Happy New Year...NWFN Gives Back!

January News and Events from the Near West Family Network!

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January 2015

Happy New Year to all our members and friends! We are kicking off our new calendar by helping kids GIVE BACK to our community. Learn more in our new Volunteer and Give Back section below.

Our ongoing Network events continue with the Winter Gym Days officially in full swing! We kicked off this season with an energetic group of about 15-20 kids on December 30th at Franklin Circle Church. Parents and caregivers of kids ages 5 and younger are encouraged to join us every other Tuesday through March. Also, the Library Crawl continues with our last two regular stops at the Brooklyn Branch on January 15 and the Walz Branch on January 26. Watch for details about our final stop at the Main Library in February! More information about this month's Gym Days and Library Crawl in the NWFN Events section below.

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!

Thank you,

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

Volunteer Opportunity for Kids Ages 6 and Older
January 14
5:00 - 6:30 pm

NWFN is organizing kids for a give back opportunity coming up on January 14th! Please see below for details and contact Ann if you'd like to sign up. Space is limited to 10 participants so jump on it!

WHAT: Serve a hot Community Meal to the needy. Kids will be responsible for carrying a tray of food to the guests seated at tables. The kids and parents are invited and encouraged to stay for dinner after we finish serving.
WHERE: Lower level of St. Patrick's Church hall on the corner of Bridge and West 38th.
WHEN: January 14th, 5:00-6:30 pm
WHO: Kids ages 6 and over with a parent to assist/supervise. The age limit is important because of the required task (balancing food, drink, etc in a tray).
HOW: email Ann at amgarland@nearwestfamilynetwork.org by Friday January 9th if interested or with questions. Space is limited to 10 kids so please let me know as soon as possible!

Do you have or know about a family-friendly volunteer opportunity you would like to help us organize? Please email information@nearwestfamilynetwork.org

A big end-of year thanks to EVERYONE who helped us make 2014 a great success. So many people and organizations contributed to the planning and production of our events in 2014 - from the Kidical Masses, to the Easter Egg Hunt, Ice Cream Socials, Park Crawl.... the list goes on.....Today we'll give a shout out to the those who helped organize fun and fantastic things in December... Katie Zucca and Amy Kulisheck for their stops on the ongoing Library Crawl; Steve Kachmyers as he hosted his first Gym Days Meet Up at Franklin Circle Church; and let's not forget Sarah Ryzner who led the planning for our Adult Meet Up at the Juke Box!

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!

Cleveland Recreation Centers Offer Lots of Fun for Winter!

Halloran has ice skating, Zone Rec and Collinwood have swimming pools, (Collinwood's water slide and play area is AMAZING!) and Cudell has both A Fine Arts Center and a Recreation Center, Each rec center offers a different set of facilities, activities, and programs - The NFP Health Corner also recommends the Rec Centers as great places to visit as we try to stay fit and have fun during the winter. Definitely the City of Cleveland's rec center web page for individual contact information, offerings, and schedules.

Neighborhood Family Practice Can Help You
with Affordable Care Act and Medicare Sign Up!

Certified Application Counselors are available to answer questions and help you choose an affordable health insurance plan that’s right for you. This service is free and confidential. Download the flyer for more information! NOTE: Affordable Care Act enrollment is November 15, 2014 – February 15, 2015

Tuesday, January 13

Gym Days! 9:30 - 11:00 am at Franklin Circle Church Gym
The first meet up of our winter series! Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their little ones to the gym to burn off some winter energy while you get some time to socialize. $1/ per child. Recommended for children 6 and under. We will have a simple snack and coffee available.
Franklin Circle Church is located at 1688 Fulton Rd. (corner of Fulton and Franklin) in Ohio City with parking and the Gym entrance off Fulton Rd.

Wednesday, January 14

NWFN Give Back! 5:00 - 6:30 pm at St. Patrick's Church Hall
Give your children an opportunity to give back to the community by helping at a community meal. Space is limited to 10 participants, so sign-up by January 9th is required. It will be great event for kids 6 and older (lower age limit due to the required task(s). More detail above in the Volunteer and Give Back section. Email amgarland@nearwestfamilynetwork.org by January 9th to sign up or for more information.

Thursday, January 15

Library Crawl! - Brooklyn Branch 3:30 - 4:30 pm at the Brooklyn branch of Cleveland Public Library
The next stop of our Library Crawl heads south W. 25th Street, just past where it turns into Pearl.....Visit a new branch of our great library system, play with friends, enjoy a story time!
Brooklyn Branch is located at 3706 Pearl Rd. (W. 25th St. turns into Pearl Rd. south of I-71) Street parking is available on Mapledale and permissible in the shopping center parking lot next door.

Monday, January 26

Library Crawl - Walz Branch! 4:00 - 5:30 pm at the Walz branch of Cleveland Public Library
Our last regular stop on the Library Crawl brings us to Detroit Shoreway at the Walz Branch! Join us! we will have a short story time to capture kids' attention
The Walz Branch library is located at 7910 Detroit Ave. Street parking is available on Detroit Ave. and in the 17 slot parking lot behind the building.

Tuesday, January 27

Gym Days! 9:30 - 11:00 am at Franklin Circle Church Gym
The first meet up of our winter series! Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their little ones to the gym to burn off some winter energy while you get some time to socialize. $1/ per child. Recommended for children 6 and under. We will have a simple snack and coffee available.
Franklin Circle Church is located at 1688 Fulton Rd. (corner of Fulton and Franklin) in Ohio City with parking and the Gym entrance off Fulton Rd.

Health & Wellness with the NFP Team
Staying Active During Cleveland Winters

With our Cleveland winter fast approaching, it can sometimes be hard to stay active when it is cold out and we feel like we can be a bit cooped up indoors. Although the snow and cold of the season can limit an active lifestyle during frigid temps and bursts of snow, there are many ways to stay fit. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you through the Cleveland winter:

Getting Fit Indoors

If you are not up for venturing outside, there is a lot of fun to be had indoors for ALL ages. Use technology to help you get fit. Check out websites, phone apps and more to find a fitness program that’s right for you. Pop in a workout video or DVD of an exercise or fitness routine. Or, just turn up the tunes at home and get dancin’. You can even play games with the family for healthy fun! Twister, for example, can help you burn approx 100+ calories/half hour or a hula hoop contest where you can burn on average, seven + calories/minute!

Staying fit at home can be easy. You don’t need lots of fancy exercise equipment to maintain a routine. You can use what you have at home to stay fit, too! Try using soup cans for weight repetition, or try a wall Sit, just using your wall in the living room! Sit-ups, planks, push-ups and even yoga are easy ways to stay fit at home. And remember, take the stairs when you can! Taking the stairs rather than an elevator is a quick and easy way to add a bit more exercise in to a daily routine.

Getting Fit Outdoors
Even when the wind and snow are ‘a blowing, there is still so much fun to be had outdoors! Staying active outside is a great cardiovascular workout. For example, an hour of ice skating can burn a minimum of 306 calories (visit Halloran Park on W. 117th Street) , sled ridding can burn approx. 230 calories/half hour, Or, help out a neighbor by shoveling their walkway where you can burn between 200-300 calories in just 30 minutes! Just playing in the snow, whether it’s a snowball fight, cross country skiing, or making snow angels, can burn between 200-250 calories/hour!

Local Fun
Visit our local rec centers where you will find FREE programming, classes and equipment for all ages, including: swimming, walking tracks, racket ball, zumba, yoga, ice skating and more! Here are a few of our local centers:

Clark Recreation Center
5706 Clark, 216.664.4657

Cudell Recreation Center
10013 Detroit Ave., 216-664-4183

Zone Recreation Center
6301 Lorain, 216.664.3373

Estabrook Recreation Center
4125 Fulton, 216.664.4149

Halloran Park
3550 West 117, 216.664.4187

Gunning Rec Center
16700 Puritas, 216-420-7900

Visit www.city.cleveland.oh.us or call your local center for schedules and hours.
Neighborhood schools are great resources for indoor fun, too! Check out the link for information on programs right in your neighborhood: http://neighborhoodleadership.org/programs/schools-as-neighborhood-resources/

Staying Warm
Always remember to bundle up when you go outside and dress in layers. Wear your hats and mittens, scarves and extra socks, too!