The Fall River Children In Balance (CIB) program that is replicating the Shape Up Somerville childhood obesity prevention project held its fifth "Farmers' Market" event at the Letourneau School on October 29, 2009. The event featured fresh produce and a chance for parents and children to learn to prepare healthy dishes using fruits and vegetables. Parents and children were also invited to dance to the tune of the song "Y.M.C.A." in the gymnasium and to attend a community marketplace with displays by a dozen local agencies. Click here to see the  video of the event. Click to see photos of similar events at the Greene Elementary School, the Silvia Elementary School, the Viveiros Elementary School and the Watson Elementary School. The Children In Balance project promotes Healthy Activity Active Time (HEAT) Clubs that are are run in twelve after-school programs.  For further information about the project, contact Project Manager Marcia Picard at 508-324-2228.

(Top row, left and center) Parents and students gather in the Community Marketplace room where they can visit resource tables from Fall River organizations and a table of fresh fruits and vegetables offered by Maria and Anthony Coutinho of Coutinho Orchards in Berkley, MA. (Top row, right) Sarah Cogswell of the Southeast Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership talks with Amimee Dubois as her brother Matthew looks at the camera. (Middle row, left and center) Mike and Suzanne Ramos lead parents and children in some heart-healthy exercises to music in the gymnasium. (Middle row, right) As Letourneau School principal Kimberly Sefrino, left, watches, Suzanne Ramos hi-fives fourth-grader Julia Crepeau as Children In Balance project director Marcia Picard looks on from the right. (Bottom row, left and center) University of Massachusetts Extension Nutrition Education Program nutrition educator Jessica Riccardi gets assistance from  Cassidy Medeiros and A.J. Raposa in preparing a fruit compote. (Bottom row, right) Khol and Kayne Therberge bring one of the $50 grocery bags of health foods to their mother, Pat, at the end of the evening.