CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK
YOUNG VOICES…In celebration of Children’s Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Westfield, the Youth Choir joined the Children’s Choirs in a choral call to worship during the May 23 service. Westfield High School senior Stefanie Bistak is pictured leading the combined choirs, which were directed by Minister of Music Bill Mathews.
Assemblywoman Previte To Speak at Local Church
WESTFIELD — On Sunday, June 27, New Jersey State Assemblywoman Mary T. Previte, will be the guest minister at the 11 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church.
Ms. Previte is a member of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church and is the author of the book “Hungry Ghosts,” a text frequently used at the college level.
Born in China to missionary parents, Ms. Previte was interned for three years during World War II in a
Japanese concentration camp. She currently serves as an adviser to President Clinton and Congress on matters pertaining to the nation’s youth. She was recently named “Legislator of the Year” for New Jersey.
The community is invited to hear Assemblywoman Previte preach. The church is located at 1 East Broad Street in Westfield.
For further information, please contact the church office at (908) 233-4211.
Religious News
Marcia Cohen Receives Award From Hadassah for Leadership
WESTFIELD — Marcia Cohen of Summit, a former Westfield resident for 22 years and a member of the Westfield chapter of Hadassah, has been named a recipient of the 13th Annual Hadassah National Leadership Award.
This award honors members whose leadership within Hadassah and other civic, educational, and cultural organizations reflects Hadassah’s dedication to the principles of the volunteer ethic. Award recipients are selected by their peers and represent a wide range of achievements.
“I am pleased to welcome Marcia Cohen to the family of outstanding women who have built our organization and given of themselves to create a better world,” stated Marlene Post, National President of Hadassah.
“Marcia personifies today’s Hadassah woman,” noted Carole
Thau, chapter President. “We all share a sense of pride for this tribute that she truly deserves.”
Ms. Cohen was instrumental in establishing the “Godparents” program in the 1960s with an $18 luncheon, which has since grown to an evening gala at $185 per person, and has raised more than $13,000 this year. She continues to be actively involved in the project.
She was President of the chapter from 1975 to 1977, and was elected “Woman of the Year” in 1986. Ms. Cohen has also held many other positions in the Westfield Hadassah chapter, among them American Affairs Chairwoman.
She is active in Temple Emanu-El of Westfield and other Jewish organizations. Her civic involvement includes serving as Advisory Board Chairwoman of the County of Union Division of Culture and Heritage Affairs.
She is a board member of the Music Club of Westfield and served as President of the Suburban Symphony of Cranford.
Youth & Family Counseling To Provide Handicapped Access
WESTFIELD — As a result of receiving funds from two grant requests, the Trustees of Youth and Family Counseling Service (YFCS) are now proceeding with construction plans for handicapped access to the agency’s office at 233 Prospect Street in Westfield.
The YFCS office is located in a former private home that is an ideal place to have private counseling offices but not one that can easily be made handicapped-accessible, according to Austin Sayre of the YFCS.
However, he noted, it has been the Trustee’s objective for some time to provide clients both a handicappedaccessible entrance and a handicapped-accessible bathroom on the first floor. That goal will now be realized.
YFCS received a grant from the Union County Department of Economic Development of $25,000 and then, after making an application to The Westfield Foundation for additional funds, received a grant from the Foundation of $10,000. These two grants provide most of the money required to complete the renovation.
Handicapped-accessibility will be accomplished by the construction of a ramp that will be built from the rear parking lot to the side porch of the house and a new entrance that
will be built at the top of the ramp. Construction of the handicappedaccessible bathroom will require extending the foundation of the house in the rear.
Incorporated in this modification will be an improved exit from the basement conference rooms to the outside. Construction is planned to start in October and be completed next spring.
Annie Giszpenc, a licensed clinical social worker at YFCS, said, “I am very pleased that we are going ahead with this project so that we can serve a broader range of people.”
She noted that several medical insurance companies had inquired in their surveys if YFCS office was handicapped-accessible.
Youth and Family Counseling Service provides counseling and mental health services to individuals, families and groups on a sliding scale fee basis. It is a nonprofit agency serving residents of Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains and Westfield.
It is supported by the United Fund of Westfield and the United Ways of the communities it serves. Persons who believe they might benefit from counseling services are encouraged to call the agency at (908) 2332042.
Arlyn Covington Named Seton Hall Valedictorian
WESTFIELD — On May 24, Arlyn Covington of Westfield graduated Summa Cum Laude from Seton Hall University, with a 4.0 GPA. She was also presented with the New Jersey Association of Teacher Educators’ 1999 Outstanding Student Teacher Award, which is given to the top undergraduate education students in the State of New Jersey.
A double major in Elementary Education and in History, Arlyn has been named undergraduate Valedictorian of Seton Hall’s College of Education and Human Services. She also received the Elementary Education and
History Honors citations. Academic success like this never entered Arlyn’s mind when she came to the United States in 1988, leaving her family at home in Cartago, Costa Rica for a visit with her boyfriend, who was studying in Oregon.
“My plan was to visit the U.S. for a month and then return to Costa Rica,” she said. Instead, she has lived in the U.S. ever since and in 1991 married her boyfriend, long-time Westfield resident, Richard Covington.
Arlyn began her college education in 1990 by studying English as a Second Language and Early Childhood Education.
“I loved working with children in Costa Rica and wanted to continue
that experience in the United States,” she said. “I knew my English was not strong enough to jump into a formal degree program, so I started by improving my language skills and getting my Early Childhood Education certification.”
She then worked in a preschool and began part-time study toward a bachelor’s degree.
“I knew that I wanted to teach children at the elementary level, so when we moved to New Jersey I became a full-time student at Union County College. After two semesters there, I enrolled at Seton Hall. The road has been very long, and at times I wanted to give up, but now all the hard work seems to be worth it.”
Arlyn is the first member of her eight-sibling family to study in the U.S. and will be the first woman in her family to ever graduate from a four-year college.
Her mother and two of her sisters came to New Jersey from Costa Rica for the graduation festivities.
“My next goal is to develop my career as a regular elementary teacher,” explained Arlyn. “Because of my native language skills in Spanish, many schools want me to teach elementary Spanish as part of their World Language program. However, I am focused on teaching children all academic subjects and taking advantage of my history major and my love for art. So right now I am looking for a full-time elementary teaching position in Westfield and in the surrounding areas. I think my experience working in different places around the world can bring a global perspective to my classroom,” added Arlyn. “We are never too young to learn about the world around us.”
When asked about future academic objectives Arlyn said, “I may go back to school in the future, but right now I’d like to enjoy some time with my family and friends. I’ve been working so hard at school I haven’t even been to a movie theater in nine months.”
Community Access Plans Walk to Benefit Disabled
ELIZABETH — Community Access Unlimited is seeking both participants and sponsors for its first Walk-A-Thon, which is scheduled to be held Saturday, June 26, at Tamaques Park in Westfield.
According to Jeanne Dempsey, fundraising and special events coordinator for Community Access, funds raised by the walk-a-thon will ben
efit children and adults with disabilities.
“In the past, we held a walleyball tournament every spring,” Ms. Dempsey explained. “We are anticipating increased participation in the walk-a-thon event from both the community, our staff and the people that we support. Everyone can complete the course, whether by foot or by wheelchair. Rollerbladers and bicyclists are also welcome.”
The walk-a-thon is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and concludes at noon, after which there will be a picnic for participants and supporters.
Participants in the walk-a-thon are seeking sponsors who will pledge money that will be used to support the programs of Community Access Unlimited, an Elizabeth-based notfor-profit social service agency, which is observing its 20th anniversary this year.
Community Access Unlimited employs 250 persons who administer its programs for the 1,000 individuals with disabilities served by the agency.
For more information about the walk-a-thon or Community Access Unlimited services, please call Ms. Dempsey at (908) 354-3040, Extension No. 275.
Computer Genealogy To be Topic Tonight On Channel 57 Show
WESTFIELD — A television program entitled “Family Historian” will air tonight, Thursday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 57.
The program will teach viewers how to store their family data on the computer.
Hosted and produced by genealogist Stephen Conte, this program will feature Edward T. Graney of Westfield. Mr. Graney has been tracing his family tree for several years, and will show how the computer has helped him to organize his research.
This program will be repeated next Thursday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m. on the same channel.
Holy Trinity Parochial School Plans Blood Drive on June 27
WESTFIELD — The Blood Center of New Jersey has announced that a blood drive will be held at Holy Trinity Parochial School, 336 First Street in Westfield, on Sunday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“As the hot, sticky days of July and August approach, it is important that we have as much blood on the shelves as possible,” said Judy Daniels, spokeswoman for the Blood Center. “The shelf life of red blood cells is just 42 days, and donations tend to fall dramatically beginning the first week of July.”
As a thank you to residents donating blood during these critical months, all donors who give between Tuesday, June 15 and Sunday, September 19, will receive a complimentary baby blood drop beanie.
The Blood Center is also looking for people willing to help sponsor a blood drive in their place of business, religious organization, or community group. There are also blood center speakers available to give talks to groups interested in learning more about the voluntary blood donation program.
Donors must be 18 years of age. Seventeen year olds may donate with parental permission. There is no upper age limit for donors, provided those over 65 have donated within the last two years, or have a doctor’s note.
Donors should know their social security number and bring a signed form of identification. People with cold or flu symptoms should wait until they are feeling better before donating, and there is a 72-hour deferral for dental work, including routine teeth cleaning.
Anyone who has traveled outside of the United States recently is asked
to call the blood center for eligibility criteria. For more information or to sign up for a blood drive, please call the blood center at (800) BLOOD NJ (256-6365).
To book a speaker or plan a blood drive, please call (800) 652-5663, Extension No. 104.
Westfield Chapter of AARP Sets Tour of Hudson Valley
WESTFIELD — The public is invited to join an event-packed tour planned by the Trips and Tours Committee of Westfield Area Chapter No. 4137 of the American Association of Retired Persons.
Entitled “Explore the Hudson Valley,” it will take place from Monday through Thursday, September 20 to 23. Lodging will be at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras, Pennsylvania. A hot breakfast buffet will be served each morning, and dinner will include live entertainment each night.
The tour will include a visit to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s home and library, the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Culinary Institute of America, which will serve lunch the first day; a West Point tour and a Hudson Highlands cruise with a bag lunch followed by a Brotherhood Winery tour the second day, and a Gillinder Glass Factory tour the morning of the last day.
A Roaring Twenties Festival with a Cabaret Revue and a three-hour beer, wine and soda bar, accompanied by a buffet, will be the final event.
The group will depart for Westfield at 4 p.m.
Reservations are still open and there are seats available. For more information or to make arrangements, please call (908) 232-7153.
Redeemer Lutheran Church Plans Vacation Bible School
WESTFIELD – The Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at Clark Street and Cowperthwaite Place in Westfield, has invited children to take part in its Vacation Bible School program from Monday through Friday, August 2 to 6.
The program, entitled SonFaire Castle, will feature songs, crafts, games, Bible studies and snacks. In addition, children will learn how to
use their abilities as part of living a Christian life.
Classes will be held at the Redeemer Lutheran Church and School from 9 a.m. to noon.
On Thursday evening, August 5, a musical event will be performed for families. Children in preschool through the fifth grade are invited to attend. For more information, please call the church at (908) 232-1517. GUEST READERS…The Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club has concluded
its third consecutive year of serving as guest readers at Coles Elementary School in Scotch Plains. Members shared reading experiences with students in grades 1 through 4, emphasizing that reading is both important and enjoyable for people of all ages. The members visited twice a month during the entire school year to share a story. Pictured is Jane Peterson, wife of Rotarian Pete Peterson, reading to Rosalie Gamba’s second-grade class. The Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at Park Place Restaurant in Scotch Plains.
Newcomers Club Slates Roster of New Activities
MOUNTAINSIDE — The Mountain-side Newcomers Club has announced the following member activities for the near future:
· Today, Thursday, June 17: Come to a ladies night out/ fundraiser featuring Artistry Skin Care and Make-up. Enjoy an evening of appetizers and wine while learning about the latest make-up techniques and skin care tips. For more information, please call Margaret DiPalma at (908) 5180134.
· Thursday, July 15: Ladies night out in July is Romantic-Comedy Movie Night. Enjoy a cool evening in the theater with friends and see a fun movie. Theater, movie and time to be announced. Cost: $5. For reservations, please call Carole Cahill at (908) 233-8426.
The Mountainside Newcomers Club is a social and charitable organization whose purpose is to extend a friendly greeting to newcomers in town, to help them meet other newcomers, and to make them feel welcome and part of the community.
Membership is open to new residents of Mountainside or established residents who have experienced a change in lifestyle, such as the birth of a child, or a change in employment or marital status.
For membership information, please call Teri Schmedel at (908) 301-0147.
Scotch Plains Library Prepares Reading Club
SCOTCH PLAINS — The Scotch Plains Public Library will hold registration for “Dragon Tales and Reading Quests” Summer Reading Club 1999 from Tuesday, June 22, to Tuesday, July 13.
The club is open to Scotch Plains and Fanwood children ages pre-kindergarten to grade 5 who read or who are read to.
Librarians are available from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for sign-up. The club itself runs until Tuesday, August 3. There will be a party for all club members in August.
For more information, please call the Children’s Department at (908) 322-5007 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
www.goleader.com Marcia Cohen Arlyn Covington
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