April 2015

Healthy Kids Weekend

YAB Goes to the Capitol

Dementia Safety Workshop

Healthy Kids Weekend April 25-26, Set to Be Bigger Than Ever

Get ready for another action-packed, event-filled weekend

include games and prizes, Spot the Tot, safety education,
for the entire family! Healthy Kids Weekend is set for April therapy pets, and more.
25th and 26th and with more partners than ever, its going
Kearney CrossFit will be conducting an agility
to be bigger than ever this year.
course at their location from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Have you got
Things are kicking off Saturday with some fun
what it takes to overcome all their obstacles?
cycling events. The UNK Alumni Association is hosting
Moving to Sunday, Hilltop Mall will be hosting a
the second Bike Bowl since
Family Mall Walk. Walk
it was revived last year
the mall with your family
after nearly a decade of
for some exercise. Did you
dormancy. Register online
know 1 lap =.4 miles?
at unkalumni.org/bikebowl
The Archway is
or stop by the event, from
challenging you to complete
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the
their Human Maze from
Ron and Carol Cope Safety
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Stop out
Course, to cheer on your
and see if you can navigate
favorite riders. The Safe
through its twists and turns.
Routes to School Bike
Kearney Park &
Rodeo will also be held in
Recreations Bicycle Sunday
conjunction with the Bike
will run from Cottonmill
Bowl, so kids should come
Park to Kearney Cinema
learn about safety, try the
Huge crowds gathered for the events of the 2014 Healthy 8, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
obstacle course, and register
Complete your punch card
Kids Weekend. We hope to see you there this year!
for prizes.
for a chance to win a 2015
Arbor Health Plan
Pool Pass.
is hosting a Community Baby Shower at the Kearney
Stop by the Kearney Family YMCA on Saturday
Family YMCA from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, as well.
from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. or Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and
Moms-to-be can get information on the healthcare needs
enjoy the facilities for free.
that come with pregnancy.
Elks Country Golf is also having activities both
Kearney Park and Recreation is teaming up with the days, with free golf lessons, healthy snacks, a bouncehouse,
Kearney Public Library to host another Storybook Walk
and more. Try your hand at putting Saturday from 2 p.m. to
through Harmon Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
6 p.m. or Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Travel through the park and stop are different checkpoints,
Visit ActivateBualoCounty.com/HealthyKidsWeekend
all while reading Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony
for the complete event listing, a printable flyer, our Unplug
Mitton.
Challenge punch card (which could lead to big prizes!), a
Safe Kids Day will be hosted by Safe Kids Platte
recap of last year, and much more. We hope to see you out
enjoying the activities in April!
Valley from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilltop Mall. Activities

Buffalo County Community Partners Contact Information

General Information
308-865-2284
info@bcchp.org

Denise Zwiener, Executive Director

308-865-2280
dzwiener@bcchp.org

Nikki Gausman, Board Chair

308-237-2599
nikki@safecenter.org

Visit bcchp.org/board for complete board member listing or bcchp.org/contact for complete staff listing and contact form.

Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board Visits State Capitol

On March 17th, YAB took a trip to Lincoln to visit the

Chamber for a special meeting of the Youth Advisory Board.
Capitol, observe a ligeslative session, listen to Speaker Galen
The meeting started off with remarks from the Speaker of the
Hadley and Governor Pete Ricketts, and much, much more!
Legislature and Kearney Senator Galen Hadley. A resolution

To start the day off, half of the group met with
was adopted to create an anti-bullying task force to improve
the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, and the
community awareness for bullying prevention.
other half met with the

YAB voted to increase
Department of Agriculture.
their involvement in drug
They then went to the
and alcohol prevention
Capitol and were recognized
projects, promote awareness
by the State Legislature.
of the harms of e-cigarettes,

Next, they
encourage school districts
conducted youth hearings
to create safe spaces for
to discuss marijuana
LGBT youth in Buffalo
legalization and the safety
County schools, and
and welfare of lesbian, gay,
promote programming
bisexual, and transgender
that discourages distractive
(LGBT) students in
driving. The group also voted
Nebraska. They heard from
to recognize six community
Senators Adam Morfeld of
members as Positive Adult
Lincoln and Matt Williams
Mentors, as well as thank
of Gothenburg, as well
The 2014-15 Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board with Dr. Diane Duffin for working
as Nebraska Assistant
with the Youth Advisory
Speaker Galen Hadley after their legislative session.
Attorney General Corey
Board to improve youth
OBrien, Tyler Richard from
involvement in democracy.
the Nebraska ACLU, and Drew Heckman from the Nebraska
Governor Pete Ricketts then spoke to the group,
Human Rights Campaign.
discussing the importance of keeping young students in the

After lunch, the group met at the Nebraska
state, lowering taxes, and helping businesses to succeed.
Appleseed office to learn about the organizations work
The group then took a tour of the Capital building before
with the Nebraska Legislature and processes for youth to
heading home.
effectively advocate to state senators.

Check out bcyab.org for more information on YAB

The group then met in the Warner Legislative
and the work theyre doing!

Picturing Peace Seeks Photos of The Good Life in Buffalo County

Picturing Peace is a new project sponsored by the United

Against Violence coalition. The project gives Buffalo County
residents and visitors the opportunity to share their vision of
peace.

The United Against Violence
Coalition decided to give everyone an
opportunity get in on the discussion about
what a peaceful world looks like, said
Community Partners Violence Prevention
Coordinator Mark Foradori. That is, how
do people in our area support one another
and live in harmony with nature?

Professional photographers,
hobbyists, and anyone with a camera and
access to the internet is invited to submit
their photos between now and August 15. Photos can
highlight issues of inclusion, caring, and security between
the people of Buffalo County. They can inspire the people
to recognize our interdependence with one another

and deepen healthy and mutually supportive habits and

relationships. They can show the ways in which our culture
thrives in harmony with nature. Whatever peace looks like
to you, it can be part of Picturing Peace.
The submissions will by juried by a group
of PhotoVoice students in August and
their selections will be shown at a public
exhibition at the Merryman Performing
Arts Center on International Peace Day,
September 21.

Taking interesting pictures is
important, said Foradori, but sharing
ideas about the things we care about and
ways to make them better is the real point
of the project.

To learn more about the Picturing Peace Project,
visit bcchp.org/picturingpeace or call Buffalo County
Community Partners Violence Prevention Coordinator
Mark Foradori at 308-865-2290.

May 1 Dementia Safety Workshop First of Its Kind in Kearney

Traveling with Dementia: An Interactive Study, presented
The Alzheimers Association, with local support from Buffalo
County Community Partners Alzheimers & Dementia
by the Alzheimers Association.
Coalition, is hosting the 2015 Dementia Safety Workshop
An afternoon session with Dr. Julie Masters, professor and
Friday, May 1, from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the First United
chair of gerontology at UNO.
Methodist Church.

To register, visit bcchp.org/alzworkshop or contact

The conference will provide a unique learning
Susie Peterson at 308-520-3146 or supeterson@alz.org.
experience thats designed to
Registration for family caregivers
accommodate family caregivers,
is $25 before April 17 or $30 after.
healthcare professionals, and
Registration for students is $20 before
students. Topics and other points
April 17 or $25 after. Registration for
of interest include:
healthcare professionals is $75 before
An Examination of Safety
April 17 or $80 after. For healthcare
Considerations. Featuring
professionals, this conference can be
panel members: Kaiti George
used to earn continuing education
RD, LMNT, registered dietician
contact hours through Iowa Western
at Hy-Vee; Clayton Freeman,
Community College, Iowa Board of
programs director at the
Nursing Provider #6.
The
Alzheimer
s
&
Dementia
Coalition
is
Alzheimers Association; Ryan
Assisted living, long-term care,
working to provide community members home health agencies, and companion
Sothan, from the Nebraska
with learning opportunities.
Attorney Generals office; and
care agency employees may be able to
pharmacist Amy Thompson
attend the workshop without paying a
PharmD, CGP, FASCP.
registration fee. The organization you are employed with may
Driving and Dementia: Assessing Abilities and Enhancing be able to cover the cost of your registration and other facility
Safety for Persons with Dementia, presented by Beverly
registrations through a grant program offered through the
Reicks, president and CEO of the Nebraska Safety Council. Nebraska Department of Labor. More information about this
A Window into Their World, a program to identify and
grant can be found at dol.nebraska.gov. The deadline to apply
understand the needs of people living with dementia.
for the grant is March 31.

Its an Active Spring: Bike to School Day, Walk Out On Your Job
the conversation started, but were also trying to make
Activate Buffalo County has several events and
more sustainable programs and grow students interest
programs coming up that are all focused on getting
in actively commuting, Kate said.
youth and adults out and moving.

In addition to getting

Bike to School Day is
May 6th, and after the amazing
kids moving, Active Buffalo
County is promoting employee
numbers we saw last year (some
wellness with the 25th annual
schools had a participation rate
Walk Out On Your Job. The
of 80%!), were hoping even more
event will take place over the
youth join in on the fun.

In addition, walking and
lunch hour on May 13 at the
UNK College of Education.
biking programs are rolling out
in several schools. Safe Routes
Walkers will be treated to lunch
after a 1.5-mile walk along the
to School Coordinator Kate
We
saw
some
awesome
participation
rates
trails. In addition, the coalition
Hannon worked with Northeast
Elementary to develop the April at last years Bike to School Day events, and is working with UNK students
to develop a sustainable walkActive Travel Challenge. For
were hoping to see more people this year!
each day students who walk or
at-work program to encourage
employee wellness throughout the year. Individuals or
bike to or from school, they can complete a ticket that
will be used in a drawing for a new bike.
businesses interested in registering for the walk should

Special events like Bike to School Day are great visit ActivateBuffaloCounty.com/walk. The registration
ways to bring awareness to active commuting and get
deadline is April 24th.

PO Box 1466
Kearney, NE 68848

We would like to thank CHI Health

Good Samaritan for providing printing
and mailing services for our newsletter.

Coalition Connection
Our first employee wellness education
session is coming up! Learn Whats
Going on In Kearney at the Kearney
Public Librarys South Platte Room,
April 14 at 12 p.m.

You may have noticed there isnt a

Prescription Drug Take-Back scheduled
for April. Because there is no national
day supported by the DEA any more,
we are looking for other solutions to
safely dispose of medication.

Register for the Dementia Safety

Conference, coming up May 1,
by visiting bcchp.org/alzworkshop.
Contact Susie Peterson at
supeterson@alz.org for more info.
Training in Intervention
ProcedureS is a responsible
We have photos
beverage server training
Theres still time to
in our future!
approved by the Nebraska
apply for YAB! Visit
The PhotoVoice
Liquor
Control
Commission. Contact
bcyab.org/apply if youre
reception is
positivepressure@bcchp.org
to register.
a Buffalo County youth
scheduled for June 15th at the
Upcoming Classes:
in grades 8 - 12 whos
Merryman Performing Arts Center.
4/22,6-10 p.m.- On-Premise Sales
And keep your eyes peeled for info on interested in being a part of the Youth
5/12,6-10 p.m.- On-Premise Sales
our Picturing Peace project, a sort of Advisory Board. Application deadling
is May 1. Contact Mark Foradori at
6/15,6-10 p.m.- On-Premise Sales
community-wide PhotoVoice!
bcyab@bcchp.org for more info.
Check bcchp.org/tips for future classes.