May means... getting ready for summer!

May News and Events from the Near West Family Network!

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May 2015

Two quick things!

1) Please welcome Katie Zucca to the Near West Family Network Board of Directors! Katie has been very active in helping us plan and organize events for the entire community since we launched the organization 3 years ago. We are very excited to have her officially join the board!

2) Come out and raise a glass TONIGHT at one of Detroit Shoreway's newest establishments, Cha Spirits and Pizza in Battery Park. Bring yourself, bring a friend! Our Adult Meet-Up starts at 7:30 pm and Cha is located at 7524 Father Frascati Drive in the Battery Park Powerhouse in Detroit Shoreway (North on W. 76th St. at Lake Road)

This month's newsletter has a lot of great information about events going on around our neighborhoods, but here are just a couple higlights:

The 2015 Summer Park Crawl is beginning this month! See the NWFN Events section below for the specific dates and times. We will be exploring new gems around the City, as well as visiting some of our favorites. Near West Recreation will also be helping us organize some fun activities for kids of all ages throughout the summer. The Park Crawl will meet twice in May, but plans to move to a weekly schedule starting in June! Watch Facebook and Twitter for more details.
We have set the date for our Annual Member Picnic - Summer Kickoff! Members will be receiving more details in a separate email, but mark your calendars for Friday, June 5th starting at 5 pm. If you are not a member yet, join today!

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

April wasn't our busiest month, but we would be remiss if we didn't recognize all the work that Steve Kachmyers did throughout the colder months to create a fun Gym Days series. Gym Days also would not have been possible without the generosity of Franklin Circle Church on Fulton Rd. For the SECOND YEAR in a row, they have been a great partner and host to the much-needed playtime for kids and their caregivers when it was too cold to play outside. Thank you!

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!

More Elementary School Tours Are Planned!

In April, a group of Network parents toured CMSD's Campus International school located downtown. It was great to see the classrooms in action, hear more about the new K-8 school that is getting close to breaking ground, and learning more about the application/lottery process.

This month, we have a tour of Urban Community School in Ohio City planned for the morning May 20th. If you are interested in joining the tour of UCS, would like to be added to our email distribution list as tours of other elementary schools are planned, or have suggestions for other schools we should tour, please email Amy (akulisheck@nearwestfamilynetwork.org).

The Little Tremonsters have set up a tour of Tremont Montessori for THIS FRIDAY (May 1) at 10:30 am. The group is going to meet at the front entrance to the school (2409 W. 10th St.) at 10:15 am. If you know you plan on attending this tour, an RSVP to Adrienne would be appreciated, but not required.

Not much fun... but Spring is for Cleaning, too!

We have found some tips for cleaning your home in Real Simple Magazine's article "9 Timesaving Tips From Professional House Cleaners"
Once you've cleaned, make sure you are familiar with the City of Cleveland's latest guidelines for curbside recycling and waste collection! (tip, there is now a monthly curbside pick-up for bulk items!) You should have received it in the mail, but in case you missed it, we've got it for you, too.
Finally, if you are interested in cleaning up AROUND your house, Ohio City, Inc., with support from Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and BudgetDumpster.com has organized "Ohio City Neighborhood Clean Up Day" on Saturday, May 9th from 12-3 pm (starts at 11am if you want donuts and a reception is celebratory reception is scheduled from 3-5pm:-). Click here to learn more and sign up!

Cleveland Public Library wants you to know....

Join the Cleveland Public Library Reading Club then enter to win tickets to a Cavs game! The Cleveland Cavaliers, WKYC News and the Cleveland Public Library are teaming up to promote the importance of reading and learning this summer!

So PRE-REGISTER your children today for the 2015 Make Your Summer Count: Read to the Rhythm Summer Reading Program at readingclub.cpl.org and then enter the raffle to win a chance for 2 tickets to Round 2, Game 2 of the Cavs' Playoffs. The raffle period will run until the day before the game.

CPL Summer Reading Club pre-registration is REQUIRED to enter the raffle. The Cavs' Raffle requires an email address and phone number - winners will be notified on May 4th.

Be sure to check our Upcoming Events page on our web site, too - we add new things throughout the month!

Saturday, May 2

See NFP at - 13th Annual Walk, Rock and Run - Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
Registration: 7:30 am, 5K Run: 8:30 am at BPDC (14703 Puritas Ave., Cleveland 44135)
A new route for 2015 features Puritas Avenue, of course, before winding past bungalows and ranches off the beaten path. Flowers should be in bloom along the lesser-known nooks and quiet crannies of West Park on this great neighborhood route. More information and registration is available online at http://peaceracing.com/2015-run-puritas-5k/
See NFP at - 3rd Annual Run Puritas 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run Registration: 7:30 am, 5K Run: 8:30 am at BPDC (14703 Puritas Ave., Cleveland 44135)
NFP will have a team of walkers for the 3 Mile walk event. Join them for this great cause! More information and registration is available online at http://www.diversitycenterneo.org/

Tuesday, May 5

NETWORK EVENT - Playground Crawl 10:00 am 11:30 am at Canalway Center, (4524 E 49th St, Cleveland, OH 44125)
We will meet at the lower playground/pavilion...turn down the hill into the park, the playground and parking will be on the left. Rain or shine, the visitor center is fun too!

Thursday, May 7

Build - Bid - Bowl at Bowlectivo! 6:00 - 9:00 pm at The Nash (3563 East 80th St., at Union Ave.)
Cleveland Collectivo's 10th anniversary event will help determine the recipient of their $10,000 award. $10 at the door includes bowling, two drink tickets, light snacks, and a voting ballot. Click here for more information.

Friday, May 8

St. Paul's Family and Youth Movie Night 7:00 - 9:00 pm at St. Paul's Community Church (4427 Franklin Blvd.)
This is a new monthly, family-friendly event. This month the group will be watching Finding Nemo and will have popcorn to share!

Saturday, May 9

See NFP at - Urban Community School Neighborhood 5K Race and Health Fair 8:00am - Registration and Health Fair, 9:30am Race and Walk at Urban Community School, (4909 Lorain Ave.) More information and registration at http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/urbancommunity.asp
Ohio City Neighborhood Clean Up Day 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Throughout Ohio City
Gather for donuts at 11am, Clean up from Noon - 3pm and celebrate and relax from 3-5pm! A full day of Ohio City fun! This great event is organized by Ohio City Inc with support from BudgetDumpster.com & Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. Click here for more information and to sign up!
See NFP at - Lincoln Park Academy K-8 Community Health Fair 12:00 – 3:00 pm at Lincoln Park Academy (3181 W. 41 St.)
Screenings, information and resources, free fruit ad veggies to first 100 attendees, bike safety, injury prevention and much more! Click here for more information.
See NFP at - West Park's Homecoming Celebration, The Hooley! 12:00 – 8:00 pm on Lorain Avenue between Rocky River Drive and West 165th St.
The Hooley on Kamm’s Corners™, features great food, live music, children's shows & activities, Irish dancers, pipes & drums, and more. Click here for more information.
See NFP at - Stockyard Neighborhood Bike A Thon at Clark School
Bike education, safety education, community ride, activities, etc.

Tuesday, May 19

NETWORK EVENT - Playground Crawl 10:00 am at Harmody Park, (1700 Mayview Ave, Cleveland, OH 44109)
The park is located on the edge of Brookside Reservation--we will play in the playground and probably take a little hike after.

Wednesday, May 20

NETWORK EVENT - School Tour - Urban Community School - morning at Urban Community School (4909 Lorain Ave.)
A group of parents will be getting a tour of the school and an opportunity to talk with the admissions director. So we know who to expect, we do ask for an RSVP - all are welcome! If you are interested in joining the tour, please email Amy at akulisheck@nearwestfamilynetwork.org for more details.

Friday, May 22

See NFP at - First District Health and Safety Fair 3:00 - 6:00 pm at 3600 Sauer Ave.
Screenings, activities, community resources and organizations.
See NFP at - Healthy Corner Store Event – Tremont
3:00 - 6:00 pm at Hanini Express (3203 W. 25th St.)
Celebrating a new healthy corner store in Tremont! Cooking demo, activities, raffle, etc.

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!

Summer Kickoff Member Picnic Party!
Save the Date! Friday, June 5th starting at 5pm
This year's Member Picnic is going to be a LOT of fun at a new location. We are holding it at the beginning of summer so you can meet new friends and make plans BEFORE the summer escapes us! Members - watch for a separate email with all the details. 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

Ice Cream Socials at Fairview Park!
Tentatively planned for Thursdays at 7pm starting June 11
We are still ironing out all the details with our partner for this series, LAND Studio, but we hope to kick off our Summer Ice Cream Socials on June 11. Once again, we are looking for volunteers to help with ice cream pick up and distribution. Handing free frozen treats to kids on warm summer nights, what can be more fun than that!??!! If you are able to help, please email Amy at akulisheck@nearwestfamilynetwork.org. Also, keep an eye out for our survey to vote for your favorite Mitchell's ice cream flavors to be offered at the kick off party!

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

May 2015

The Benefits of Physical Activity

Exercise controls weight
1. Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss.
2. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories.
3. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight requires both regular physical activity and a healthy eating plan.
Exercise combats health conditions and diseases
1. Being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides.
2. Regular physical activity can reduce risk of developing type II diabetes
  1. If you have type II diabetes physical activity can help control your blood sugar levels
3. Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases.
4. Regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure
Reduce Your Risk of Some Cancer
1. Being physically active lowers your risk for two types of cancer: colon and breast.
Strengthen Your Bones and Muscles
1. Research shows that doing aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening physical activity can slow the loss of bone density that comes with age.
2. Muscle-strengthening activities can help increase or maintain muscle mass and strength.
Regular physical activity helps with arthritis and other conditions affecting the joints.
1. If you have arthritis, research shows that doing 130 to 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, low-impact aerobic activity can not only improve your ability to manage pain and do everyday tasks, but it can also make your quality of life better.
Exercise Improves Mood
1. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
Exercise boost energy
1. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently, giving you more energy.
Exercise promotes better sleep
1. physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.

Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns.

Information obtained from Neighborhood Family Practice, Mayo Clinic and the CDC

Stay Well,
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!