BUILDING BLOCKS PROGRAM TO BE SATURDAY AT MALL

As children savor the last few weeks of summer vacation, West Park Mall merchants have again joined with St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital to present Building Blocks for Better Health and Safety.

The daylong, free children's health and safety fair will feature free entertainment, prizes, games, screenings and educational displays. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Numerous community agencies will offer educational activities designed to help children get a safe and healthy start on the coming school year.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 and its Auxiliary will hold a Bicycle Rodeo from 10 a.m. until noon and from 2-4 p.m. on the front parking area near the National Safety Council balloon.

Safety will be one of the central themes of the event. The Cape Girardeau Police Department will make free fingerprint and photo identification records for parents. Numerous other agencies will help maximize safety awareness.

Among these will be: Ryder Transportation's animated school bus, Union Electric's "Louie the Lightning Bug," Cape Girardeau Fire Department's "Freddie the Firetruck," Cape Girardeau County Community Traffic Safety's "Buckle Bear," Missouri Conservation Department's "Smokey the Bear" and members of Southeast Missouri Hospital's Poison Patrol with "Mr. Yuk."

Health for children will be a major focus of the event.

Both hospitals will feature seven health activities each, including "Name That Bone," "Listen To Your Heart," "Don't Clown Around With Your Lungs" and more.

Free entertainment and prizes will highlight the event. The Judith Heiken Puppets will perform at center court at 11 a.m. and at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. The hospitals will entertain at center court with fitness routines.

Southeast's Fitness and Wellness Center will present "Romp and Stomp to Fitness" at 11:30 a.m., followed by Saint Francis and the Human Performance Center's "Kid Aerobics" at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

West Park 4 Cine' will offer a free morning matinee of "All Dogs Go To Heaven" to the first 270 persons seated for the 10:30 a.m. feature.

Dozens of free gifts have been donated for door-prize drawings open to children 18 and under. A free bicycle will be awarded by VFW Post 3838, Mercantile Bank in the mall will give away a $50 Savings Bond and World Book will present an eight-volume Encyclopedia of Science.

Numerous gifts and certificates have been donated by West Park Mall merchants and both hospitals. Registration for the prizes is available throughout the day at center court.