Your chance to speak up about the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Public comments are now being accepted on the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 (Advisory Report). Individuals and organizations are encouraged to view the Advisory Report now posted along with public comments at www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Written comments will be accepted from June 15, 2010 to July 15, 2010. Oral testimony may be provided at a public meeting to be held in Washington, DC, on July 8, 2010.

“We appreciate the hard work and guidance of the Committee and the expertise of its members. Their commitment to this endeavor assures the public that their report reflects the most current, comprehensive, evidence-based nutritional science available. The Advisory Report will provide USDA and HHS with a strong foundation for preparing the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which will be released at the end of this year. We look forward to receiving comments from the public that will help USDA and HHS translate these recommendations into meaningful policies and messages for the American people,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a joint statement.

Following the public comment period on the Advisory Report, USDA and HHS will consider these and other comments as they translate the Advisory Report of the Committee into the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Sebelius will release the 2010 Dietary Guidelines policy document jointly at the end of 2010.

First published in 1980, the Dietary Guidelines are mandated by Congress to be reviewed, updated and released by USDA and HHS every five years. The Dietary Guidelines contain the latest, science-based nutritional and dietary guidance for the general public. They are the foundation for federal nutrition education and promotion programs, as well as the basis for the federal food assistance programs.

The availability of the Advisory Report is announced in the June 15, 2010 edition of the Federal Register. An electronic copy of the Advisory Report is available at www.dietaryguidelines.gov or may be viewed in hard copy at the Reference Desk of the USDA National Agricultural Library.

Written comments can be submitted at www.dietaryguidelines.gov or mailed to Carole Davis, Co-Executive Secretary, Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302.

To provide oral testimony at the July 8 public meeting, you must register by going to www.dietaryguidelines.gov or by calling Crystal Tyler at (202) 314-4701 prior to 5 p.m. EDT on June 30. The meeting will be held in the Jefferson Auditorium in the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., on July 8 beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending no later than 5:00 p.m.

“Get Fit & Have Fun” Event July 10th

The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association is currently looking for health service providers and recreational resources to host booths, help plan fun activities, present, or provide health screenings at an event they are planning for Saturday, July 10th.

The main goals will be to maintain “A Beautiful Life” actively in the public’s eye in between the two community meetings, to inform the community of the next steps and the voting process that will take place at the second meeting, and to provide the community with a fun day of physical activity (to be coordinated by Curves, the YMCA, and any other interested parties).

Presenters will be needed to educate on the following subjects: nutrition, exercise, weight management, wellness, and health related diseases. Donations for prizes, and a sponsor to supply a Bouncy house free to the public are welcome.

For more information, please contact:

Julio Cesar Quezada
Community Organizer
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
2304 N. Third St.
North Country HealthCare
2920 N. Fourth St.Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Phone: 928-525-6060
Fax: 928-526-1054

Movies on the Square

Mark your calendars for Friday night at Heritage Square. The movie this week will be Star Wars. In addition there will an opportunity to take your picture with one of the characters! FlagCHAN will have a split the pot raffle as well as spin the wheel for prizes. Music starts at 6:00 pm with the movie beginning at dark.