Kids Day America Press

Kids' event focuses on health, safety, ecology

By Michael Woyton
Poughkeepsie Journal

While her daughter, niece and nephew ran around the crowded corridor of the Poughkeepsie Plaza mall Saturday, Marcia Taylor stood in line to have photo IDs made of the children.

The free service, which included fingerprinting, was provided by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department as part of the sixth annual Kids Day America.

Taking a picture of the children every year was an excellent idea, the Town of Poughkeepsie resident said.

"In case they get kidnapped, they can get identified," she said.

The three-hour event was sponsored by the New York Spine Center in Poughkeepsie.

"The focus is on children's health, safety and environmental awareness," event organizer Dr. Kenneth Kochman said.

Similar festivities were taking place in 1,700 other

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Kids health made fun

By Alice Standish

NORTH HAMPTON - Lured by balloons, savory burgers, clowns, face painting and a healthy dose of education, area children and their families flocked to the 11th annual Kids Day America celebration Saturday.

Hosted by the Arsenault Family Chiropractic Center, the event was one of more than 2,000 similar celebrations that took place nationally and internationally.

"The biggest thing about this event is health and safety awareness," said Dr. Mark Arsenault, event sponsor and administrator of the center. "There's not enough of that in our community."

In addition to adult clients, Arsenault and his staff maintain a sizable pediatric practice. On Saturday they offered free scoliosis screenings and spinal exams.

Kellie Risner-Day and her children Connor and Isabelle saw a flier announcing the event. Concerned about childhood health issues such as obesity and inadequate exercise and lured by the promise of a bit of fun with their education, the family decided to attend the event.

"I thought it would be fun and educational as well," said Risner-Day. "It's important to teach kids about healthy lifestyles."

As Hampton mom Simonida Thurber watched Officer James Warden of the Rockingham County Department of Corrections fingerprint her 4-year-old son Danilo, she acknowledged that receiving the free KidCare ID booklet was important but admitted her real reason for attending was educational.

"It's more educational for us," she said. "I wanted the kids to know how to make fingerprints and how each print is different because we are learning about the human body."

Kids Day event gets positive report

The Kids Day America event was a great success in Fayette County for the third year in a row, according to participants. Every year a local charity is the focus of the event, and this year event organizers recognized the Peachtree City Police Vest Drive as the needed cause for the event.

"Kids Day is all about educating parents and young children on health and wellness, safety and environmental issues affecting our community," said event coordinator Dr. Christopher P. Andreone, Kids Day America/International 2005.

Many children received free health screenings from Dr. Andreone of Andreone Sports & Family Chiropractic, dental screenings from Dr. Michael Mahaffey from Mahaffey Orthodontics, and free fingerprint ID cards from the Peachtree City Police Department.

Juice Plus, Longhorn Steakhouse of Peachtree City, the Elephant's Tale of Peachtree City, Stephen Van Entertainment and Queen Enterprises sponsored the event.

"Without sponsors' generous support of the event it would just be another health fair instead of the children's block party it turns into every year," Andreone said.