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Youth Agency Holds Family Fun Day
Klint Lowry/SUNCOAST NEWS
Deanna Krautner of the Florida Department of Health sets a proper fit for 10-year-old Zoey Nordlund's new bike helmet at Pasco Kids First Third Annual Family Fun Day.
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Published: November 12, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY - Sometimes it isn't the message; it's how you frame it.
Pasco Kids First is in the business of looking after children. Throughout the year, it assists in protecting Pasco County children from the effects of child abuse.
With other community agencies, it provides thorough, accurate assessments and services, community education and early intervention to children and their families.
Pasco Kids First also promotes a healthy, nurturing family environment.
This is serious business, but one day out of the year, Pasco Kids First takes all of this and, along with its partner agencies, throws an old-fashioned, family-oriented party in the park.
The Third Annual Family Fun Day took place at Sims Park and Orange Lake on Saturday. As it does every year, the event gave families a chance to play together outdoors and get some exercise.
There were inflatable activities and face painting. Event-goers had a chance to meet Tampa Bay Lightning mascot ThunderBug, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders and the Bucs' mascot, Captain Fear.
And if a dancing mood struck, DJ Rich of "Rock and Roll to Go" was spinning tunes when he wasn't introducing attractions like Cpl. David "Scott" Grant of the Pasco Sheriff's Office and his K-9 partner, K.T., who came to give an anti-drug message.
Meanwhile, parents and children could learn about safety from the Sheriff's Office MAC Unit, the New Port Richey Fire Department and Pasco Kids First. Other organizations taking part included Trinity Rotary Club, Childhood Development Services, the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, All Children's Hospital & Safe Kids Pasco Council, Southern Elite Sports and Keystone the Rotary.
"The idea is to promote a healthy family from the inside out," said Rick Hess, executive director of Pasco Kids First. "By having all of these interactive activities for the entire family, we are promoting the family being active together."
One of the highlights of the event was the Pasco County Health Department's Family Fitness Walk around Orange Lake.
Children who completed the half-mile circuit around the lake could enter a drawing to win a free bicycle. One boys' and one girls' bike were given away.
Along the route there were stops, both entertaining and informative. At some of the stops, walkers could send their muscles in new directions with jump ropes and hula hoops.
The Florida Department of Health had a couple of display trucks along the route. One focused on the department's anti-tobacco campaign. The display included 88 pairs of shoes along the walking route representing the number of people who die in Florida each day from tobacco-related causes.
Meanwhile, Deanna Krautner, public information officer with the state Department of Health, and Amy Heinzen, Outreach Coordinator for All Children's Hospital and Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator, were giving away children's bike helmets.
They fitted each helmet to its recipient and showed the proper adjustment for chinstraps and how a helmet should be worn.
"A lot of times we find the kids wearing the helmet (tilted) back," Heinzen said.
Instead, he said, the front rim of the helmet should be positioned just above the eyebrows, in order to protect the forehead.
"It's all about safety, health, kids and families," event organizer Kelly Maki said. It gives us a chance to get out what we do."
This year's event was sponsored by Pasco Health Department; Publix Supermarkets; city of New Port Richey; Rivers Edge Pediatrics, Dr. Montemayer; Trinity Rotary; Stone, Parker and Company, CPA; Pediatric Specialists Medical Group, Dr. Hasell and Dr. Pham; Childhood Development Services; Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties; Junior Service League; Community Service Council; Southern Elite Sports; Dr. Don DelBeato, Ph.D.; Keystone Rotary; The Pasco Tribune; and The Suncoast News.
For more information about Pasco Kids First visit www.pascokidsfirst.org.
Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com
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