Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • September 5, 2012 Ridgewood ‘Eleanor Roosevelt’ to appear at village hall Eleanor Roosevelt impersonator Rene Goodwin will appear at Ridgewood Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue in Ridgewood, on Sept. 18. This program, which is sponsored by the Ridgewood Post Stroke & Disabled Adult Support Group, will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Goodwin works under the auspices of the American Historical Theatre, and presented her impersonation of Eleanor Roosevelt a few years ago at the Ridgewood Public Library. The audience at that program ranged from pre-teens to adults who remembered seeing Eleanor and her husband, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in newsreels from the 1930s and 1940s. The program covers the life of the first lady from her affluent, but unhappy, childhood through the first two years of the New Deal. Goodwin, dressed like an upscale matron of the 1930s, deals with a number of sensitive topics, including Eleanor’s troubled relationship with her mother-in-law, Sara Delano Roosevelt; her husband’s infidelity with her own social secretary, Lucy Mercer; and Eleanor’s loyal support of Franklin when he was paralyzed by polio. Eleanor endured spinal problems as a youngster, and her beloved father was a well-heeled man who died as a result of alcoholism. The first lady’s ability to reach out to people in trouble, ranging from minorities to the working poor, was legendary, as were her immense energy and wry sense of humor. The Ridgewood Post Stroke & Disabled Adult Support Group meets every Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. Programs include group discussions, activities geared toward promoting personal fitness, trivia games, exercises, physical therapy, entertainment groups, guest speakers, and occasional lectures or recreational outings. There is no fee. Individuals with various disabilities are welcome. For more information, call Anne Schmidt at (201) 336-7381. Trustees accept donations for district The Ridgewood Board of Education has accepted several gifts for enhanced education in the new school year. The Ridgewood High School Band Association donated $1,200 in compensation for nursing services during the overnight Band Camp from Aug. 25 to 30. Ahold Financial Services donated $316 to be used for the RED music program. Debbie Doherty donated 42 copies of “Mr. Lester’s Stable,” which are comprehensively valued at $210. Copies will be given to each third grade teacher in the Ridgewood school system and to each elementary school librarian. Lester Stable, restored as one of the first donations to Ridgewood by philanthropist David Bolger, is a restored authentic stable that serves as the headquarters for the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department and as extra meeting space for various groups. J. KOSTER Rene Goodwin as ‘Eleanor Roosevelt.’ The Valley Hospital and The Ridgewood Public Library will launch Healthy Steps, a new walking club, on Sept. 10. This first meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Ridgewood Library, 125 North Maple Avenue in Ridgewood. Walking regularly can help reduce the risk of health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. The 12week Healthy Steps program is designed to encourage physical fitness among people of all ages in an enjoyable, Healthy Steps walking club now forming motivational atmosphere. On Sept. 10, attendees will meet the team leader and fellow walkers, hear a presentation about the benefits of walking, and the basics of getting started. Baseline screenings will also be available, and include blood pressure, weight, body fat analysis, waist and hip measurements, and a health age risk assessment. Space is limited. To register, or for details, call (201) 291-6090 or visit www.valleyhealth.com/events.