By RiverTown Newsroom on Apr 15, 2019 at 9:40 a.m.
HUDSON — Families can sign up for the free Test Your Vest children's water safety event on Saturday, April 27.
Hudson Hospital & Clinic trauma program and the Hudson YMCA are teaming up to offer life jacket checks, water safety education — and free swim time!
The event at the Hudson YMCA takes about an hour and is open to all (need not be a YMCA member). It's for children under 50 pounds. Time slots from 12:30-5 p.m. can be reserved at www.healthpartnerslocalcare.org/testyourvest.
Stepping On is a free falls prevention program that is proven to reduce falls in those living in the community.
Who can benefit? Anyone who is: 60 years or over; has had a fall in the past year; fearful of falling; living at home or in an apartment; this program is not intended for those who rely on a walker or wheelchair or those who have dementia.
What you will learn: the Stepping On workshop meets for two hours a week for seven weeks.
Topics include: simple and fun balance and strength training; the role vision plays in keeping your balance; how medications can contribute to falls; ways to stay safe when out and about in your community; what to look for in safe footwear; how to check your home for safety.
Workshops will be held 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays, April 23 through June 4, at Western Wisconsin Health (1100 Bergslien St., Baldwin); and 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, May 8 through June 19, at The Deerfield (1127 W. Eighth St., New Richmond). Registration is required and space is limited. Contact Tara Murdzek, ADRC Caregiver Support Coordinator at 715-381-4366.
NEW RICHMOND — The Active Life Fair will be held 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 17 at The Centre in New Richmond. This is a free resource fair for active aging adults 55+. You will have the opportunity to gather information from over 20 vendors regarding local programs and services. Join us and learn about health, fitness, and wellness opportunities to improve your quality of life. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for door prizes.
All adults are welcome to attend. Register at The Centre or online at www.nracentre.com. The Centre provides a number of other active older adult activities including fitness classes, speakers, and social events to promote being active and providing opportunities to meet others. For more information visit www.nracentre.com or contact Sam Nolan, Senior Programs Coordinator, at snolan@nracentre.com or 715-246-2252.
Sixty-eight community nonprofits and local government organizations are the newest recipients of Neighborhood Health Connection grants from Allina Health. The grants support on-going activities that promote social connections through healthy eating and physical activity among adults in local communities.
The 68 selected programs were chosen through a competitive application process that was open to community nonprofits and local government organizations who wanted to start or strengthen a program.
The grants, ranging from $300 to $10,000, are part of Neighborhood Health Connection, a community program developed by Allina Health to improve the health of communities through social connections, healthy eating and physical activity.
• Among Friends, adult memory care social respite program, River Falls. Participans in a memory loss respite program will grow a variety of herbs, which will be used in healthy snacks and meals for them and their caregivers.
• City of River Falls. Our community activity meets at various parks in River Falls. The sessions begin with a meet and greet of attendees, and warm up of the mind and body, followed by a 1-mile walk. The learning portion will include safe physical activity, local history, cross-brain fitness, yoga, healthy eating, farmers' market education, nutrition, stress relief and more.
• City of River Falls Parks & Rec, experienced pickleball players will learn to unlock some of the secrets of the mental aspects of play as explained by W. Timothy Gallwey in his classic book, "The Inner Game of Tennis;"
• City of River Falls Parks & Rec, local residents will meet weekly for an outdoor "Yoga on the Kinni" class near the Kinnickinnic River. It will be led by a certified instructor from InBalance Yoga.
• City of River Falls Parks & Rec, participants will meet at a park and be led in a Boot Camp fitness class by a certified trainer. They will utilize things in the park such as playground equipment, benches, and trees to get a great workout in a lovely, outdoor park setting.
• Gateway Arts and Wellness, Spring Valley. Empowered Women's Wellness, a five-month walking group and health transformation opportunity for up to 20 women in two Allina communities, will begin in May and conclude in October. The activity will provide structured opportunities for ongoing physical activity, nutrition education, social connection, goal setting, and comprehensive, wraparound support to women who have historically had a tendency to prioritize everything and everyone but themselves.
• Spring Valley Seniors Staying Put, Inc., Spring Valley. Participants will meet to exercise and socialize twice a week in the Spring Valley Municipal Building for StongBodies classes, a national exercise program with research-based outcomes.
• Grow to Share, Inc., River Falls. Adults in addiction recovery in River Falls will be given the opportunity to form new positive, healthy social connections and relationships, along with incorporating the benefits of gardening into their holistic recovery approach, through a series of hands-on opportunities in the Grow to Share gardens.
• Meyer Middle School, River Falls. Therapeutic Yoga sessions will be provided for MMS staff. These sessions will focus on physical and emotional stress relief, physical fitness and healthy eating via mindfulness. Mindfulness of body and thought patterns will be taught and practiced. The mindfulness in body and thought practices are based on neuroscientific research, especially interpersonal neurobiology.
• Prescott Public Library, Prescott. The Prescott Public Library will hold Adult yoga classes for people of all physical abilities and strengths.
• St. Croix Health & Rehab Center, New Richmond. Residents will be provided with exercise equipment to participate in weekly exercise groups/classes.
• Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence, River Falls. Victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence will participate in ongoing trauma-informed yoga and wellness programming.
PowerUp for a week of fun!
A week-long celebration of fun and activity is just a few weeks away. The fifth annual PowerUp Week is May 4-11 and a host of events is planned throughout the St. Croix Valley and western Wisconsin. It's a time to have fun, get inspired and take part in activities to help the community eat better and move more.
Highlights of PowerUp Week include a 2K family run; birthday parties for Chomp — the PowerUp superhero carrot; kids' cooking and lettuce gardening classes; an animal hike; geocaching and fat tire biking events.
In Wisconsin, there will be PowerUp events in Amery, New Richmond and Hudson. Several community partners are also providing special PowerUp Week offers and activities, including free entry or discounts on activities and food.
A new twist to this year's celebration is the PowerUp TRY-athlon. It's not a typical triathlon. Children, families and the whole community are invited to try out three activities during May. Participants can track activities using the PowerUp TRY-athlon tracker, and turn it in for the chance to win prizes, including a bike from Art Doyle's Spokes and Pedals shop in Hudson, an Instant Pot pressure cooker, and more.