Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • April 25, 2012 Area Villadom Happenings (continued from page 2) Chamber office by 3 p.m. on May 7. For more information, visit www.mahwah.com or call the Chamber office at (201) 529-5566. Legends plans Wine Pairing Dinner Legends Steakhouse, located at 118 Godwin Avenue in Midland Park, will host a four-course dinner featuring the wines of Washington State. Certified wine educator Gerry Piserchia, director of wine education at Fedway Imports, will be the speaker. Piserchia is a level one sommelier. The event is set for Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. and will include a tasting of five fine wines paired with the dinner. The cost is $50 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call (201) 445-2881. Community choir presents concert Voices of Praise, a community choir and orchestra, will perform a concert on Friday, May 4 at Covenant Christian Reformed Church, 400 North Haledon Avenue in North Haledon. “A Night of Praise” will begin at 7 p.m. The event is free and the public is invited. Grand Slam to aid West Bergen’s Kids Grand Slam event organizers discuss details of the upcoming event. (Photo courtesy of TKL Marketing, Ho-Ho-Kus.) Event organizers met recently to plan the first Grand Slam for West Bergen’s Kids. The event, which is set for Wednesday, June 6, will be held at the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes. Committee members include: Carol Cohen, West Bergen Director of Development; Lee Schaeffer, West Bergen Chief Operations Officer; Kerri Kane, Suffern, New York; Pat Hanratty, Montvale; Lucy Moure, tennis director, Indian Trail Club; Diane O’Brien, event co-chair, Franklin Lakes; Sally Grinch, Ridgewood; Brenda Gallagher, event co-chair, Ho-Ho-Kus; Michael Tozzoli, West Bergen CEO; and Lorraine Kallman, Ridgewood. The all-day event will begin with women’s tennis at 9:45 a.m., including bagels, coffee, and fruit, followed by lunch at noon, including a champagne toast and a Fashion Show featuring the Spring Collection from Yansi Fugel of Ridgewood. Talina Toscano, a talented 13-year old, repre- senting the autistic community, will offer a special singing performance. Tickets are $75 per person for tennis and lunch or just the lunch and fashions. The event will benefit West Bergen’s programs and services for youngsters on the Autistic spectrum. To purchase tickets, visit www.westbergen.org or contact Carol at (201) 444-3550. West Bergen is a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of psychiatric and counseling services for all age groups with various levels of need. West Bergen is committed to meeting the psychological needs of each of its clients with sensitivity and responsive, innovative services of the highest quality. West Bergen strives to improve the quality of life in Bergen County and beyond – one life at a time. For further information about West Bergen, call (201) 444-3550. Tennis Club holds Open House The Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club will host its Spring Open House for prospective members on Saturday, April 28 from noon to 4 p.m. (Rain date: April 29.) The club offers 15 Har-Tru tennis courts, seven paddle tennis courts, instruction for children and adults, a ball machine, tournaments, a full-service bar, and various social events. Tennis enthusiasts at all levels are welcome. The club offers flexible membership options for adults, children, and families. For more information, or to arrange a complimentary hour of court time, call (201) 447-1503 or www.upperridgewoodtennis.com. The club is located at 915 Glenview Road in Ridgewood. SPCA hosts animal communicator The Bergen County SPCA will host animal communicator and spiritual medium Teresa at the Paramus Elks Club, 200 Route 17 North in Paramus, at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 27. During this interactive event Teresa will select audience members and connect them with family members, friends, and animals who have passed over. She will also hold readings and connect audience members with their angels. The cost to attend is $40. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling (201) 475-1044. Spring Clergy Day scheduled The Pastoral Care Department of Christian Health Care Center will hold a Spring Clergy Day for area clergy members from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on May 9. “Pastoring in the Eye of the Storm: Centering Your Ministry in an Overwhelming World.” will be held in the Christian Health Care Center Auditorium at 301 Sicomac Avenue in Wyckoff. Rev. N. Graham Standish, Ph.D., MSW, senior minister at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania and adjunct professor in the doctor of ministry program at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, will discuss maintaining a balance on a solid center so work becomes a joy rather than a burden. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a light continental breakfast. A hot buffet luncheon will be provided following the program. There is no charge for this event. RSVP by April 30, to Diane Cioffi at (201) 848-5839 or at dcioffi@chccnj.org. Those registering should include their name, congregation, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Animals rescue benefit set Save the Animals Rescue Team II, also known as START II, will hold a fundraiser on Thursday, April 26 at The Royal Manor in Garfield. The doors will open at 5 p.m., and the event will run from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission is $40 and includes dinner and one sheet of prize tickets. All proceeds will help benefit Save the Animals Rescue Team II, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation that relies solely on donations and fundraisers for its income. To purchase tickets, call (845) 268-3575 or visit www.startii.org. Anyone interested in volunteering, fundraising, donating supplies or funds, or providing a foster home for an animal may call (201) 797-8861. Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: We want to urge everyone to participate in this year’s observance of the 61st Annual National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3. Since 1952, when Congress established an annual day of prayer, millions of Americans have gathered each year in churches, synagogues, schools, parks, and other venues to intercede for our nation. In expressing our humble reliance upon the Almighty, we pay tribute to the example set by our Founding Fathers and by presidents down through the years who have exhorted the American people to seek God’s help and deliverance during trying times. The theme for this year’s event is One Nation Under God. This was inspired by Psalm 33:12, which reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” At this perilous and uncertain juncture in our country’s history, it is critical that we remain in prayer. The American people continue to be plagued with challenges that defy simple answers, and our hope lies in humbly seeking the Almighty’s guidance, protection, and blessing. Martin Luther once said, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” Neither political nor partisan, the National Day of Prayer is a solemn occasion to seek the favor of Almighty God on behalf of the United States of America. It is important to remember the real purpose and meaning of the First Amendment: To prohibit the government from establishing an official religious denomination, while at the same time permitting elected leaders to promote the religious welfare of the people for the purpose of civil government. The combination of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise of the Constitution was intended to create a government attitude of “benevolent neutrality” toward religion. Between noon and 1 p.m. on May 3, people across the country will gather to pray for America in the following areas of influence: church, education, family, government, media, military, and business. Community urged to pray There are many ways you can participate in the NDP: Check your local newspapers or the website www.NationalDayofPrayer.org for specific events and times in your area. We encourage you to remain diligent in praying for our nation’s leaders. Remember Paul’s exhortation in Timothy 2:1-2: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Phyllis and Ken Johnson Midland Park Dear Editor: I am responding to the letter written by Susan and Joel Winton in the Villadom TIMES (April 11, 2012) regarding Mrs. Avia. I am a seventh grader at Eisenhower Middle School, and a former student of Mrs. Avia’s. I found the last sentence of the letter to be very offensive, both to Mrs. Avia and her students. The importance of recycling was just one of the many things I learned from Mrs. Avia. I did not just learn how to respect the environment, but how to respect others. Obviously, you were not taught that lesson. The way you attacked a woman who has devoted her life to teaching children was very insensitive and unfair. Your statement “What does she teach her students besides how to turn cat food bags into pencil cases?” was not just hurtful to Mrs. Avia, but to the children who spent their time on that project. It implies that it was a worthless and pointless task. I can tell you, from a matter of experience, that Mrs. Avia is a teacher who has made a very big impact on my life. I hope that after you read my letter you will issue an apology to Mrs. Avia. Nicholas Phillips Wyckoff Student seeks apology