Medford Health Matters (MHM), in coordination with the City of Medford, is embarking on an exciting switchbox beautification project. Over the next few months we will be matching local artists and interested students to work together to develop a theme and draft a mural to be painted on the large electrical boxes around the City of Medford. We hope to engage several local artists to collaborate with us and our local students to turn our switchboxes into proud pieces of public art, much like similar successful initiatives in Malden and Somerville.

We will have MHM Project Managers to assist the artists and students in the coordination and development of each MHM Board approved project from start to finish. Local artists will be given a stipend for the supplies (TBD) and their time to complete the project and students will earn community service hours.

If you are interested in participating in this project please complete the attached form and return it to me at City Hall, Room 214, or via fax (781) 393-2105, or fill it out by going to this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGW76JX, and return it no later than December 20, 2011.

We will have an orientation meeting to begin our planning process in early January and ultimately have the box project complete by early Spring. Artists and students can be a part of as many box projects as they like. We have 21 switchboxes throughout the city than will be painted. We hope you will be part of this fun and educational city project.

If you need more information and/or have questions please contact me at 781-393-2501 or at dmcleod@medford.org

Sincerely,

Diane McLeod

MHM Member

The evening of September 29th, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the Caron Theater at Medford High School, the Rachel’s Challenge speaker will conduct a powerful session with parents and community leaders. This session is similar to the assembly program and ends with a specific challenge to parents and community leaders, showing them how they can reinforce the positive decisions Medford youth are making.

Entertainers, politicians, sports celebrities, educators, and even two Presidents of the United States have been impacted by Rachel’s Challenge. However, students are the target audience and, based on many reviews of the program, students have proven that they will respond with positive words, attitudes, and actions. My hope is that the Medford High School community will feel a tremendous positive impact as a result of the Rachel’s Challenge program.

Support Specialist David Blauch would like to invite all members of the community, including members of the School Committee, to attend the Rachel’s Challenge community event on Thursday, 9/29/11 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the Caron Theater at Medford High School. There are about 350 seats in the Caron Theater. Let’s fill the place and take what we can from this program to make a significant difference for our kids.

Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Rachel was known for her kindness and compassion and positive ways of interacting with peers; the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for the “Rachel’s Challenge” program.

Rachel’s Challenge is coming to Medford High School on Thursday, September 29th. The program will begin with two assemblies at Medford High School. Powerful video/audio footage of Rachel’s life and the Columbine tragedy will characterize a one hour school presentation that motivates students to treat others in more positive, empathetic ways. All grade 9 and 10 students at Medford High School will attend the assemblies.

The assemblies will be followed by a separate interactive 90 minute training session involving both adult and student leaders that shows how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly. The assembly creates the “want to” or desire for positive change. The training session teaches the “how to” and ensures that the positive impact will continue.

For more information, please contact Support Specialist David Blauch at Medford High School at 781-393-2303, or visit www.rachelschallenge.org.

Tuesdays in October 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
Marilyn Belmonte will present four 2 hours sessions APPLAUDD – A Prevention Program Learning About Underage Drinking & Drugs.  For Parents only (see below for details about each night)

Tuesday November 1st

Eileen DiBattista will present one 2 hour presentation on Medford Public Schools drug and alcohol policy, school health policy and procedures for identifying if students are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Location: Medford High School in the Caron Theater

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 each night

To access resources now

APPLAUDD descripition:

October 4th- An introduction to the latest in research about adolescent brain development and how drugs affect the brain during this period. It discusses the current teen drug trends in this part of the country and how parents can influence substance abuse. This session covers many plant-based and traditional drugs including Heroin, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Crystal Meth, Ecstasy, LSD, Salvia Divinorum, Jimsom Weed.

October 11th- includes the fastest growing drug trend of prescription drug abuse. Percocet, Vicodin, OxyContin are explained and the connection to heroin abuse is illustrated. ADHD medication abuse as academic enhancers, Klonopin, Xanax, Ambien and Steroids are also discussed. Over the counter medicines such as Dextromethorphan are included. This session also covers inhalant abuse.

October 18th- is a non-political, scientific-based presentation on the effects of marijuana on the adolescent brain, grades, driving, depression, suicide and addiction to other drugs. K2 is included. Along with discussion about the new MA law decriminalizing marijuana and school policies.

October 25th- covers the affect of underage drinking on adolescent brain development, the myth of teaching children to drink responsibly and social host liability as related to MA state law. Prevention strategies and protective factors discussed include communication techniques, parenting styles, parent involvement, monitoring teens, family dinners, youth activities, reading selections, teaching proper use of medications vs. abuse, role modeling, building self-esteem, healthy stress relief, developmental asset building. Parents leave with an Action Plan for continued implementation.

• Each session ends with breaking into small groups to plan actions and discuss specific questions.
• October 25th ends with a Q&A between parents and community leaders to provide parents with community-specific policies and treatment resources.
• APPLAUDD includes the “What Now?” Action Plan, a checklist for implementation of newly learned strategies, continued education, community involvement and resources.

Initial and Short Term Outcomes are:
*Increased parent knowledge of drug impairment, including drug paraphernalia
*Increased parent efficacy to talk with child about alcohol and drugs.
*Increased parent intention to take action.
*Increased knowledge of barriers to parent-child communication and how to break through these barriers.
*Changed parent perceptions regarding underage drinking and drug “experimentation”.
*Increased awareness of need for ongoing information regarding risk factors.
*Sign up for monthly parent newsletters that provide up to date information and suggestions for parenting tools.
*Increased recognition of drug abuse and related early intervention
*Increased frequency of parent-teen communication
*Parents take steps to secure the home (i.e. proper disposal of prescription medications)
*Increased monitoring and rule enforcement
*Increased parent access/use of prevention materials.
*Increase engagement of parents in school or other community prevention efforts (changes in policies, bylaws, school rules).

Long Term Outcomes are:
*Reduced underage drinking.
*Reduced drug use among youth.
*Long-lasting, increased parent involvement with teens, monitoring of adolescents and parent-teen communication about substance abuse.
*Informed parents who are actively involved in community engagement.

The Medford Garden Club will be meeting this Thurs. April 7th at 7:00 p.m. at the Medford Public Library, 111 High Street, to discuss Native Plants for Suburban Gardens.

After last summer’s drought, putting in native plants sounds better and better. Scott LaFleur, Director of Horticulture at the New England Wild Flower Society, will talk about ecological gardening and define native plants, and he will explain how to use best them in designing our gardens. He will also discuss his favorite native perennials and grasses that are appropriate for our gardens and our climate. This is a great opportunity to find out more about native plants from a local expert.

Please join Medford Health Matters at our next members’ meeting.

Medford Health Matters’ members meeting will be held on Thursday, March 3 2011, from 7pm to 8:30 pm at Medford City Hall in the Council Chambers, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford.

There is a change in our meeting presentation.  Our meeting highlighting the Medford Census data for 2010 will be postponed since the Census Bureau may not have released Massachusetts data by March 3.  Please watch this space for information regarding the census presentation, and join us for the March rd meeting which will include highlights of Medford Health Matters partnership projects.

*   Team Medford, Penny Bruce Medford Substance Prevention Task Force
*   Science to Service Award for I’m Allergic to Stupid Decisions, Medford Substance Prevention Task Force
*   Environmental Justice and the Mystic Watershed, Nick Cohen Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP)
*   “Voices of Medford,” Diane Mcleod Human Diversity Director for the City of Medford

Come and learn about  Medford Health Matters and how you can participate.  Medford Health Matter’s board meets on the first Thursday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at Medford City Hall.  Member meetings are held every other month and alternate between morning and evening meetings.  Please watch this space for details.

Medford Health Matter’s mission is to foster an environment of wellness and healthy lifestyles for all those who live, learn, work and play in Medford.

Medford High School Students poured through the halls in their school colors, the sounds of excitement and band music filling the air.  As everyone filed into the gym for the pep rally before the big Thanksgiving game, the new Team Medford banner did not go unnoticed.  Team Medford: Join the Winning Team to Prevent Underage Drinking is a new project of the Medford Substance Abuse Task Force.  Over 1,000 bracelets and key chains were handed out to students, athletes, teachers, coaches and community figures in an effort to unite the community in fighting the battle to prevent underage drinking.

Members of the Medford Substance Abuse Task Force joined students in cheering as they connected with one another and were asked to join the winning team. Many of our young leaders are very pleased to be a part of the team and were happy to help distribute bracelets while getting their fellow peers to commit to our team: Team Medford. Everyone is a key player on Team Medford, and many stepped up today showing their pride for the community. “Everyone was in high spirits,” reported Penelope Bruce, the Underage Drinking Prevention Coordinator, “the positive energy was contagious and many of our youth wanted to jump on board.”

Team Medford is a collaborative effort in supporting our youth in which Team TADD (Teens Against Drinking and Drugs) played an enormous role. “It’s great that we finally have a positive mission that unites the city, while getting the word out about underage drinking and drug abuse issues right in our own community”, said Crystal Chandler, a Team TADD leader, and member of Medford’s Substance Abuse Task Force. This is a great start for Team Medford and a beginning that is headed in the right direction. Many more activities and local events will be organized to get more team players involved. For more information contact Penny Bruce at prbruce@medford.org or 781-393-2560

Join the city of Medford at the 2010 HARVEST YOUR ENERGY FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010 1:00 to 4:00 PM

* Learn how to SAVE ENERGY and MONEY; tap the power of SOLAR ENERGY; check out an ALL-ELECTRIC CAR; and more!

* Connect with free home energy assessments and rebates for energy efficiency upgrades through Mass Energy!

* Meet officials who helped win “Green Community” status for your city/town!

* Support local organizations–buy their food and energy/environment-related products!

* Boston Red Sox’s “WALLY THE GREEN MONSTER” will be signing autographs and taking pictures between 1:00 and 2:00 pm!

* Enjoy a beautiful fall day along the Mystic River and see the wind turbine up close! * Music! * Face Painting!

EXHIBITORS INCLUDE:

Big Belly Solar                           Medford School PTOs

Diaper Lab                                Andrews Middle School Students

Eastern Massachusetts Solar Store         Friends of the Medford Library

Mass Save                                 McGlynn Middle School Students

Mystic Coffee Roaster                     Medford Cheerleaders

Pietzo Hybrid Electric Bikes              Medford Family Network

Sun Bug Solar                             Medford Recycling Committee

Waste Management                          Medford Vocational High School

Whole Foods Market                        Roots & Shoots

Zipcar                                    Tufts Institute of the Environment

Base of the Medford Wind Turbine

(McGlynn Elementary & Middle Schools)

3002 Mystic Valley Parkway

Medford, MA  02155

[Rain location: McGlynn School Cafeteria]

For directions and/or more information visit:

http://medford.org/harvestyourenergy

(GPS does not help with this location)

In an effort to combat these trends, Medford Health Matters’ Substance Abuse Taskforce looks for opportunities to bring community members (including parents, neighbors and youth) together with city departments (including the health department, police and schools) to design and implement strategies that foster positive youth development, challenge social norms around underage drinking and drug use and enforce existing laws that protect our youth.

Our accomplishments this past year include “The Amazing Race” which was run by Team TADD West (Teens Against Drinking and Drugs) during spring break to open up a dialogue amongst Medford youth about the risks of underage drinking and drug use. We have also continued our text messaging campaign, “I’m Allergic to Stupid Decisions,” created by Team TADD South. When teens text TADD to 69302 they receive excuses not to drink, health facts on underage drinking and alternatives to drinking. Another social marketing campaign, created by the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at Medford High School, was implemented this past year to encourage parents to talk to their kids about underage drinking.

We also partnered with the Medford Police and Health Department to conduct alcohol and tobacco compliance checks to ensure that alcohol and tobacco vendors are not selling to youth. Most recently, the Medford Police and Health Department partnered together to host a medication drop off day as part of the National Drug Take Back Initiative on September 25th, an effort to properly dispose of unused medication and keep them out of the hands of our youth. The day was a huge success, with 7 full trash bags and 3 boxes of medication collected in Medford. It was inspiring to see the entire community rally behind the effort.

This academic year promises to be another busy year of partnerships and collaboration to combat underage drinking and drug use in Medford. The Substance Abuse Taskforce has begun dialogues this fall with school administrators and parents to foster further collaborative efforts. We want to hear from parents, youth, teachers and other adult role models about how we can come together as a community and support our youth.

For more information, or to become involved in these efforts, go towww.medfordhealthmatters.org or contact Tiana Wilkinson twilkinson@glfhc.org or Penny Bruce pbruce@medford.org.

INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FESTIVAL “Celebrating our Japanese Connections”

A FREE event designed for children ages 0-13

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010

1:00 to 4:00 pm at Springstep in Medford Square

Featuring: Odaiko New England (Japanese Taiko Drumming)

Michiko Kurata (Japanese Traditional Dance)

Sumie Kaneko (Traditional Shamisen and Koto)

There’s so much to do!

* Learn Origami

* Design your own Japanese Uchiwa fan

* Decorate a hachi maki headband

* Play Japanese games

* And much more!

To register, call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106.

Event will be held at Springstep in Medford Square; contact the Medford Family Network for transportation options.

This event is presented by the Medford Public Schools,

Early Childhood Department, Medford Family Network, Springstep &

the Japanese Language School of Greater Boston, celebrating their 35th year!