"When it comes to creating health, this is one active community" quipped Healthy City Coordinator David S. Weed, Psy.D., at the second Annual Healthy City Fall River Spring Celebration held on April 6, 2006, at the U-Mass Professional Learning Center in downtown Fall River. Listing dozens of projects contribute every day to an improved quality of life in the city, Weed, suggested that it is often difficult for anyone to see the "big picture" without getting around to all of them. He recommended the Healthy City web site as one way that people could become familiar with the variety of activities that continuously operate throughout the community. A better way, he offered, is for everyone to take time to get to know others who are part of the Healthy City initiative. "We are stronger when we know each other and collaborate," concluded Weed. Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. also underscored this message as he congratulated Healthy City participants for helping to make the community a better place to live and work. "We don't celebrate our assets enough," he noted. "This gathering helps us all to realize the positives that take place in this city every day," he said. The program included a "personal scavenger hunt" to encourage participants to meet others at the gathering, music by Durfee High School musicians, video by students from FRED-TV, and award presentations to this year's new partner organizations. Click here to see pictures of last year's event.
 

(Top row, left) Durfee High School chamber music players provided music for the evening. (Top row, center) Lt. Charles Cullen, Police Athletic League Director, and others sign in at the registration table with Paula Harrison and Pat Fanning. (Top row, right) Katie Souza of Pose Dance studio gathers information in the Cherry & Webb gallery for the scavenger hunt. (Middle row, left) Pastor John Hopkins of Lighthouse Christian Outreach Center joins the buffet line for the gathering of over eighty people. (Middle row, center) Healthy City Coordinator David Weed reviews the many projects that are making a difference in the quality of life in Fall River. (Middle row, right) Peter Lee of the Massachusetts Partnership for Healthier Communities greets Terry Moran of the new YouthBuild project now located at the Bank Street Armory. (Bottom row) Durfee High School Peaceful Coalition advisor Paul Leite is joined by Nick Ruggiero (left) and another one of the group's participants at the recognition event. (Bottom row, center) SER-Jobs IBM Reading Recognition Program Director Ana Pacheco (right) is congratulated for her award. (Bottom row) Design Team member Odete Amarelo presents St. Anne's Smoking Cessation Educator Dixie Tavares with her award. (Photos by Bishop Connolly student and Teens Against Drug Abuse Chairperson Jasiel Correia, II)