On May 15, the Township of Nutley came together for its Second Annual Wellness Day to promote the importance of good health and wellness to its high school students.
 
 In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness month, the event was coordinated by Nutley High School in partnership with the Nutley Municipal Alliance and the Nutley Family Service Bureau along with participation from the Township’s Department of Public Affairs and Health and the Nutley Cultural Inclusion and Diversity Council. Together they organized a fun day of activities for students on the Nutley High School Park Oval.
 
 Clad in their Wellness Day T-shirts which displayed the “Raiders never walk alone” message on the back in bright yellow lettering, students took part in a yoga demonstration, enjoyed a dance party hosted by a DJ, and had the opportunity to win gift cards to local businesses by playing “Wheel of Health” – a fun educational game hosted by the Health Department.
 
 “Mental health is vitally important to all residents,” said Commissioner John V. Kelly, III. “Events like the mental health and wellness event in the Oval help eliminate stigma and allow those facing mental illness to come out of the shadows and know that they are not alone.”
 
 “Our interactive ‘Wheel of Health’ was an incredibly huge success with student participation at the NHS Wellness event,” relayed Kim Lewis, RN, BSN of the Department of Public Affairs and Health. “Students were able to spin the wheel to land on any one of seven categories related to health and wellness. They then were given an opportunity to answer a question and win a gift card. It was a great opportunity for our staff to provide education and outreach, and to help facilitate dialogue connecting with the students.”
 
 The department would like to thank the following businesses for their generosity donating gift cards as well as their community support: Amore Pizza, Carvel, Emilio’s Wood Fire Pizza, Hero King, Jernick’s Specialties, Jim Dandy’s, Kubo Coffee and Creamery, Loue’s Place Pizza & Pasta, Nutley Bagel Boy, Nutley Diner, Pita Bowl, Rita’s Italian Ice, Tiki Bowl and Vilardo’s Deli & Catering. Special thanks to Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine for graciously donating various items (water bottles, mouse pads, pens, notepads, etc.) as prizes for the “Wheel of Health.”