Dear
Newcomer Friends,
I tried to avoid the typical "I can't believe the summer is over" line, but I can't believe it! My family and I had a very strange and wonderful summer. Lots of journeys to visit friends and family, long car rides with great destinations and no dvd player to keep the peace, (I highly recommend a working dvd player for the really long rides!) and days that started no where and simply unfolded around us, with very little structure. It is that lack of structure that I both enjoyed and now look forward to having back in my routine again. So I welcome everyone back to town, and look forward to seeing all of you AND the school buses once more!! Admittedly my children do not echo the same sentiment! They look forward to seeing their friends but NOT the school buses. Go figure!
September has always been my favorite month - my rebirth month, my own private
New Year's Day! Though I got married at the very end of August, 11 years ago, it was September that Cornell and I honeymooned, and that same timeframe the next year and the following year that we became homeowners and new parents, respectively. So there is something about this month that makes me feel like the slate is clean to start a new project, to get into an exercise routine, to quote a familiar phrase - Just do it!
For the Newcomer's Club there are so many options to "just do it!" This month we celebrate the renewal of our web site. It will remain the same www.mountainsidenewcomers.org, but it will be fresh and new and support all the activities that the club offers. On the site we introduce a section called "Favorite Things." This site has been created with "tried and true" businesses/services in and around our community that have been recommended by many of our members. We hope that you use this site as a resource for many of your own projects and needs. Over time, we hope the list will grow and we encourage you to provide us with your thoughts and recommended businesses! The website will go "live" this month, and we will announce it via email.
We are also looking forward to the annual town-wide garage sale on September
6th. Talk about a rebirth event! Nothing better than cleaning out the garage and saying goodbye to your "treasures!" I must thank Katherine Stultz in advance of the day for all her hard work and "overtime" for making this a very successful community event.
For all of our members and their families, we have much to offer. For the little ones, our Mommy and Me gang is going apple picking in Gillette at Hillview Farms on Saturday the 13th at 2pm. For the ladies, our night is a highly anticipated workout session called the Bar Method slated for September 25. Our Book Club will be meeting on September 18 to discuss The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. For the whole family we are looking forward to our 2nd Annual Family Fun Day scheduled for October 5th. Once again it will be held on the back fields of Our Lady of Lourdes. We had a great time last year - games, relay races, food, music, a pumpkin patch and lots more. Look for your invite shortly and please plan to attend. Say a little prayer that the weather is on our side again!
One more reminder, please put November 15th on your calendar for my favorite couples event - the Progressive Dinner. This is a great night out to socialize, have delicious food and just relax with friends, new and old! We are still in need of a dessert home and some dinner homes! Check out the Social Committee section for more details.
Mountainside will come alive again in September. The fields will be full of children playing soccer (PAL and Recreation) and football and all the wonderful activities that keep us active on the weekends. See you on the fields with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee (extra large, one equal, light cream!!).
Peace and
friendship,
Maureen Hess
FAMILY FUN DAY
Maureen Hess
When: Saturday October 5th
Where: fields at Our Lady of Lourdes, Central Ave., Mountainside
MOUNTAINSIDE TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE
Saturday Sept 6th
from 9am-2pm
(rain or shine)
Pick up the maps and sale item list at: Mountainside Library,
Constitution Plaza, Mountainside
Starting Thursday 9/4
Or alternatively 1443 Deer Path, Mountainside on the day of the sale
OVER 50 HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATING.
(Sorry, we can't take any more houses at this point, look for it again next year!)
Map and lists will be available starting Thursday, 9/4 at the Mountainside Library and day of sale at 1443 Deer Path and library. There are over 55 homes participating – please spread the word to friends (especially those out of town) about this great town wide event.
THANK YOU to the many that donated school supplies. We were able to provide 20 back packs and all of them filled with supplies. The kids will be getting started on the right foot! Thank you again!
Volunteers needed! St. Bridget’s is a home for men working to get their lives back on track. They are in need of volunteers to prepare one hot meal per month for 6-8 men. Sigrid (who resides in town) would receive the meal and get it to the shelter. If you are interested in helping, please call her directly: (908) 232-5809.
Join us for an afternoon of Apple Picking!
Where: Hillview Farms, 223 Meyersville Road, Gillette, NJ
When: Saturday, September 13, 2008 @ 2pm
Please respond by September 10th to Heatheror Katherine
Also save the date for our annual Halloween Party October 25th!
If you know of anyone with a lot of holiday spirit who would be interested in playing Santa on December 21, please contact Heather or Katherine.
When: September 25th at 7:45 pm
The Bar Method™ exercise system creates a uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by reshaping and elongating muscles while maintaining an intense pace that burns fat and increases stamina. The hour-long class is composed of eight or nine strengthening exercises followed by stretches. The strength work combines holding positions that use the body’s own weight with small, controlled moves that increase range of motion and stamina. Stretching is focused on the hips, chest and lower back to improve posture and body alignment. Students begin the class with free weights and push-ups, move to the bar to work their legs and abdominals, and finish on mats for more core work and stretching. For more info, check out the video on their website at www.barmethod.com.
Please RSVP to Mary Koehn.
LUNCH BUNCH
Debbie Hoffman
September 2-fer Special!!
What: Back to School Lunch Bunch
When: Thursday, September 4 @ NOON
Where: Echoqua, at Echo Plaza, Springfield
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What: September Lunch Bunch
When: Friday September 26 @ NOON
Where: Benihana, Short Hills
Please contact Debbie Hoffman to rsvp for lunch bunch.
L.I.F.T.
Marilyn Berney
LOVE, INTEREST, FRIENDSHIP & TIME
Thank you to Maritza Armstrong, Marilyn Berney & Nancy McManus for participating in a LIFT Dinner for Sheri Bolkcom.
A lot of
babies are due to join us in the next few months. If you are interested
in participating in a LIFT dinner, kindly contact Marilyn Berney.
The
LIFT program provides dinners for members in times of need, such as a new baby,
death or illness. Everyone in the club is welcome and encouraged to participate
in the LIFT program. We are always looking for people to share in the
preparation of a meal (entrée, salad, dessert or bread & wine).
If you know of a club member who is in need of a LIFT dinner, please
contact Marilyn
The Mountainside Newcomers Club would like to invite you to The Annual Progressive Dinner
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Appetizers 6:30-8:00 pm at the home of Anne and Jerry Eicke
Intimate dinner 8:00-10:00pm
Desserts 10:00-11:30pm, Location TBD
Cost: $60 per couple
Please make check payable to The Mountainside Newcomers Club
RSVP with payment by November 1st to Janice Kelly
Please let us know if you have any food or pet allergies.
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Time: 8 p.m.
Place: Marilyn Berney’s home
Book: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.
Please bring a recommendation for the next book and a small appetizer, dessert or favorite drink to the discussion session.
The following is a calendar of book/movie dates to help participants plan for the meetings:
Thursday, November 13
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 (Movie & Discussion)
Tuesday, February 24
Tuesday, March 31 (Movie & Discussion)
Thursday, May 14
Wednesday, June 17
If you have taken any great photos
during recent Newcomers Club events and would like to have them submitted to
the local newspapers, please include the information below and mail with photos
to Martha Bailey.
Email digital pictures to Martha
Please Note: Photos will not be
returned!
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Name:
_____________________________________
Phone
Number:
_____________________________________
Caption (Include names, ages of
children, event, description of photo,
etc):
_________________________________________________
Do you have a new neighbor?
If you have a new neighbor or know of
anyone new to Mountainside, please let Berri Duswalt know. We'd love to invite them to join
the club.