Ridgewood July 13, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Local families welcome Fresh Air Fund children by John Koster Parents and children from Glen Rock and Ridgewood joined other parents from northern New Jersey to welcome children from New York City for the annual Fresh Air Fund excursion. The bus that pulled in to Ridgewood last week carried 13 youngsters new to the area. “It’s a lovely program,” said Eileen Kennedy of Glen Rock, as she and her 14-year-old son Dylan waited to meet 12-year-old Jordan from New York City. Her other son, 15year-old Sean, was to meet Jordan later that day. “We’re excited! We’re looking forward to it,” said Rebecca Kingston of Ridgewood, who was waiting with her daughters Kayla, seven, and Maya, five, to meet sevenyear-old Alisa, whose family came from China a few years ago. “We’re going to see what she wants to do -- maybe some biking, some hiking, go to Graydon…” A sign decorated with helium balloons welcomed the bus to the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church just off Ridgewood Avenue about 12:40 p.m. One by one, the children’s names were called off and their met their host families. When the youngsters arrived, they were shy but clearly excited, and greeted their host families with warm smiles. Most will be staying for two weeks. Based on statistics, many will form lasting friendships with their host families and will return in the future. Michael Hirsch, the program coordinator and a resident of Ringwood, said the 13 youngsters who arrived last week Parents and children wait for the Fresh Air Fund bus to arrive in Ridgewood. represented the largest turnout in Ridgewood. Ridgewood was the depot for youngsters assigned to volunteer families in Ridgewood and Glen Rock and a number of other towns including Ringwood, Fair Lawn, and Emerson. The program was founded in 1877 when The Reverend (continued on page 14)