Group Aims to Make Ames Healthiest Town in Iowa

The City of Ames might not have received a Blue Zone designation, but that hasn't stopped Ames from being a healthy place.

A group called Healthiest Ames plans to make Ames the healthiest community in Iowa. The group is an offshoot of an advisory board established when Ames tried out for a Blue Zone designation.

Blue Zone demonstration communities were named in May 2012, but Ames wasn't on the list.

The interest was still there however and members of Healthiest Ames plan on meeting with others throughout the community to set an action plan to support healthy lifestyles. The plan would be completed in early spring.

A list of the current Healthiest Ames members follows below:

Community at Large (tobacco policies, bike-ability, personal safety)Sector Leader: Judie Hoffman

Community Institutions/Organizations (human services and providers of health and wellness facilities)Sector Leaders: Pete Englin and Emily Bisbee

Health CareSector Leaders: John Shierholz and Neal Loes

Schools (primary and secondary)Sector Leaders: Ann Thompson, Gail Johnston and Mandy Ross

Worksites (large and small employers)Sector Leaders: Stephanie Downs and Shelley Goecke

Restaurants (locally owned restaurants)Sector Leader: Suzanne Hendrich

Grocery Stores Sector Leaders: Peter Martin and Amy Clark

Ames Newsletter/Ames Patch Facebook page/Twitter: @AmesPatch

SEE MORE ON PATCH

• Ames Named Healthy Iowa Community
• LETTER: Embrace Health Benefits of Volunteering
• LETTER: ISU Leaders Support Ames in Blue Zone Quest
• LETTER: Support Blue Zones Fennelly Said
• Iowa Learns it's More Healthy During Ames Blue Zones Project Site Visit
• Ames Prepares for Blue Zones Site Visit
• UPDATE: City of Ames is a Blue Zone Finalist
• ISU Professor in Ames Said Six Factors Affect Life Span