Senator Farley Seeks Participants For Children's Health Fair On Aug. 11th

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R,C - Schenectady) is asking local non-profit and health-related organizations to participate in a Healthy Kids' Day health fair he is hosting on Friday, August 11th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Riverfront Center in Amsterdam.

"August can be a busy time of year for families as children get ready to head back to school. August is also National Immunization Month," Senator Farley said. "To help highlight the importance children's health in general, I am sponsoring this event."

Organizations dealing with children's safety and health issues are welcome to participate. The event will be held inside the Riverfront Center so weather will not be an issue. Senator Farley reported several local and State agencies have already signed up to participate.

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' Operation Safe Child will be participating this year. This agency will create for parents a card which contains the child's name, photograph, biographical information, and a fingerprint image of both index fingers. This simple process will take less than two minutes. According to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the information gathered is digitally recorded and stored in a database. If the child is reported missing, the fingerprints of that child will be included in a special search file and compared against all incoming fingerprints submitted to DCJS.

Also new this year, Montgomery County's Public Health will perform puppet shows. Called "Germ Busters," the productions will be held at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Story time will also be held at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. New Dimensions will give dental care checks and have information on diabetes and obesity in children. Bassett Health Care's Community Heart Program will have interactive computer programs that will help children learn about heart and obesity issues in a fun way. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties will display its "Food, Fun and Fitness" interactive exhibit. Face painting and a craft and coloring table will be offered.

Also participating this year are: Amsterdam Memorial Health Care; Domestic Violence and Crime Victim Services; Fulmont Community Action Agency, including their Head Start and WIC programs; Greater Amsterdam Volunteer Ambulance Corps; HFM Prevention Council; HealthLink; Hispanic Outreach Services; Immunization Registry and Information Source (IRIS); Montgomery County Allies in Prevention (MCAP); Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home; National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI); KidsPeace; Reality Check; Resource Center for Independent Living; St. Mary's Hospital; and Tri-County Mediation.

"Please contact my Amsterdam District Office at (518) 843-2188 to sign up for the event. Please tell my staff if you have special needs such as outlets for electricity," Senator Farley said.

For more information on the event, please call 843-2188.