The Waldwick Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its Second Annual 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk scheduled for Sunday, April 26. Organizers urge residents to register by April 1 to take advantage of the pre-race registration fee of only $15 per participant. Businesses or organizations wishing to sponsor the event are reminded that the deadline is March 27 (tax advantages apply, since the chamber is a 501-C6 tax-exempt organization). The course has been certified and sanctioned by the USATF, giving the event recognition as an official running course in New Jersey. This certification will help draw serious runners. Between 300 and 400 runners are expected. This year’s race director is Waldwick resident Stan Kowalski, himself a runner of more than 120 races, from Boston to Washington, DC, including the 2007 New York City Marathon. He also expects to run in the 26-mile Jersey Shore Relay on April 18. “I am passionate about this run,” said Kowalski, a 25year borough resident. “I am determined to make it a most successful event. I love talking about it, and people can see Kowalski to serve as Waldwick 5K Run race director my enthusiasm on my face,” he added. Kowalski has magnets in the shape of a sneaker imprinted with the run’s information, and he uses them as a calling card. “I carry them in my pocket, and I stop people on the street who are out walking or running or at the Wyckoff YMCA gym where I go, and try to recruit them. You could say I’m obsessed,” he said only partly in jest. Kowalski actually volunteered for the job he has been “obsessing” about for almost a year. A neighbor of Chamber President Christine Figliuolo, Kowalski was impressed with the caliber of last year’s event, organized by Figliuolo in just five weeks. “I couldn’t run last year because I work on Saturdays, but I went and took notes, looking at it from the runner’s viewpoint and what would attract more participants. I made suggestions to Christine, and she recruited me,” he explained. One of his first tasks was to identify a course that would be safe, clean and attractive and get it certified. Then came the job of recruiting sponsors, to be followed soon by the March 25, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 13 myriad details associated with a major run. “I am really enjoying it,” he said. Figliuolo said that one of the objectives of the run is to showcase the town and what it has to offer. “It represents our town. It brings people into Waldwick and shows that we are vibrant. It gives our businesses more exposure, which in turn helps bring in more business, and that affects our bottom line,” Figliuolo explained. Funds raised by the event will be used to benefit the Waldwick Ambulance Corps and the Community Alliance and to promote town beautification projects. Canned food collected at the run will be donated to the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation. Registration will start at 7:30 a.m. at the Waldwick High School track (Wyckoff and Hopper avenues) with the race set to start at 9 a.m.; 9:30 for the fun walk (rain or shine). Participants will receive t-shirts and goodie bags (while supplies last). A bib prize raffle will be held after the fun walk. Entry forms are available on the Chamber’s website: www.waldwickchamberofcommerce.com or by calling Barbara Jackson of Kallman Travel at 201-652-0547. FREE 3-25-09 pat/janine CraigSchool2x4(3-25-09) 2 x 4” 2009 For children ages 4-10 Saturday, April 18th • 2-4:30pm • Art Sampler • Camps • Pool Games • Sports • Caricatures • Karate Demonstration • Giveaways and more! Staff Contact: Tia Sargent 201-444-5600, ext. 313 Ridgewood YMCA ® www.ridgewoodymca.org This free event is open to all area residents.