Attention turns toward healthier lifestyles

The statewide kickoff of National Public Health week was held in Ypsilanti Monday, as state and local officials recognized area programs devoted to promoting healthy lifestyles.

Shielded from the morning rain by an awning in Depot Town, Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom encouraged the crowd of health field workers to keep up their efforts to improve the quality and longevity of lives.

"We know across the state that we're not eating as many fruits and vegetables as we should, and we're not engaging in as much physical activity. But we know with efforts that occur in such places as Ypsilanti, that those efforts will improve,'' she said.

Wisdom recognized Washtenaw Steps Up, a grant funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Washtenaw County Public Health Department aimed at reducing the risk of chronic disease by increasing physical activity and good nutrition.

Wisdom also promoted Michigan Steps Up, which promotes healthy lifestyle by moving more, eating better, and quitting smoking.

"We've seen communities making changes all over the state as a result of Michigan Steps Up,'' she said. She cited businesses that have switched to healthier choices in vending machines and promoted smoke-free policies, and schools that have created coordinated health teams.

She announced the launch of the Michigan Steps Up Healthy Communities component, which calls on villages, townships and cities across the state to create community health coalitions if they haven't done so already.

These coalitions should include representation from local leaders who can help implement physical activity, nutrition, tobacco-free programs, and policy changes in the environment, she said.

Beginning Monday on the Michigan Steps Up Web site - michiganstepsup.org - a free tool kit is available to help communities make necessary changes.

Several Washtenaw County agencies were selected as a few of Michigan's 23 Hometown Health Heroes that help maintain and improve the health of their local communities.

They include the Bikes and Blades program (Safe Kids Coalition), the Corner Teen Health Center, Washtenaw County Asthma Coalition and the Washtenaw County Tobacco Reduction Coalition.

Washtenaw County Public Health Medical Director Stan Reedy applauded this year's Washtenaw Steps Up projects. They include walking programs at Chelsea Community Hospital and in the city of Saline, as well as the Ypsilanti Health Coalition, which promotes health through cycling, community gardens, the Ypsilanti Farmer's Market, and an increased availability of healthy food.

He said the PUPS (Pick Up the Pace, Saline!) program is being constructed on an unused railbed that will become an urban trail allowing people to get exercise while walking to downtown Saline.

"Thanks to all the coalitions I mentioned and the local funders as well as the Michigan Department of Community Health, the people in Washtenaw County are going to be healthier as a result of these lifestyle changes,'' Reedy said.

The ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the more than 30 new bike racks in Ypsilanti.

Jim Colflesh, owner of Bicycles in Town in downtown Ypsilanti, is happy to see efforts made to make Ypsilanti more bike-friendly, including the new bike racks.

"It's going to get people to at least think about possibly riding to their destination, or to go shopping or to the corner store as opposed to getting in the car to go just a block or two,'' he said. "There really was no place to lock a bike if you did want to ride to the cafe or the bike shop or really anywhere.''

Jo Mathis can be reached at jmathis@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6849.