Page 2 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • October 15, 2014 Villadom Happenings Candidates’ statements wanted Candidates who are running for school board, or mayor and council seats in the Nov. 4 general election are invited to send their biographies and statements to the Villadom TIMES. Candidates may e-mail their information to editorial@villadom.com. Bios should not exceed 1,000 characters with spaces; statements should not exceed 150 characters with spaces. Dead- line is Wednesday, Oct. 15 at noon for school board candidates and Wednesday, Oct. 22 at noon for mayor and council candidates. Learn about Montessori education The Village School located at 100 West Prospect Street in Waldwick, will host an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Those who attend are invited to tour the school, meet the faculty, and learn about the benefits of a Montessori education. The school provides education for students from 18 months to middle school and is accred- ited by both the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the American Montessori Society. For more information, call Judy Trubac at (201) 445- 6160, extension 225, e-mail jtrubac@thevillageschool.net, or visit www.thevillageschool.net. be provided by the “Victory Belles,” who will take every- one on a nostalgic journey through World War II-era musi- cal classics. This event is open to all area veterans of any age, free of charge. The fee for guests is $10. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. For more information, con- tact Robin Byrne at the Wyckoff Family YMCA, (201) 891- 2081, extension 129 or robinb@wyckoffymca.org. Learn to dance This fall, Grand Ballroom in Midland Park will hold two programs for youngsters who want to increase their social ease and dance skills. High school students are invited to learn ballroom basics and social dances including Cha Cha, Swing, Salsa, Bachata, and line dancing. Class will meet on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 19, Nov. 8 and 9, Dec. 6 and 7, Jan. 8 and 9, Feb. 7 and 8, March 7 and 8, April 4 and 5, and May 9 and 10. Fifth and sixth grade students are welcome to attend a social dance and etiquette program. Manners, teamwork, confidence, and social poise are built in to this program of dance and practical etiquette for a variety of social situa- tions. The class will meet for seven sessions on Mondays or Thursdays beginning the week of Oct. 20. For details, contact the studio at (201) 445-2515. Grand Ballroom is located in the Godwin Plaza Shopping Center on Godwin Avenue in Midland Park. Veterans invited to Y luncheon The Wyckoff Family YMCA welcomes area veterans to its Fourth Annual “Salute to Our Veterans” program and luncheon. World War II veterans will be highlighted at the luncheon set for noon on Monday, Nov. 3 at the Y’s 691 Wyckoff Avenue location. The program will feature keynote speaker Dr. Kenneth Herman, a clinical psychologist, author, World War II vet- eran, and long-time Wyckoff resident. Entertainment will Jim Wright to speak at Coalition Luncheon Jim Wright of Allendale will illuminate the history of the John Fell House and the Celery Farm Natural Area at the annual luncheon sponsored by the Northwest Bergen History Coalition. This event will be held Oct. 29 at the Ramsey Country Club. Wright will explain the unsung John Fell’s heroic role in the American Revolution and will discuss the house that bears his name and the swamp that he owned — better known today as the 107-acre Celery Farm. As a Halloween bonus, Wright plans to read his ghost It’s not too early to think about Thanksgiving! Our November deliveries will start to go out in mid-November. Please consider donating a “Thanksgiving in a Box” meal of non-perishables with healthy and organic items for one of our many families. Our families need paper goods and non-toxic cleaning supplies. They would appreciate donations of toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, laundry detergent, and all cleaning supplies. We also need diapers (stages four through six). Many of our children need to be in a sterile environment while their immunity builds. Thank you to all who have already brought us these supplies. We are planning our Fifth Annual Bash, which will help us provide counseling and financial aid to families in New Jersey. This event will be held at The Brick House on March 6, 2015. Please call us to volunteer or if your com- pany is interested in a sponsorship. Meet Joan: Joan is a 10 year-old girl who was diagnosed with leukemia at age three. During the beginning stages of her diagnosis, she was frequently in and out of the hospi- tal for chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments. She lost her hair and her family was skeptical as to whether it would ever grow back; however, her condition improved bit by bit as she underwent a series of procedures and labora- tory tests. Joan lost a lot of time at school, and she lost the required academic credits to enable her move to the next grade with her peers. It started to take her longer to grasp the material being taught in class. Naturally, her parents worried and they tried to get her extra help after school. Her dad, in par- ticular, spent more time with Joan outside of school hours to give her extra exercises to boost her interest in school- work and help her focus. Eventually, she slowly recovered from this apparently temporary memory slow down. Joan’s parents and extended family members have been very supportive. In due course, her hair grew back longer and thicker, and she is now able to lead a normal life just like her peers. There has also has been a tremendous enhancement in her academic life. Nevertheless, frequent trips back and forth between New Jersey and Philadelphia for her follow-up treatments mean additional expenses for gas and tolls, and her parents could not keep regular employment. The family income has been severely affected, making it challenging to make ends meet and keep up with utility bills. Gift card to Walmart, Shop Rite, or Save a Lot stores would be very much appreciated and will go a long way to ease this family’s financial burden. ECF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a variety of specialized services, at no charge, to any New Jersey family facing the challenges of caring for a child with cancer. ECF provides professional counseling, material goods (such as household items, toys, and monthly grocery deliveries), and emergency financial assistance. These individually tailored services are critical in helping families get through the crisis of pediatric cancer. ECF does not receive government funding, so the com- munity’s financial support, donations, and volunteer time are essential. Please call the Northern Regional Center at (201) 612-8118 or e-mail Laura at laura@emmanuelcancer. org to see how you can help. • We need volunteers who can deliver groceries to fami- lies in Bergen and Essex counties. • Turn your event into a fundraiser and collect checks or gift cards for our families. • Get the kids involved. Proceeds from fundraisers such as bake sales and lemonade stands help make a difference. • Is your group looking for a community service proj- ect? Consider collecting items for our food pantry. • Is your Scout Troop looking to earn badges? This is a great way to get creative and have fun while learning about philanthropy. • Does your company have a charitable giving program? If so, please let us know. If you have a few hours a week to spare, consider becoming a volunteer or just stop by and see what ECF is all about. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue in Midland Park. Please 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 information, visit us at http://www. emmanuelcancer.org or “like” us on Facebook: Emmanu- elCancerFoundation. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families! story “Phantoms of the Ramapos” aloud. This tale, set in 1938, features the Ho-Ho-Kus Speedway, an armed bank robbery in Allendale, and a cameo appearance by the Dar- lington Schoolhouse in Mahwah. Tickets are $40 and include lunch and the talk. Pro- ceeds will benefit the members of the Northwest Bergen History Coalition, including the Schoolhouse Museum in Ridgewood, the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus, the John Fell House in Allendale, the Hopper-Goetschius House Museum in Upper Saddle River, the Old Stone House in Ramsey, the Mahwah Museum, the Van Allen House in Oakland, the Zabriskie House n Wyckoff, the Franklin Lakes Historical Society, and the Museum at the Station in Glen Rock. For information, contact Jean Hildebrandt at (201) 891- 9409. To order tickets, send a check payable to “USR His- torical Society” to 245 Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 or visit www.usrhistoricalsociety.org. RBARI to host Gift Sale The Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. will hold a Gift Sale at the Copper Tree Mall, 350 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) in Oakland, on Friday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A wide range of beautiful gifts, seasonal, and household items will be available. All proceeds directly benefit the animals of RBARI, a no-kill shelter based in Oakland. For more information, visit www.rbari.org. Seniors invited to technology workshops The Northwest Bergen Senior Center will present a series of free technology workshops on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the center located at 46-50 Center Street in Midland Park. Seniors are welcome to learn about the variety of devices on the market today, including computers, tablets, iPads, and mobile phones. The day’s schedule will include “Personal Computer vs. iPad: Which is Right for Me?” at 10 a.m. “Am I Smart Enough for a Smartphone?” will follow at 12:30 p.m. “Demystifying Windows 8” and “Meet the iPad” will both be held at 2 p.m. Seniors are also welcome to make an appointment to learn how to use their mobile phones. These private tutor- ing sessions are for people who already own a cell phone, (continued on page 20)