``It’s a great day,’’ said Curry. ``It only takes a couple of hours and it would be great if a lot of people stopped by.’’

Health Fair 2007 is being held at the Milford Central School gymnasium from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition to the normal health screenings found at the health fair, there will be information on nutrition and exercise, according to planners. Planners also said there will be participatory demos on activities such as aerobics, yoga and dance, so they are encouraging people to come dressed to participate.

Curry said there will be representatives from the Clark Sports Center, Bassett Healthcare and the Public Health Association. Chef Brian from Bassett Healthcare will be on hand demonstrating healthy cooking ideas, according to planners.

Every year members of Healthy Milford try to track some sort of trend, said Curry. The year of the first health fair, there was a lot of emphasis on preventing tobacco use. Curry said because of this trend, members of Healthy Milford decided to track tobacco use through a brief survey that is given to each person when they come to the event every year. She said the second year showed that there actually was a decrease in tobacco use.

The attendance from the first to the second year nearly doubled, said Curry. She said she hopes to see it happen again this year, but expects it to hold its own.

Back by popular demand is the Wildcat Chef Competition, which is based on the Food Network’s Iron Chef Competition.

Mr. Steven’s 11th grade food science class will be competing against MCS staff and community members to make the best tasting, healthiest dishes in 20 minutes, according to a flyer.

The show will start at 2:15 p.m. Each team is given ingredients that must be used to make an appetizer, main dish and dessert. However, Curry said a �’special’’ ingredient, which is usually unique and hard to use in all three dishes, is not given to the teams until the day of the competition. Curry said the dishes are judged on appearance, taste and originality.

This is the second year the competition has been a part of the health fair, and Curry says it has gotten a good response. She said several people sit on the bleachers provided and cheer for their favorite team.

``It is really something,’’ she said.

Stevens, who has been teaching the food and science class for five years, said 15 students are enrolled in the class, and he uses the competition as extra credit.

``Although I use it as extra credit, anytime students are developing a product on their own, whether it is food or something else, the students always benefit,’’ Stevens said.

Stevens said last year’s students had a really good time participating in the chef competition.

``The students have to make three entrees within 20 minutes, which creates a lot of stress, excitement and laughs,’’ Stevens said.

The food and science class is about using the scientific method applied to food, according to Stevens.

Some of the topics learned in the class include food safety, sensory evaluation, microbiology and current issues. The final project will be to evaluate a possible food that could be sold at lunch that is profitable, meets the Healthy Milford standards and is something children will like, said Stevens.

Stevens has been teaching at MCS for eight years, and teaches earth science and chemistry.

New to this year’s health fair is a Chicken BBQ. According to planners, the MCS Music Association will be selling BBQ dinners between 3 and 4 p.m. for $7. Dinners will include a half of a chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, a slice of pie and a beverage.

Hourly prizes will also be given away courtesy of Health Fair 2007 sponsors. Curry said people are automatically placed into the drawings when they participate in a brief survey when they first arrive. Health fair sponsors include Bassett Healthcare, Clark’s Gym, Essential Elements, Curves of Cooperstown, Hannaford’s Supermarket, Sage Wellness Center, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, The National Soccer Hall of Fame, and Mental Health Association of Ulster County.

The health fair is one of several events sponsored by Healthy Milford, which is a committee formed about three years ago to promote healthy habits.