December 4, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 17 NJBG to host Silver Jubilee (continued from page 12) organization that supports the botanical garden, sponsors this annual fundraising event. Daytime tours of the NJBG Holiday Open House will be available Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 5 through 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children under six. No baby strollers, please. The last tour will begin at 4 p.m. Group tours are available. Call (973) 962-9534 or e- mail info@njbg.org to schedule a group tour. Evening “Champagne and Candlelight” receptions will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings, Dec. 6 and 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. During these special evening showings, the manor will be open for leisurely enjoyment with champagne, light refreshments, and valet parking. Tickets are $40. Reservations are required by Dec. 4. To reserve tickets, call (973) 962-9534 or visit atnjbg.org (a secure website). NJBG is located on Morris Road in Ringwood. The NJ Botanical Garden is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the garden is always free. Originally assembled from pioneer farmsteads of the 1890s, the New Jersey Botanical Garden has a venerable history. In 1922, Clarence McKenzie Lewis, an investment banker and trustee of the New York Botanical Garden purchased the property and original Victorian mansion from Francis Lynde Stetson. Over the next three decades, Lewis built the current 45-room Tudor manor house and transformed Skylands into a botanical showplace, engag- ing prominent landscape architects to design the grounds and collecting plants from all over the world. In 1966, the State of New Jersey purchased the 1,117 acres of Skylands as the state’s first acquisition under the Green Acres preservation program. Governor Thomas Kean designated the central 96 acres surrounding the manor house as the state’s official botanical garden in 1984. The gardens contain many unique features, includ- ing an extensive collection of statuary, historic trees, formal annual garden, perennial beds, and an heirloom collection of lilacs. Library board plans meeting The Worth-Pinkham Memorial Library Board of Trust- ees will meet on Monday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome. The meeting will be held at the library at 91 Warren Avenue in Ho-Ho-Kus. Model railroad opens to the public The Ramapo Valley Model Railroad, a holiday tradition in Bergen County for over 52 years, will open its doors to the public on Dec. 8, and 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. The massive, permanent layout features everything from modern wind- mill farms to an operating drive-in movie theater. Admis- sion to the show is $4 for adults and $1 for children under the age of 12 with a maximum of $10 per family. The railroad display is located in the Ho-Ho-Kus VFW building at 620 Cliff Street in Ho-Ho-Kus. Free parking is available. Visit www.ramapovalleyrailroad.com for addi- tional information. A holiday display at Skylands Manor Since 1976, NJBG/Skylands Association, an incor- porated, member-supported non-profit organization, has worked with the state to preserve and protect Skylands and its historic structures. NJBG sponsors walks, hikes, programs, concerts, and special events throughout the year. Guided tours of the gardens are offered on Sundays at 2 p.m., May through October, weather permitting, and guided tours of Skylands Manor are available one Sunday per month. Guided group tours are also available. Call (973) 962-9534 or visitnjbg.org for more informa- tion on NJBG events, directions, membership, and volun- teer opportunities. International Peace Poster Contest (continued from page 7) on originality, artistic merit, and portrayal of the contest theme,” Saddle River Valley Peace Poster Contest Com- mittee Chairman Arthur Keyes explained. SRV Lions Club President Jerry Michota said he was very impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at the three schools. “It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I’m proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions,” Michota said. Each year, Lions Clubs around the world sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools Ho-Ho-Kus Jottings and youth groups. This art contest encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace. For more than 25 years, millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest. Posters advance through several judging levels: local, district, multiple district, and international. At the inter- national level, judges from the art, peace, youth, edu- cation, and media communities select one grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners. The grand prize includes a cash award of $5,000, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to a special awards ceremony. Merit award winners each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500. ECLC sponsors free workshops In an effort to help parents and guardians of children with special needs, the ECLC of New Jersey School in Ho- Ho-Kus has launched a free workshop series touching on topics that are particularly important to this community. Any interested member of the community may join ECLC staff and outside experts for these workshops. All programs will take place at the ECLC School located at 302 North Franklin Turnpike in Ho-Ho-Kus. Registration for the workshops may be made by e-mail- ing vlindorff@eclcofnj.org or calling (201) 670-7800. Child care cannot be provided during these sessions. Lori Wolf, Esq. will present “Special Needs Trusts” on Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. This expert has written extensively and lectured on this sensitive and important topic. The final workshop will be presented on March 20, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Jennifer Joyce, coordinator of employment and day services at DDD will present “Changes in DDD Fund- ing.” Participants will learn how funding through the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities is changing for people with special needs. Seniors set fall schedule The Ho-Ho-Kus Seniors group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Hermitage Education Center at 335 North Franklin Turnpike in Ho-Ho-Kus. Bev- erages and desserts are served at noon, and programs begin at 1 p.m., or as noted. The seniors will travel to the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse on Dec. 13. The outing will include lunch and “A Branson Country Christmas.” Residents age 55 and up are welcome. Contact Joan at (201) 444-4896 for program information. For trip informa- tion, contact Sue at (201) 444-7235. We welcome press releases from our readers. Items may be sent to editorial@villadom.com. Deadline is Wednes- day at noon the week prior to publication.