Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • February 1, 2012 Ridgewood The congregation of West Side Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood has welcomed Penny Hogan as its new associate pastor for family life with youth, children, and parents. This ministry is dedicated to sustaining and expanding West Side’s traditionally strong family life programs and serves a wide range of family needs – those of children, middle school, and high school youth, and their parents – in a more integrated manner. “In today’s world, families are looking for places to be together in meaningful ways. West Side’s focus on family ministry allows each age and stage to develop spiritually together,” said Liz Junod, pastoral associate at West Side. “Parents who work all week and barely see their children don’t want to ‘get rid of them’ on the weekends. I think parents like the idea of sharing and growing together with their children.” This led West Side to look for a “family minister,” not a “youth pastor” as had been the model in the past for many churches. Hogan will drive innovative programming and services for families, with a focus on youth and children West Side Presbyterian hires new associate pastor and the connection between children and their parents. This move is the latest in a series of transformations aimed at making West Side highly relevant to the needs of families and individuals in the second decade of the 21st century. “Penny has extensive experience with children and parents,” noted Cynthia Cheesman, co-chair of the Associate Pastoral Nominating Committee, the team of church members who led the 15-month long selection process. “She has demonstrated outstanding organizational skills from tasks as small as weekly prayer groups to those as large as family mission trips to Africa. Through all of this she displays wonderful relationship talents. We are very fortunate to have been introduced to her.” Hogan received a Master of Divinity in 2010 from Princeton Theological Seminary. Before entering seminary, Hogan served for six years at the youth, family, and mission ministry at the 1,500-member La Jolla Presbyterian Church in La Jolla, California. Among her many responsibilities, she planned and co-led a youth mission trip to Kenya, co-led multi-generational trip to Malawi, Nancy Rosin, president of the National Valentine Collector’s Association, will address the members of Highlights in Leisure Time on Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Ridgewood Public Library, 125 North Maple Avenue. An avid collector of valentines, Rosin has a collection of over 10,000 cards dating back six centuries. She has written articles about valentines for many magazines and continues to dedicate her work to the preservation and collection of valentines. Her handmade cards are becoming very popular for Valentine’s Day and other occasions. On Feb. 16, HILT members will tour Ridgewood’s Schoolhouse Museum. The tour will include the present exhibit, “The Civil War Years (1861-1865) at Home and HILT announces activities for seniors Penny Hogan on the Battlefield.” A luncheon will follow at the Ramsey Country Club. The bus will depart from Graydon Pool at 10 a.m. (boarding at 9:45 a.m.) and will return at approximately 3:30 p.m. The cost is $37 for HILT members; $42 for non-members. Ridgewood residents who are age 55 and older are invited to join HILT, a senior organization under the auspices of the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation. Monthly meetings include entertainment and/or informational presentations, followed by refreshments. A $15 membership fee is charged annually. Meetings are held in the Ridgewood Library’s auditorium. For more information, call (201) 670-5560. and implemented an annual youth group house building trip to Mexico for nearly 100 people. She also attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and is a 1994 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a B.S. in education. Raised in Upper Arlington, Ohio, Hogan is married to John Hogan, a Bergen County native. They reside in Ridgewood. Hogan will be joining West Side’s dynamic leadership under Senior Pastor Dr. Gareth Icenogle and Associate Pastor of Parish Life Rev. Marc Oehler. West Side is a welcoming congregation in the mainline Protestant tradition and is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA). West Side, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, is located at 6 South Monroe in Ridgewood.