September 8, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 �������������� On Sept. 13, a resale store known as “ditto” will open its doors at 965 Belmont Avenue in North Haledon. Far from being just any retail operation, ditto operates as a benefit for the Eastern Christian School. The store outgrew its previous location in Hawthorne, ����������������������������� and the board of the Foundation for Eastern Christian School was ready to relocate to a larger, more accessible ������������ location where the inventory on sale could be expanded to include furniture, appliances, sporting goods, books, and �������������������� household items in addition to gently used, clean clothing. After months of planning and searching, the board found the new 11,000 square foot location. The property was ������������������ completely renovated over the summer by Visbeen Construction Co. and converted into a state-of-the-art retail store. To manage the day to day operations of ditto, the board hired Eric Hawn, a former EC parent and Wyckoff resident Resale store to benefit Eastern Christian School who is active in several local ministries. Hawn’s strong background in retail operations will be a significant benefit for this operation. The remainder of the staff will all be volunteers. According to Garret Nieuwenhuis, executive director of the Foundation for Eastern Christian School, it is expected that some of the ditto volunteers will again be residents of the Holland Christian Home in North Haledon. “We always appreciated their faithful service for the benefit of Eastern Christian,” said Nieuwenhuis, “and we look forward to their continuing service at this new facility.” Additional volunteers are being solicited from the families associated with Eastern Christian and from the surrounding communities. Ditto is currently accepting donations of goods for resale. All donated items must be in good working condition, clothes must be clean and gently used. (ARA) From buying new supplies to soothing first-day jitters, parents have a lot to do to get their kids ready for the new school year. And if a child has a chronic disease, the start of school may feel especially stressful. Eric, a nurse and father of two sons with hemophilia - a disease in which a person’s blood does not clot properly - says his family’s back-to-school experience is not all that different from everyone else’s. But to make sure the transition goes smoothly, he recommends these extra steps: Make sure the school can reach you at all times. It’s not enough for the school to have just one or two phone numbers; make sure the staff has home, work, mobile, and email contact information for both parents and backups. Talk to your employer about your situation. If your employer understands your child’s illness, he or she may be more flexible if you need to leave work suddenly. Get to know the school nurse and office staff. It’s important for school staff to know how to react if a complication arises with your child. Educate your child’s teachers. It’s critical for teachers Have a healthy start to the new school year “We want the store to have a reputation for only selling upscale items, and we want to preserve that reputation as best we can,” said Hawn. The store will only accept donations and will not accept items on a consignment basis. Hawn mentioned that the first donation to ditto was a 1999 Ford Pickup truck in excellent condition, which will be very handy in assisting with donation pickups if necessary. Members of the board of the Foundation for Eastern Christian School traveled to visit other similar resale stores in the Midwest and learned a great deal about successful resale store operation. The name ditto for this resale store is similar to the name of a resale store in Holland, Michigan, and is being used in North Jersey with their permission. The store will operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The store will be closed on Sundays and major holidays. Contact ditto at (973) 427-4886 (973-42ditto) or visit online at www.dittoNJ.com. to know when to send a child to the nurse, when to call the parents, and how to diffuse potential teasing from other students. Ask for accommodations, but only when necessary. It’s important to have a thorough understanding of school policies and feel empowered to ask for an exception if it’s necessary to your child’s health. Educate and empower your child about his or her disease, and don’t let the disease take control. Eric’s family’s philosophy is that hemophilia is just a challenge they have to manage. It doesn’t define their family or dictate their decisions. He wants other families to know that even if they’re dealing with an illness of any kind, it shouldn’t stop them from having an education, careers, or relationships, just like anyone else. Remember: Every school has different policies related to child health, particularly when it comes to administering medicine. Be sure to talk to your child’s school staff about any other steps you may need to take to keep him or her safe. First Step Preschool, Inc. 454 Pulis Avenue • Franklin Lakes We are now enrolling for September 2010 �������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������� �������������������������������������� Ages 2½ - 6 Years PM K-Enrichment Class 201-847-8198 Please visit our website: firststeppreschoolnj.com REGISTER NOW FOR 2010-2011 SEMESTER ������������������������� ����������������������� ������������������� �������������� ������������ ������������������ ��������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� 8-11-10 Pat from Janine FirstStepPreschool2x3(18-11-10) 2 col x 3” vt ��������������������������������� ������������������� ������ ��������������������� ��������������������� ��������������������������������������� ������������������������������ vt