January 20, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 23 Ridgewood Notes Informational session scheduled West Side Nursery School at 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, will hold an Open House for parents interested in the kindergarten enrichment program. This event has been set for Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Both morning and afternoon classes are available for the 2010-11 school year, Monday and Tuesday, 9 to 11:30 a.m., and Wednesday and Thursday, 12:45 to 3:15 p.m. A “lunch bunch” option is available for parents who wish to extend their children’s day. For more information, or to register for the Open House, contact Cindy Hardt at (201) 447-3501 or cindy@westside.org. Concert to support barrier-free access The popular piano duo of Dean Tomanelli and Vladimir Zaslavsky will perform a benefit concert of standards by Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and others, at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 29, at the FortePiano store, 385 Route 17 South in Paramus. Proceeds will be used to create barrier-free access at the Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church. Tickets are $25 and may be ordered from the church office, (201) 4451832. Special events planned at library The On Stage Friends Performing Arts Series at the Ridgewood Public Library will feature Karen Luschar in “Singing for Victory: Songs of World War II” on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. The suggested donation is $3. Noted wildlife photographer Jerry Barrack will narrate a slide show on his visits to South African game preserves during “Out of Africa: The Photography of Jerry Barrack” on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. The Ridgewood Library is located at 125 North Maple Avenue. For more information, call(201) 670-5600. Library to hold auction The Ridgewood Public Library will hold a live public auction on Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. in the library auditorium, 125 North Maple Avenue. (Snow date: Saturday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m.) Attendees may bid on used computers, furniture, shelving, and other items. Prices begin at under $2. Payment may be made by cash or check only. All sales are final. Purchasers are responsible for transporting items out of the library. Catholic parishes offer adult education G.I.F.T. Adult Education Program is sponsored by 10 Bergen County Catholic parishes will take place on Jan. 21 and 28, and Feb. 4 and 11 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Mount Carmel Church, Ridgewood. To register, call (201) 4445690. The fee is $35per course. The following courses will be offered: What Every Teen Wants Their Parent to Know (But Is Afraid to Tell Them by Glen McCall, M.A. and Deacon John McKeon. Meeting Thomas Merton Again for the First Time with Sr. Kathleen Deignan, Ph.D. Darkness into Light by Rev. Dan Bottorff, D.Min. Come and Learn with the Pastors of our G.I.F.T. Community with Bishop John W. Flesey, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, Franklin Lakes and Auxiliary Bishop of The Archdiocese of Newark presenting: “Does It All Really Matter.” Fr. Bob Stagg, Pastor of the Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle River with “Father You Want Me To Do What?” Msgr. Ronald Rozniak, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Ridgewood with “The Parish: Home to a Diversified Spirituality.” And Msgr. Lawrence Cull, pastor of Saint Paul Church, Ramsey with “Addiction and Faith.” WE continues with LifeMoxie The Women’s Empowerment (WE) Series at the YWCA of Bergen County presents “LifeMoxie: Nine Strategies for Taking Your Life by the Horns” with Ann Tardy on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. and again on Jan. 20 at 9:30 a.m. Tardy will lead participants on an exploration of why they are not already using this determined, high-energy approach to create the life they want. They will discover essential strategies to cultivating “moxie” and practice them in an empowering environment. The WE Series is a visionary workshop-style forum that features lectures and discussions aimed at empowering women to pursue their own evolution in a supportive community. Workshops are held at the YWCA, 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood. The cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. On-site child care is available by calling (201) 444-5600, extension 307. For advance reservations and information, visit www.theweseries.com. Valley offers women’s health yoga The Valley Hospital Center for Women, Children and Family Education is offering women’s health yoga on Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Participants will practice the science and art of selfillumination through yoga. This yoga class addresses the specific needs of a woman’s physiology and can promote physical, mental, and spiritual health for non-pregnant women of all ages. This hour-long program will be held at the Destination Maternity’s Learning Studio, located at 35 Plaza on Westbound Route 4, Paramus. The fee is $85. For more information, to register, or to request a complete course catalog, call (201) 291-6151. Adoption 101 workshop provided Children’s Aid and Family Services will present “Adoption 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Adoption,” at its Family and Adoption Services Center, 148 Prospect Street, Ridgewood. The program will be held Jan. 21 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Topics will include private and international adoption, older child adoption, and fostering/ adopting. The workshop will be led by adoptive families who will share their experiences and answer questions. Speakers include Nancy Greene, director of the Ridgewood Public Library, whose daughter was adopted from China. This is the first of a series of free workshops that will focus on various aspects of adoption. Upcoming workshops include: March 18, Trans-Racial Adoption: Explore the issues of raising a child of race or culture different from your own; April 15, Same Sex Partner and Single Parent Adoption: How to help children handle difficult questions; and May 20, Leaving Home is Hard to Do: Preparing your adopted child for college or work. To RSVP or for more information, call the Family and Adoption Services Center at (201) 445-7015, extension 212 or visit www.cafsnj.org. Learn about plant-based nutrition On Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m., the Environmental Action and the Food and Faith Committees will offer Benefits of a Plant Based Diet at The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. This program will be a food preparation and tasting presentation by Suzanne Dragan, nurse and director of Food for Life. The presentation will cover the new four food groups; health; and the environmental, humane, and economic benefits of eating a plant based diet while following sound nutritional guidelines. The suggested donation is $3. Visit uuridgewood.org for details. 30 minutes of your time can save a life. Each year more than four million people ~ accident victims, patients undergoing surgery, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases ~ are in need of a blood transfusion. Community Blood Services 970 Linwood Avenue, West Paramus, NJ 07652 It’s About Life! Your can make a difference in someone’s life by spending just 30 minutes donating blood. Call us today. Check our website: www.CommunityBloodServices.org 201-444-3900