Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 24, 2010 Upper Saddle River Borough earns ‘New Jersey Healthy Town’ honors Upper Saddle River has been designated a “New Jersey Healthy Town.” The borough, which is one of only 10 municipalities to receive this honor, received the designation for its strong and active participation in the Mayors Wellness Campaign. “We are thrilled to recognize the efforts of Mayor (Kenneth) Gabbert and Upper Saddle River to promote active living and healthy lifestyles through the Mayors Wellness Campaign,” said Mayors Wellness Campaign Director Emily Littman. “Our statewide effort, which now involves more than half of all New Jersey towns, is beginning to pay dividends.” Mayor Gabbert stated, “Putting our community in motion towards better health is one of our top priorities. The recognition as a New Jersey Healthy Town speaks volumes about our community’s commitment to better health.” The Mayors Wellness Campaign is an initiative of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. 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. In order to achieve the Healthy Town designation, a municipality must be a Mayors Wellness Campaign participant for one year or more; 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; and must be willing to share its program information with other communities. The Borough of Upper Saddle River has instituted numerous wellness programs including an annual triathlon for children ages eight to 15, an all-women’s biathlon benefit for breast cancer research, the annual Dick Meighan Family Run held every Thanksgiving, zumba and yoga classes at the library, and soccer and basketball programs for children with special needs. The focus of the Mayors Wellness Campaign in Upper Saddle River has been the Path to Fitness, an independent walking program initiated in 2007 with grant money to (continued on page 21) The community is invited to take part in the 27th annual Paterson Toy Drive by donating gently used or new toys and parent gift items. This effort is a way to reach out at the holidays to make a difference in a child’s life while clearing unwanted items from your home. Items will be accepted at Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church, 318 West Saddle River Road in Upper Saddle River from Friday, Nov. 26 through Wednesday, Dec. 1. Toys should be clean and bagged or boxed. Puzzles must be complete and in plastic bags so pieces will not be lost. Parent gifts can be new or gently used and include anything that could be used for a gift, such as house wares, jewelry, decorative items, perfume, ties, belts, and wallets. The Paterson Toy Sale occurs on the first Friday and Saturday each December. The event has grown from a three table, two-hour event for children to a two-day event requiring two moving vans to deliver all the toys and gifts. Friday night is “Kid Night.” Only children are allowed to shop for gifts for their families at very low cost. Saturday morning is open to all ages in the community to shop at Community asked to aid Toy Drive the same low cost. All proceeds are donated to CUMAC, a Paterson food and clothing pantry, and to the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson. In 1984, a group of volunteers from Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church volunteered at a fall clothing sale at CUMAC. In a corner of the small church facility, they found a box of donated stuffed animals and various other children’s toys. Across the street from the church was the Paterson Boys Club. The volunteers matched the children with the toys and the Paterson Toy Sale was born. Peter Thornton, the director of the Boys Club, willingly donated the gym for that first Saturday morning event and he continues to donate the space of what is now the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson. Betsy Haley of Montvale, choir director at Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church, has been the director of the event all 27 years. Volunteers are also needed to help out at the Boys and Girls Club on Friday, Dec. 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information about the event or to volunteer, call Betsy Haley at (201) 746-0650. 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