WALK AND ROLL

The Rockland County Department of Health announces that it is not too late for residents to participate in the innovative stroller exercise and socialization program, Walk & Roll, at the Palisades Center that meets each Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.

In partnership with Good Samaritan Hospital and the Palisades Center, the Walk & Roll program is part of the WALK IT! mall walking program. Families with young children, ages birth to four, are invited to join Walk & Roll sessions to ‘Socialcise’ (socialize and exercise) as a key to a healthy lifestyle.

Participants gather each Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. in the H&M Court located on Level 1 of the Palisades Center. The program will continue through Wednesday, August 13, 2008, so there are still five more weekly sessions for interested families. Registration is not required so lace up and join us!

Each week features a mild exercise session involving a one-mile group walk around the mall, during which parents socialize with each other, and relevant nutrition and health information for both parents and their children is discussed. Participants in the program earn prizes just for walking. Attendance and participation at the remaining five weekly Walk & Roll sessions will guarantee parents or guardians one $20 gift card to the Palisades Center or to select stores located there, including Target and Macy’s among others.

Walk & Roll participants also receive access to monthly health and wellness programs offered at the mall, complimentary healthy refreshments for both adults and children, fun activities for children, time to socialize, and free giveaways and goodies. And don’t forget to allow some time for walking the mall, after all, you are already there… just WALK IT!

The Palisades Center offers two miles of an indoor climate-controlled environment, plenty of window shopping, entertainment, child play areas, and more, making the center an excellent place to be physically active. Open for walkers from 6 a.m., Monday – Saturday, and 8 a.m. on Sunday, the Palisades Center is accessible at almost any time of the day, rain or shine.

For more information about the Walk & Roll program or Walk It! call the Department of Health at 845-364-2500 or the Palisades Center at 845-348-1000.

EMPLOYEES HONORED

WILBUR ALDRIDGE, President of Head Start of Rockland and Chairman of the Board of Directors presented distinguished service awards to three long time Head Start staffers, including: DEBORAH JONES, a teacher at Nyack Head Start for 25 years of service working with children in the classroom; MARY HURLER, RN, Director of Health responsible for overseeing the health and wellbeing of our nearly 900 children with 25 years of service; and PAT PETCH, Human Resources Director responsible for a staff of 150 employees and contractors with 29 years of service. We join WILBUR in saluting these outstanding child care professionals for their commitment to children here in Rockland County. Their work has been and remains a labor of love. We are blessed to have them with us.