Page 2 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • March 26, 2014 Villadom Happenings ‘Downton Abbey’ Tea coming to John Fell House The John Fell House Tea Room Committee will host a “Downton Abbey Tea” at the historic home on Monday, April 14. The noon event will feature afternoon tea as it might be served at Highclere Castle, including finger sandwiches and desserts. Guests will be welcomed in a manner befit- ting distinguished guests visiting the gracious estate of the Earl and Countess of Grantham. Visitors to the tea are welcome to test their knowledge of the popular series by taking the “Downton Abbey” quiz. The cost to attend is $45. Checks should be made payable to “Concerned Citizens of Allendale” and mailed to: 200 East Allendale Avenue, Allendale NJ 07401. For more information, contact Linda Schropp at lschropp@optonline.net or Theresa Salameno at (201) 825-2840. The John Fell House, located at 475 Franklin Turnpike in Allendale, is owned, operated, and maintained by the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, a 501c3 non-profit dedi- cated to the preservation of the home as a self-sustaining community center through grants, fundraisers, and private donations. For details about event and volunteer opportu- nities related to the John Fell House and the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, e-mail TheFellHouse@gmail.com. West Bergen Mental Healthcare announces summer SOAR and CIT programs West Bergen’s Asperger’s Related Services will again sponsor its SOAR Experience, a summer program for children and teens, ages six through 16, with Asperger’s Syndrome and other related disorders. The SOAR Experi- ence, a therapeutic social skills program in a day camp- like environment, will be held at the Center for Children and Youth, One Cherry Lane in Ramsey. The Counselor in Training program offers teens and young adults (14 through 24) with Asperger’s vocational training and an opportunity to develop various work and social skills. Information sessions about the SOAR Experience will be held on April 9 from 7 to 7:40 p.m. and May 7 from 6:30 to 7:10 p.m. at the Asperger’s Services Center at 615 Franklin Turnpike in Ridgewood. SOAR Counselor in Training program information sessions will held imme- diately following the general information sessions. CIT session will run 45 minutes. RSVP to Kelly Doyle at (201) 857-0080, extension 7500. “This is the sixth summer that we are able to offer these unique programs to youngsters in the community,” said Dr. Jeanne Marron, clinical director of Asperger’s Related Services at West Bergen. The SOAR Experience is a small, nurturing program specifically designed to help children with social chal- We had an amazing time at our Fourth Annual Bash, and two-year-old Giza was definitely the hit of the event. We send a special thank you to Aldo from the Brick House, Roxanne Evans from News 12 NJ, and all of our wonderful sponsors. We are grateful to everyone who attended to help make this event a success. Thanks to the children from Green Twig Preschool for their Food Drive to celebrate the 100 days of school. Recently, Rita Lapinski celebrated her 90 th birthday. In lieu of gifts, Rita asked her guests to bring grocery items for our pantry. We are in of need Easter Baskets for children and food baskets for families. This is a great project for adults and children. We also need volunteers who can help us solve some computer issues. The Duffy Confirmation Group is hosting a Lollipop Sale to benefit ECF, just in time for Easter. To place an order, e-mail sfd652@gmail.com. They are also spon- soring a Bagel Breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, April 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Parish Center in Ridgewood. Admission is $5 per person. E- mail melenaesteve@gmail.com for tickets. Meet Jhonny: Jhonny is a 17-year old with an infec- tious smile and the ability to make anyone around him laugh. You would never know by his outgoing and posi- tive personality that he and his family have been through so much over the past seven months. Jhonny was diag- nosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in August. Since being diagnosed, he has undergone multiple surgeries and has had both chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Jhon- ny’s treatment plan, recovery, and understanding of his illness are complicated by developmental delays and a hearing deficit that were diagnosed during early child- hood. Despite these obstacles, Jhonny has thrived in the face of adversity. He continues to gain strength to fight his cancer through faith, determination, and the over- whelming support and encouragement of his parents. lenges thrive and succeed in a supportive environment. SOAR and CIT programs are held weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The six-week program is from July 7 to Aug. 15. The three-week programs will be held July 7 to 25 and July 28 to Aug. 15. Highlights of the program will include social skills training, weekly themes, outside trips, and fun-filled activities. Under the direction of West Bergen’s professional staff, participants will expand their skills in a number of important areas, including building relationships, increas- ing flexibility, resolving conflicts, successful transitions, (continued on page 22) Since Jhonny’s diagnosis, his parents have strug- gled financially. In August, Jhonny’s mom left her job in order to care for her son on a full-time basis. Due to the loss of income, treatment co-pays, medication, and hospital visits, bills continue to pile up. Jhonny and his family would welcome Sunoco gas cards and Shop Rite gift cards to ease their financial burden. Jhonny loves superheroes, playing video games, and watching movies. Gift cards to Target, Walmart, or GameStop would help him continue to do the things he loves. Any donation provided will help ease the financial burden and provide his family with the assistance they need during this difficult time. ECF is a nonprofit organization that provides a vari- ety of specialized services, at no charge, to any New Jersey family facing the challenges of caring for a child with cancer. ECF does not raise money for cancer research, but provides direct in-home care to its fami- lies. Many families do not have the financial or emo- tional support to help them get through a major illness like cancer, so ECF provides families with counseling by a professional case worker, material goods (such as household items, toys, and monthly grocery deliveries), and emergency financial assistance. These individu- ally tailored services are critical in helping families get through the crisis of pediatric cancer. ECF does not receive any government funding, and relies on donations from the community. Call the North- ern Regional Center at (201) 612-8118 or e-mail Laura at laura@emmanuelcancer.org to help. ECF now needs volunteers who can deliver grocer- ies to families in Bergen and Essex counties. Spanish- speaking drivers are in particularly high demand! Individuals and groups are encouraged to help by hosting fundraisers or collecting food or gift cards for ECF’s families. The Northern Regional Center at 174 Paterson Avenue in Midland Park welcomes volunteers and visi- tors. Call (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Because storage space is limited, please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. For more infor- mation, visit www.emmanuelcancer.org or “like” ECF on Facebook: EmmanuelCancerFoundation. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families!