February 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Emmanuel asks... Can You Help? Our hat’s off to: Glen Rock WICS and Grace Church of Wyckoff for their generous food drives, and to the two CCD groups from Willard Elementary in Ridgewood for coming to visit our center and stocking our pantry. Thank you, Allie, Christopher, Grace, Joe, Kate, Kayleen, Meghan, Taylor, Timmy, and Zach! We are pleased to announce the return of our popular fun-filled weekend event, the Fine Arts & Craft Show, which features artwork, sculpture, jewelry, and all kinds of crafts. The event will be held at McBride Field on Franklin Lake Road, across from the Market Basket, in Franklin Lakes. The dates are Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, and hours will be from 10 to 5. Admission is free, but a $2 per person donation is suggested. Call Mary Ellen Marra at 4-29-09 karen/janine (201) 857-3930 for a vendor application. EmmanuelHelp2x.75(4-29-09) diagnosed with neuA follow-up on Andy: Andy was roblastoma at the age of three. Neuroblastoma is a cancer3 x .75 ous tumor that develops from nerve tissue and occurs in infants and children. Andy received treatment from 2007 through 2009, including chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. Afterwards, he was in recovery and remission. In July 2010, his mother became concerned about an inflammation inside Andy’s mouth and took him to the doctor. It was then confirmed that the cancer had returned and spread throughout Andy’s body. He was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma. The doctors attempted to treat the cancer, but were unsuccessful in stopping the rapid growth of tumors. Andy succumbed to the disease on Sunday, Feb. 7 at the age of six. Andy was a beautiful little boy with a sparkling personality and a ton of energy. He was also very smart and loved to learn. He enjoyed puzzles, playing Wii, and chasing his kitten around the apartment he shared with his mom, Cathy. He and his mom were the best of friends. ECF became involved with the family in October of 2008, and provided the family with counseling and support, groceries, and household goods. ECF’s advocacy on behalf of this family resulted in a bighearted response from the community. The family was provided with furniture for Andy’s room after they were forced to move and throw out much of their furniture as a result of bed bugs. This past Christmas, Cathy and Andy received many gifts from a group who read about them in the newspaper and “adopted: them for Christmas. They also received an offer of a Christmas tree and tickets for an enjoyable event. Franklin Lakes Scribe Auxiliary plans Casino Night The Franklin Lakes Branch of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary will host a Casino Night Fundraiser on April 9 at the North Jersey Country Club, 504 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. The Las Vegas-style casino party will include blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, roulette, money wheel, and craps. Tickets are $100 per person and will feature hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, desserts, wine, beer, soft drinks, $100 in chips, and prizes. Additional chips will be available for purchase. No prior experience required. All proceeds support The Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s pledge to the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit and Valley Home Care’s Maternal Child Health Program. To purchase tickets, mail checks made payable to “Franklin Lakes Branch of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary” to: Heidi Fink, 819 Sussex Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417. For more information, contact Ann Swist at (908) 578-2286 or amswist@prodigy.net. Library board to meet The Franklin Lakes Library Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the local history room of the library, 470 DeKorte Drive. Learn to play bridge Bridge classes for beginners will be offered at the Franklin Lakes Public Library from Monday, March 21 through Monday, May 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The nine free classes will be taught by Ellen Dutcher, an ACBL-accredited teacher and club director. Class size is limited. Individuals who plan to register must be prepared to make a commitment to complete the course. Non-residents of Franklin Lakes are put on a waiting list and called if space is available. Registration will begin Feb. 28 at the adult reference desk. Call (201) 891-2224. The library is located at 470 DeKorte Drive. Spring sports registration underway Registration for spring sports will be open through March 4 at the recreation office, 1 Vichiconti Way, Franklin Lakes, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at www. gameplan411.com. Registration is available for baseball and softball for children in kindergarten through grade eight, and for spring roller hockey for children in kindergarten and first grade. For more information, call (201) 847-8200. Learn about Alzheimer’s warning signs On Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m., the Franklin Lakes Public Library will offer an interactive workshop about the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Amy Matthews of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater New Jersey will separate myth from reality and address commonly held fears about Alzheimer’s disease. Learn how to recognize these signs and what steps may be taken for treatment. Early detection, diagnosis, and intervention are vital because they provide the best opportunities for treatment, support, and planning for the future. All are welcome to attend this free program. The library is located at 470 DeKorte Drive. Computer classes offered Franklin Lakes Library will offer a Basic Computer and Internet Class, a free four-part series on March 9, 11, 16, and 18 from 11 to noon. Topics include: the mouse and keyboard, Windows desktop, Internet terminology and navigation, and beginning search techniques on Google and in various databases. Participants must be able to commit to all four classes. This is an elementary class; no experience is necessary. Registration has begun at the adult reference desk at the library, 470 DeKorte Drive. Non-residents will be put on a waiting list and called if space is available. Call (201) 891-2224 for details. Google Earth class offered The Franklin Lakes Public Library at 470 DeKorte Drive will hold a free Google Earth computer class on Wednesday, March 2 from 11 to noon. Participants will learn to maneuver through the Google Earth website, view 3D buildings, images, and terrain; and find cities, places, and local businesses via the site. Participants must have a working knowledge of the Internet and be able to navigate online by themselves. Registration for this class has begun for Franklin Lakes patrons at the adult reference desk, (201) 891-2224. Non-residents will be put on a waiting list and called if space is available. Art exhibit opens “Five Artists: Five Therapists” will open in the gallery of the Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes, 730 Franklin Lake Road, on March 4. The exhibit will highlight works of five art therapists who live and work in northern New Jersey. Paintings, drawings, sculpture, and puppets will bring to life the internal expressions of Suzanne Martino, Mary Howe, Erika Lee, Saadia Parvez, and Brian Tepper. The exhibit will run through March 31. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, March 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call (201) 891-0511. Lions Club to host Wine Tasting The Franklin Lakes Lions Club will host a Night of Wine Tasting on Friday, March 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Indian Trail Club on Franklin Lake Road in Franklin Lakes. The Wine Seller of Ridgewood will showcase a wide variety of wines to sample. The cost is $85 per person and includes wine, appetizers, hot buffet dinner with pasta station, dessert, and coffee. Proceeds from the event will go to some of the many charities the Lions Club supports, which include Saint Joseph’s School for the Blind, Eva’s Village, Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, and Eastern Christian Children’s Retreat. For reservations, contact Dr. Robert Warsak at (201) 891-6065 or at drrobertwarsak@verizon.net. Andy’s last Christmas with his mom was made extra special thanks to the generosity of the community. Andy’s mom Cathy will continue to receive support from ECF. We will continue to provide her with bereavement counseling, advocacy, and groceries/household goods for as long as she continues to need our help. We understand that her battle has not ended. We currently have 17 families receiving eight to 10 bags of food every month. You can help us fill our pantry by donating groceries and grocery store gift cards. We appreciate your help, and so do our families. We also need food drivers who can make deliveries to our families in Bergen and Essex counties. A background check is required. When you hold a fundraiser for ECF or write us a check, approximately 70 cents from every dollar that is donated goes toward direct care for our families. Your efforts help us to help families like Andy’s in many ways, including sending a caseworker to visit the families at home or in the hospital. This support for the kids, their siblings, and parents is crucial. We rely on our local community to help support our families. Many of them do not have the financial or emotional support to help them get through a major illness like cancer. Please remember: We do not charge anything for our services. We rely on you! We are also happy to come speak at your fundraiser or event and talk about our programs. Our center is currently looking for a gently used microwave. If you have one to donate, please call. If you have a few hours a week to spare, consider becoming a volunteer. Volunteers are welcome to assist on Mondays from 10 to 1, and Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 4. Call (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. Our storage space is limited. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Visit us online at: www.emmanuelcancer.org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families.