Communit-e Matters E-Newsletter

WH AT’S IN SID E

Gre en S ch ool Manassas Park is taking the LEED in sustainability. P. 6

F i t A fter 50:

L ive Be tte r

Ways to stay active & love your lifestyle. P.2

Plants and Mental Health.

The perks of being green. P.4

health

leadership

PLUS: PROGRAMS WITH YOU IN MIND. A LOOK AT

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YOUR FALL AND WINTER MOSAIC P.7

business

community

CommunitMatters e

Welcome.

Health Issue Fall 2011

-newsletter

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We will do our best to present information that is accurate, timely, informational, and of interest.

Looking forward, our December “Leadership” issue will focus on community leadership through topics such as volunteerism, civic leadership opportunities, and Governing Body Meetings 101. The issue will also introduce you to various community leaders you may not have known were residents of Manassas Park as well as look back on those who led the way for Manassas Park to incorporate all those years ago.

I hope you find the information provided Matters” engaging and in “Communitthoughtful. As always, continue to stay connected with the Department of Parks and Recreation through our website m a n a s s a s p a r k c o m mu n i t y c e n t e r. c o m Designed with your busy schedule in where you can easily link to our other social mind, the information is delivered in network options of Twitter, Facebook, Flickr small bursts of facts so that you may and the “Community Matters Blog.” consider the topic. We’ve included links for additional information so that when Enjoy, you do have the time to take a moment to learn more…it’s just a click away!

Catherine Morretta, Director

Welcome to “Communit- Matters!”

“Communit- Matters” is the Department of Parks and Recreation’s -Newsletter, released quarterly, as a supplement to the website, Community Matters Blog, Facebook, and Mosaic (program directory) already provided for public consumption. In this inaugural edition, staff has taken the time to collect points of information that touch upon the topic of Health. Inside this issue, you will encounter snippets of information that can help you or a loved one become healthier, happier, and wiser. From snack choices to house plants, from personal training to school bus safety, there just might be a little something for everyone.

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Catherine

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GET Turn this season AROUND: Steps for a fit Fall

Tips to maintain

Health style

HealthStyle is incorporating healthy changes into your current lifestyle. The key is simplicity.

Eat healthy.

Get smart with fruits and vegetables. Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables everyday.

Be heart smart and limit foods and drinks that are high in calories, sugar, salt, fat and alcohol.

Be active.

It gets harder as we get older, but in order to remain vital we have to be active. Adults should have some sort of physical activity that raises your breathing rate and heart rate at least 2.5 hrs/week. Help your kids and teens remain energetic by allowing them at least 1 hour, daily, of physical activity.

Protect yourself.

Always wear helmets, seat belts, sunscreens, and insect repellents. Curb the transmission of germs and remember to wash your hands. Avoid smoking and if possible avoid second hand smoke.

Life is a journey. Here are a few steps you can take every day to live a safe and healthy life. After all, every great journey begins with just one step.

Find several trails or roads that provide scenery of trees and fields as they turn colors. Mixing up the trails for biking, running or walking will keep things fresh and the workout interesting.

Fit after

50

Young at Heart.

Bike on the weekends.

Biking has less impact on knees and provides a workout over a long period of time since the bike does some of the work.

Go for a run. Running in Fall helps build stamina that will last all Winter long and get you ready for next Spring. Running is not for everyone and your fitness level will deter-

It seems as if weight gain is inevitable as we age, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Here are four components for staying fit after 50: Aerobics: Engage in real physical activity where you are sweating at least three times a week.

Muscle Strengthening: This will keep your metabolism up and keep your bones/back aligned properly. Also helps

mine if this is an option.

Explore local, state or national parks. Taking day trips in Fall to area parks not only can be scenic but gives you a place to walk and get some cardio exercise.

Track progress in a journal. Keeping track of fitness provides positive reinforcement to the idea of working out. { CLICK HERE }

keep your body balanced.

Stretching/ Flexibility: If you don't stretch your muscles, it can be more painful and difficult to do ordinary activities like putting on shoes.

Balance: Do balance-building exercise such as standing on one leg while you are waiting in line, or go up and down on your toes. { CLICK HERE }

A Fit FIDO is a Content K-9!

Manage stress.

Balance work, home, and play.

Make time to relax and get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

Get checkups.

Visit your doctor as often as they say and make sure you ask them for pointers on how you can lower your chances for health problems. { CLICK HERE }

Let’s not forget about our four-legged friends when we talk about living long and healthy lives.

Diet: A quality food product that is made from a reputable source and fresh, clean, cool water are essential to a long life.

Exercise: Most dogs need between 30 and 60 minutes a day of exercise to stay in shape.

Mental Stimulation: Training, agility courses, playtime with interactive toys are just a few ways to stimulate your dogs brain.

Socialization: Socialization with new dogs and people will allow your pet to stay relaxed .

Family: The more you include your pet in your life, the more you will both enjoy the relationship. { CLICK HERE }

Make sure to visit the new Dog Park behind the Community Center!

STAY

3

Create a plan that works for you... then work the plan!

Manassas Park Community Center offers experienced and qualified Personal Trainers to meet all of your fitness needs and maximize your fitness potential. Our advanced trainers provide a variety of exciting and diverse fitness programs that ensure client safety, improve individual fitness levels, increase stamina, and enhance your overall sense of well-being.

Fitness Orientation

Teen Weight Training

Included in Fitness & Splash Memberships Meet privately with one of our certified personal trainers to discuss your overall fitness goals!

Included in Teen Passport Instructs teens on how to properly use the strength and cardiovascular

Fitness Assessment

Sport Specific Speed & Performance Training

Included in Fitness & Splash Memberships Meet privately with one of our certified personal trainers and receive a thorough fitness assessment!

equipment within the fitness center.

This class is designed for individuals, small groups, or teams interested in increasing their overall performance!

{ CLICK HERE } to see Group Exercise Classes at the Community Center!

The RUN

10

DOWN on preparing for a race: running tips to help you achieve your goals.

10. Get out the door! It is better to run for one mile than to think about running five.

9. Set your goals high. Make sure you have a running goal to accomplish. Doing this will keep you focused.

8. Try some different running workouts. Add some intervals, a long run, or progressive runs to your routine.

7. Get a running watch. Keep track of how long you have run and how much time it took. You could even get a GPS watch that stores all this running information for you.

6. Hit the trails. Running on grass instead of pavement can help prevent injuries.

5. Strengthen that core. Sit-ups can help prevent the dreaded side stitch. Also, drink more fluids to help with cramp prevention.

4. Keep track of your runs. Log how far you have run, and how long it took you. You'll learn what running tips work for you, or don't work for you, when you look back at your recorded runs.

3. Get a running buddy. It is easier to stay motivated if you have a friend or if you are part of a team.

2. Buy a pair of running shoes. Go to a running store and ask them to help you find a shoe that fits what your body needs.

1. Have a plan! Create a plan on how you are going to accomplish your running goals. You will be motivated to stick to it as you make progress. { CLICK HERE }

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l ive BETTER

YOU R CA RBO N F O OT P R I N T - D o es th at C o me in a S iz e 9?

A carbon footprint is a measure of the greenhouse gas emissions released by human activities. Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, are burned and is the primary greenhouse gas that is causing global climate change. Here are some easy and effective ways to reduce your footprint.

• Buy Smart, Drive Smart: Purchase vehicles with low emissions and better fuel economy and keep your tires inflated.

• Air Tight Home: Seal air leaks and add more insulation to your home.

• Heat and Cool Smartly: Drop your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter and increase it by 2 degrees in the summer and remember to

always clean or replace your air filters on air conditioners and furnaces monthly.

• 120 degrees for the Heater Please! Set your water heater at 120 degrees and turn it down to its lowest possible setting when traveling.

• Track Energy Consumption and reduce wisely. Energy ‘suckers’ include TV’s, phone chargers, and coffee pots.

Use LED bulbs or compact

fluorescent bulbs.

• Reduce. Reuse. Recycle: Purchase items with minimal packaging and reuse packaging. Compost your food scraps and recycle your plastics, metals, newspapers, cardboard, glass, and office paper.

• Use reusable shopping bags: Americans use about 100 BILLION, that’s right, BILLION!!!! plastic bags.

• Wash clothes in cold water, hang to dry:

90% of the

energy used by a washing machine is used to heat the water. You can reduce your carbon

foot

print

by

72

pounds in just one month by washing loads of laundry ....

{ To read more, CLICK HERE }

Plants & Mental Health Not only will you ease your stress, your house will look great too!

The 4-1-1 on Plants There are multiple benefits of having house plants in your home. To start, here are 5...

Your health: House plants can contribute to a feeling of wellbeing, making you calmer and more optimistic.

Happiness: Caring for a living thing can help when you’re depressed and lonely, giving you a purpose in life.

Your blood pressure: People with plants in their homes have less stress, and plants have been known to contribute to lower blood pressure.

Brain function: Potted plants and flowers can improve your mood, idea generation and more.

Your zzzzzz’s: Gerbera daisies give off oxygen at night. Filling a vase in your bedroom with these flowers can improve your night’s rest. { CLICK HERE }

Air Quality & House Plants ....really?

Whether it is the comfort in the routine of caring for the plant, or the almost meditative calm one exhibits managing plant care, there is little room for argument that house plants benefit our mental health. But did you know that house plants contribute to our physical health too? There are house plants that actually clean the air in your home, creating a

healthier environment to live in. Experience the difference with these plants.

• Areca Palm: During daylight hours the palm generates a great deal of oxygen, taking the carbon dioxide you exhale and converting it to oxygen.

• Mother-in-Law’s tongue: This plant generates more oxygen in the evening. Six to eight plants per person in a household ensures a sufficient supply of oxygen throughout the night.

• Money Plant: The Money Plant removes volatile organic compounds from the air (VOCs) acting as a filter.

• English Ivy: Additional VOC’s the English Ivy has been shown to reduce include

octane,

alpha-pinene

and

benzene, toluene.

English Ivy is a perfect started plant to improve air quality.

• Asparagus Fern: With the same filters for the Money Plant and English Ivy, the asparagus fern is not actually a fern but looks like one! Perfect for purification.

• Purple Heart Plant: A purplish flowering plant that purifies the air! What a perfect combination. Add a punch of color and you’ll be breathing easy. { CLICK HERE }

eat BETTER

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Super Foods that give you a Boost A healthy diet incorporating a variety of the following superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer.

These multitasking "super foods" provide multiple disease-fighting nutrients, fill you up so you can enjoy plenty of food without excess calories, and are easy to include in everyday meals. After all, what good is a super food that is hard to find, difficult to prepare, and the kids won't eat?

These foods give you nutrients that are typically missing from American diets. According to the Guidelines, Americans need to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

Mushrooms ,Walnuts, Spinach, Peanut and Almond Butters. Quinoa, Almonds, Blueberries, Avocados, Salmon, Chicken Breasts, Eggs, Raw Sweet Potatoes, Edamame, Oranges, Broccoli { CLICK HERE }

Blueberry ‘Pink Lemonade’ ‘Pink Lemonade’ is creating quite a stir among health-concious parents.This sweet drink is full of flavor and antioxidants. This new fruit grows to be nearly 5 feet tall and blossoms in the spring, turns deep pink in the summer with green leaves that turn from yellow to orange in the fall. In the winter, the bare stems reveal their unique framework.

CRUNCH TIME: Midday Snack Attack

You’re tired from the monotonous collection of routine paperwork that seems to endlessly collect in your in box. The phone won’t stop ringing and the servers are down.

Great time to take a break, so you head to the lobby with a pocket full of silver and a stomach full of want.

Before you launch your quarters into the slot you ponder, “E8? Snickers, delish.”

Eyes darting across the offerings, “hmm maybe D7, love me some Doritos”, you consi-

der. Standing in front of this big box scad with guilty pleasures, you should stop and consider what you may be getting ready to ingest is not, in fact, a toothsome treat but a nutritional nightmare!

Check out the top 10 best and worst choices, as reported in Fitness Magazine. You may be enlightened. { CLICK HERE }

BEST

WORST

10. Quaker Chewy Low10. 3 Musketeers 9. Twix Fat Granola Bar 8. Cheetos 9. Planters Honey Roasted 7. Ruffles Original Peanuts 6. Cheez-Its 8. Nature Valley Granola 5. Skittles Bar, Oats/Honey 4. Doritos 7. Fig Newtons 3. Pop-Tarts 6. Peanut M & M’s 2. Austin Cheese Crackers 5. Smartfood Reduced-Fat 1. Drake’s Apple Fruit Pie Popcorn 4. Snyder’s of Hanover Snack on this!

Mini Pretzels 3. Sun Chips Original The Manassas Park Parks and Recreation Department takes 2. Baked Lays Shaping the Future to the next 1. Planters Sunflower level. That is why they offer Kernels smart food vending choices to promote a healthier lifestyle.

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E co Smart

Taking the

LEEDin Sustainability

In 2010, Manassas Park Elementary School was named one of the top 10 Greenest Building by the American Institute of Architects. Commended for its design, the school also received accolades for its efforts to help shape and educate the next generation of environmental stewards.

LEED, as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council, is what one commonly thinks of as a ‘green building’. To meet the LEED criteria for schools, a facility must create a healthy environment that is conducive to leaning while saving energy, resources and money. Manassas Park Elementary School, with a geo-thermal well field, a natural ventilation system, a 79,000 gallon cistern for flushing and irrigation, and Solatube skylights more than satisfied those requirements.

Sitting adjacent to Camp Carondelet, a civil war site and one of the last natural green spaces in the city, Manassas Park Elementary School connects to the surrounding environment through interior design elements such as cherry, ash, poplar and oak tree planks lining the halls and spaces named after local flora and fauna. { CLICK HERE }

{ To read more CLICK HERE }

School Smart

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: The 4-1-1 Whether your child is moving to a new neighborhood or going into middle or high school, the first few weeks may be filled with anxiety as well as excitement. Here are some tips that will help your child ease into the school year.

Stay Positive. Talk to your child about their expectations, hopes and fears for the school year. Reassure them that other children are having the same feelings and that they are sure to have a great year.

Encourage school involvement. Though you don't want your teenager to become over-committed, it's important to encourage participation in one or two activities that particularly interest them.

Get a healthy start. Encourage your child to eat a good breakfast and pack a healthy snack to help them get through the day.

Introduce Yourself. Young children are often shy with Sleep Sleep Sleep. If your a new teacher. If you take child has enjoyed a vaca- your child to school on the tion of late nights and lazy first day, you might want to mornings, getting them up go into the classroom and for school can be difficult. introduce your child to the Help make this transition teacher. Let the teacher easier by starting his know about any special school-year sleep routine a interests or challenges that week or two in advance. your child has.

Reading books together about school is a good way to establish the reading habit and to start conversations about school. To get you started, here are some suggestions for elementary school-age children: The Berenstain Bears Go to School, Arthur's Teacher Trouble, The Day the Teacher Went Bananas, Curious George Goes to School

School Bus Safety

These tips will ensure a safe trip when waiting for, riding on and exiting the school bus.

Waiting for the School Bus •Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes early.

•Shorten or remove drawstrings or straps that can catch on the bus rail from clothing and backpacks.

•Stay out of the street while waiting for the bus.

•Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before moving toward the school bus to go on board.

•When boarding or exiting the bus, stay in a single file line and hold onto the handrail.

Being Safe While on the Bus •Follow the bus rules while riding the bus.

•Keep legs and feet in front of you and never stick your arms or head out of the bus window.

•Keep the school bus aisles clear.

•Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before getting out of your seat to exit the school bus.

•Know where emergency exits are located and review evacuation procedures.

Exiting the School Bus •Stay out of the Danger Zone.

•Look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT to see the traffic.

•Make eye contact with the bus driver and wait for his signal before crossing in front of the bus.

•DO NOT pick up anything that falls under the bus. Tell the driver if you drop anything.

•NEVER walk behind the school bus. { CLICK HERE }

The Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to providing a variety of opportunities for residents and non-residents alike. With a variety of classes and programs for all ages, you are sure to find something you will love!

A PEEK INSIDE YOUR FALL & WINTER

MOSAIC ADULT PROGRAMS

New! Senior Passport Program

Salsa Lessons

TEEN PROGRAMS

New! Teen Passport Program

Basketball Leagues

Midnight Basketball

Friday Fun Night

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

Dragon Tots

Little Dunkers

Assistant Chef

Want to see ALL of our programs?

CLICK HERE!

C itizen ’ s CORNER

Resources at your fingertips.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES & FACILITIES

The City of Manassas Park provides general health services for its residents through an agreement with Prince William

County

Health

Department. These

services include educational programs, enforcement of state and local health regulations, environmental health services, school health programs and specialized clinics.

Services are provided by the Health Department at the following locations: Environmental Health Department 8470 Kao Circle Manassas, VA 20110 Phone: 703-792-6310 Fax: 703-257-5138 Smoketown Clinic 13792 Smoketown Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 Phone: 703-792-7300 Fax: 703-792-7311 Manassas Clinic (includes Vital Records) 9301 Lee Avenue Manassas, VA 20110 Phone: 703-792-6300 Fax: 703-792-6338 Sudley North Clinic (WIC and Women's Clinic) 7751 Ashton Avenue Manassas, VA 20109 Phone: 703-792-4700 Fax: 703-792-4743 The Health Department offers a wide variety of health services to city residents including teen and women’s wellness including gynecological checkups, confidential and anonymous HIV testing and counseling, immunizations, animal bites-rabies prevention, environmental complaints and urban issues, health hazards and vital records.

A helpline, operated by ACTS, provides the residents of the

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a physician, call their Physician Referral Line at 703530-WELL. For more information, CLICK HERE. Potomac Hospital - is located at 2300 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge, Virginia 22191. Potomac Hospital is a 183-bed, not-for-profit community hospital that upholds the Sentara Healthcare mission to Improve Health Every Day by offering a wide range of medical specialties, a highly qualified medical and clinical staff, and state-ofthe-art technology. To find a physician, call Potomac's Health Connection at 703 221-2500 for information and a referral to a physician on Potomac Hospital's Medical Staff. For more information, CLICK HERE.

L o c al R e so u rc e s: VETERINARIAN: Blooms Crossing Animal Hospital 9471 Manassas Drive Manassas Park, VA 20111 Click Here ph: 703-335-7766 For More! fax: 703-361-2323 alt: 703-361-1363 bloomsandyappie@hotmail.com DENTIST: Railroad Dental Associates Click Here 9110 Railroad Drive Ste-201 Manassas Park, VA 20111 For More! ph: 703-365-0230 mpdentalassociates@gmail.com

Prince William area, including Manassas Park, with 24-hour a day information and referral service, as well as an anonymous, confidential listening and crisis intervention services. To contact ACTS Helpline call 703-368-4141.

This is only a sampling of the many services offered. To find more information, CLICK HERE.

Hospitals

FREE CLINIC: Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street Click Here Manassas, VA 20111 For More! ph: 703-335-8872 manassasparkcommunitycenter.com

Prince William Hospital - is located at 8700 Sudley Road in Manassas. Services include a 24-hour Emergency Department and complete in-patient and out-patient medical facilities and services. The hospital also has a Psychiatric Department and an Alcoholism Treatment Center. To find

Manassasparkcommunitycenter.com Cityofmanassaspark.us