Sound Shore Leaders Convene for Community Health discussion
[Rye, NY. Oct. 13, 2010] Childhood obesity is making headlines across the nation, and here in the Sound Shore, the dialogue is no less urgent as leaders from Rye, Larchmont and Mamaroneck convened to discuss “healthy community” initiatives at an Activate America forum hosted by the Rye YMCA on October 13th. With a countywide childhood obesity rate higher than the national average, municipal officials joined with professionals from health organizations, school districts, and county transportation department to discuss how to slow this rising trend.
Presenters included Mayors Norman Rosenblum (Village of Mamaroneck) and Doug French (City of Rye) who both provided examples of ways communities could become healthier simply by providing more opportunities for physical activity in public spaces. Rosenblum encouraged neighboring municipalities to join him in endorsing the East Coast Greenway project whose goal is to create a continuous bike path from Florida to Maine. Rosenblum believes that encouraging recreational cyclists to follow the Greenway thru Sound Shore communities will encourage not only exercise, but also drive business to the downtown areas.
Rye City Mayor Doug French explained that a growing chorus from residents for safer and more accessible walking and bike paths is driving his current “complete streets” initiatives that include working with the Rye Y to provide a workshop and other research on shared roadways concepts. NYS Assemblyman George Latimer, an Activate America member, described “complete streets” as a growing trend in community planning that addresses safety, health and the environment. “Complete streets is becoming more popular in transportation design. It takes into account all users of the road including walkers, drivers and cyclists and is an approach that could help improve and sustain long term community health.”
Rounding out the list of presenters were Sally Rogol, Superintendent of Rye Recreation Dept. and Donna Guadioso-Zeale, Director of Greenwich Hospital’s Healthy Living Center. Rogol described attending a YMCA sponsored “learning institute” in Indianapolis, where hundreds of Y staff and community partners shared ideas on improving community health and how to sustain that momentum. Gaudioso-Zeale emphasized the need for better nutrition education, including menu labeling in schools and restaurants to promote healthy choices. “Food labeling isn’t about taking something away, it’s about educating people and giving them the information they need to make a healthy choice.”
To date, the Activate America coalition’s list of accomplishments to improve personal and community wellbeing include edible gardens, Safe Routes to School, and various school based programs. Participants at the Oct. 13th forum also included: (see attached listing of attendees)
Activate America – Meeting Attendees
Government and Community Leaders
George Latimer, NY State Assemblyman
Doug French, Mayor City of Rye
Norm Rosenblum, Mayor, Village of Mamaroneck
Nancy Seligson, Councilwoman, Town of Mamaroneck
Anne McAndrews, Trustee, Village of Larchmont
Naomi Klein, Principal Planner, Westchester County Dept. of Transportation
Sally Rogol, Supt., Rye Recreation Dept.
Karen O'Donnell, Asst. Supt., Rye Recreation Dept.
Zoe Colon, Executive Director, Hispanic Resource Center of Mamaroneck
School Officials
Jean Romano, Physical Education, Osborn School, Rye
Tracey Barnett, Dir. Health Services, Rye City School District
Health Organizations
Patrick Quinn, Dept. of Chronic Diseases, Westchester County Dept. of Health
Donna Gaudioso-Zeale, RN, Greenwich Hospital, Dir. of Healthy Living Center
Media
Howard Sturman, Publisher, Hometown Media Group
Rye YMCA
Gregg Howells, Executive Director
Dinah Howland, Coalition Chair
Helen Gates, Dir. of Marketing & Strategic Initiatives
Charles Clute, Wellness coordinator
