Put the brakes on speeding cars

Residents spoke to Rochester City Council Oct. 17 about speeding cars. From left, are Jackie Graham, FLRT Block Club; Renee Stetzer, Reconnect Rochester; Hasana Martin, Beechwood Neighbors Association; Evan Lowenstein, Neighborhood of the Arts Neighborhood Association; and Mike Bulger, healthy communities project coordinator for Healthi Kids.

Every child has the right to live on streets that are safe to walk, bike and play. Yet Healthi Kids' research has found that families feel unsafe sending kids to play at parks or walk to school due to speeding cars. Community members asked Rochester's City Council Oct. 17 to work to lower the speed limit in neighborhoods. Research has shown lower speed limits decrease crashes, and if crashes do occur, injuries are less serious. In other cities, lower speed limits have also encouraged healthy walking and biking. Tell City Council you want Rochester to be the next city to lower the residential speed limit. Contact Mike Bulger at mike.bulger@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3171 to learn more.

Building a better lunchtime

Nutrition educators taught Rochester City School District employees about healthy drinks Oct. 6.

Happy and healthy lunchtimes were the goal of a Healthi Kids lunchroom training Oct. 6 at Dr. Freddie Thomas High School. Playworks taught food service workers, lunch aides and recess coaches tips on getting kids' attention and managing transitions. Speakers also talked about setting reasonable behavior expectations for kids, engaging students and healthy eating. Rochester schools 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 16, 19, 22, 23, 33, 46, 53, Wilson Foundation, Mary Cariola and Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School took part. To learn about lunchroom trainings, contact Erick Stephens atErick.Stephens@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3112.

Indoor recess highlighted

When the weather's stormy, recess and physical activity don't have to take a snow day.Rochester City School District teachers, staff and community members spent Saturday, Oct. 21, at School No. 17 learning to use movement and play indoors. Healthi Kids hosted a Playworks training to share games, activities and skills. Teachers, staff and parents liaisons learned strategies for focus, learning and growth. The training was attended by representatives from Schools 8, 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 53 and 57. To learn about recess trainings, contact Alicia Evans at Alicia.Evans@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3172.

Details coming on new sports and play funding

The Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., Foundation Nov. 9 will ask for grant proposals for new sports and play funding. These grants from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., Legacy Fund for Youth Sports will be guided by the Aspen Institute report. Sign up hereto receive Community Foundation e-mails with more details.

ROC the Future Report Card release

It will take everyone in the community working together to give Rochester's children their best shot at success, speakers said about the ROC the Future 2017 Report Card. Healthi Kids partners in the ROC the Future School Readiness Collaborative Action Network and the Parent Engagement Collaborative Action Network. To learn about parent engagement, contact Erick Stephens atErick.Stephens@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3112. To learn about healthy schools, contact Alicia Evans at Alicia.Evans@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3172.

City signs on to campaign for parks and green space

We applaud Mayor Lovely Warren and the City of Rochester for committing to be part of the national 10-Minute Walk campaign. The Trust for Public Land, the National Recreation and Park Association and the Urban Land Institute are partnering to ensure every American lives 10 minutes from a park or green space. By ensuring every resident across Rochester lives close to a park or green space, we are helping to guarantee every child's right to play. Learn more.

Simple recipe shared at Harvest Festival

Above and below, kids show off cookware they won from Healthi Kids during Project Hope's Oct. 21 Harvest Festival at Conkey Corner Park. At the event, Cornell Cooperative Extension's Eat Smart New York demonstrated how to make a flavorful corn recipe. Healthi Kids gave out coupons for frozen corn from a local corner store that has partnered to stock healthy foods.

Upcoming events:

Healthi Kids on City Wise - Tune in to City Wise at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, on Cable Channel 12 in the City of Rochester to hear Healthi Kids staff members talk about our work. The show will also air at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, and will be available on the City's YouTube page.

Trunk or Treat - 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Enrico Fermi School 17, 158 Orchard Street, Rochester. There will be workshops for parents, food and information from school partners.

Halloween at the Market 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at the City of Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street, Rochester. Finger Lakes Eat Smart New York will share healthy eating tips.

Have a healthy holiday

Simple steps make it possible to eat healthy during the holidays. The American Heart Association's Healthy Holiday Eating Guide suggests you:

  • Choose low-sodium brands.
  • Use herbs and spices for flavoring instead of salt or butter.
  • Cut servings of meat the size of a deck of cards or smaller.
  • Use no more than a tablespoon of gravy.
  • Eat small samples of desserts.
  • Substitute low-sugar applesauce for butter, and swap low-fat or fat-free milk for heavy cream.

Get more tips and recipes here.