MEDIA ADVISORY

READY … SET … COOK!
17 NORTH JERSEY MAYORS SET TO SQUARE OFF IN
NEW JERSEY’S FIRST-EVER MAYORS HEALTH COOK-OFF

WHAT:           Mayors from across North Jersey will participate in a competition to see who can prepare the healthiest dish as part of the Mayors Wellness Campaign’s effort to promote healthier living and more active lifestyles.  The prepared dishes will be judged by a panel of experts.  The event is open to the public.

Eighteen mayors have agreed to participate including, Mayor Cyril Wekilsky (Boonton), Kevin Walsh (Washington), Woody Kerkeslager (Madison), Michael Luther (Parsippany), Gene Feyl (Denville), Michael Obremski (Randolph), Bill Chegwidden (Wharton), Domenick Stampone (Haledon), Donald Cresitello (Morristown), Brian Levine (Franklin Township), Arthur Ondish (Mt Arlington), Sophie Heymann (Closter Borough), Ken Gabbert, (Upper Saddle River), Ed Zimmerman (Rocky Hill), Art Daughtry (Montville), William Horton (Peapack Gladstone), Patricia Flannery (Bridgewater), and James Dodd (Dover).  Note: Both Mayor Chegwidden and Mayor Feyl are also Morris County Freeholders.

Awards will be made to the Mayors who prepare “The Healthiest,” “The Tastiest,” and for “Best Presentation.”

The event will also focus on getting our children active and on the path to healthy living.  Children’s events include: the popular music video game “Dance Dance Revolution;” free Double Dutch jump rope lessons; free t-shirts, free pedometers, free dance demonstrations by local dance troupes; and the chance for five lucky attendees to win one of five I-Pod shuffles which will be given away.

The MWC 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). Major funding has been provided by Aetna and BeneCard.  Additional funding has been provided by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, St. Francis Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson Hospital – Hamilton, Johnson & Johnson, Pennoni Associates, Pfizer and Bayville Holdings, LLC.