Liela Mannikko, 3, of Ishpeming, takes part in “Captain Hook’s ring toss” during Friday’s Community Resource Fair in the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University. The Peter White Public Library conducted the game as part of its educational booth. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

By CHRISTIE

MASTRIC

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Connecting the local health- and lifestyle-related programs was the focus of Friday’s Community Resource Fair in the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University.

Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions and the Upper Peninsula Health Plan hosted the annual event.

Dozens of local organizations filled the Dome to educate fairgoers on their programs.

One of those was the Marquette Food Co-op, whose booth included various drinks, such as Coca-Cola and organic orange juice, and how much sugar they contain — shown with actual sugar in corresponding cups.

Pamela Valdez, owner services coordinator at the Co-op, said, “Nutritional labels are written in grams, and to the average American, we can’t see what a gram is.”

A gram, she said, is a quarter-teaspoon.

“When you look a nutritional label, divide by four, and that’s a teaspoon,” Valdez said. “You can actually mentally see how much sugar is in your product.”

Sugar, though, does have its place in nutrition.

“Sugar is sugar, and your body needs sugar to move,” Valdez said. “It’s the glucose, so you need to consume sugar. It’s just how much sugar and then where it’s hidden at is where it gets scary.”

She acknowledged that people get thirsty.

“But you’ve got to be moderate,” Valdez said.

The Peter White Public Library was there to educate people as well, but it also provided some fun for the kids, including a “Captain Hook’s ring toss” game.

Successfully tossing one ring was Liela Mannikko, 3, of Ishpeming, who earned a bookmark for her efforts.

The girl also received enthusiastic praise from a library staffer.

“You got one,” said Sarah Rehborg, PWPL Youth Services department head.

Organizations represented at the resource fair included Community Action Alger-Marquette, Teaching Family Homes of Upper Michigan, the Women’s Center, the Marquette County Health Department, the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, the New Free Store and the Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, among many others.

UPHCS is a nonprofit network of community health care providers working to improve access, reduce cost and promote quality health care services in the community. UPHP services the U.P. through programs that include Michigan Medicaid, MIChild, Children with Special Health Care Services, Healthy Michigan Plan, MI Health Link and Medicare Advantage.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.