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SOMERSET COUNTY TOWN HONORED FOR PARTICIPATION IN MAYORS WELLNESS CAMPAIGN

Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Township of Bridgewater and its Mayor Patricia Flannery today were honored by the Mayors Wellness Campaign as one of only six communities in the state to receive designation as a “New Jersey Healthy Town.”  Bridgewater received the designation for its strong and active participation in the Mayors Wellness Campaign.

“We are delighted to recognize the efforts of Mayor Flannery and Bridgewater to promote active living and healthy lifestyles through the Mayors Wellness Campaign,” said Judy Doyle, Mayors Wellness Campaign Director. “Our statewide effort, which now involves more than 250 New Jersey towns, is beginning to pay dividends.”

“Putting our community in motion towards better health is one of our top priorities in Bridgewater,” said Mayor Flannery.  “The recognition as a New Jersey Healthy Town speaks volumes about our community commitment to better health.”
 
The Township of Bridgewater received the “Healthy Town” designation for meeting the following requirements:

1. A community must be a Mayors Wellness Campaign participant for one year or more;
2. A community must demonstrate sustainable programs in each of the Mayors Wellness Campaign categories: Youth in Motion, Seniors in Motion, Employers in Motion and Community in Motion.
3. A community must be willing to share its program information with other communities.

The Township of Bridgewater has instituted scores of wellness programs including:

Youth in Motion

• 1st Annual Youth Recreation Day
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign at the Somerset County 4-H Fair: Mayor’s Staff – The Pledge to Wellness

Seniors in Motion

• Senior Meals That Heal Workshop
• Senior’s Walking Club
• Senior Healthy Chinese New Year
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign Senior Dance Showcase
• Yoga for the Young at Heart
• Country Line Dancing for the Young at Heart

Community in Motion

• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign Community Breakfast (2007)
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign 2007 Autumnal Hike – Middlebrook Trail
• B.A.G. Lunch Day – Nutrition, Fitness and Lifestyle
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign 2008 Winter Hike – Duke Island Park
• B.A.G. Lunch Day – Yoga for Fitness and Stress Reduction
• Eating Disorders: Are We the Problem or the Cause Workshop
• National Nutrition Month Healthy Recipe Contest
• National Something On A Stick Day/National Frozen Food Month
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign 2008 Spring Hike – Chimney Rock Park
• Bridgewater 5K Run and Health Awareness Day
• Celebrate World Tai Chi Day
• National Potato Month/Healthy Potato Recipes
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign Meets The Bridgewater Woman’s Club
• B.A.G Lunch Day – Kitchen Klutzes of America Day
• National Junk Food Day – Nutritional Facts for Favorite Junk Foods
• Mayor’s Wellness Campaign Community Recipe Exchange

Employers in Motion

• Healthy Eating for Busy People Workshop
• Employees Post Healthy Choice Options for Vending Machines

Other towns receiving the MWC “Healthy Town” designation are Hamilton Township (Mercer County), Woodbridge, Madison, Clifton and Parsippany.

The Mayors Wellness Campaign is an initiative of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (www.njhcqi.org) in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (www.njslom.org). The MWC supports mayors as champions of community health.  The goal is to increase opportunities for New Jersey residents to participate in daily physical activity with a long-term goal of reducing health care costs secondary to obesity.  Through public-private partnerships, the MWC provides structure and resources for healthy community initiatives.  By encouraging mayors to play a leadership role in supporting local opportunities for active, healthy lifestyles, the intent of the MWC is to improve health and make New Jersey a national leader in community-based health interventions. In 2006, each of the 566 mayors in New Jersey’s municipalities were mailed the MWC “Toolbox,” a manual designed to guide them through the implementation of wellness programs in their communities.  Broken down into four major sections – Youth in Motion; Employees in Motion; Seniors in Motion; and Communities in Motion – the Toolbox outlines programs that can be directly used in every community in New Jersey.  The Toolbox can also be found on the MWC website at www.mayorswellnesscampaign.org.