Fall River Mayor Sam Sutter joined Mass in Motion Fall River Coordinator Julianne Kelly to announce a series of new initiatives designed to get more people in the City of Fall River walking. Following opening remarks by the Mayor about the importance of walking to maintain health, Kelly introduced a number of people in the audience who recommended that more people walk and that the City take steps to make walking easier and safer. Kelly then introduced Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) staff members Paula Beaulieu and Eric Andrade who are working on a new "1422 Project" funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health designed to improve opportunities for physical activity and to help people at risk for diabetes and high blood pressure to become more active. Andrade displayed a series of new maps to help people access good walking routes throughout the City and to walk to local markets to shop for healthy foods. He also announced a new WalkFallRiver.org web site and a WalkFallRiver Facebook page. The program ended with a presentation on ways to improve the "walk-a-bility" of the City by Wendy Landman, Executive Director of WalkBoston who is consulting to the 1422 Project. Click here for a one-hour   video of the event. Click here for the Herald News article. To learn more, contact Fall River coordinator Julie Kelly at 508-324-2405. (Photos courtesy of Brian Moses)

(Top row) Fall River Mayor Sam Sutter greets Steve Camara of Fall River Community Media and Jo-Anne Sbrega, Executive Director of the Fall River Children's Museum before Mass in Motion Fall River Coordinator Julianne Kelly asks the Mayor to begin with a few remarks. (Row two) Fall River Diabetes Association Director John Quintas and audience members Sophia Rosana Hunt and George Burton talk about the benefits of walking. (Row three) SSTAR's 1422 Project Coordinator Paula Beaulieu and Community Prevention Coordinator Eric Andrade talk about aspects of that new program as Richard and Laura Lopes and Partners Worksite Wellness Coordinator Angela Bras listen. (Row four) Partners Executive Director Dr. David Weed describes the new WalkFallRiver.org web site before Wendy Landman, Executive Director of WalkBoston, talks about improving the the "walk-a-bility" of the City. (Row five) Ms. Landman includes a variety of slides illustrating inexpensive ways of improving pedestrian access by striping streets such as some that she surveyed in Fall River last year. (Bottom row) The program ends with an invitation by Julie Kelly for people to join a new Walking Advisory Council before Eric talks about WalkTober with Laura Lopes and Wendy speaks with SRPEDD's Director of Highway Planning, Lisa Estrela-Pedro.