News Release

Mayors Unite for Healthier Communities

Bedford - Eleven local mayors in Cuyahoga, Summit and Portage counties are mobilizing their staffs and residents to take part in an extraordinary initiative, designed to improve the health, wellness and safety of their communities. It could be called a regional resolution to get healthy.

University Hospitals Health System Bedford Medical Center will act as a coordinating site for the various health initiatives being developed by the mayors of Aurora, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Glenwillow, Macedonia, Maple Heights, Oakwood Village, Solon, Twinsburg, Walton Hills and Warrensville Heights. The municipal leadership in each city will design specific health programs and events, and draw upon the services available through University Hospitals Health System to improve the health status of residents.

This consortium, called The Mayors' Health, Wellness and Safety Initiative, was created out of a series of meetings between the mayors and UHHS Bedford Medical Center to create a health vision for the region.

Opening Ceremonies will be March 31, 2001 - an official kick-off date for the Mayors' Initiative. A parade through all eleven municipalities, demonstrating the mayors' remarkable vision and unity, is planned culminating at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center for a reception event.

The following cities and mayors are involved in the Mayors' Initiative. This is only a sampling of events and programs being offered to area residents.

• Aurora, Mayor Margaret Duncan - Wellness Wednesdays Walks and Health Screenings, Fourth of July Run, various safety programs for kids and adults.
• Bedford, Mayor Dan Pocek - Three target areas for improvement are General Fitness, Cholesterol Awareness and Nutrition accomplished through fitness programming, clinics and screenings.
• Bedford Heights, Mayor Debora Mallin - Various screenings, education and events such as 10K Race, Community Walkathon, Domestic Violence Awareness, Community Safety Day.
• Macedonia, Mayor Joseph Migliorini - Nutrition Education, Weight Management, Nutrition, Stress Management programs, Screenings and Education.
• Maple Heights, Mayor Santo Incorvaia - National Senior Health & Fitness Day Health Fair providing various screenings and education.
• Oakwood Village, Mayor Gary Gottschalk and Glenwillow, Mayor Donald Payne - Series of Senior Workshops on topics like stretching, dancing, Tae Chi and skin care.
• Solon, Mayor Kevin Patton - "Relay for Life," Community Teams - Walk for Cancer Awareness and various screenings, education and programming around wellness in the community.
• Twinsburg, Mayor Katherine Procop - Community Health Challenge, featuring various wellness clinics, screenings and athletic events.
• Walton Hills, Mayor Marlene Anielski - Wellness walks every second Sunday of the month offering health screenings and education to the community.
• Warrensville Heights, Mayor Marcia Fudge - Various screenings, education and programming around wellness.

During 2001 and 2002, the mayor of each community will be responsible for providing the leadership, engaging service organizations and community representatives in the design and implementation of specific health, wellness and safety programs. Daniel Pocek , Mayor of Bedford, states, "I have always believed that public service should be a vehicle to make the world a better place. If we can promote a healthier lifestyle through this Mayors' Initiative for the citizens of Bedford, then that is a significant legacy." Mayor Katherine Procop of Twinsburg adds, "The City of Twinsburg recognizes that a balance of physical, nutritional and psychological wellness must be a priority for maintaining a safe, vibrant, family-oriented community. We are committed to helping our residents create and maintain healthy lifestyles, and we are prepared to promote this philosophy through education and fun activities that will seek to involve all members of the community."

For more information about the Mayors' Initiative and/or the Opening Ceremonies event on March 31, contact Nancy DeSantis at UHHS Bedford Medical Center at 440-735-3505 or any of the participating municipal offices.