Stone Harbor Mayor Leads 2016 Wellness Campaign

STONE HARBOR – After the warm reception of the 2015 Mayors Wellness Campaign Stone Harbor launched last winter, it was a no-brainer to continue the efforts to keep Stone Harbor’s residents happy & healthy during the bleak winter months.  Stone Harbor will introduce a free, 8-week wellness program Jan. 25, 2016.  The Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC) is an initiative of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI) in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM). Mayor Suzanne Walters led the NJLM as League President in 2015 and spearheads the local Stone Harbor campaign.
The mission of the Mayors Wellness Campaign is to empower mayors in New Jersey communities with tools and strategies to champion local health and wellness with the ultimate goal of improving health and reducing the skyrocketing health care costs in New Jersey.   “Stone Harbor’s Mayors Wellness Campaign is an example for other municipalities to see what can happen when community leaders collaborate in the name of improving community health,” states Janan Dave, Director of Community Health for NJHCQI.  “In a short span of time, Mayor Walters and her team in Stone Harbor put together an amazing offering of wellness programs that have been well utilized and well-received by residents. We applaud their work in making New Jersey a healthier and happier place to live!”
Mayor Suzanne Walters, Janan Dave, and Dr. Domenic Coletta, Cape Regional Medical Center’s dynamic Emergency Department Physician, kick-off the campaign on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 5:30pm at the Stone Harbor Recreation Center. “The 2016 campaign focus is to offer an enriching and accessible educational, social and physical program to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit,” exclaimed Mayor Walters. “Our hope is to equip and motivate our community with realistic goals they can adapt into their everyday routines even following the eight week campaign.”  The campaign will include ‘Motivational Monday’ lectures, Tuesday night hoops, Wednesday walks, and ‘Thursday Throwdown’ social and/or physical activities; January 25 through March 21,2016.  
Thanks to the Cape Regional Health System, participants will be educated in all forms of wellness. Topics such as vascular health, maximizing memory, and nutrition, will be combined with health screenings, in the beginning and end, to assess participant improvement in blood pressure and cholesterol. “Cape Regional is honored to support the Stone Harbor Mayor’s Wellness Initiative.  Our healthcare professionals are ready to partner with the local citizens of our community and provide healthcare education and screenings for a healthier 2016,” stated Thomas J. Piratzky, CFRE, VP/Public Relations and Marketing for Cape Regional Medical Center and Executive Director of the Cape Regional Medical Center Foundation.
Stone Harbor also partnered with Fred’s Tavern, Sax at the Reeds, and the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor to offer weekly healthy specials to keep participants on track. Local studios and gyms will offer complimentary class passes or visits to experience their gyms; Island Aerobics, Miracles Fitness, Muscle World Fitness Center, Shape Fitness & Wellness Studio, Stone Harbor Yoga, and Surfside Fitness. The Cape May County Public Library also offers a wealth of health & wellness programs such as Yoga, Pilates, and Zumba Fitness, all at the Stone Harbor Recreation Center.