Update: Healthy Hometown August eNews

Louisville Metro Government sent this bulletin at 08/04/2011 04:11 PM EDT

August, 2011                                                                                         Vol. VII, Issue5

IMPORTANT: Please Note That The Next Healthy Hometown Partnership Meeting Has Been Re-Scheduled for September 9th

The next Healthy Hometown Partnership meeting (formerly Healthy Hometown Advisory Council meetings) with Mayor Greg Fischer and Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt is scheduled for Friday, September 9th at 10:00 am in the Mayor’s Gallery at Metro Hall. Note: This is a schedule change. Mayor Fischer and Dr. Nesbitt will present the 2011 Healthy Hometown Grants to local organizations that produce successful programming to promote physical activity and healthier eating. Last year, nearly $50,000 was distributed to more than a dozen qualifying groups. For more information or to RSVP, contact erin.vangundy@louisvilleky.gov.

 

Labor Day Healthy Hometown Hike, Bike and Paddle to be Announced August 17th

Plans will be unveiled for the Labor Day Healthy Hometown Hike, Bike and Paddle at a news conference on August 17th hosted by Mayor Fischer. He will also announce plans for this year’s Worldfest, also held Labor Day Weekend. The Memorial Day Hike, Bike and Paddle attracted more than 8,500 participants to the waterfront including several hundred paddlers, a new addition to the seven year-old events. The Mayor will announce the upcoming routes for both bikers and hikers as well as encourage more participation by paddlers. He will also announce this year’s Healthy Hometown Hike scheduled for Saturday, October 15th at Jefferson Memorial Forest. Go to www.louisvilleky.gov/healthyhometown for more information about all of these events.

New Healthy in a Hurry Corner Store Prepares to Open

Mayor Fischer, Dr. Nesbitt and YMCA of Greater Louisville’s CEO, Steve Tarver, will all be on hand August 24th at 10:30 am to celebrate the opening of Louisville’s latest “Healthy in a Hurry Corner Store.” Located in the Farm Boy Market at 18th and Oak Streets, the store plans to stock 30% of its shelves with fresh produce in order to provide healthier food choices for area residents.
Funded through a federal grant, the “Healthy in a Hurry” initiative seeks to eliminate food deserts and provides technical assistance from the YMCA’s Healthy in a Hurry Corner Store coordinator. This is the initiative’s fourth to open in the last three years. Other stores are located in Park Hill, Shawnee and Smoketown neighborhoods.

 

It’s Lights, Camera, Action for “Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities”

This week The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is filming the last video in the three-part series featuring the work that Louisville is doing as part of its Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC) grant. Louisville was one of nine leading sites to receive funding as part of this landmark national program to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. The RWJF program supports local efforts to improve access to affordable, healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity for children and families. HKHC now encompasses 50 sites in more than half of the states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Louisville’s project has focused efforts in twelve neighborhoods in the West End and East Downtown and includes partnership in the Healthy in a Hurry Corner Store initiative, Farmers Market promotion, and improving neighborhood walkability to increase opportunities for physical activity, among other strategies. The videos will be shared on the Healthy Hometown website and with other communities through the RWJF website. For more information, visit: http://www.healthykidshealthycommunities.org/communities.

 

More than Two Dozen Farmers Markets Dot the City this Summer

Louisville is enjoying its more than two dozen Farmers Markets this spring/summer stretching from East Downtown to Hikes Point, Southeast to Old Louisville and from Southwest to Prospect. All of the Markets offer fresh, local and healthy fare. And all Markets provide a fun and friendly atmosphere in which to shop. However, each Market has its own schedule so the Healthy Hometown has compiled all of that information for you and it is available on line at www.louisvilleky.gov/healthyhometown or call 574-6209 and we will send you a flyer. We hope to see you at many of these Markets this summer!

 

“Healthy Hometown Restaurants” Get On Board!

Mayor Fischer will recognize all of the restaurants that are participating in the new Healthy Hometown menu-labeling program at a special news conference on September 7th at Yang Kee Noodle in Oxmoor Center Mall. It was the first restaurant to sign on to the program which now has 21 participating restaurants, representing 39 locations. And it continues to gain momentum!

This voluntary program helps restaurants post the number of calories in each of their standard menu items and in turn allows them to market themselves as a “Healthy Hometown Restaurant.” Marketing opportunities include the Healthy Hometown website, E-news, special events, E-blasts, newsletters, press releases and publicity. Participating restaurants display the “Healthy Hometown Restaurant” logo. For more information about how to participate as well as how to get assistance with recipe analysis and printing new menus at no cost contact  patrick.rich@louisvilleky.gov or 574-6690.

 

Upcoming Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement Committee Meetings:

Food In Neighborhoods September 12, 5:30pm 5:30pm Downtown YMCA
Schools August 16, 10-11:30am 10 - 11:30am Gheens Academy
Worksite Wellness August 18 8 - 9:30am Baptist East Milestone
Step Up, Louisville! September 20 10am Health Dept.

The next Active Living Conference will be in September – stay tuned!

Contact marigny.bostock@louisvilleky.gov to RSVP or for more information.

 

 Healthy Hometown Partner News:
Join Louisville Water Company to celebrate 15 years of “Pure Tap!”   Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Water President Greg Heitzman will be on hand Wednesday, August 10th, 5-7pm at Louisville’s Historic Water Tower to mark this important anniversary of “Pure Tap” which has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best tasting waters in the country. In addition, the “Pure Tap” program donates free water to hundreds of not-for-profits annually for their fundraising events and activities. This reception will also give folks a chance to see the newly restored Terrace which is riverside at the Water Tower on Zorn Avenue. There will also be a free “Tour of the Tower” for history buffs and a Duck Pond with free prizes for everyone! Louisville Water Company is the long time sponsor of the Healthy Hometown Mayor’s Mile program. 
 

Louisville Farm to Table hosts Healthy Foods for Healthy Living Workshop

Louisville Farm to Table is teaming up with Jewish Hospital and Aramark Food Service to host the “Healthy Foods for Healthy Living” workshop on August 26, 9:00 am – 3:00pm at Jewish Hospital Rudd Heart and Lung Center at 201 Abraham Flexner Way. The event will feature Jamie Harvie, Executive Director for the Institute for a Sustainable Future and Founding member of Healthcare Without Harm. Come meet other food service providers who use local foods, meet people who can provide high quality, local food at your organization and taste delicious, local food that is in season! A local lunch is included, and the event is free. Please RSVP by August 17 by contacting Kelly.Probus@louisvilleky.gov or by calling 574-3167.

The Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement News is designed to keep you informed of important Healthy Hometown Happenings as well as create a communications connection for all Healthy Hometown partners and interested participants. We encourage you to share any news, events and updates generated through your organizations and efforts ---all part of the Mayor’s goal to make this one of the healthiest communities in America.

 

To submit information for publication consideration, please DO NOT HIT REPLY. Send edited items, including specific dates and times for events to smlcomm@att.net. Please include any pertinent web links and an e-mail source for more information.

 

 

This is a publication of the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement and is distributed through the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who has an interest in a healthy community. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter please notify us at marigny.bostock@louisvilleky.gov.