Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad stopped in Atlantic this (Tuesday) afternoon, where he held a Town Hall meeting at the old Rock Island Depot, home of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the public forum, the Governor signed a proclamation recognizing Thursday, Oct. 22nd, as “Lights on After School” day.

Gov. Branstad (Left) reads the Lights on Afterschool Proclamation, w/Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones to his right.

The proclamation read: WHEREAS, the Atlantic Community, stands firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and opportunities because they:
· Provide safe, challenging, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.
· Support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends.
· Build stronger communities by involving our students, parents, business leaders and adult volunteers in the lives of our young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among children, youth, families and adults.
· Engage families, schools and diverse community partners in advancing the welfare of our children.

WHEREAS, First United Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic Public Library, ISU Extension, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth, grounded in the principle that quality afterschool programs are key to helping our children become successful adults.

WHEREAS, Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs on October 22, 2015, promotes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

WHEREAS, more than 28 million children in the U.S. have parents who work outside the home, and 15.1 million children have no place to go after school.

WHEREAS, many afterschool programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls so severe that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor Dave Jones urges the citizens of Atlantic Iowa and Governor Terry Branstad urges the citizens of Iowa to ensure that every child has access to a safe, engaging place where the lights are on after school; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Mayor Jones and Governor Branstad enthusiastically endorses Lights On Afterschool and is committed to innovative afterschool programs and activities that ensure that the lights stay on and the doors stay open for all children after school.

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool (LoA) is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

The Atlantic program takes place from 4:30-until 6:30-p.m. Thursday at the Nishna Valley YMCA, and features burgers and hot dogs donated by the Afterschool Alliance and prepared by the Cass County Beef Producers, water from the Atlantic Coca Cola Bottling Company, all sorts of fun events for kids, such as obstacle course competitions, pumpkin painting, glow-in the dark goo, magnet making, coloring, spider web building, a paper airplane competition, and information from Beth Olsen, Hy-Vee Dietitian.

Programs during the event will come from the YMCA, ISU Extension, Atlantic Public Library, Zion Lutheran Church, the 1st United Methodist Church, and Iowa Public Television.