MarketMakeovers.org is a dynamic, user-friendly online toolkit about the process of transforming small corner stores to carry healthier food choices.   

The City of East Palo Alto and the Ravenswood City School District will jointly host a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 13th to officially open the recently completed sidewalk improvements between O’Connor and Donohoe Streets, adjacent to Edison Brentwood School. The improvements are part of a citywide program designed to install sidewalks and other traffic improvements that would make it generally safe for children to walk, bike, be dropped off, picked up and even skate to their neighborhood schools.  Click to view the press release and event flyer.  

Supervisor Carole Groom will host a convening on October 16th on Creating & Using Active Public Spaces.  The event will be held from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Redwood Shores Library (399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City).  This convening will bring together health officials, city staff, elected school leadership and community-based organizations to learn about innovative ways of increasing public spaces which promote social connection and physical activity, and to share local work in this area.  The keynote speaker is Gil Penalosa, the Executive Director for Walk and Bike for Life and former Commissioner of Parks, Sports and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Colombia.  The convening will provide practitioners with tools for increasing parks and public spaces as a way of improving the health of San Mateo County residents.  Space is limited and registration is required to attend.  Contact (650) 363-4568 or e-mail gquiney@ co.sanmateo.ca.us to register.   

In its September 2009 report, “Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity,” the Institute of Medicine (IOM) highlighted six goals and strategies that will enable local leaders to act promptly and effectively to improve the places where children live and play.  Click to view report brief.    

On September September 17, 2009, the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released the report, Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and Its Link to Obesity in California. This landmark study provides important scientific evidence of the direct contribution of sugar-sweetened beverages to California's $41 billion obesity epidemic. The policy brief and accompanying press materials are posted on CCPHA’s website. A list of recommendations is also posted.

San Mateo County is updating its Housing Element!  This update is a chance for all members of the community to be heard on housing issues, and to offer ideas on the County's needs, priorities, and policies.  You are invited to share your ideas at one of the upcoming Community Workshops:

• September 24, 6:45-9:00 PM, Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City
• September 30, 6:00-8:30 PM, Half Moon Village, 9 Bloom Lane, Half Moon Bay

The Redwood City School District was one of eleven districts statewide to win a “Champion for Fitness” Spotlight Award from the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  Click here to view the press release. 

Article from Beyond Chron that talks about the cost of improving school food through the farm to school model of procuring locally grown fruits and vegetables for school cafeterias.  The author of the article argues for Congress to put more money into child nutrition programs.    

Stanford Hospital teamed up with local chef Jesse Cool to adopt a Farm Fresh initiative for their clinics.  Stanford patients now have the option of choosing a meal created from seasonal ingredients picked from within a 200-mile radius of the medical center.  Click here to view the full article.    

La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District is offering organic and locally sourced school lunches made from scratch despite being one of the most underresourced school district in the County.  The revamped lunch menu came about after the school district adopted a new school wellness policy two years ago.  Click here to view the San Mateo County Times article. 

Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide, a report from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), synthesizes research on obesity and physical activity to deliver useful integrated policy models for stakeholders. The policy models suggests to educators and lawmakers basic goals upon which to base their new standards and specific components that can be integrated into new policies, such as providing students with life-long skills and knowledge to make healthy decisions and coordinated school and community activities for times when school is not in session.