HumPAL
Newsletter
Humboldt Partnership for Active Living
Spring 2005
Welcome!
The HumPAL Newsletter is
a quarterly affair. It is a fo-
rum for a diversity of ideas,
announcements, and ac-
tivities of the Partnership.
We welcome submissions,
photos, links and other
ideas. Soon, the newslet-
ter will be available on-
line – keep in touch with
us to find out where! To
join the mailing list, con-
tact us at (707) 269-2054 or
humpal2004@excite.com.
In the next issue, watch
for information about
HumPAL’s strategic plan-
ning efforts and an upcom-
ing lecture series – both
funded by a grant from the
California Endowment!
Missed the Event?
The Humboldt Partnership for Active Living (HumPAL) is a diverse group of professionals and citizens
working together toward integrating physical activity into daily life through education,
policy change and support of appropriate community design.
HumPAL Newsletter
Designing Healthy Communities
A follow-up to Dr. Richard Jackson’s leure
A strong dose of inspiration officials, community planners and engineers,
complimented a big helping of scary health school officials, advocacy groups, parents,
youth – and anyone who believes it possible
statistics served up by the California’s State
Health Officer, Dr. Richard Jackson, to about – to work toward this goal.
150 local residents on January 26 at the Dr. Jackson thinks Humboldt County has
Wharfinger Building in Eureka. some advantages after spending two days
Even for those of us who know that the on the north coast. He lauded the United In-
American public is be- dian Health Services
coming alarmingly un- facility in Arcata as the
healthy, the facts are most inspiring health
rather daunting. Equally facility of a (long and
exciting, however, are distinguished) career
the opportunities we that has taken him all
have to reverse this over the country. Coun-
trend, just as we have ty Health Officer Dr.
seen public health cam- Ann Lindsay, in Dr. Jack-
paigns drastically reduce son’s words, is not only
deaths associated with to- About 150 attended State Health Officer an effective local leader,
bacco smoking and lead Dr. Jackson’s leure in Eureka. she is considered a leader
poisoning in recent decades. on the national level. Our high quality of life is
One of the most significant steps our so- a great starting point to make our lives even
ciety must take in this massive effort is to better – and HumPAL partners believe that a
provide places that encourage – instead group of diverse individuals working to make
of discourage – physical activity. This is positive changes can’t do anything but help
HumPAL’s mission, to bring together health residents become healthier and happier!
Watch It At Home!
If you missed Designing Active Communities: An Evening Discussion on the Link
Between Community Design and Physical Activity, there are several ways you can
watch a recording of the event:
Check out the DVD from the Eureka Branch of the Humboldt County Library,
corner of Third and ‘O’ Streets, (707) 269-1900
Get your own copy for a suggested donation of $12
Contact HumPAL at (707) 269-2054 or humpal2004@excite.com
Borrow the DVD from HumPAL (707) 269-2054
1 of 6 Spring, 2005
Humboldt’s Story Local Efforts & Statistics by Dr. Ann Lindsay, County Health Officer
The Northcoast Nutrition and Fitness our community to consider the design of our human
Collaborative recently released a policy brief environment, to provide green space for people to enjoy,
reporting that nearly 30% of low-income preschoolers plan sidewalks in the next subdivision and crosswalks
in our region are overweight compared to a national to enable people to walk safely; torethink how we travel
rate of overweight of 15%. Nationally, the percentage from one place to another and what foods are available
of children who are overweight doubled from 1976 in public settings.
to 1999. As children age, the problem School communities
intensifies. Physical fitness statistics need to formulate
are even more staggering. Nearly 40% healthy nutrition
of 5th, 7th and 9th graders in the North policies and promote
Coast region failed to pass basic physical physical activity
fitness tests. Chronic diseases such as amongst students,
Type II diabetes, which were formerly both during school
seen only in adults, are now occurring and by making it easier
in overweight children. Public Health for students to walk or
experts predict this generation will be bicycle to school safely.
the first to have a shorter life span than Employers, too, have
their parents. a role in improving
Students from Washington School cross Harris
Adults, too, are suffering; physical options for employees
in a ‘walking school bus’
inactivity and obesity are and their families
overtaking cigarette smoking as the number one and will enjoy a healthier, more productive workforce
cause of preventable deaths in our country. This as a result. Public officials can provide leadership in
situation is a result of the fact that we drive more, sit community planning and collaboration around health
longer and eat more than ever before. Transportation promotion even without increasing expenditures.
planning focuses on the automobile at the expense For more information on healthy development, see
of other transportation options requiring physical www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces. The Humboldt Partnership
exertion. In the United States, 3800 calories are produced for Active Living (HumPAL) and others are working
per person although we need only 2200 on the average; towards a healthier Humboldt County. HumPAL partners
billions of advertising dollars insures we all eat more can help you learn what you can do on an individual and
than we need. community basis.
The Community Health
Alliance has adopted
a slogan, “Health care
Did You Know?
is our right; health is In Humboldt County:
our responsibility.”
Bicycle-vehicle collisions are the second leading
While parents can select
cause of hospitalization for youth ages 5-12, and the
and prepare healthy
fifth leading cause for young adults aged 21-24 years.
foods for their children,
decorate the family Pedesrian-vehicle collisions are the number
dinner with vegetables, one cause of death for youth ages 13-15 years; the fourth
and join their children leading cause of hospitalization for youth aged 5-12
in physical activity, the years; and the fifth leading cause of death for young
problem is too broad- adults 16-20 years.
Students squeeze between parked cars based for individuals
View the full report online at:
and roadside vegetation on their way and families to tackle
http://www.co.humboldt.ca.us/health/FIMR/mv_secti.pdf
home from school. alone. It is time for
HumPAL Newsletter 2 of 6 Spring, 2005
Healthy Design is Intuitive
Opinion by Scott Menzies - www.realizingcommunity.org
If you look back through
human history, you’ll see that
we gravitated toward certain
community designs. Similar across
cultures and continents, these
traditional designs made sense
and were not based on arbitrary
factors, like who had a view of the
bayand how somebodydoesn’twant
their peace and quiet disturbed.
Traditional designs were based on
how people had to take care of their
families, move goods, and be a part
of society – i.e., the natural needs of
human communities. Considering
the amount of time humanity spent
in such communities, it seems that
such designs are not only generally
sustainable, but well-fit for human
existence.
Since the advent of technology
that allowed humans to travel
long distances within short
times, our population and the need
for more housing has grown. So,
too, has the popularity of designs
wrapped around long-distance
transportation grown. In a span of
less than 150 years, we’ve lost touch
with traditional designs thousands
of years old. Traditional designs
are generally found only in places
that stabilized prior to the advent
of long-distance transportation,
including much of Europe and most
of Asia, provided they were not torn
down and replaced, as is happening
at break-neck speed in China.
Having lived overseas in Asia for so
long,it’s obvious to me that healthy
communities were naturally
assembled by peoples prior to the
advent of technology, specifically
long-distance transportation and
especially cars. Really, we don’t
have to think beyond that, and the
rest will fall into place.
HumPAL Newsletter
Remove long distance transportation
from the equation, and healthy
community design becomes
common sense, forcing us to
take on designs that are better for
us in a host of ways, from social
to environmental. Remove such
transportation, and eventually
we’ll begin to move back toward
designs that resemble the original
circumstances under which
our bodies and minds are best
maintained. Such transportation
can be reintroduced after
communities are analyzed in its
absence. Such transportation should
be an optional luxury, not a human
necessity and dependency.
So the real issue is not what the
answers to our problems are, it’s
convincing everyone else that this
is actually better – better for them,
better for the community, better
for their families, and so forth.
This is why, to me, Dr. Jackson’s
discussions are so important. The
discussions contain hard evidence
that what we’ve been doing in terms
of community design needs to be
treated more like smoking or junk-
food habits, an addiction to a way
of life that we “enjoy” but which is
ultimately unhealthy for us, our Do you recognize the outline of the Bayshore
families, and our society. Mall in south Eureka? Most of us have walked
The challenge ahead is a great one. from one end of the mall to the other, but
More information like that of Dr. very few people would consider driving from
Jackson’s must be assembled to one end to the other. When put in the context
convince the general population of downtown Arcata or Eureka shopping
districts, however, many would not think twice
that, not only is having to drive
about driving from the Plaza to Northtown in
yourself to work and your child
Arcata or from C Street to I Street in Eureka,
to school an inconvenience, it’s though those distances are shorter than the
actually damaging in tangible mall is long. Watch for posters in local stores
and provable ways to you socially,
psychologically, and physically.
that encourage us all toWalk To Shop!
The good news? It doesn’t have Articl for the newsletter are submitted
to be this way. History, and what by participants, compiled by the staff of
remains of it now, proves that. Natural Rourc Servic, RCAA.
3 of 6 Spring, 2005
SECTION ■ Seniors/B3
B TO YOUR HEALTH ■ Business/B4-B5
Times-Standard ■ Weather/B6
TUESDAY, FEB. 1, 2005

Local coalition examines healthy community planning

Sara Watson Arthurs But she said growing dialogue dents must cross Highway 101 to friendly communities. ”It’s not a
The Times-Standard at the state and federal level on see their neighbors, she said, it’s political movement. It’s a com-
hat had been a small but these issues, plus a host of web trickier. munity wide movement,” she
dedicated group of peo- sites, have made sure there are ”It’s going to take more than paint said. ”We want as many people
W ple having conversations The Redwood Community Action “resources available to help plan- to address some of our more ru- involved as possible.”
about planning and physical ac- Agency staff and some planning ners learn public health language ral communities,” she said. Lindsay said she’s heard from
tivity officially blossomed into a and transportation experts had and public health learn planning
movement last week, said one of language.” HumPAL serves as a community people from across the political
already started talking more in- forum, helping people from cities spectrum who’ve said they want
its organizers. formally about these issues three Humboldt County Public Health and unincorporated communi- to learn more about these is-
”Wednesday was our big intro- years ago. ”That was right on the Officer Dr. Ann Lindsay said she’s ties around the county to learn sues. She plans to present some
duction into the community,” cusp of this whole active living relatively new to learning about more about the topic and work of Jackson’s findings in other
said Rafferty, coordinator of the movement, which is really kind of this herself, and has been learn- with their local planners, Rafferty settings, and to talk with devel-
Humboldt Partnership for Active new,” Rafferty said. ing about the some of the trans- said. She said the goal is to work opers. ”Nobody wants to add to
Living. Nationwide, she said, this type portation funding formulas that with communities throughout the the cost of developing,” she said.
complicate the planning process. county, from the cities of Arcata “We have to be sensitive to that
Wednesday was when about 150 of thinking has only been gaining
The county being in the midst and Eureka to smaller rural com- when considering options, but
people attended a talk by Cali- momentum for the last several
of its general plan process, she munities. also have to be sensitive to the
fornia Public Health Officer Dr.. years, as studies have shown
said, the timing is right to make health of our community.”
Richard Jackson on the environ- links between a person’s health Along with talking with city coun-
health considerations a part of
ment and public health. HumPAL, and his or her surroundings. cils and planners, she said, HumPAL is also working on future
the discussion. Rafferty said that,
as the partnership calls itself, was Locally, HumPAL officially formed HumPAL is encouraging smaller seminars as well as a newsletter
at least so far, there has been a
one of the sponsors of the talk. a year ago. Rafferty’s position, informal walking projects: help- to be distributed countywide.
“preaching to the choir” feeling in
Citing statistics on the growing based at RCAA, is paid for by these discussions. After Wednes- ing children walk to school, or “Hopefully that will open the door
rates of obesity and diabetes, a Corporation for National and days talk, she said, she hopes helping senior organizations en- to even more dialogue,” Rafferty
Jackson said that it isn’t enough Community Service grant. Her that will change. By Friday, Raf- courage their members to walk. said. They’re also helping citi-
for individuals to know they need job involves coordinating profes- ferty said she’d already received In Humboldt County, planning zens conduct “walkability audits”
to exercise more communities sionals from a variety of fields to several phone calls and e-mails discussions are sometimes seen in communities. Rafferty said
must be designed with pedestrian get together and figure out how from new people wanting to get as environmentalists versus de- this just involves taking a walk
and bicycle safety in mind so it’s to learn from one another. involved. velopers, but both Rafferty and through the neighborhood and
easy for people to get exercise. She said it has been a challenge Lindsay said they see this as answering a series of questions,
Jackson’s talk focused mainly something liberals and conserva- such as: “Did you have enough
”It’s intuitive,” Rafferty said. “You for all involved, since the munici- on urban and suburban areas. tives alike can get involved in. ”I room to walk safely?” “Was it
move around, you feel better. pal planners and public health Lindsay said the small cities in think on health issues it’s easier easy to cross streets?” “Did driv-
And if you don’t feel safe mov- advocates tend to have such dif- Humboldt County may be able to to find consensus,” Lindsay said. ers behave well?” People can
ing around, you’re not going to ferent ways of thinking and com- benefit from research on this type “If we don’t do something in our audit their own neighborhoods or
do it.” The partnership describes municating. of design, but, “I think we have to community, 1 out of 3 children their child’s walk to school, then
itself in a brochure as “a diverse ”It’s almost like the math and sci- be creative for some of the areas will become diabetic in their life- use that information in dialogue
group of professionals and citi- ence versus the liberal arts, two that are more rural.” time. That’s alarming.”
zens working together towards different entities that are really with neighbors and city officials,”
She added that the cities may be Rafferty added that HumPAL is Rafferty said.
integrating physical activity into competent in what they do” but
a bit easier to work on, since even nonpartisan, and that there are For more information, con-
daily life through education, pol- don’t necessarily understand the
small things like painting cross- economic benefits of active liv- tact Rafferty at 269-2054 or
icy change and support of appro- other, she said.
walks more visibly may make a ing and developing pedestrian- humpal2004@excite.com.
priate community design.”
difference. In areas where resi-
 Upcoming Active Living Events
FUN WALK TO CELEBRATE P UBLIC HEALTH WEEK
W HEN: April 6, 2005, 12:00-12:30 p..m.
W HERE: 529 I St, Eureka
INFO: Event sponsored by the County Dept. of Health & Human Services.

COMMUNITY CONFERENCE ON CHILDHOOD NUTRITION & ACTIVITY

W HEN: May 6, 2005, 8:30-3:30
W HERE: Wharfinger Building, Eureka
INFO: $20 fee includes lunch (pre-registration required). For additional info, please contact Holly Baker at
(707) 445-6210.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY BIKE TO WORK DAY

W HEN: May 19 (Eureka) and May 20 (Arcata), 2005, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
W HERE: Eureka Old Town Gazebo and Arcata Plaza
INFO: Join other emerging and seasoned cyclists for fun, encouragement, prizes, awards (i.e. longest
commute, employer with most employees present, and most inspirational bikes), snacks and other
activities (707) 839-4336.

GOT A BRAIN? WEAR A HELMET ! BIKE & SKATE SAFETY FESTIVAL FOR YOUTH
W HEN: May 22, 2005, 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p..m.
W HERE: Eureka High School Marshall Campus
INFO: Fun event to encourage safe cycling, skateboarding and in-line skating skills. Equipment fitting and
inspection, tire fixing demo, craft activities, and bike rodeo. Sponsored by six local safety and
advocacy organizations. For more info contact 476-8128

T HE LINK BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & BRAIN HEALTH

W HEN: June 16, 2005, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
W HERE: County Library, Eureka
INFO: People of all ages are encouraged to attend this lecture by Dr. Swanson to learn what you can do to
protect your brain and prevent premature aging.
TOUR OF THE UNKNOWN COAST
W HEN: May 7, 2005, visit website for start times http://www.tuccycle.org/index.html.
W HERE: Start at Humboldt County Fairgrounds, Ferndale, CA
INFO: Come participate in the Tour of the Unknown Coast and enjoy cycling through some of the most
beautiful country in the United States. There will be a 100 mile tour, 10 mile Farm Tour, 20 Mile Family
Fun ride, 50 Mile Challenge, and 100 KM Citizens Rides. For more info visit the website, or contact
Tour Director Vic Armijo director@tucycle.org, 707-269-0235.

Please submit your events to us for quarterly

upcoming events calendar. Send email to PLEASE POST T HIS
humpal@excite.com or call (707) 269-2054.

HumPAL Newsletter 5 of 6 Spring, 2005

Resources and Links
NATIONAL PROGRAMS & RESOURCES STATE PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
Active Living by Design - www.activelivingbydesign.org California Department of Health Services -
Active Living Leadership - www.activelivingleadership.org www.dhs.ca.gov
Active Living Research - www.activelivingresearch.org California Center for Physical Activity -
www.caphysicalactivity.org
Local Government Commission - www.lgc.org
Walk & Bike to School - www.walktoschool.org Healthy Transportation Network -
National Center for Bicycling and Walking - www.bikewalk.org www.healthytransportation.net
International City/County Management Association - www.icma.org California Walk to School Headquarters -
www.cawalktoschool.com
Programs of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - www.rwjf.org
Project LEAN -
Urban Sprawl and Public Health
by Howard Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson www.californiaprojectlean.org
at your local bookstore or www.islandpress.org/books/detail.html?SKU=1-55963-305-0

LOCAL PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

HumPAL • (707) 269-2054 • humpal2004@excite.com
Project LEAN • (707)441-4652 • www.northcoastlean.org
County of Humboldt Public Health Branch • (707) 445-6200
• www.co.humboldt.ca.us/health
Natural Resources Services Division of RCAA • (707) 269-2055 • www.rcaa.org/nrs
The Healthy Humboldt Coalition • (707) 822-1166 • www.healthyhumboldt.org
HSU “Room to Grow?” Study - http://asaf-srv5.humboldt.edu/ctymodel/. Dr. Jackson and HumPAL partners walked
around old town, a section of Eureka that
encourages physical activity

HumPAL
904 G St.
Eureka, CA 95501

For more information about the

Humboldt Partnership for Active Living
and to become a participant, contact:
humpal2004@excite.com • (707) 269-2054
HumPAL Newsletter 6 of 6 Spring, 2005