Related Information
Wood County to stand up for health
Karen Madden • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 14, 2012
Wood County officials want employees to get up and move.
ODC Hidden Creek Kitchens help workers eat healthier
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • May 14, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 14, 2012
Hidden Creek Kitchens by Opportunity Development Centers Inc., or ODC, provides an ideal solution to a growing health problem for central Wisconsin's workforce.
Ocean Spray embraces wellness
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • May 8, 2012
Renee Fischer, human resources administrator, and Rose Johnson, quality specialist at the Wisconsin Rapids Ocean Spray facility, recently proved just how important educational tools are to improving employee wellness.
Screen Free Week turns attention to physical activity
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • May 5, 2012
Families across Wisconsin and the nation are pulling the plug on TVs, computers and digital devices as Screen Free Week sweeps across the nation.
Wood County addresses wellness
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • May 1, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 4, 2012
Mike Martin, Wood County Finance director, knows first-hand how rising health care costs affect the county's bottom line.
Students enjoy school-grown produce
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • April 24, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 27, 2012
Before most backyard gardeners have dug their hands into the dirt, kids across Wood County already are harvesting the first fresh produce of spring -- spinach.
Get Active sponsors photography contest for local students
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 17, 2012
Marshfield News Herald • April 17, 2012
The Get Active Wood County obesity prevention team announced a photo contest for Wood County students.
Norwood workers aim for health
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 10, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • April 10, 2012
Norwood Health Center employees Larry Shear, administrative assistant, and Julie Kasner, dietary manager, know that vending machines full of sugary beverages and high-calorie, high-sodium snacks with minimal nutritional value make little sense in a health care facility.
Healthier vending a go at mill
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 3, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • April 3, 2012
Pearl Garcia, occupational nurse practitioner for the New Page Corp. Wisconsin Rapids Mill, is winning the battle against 12 unassuming health hazards at the Wisconsin Rapids facility: the building's vending machines.
Local business brings employee wellness into an unexpected industry
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • March 27, 2012
Despite the high level of physical activity on a municipal wastewater facility construction job site, Dan Neve, operations manager for Staab Construction, knows the health pitfalls of the construction industry.
Wood County schools celebrate state fruit: cranberry
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • March 21, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • March 27, 2012
As winter turns to spring during March, kids in Wood County schools are digging into the fruits of one of Wisconsin's most bountiful fall harvests: cranberries.
City expands worksite wellness program
Sara Richie • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • March 15, 2012
Sara Richie • Marshfield News Herald • March 15, 2012
In the fall of 2011, the city of Marshfield received funding from the Get Active Wood County initiative to enhance its employee wellness programs. Get Active is the result of an obesity prevention grant funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wood County Health Department.
Building a healthy business to save costs
Tina Bart • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • March 7, 2012
Tina Bart • Marshfield News Herald • March 7, 2012
If you ask any business leader to identify the key to success in business, the answer always will be the same: Our employees. Better employees mean better business. This means investing in an employee's health and wellness. In addition to high health care costs, employee health status directly affects attendance and job performance. All of which impact a business's bottom line.
Get Active videos unveiled
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • March 7, 2012
Marshfield News Herald • March 7, 2012
NEKOOSA -- The Wood County Health Department is harnessing the power of storytelling to show how the entire community is collaborating to promote obesity prevention in Wood County.
The department will reveal six concise local videos to showcase these efforts at the March 14 video launch at 8 a.m. at the Nekoosa Community Center. The entire Get Active community leadership team of local government, private sector and nonprofit decision-makers will be in attendance at the event. Wood County business owners, nonprofit leaders and community members are all encouraged to also attend.
Renowned chef leads workshop
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 29, 2012
Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 29, 2012
Culinary pioneer Chef Monique Hooker traveled to Marshfield High School on Feb. 8 to lead a workshop in knife training and other essential culinary skills for the entire Marshfield School District food service staff.
Obesity grant money pays dividend at local school district
Amy Van Meter • The VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids • February 17, 2012
The Wisconsin Rapids School Board had an opportunity to see the results of an obesity grant during the Feb. 13 board meeting.
DaNita Carlson, health educator for Wood County and Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant coordinator, demonstrated to the board how the school district is implementing approximately $92,000 of grant money that was awarded in 2010.
Hidden Creek caters Smart Meal options
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 28, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 28, 2012
During the past two months, we've traveled across Wood County taste-tasting all of the fabulous, healthy meals served up by participating Smart Meal restaurants.
Today, we complete that road trip at one of Wisconsin Rapids' and Marshfield's well known treasures: Hidden Creek Kitchens by Opportunity Development Centers Inc., or ODC.
Schools get students fired up for fitness
Deb Cleworth • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 25, 2012
Deb Cleworth • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 25, 2012
Port Edwards Elementary students are chasing fitness.
Ann Pickett's fourth-grade students and their kindergarten partners finished up a six-week stretch of Physical Fitness Fridays this week. They spent an hour Friday -- as they did the past several weeks -- running, jumping and stretching their way to better fitness.
Smart Meals has own menu at Belvedere
Erica Thomes • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 21, 2012
Erica Thomes • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 21, 2012
As I wind down my tour of participating Wood County Smart Meal restaurants, I am thrilled to find out Belvedere Supper Club owners Patricia and Dale Leffel eagerly have agreed to begin serving Smart Meals at their one-of-a-kind Marshfield restaurant.
West 14th elegant addition to Smart Meal options
Laura Dickman • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 14, 2012
Laura Dickman • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 14, 2012
Nestled above the Blue Heron BrewPub in downtown Marshfield is the BrewPub's upscale counterpart, West 14th. The restaurant offers a genuine fine dining menu without the costs and pomp and circumstance traditionally associated with exquisite fare.
Radio broadcast: Wood County Farm to School
Pat Snyder & Tom King • AM 550/FM 99.9 WSAU • 02/10/2012
Wisconsin Food Service Director Julie Marie and Get Active Farm to School Food Procurement Coordinator Sue Anderson talk about Farm to School in Wood County. Listen to the full live broadcast HERE.
CSA garden a win-win for ODC, community
Pam Ross • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 9, 2012
Pam Ross • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 9, 2012
We all hear about the benefits of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and buying local.
ODC's Hidden Creek CSA Garden provides members of our community the opportunity to eat healthy, buy local and support the mission of ODC. We are hard at work planning for our second year of operating this CSA garden.
Supper club Smart Meals offer meat portions
Erica Thomes • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 7, 2012
Erica Thomes • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 7, 2012
After a long day of classes and homework, my roommate and I decided to head for Red Mill Supper Club. The thought of sampling a healthy new Smart Meal from one of our favorite local restaurants easily helped peel us out of our office chairs.
School lunches feature local produce
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Feb. 2, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • Feb. 2, 2012
For more than a year, students at Wood County public school districts have had the opportunity to taste local produce during their lunch periods. The goal of the taste tests was to introduce local foods to students and food service staff with hope of making them a mainstay on school lunch menus.
Brew Pub Smart Meals are unique
Michelle Goetsch • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Jan. 31, 2012
Michelle Goetsch • Marshfield News Herald • Jan. 31, 2012
Leave the biting wind and dreadful traffic in Chicago and settle into Marshfield's own big city gem -- the Blue Heron BrewPub in downtown Marshfield.
Jamaican Kitchens gives Smart Meals menu program a tropical twist
Erica Thomes • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Jan. 25, 2012
Erica Thomes • Marshfield News Herald • Jan. 25, 2012
After a busy week of final exams, my friend and I made our way to Jamaican Kitchens in Wisconsin Rapids to enjoy two of its new Smart Meal entrees.
Smokehouse barbecue a Smart Meal choice
Erica Thomes • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Jan. 12, 2012
Erica Thomes • Marshfield News Herald • Jan. 12, 2012
As I walked up to Lammar's Smokehouse BBQ in downtown Marshfield to sample one of its healthy new Smart Meals, I couldn't wait to try one of the southern-style specialties. The sweet aroma of hickory wood from the slow-smoked pork sandwiches easily reeled me in through the restaurant's front doors.
Sandwiches among many Smart Meal options
Erica Thomes • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Jan. 17, 2012
Erica Thomes • Marshfield News Herald • Jan. 17, 2012
As I parked my car in front of Homestead Supper Club's unique barn-shaped restaurant, I felt like I had pulled right into the driveway of home sweet home.
Resolve to make healthy, active choices in 2012
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Jan. 6, 2012
Marshfield News Herald • Jan. 6, 2012
Call them New Year's resolutions if you want to, or simply call them goals you want to accomplish. Either way, as the new year dawns and the days slowly begin to lengthen, many of us are trying to improve our health.
Get Active Smart Meals critic series kicks off
Laura Fischer • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Jan. 3, 2012
Laura Fischer • Marshfield News Herald • Jan. 3, 2012
Today's frenzied lifestyles now force the average adult to spend half of their food dollars on meals and snacks away from home. Fortunately for Wood County residents, local restaurateurs are getting serious about their role in providing healthy menu options to supplement the diets of families and individuals always on the go.
Get Active makes progress in 2011
DaNita Carlson • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Dec. 28, 2011
DaNita Carlson • Marshfield News Herald • Dec. 28, 2011
The close of 2011 marks nearly two years since Wood County became one of 50 communities across the country to receive a $2.3 million Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grant.
Wood County schools taste test local, fresh produce
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Dec. 21, 2011
Marshfield News Herald • Dec. 21, 2011
The Get Active Wood County Farm to School program has been tackling the issue of obesity in central Wisconsin with six fun-filled local produce taste tests for students this month. Students at Marshfield, Port Edwards, Nekoosa, Wisconsin Rapids and Pittsville Schools enjoyed fresh carrots from local grower Cathy Guth, of Guth Farm in Bancroft, to sample in their cafeteria lunch lines.
Auburndale students learn to make sausage
Laura Dickman, Michelle Goetsch • WRDT • Dec. 15, 2011
Laura Dickman, Michelle Goetsch • Mfld News Herald • Dec. 15, 2011
What's Ahead for Wisconsin Rapids after CPPW?
Mary Jo Carson, the mayor of Wisconsin Rapids in Wood County, Wisconsin, talked to Steve Busalacchi of Prevention Speaks about the explosion of activity aimed at reducing obesity and improving long-term health in her community.
School District Gives Kids More Healthy Options
WSAW • December 6, 2011
Marshfield parents who have a hard time getting their kids to eat fruits and vegetables may be getting some help from the school district.
Health department receives community service award
Susan Kunferman • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Nov. 23, 2011
Susan Kunferman • Marshfeild News-Herald • Nov. 23, 2011
The Wood County Health Department recently accepted the Wisconsin Cancer Council Community Service Award. The health department was nominated for the award for the outstanding work of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work, or CPPW, initiative -- also known as Get Active -- which is led by Kristie Rauter, community health improvement planner.
Wood County Health Department to mail out survey
DaNita Carlson • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Nov. 2011
DaNita Carlson • Marshfield News-Herald • Nov. 2011
The Wood County Health Department and the Get Active campaign mailed out a survey to randomly selected households in the Wood County area. The survey is designed to gather resident input about the impacts of media campaigns and social marketing on community support for policy, system, and environmental changes that improve access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. Participation is voluntary but would be greatly appreciated.
The survey will be conducted and analyzed by the Survey Research Center at UW-River Falls. This anonymous survey should take no more than ten minutes to complete. The Survey Research Center will combine all responses and individual responses with be completely anonymous.
If you would like to learn more about the Get Active initiatives, you can go to www.getactivewoodcounty.org
Pittsville students visit farms
Beth Hanna • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Nov. 10, 2011
Beth Hanna • Marshfield News-Herald • Nov. 10, 2011
Seventh-grade students at Pittsville Elementary School traded the classroom for the farm field as they took part in a Farm Tour field trip featuring time at two local farms, Mead Wildlife Area and Dairy State Cheese.At the first stop on the trip, students listened to Vespertine Gardens farmer Craig Tormoen talk about the importance of eating local food. Reasons included on Tormoen's list were benefits for our health, environment and local economy.
Central Wisconsin farmers markets increase service to FoodShare users
Ashley Smith • Central Wisconsin Sunday • Nov. 6,2011
With incentives to purchase healthier foods, more low-income people visited farmers markets in Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids this year.
The Stevens Point Farmer's Market and Wood County Farmers Market in the Wisconsin Rapids Mall, along with Main Street Marshfield Farmers Market, have made it easier for FoodShare recipients to purchase fresh products.
An Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of...gold!
Susan Kunferman • Marshfield News-Herald • Oct. 26
Susan Kunferman • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • Oct. 26, 2011
We are fortunate to live in a country where we have access to health care and a safe and healthy food supply. We are progressive and fortunate to live longer, healthier lives than people in other countries, right? Wrong.Compared to other countries, the life expectancy in America ranks 29th. Yes, 29th. People in 28 other countries live longer lives than us.
Wood County focuses on employee wellness
Karen Madden • Marshfield News-Herald • 3:08 AM, Oct. 11, 2011
In 2012, about $10.4 million of Wood County’s proposed $91.3 million budget is planned to pay employee health expenses for the county’s self-funded insurance program.
Health insurance is about 11 percent of the county’s budget — one of the reasons officials encourage employees to participate in a prevention program, said Mike Martin, Wood County finance director, who also is chairman of the county Wellness Board.
“As finance director, I am keenly aware that employee health claims are a significant portion of the county’s annual costs,” Martin said. “Wellness efforts can play a big part in controlling those costs and allow the county to continue to provide quality services at a reasonable cost to our residents.”
Letter: Families encouraged to go screen-free
Marshfield News-Herald • 11:00 PM, Oct. 7, 2011 |
Editor: Recreational screen time is defined as any television, computer usage or video games that are not for educational purposes. Recreational screen time is linked to childhood obesity, sleep and attention disorders, poor test scores and grades, and less time for creative play. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 2 years old have no screen time and children older than 2 be limited to two hours per day.
Column: Child care centers partner for health
Marshfield News Herald • 11:00 PM, Oct. 5, 2011
For the first time in more than 100 years, our children's life expectancy is declining due to an obesity epidemic in our nation (New England Journal of Medicine).
During the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children ages 2 to 5 and has more than tripled for children ages 6 to 11 (Journal of American Medical Association).
Our health is affected by the decisions we make every day. The Wood County Health Department and community partners are working to create healthier environments where we live, learn, work and play.
Amy Van Meter • The VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids • September 23, 2011
With entertainment being a mouse-click away and dinner just waiting on a microwave ding, making healthy decisions can be tough, especially if you’re a kid.
In a fast-paced, technology-driven world, one local program asks teachers to provide the option of slowing down and appreciating nature
With a goal of decreasing childhood obesity and making children aware of where their food comes from, Got Dirt?, a state-wide gardening program that provides information for beginning and keeping a youth garden, will be holding a free training workshop Sept. 26 at St. Lawrence Early Childhood Center in Wisconsin Rapids.
Got Dirt?
St. Lawrence Early Childhood Center invites teachers, childcare providers and afterschool program providers to “Got Dirt?” training workshop Sept. 26.
“Got Dirt?”, a statewide program that trains participants how to start and maintain a youth garden, will holding their presentation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Letter: Cut Down on Recreational Screen Time
Sara Richie • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • September 18, 2011
Recreational screen time is defined as any television, computer usage or video games that are not for educational purposes. Recreational screen time is linked to childhood obesity, sleep and attention disorders, poor test scores and grades, and less time for creative play. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 years old have no screen time and children over 2 years old be limited to two hours per day.
Column: Overweight Kids Have Health Risks
Tina Bart • Marshfield News-Herald • September 14, 2011
Tina Bart • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • September 14, 2011
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.
Could you imagine if your child already has high blood pressure? Or high cholesterol? Or Type 2 diabetes? If your child is overweight, he already could have, or be on his way to having, these conditions which once were thought of as an old-person problem.
Fair Share Harvest: Americorps Picks Produce for Local Food Pantries
Deb Cleworth • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • September 10, 2011
Deb Cleworth • Stevens Point Journal • September 10,2011
STEVENS POINT -- More than 1 million Americans were expected to participate in community service today in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and at least one central Wisconsin volunteer group is doing its "fair share.
Join Committee for Healthier Schools
Sara Richie • Marshfield News Herald • September 6, 2011
The Marshfield School District has developed a school wellness committee that is focused on improving the overall health of each student by offering healthier food options and more opportunities for physical activity.
Column: Americorps Grant Will Hire 8 New Workers
DaNita Carlson • Marshfield News-Herald • September 4,2011
DaNita Carlson • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • September 2, 2011
The Central Wisconsin Resiliency Project will continue its sustainability work for a second year, thanks to an AmeriCorps grant awarded to the City of Stevens Point to implement the program. The City received an award of nearly $200,000 from Serve Wisconsin, the state's AmeriCorps partner, to continue projects related to food systems, energy, ecosystems, waste and water. Thirty-five positions will be offered in the 2011-12 program year.
Fair Share Harvest in Wood and Portage Counties
Erin Olson • Press Release • September 2, 2011
The Central Wisconsin Resiliency Project believes that everyone deserves a fair share of the harvest. On September 10th and 11th, the AmeriCorps program will mobilize volunteers to work on local, sustainable farms to pick high-quality produce at a fair price. The bounty will be canned or frozen for year-round distribution at food pantries in Portage and Wood Counties.
Column: Clubs Benefit From National Training
Bruce Trimble • Marshfield News-Herald • September 2, 2011
Bruce Trimble • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • September 2, 2011
School has started. Three of the Boys & Girls Club sites opened this week with the Port Edwards site scheduled to start in a few weeks. Where did summer go (a question that seems to be an annual one!)?
Column: Fresh produce Goes Back to School in Wood County
Sue Anderson and Beth Hanna • Marshfield News-Herald • August 31, 2011
Sue Anderson and Beth Hanna • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • August 31, 2011
As we gear up to send the kids back to school, don't be surprised to see a few new additions around the school yard and lunch table. Vegetable gardens have been growing all summer at many schools. Greenhouses have been erected. And locally grown produce is beginning to make its way into classroom lessons and onto lunch menus, thanks to recent growth in the Farm to School movement.
Column: Hospital Seeks Healthier Food by Signing Pledge
Layne Cozzolino • Marshfield News-Herald • August 22, 2011
Layne Cozzolino • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • August 22, 2011
In June, Riverview Medical Center signed Health Care Without Harm's Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge, joining 350 hospitals around the country that recognize the value in supporting a healthy food system and are committed to a "no harm" approach to food service in their facilities.
Saving the Farmers Market
Amy Van Meter • The VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids • August 19, 2011
Small but a success: Cure found for Nekoosa farmers market woes
The city of Nekoosa is hoping to get vendors as excited about their Farmers Market as the customers are.
Seniors Can Step Up to Healthy Living
Ciara Schultz • Marshfield News-Herald • August 16, 2011
Ciara Schultz • Marshfield News-Herald • August 16, 2011
During the past few years, seniors in Wood County have been able to take part in many physical activity programs through the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin, or ADRC-CW.
Flash Mob Takes First in Rock Your Park Fitness Competition
Ashley A. Smith • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • August 5, 2011
TOWN OF AMHERST -- Here's one way to promote physical activity: Surprise everyone at the Lake Emily Park beach with a flash mob. That's what Jamie Jestadt did as part of the Get Active Wood County campaign's Rock Your Park! contest. "I had never done one before," said Jestadt, of Wisconsin Rapids. "But you see them on TV, so I convinced most of my family members to help me with it."
Farmers Market to Feature Chef
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • August 5, 2011
Chef Christian Czerwonka of Christian's Bistro in Plover will prepare a dish using market ingredients at 11 a.m.
Baseball, food, friends and warm weather make for a pretty great combination, so it is no surprise how much of a ritual tailgating has become.
Most people, however, don't stop to think about their traditional tailgating in terms of a healthy lifestyle. This is why the average tailgater consumes more than 1,200 calories at an event. That's more than half to almost all of the needed calories for a day!
Communities, Gardens Grow Together
Ryan Moll • Marshrield News-Herald • July 22, 2011
Ryan Moll • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • July 22, 2011
Community gardens are becoming more popular throughout Wood County and Wisconsin. More than 20 garden sites have been planted in Wood County this season.
Community gardens bring more than fresh produce to the table. They bring people and communities together.
Column: Internet Options Help Healthy Living
Kaitlin Johnson • Marshfield News-Herald • July 22, 2011
Kaitlin Johnson • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • July 22, 2011
A job that uses local farming and community members to improve conditions that support health? Where do I sign up?
As one of eight AmeriCorps positions working with the Wood County Health Department and the Get Active:Cause.Community.Change campaign, I was given the opportunity to work on something that inspires me and positively impacts residents of central Wisconsin.
Program Opens Food Doors to Benefit Recipients
Jeff Williams • The VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids • July 22, 2011
Thanks to the effort of a local organization, Wisconsin Rapids residents can purchase fresh food at the local farmers market with food stamps.
Beginning July 14 at the farmers market at Rapids Mall, people can shop for locally grown produce with their Food Share card. Wood County Health Department personnel will give out $1 tokens that can be spent at many booths and process the Food Share credit cards onsite.
Foodshare Expands to Farmers Markets
Ashley A. Smith • Marshfield News-Herald • July 20, 2011
Main Street Marshfield Farmers Market will join vendors in other central Wisconsin communities by allowing low-income residents to make purchases through the FoodShare program.
Letter: Enjoy the Market days of Summer
Laticia Buck • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • July 21, 2011
Laticia Buck • Marshfield News-Herald • July 21, 2011
(Recently), children splashed in the new fountain as their parents selected the finest sugar snap peas and the plumpest turnips at the opening day of the Stevens Point farmers market. I was struck not only by the number of visitors to the market, but by the excitement with which the market glowed all morning.
Foodshare Participants Get Access to Fresh Produce at Farmers Market
Deb Cleworth • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • July 15, 2011
Some farmers market vendors in Wood, Portage and Marathon counties will help make farm fresh produce easier to purchase for low-income residents on the FoodShare program.
Wood Co. Parks Focus on Competition
Liz Welter • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • July 10, 2011
Liz Welter • Marshfield News-Herald • July 10, 2011
Rock Your Park encourages residents to visit for physical activity.
The spotlight is shining on the plethora of parks within Wood County through an initiative called Rock Your Park.Designed to motivate people to be physically active, the initiative is in conjunction with the National Recreation and Park Association's recognition of July as Park and Recreation Month.
New Garden Club Has Me Excited
Bruce Trimble • The Voice of Wisconsin Rapids • July 8, 2011
I never would have guessed a kid could be so excited over a garden, but that is what I saw this week! The Club's Garden, that was planted last week, has members watching daily for progress. And watching with enthusiasm too. The member I mentioned came prepared to record rain and temperature, as well as check the plants she had planted, wearing her rain coat (it was raining that day)! ...
Grants fund project to teach Boys & Girls Club members about nutrition
Deb Cleworth • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • June 27, 2011
Members planted 14 garden beds, with the help of funding from a General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids grant, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Wood County Health Department, and with donations from Altenburg's Country Gardens.
Column: Be Part of Area's Health Check up
Sue Kunferman • Marshfield News-Herald • June 27, 2011
Sue Kunferman • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • June 27, 2011
We are faced with a challenge: every year, thousands of us get sick, and some die from preventable chronic illnesses. The good news: we can fix many of the health problems we face and prevent others.
County Programs Boost Area
Brock Cummings • The VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids • June 24, 2011
Despite decrease revenue and an ongoing recession, a spot of light comes in the form of local libraries and a campaign to make communities healthier and encourage local purchases.
Column: Challenge Yourself to Make Healthy Choices
Marshfield News Herald • June 17, 2011
The Get Active campaign is a part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Get Active initiative is coordinating a county-wide wellness challenge, and all Wood County businesses, organizations and community members are invited to participate.
Column: Restaurants Make it Easier to Eat Healthy
Renee Fox • Marshfield News-Herald • June 8, 2011
Renee Fox • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • June 8, 2011
Renee Fox • The Voice of Wisconsin Rapids • June 10, 2011
Our lives seem to get busier every day, and we often don't have time to make homemade meals for our families. Instead of spending the little time we have at home slaving over the stove, most of us would rather spend our evenings with those we love.
Study Aims to Improve Health
Deb Cleworth • Marshfield News-Herald • June 7, 2011
Deb Cleworth • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • June 7, 2011
Wood County Health Department officials are hopeful that when representatives visit local homes in the next week, residents will answer -- the door and some questions.
Letter: Fit-tastic Fun, Worthwhile Effort for Kids
Kayleen Magruder • Marshfield News-Herald • May 30, 2011
Kayleen Magruder • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 30, 2011
I am a YMCA instructor for Fit-tastic -- an after-school program under way in five schools in south Wood County. The Fit-tastic program is part of the Get Active campaign. Our vision is to create a better tomorrow for the children and their children. Fit-tastic provides this by emphasizing good nutrition and physical activity to prevent the onset of obesity.
Get Active Partners on Wellnes Summit
Marshfield News Herald • May 29, 2011
Employers throughout the United States are suffering from increased health care costs and Wisconsin employers are not exempt. In a community where health care costs are on the rise and employers are feeling the impact, many corporate leaders are seeing wellness as a strategic business priority and financial necessity to help manage costs.
300-mile Trek Raises Obesity Awareness
Ashley A Smith • Wisconsin Outdoor Fun • May 23, 2011
About 70 public health professionals will complete today a trek that took them from Chippewa to Appleton in an effort to raise awareness about a growing obesity problem and the need for residents to get fit.
Anti-Obesity Program Provides Local Foods for Kids
Ashley A Smith • Marshfield News-Herald • May 21, 2011
Ashley A Smith • Central Wisconsin Sunday • May 22, 2011
As students made their way through the Auburndale Elementary School cafeteria lunch line Wednesday, they received a serving of locally grown spinach and lettuce from Milladore-based Cutler's Country Comfort.
When a couple of girls attempted to bypass the greens, farmer and owner Sally Cutler stopped them, saying, "Oh, c'mon girls. We at least have to try it."
Youth Net Gardens
Marshfield News Herald • May 20, 2011
Marshfield Clinic Youth Net Program is going to begin summer with an exciting new way to teach youths what it means to eat healthy.
Letter: Fit-tastic Adds Fun to Help Get Kids Moving
PJ Gantner • Marshfield News-Herald • May 20, 2011
PJ Gantner • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 20, 2011
Editor: I am a YMCA instructor for Fit-tastic -- an afterschool program under way in five schools in South Wood County. The Fit-tastic program is part of the Get Active campaign.
Our View: Healthy Eating, School Partners Deserve Cheers
Marshfield News-Herald • May 13, 2011
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 13, 2011
More kids in the Marshfield area will get a chance to grow and eat their own vegetables this year, thanks to the Wood County Get Active campaign.
My View: Big Feet, Little Feet Gets People Moving
Matt Peeters • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 19, 2011
Matt Peeters • Marshfield News-Herald • May 19, 2011
Matt Peeters • The Voice of Wisconsin Rapids • May 27, 2011
Obesity is at an all-time high in our country and in our state.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 66 percent of Wisconsin residents are either overweight or obese. In 2007-08, almost 20 percent of children ages 6 to 11 in our country were obese.
Grant Helps Child Care Centers Plant Food Gardens
Ashley A Smith • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 11, 2011
Ashley A Smith • Marshfield News-Herald • May 12, 2011
When Esther Miller learned the Wood County Get Active campaign was helping child care centers start gardens, she thought it would be a great idea to have her kids plant their own vegetables and fruits.
Letter: A Healthy Lifestyle Worth Pursuing
Kathy Hildebrandt • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • May 1, 2011
Kathy Hildebrandt • Marshfield News-Herald • May 1, 2011
Living a healthy lifestyle is important to me because I want to enjoy my life as a healthy, active individual. I incorporated healthy eating and daily fitness in my life many years ago.
Letter: Third Garden Site Needs Volunteers
Shayna Schertz • Marshfield News-Herald • April 28, 2011
Shayna Schertz • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 28, 2011
Editor: Marshfield's Growing Together Community Gardens is excited to be preparing for our third growing season with the addition of a third site at St. Alban's Episcopal Church.
Column: Change Eating with Food You Grow
Layne Cozzolino • Marshfield News-Herald • April 26, 2011
Layne Cozzolino • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 26, 2011
At some point, the food pendulum swung and stuck. From that point on, every day was considered a birthday.
Little Debbie made sure we were armed and ready, by delivering cakes and treats to every nook and cranny throughout the United States; placing us always in an arm's length of her sugary goodness.
Goal of Screen Free Week is to Get Kids Moving
Kayleen Magruder • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 16, 2011
Children and families in central Wisconsin and across the country are poised to pull the plug on their TVs, computers and digital devices during Screen Free Week, today through Sunday. The national effort, formerly known as TV Turn Off Week, has been called a "digital detox" that puts the spotlight on activities that don't involve watching TV, surfing the Internet or playing video games.
CSAs Provide Benefits for Both Farmers and Consumers
Teri Lessig • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 14, 2011
Answer: There's a very straightforward question. CSA in the farming world stands for community supported agriculture.
CSA is a type of farming in which consumers pay a certain amount of money early in the season in exchange for a share of produce through the rest of the year.
Wood County Obesity Program Digs Into Grant
Karen Madden • Marshfield News-Herald • April 11, 2011
Karen Madden • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 11, 2011
Wood County has spent about a quarter of the $2.3 million federal stimulus grant it received a year ago to combat obesity.
It took time to get the projects moving, said Kathy Alft, Wood County Health Department accounting supervisor. There also are contracts the county won't pay until later this year, although programs are already ongoing.
Column: Change Workplace to Help Lose Weight
Tina Bart • Marshfield News-Herald • April 8, 2011
Tina Bart • Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune • April 6, 2011
Imagine what it would be like if you could actually stick to your New Year's resolution. You remember, the one where you were going to lose wei