UPDATES 12.20.11

SHIP UPDATE
- The first iteration of SHIP ended June 30, 2011. However, the legislature approved unspent funds to be appropriated back to the grantees in the same percentage that they had received in the first iteration. This created Bridging Period #1 (July-September).

SHIP 2.0 was funded by the legislature in July for $15 million. Part of this $15 million was used for Bridging Period #2 (October-December). During this time, a new RFP was sent out for January 2012-June 2013 funding. There were 29 applicants, and 18 funded parties. The Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis and Aitkin-Itasca-Koochiching Community Health Boards were a recipient of almost $1 million (of the ~$11 million available).

Unfortunately, I (Meghann) will not be continuing with School Nutrition and Active Living in Moose Lake. However, I will be beginning more directed efforts with Safe Routes to School in Moose Lake. In addition, I will be beginning School Nutrition, Safe Routes to School, and Community Active Living in Cloquet.

I will still be around as a resource person, and will be putting together a group/sub-group (with members from both the Active Living Coalition and the School Wellness Committee) for the Safe Routes to School effort. I will continue to forward on information for trainings, curriculum, etc. to the appropriate recipients!

PROJECT UPDATES:
- Brochures are still being handed out to visitors. Reflective Vests are also being used at events, and will be handed out to event participants in the future.

- Radar Speed Signs have been installed, but are not yet working. The City and State have decided to pursue solar panels rather than wiring them in because it will end up being less expensive. One of the signs was placed closer to the stoplights (on the south side of town), as opposed to closer to Marketplace and Holiday that originally desired. Mark will check to see what an expected start date will be for the signs to be operational.

- Indoor Walking Signs will be put up by the end of the year. Barney helped measure the distances, and Tim put the map together on his computer. MN Sign Shop made the signs, and they will be put up in order to inform and encourage indoor walkers at the school.


UPCOMING ITEMS:
- A Biking Workshop can occur next (early) summer if Moose Lake is interested. More details will be coming, and additional questions can be directed to Ellen Pillsbury with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC).
 
- Walk Friendly Communities Application
Getting Started: http://www.walkfriendly.org/get_started.cfm
Tool: http://www.walkfriendly.org/WFCAssessmentTool_Nov2011.pdf
Opens 11/15/11, Applications due 1/16/12
This opportunity would be a good option to keep the Fit City Resolution principals, and to gain national recognition of efforts. It is a rather new program, and it will grow and expand as time goes on.

- Carlton County 2012 Tourism Grant Program- Mayor Shaw is part of this committee and has a copy of the grant. This would be a good option for funding for future projects.

- SRTS Planning Grants-mid-2012-Moose Lake is in a great position to receive funding for this grant because they do not have a specific SRTS plan, but have completed a community assessment and have ideas in place.
ARDC will have funding to continue looking at Safe Routes to School (SRTS) in Moose Lake and helping the SRTS committee apply for grants, complete assessments, etc. during SHIP 2.0.

Next Meeting: 12-6-11

The next Moose Lake Active Living Coalition Meeting has been scheduled for December 6, 2011 from 5-6:30pm at the Council Chambers.

We will be discusing the recent transfer of the coalition to a city committee, activities that have happened since we last met, and our next steps. Refreshments will be provided, so please RSVP to meghann.condit@co.carlton.mn.us by Monday, December 5th.

See you then!

SHIP Update!

SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Program) funding ended June 30, 2010. However, since there was unused funding left over from around the state at that time, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reallocated funding, in the same percentage as the original grant, to all participating Community Health Boards for a “Bridging Period”. This funding was strictly for finishing activities by making everything sustainable, and for final evaluation.

After the government shut-down, and new budget was formed, SHIP was included at a reduced amount for the next biennium, but still funded! MDH decided to create a second bridging period from October-December 2011. During this time, a grant application is to be formed (based on an RFP sent out by MDH), which, if awarded, would fund activities from January 2012-June 2013.

Northeast Minnesota will be applying for this funding, and should find out if they are awarded by December 2011. SHIP may look different, be in different communities, etc.—we do not know all of the details.

 

Please watch for upcoming details concerning the next Moose Lake Active Living Coalition. The MLALC has been passed as a City Committee, and will be changing slightly. Meeting information will be posted as soon as the date has been set.

New Mini-Grant Items!

The Moose Lake Active Living Coalition has been busy working through the action plan and applying for project funding related to policy, systems, and environment changes. The city received funding for, and will be implementing the following changes, with the help of mini-grant funding from the SHIP Grant:

- 25 new cycling reflective vests
- 25 new walking reflective vests (with more on the way, including reflective arm bands!)
- A new Moose Lake Area, MN Walking and Biking Guide
- 2 new Radar Speed Signs that will be put around the downtown area to help with pedestrian safety, and the Safe Routes to School program.
- 8 new walking route signs in the school for the indoor walking availability with measured distances
- Promotional materials for the new Farmer's Market as a destination for walking and biking

On another note:

The SHIP Grant will be ending June 30, 2011, and at that time, the Moose Lake Active Living Coalition will be turned over the City Council members as it awaits determination of leadership at the July City Council meeting. Please stay posted on further details.

Congratulations on all the work you have accomplished to this point (over the last 2.5 years)! There will be many more great projects to come. For more information, or inquiry about involvement, please contact Mark Vahlsing, Moose Lake City Administrator, at 218-485-4010. 

New Signage and Brochures!

With extra mini-grant funds, we were able to purchase two Radar Speed Signs for Moose Lake, as well as indoor walking signage to install at the school.

One of the main problems identified by the walking assessment was the difficulty in crossing Arrowhead Lane/County Rd. 61/Hwy. 73. In conjunction with our Safe Routes to School efforts and the fact that MN DOT said we could improve pedestrian signage for ONE crosswalk on Arrowhead, we will combine the Radar Speed Sign, pedestrian signage, and SRTS efforts to make the road more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

Since traffic is often heavy and traveling at a fast speed coming into town on Hwy 73, we will also place a Radar Speed Sign there. This is also an area from where many students would be traveling down the road on their way to school.

We will be installing signage with a map of the school and marked walking distances this summer. The school has always been open to the public for indoor walking before and after school hours, but we are publicizing more heavily for it, especially with the release of the new Moose Lake, MN Area Walking and Biking Guide brochure.

This Walking and Biking brochure will be mailed to all residents of Moose Lake, and will be available at the Chamber, the City Office, the Depot, and other important places around town. It includes a map with all of the established bike routes and trails, as well as two smaller maps with labeled walking routes and distances. The Moose Lake Active Living Coalition spent many hours planning for and developing this brochure. With help from Rose Kuhlman at Core Design Group-North, Inc., the brochure looks great, and will be ready for distribution the first part of June.

Safe Routes to School Community Meeting

The Moose Lake Active Living Coalition and the Moose Lake School Wellness Committee are partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the State Safe Routes to School Network and local partners for a Safe routes to School (SRTS) planning workshop!

WHO: Parents, Teachers, Students, School Administration, City Public Works, City Planners, Community Members, etc.

WHAT: A meeting to develop expertise in SRTS planning, identify action steps for the next 12 months, and position Moose Lake to be competitive for funding to support SRTS (available June 2011!)

WHERE: Moose Lake School's Media Center

WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 4-7:30pm. Dinner is provided!

WHY: Last spring, the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission completed a SRTS Community Assessment. This assessment took feedback from parents, school administration, students, etc. about the walkability and bikeability to and from school, as well as the barriers. From the information and an 'on the ground assessment', they identified successes and barriers to walking and biking to school.

With this assessment completed, the school is in a very good position to receive grant money for the next round, which is scheduled for June 15th. At this point, this meeting will be the first of its kind in Moose Lake--besides the assessment, no prior work as been done with SRTS, so please come and help us with this great development opportunity!
RSVP by April 29th!
Ellen Pillsbury at 218.529.7554 or epillsbury@ardc.org

See you on the 3rd!

  

Upcoming Webinar Training (FREE!)

Please note a webinar training that are happening in early April--all you need is a computer and a phone! Since we have allotted funding for school patrol equipment for a program that will be starting soon at Moose Lake School, this webinar will be particularly helpful and interesting.

Date: April 12, 2011
Time: 12-1pm
Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/948654561

Description:
Adult school crossing guards play an important role in helping children cross streets safely at key locations on their way to school. Without the help of crossing guards, and without proper training, school children can be very vulnerable as pedestrians, for a number of reasons. In 1992, the Florida Legislature adopted the Ramon Turnquest School Crossing Guard Act in response to the fatality of a child at a guarded crossing. This law requires most local governmental entities that administer school crossing guard programs to train their guards according to guidelines adopted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). To promote uniform, effective performance, Florida has established a train-the-trainer crossing guard program which has become a national model. This webinar will highlight Florida's program (see the website at: http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/CrossingGuard/index.aspx )

The webinar will begin with a brief history of the program's origins and updates. The presenters will explain how the state training program works. Their discussion will include an overview of the Florida School Crossing Guard Training Guidelines used in Florida, the training program framework, techniques used in school crossings and step-by-step procedures for crossing children at typical crosswalk configurations. It will also discuss the importance of teaching children how to cross the street. In addition, they will cover some aspects of program management for those new to the crossing guard community.

This webinar is part of the Safe Routes to School Webinar Series, developed by America Walks and the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

For more information, please contact Nicole Mogul at nmogul@americawalks.org

Walking/Biking Brochure Update

The Moose Lake Active Living Coalition is in the final stages of planning the walking/biking brochure before is sent to be designed and printed. The brochure will include a map of Moose Lake's bike trails/routes, as well as some designated walking loops with mileage. Also included will be website links to local resources, and a brief description of the area. This brochure will be a great piece for both residents and visitors. The Coalition will be paying for its development through a mini-grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant.

Some new developments seem very promising for a mountain bike park in Moose Lake. There are some great local resources for this, as well as potential land use possibilities. Please plan to attend the next meeting on March 1st from 5-6:30pm at the Council Chambers to find out more!

Also, this is short notice, but there will be a webinar titled "FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) Resources for Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals" on March 1st from 1-2:30pm CST. Please go to the following website to for a description of the webinar and to register:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/656793107

Webinar Info, etc.

The Moose Lake Active Living Coalition had a productive meeting on Tuesday, January 4th! We identified some priorities that we will be focusing on in the next six months. They are as follows:
     - Have a Fit City page on the Chamber's Website
     - Involvement in existing events: Moose Run, MS Bike Ride, etc.
     - Development, printing, and disbursement of Walking/Biking Map
     - Identify and address barriers on Arrowhead for walking and biking



Watch for progress soon!



Also, here is some information about a webinar series coming out about Active Transportation. Please register if you are interested. We will not view this at a formal location, but if you have your own computer, just following the link to register and they will send you a confirmation email with a link provided. You can click the link the time of the webinar, and you join right in! Should be interesting. Let Meghann know if you have questions: meghann.condit@co.carlton.mn.us


The American Public Health Association invites you to a webinar series! Public health and transportation professionals have the opportunity to participate in a new, four-part webinar series in 2011 that covers how transportation systems impact health in diverse communities across the nation.

Join us for this series that explores the intersections between health and transportation, highlights innovative state and local programs that leverage opportunities in transportation that benefit health, and explains what the future may hold for the federal surface transportation authorization.

Register today at http://action.apha.org/site/R?i=_aMHAWZb8_1n9YOIYwk2OA

Webinar 1: Community Health and Transportation Planning
January 18, 2011 2-3 pm EST

Webinar 2: The Health Benefits from Active Transportation
February 15, 2011 2-3 pm EST

Webinar 3: Health Impact Assessments (HIAS) in Transportation
March 15, 2011 2-3 pm EST

Webinar 4: Preventing Roadway Fatalities and Injuries
April 5, 2011 2-3 pm EST