A drive thru window at a liquor store - No way!

Do you think a drive thru window at a liquor store would be convenient for you?  Imagine how much more convenient it would be for our young people to obtain alcohol without consequence. We do not need a drive thru liquor store in the city of Springfield.

A special permit request for a drive thru window at a Cottage Street liquor store came before the City Council on Sept. 27 and was sent to committee for further review. We can't sit idly by and let this go forward. City Councilors Melvin Edwards and E. Henry Twiggs have spoken publicly against the measure, and are rallying the support of others. We have to contact our City Councilors and speak out against this before any measures move forward. For contact information for your local City Councilor click here. People need to understand that increased access to alcohol for adults leads to increased access by our youth.

Statistics have shown that alcohol is more of a health risk to young people than drugs.  Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high school seniors, and its use is increasing.

Let's not make it easier for youth in
Springfield to access alcohol.

According to an American Medical Association report, boys usually try alcohol for the first time at just 11 years old, while the average age for American girls' first drink is 13. In short, the report says, our nation's youth are "flirting with disaster." Consider the facts:

• Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teens.
• Alcohol use contributes to youth suicides, homicides and fatal injuries.
• Alcohol abuse is linked to two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students
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• Alcohol is a major factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases.

Although we have mandatory compliance checks on liquor sales to minors in Springfield, the compliance rate has been around 75 percent, which is poor. This means that 1 in 4 stores have failed to even ASK a minor for identification.

"Needless to say, the bar is low to pass the checks," Peggy Vezina, coordinator of the Springfield STOP ACCESS campaign, has said. "All the store clerk needs to do is ask for an ID. Once they do, the check is over and the store has passed. How much more difficult will it be to judge the age of or intoxication level of a person in a car? How much more difficult will it be to judge the age of other occupants in the car? How much more difficult will it be for investigators to enforce the law?"

The Mason Square Health Task Force, the Weed and Seed Initiative and Gandara Mental Health's STOP ACCESS Springfield is among several groups here fighting to decrease alcohol access to youth in the Mason Square area and Springfield. Please join us in this effort.

National Health Observances: Let's get on board and support them

Sept. 29, 2010

Did you know that September is Fruit and Veggies-More Matters Month and Baby Safety Month, or that Sept. 29 is National Women's Health & Fitness Day? If you're like many of us, probably not.

While some of the authors of national health observances are quite successful at marketing their cause (think National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, World Aids Day and even the Great American Smokeout each November) others such as these awareness efforts go largely unnoticed by the general populous.

There are reasons why community groups, health professionals, teachers and residents should support organized local and national health observances: They educate the public about health risks,  help organize successful health promotion events and campaigns, and get news and information out about vital health topics and resources in the community. On a personal level, use them as a launching pad to implement healthy changes into your own life.

So lets start with National Women's Day of Health & Fitness. The day is sponsored as a public/private good health partnership by the Health Information Resource Center as a way to promote the importance of health awareness and regular physical activity for women of all ages. to According to sponsors, over 100,000 women will participate in events throughout the U.S. In Mason Square, we can host events in small groups, among girlfriends, co-workers or family members. Arrange to meet for a walk around the Springfield College or Blunt Park tracks, or workout at a local gym. The bottom line - establish a fitness regimen and continue to use that regimen in your daily lifestyle.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & Produce for Better Health Foundation is the sponsor for Fruit and Veggies-More Matters Month. The month promotes health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables.

Click to see the food Pyramid

Fruit and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet that can help protect you from:

• Heart disease
• Bone loss
• Type 2 diabetes 
• High blood pressure
• Some cancers, such as colorectal cancer

Simple steps you can take to increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables is:

1. Seek out healthy recipes with fruits and/or vegetables and implement into your daily diet.

2. Share your research on the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables with family and friends

3. Teach your children that fruits and vegetables are not just good for you, but also GOOD!

Baby Safety Awareness Month is a campaign launched by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, an agency that works with the Consumer Protection Agency to establish guidelines for juvenile products, to help educators and caregivers understand the importance of using safe products for babies. The month has been observed since 1991.

This year, the JMPA is focusing on safe sleeping environments. According to the JMPA, every year hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment not specifically designed for infants, such as in a toddler or adult bed, couch or unprotected space. Children must be placed in properly assembled, safe and secure cribs, cradles, bassinets or the like. For tips on creating safe environments for babies click here.

As a result of national campaigns like these, Americans are raising their awareness about health risks and safety issues and implementing strategies for change. Let's jump on the bandwagon and do the same right here in Mason Square.

Local Recovery Walk shines a light on substance abuse treatment and the Recovery High School

The Recovery High School
334 Franklin St., Springfield, MA 

The Mason Square Health Task Force and the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery will recognize September as National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Recovery Month with a Recovery Walk on Sept. 24, kicking off at 11 a.m. from the steps of City Hall to Recovery High School at 334 Franklin St. A ceremony at the school will be held from noon to 3 p.m. A bus is available for individuals unable to walk.

The MSHTF team and Board of Directors ask that each of you show your support by taking this walk with us. Many people are unaware that Springfield has a high school whose mission is to educate and to reduce the high rates of relapse associated with teens in recovery by providing a safe, sober and supportive school environment where students and their recovery efforts are understood, valued and fostered.

Recovery High School Administrator Michael Ellis said they are devoted to helping young people by providing them with a high quality education experience in a safe, therapeutically supportive school setting. Studies indicate that without intense support, an extremely high percentage of teens in recovery relapse. 


"We offer a lot of compassion, integrity and respect to help them become acceptable, responsible adults who are an asset to society," Ellis said. "We're smaller and we focus on the kids and their needs. We're proactive in our efforts."

Substance abuse counseling
helps teens achieve success

I consider the city's Recovery High School to be one of our best kept secrets. The school is within the alternative school structure in Springfield, collectively known as Springfield Academy for Excellence (SAFE). SAFE currently includes seven programs located at six different campuses in Springfield and one at Holyoke Community College. Springfield's Recovery School, launched five years ago, is a small highly structured program for 30 to 50 students in recovery from alcohol or other drug abuse dependence.

In an attempt to shine a light on National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Recovery Month activities, our Recovery Walk will conclude with a ceremony at the school. A parent of a teen who is attending Recovery High School will share her story; Springfield Director of Health and Human Services Helen Caulton-Harris will read her powerful poem "Everybody is Recovering from Something," Ellis will talk about the work of the school and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno will issue a proclamation recognizing September as Recovery Month in the city.

For more information on the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery visit their website here. 

For more information on National Substance Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month activities visit www.recoverymonth.org.

We hope that you will come see that recovery is possible, that Springfield offers options for our teens and that we can collectively make a difference to improve the lives of all people no matter the circumstance.

Teatro V!da brings arts and culture to Greater Springfield and offers resources to youth and adults

Teatro V!da presents "Rumors of a New Day" on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.,
affords arts and culture opportunities to youth and adults.

When we think of societal plagues like substance abuse, depression, violence and assorted health ailments as a result of diet and stress, the cures we most often reach for are medicinal, believing it provides a quick fix. Though medicines are  important treatments in many cases, we should not overlook the role of intervention and prevention strategies, especially when it comes to our youth.

Intervention means attacking a problem at the first sign of trouble by changing mindsets and behaviors. Prevention seeks to stop the issue in advance prior to becoming a health disparity. So how do we do that?

• Get our youth involved in positive activities to steer them away from the trouble zones.
• Help our adults overcome the daily challenges of life by balancing the struggle with hope and compassion.

Greater Springfield is fortunate to have a wealth of organizations in our backyard who espouse the same beliefs as the Mason Square Health Task Force; agencies that consider whole health and intervention as necessary goals in serving the people in our community. We need to do more to support them and help them flourish and grow.

Teatro V!da, the city's first Latino theater group is one such agency. Teatro V!da is the brainchild of Magdalena Gomez, a teaching artist for more than 35 years. In 2006, Gomez rallied the support of key leaders in Springfield's Latino community. One year later, Teatro V!da was born with funding from the Latino Breakfast Club, Hispanic Resources Inc., MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health and other community supporters. Since its founding, Teatro V!da has produced over 20 events, including four original full productions with music composed by artist, musician Heshima Moja, the theater's current Music Director.

"We offer the community an opportunity to build up our young people, and fill in the gap that's left vacant as a result to cuts in public education in the area of arts and culture," said Moja, an independent artist whose recent cd release has been getting national airplay. "We give them a chance to discover theater, acting, dance, but we also focus on issues like literacy, and health, and wellness and compassion. We take a whole health, holistic approach using artistic expression."

 

Their latest production, "Rumors of a New Day," is a  multi-media performance celebrating Springfield and the arts. It will be held  Monday, September 13 at 7 p.m., at City Stage. The performance was written and directed by Gomez. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the show. For more information call the City Stage box office at (413) 788-7033.

"This performance piece is about the issues we face right here in Springfield, the criticisms, the stereotypes, the 'isms, the things we care about and face in our everyday lives in Springfield," said Moja, noting the theme of "Rumors." The production uses a variety of artistic mediums including acting, dance and music.

The production has more than 100 people involved, including cast and crew. At least two dozen youth are tied to the play, either as performers or as apprentices under Daniel Jaquez, an acclaimed choreographer from New York City, Moja said.

"This show offers solutions woven throughout the fabric of the piece offering steps to emotional wellness, emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion," Moja said.

The Mason Square Health Task Force encourages you to support the show, and support Teatro V!da in its efforts to keep our city culturally diverse, artistically rich, healthy and well.

With sports related concussions rising, parents should be aware of issues, signs and risks

File photo from The Republican

Football season has arrived and New England has a rich history of  fans who embrace the sport, cheering at little league games for Mason Square's 5A players to braving rain and cold to support  area high school and college teams.

So how does football and health care news relate? In recent weeks, the spotlight has been placed on the safety of football, particularly for our young people, with breaking news on the rising rate of sports-related concussions.

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a study that appears in the September issue of Pediatrics examining sports-related concussions in children and adolescents revealed that the number of young children treated in hospital ERs for concussions occurred while playing on sports teams has doubled within the past decade.If that's not alarming enough, researchers say the rate among younger athletes, as early as 8-years-old, is significant and rising.The study represents the first attempt to document the national incidence of sports-related concussions among children in elementary and middle school, according to national news reports.

The study looked at an analysis of data from hospital emergency departments across the nation and revealed that:

• Roughly half a million ER visits for concussions occurred among 8- to 19-year-olds between 2001 and 2005.
• About half were sports-related, and 40% of sports-related concussions involved children between the ages of 8 and 13.
• Football and ice hockey were the organized sports with the most concussion injuries, and snow skiing, bicycling, and playground iinjuries accounted for the most concussions occurring from non-team-related activities.

So exactly what is a concussion and what are its symptoms? A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that is caused by an impact or jolt to the head. The symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea
• Slurred speech
• Fatigue
• Memory or concentration problems

While many of us in this area are big football fans and want to support our young athletes, we have to be mindful that their health and well-being take precedent over the game.Parents and caregivers need to be proactive about making sure their child has the right sports gear, from helmet to cleats. Equally as important, parents need to make sure their child's coach has our youth's best interest at heart, on and off the field.