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About The Dalles chronicle. (The Dalles, OR) 1998-2020 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2020)
A12 The Dalles Chronicle Weekend of February 22-23, 2020 TheDallesChronicle.com Healthy Dalles The MOLLY CARTER of Dry Hollow Elementary plays and chats with friends prior VOLUNTEER Ben Neumayer here with the Jansport pack brings up the tail end for students partic- to walking to school on Wednesday with a group of volunteers who braved ipating in Walk to School Wednesday at Dry Hollow Elementary. The program is aimed at getting the 26 degree temperatures. more people moving naturally and alleviating traff ic pressure at drop off s in school zones. Walk To School Wednesdays Photos and Story by Tom Peterson I t’s 26 de- grees at 7:10 a.m. outside Gateway Church on Dry Hollow Road on Wednesday. “It feels nice when your actually out- side,” said Molly Carter, third grader. “I like recess too.” Molly is one of nine kids who showed up Wednesday morning for Walk to School Wednesday, a program spearheaded by Blue Zones Project Th e Dalles to get kids moving more. Molly is here with her mom, Rachel, who has donned a chartreuse safety vest along with fellow volunteer Ben Neumayer. Th ey are providing supervision as the students walk their way to school. In 1969, 89 percent of students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade who lived within a mile of their school either walked or rode a bike. By 2009, that number plummeted to 35 percent, according to the US Department of Transportation. Blue Zone’s Flip Mascher said the intent of the program was to reverse that trend. Th ey have walk to school Wednesday programs at each of the elementary schools in Th e Dalles. He has also arrived on a bicycle to help with the walk. “I like to do it,” said Molly’s mom, Rachel Carter of walking the kids to school. “It helps me break out of my routine.” It also gets adults and kids moving natural- ly – a power principle of Blue Zones which looks for ways to make healthy choices eas- ier for people in the community. Th e idea is based on studies that show people living longer, healthier, happier lives. And more exercise helps fi ght child obesity. But enough of the chit-chat, it’s time to get to school. PURPOSE WORKSHOP March 12 | 5-7 p.m. | Flagstone Rachel and Flip lead the group out, and soon second-grader Makay- la Henley starts talking about a husky with blue eyes. Th e dog is apparently just up the street and likes to lick kids through the fence. But it’s cold. Th e dog is a no-show. Th ere’s other entertainment. Makayla has a golf ball in her pocket. She showed it ear- lier to Molly. “It’s an egg,” she giggled. “Th en how come you could bounce it,” Molly asked. er volunteers from Mid-Columbia Medical Centers Visiting Health Services arrived bundled up in hats, gloves and coats. “Seven kids showed up to walk, and you should have seen what they were wearing,” she said with a laugh. “We were all bundled up, and there is this kid in hat gloves and t-shirt, and he’s per- fectly happy. Th ose kids had a grand time going up that hill and stomp- ing through the ice and snow. And we’re worried about breaking a hip.” Kathy, who is the Director of Visit- ing Health Services at Mid-Colum- bia Medical Center, said she and three others from her department have been volun- teering with the program for two years. Th e reasons are simple. It’s good for the mind body and soul, she said. “We navigating the drop off zone as parents push to get their kids to school on time. About 10 to 14 percent of all automobile trips during the peak morning period are for or by students, according to the Nation- al Center for Safe Routes. So, driving students to school causes more parents to drive their students to school, ex- asperating the traffi c congestion. Back on Dry Hollow Road, two boys have found lots to keep them moving – a pho- tograph in the ditch and cans to kick. Up ahead, there is a house with skeletons and a bat cave they say. Neumayer pointed out that was only true during Halloween. With that, we have made it to the crosswalk at 19th Street, and crossing guards fl ag the students across the street safely. Rachel Carter sees one of the boys hold- ing a couple of empty cans and takes them from him with a laugh. Flip Mascher also retrieves a few, which will be recycled later. Colonel Wright walking volunteer Sky Morgan said he had been volunteering at diff erent elementary schools for years. AND SO, IT WENT. Volunteer Ben Neumayer, who brings up the rear of the group, said he and his wife “got real excited” when Blue Zones select- ed Th e Dalles for a program. “We’ve always been active and conscious about our health. “Th is is my Wednesday walk now. We usu- ally have about 20 kids.” He also had a little fun explaining the phas- es of the moon in relation to its position in the sky to the students before the walk. Meanwhile, across town volunteer Kathy Kahler and students are hiking up Trevitt Street on the way to Colonel Wright Ele- mentary. “We had 5 kids,” she said. “It was cold.” But not as cold as in January. One day, it was 19 degrees she said noting her and oth- like to serve our com- munity…” And it just made more sense to take traffi c off the road and put kids on the sidewalk, especially when they live within a half mile of their school. AND HERE’S A MIND BENDER. Did you know that safety concerns about students walking to school increase as more students are driven to school? Th at’s right. Because of the increased traffi c, parents become convinced walking or biking is unsafe. Th ere’s no doubt, many drivers fear “I do it to give back a lit- tle bit,” he said. “Kids can always use an extra adult as a mentor and someone to talk to. Walking is awesome. Th e kids are talkative, and I am talkative. I’ve had conversations start to fi nish where I barely got a word in.” Have you been looking for more? Finding a purpose will help you live a more centered and vibrant life. Even better: It can also give you extra years to enjoy it all. Come rediscover your purpose with us. Join us for this 2-hour instructor led workshop to help you fi nd or rediscover your purpose. The event is free. It will be held at Flagstone Senior Living, 3325 Columbia View Dr. The Dalles, in the Riverside Room. Please register on our Blue Zones Project The Dalles Facebook page. Eat Healthy. Healthy. Eat Be Happy. Happy. Be We feature a range of delicious choices to keep you moving 302 W. 2nd St., The Dalles Tues-Sun 11 - 9 • 541-769-0500
