Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-December 15, 2010 Issue

December 15, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 27 Glen Rock Roundup Holiday ESL class schedule announced Due to the holidays, the English as Second Language Conversation Classes held at the Glen Rock Library will meet as follows: The ESL Monday afternoon class will meet on Dec. 13 and 20 at 1 p.m., but not on Dec. 27 or Jan. 3. The regular schedule will resume Jan. 10. The Wednesday evening ESL class will not meet on Dec. 15, 22, or 29. The regular schedule will resume Jan. 5. The Glen Rock Public Library is located at 315 Rock Road. For more information, call (201) 670-3970. Entertainment books offered American Legion Post 145 is selling Entertainment 2011 books now through Dec. 15. The cost of the publication, which offers discounts at local and national businesses and restaurants, is $30. The books are valid through Nov. 2, 2011. Proceeds benefit the veterans in the Paramus home. To purchase a book, call Ed at (201) 4459238. Club celebrates holidays The Activities Club will host its annual Christmas/Hanukah Luncheon Party and Dance on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at the Brownstone in Paterson. The Tony Giannelli ensemble will present classic dance music. The party will begin at noon with a onehour open bar followed by lunch and three hours of dancing. RSVP to Frank Gasper, event chairman, at (201) 670-7397. The Activities Club is a group of retired and semi-retired men involved in diverse activities. Visit theactivitiesclub.org or contact Rick Colton at (201) 445-0755 to learn more. Toy Drive underway Glen Rock High School senior David Engle is collecting toys for the Paterson Boys and Girls Club. The club needs over 800 toys to give to children as holiday presents. Donations of unwrapped toys for children ages six through 18 may be dropped off in the box located in the Glen Rock Public Library, 315 Rock Road in Glen Rock. The drive will run through Dec. 17. For more information, contact Engle at engled@cfcow.org. Seniors plan Christmas Party The Saint Catharine Association of Mature Parishioners will hold its Annual Christmas Party on Thursday, Dec. 16 at the Brownstone in Paterson. Festivities will begin at noon. For reservations, contact Bob at (201) 444-1024. Exhibitors sought The Glen Rock Library is looking for interesting, antique, artistic, whimsical, beautiful, and/or unique collections. The exhibits, which change monthly, are kept in the library’s three display cases. Plac- ards identify the exhibitors. Collectors interested in sharing their cherished objects are invited to contact Doris or Sally at the library, (201) 670-3970. Exchange students (continued from page 6) was amazed at how well they fit into family life. At least four Ridgewood students are currently making plans to spend part of their summer vacation visiting their new friends in Germany. Parks is constantly amazed at the effect this exchange has had on her students’ lives. “Many of my students have kept in touch with their exchange students for years. They visit each other during holidays and keep in touch via e-mail and Facebook. In several cases, the Ridgewood parents have developed personal friendships with the Oelde parents. At least three Ridgewood students have traveled to Germany twice with the exchange group. “Organizing the exchange is a lot of work. I spend hours making travel arrangements and communicating via e-mail with the teachers in Germany. Deciding which Ridgewood student will host which Oelde student is a bit like matchmaking. The German students send letters describing themselves and their hobbies. If at all possible, I try to place them with students who share their interests.” During the two weeks they spent in the U.S., this year’s group did a lot of traveling. They visited Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Baltimore, and New York. For Parks, the highlight was the time they spent in her German classes at Ridgewood High. “All of my students had a chance to meet and socialize with the exchange students,” she said. “It’s one thing to memorize words and phrases from a textbook. It’s another thing to practice those skills with students your own age and find out how much you have in common.” Parks estimated that, in the 13 years the exchange has been in existence, over 1,000 students on both sides of the Atlantic have benefited from the program. “Each time we visit Oelde, our students attend classes with their host students and are introduced to other students in the school,” Parks said. “When they visit Ridgewood, the German students meet not only my students, but my students’ friends and classmates. Language learning becomes ‘real,’ even for those who can’t participate directly in the exchange. Watching them connect and form friendships makes all the work worthwhile! It’s the reason I love teaching languages!” ��