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809
Hecla Street
Hancock, Michigan 49930
Telephone: 906.482.4250
Fax: 906.482.1931
ssmith@copperisd.org |
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Star Power Success |
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"Star Power" Bridge Walk Great
Success
Copper Country children, parents,
grandparents and concerned citizens
took to the bridge on Thursday, May
21, in support of state investment
in early childhood education, child
care, health care, and other
services. The walk began at the
Ramada Inn in Hancock, continued
across the Portage Lake Lift Bridge,
and ended at the Kestner Pavilion in
the Chutes and Ladders Park in
Houghton.
Marchers carried signs and donned
T-shirts touting the importance of
investing in our children - our
future. Walkers then were treated to
free ice cream at the park and took
a free trolley ride back to the
Ramada, courtesy of Frank Fiala and
Red Jacket Trolley.
The bridge walk was sponsored by the
Copper Country Great Start
Collaborative, a consortium of
parents, education, health and
service agencies, and businesses
with an interest in the well-being
of young children.
Denise Van Dyken, Executive Director
of BHK Child Development and member
of the Copper Country Great Start
Collaborative served ice cream to
families and shared the feelings of
many at the event; "It is my
pleasure to be a part of such a
worthwhile event. Anything we can do
as a community to bring attention to
early childhood is well worth the
effort".
Dennis Harbour, CCISD Superintendent
and fellow Collaborative member
added, "The Star Power Walk is an
excellent way to raise the awareness
of the need and importance of early
childhood education."
The event was part of Star Power
2009, a statewide effort to focus
attention on the importance of
investing in programs and supports
for children, ages 0-5 years old. In
addition to local events like the
Bridge Walk, there was a big rally
at the capitol where families and
Great Start Collaborative members
met with legislators to garner
support for early childhood
programs.
"The Great Start Collaborative has
gathered a large amount of data to
document how our Copper Country kids
are doing" said Emilie Krznarich,
Executive Director of the
Collaborative. "Now we have the
responsibility to determine the gaps
in services for children and their
parents, and then work with the
Community to figure out how to fill
those gaps."
For more information on the
Collaborative and to find out how
you can be involved, contact
Emilie at 482-4250, ext 260, or
emiliek@copperisd.org ; or
contact Heather Store at 337-6488 or
hstore@charter.net.
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