Tap in to the Network this Spring!

April News and Events from the Near West Family Network!

View this email in your browser

April 2015

Thanks to all who came out for so many of our events last month!
It was great to see so many members and we look forward to more opportunities to get together as the weather warms up!

Apparently the cold doesn't bother us anyway, because our Annual Easter Egg Hunt last weekend was CHILLY but as busy as ever! Over 100 kids with about 75 adults braved the cold to quickly collect the 1,500+ candy and toy-filled eggs strewn about the Fairview Park fields! You'll see in our "Thanks to You" section below that a lot of people helped make the event a success. We can't thank you enough - without our members' help, much of what the Network does would not be possible.

We'd also like to WELCOME our new members from the Easter Egg Hunt and over the last few months. We hope to see you at our events and that you will find our Website, newsletter, Facebook page, and Twitter feed fun and helpful as an engaged member of our community.

One special note - Last month was supposed to be our final Gym Days for the season; it has been so popular, the group decided to meet up again on April 6th. The location, however, will be weather-dependent. Watch our Facebook Page or Twitter feed to see if it will be at Franklin Circle Church again, or a nearby park instead!

Near West Family Network Board of Directors
information@nearwestfamilynetwork.org

March was a BUSY month!

We started out with our Movie Meet Up at the Capitol Theater - Thank you Sarah Ryzner and Ann Garland for hosting over 20 members to see the movie for FREE!
The Lucky Friday the 13th ride at Harness Cycle and post-ride social hour was a great success, Thank you Norma Polanco-Boyd for organizing and our friends at Harness Cycle and the JukeBox for arranging specials for our member event!
Our health partner, Neighborhood Family Practice, put on a SUPER FUN Family Yoga practice with Jill Maraden - Thanks Sarah Ryzner and Megan Meister for organizing.
We thought we were wrapping up the Gym Days series at Franklin Circle Church for the year, but Steve Kachmyers' bi-weekly Meet-Up is so popular we might be able to fit another in before the weather warms up! (See details in the NWFN Events section) Thank you Steve for making this series such a success!
And of course, we can't forget our Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Fairview Park! So many people always lend a hand to make this community event a HUGE SUCCESS. This year our heartfelt thanks go out to: Mary Cornely, Christine Haggerty, Megan Hoover, Jen Hovis, Steve Kachmyers, Amy Kulisheck, Al and Beth Mancuso, as well as Claire Mancuso, Molly Martin, Shannon Musson, Jen O'Leary, Norma Polanco-Boyd, Ashley Taseff, and Katie Zucca. Sponsorships, support, and donations came from our friends at Ohio City Incorporated, Near West Recreation, Gypsy Bean and Baking, Dunkin Donuts, St. Ignatius Circus Company, and the Ohio City/Detroit Shoreway Girl Scout Troop 70010.

If you are interested in helping us make more happen in your neighborhood or if you have an idea for something specific, please let us know!

Now is the Perfect Time to Start Thinking About
a New School For Next Year!

One of our members is organizing a group tour of Campus International for the end of the month. Campus International is a CMSD K-6 school, affiliated with Cleveland State University and located in downtown Clevleand. Please contact Sarah (sryzner@nearwestfamilynetwork.org) for details if you are interested in joining this tour or to get school contact information to arrange your own. If you are planning to look at schools (any type, any level) and are willing to open up the tour to others - please email information to Amy (akulisheck@nearwestfamilynetwork.org).

Soccer Shots is starting Spring soccer classes for ages 3-5 in Lincoln Park!

Classes will be held every Tuesday at 6pm from April 7th – May 26th. You can register online at https://cleveland.ssreg.org/index.php?

Cost is $87 for all 8 classes but Little Tremonsters would like to sponsor a child to participate. Potential participants can email LittleTremonsters@gmail.com and write 200 words or less about why they'd like to receive the sponsorship.)

Need Advice? Looking for Information?
Try starting a conversation on our Facebook Page!

Hosting our own events and promoting things that other groups are doing in our community are just one way The Network tries to connect families. We can connect online, too! Looking for recommendations for family-friendly restaurants? good parks? Wondering about experiences at specific summer camps? Tap into the collective experience and knowledge of The Network by posting a question on our Facebook Page! We also encourage you to post about great neighborhood deals, community events, and other family-friendly discoveries. Follow us on Twitter, too!

Tuesday, April 7

Bonus "Gym" Days! 9:30 - 11:15 am Location: TBD/Weather Dependent! - will be communicated via Facebook and Twitter!
We've reserved Franklin Circle Church for April dates, but if the weather is miraculously spring-like, we will move to a nearby park for an informal park Meet-up! It is a great chance for kids to run around and play while parents and care givers can socialize. If we meet at the Church, it is $1/child with all proceeds going to Franklin Circle Church. Watch Facebook and Twitter for this last-minute call based on weather.
Franklin Circle Church is located at 1688 Fulton Rd. (corner of Fulton and Franklin) in Ohio City with parking and Gym entrance off Fulton Rd.

Thursday, April 30

Adult Meet Up! 7:30 pm at Cha Spirits and Pizza Kitchen in Battery Park
Come one, or get a sitter and come all! Adult Near West Family Network members and friends are invited to join us at one of our newer neighborhood establishments! Check out Cha Spirits and Pizza Kitchen - they have Sunday Brunch and Deliver to most of the near west side, as well!
Cha is located at 7524 Father Frascati Drive in the Battery Park Powerhouse in Detroit Shoreway (North on W. 76th St. at Lake Road)

Tuesday, April 21

Bonus "Gym" Days! 9:30 - 11:15 am Location: TBD/Weather Dependent! - will be communicated via Facebook and Twitter!
We've reserved Franklin Circle Church for April dates, but if the weather is miraculously spring-like, we will move to a nearby park for an informal park Meet-up! It is a great chance for kids to run around and play while parents and care givers can socialize. If we meet at the Church, it is $1/child with all proceeds going to Franklin Circle Church. Watch Facebook and Twitter for this last-minute call based on weather.
Franklin Circle Church is located at 1688 Fulton Rd. (corner of Fulton and Franklin) in Ohio City with parking and Gym entrance off Fulton Rd.

In various stages of planning and confirmation, we are always working on a number of events beyond the next month.... We will let you know about them as soon as there is something definite to tell!
Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to help organize or be a part of the day-of activities. If no contact person is listed, email information@nearwestfamilynetwork.org to get more involved!

Ohio City Clean Up Day
Saturday, May 9
Not an NWFN event, but we are excited to help promote it. Ohio City Incorporated is organizing a neighborhood-wide clean up day - more details to come, but there will be strategically-placed dumpsters so we can all pitch in to clear the debris that appeared when the snow melted! We will provide more information when it becomes available.

Park Crawl!
Begining in May!
Details and Schedule are still being set, but this year's crawl promises to be our best ever yet! Watch for more details soon!

Summer Member Picnic Party!
Target Date: First Weekend in June!
Once we've confirmed our location we'll be able to share more details, but this year's member party will be held at the begining of the summer so you can meet new friends and make plans BEFORE the summer escapes us! Come prepared to have fun! Not a member yet? Join online today! Need to update your profile/renew your membership, visit your profile page.
If you are able to help plan some activities or assist us in pulling it all together, email Sarah at sryzner@nearwestfamilynetwork.org

Kids Fishing with Metroparks
Saturday, June 20 (Time and Exact Location TBD)
We've set the date but other details are being worked out with Metroparks. This will be a fun opportunity to teach kids (and parents) fishing basics. If you like to fish and want to be a part of the planning, email Sarah at sryzner@nearwestfamilynetwork.org

April 2015

GET CONTROL OF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
7 easy steps

Get your numbers checked.
1. Experts recommend having your blood pressure checked at every regular health care visit. Tip: Sit quietly for 5 minutes before testing for a more accurate reading.
Watch your weight.
1. Being overweight is a risk factor for hypertension because blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure, most dramatically in those who are overweight and already have hypertension.
Cut back on saturated and trans fats.
1. Saturated fats can be found in butter, whole-milk dairy products and red meats. Also limit or avoid stick margarines, fried foods, baked goods and other processed foods, which contain saturated fats and sometimes also trans fats.
Keep moving.
1. Exercise helps lower blood pressure. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, most days. Get your provider’s OK before changing your exercise routine.
Limit alcohol if you drink.
1. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. If you drink alcohol, make it no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.
Go easy on salt.
1. Salty foods don’t cause hypertension. But for some people, excess salt may elevate blood pressure. To lower the sodium in your diet, try these suggestions:
  1. Use a food diary to keep track of the salt in the foods you eat.
  2. Aim for less than 2,000 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon of salt) each day.
    1. Avoid foods that contain more than 200 mg in a serving
  3. Read the nutritional facts label on every food package.
  4. Select foods that have 5% or less of the “Daily Value” of sodium.
  5. Avoid foods that have 20% or more Daily Value of sodium.
  6. Avoid canned foods, processed foods, lunch meats, and fast foods.
  7. Use salt-free seasonings.
Take medication as directed.
1. If your provider prescribes blood pressure medicine, keep taking it as prescribed, even if you feel fine.

EAT FOR A BETTER BLOOD PRESSURE

What Is the DASH Diet?
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is an eating plan rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy. These foods are high in key nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, fiber, and protein.

The DASH diet can lower blood pressure because it has less salt and sugar than the typical American diet. The DASH diet cuts out desserts, sweetened beverages, fats, red meat, and processed meats.
Following the DASH diet can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.

To start the DASH diet, follow these recommendations
(based on 2,000 calories a day):

Grains: 7-8 daily servings (serving sizes: 1 slice of bread, 1/2 cup cooked rice or pasta, 1 ounce dry cereal)
Vegetables: 4-5 daily servings (1 cup raw leafy greens, 1/2 cup cooked vegetable)
Fruits: 4-5 daily servings (1 medium fruit, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen fruit, 1/4 cup dried fruit, 6 ounces fruit juice)
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products: 2-3 daily servings (8 ounces milk, 1 cup yogurt, 1.5 ounces cheese)
Lean meat, poultry, and fish: 2 or fewer servings a day (3 ounces cooked meat, poultry, or fish)
Nuts, seeds, and legumes: 4-5 servings per week (1/3 cup nuts, 2 tablespoons seeds, 1/2 cup cooked dry beans or peas)
Fats and oils: 2-3 daily servings (1 teaspoon vegetable oil or soft margarine, 1 tablespoon low-fat mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons light salad dressing)
Sweets: less than 5 servings per week. (1 tablespoon sugar, jelly, or jam)

COME SEE YOUR WELLNESS COACH
AT NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY PRACTICE FOR MORE TIPS
Call to schedule an appointment TODAY at (216) 281-0872.

Information obtained from Neighborhood Family Practice and the American Heart Association

Stay Well,
Elyse Shaffer, Women’s Health Patient Advocate
Neighborhood Family Practice
(216) 281-0872

As always, please forward this newsletter to anyone who is interested. We encourage everyone who shares our commitment to making the near west neighborhoods more family-friendly to become a member. Membership is open to everyone - download a membership form and mail it in, or you can also join online today!