Vineland
June 11, 2014
The Vineland Board of Education passed the “new and improved” Vineland School District Wellness Policy on June 11. “We commend the Vineland Health Department for working with the school district on this critical commitment that focuses on nutrition quality of foods and beverages sold and served in schools, education about and promotion of nutrition and physical activity with students, parents and staff,” said Lisa Scheetz, New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland) project manager. As a result of the policy, schools will provide healthy and nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and whole grains. Opportunities for physical activity will be incorporated into other subject lessons and teachers will provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes, as appropriate. The board is committed to promoting the School Wellness Policy to all food service personnel, teachers, nurses and other school administrative staff to ensure that they have the […]
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May 17, 2014
A medevac helicopter from Cooper University Hospital landing on the Elwyn grounds in Vineland was just one fun aspect of the Safety Awareness Bicycle and Scooter Rodeo held on Founder’s Day in Vineland on May 17. The helicopter was filled with bike helmets which were provided for free to the 300 children attending the rodeo. Representatives from the Vineland Police Department, Safe Routes to School and Kids Safe of Southern New Jersey then instructed children and adults in the proper way to strap on the helmets and buckle up for safety. With their helmets on, children were able to navigate a bike course and learn safe techniques for riding bikes and scooters. “It was a fun day that emphasized safe exercise and active outdoor activities,” said Lisa Scheetz, New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland) project manager. Scheetz and NJPHK-Vineland partners worked with various organizations to plan and execute the […]
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April 26, 2014
Children and their families got a taste of summer at the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day in April. Healthy Kids Day is a YMCA tradition celebrated across the country. Each year as children begin yearning for summer vacation, local Ys sponsor a safe and healthy play day to preview summer activities and underscore the importance of safety and wellness. The event allows families to try out Y summer programs, which focus on good nutrition and fun physical activity. New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland) helped the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA celebrate its 10th Healthy Kids Day on April 12, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Vineland. More than 200 children and adults enjoyed the many activities, including a family obstacle course. Adults and children raced one another through an inflatable playground and crawled, jumped and ran through various obstacles to reach the big slide at end. The Y also […]
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March 5, 2014
Sabater Elementary School in Vineland was the site of a “Safe Routes to School” learning experience on March 5. Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Safe Routes to School teaches children how to ride their bikes and cross streets with safety in mind. “The school cafeteria was turned into a major intersection so the third- and fourth-graders could learn how to navigate city streets and be alert to traffic signals,” explained Lisa Scheetz, project manager for New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Vineland (NJPHK-Vineland). Sabater was chosen for the first Vineland-area Safe Routes experience because more than 400 of the school’s students bike or walk to school each day. “With the passage of Complete Streets in 2011, NJPHK-Vineland and our partners are intent on making Vineland’s streets usable and safe for residents. Safe Routes to School is just one of the activities to promote safe outdoor activity,” Scheetz said. Two […]
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January 23, 2014
Originally published in TheDailyJournal.com Emma Lopez, co-director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, was recognized as the Vineland Healthy Kids Champion during the partnership’s Building Healthy Communities Conference.She was recognized for her leadership in implementing Vineland’s first bike lanes. Lopez is a health educator who works in public health education, program planning, implementation and evaluation for the city of Vineland. She is committed to environmental policy and system change that promote wellness and healthier lifestyles for communities. Emma Lopez, co-director of New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, was recognized as the Vineland Healthy Kids Champion during the partnership’s Building Healthy Communities Conference. She was recognized for her leadership in implementing Vineland’s first bike lanes. Lopez is a health educator who works in public health education, program planning, implementation and evaluation for the city of Vineland. She is committed to environmental policy and system change that promote wellness and healthier […]
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August 17, 2013
Originally published in The South Jersey Times on NJ.com To the Editor: Last week the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported signs of significant progress in reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. Specifically, between 2008 and 2011, 18 states showed decreases in obesity rates for low-income preschoolers. Among these states, New Jersey recorded the second largest decrease. These are the children who have been at the highest risk for obesity and whose families have had the most limited chances to make healthy choices. It is a testament to all the work being done, by local groups like ours and national organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, headquartered right here in New Jersey, to promote healthier lifestyles for children. Since 2009, the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids has spearheaded efforts in building and strengthening childhood obesity prevention strategies that support access to affordable healthy foods and increase opportunities […]
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April 30, 2013
When New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture sought to announce the receipt of a $62,713 U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant, Vineland proved to be the perfect place to host the press conference. The grant, the second that was awarded, will help continue work started with Rutgers Food Innovation Center on a project to bring Made with Jersey Fresh items to schools throughout the state. The initial $51,000 grant provided the Department of Agriculture the opportunity to work with the Innovation Center to develop farm-to-school menu items that meet the nutritional, cost and shelf-life needs for school meals, and are also appealing to students. “When we received that initial grant, we partnered with New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids to help us place samples of the farm-to-school products,” said Diane Holtaway, associate director of client services, Rutgers Food Innovation Center. “Together, we made a great decision to place […]
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March 9, 2013
Originally published in Press of Atlantic City Local officials are planning a few projects aimed at getting city residents living in New Jersey’s least healthy county up and moving to improve their physical conditions. One part of the plan involves creating two miles of downtown bike lanes that will run on Wood and Elmer streets between East and West avenues. The other is a monthly fun and fitness event held in the downtown Landis Avenue business district on the first Friday of most spring and summer months. The evening events would close a block of Landis Avenue for families to participate in a series of yet-to-be-developed events. A goal of both projects is to improve local and Cumberland County health indicators that Emma Lopez, health educator for the city’s health department, called “horrible.” One of the biggest problems is obesity, she said. While improving personal health is the main goal, […]
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January 28, 2013
Originally published in The Daily Journal Traffic heads west on Wood Street near Vineland City Hall, where a bike lane will be established. / Staff photo/Cody Glenn The city plans to paint bicycle lanes on two streets beginning this spring. The bicycle lanes will be painted on Wood Street and Elmer Street — each a one way street, said Brian Myers, the city engineer. “The project will probably be coming in the spring,” Myers said. Officials were finalizing the plans earlier this month. The cost of the project is not yet known. The bike route would be a first for the city and would allow bicyclers their own lane in which to ride, Myers said. The lanes would be established on Wood and Elmer streets between West Avenue and East Avenue. Parking would still be maintained on both sides of the street, Myers said. Emma Lopez, the health educator with […]
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July 20, 2012
Very Veggie Pasta Sauce and Blueberry Parfait are two Jersey Fresh selections now on the menu at Vineland High School. It’s been a bit of a journey from farm to table, but now that two items have made the grade, Lisa Scheetz, NJPHK-Vineland Program Coordinator, is optimistic that more will follow. Scheetz credits the collaboration of NJPHK-Vineland partners city of Vineland Health Department, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Rutgers Innovation Center, Vineland Public Schools and food vendor Sodexo for bringing Jersey Farm Fresh offerings to Vineland public school cafeterias. SHARE:
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