Leominster Library This Sunday!

Asian American Health and Wellness Fair

Asian American Health  and Wellness Fair

Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 8:30a.m.-3:00p.m.

Free and OPEN to the Public!

Coolidge Park, John Fitch Highway (Rain   Location: Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg/ Leominster, 365 Lindell Ave. Leominster, MA).

MOC Fun N’ FITchburg, Three Pyramids/The Minority Coalition, Spanish American Center, LUK, Inc., Community Engagement Services, Heywood Hospital, Health Alliance Hospital, Montachusett Home Care, Boys & Girls Club, BWR/YWCA, Pathways for Change, Fitchburg Farmers Market, Asian Task Force-Boston will all have health information booths/tables at the fair. Family activities will include: Families in Motion 3 Laps Walk/Run and the first 50 people will receive a Free T-Shirt. Volleyball, Ping Pong, Hmong Top Spin, games and prizes  and more.

Free and OPEN to the Public!

Funded in part by CHNA9, North Central MA. The May 18^th Health Fair is being organized by the United Hmong of Massachusetts.

For more information or to register contact: Train Wu at 978-235-1041.

Why Walk?

Top 10 REASONS to walk...

*Decrease the risk of heart attack/ type 2 diabetes.
*Control weight and burns body fat
*Improve muscle tone and bone density
*Reduces Stress
*Increases energy, stamina and metabolism
*Lowers high blood pressure and LDL (bad cholesterol)
*Improves efficiency of your heart and lungs
*Reduce symptoms of PMS, back pain and arthritus
*Can improve wellness, fitness, and happiness
*Increase plasma in body and decreasing chances of blood

FARMER'S MARKET TODAY

Join us from 4-7p at the Fitchburg Art Museum for the Farmer's Market, Free admission to the museum and its Art in Bloom exhibit and Strengthening Families will be there so that your little ones (ages 3-10) can make May Baskets and fill them with goodies.

Fun, Food, Bike, Walk, Talk, Stuff....

*Mass in Motion Family Fun Hour

Mass in Motion family Fun Hour at Reingold Elementary School Thursday March 28, 2013 from 6-7p. Come by for story time, coloring, light refreshments, craft, activity, and each child leaves with a FREE book. Flyer attached.

*Cooking With Kids Family Night: Pizza Party and Game Night!

Also on Friday March 29th we still have spots for your 3-8 year olds for a pizza making/eating and game night at the Arc of  Opportunity on Main St. at 5:30 (siblings welcome) must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Please RSVP to JIm at 978-343-6662 ext.125. Kids will design and bake their own creations for themselves and their family and enjoy game night.  Flyer attached

*Massachusetts SRTS and Saris Bike Poster Contest! Entries due April 1^st!

The Bikes Make Life  Poster Contest is national competition for 5^th grade students and supports Mass in Motion’s and Safe Routes to School’s goals to encourage kids to ride their bikes more frequently, increase their physical activity and enjoy getting exercise outdoors! Participating schools will submit entries to the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program by April 1.  A first place winner will be selected to represent the Commonwealth in the national contest and receive a new bike provided by Saris Cycling Group. Second and Third Place winners will receive gear to make their bike ride safer and fun. The Massachusetts first place winner will then compete for the national prize - a chance to attend the 2014 National Bike Summit in Washington DC and an exclusive bicycle parking and tracking system known as The Hub for their school! Contest rules, promotional posters, and entry forms are attached. Please contact Lauren Robinson at the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program for more information – lauren.a.robinson@state.ma.us. Poster is attached.

*HIV Awareness Walk

Flyer attached. PLEASE JOIN US FOR A  RALLY. Refreshments, Give Aways, Speakers Fitchburg State University 353 North Street Weston Auditorium 4:00p.m.– 6:00p.m.   

*Make Your Voice Heard In Turning the Vacant Lots of Fitchburg into Something the City Can Use!

If you’re interested in turning Fitchburg’s vacant lots from neighborhood problems into neighborhood assets, please participate in this IMPORTANT Heath Impact Assessment!  The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) will help us learn how the strategies we are considering will impact our community’s health.  Please see the flyer attached and invite a friend! WHEN: THURSDAY APRIL 4 * 5-8 pm WHERE:  Madonna of the Holy Rosary 118 Theresa St, Fitchburg  A light dinner will be available!  RSVP by March 29^th to Eric R. Smith, AICP, Principal Planner at esmith@mrpc.org or (978)345-7376 ext. 319. Flyer attached.

*OTHER---

*Sign your child(ren) up at www.KidsSkateFree.com  and www.KidsBowlFree.com for FREE passes to  skating and bowling for some great fitness fun!

*Fitchburg YMCA is ONLY $1 per day for students of Fitchburg. Also, BRING A BUDDY FREE on Thursdays. Call for more info (978) 343-4847.

TOMORROW!!

Mass In Motion Kids Health Fair

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

5:30-7:30p

Fitchburg State University

Main Lounge, Hammond Building

160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Click on MiM Kids Health Fair to see participating businesses

Next Wednesday, Be There!

Mass In Motion Kids Health Fair

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

5:30-7:30p

Fitchburg State University

Main Lounge, Hammond Building

160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Click on MiM Kids Health Fair to see participating businesses.

And Now You Know...

WALKING CLUB:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12p-12:30p....Join the CHC Walk at Lunch Club. Cover about a mile of walking, get some fresh air and re-energize. Open to anyone and everyone.

MASS IN MOTION KIDS HEALTH FAIR:
Wednesday March 20, 2013 from 5:30-7:30p...Join us for some family fun and learn about different ways to stay healthy. Area businesses and agencies will be joining and there are lots of great raffles, giveaways, demos, face painting, and more! FREE and open to the public.

MASS IN MOTION KIDS FAMILY FUN HOUR:
Thursday March 28, 2013 from 6-7p...Join us for some reading, a craft, some activities, and every child leaves with a book. Light refreshments and snack will be served.

LUK YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT:
Thursday March 18, 2013 from 8:30a-2p at the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster. Find more info at www.youth-summit.org

YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY:
Saturday April 20, 2013 from 9-12p. Find out more info by calling 978.343.4847

NATIONAL WALK AT LUNCH DAY:
Wednesday April 24, 2013 from 12-12:30p. Join us after in the CHC lobby for a light healthy snack and fitness information.

CHECK OUT THE LINKS ABOVE FOR UPCOMING EVENTS & MIM KIDS FAIR INFO.

Harlem Wizards Coming To Town

Harlem Wizards vs. Gearheads

Monty Tech Fitchburg, MA

March 4, 2013 at 7pm

Advance Prices: $8 students & seniors/ $10 general admission

Door Prices: $10 students & seniors/ $12 general admission

Get your tickets at: 50/50 Diner 440 River Street Fitchburg or Family Martial Arts Center 68 Airport Rd #5 Fitchburg or online at www.harlemwizards.com

Mass in Motion Kids Health Fair

Mass In Motion Kids Health Fair

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

5:30-7:30p

Fitchburg State University

Main Lounge, Hammond Building

160 Pearl Street

Save The Date....

Who? You, your children, your family, your friends, everyone from everywhere.

What? Mass In Motion Kids Health Fair

When? WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20th from 5:30-7:30p

Where? Fitchburg State University, Main Lobby, Hammond Building

Across from the library.

Why? To teach families about Mass in Motion and healthy behaviors.

How? FREE. Lots of AMAZING RAFFLE PRIZES and FUN things for the entire family!!

Some prizes are- FAMILY 4 Pack to the Ecotarium, Market Basket $25 gift cards & much more.

Also....there will be activities, face painting, FREE food, interactive demos by Wachusett CrossFit, Modern Martial Arts, and MOC Peer Educators.

DON'T MISS THIS FREE EVENT!!!!!

UPCOMING EVENTS LINK

Don't forget to check out the UPCOMING EVENTS LINK! It's right on the top of this page. There are lots of great things happening in and around Fitchburg for you and your entire family. Contact information for the event is available on each post. Check it out and start filling your calender with NEW, FUN, and EXCITING things to do during the month of February.

Mass in Motion Family Fun Hour

Thank you to all of you who came out and joined us at our FIRST Family Fun Hour at the Fitchburg Public Library. We had so much fun and families walked away with FUN CUPS, creatively designed by their children, that were full of fun ideas of things to do when you shut off the TV, computers and video games. They were also able to plant seeds to grow their very own healthy fruits and vegetables, tending to those plants are yet another activity that they can do with their TV free time.

Also, thank you to Gardening Places and the MOC Peer Leaders for their amazing contributions.

 

It was a success because you showed up and participated! You are awesome!!! Thank you again.

Next Family Fun Hour at Fitchburg Public Library is FEBRUARY 21, 2013 from 5-6p.

Lobby Project

A BIG Thank You to all of you in the CHC Community who stopped by our table and learned more about ways to get the kid's off the TV, computer and video games by replacing that with other FUN activities.

We had a hoola hoop there and some staff took part of the fun and got a little core workout as well....you know who you are...THANK YOU!!!

See you all next week!!

Gardening Volunteer Opportunities

It may not seem like gardening season yet with snow still on the ground but we're actively processing new gardener applications, building the frames in our warehouse, and ordering seeds and seedlings. 

We are always looking for more help! Below are descriptions of our 2013 volunteer opportunities during the growing season. 

Garden Mentor: With the beds or containers in place, Growing Places Garden Project's Mentors provide support and encouragement to gardeners at all levels to develop an array of valuable gardening skills by providing hands-on advice and support. Garden Mentors serve every gardener - from experienced do-it-yourselfer to the self-proclaimed 

black thumbs. Mentors ensure that our gardens succeed given the skills, needs, and interests of the individual and family gardeners. Growing Places' Mentors help us build better gardens, one gardener at a time.   

Garden Installation Crew: Each garden requires a crew to install the frames, fill them with soil, and prep them for the gardener's use. Each standard three bed build takes approximately three hours and requires about four to five (4-5) volunteers. This is a great service experience for corporations, schools, scouts, church groups or families and friends just looking to have a good time working in the outdoors.   

PTo sign up to volunteer please contact our Assistant Garden Program Coordinator, Anna Finstein, at anna@growingplaces.org or 978.598.3723, Ext 803   

Fitchburg Art Museum FREE 1st Thursdays

Fitchburg First Thursday is a monthly celebration of arts, family, activities and shopping. It takes place on the first Thursday of each month throughout downtown Fitchburg.

The Fitchburg Art Museum will have free admission on every first Thursday 4pm to 8pm as part of Mayor Wong's First Thursday celebrations.
For the younger visitor, there are activity sheets to do whilst they wander the Museum.
Free guided tours at 5:30 - except July and August.

Sledding

     I stared at the brand new sled that I got last winter, on clearance, at Target and realized that it was shiny, had all of its original stickers and even the price tag. That's unacceptable. So, I sent out a blast text to everyone in my phone who lives in the area and asked them where they go sledding. Most responded with places that charge a fee. I thanked them for their suggestion and deleted those text messages. In a city that is the second hilliest in the United States, it just doesn't make sense to pay to slid down a hill. Then I got 2 unanimous responses: Southeast School in Leominster and Cherry Hill in Lunenburg. I bundled my child and myself in multiple layers of clothing, much like the younger brother from A Christmas Story, grabbed the sled and headed to the closer of the 2 locations.
     Cherry Hill is known for their delicious summer ice cream but I had no idea that the roaring hilltops were also a place for winter fun and exercise. Yes, exercise. That hill is a lot steeper than it looks and climbing back up is a serious leg workout. Two hours later, after flying off the sleds, crashing into other children, flipping through the air, involuntarily eating snow and ice, clearing brush with our bodies, laughing till we literally cried, and screaming while zipping down the steeper parts of the hill, it was decided that this was our new favorite and free winter activity. I decided that as an added exercise I would pull my child up the hill in her sled. That was my day's workout! The sweat dripped down my back made me forget that I was in the snow in 25 degree weather. Yes, exercise can be fun too.
     We got home, cuddled by the heater with hot cocoa and laughed at the adventures of the day. The sled in the corner was now scratched, stickers completely worn off, dripping from the melting snow and there was a slight chip on the front, just the way a sled should look. My daughter laid her head on my arm and said "Thanks Mom, that was the best day ever!"

Sleds are as cheap as $5 at Walmart and clearance for $2-3 at other places. Grab a sled, bundle up yourself and your child(ren) and head to a hill for some winter sledding fun and exercise. Please be aware that this, like most other activities that involve hills and fast moving objects, can cause bodily injury and people with certain injuries should not participate. Sled at your own risk.

Play With Me

Their FAVORITE Toy: You are your child's favorite toy. Remember your child really loves to play with you. Tak time to spend quality time together everyday.

Make MEMORIES: Children remember who took the tim eto play with them and those become lasting memories. Playing with your child also beings you closer together.

Let Kids BE Kids: Celebrate your child's early years with play, crafts, and other fun activities.

PLAY is the Best Fit: Your child will stay fit through active, supervised play and doesn't need to "do exercises" for fitness. If you join them, you also get to some of your physical activity as well.

Adapted from the Choosy Kids Curriculum

Upcoming Events

Here is whats coming up in the weeks to come:

*Friday, December 7, 2012 from 4-7p Boys & Girls Club Family Night with demonstrations and performances. Free of charge. All ages welcome. Come on out and enjoy the night!

*December 9, 2012 at 3p Fitchburg Airport, Children will get to see Santa arrive on a helicopter and meet him and his elves. Children will receive a present and juice and cookies will be served. Grab your camera and be there with your child.
*December 4, 11, 18 (Tuesdays) 10-11:30a at Cleghorn neighborhood Center in Fitchburg, Parent Child Play Groups

Click the UPCOMING EVENTS tab and scroll down to fin dmore info and details of each event.

Thanksgiving Tips

Thanksgiving Tips:

*Use smaller plates so you can more easily control your portion sizes.
*Drink lots of water before and during your meals. It helps fill you up so you eat less.
*Have a tall glass of skim or 1% milk with your dessert. It will fill you up faster and may prevent you from going back for that second slice.
*Take the time to sit down and slowly enjoy your dessert. If you take the time to enjoy each taste then you are less likely to need that second piece because the first one was eaten so fast that you don't remember what it taste like.
*Make a commitment with a friend or family member that every time you hear a code word you will do an exercise. For example: FOOTBALL MEANS 10 JUMPING JACKS. Its fun, makes you feel better about eating that extra scoop of stuffing and having a buddy keeps you accountable.
*Hold a contest to see who gets the last piece of ___________. For example: most amount of push ups in one minute, or who can do 20 push ups faster.
*Put on music and let the children do what comes naturally, dance. Join them.
*Enjoy the company of your family and friends. Life is not life without relationships, love, and laughter.