Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • February 22, 2012 Ridgewood Gala to recognize brightest stars, past & present nonprofit human services organizations serving northern New Jersey. The agency is fully accredited and has served the community for more than 110 years. Since 1899, Children’s Aid and Family Services has been recognized as a James Dao, national correspondent for military and veterans’ affairs for The New York Times, will speak at the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club’s Feb. 23 meeting. The 7:30 a.m. session will be held at Osteria La Fiamma, 119 East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood. Dao, who resides in Glen Rock, has traveled far and wide on his military beat. He visited Fort Jackson to cover the first woman to become the Army’s top drill sergeant, traveled to Fort Sill to write about aging Army recruits in basic training, and ventured to Afghanistan to report on American troops in Operation Enduring Freedom. He has also profiled Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki and has written extensively about post-traumatic stress disorder. Dao was a Pentagon correspondent for his newspaper’s Washington bureau during 9/11 and was embedded with Special Operations Forces during the Iraq invasion in 2003. He also has covered the U.S. State Department and Congress, and was part of The Times’ national political team during the 2000 presidential election. Prior to joining The New York Times in 1992, Dao was a reporter for the New York Daily News, where he was lead writer on a series about the people-smuggling industry in China. Earlier, he was a political reporter for The Record. leader in adoption and specialty therapeutic services for children who have been severely traumatized and abused. For more information on Children’s Aid and Family Services, call (201) 261-2800 or visit www.cafsnj.org. New York Times correspondent to speak Ridgewood resident Anne Crane is being honored at Children’s Aid and Family Services’ upcoming spring gala. James Dao Children’s Aid and Family Services’ Ninth Annual Gala will be held on Thursday, March 29 from 7 to 11 p.m. at The Venetian in Garfield. During the event, Ridgewood resident Anne Goheen Crane will be honored for her many years of support to the community. Crane has served on the boards of Children’s Aid and Family Services and the Ridgewood Public Library. She is currently a member of the board of The Valley Hospital. The evening will feature entertainment by Jason Nazzaro as he sings Sinatra favorites, a special auction, dinner, and much more. Sponsors include TD Bank, Boiling Springs, and Brenda and Frank Gallagher. Ad journal advertising and auction item donation opportunities are also available. Tickets to the 2012 gala start at $150. For tickets, sponsorship, journal, ad, or auction donation information, contact Eve Marsan at (201) 261-2800 or visit www.cafsnj.org. Children’s Aid and Family Services is one of the leading Guests are welcome to attend the meeting. A full buffet breakfast will be served at a cost of $11. Contact the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club at (201) 637-7335 to reserve a seat. Be sure to leave a number where you can be reached that morning, in case major breaking news calls Dao away from the meeting.