Get off the Internet and get outside

Coming soon to a community centre near you: an important reason to get up off the couch.

The Digby Area Recreation Commission is holding informal gatherings around the county to talk to local folks about recreation and everyone should be there.

After all everyone needs some exercise. For too many people in our community, their favourite exercise is stretching out on the couch.

It is important to keep active not just for your own health but also for the good of the whole community.

An active community obviously means lower health care costs, a more productive work force and even a stronger economy.

But a healthier, happier citizenry is also important to the strength of our social fabric. By getting out and participating, we are taking some ownership in our community. We are getting to know our neighbours and our neighbourhood. We are feeling better about ourselves and are in a better position to help others, let alone help ourselves.

Bob Handspiker, town councillor and chair of D.A.R.C. (until Nov. 1 when County Councillor Linda Gregory takes over) says this is a chance for people to tell D.A.R.C. what kind of recreation programs and facilities they’d like to see in their community.

“We want to hear what they are involved in now, what they’d like to be involved in, what things we have done right and what we’ve done wrong,� says Handspiker.

For example, Handspiker says he has heard from some people that they’d like tennis courts and D.A.R.C. just happens to have access to about 10 acres in the industrial park. A local group of youth is also actively fundraising for a skateboard park.

There are also many sports fields around the county that grown up in weeds that could be reestablished.

Handspiker says there are lots of grants available right now but people need to get organized and come up with a plan.

Handspiker also says he’d like to see some more emphasis on programs for older people, like horseshoes or lawn bowling.

“People just have to tell us what they want and we’ll see if we can do it.�

The first meeting is at the Digby High School on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. and there will be lots more all across the county.

For the health of your community if not for your own, get yourself off that couch and get out to one of these meetings.

jriley@digbycourier.ca



Digby Area Recreation Commission community meetings



Thursday, Oct. 24, Digby Regional HIgh School at 7 p.m

Thursday, Nov. 2, Digby Neck Consolidated School at 7 p.m

Tuesday, Nov. 7, Freeport Community Hall at 7 p.m

Wednesday, Nov. 8, RosswayCommunity Hall at 7 p.m

Thursday, Nov. 9, Weymouth Consolidated School at 7 p.m

Tuesday, Nov. 14, Bear River Legion at 7 p.m

Thursday, Nov. 16, Digby East Fish & Game at 7 p.m