Briefs | Dance-a-thon to honor local heroes

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Dance-a-thon to honor local heroes

Mountain’s Edge Fitness is holding a dance-a-thon on Sept. 11 to honor local first responders and raise money to help the Fourmile Fire Department rebuild.

“I was driving in my car and what hit me on NPR was that the first responders were not getting invited to Ground Zero on 9/11,” says Grace Porritt, marketing director for Mountain’s Edge. “It just seemed appropriate to do something here for first responders here.”

The event morphed to focus on local first responders who were involved in the Fourmile Canyon fire last year.

“When I called the fire chief I said, ‘Can you give me something to strive for?’ and he said, ‘A garage door is $3,000.’ I said ‘Perfect, we’ll try for that,’” Porritt says.

The door is for the Salina Fire House, which burned in the Fourmile Canyon fire.

A Mountain’s Edge staff member, Shannon Derby, teaches a bump and grind dance workout class, and she and her class had discussed doing a dance marathon.

Roughly 20 people have signed up to fundraise at a rate of $1 per dance/song for up to 55 songs. Some have signed up for the whole marathon from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Others are forming teams. Anyone can drop in, Porritt says, whether they have a gym membership or not, and dance a song to raise a dollar.

Donations are also welcome, no booty-shaking required.

Contraception is focus of campaign

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains’ (PPRM) health centers will be raising awareness about emergency contraception (EC) the month of September through educating clients and social media. Additionally, PPRM’s Boulder, Fort Collins and Durango health centers will be offering EC at a discounted price of $30 on Sept. 19.

The National Institute of Reproductive Health recently found that lack of awareness of EC is a major barrier to access. Some 79 percent of respondents cited a lack of knowledge of how or where to get EC, and 64 percent noted the high cost of over-the-counter EC as being the reason they haven’t accessed it in the past.

EC can prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex. Also known as emergency birth control, backup birth control, and by the brand names Plan B or Next Choice, EC is available without a prescription for men and women 17 and older.

Women’s health advocates recommend keeping EC on hand as a backup.

The Planned Parenthood health center at 2525 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder will be offering $30 EC on Sept. 19.

Club helps kids explore nature

The Nature Detectives Club at the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department offers a free family activity for children 11 and under. Families can join the club by participating in self-guided tours and activities on Boulder County Open Space. Each Nature Detectives Mystery Guide takes children on an exploration of a specific trail and includes activities that highlight the natural surroundings and history of each location. When they complete three mystery guides, children receive a prize and a certificate.

Two new mystery guides are now available at Heil Valley Ranch and Mud Lake. Other mystery guides can be found at Betasso Preserve, Caribou Ranch, Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm, Meyers Trail at Walker Ranch, Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat and the Agricultural Heritage Center. Families can also request mystery guides to be sent to them by calling 303-678-6201 or visiting the Nature Detectives Club online at www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org.

Scott Carpenter goes to the dogs

The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department is hosting “Dog Dayz” through Sept. 18 at Scott Carpenter Pool at 1505 30th St. as a chance for dogs to swim and play in the pool.

The cost is $5 per dog, per session, or $30 for unlimited entries by one dog during the 2011 Dog Dayz season. A Dog Expo featuring dog-friendly products, vendors and organizations also will be held at the pool from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, where organizations from around the county will be on hand with samples, prizes and information.

For a complete listing of hours and rules, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org.

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