OXFORD COUNTY — Active Community Environment Teams are convening in Oxford County. The teams work to bring about positive changes to the built and social environments of the towns, changes that will help make it easier for people to be active and healthy.

Supporters believe that these sorts of changes improve the vitality of communities by attracting and keeping residents and businesses, improving home values and lowering health care costs through active community environments.

Some of the issues that this group could address include: How to publicize biking and walking resources in the area; addressing safety concerns impacting bikers and walkers; strategies to increase biking and walking by people of all ages and abilities; trail development and connecting Norway and South Paris via adjacent walking trails; planning for signage that can help improve use of walking and biking routes; adding low-cost bike racks in strategic locations; and improving access to, and use of, local recreational amenities.

An ACE Team in Norway/ South Paris is under the direction of Brendan Schauffler, who can be reached at 890-6323 or brendan@healthyoxfordhills.org. The group will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, in Norway.

The contact for the Sacopee Valley team is Donna Burke, 625-2216  or burke@svhc.org.

In the Fryeburg area contact Michelle Broyer at 256-7158 or michelle@sacorivercouncil.org.

In Bethel contact Landon Fake at 200-8240 or landon@mahoosucpathways.org.

In the Rumford/Mexico area, contact Carol Emery at 364-7408 or rvhccemery@gwi.net. This group recently held their first meeting. 

Contact the ACE Team that you would like to be a part of to find out when their meetings are.