Roxys Best Of Community Posts

Hey, Mamma! London and Maddie Recommend Mamma Caterina Restaurant in Randolph, NJ

Roxy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:38:12 +0000

At the beginning of this year’s “season” for Garden State Ballet and Randolph Gymnastics, London and Maddie discovered a new restaurant: Mamma Caterina, 1250 Sussex Turnpike in Randolph, NJ. Since the girls’ ballet and modern dance classes run pretty late, we’ve found it very convenient to stop in to Mamma Caterina either before or after dance class for a slice of pizza for Maddie, chicken fingers and fries for London, and a rice ball for Roxy. So far, everything we’ve tried has been delicious!

Mamma Caterina, 1250 Sussex Turnpike, Randolph, NJ 07869. Phone: (973) 933-2531

Roxy’s Best Of… Morris County, NJ Summer Camps (as well as a few in Somerset County, NJ)

Roxy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:40:22 +0000

Now that the weather has warmed up and the snow has melted, the Roxiticus Desperate Housewives are ready to get serious about summer camp 2010. As usual, I’ll do my best to cover the camps my kids have tried, and the ones my friends recommend. Some of my favorites haven’t posted all the details on their 2010 camp programs, but I’ll provide a summary of last year’s program now and update the dates and details as soon as they become available.

Mendham Township Elementary School Pathways to Learning Summer Camp:
While Mendham Township Elementary School has not yet posted this year’s details, I can highly recommend Pathways to Learning Summer Camp that former Superintendent Christine Johnson launched in the summer of 2007. In their first experience with Pathways in 2007, my girls attended the camp’s first two weeks in July and begged me to go back for the final week in August. The MTES Cub Camp was the perfect way for Maddie, at the time a rising kindergartner, to get to know some of the other kids she’d be in class with in September, and to get to know her way around the elementary school ahead of time. Camp is open to all children (from rising kindergartners through eighth grade) in Mendham Township and the surrounding communities.

In summer 2008, the Pathways to Learning Camp returned to MTES, running June 24 through August 1st, with expanded hours (8:30am - 2:00pm). We took advantage of the camp bus service that picked the girls up in the morning, but our nanny or Rex or I picked the girls up at the end of the camp day. While I had assumed that, without Christine Johnson at the helm, the camp would be less enriching than the prior summer, London and Maddie insisted they had even more fun during their two week Summer 2008 stint, possibly because Mr. Gallo (the MTES Technology teacher) was their camp counselor.

London and Maddie were too busy with other camps and activities to go back to Pathways last summer, but I suspect that this summer, with the new MCAW programs introduced to Pathways to Learning during this school year, Summer Camp at Mendham Township Elementary School will be back and better than ever. If camp is organized as it has been in the past, campers will be grouped by grade levels in order to provide appropriate activities and meaningful experiences.

Cub Camp - For students entering Kindergarten in September 2010
Junior Tiger Camp - For students entering 1st and 2nd grades in September 2010
Tiger Camp - For students entering 3rd and 4th grades in September 2010
Bulldog Camp - For students entering 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades in September 2010

If I had to venture a guess, I’d say that this year’s Pathways to Learning Summer Camp will run six weeks starting June 28th, ending on August 6th, though it would be terrific if Pathways extended the program for eight weeks through August 20th. Campers will spend an action packed week or weeks (you can sign up for 1 week or all 6 weeks or any number in between) engaged in activities such as creative fitness & sports games, visual and performing arts, challenges & contests to build teamwork & personal leadership skills, technology, theme days, literacy and math enrichment & skills reinforcement, and hands-on science projects. Certified teachers, district administrators, and junior camp counselors will staff the camp. In addition, a certified nurse will be on-site at all times. The MTES camp sounds “educational” but my girls never felt like they were in school, they were having too much fun!

Transportation and food services are also available at an extra cost. My kids won’t eat anything but mom’s home-made peanut butter sandwiches, but there’s a round-trip (or one way) bus option that worked well for us one summer.

The MTES Pathways to Learning Summer Camp is a great value if you don’t need full-day day care. At some of the “country club” camps mentioned below, you could pay $1,000 for one week of camp.

Annie’s Playhouse Summer Stars:
London and Maddie have now attended the Annie’s Playhouse Summer Stars Musical Theatre Camp for three summers, and we’ll be back again this year for four or five weeks. The camp runs 8 weeks, with a big show towards the end of camp where you’ll see your kids (and other talented summer stars) strut their stuff on stage at the Bernardsville Presbyterian Church. Annie hasn’t announced precise dates yet, but my best guess based on last year’s dates would be June 14th through August 6th, although due to all of the snow this winter, London and Maddie will be in school through June 25th, so we’d prefer a schedule that runs June 21st through August 13th.

Annie’s Playhouse Summer Stars. Phone: (908) 658- 3002. Please be sure to let Annie know that Roxy sent you.

Pavan’s Tennis Academy Summer Camp has moved to Flanders Valley Tennis Club

On and off for the past four years, London and Maddie have taken tennis lessons with Pavan’s Tennis Academy at Fox Chase Tennis in Chester, NJ, and Pavan also runs an awesome summer tennis camp for kids of all ages (kindergarten through high school). Last summer, London and Maddie spent three hours a day with Pavan for one week in August and both girls dramatically improved their strokes and presence on the tennis court.

As I posted over on Roxy’s Best Of… Chester, NJ, in May 2010, Pavan is leaving Fox Chase and moving to Flanders Valley Tennis Club with an all new summer tennis camp for all ages and skill levels that will run 10 weeks from June 21st through August 27th. Phone 973-479-1329. Please be sure to let Pavan know that Roxy sent you.

Randolph Gymnastics

Randolph Gymnastics in Randolph, NJ, where London and Maddie are training for the Olympics, will offer a 10-week Summer Day Camp Gymnastics program from June 28th through August 27th. Both a full and half day camp schedule is available. The full day runs from 9:00am through 4:00pm and half day runs 9:00am through -1:00pm. Before and after care is available if needed. The minimum age for Randolph Gymnastics Summer Day Camp is five years old. Some of the camp’s activities will include: recreational gymnastics & open work-out, arts & crafts, games and races, swimming, non-contact team sports, and a climbing wall. The schedule is flexible, and you’ll find rates on the Randolph Gymnastics web site for one to five days per week and one to ten weeks of camp. Phone (973) 584-4111. Please be sure to let Shannon know that Roxy sent you.

Garden State Ballet:

Garden State Ballet, where London and Maddie attend weekly ballet classes, will offer a summer program at each of its three locations in Randolph, Rutherford, and Newark, NJ. Last year, London and Maddie experimented with modern dance and found that they enjoy it even more than ballet… now both of my girls have added weekly modern dance classes and will dance in two different workshops in this year’s recital.

Girl Scout Camp

Last summer, London and Maddie tried Girl Scout Camp in Jockey Hollow for the first time and loved it. I’ll write more about their experience soon, but for now I’ll give you the link for Girl Scout Camp 2010 and let you know that the camp has my girls’ seal of approval and they will be headed back for one or two weeks this summer. There are one night sleepover opportunities for rising 3rd graders and up… last year London had a blast with an extra free swim, songs and stories by the campfire, and trying out her sleeping bag in one of the cabins.

Word of Mouth Summer Camps, Untested by this Roxiticus Desperate Housewife:

We have friends who swear by Harbor Hills Day Camp in Randolph, NJ. Since I have a nanny (remember, I’m an investment banker, not really a housewife), I’m not really interested in putting my kids on a bus at 8 in the morning and not seeing them again until 4 or 4:30pm. However, if you’re looking for a full day camp with round-trip bus service and all the “country club” extras your kids can imagine (swimming, bungee jumping, go carts, etc.), Harbor Hills may be the place for you.

Hi-Hills Day Camp at Gill St. Bernards is right down the street from us in Gladstone, NJ. Cheaper than Harbor Hills but not quite as luxurious, Hi-Hills does offer horseback riding.

Meadowbrook Country Day Camp in Long Valley, NJ is another option if you’re looking for full day care, want to spend a bit less than you would at Harbor Hills, and want your kids to have a more outdoorsy camp experience (e.g., fishing instead of bungee jumping). My good friend and fellow Roxiticus Desperate Housewife, Lynette, has twins who have enjoyed the camp for the past two summers, and one of my loyal readers left the following comment: “My 2 children have attended Meadowbrook for the past 2 summers (and attended Valley Brook, the adjoining preschool and kindergarten school). They have had a wonderful time, had tremendous supervision (pools have always scared me at camps!) and have made long time friends. Wonderful summers at Meadowbrook.”

Roxy’s Mailbag received a rave for Soulshine Farm Summer Camp in Randolph, NJ: Yoga, farm activities, organic food!

More from Roxy’s Mailbag: Are you doing another post this year about camps? If so, I would love to give you information about the camp my kids have attended for the past 9 summers, headed into our 10th. I also work for the camp. It’s JCC Camp Deeny Riback in Flanders. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have on the camp. Thanks — Lauren.

Please see the comments on this post for a thoughtful review of Stonybrook Day Camp in Randolph, NJ.

If you have a favorite summer camp that you’d like to share with Roxy’s Best Of… readers, please leave a comment on this post or contact Roxy. With your input, I’d love to be able to expand Roxy’s Best Of… summer camp recommendations beyond Morris County NJ and Somerset County NJ.

Pavan’s Tennis Academy is Moving in May 2010… to Flanders Valley Tennis Club, Flanders NJ

Roxy — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:23:34 +0000

On and off for the past four years, London and Maddie have taken tennis lessons with Pavan Patel through Pavan’s Tennis Academy at Fox Chase Tennis Club in Chester, NJ, and Pavan also runs an awesome summer tennis camp for kids of all ages (kindergarten through high school). Pavan Patel was one of the first United States tennis instructors to introduce “Quick Start Tennis,” popular in Europe, to his lessons and clinics here in New Jersey. Last summer, London and Maddie spent three hours a day with Pavan for one week in August and both girls dramatically improved their strokes and presence on the tennis court.

So I was disappointed (because Flanders is too far to drive for after school tennis lessons and my girls don’t want to play at Fox Chase without Pavan) to receive the following email from Pavan in mid-February:

As many of you know, I have resigned and ended my tenure at Fox Chase Tennis Club effective May 22, 2010. However, I am very pleased to announce that as of May 23, 2010 I will commence training and coaching as a joint partner & shareholder of the Flanders Valley Tennis Club. In this new and exciting venture I will expand Pavan’s Tennis Training Center (formerly Pavan’s Tennis Academy) at Flanders Valley Tennis Club. This exciting change will allow me and my talented staff to offer an elite level of coaching service and development for junior and adult players of all levels.

I also want to take this opportunity and thank Greg for allowing me to coach at Fox Chase Tennis Club. During the last six years at Fox Chase I have made more friends than I could have ever hoped for. It has been a privilege to work with and share my teachings with the men, women, and children at Fox Chase and I shall cherish each and every memory. To all of you who have supported me and Pavan’s Tennis Academy over the last six years, thank you.

My tennis philosophy is not only to instill in adults and children a love of the game but also to provide a sport that will allow recreational players to keep fit and healthy for the rest of their lives.

Competitive players, on the other hand, will be challenged by me and my professional staff to reach the heights of elite tennis whether they wish to compete in USTA events, play for their high school team or play at the collegiate level.

To fully explain our programs and to tour the club, I intend to hold a number of open houses at the end of March and later in the first week of May. Further information about the summer camps will be sent to you in the next few weeks.

From my new home at Flanders Valley Tennis Club I look forward to offering you my expanded service that will include:

Junior tennis development programs from beginner to elite levels
Personalized coaching programs for adults and juniors of all levels; to include competitive players
Tailored coaching programs for groups
Cardio tennis
Round robins for all levels
USTA Tournament
Personalized strength training program

The changes don’t stop there! Flanders Valley Tennis Club will undergo extensive refurbishment over the next few months in preparation for our new advanced operations. Our new modernized club will offer upgraded facilities to make your visit to Flanders Valley Tennis Club an enjoyable one. Special emphasis will be placed on your child’s development with homework centers, incorporating iMac computers, being an integral feature of the new club. Upgraded facilities will include:

iMac equipped homework center for the kids
Lounge, incorporating one 52″ and two 42″ TV’s
New carpeting
Gas fireplace
Upgraded bathrooms and changing facilities
Six (6) resurfaced indoor tennis courts
New court nets
New court dividers
Four (4) outdoor tennis courts
Outdoor swimming pool and much, much more…..

Pavan’s Tennis Academy will expand under a new name, Pavan’s Tennis Training Center. The training center will offer you and your children expert and elite tennis by our highly qualified coaching staff, Pavan Patel, Marc Massaad and Maja Zivcicova.

I am also very excited to announce a new summer program for intermediate, advanced intermediate, USTA, JV and varsity levels at Flanders Valley Tennis Club from June 21, 2010 through August 23, 2010, 9:00am-3:00pm. This will be the first time that our summer program will include tennis, swimming, and round robin.

Approximate times for Summer Camp:

9am -3pm (High Performance, USTA Level, High School JV, Varsity Tennis, Swimming and Round Robin)
9am -12 noon (Beginner & Low Intermediate Tennis only)
9am -1pm (Beginner & Low Intermediate, Intermediate and swimming)
10am -12 noon (Beginner & Low Intermediate Tennis only)
9am-10am (Quick Start Tennis only Age 4-7)
9am -12 noon (Quick Start, Arts & Craft & Swimming Age 6-8)

Please visit Pavan’s Tennis Training Center for more information

PAVAN’S TENNIS TRAINING CENTER’S STAFF

Pavan Patel

22 years coaching experience
Specializes in a player’s development program
PTR and USPTA certified
Was 2000 PTR national Tester of the year
Was 2001 PTR Pro of the year
Worked with the world’s best such as Amanda Coetzer, who reached world ranking #3
Was a ranked player in India (Top 3)
1986 Compete in Indian tennis circuit and Ranked #3 in India Under 18
1987-1990 played ITF Satellite and challenger tournaments
1986-87 Played Junior Davis Cup

Marc Massaad

PTR Certified Tennis Teaching Professional
2003 PTR New Jersey Professional Tennis Teacher of the Year Award
2005 Humanitarian Award through the PTR
2005 Volunteer of the Year Award through the PTR
Former Director of (Tennis Sparta Tennis Club) Sparta, NJ.
Director at Panther Valley Racquet Club, Summer Season

Maja Zivcicova

PTR Certified Tennis Teaching Professional
2006 - 2008 St. John’s University Women’s Tennis Team Division I (Captain) Played position #1 in singles and doubles
ITF Juniors (World Ranking) Career High Singles #149, Doubles #114
ITF junior ranking in 1999 was higher than currently world No. 1 Danara Safina (WTA)
Trained with former Professional Czech tennis player Hana Mandlikova (Winner of 1985 US Open and 1987 Austrian Open)
Staff Teaching Professional at Sport Time, Harbor Island, NY

As you can see I am truly excited about the new opportunities at Flanders Valley Tennis Club and extend an invitation to all of you to share it with me and Pavan’s Tennis Training Center.

If you have any questions or wish to speak with me personally regarding a specialized tennis program for you or your child e-mail me at ptatennis at mac dot com or please call me at (973) 479-1329

I am always available to discuss your recreational or competitive needs.

Sincerely,

Pavan Patel

Roxy’s Best of Summer Camp 2010

Roxy — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:55:29 +0000

Cub Camp - For students entering Kindergarten in September 2010
Junior Tiger Camp - For students entering 1st and 2nd grades in September 2010
Tiger Camp - For students entering 3rd and 4th grades in September 2010
Bulldog Camp - For students entering 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades in September 2010

Annie’s Playhouse Summer Stars. Phone: (908) 658- 3002. Please be sure to let Annie know that Roxy sent you.

Pavan’s Tennis Academy Summer Camp has moved to Flanders Valley Tennis Club

Randolph Gymnastics

Garden State Ballet:

Girl Scout Camp

Word of Mouth Summer Camps, Untested by this Roxiticus Desperate Housewife:

Hi-Hills Day Camp at Gill St. Bernards is right down the street from us in Gladstone, NJ. Cheaper than Harbor Hills but not quite as luxurious, Hi-Hills does offer horseback riding.

Roxy’s Mailbag received a rave for Soulshine Farm Summer Camp in Randolph, NJ: Yoga, farm activities, organic food!

This just in from Dotty DeCota at Kangaroo Kidz Youth Gymnastics in Bernardsville, NJ: Summer camp runs from June 21-August 6 with full day and 1/2 day options. The full day runs from 9am -3pm and there are two 1/2 day options: for 3 and 4 yr olds 9-11:30am; for 5-12 yr olds 11:30am-3pm. Some camp activities include: Recreational gymnastics, crafts, games, pizza parties and more. Each week has a theme and the gym turns into the theme for the week. Please visit our website at www.kangarookidz.com for themes and prices. Or call Dotty DeCota at 908-766-0300.

Please see the comments on this post for a thoughtful review of Stonybrook Day Camp in Randolph, NJ.

From Roxy’s Mailbag: Anything Goes at Bernards High School… at least from Friday, March 19th through Sunday, March 21st!

Roxy — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:11:54 +0000

Dear Roxy,

Can you possibly put this in your Bernardsville area blogs?

Come join more than 125 Somerset Hills School District students including a Bernards High School cast of 70, 15 technicians, 20 orchestra members, 5 cast members from Bernardsville Middle School, and a cameo chorus of 30 Bedwell Elementary students and set sail from the SHSD Performing Arts Center for a fun filled romp where ANYTHING GOES. Bernards High School is proud to present the smash hit musical, ANYTHING GOES Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 at 7 pm and Sunday, March 21 at 2 pm. Tickets are available at Bernardsville Hardware and Equipment Rental, 139 Morristown Road, Bernardsville or at the front desk at Bernards High School. For more information email bhsdramatickets@yahoo.com. Hope to see you on board!

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London and Maddie’s First Snowboard from the Sports Section in Mendham, NJ

Roxy — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:11:45 +0000

Roxy’s loyal readers know that, over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives site, I’ve been posting about London and Maddie’s new love of the snow… snowmen, snow angels, sledding, and my hope of finding them a simple kids snowboard to use to slide down the hill in our front yard in the Roxiticus Valley (not on the mountains of Whistler, Vail or Deer Valley).

Given the amount of snow we’ve had this year and coinciding with the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, it seemed like the right time for nine-year-old London and eight-year-old Maddie to try snowboarding. However, after doing some basic Internet research on kids’ snowboarding, I had decided I would need Roxy (the snowboard and clothing company) to sponsor Roxy (the blogger) with London and Maddie’s first set of snowboard equipment (stay tuned for happy ending that doesn’t involve sponsorship). While I thought it would be fun for each of my girls to have one of those Roxy snowboards with the cool graphic designs just to slide down the hill in front of our house, I didn’t realize that snowboarding could be as complicated and expensive as skiiing… snowboard, bindings, boots, helmet… While I waited for the snowboard offer to come in from Roxy to Roxy for next season, I considered tracking down a couple of those plastic cafeteria trays used for snowboarding back in my days as a college student at Syracuse University.

Last weekend, temperatures reached the high 40’s and I decided spring was here. However, the snow returned to the Roxiticus Valley on Thursday and Friday… and on those two snow days off from school, London and Maddie broke their red plastic snowboggan.

Luckily, while London and Maddie were in their Saturday morning Mendham Patriots basketball clinic this morning, Rex and I went over to the Kings shopping center in search of London’s request for “skirt on a hanger” — skirt steak and hangar steak from the butcher at Kings. As we were leaving the shopping center, Rex spied a couple of simple plastic sleds in the window at the Sports Section. To make a long story short, we decided to return and pick up the sleds after London and Maddie’s play dates later in the afternoon. When we returned, the sleds were sold out! However, the Sports Section still had two family toboggans (we bought one for $29.99) and a small selection of simple kids snowboards… with “boot loops” for $29.99 and “any boot” bindings for $49.99. We bought the blue one with bindings you see the girls using in the photos. We got home around 4:30 in the afternoon, with about an hour and a half of light left in the day, and the girls were out having a blast and picked up the kick swivel turns and slide moves right away.

The Sports Section sporting goods store

Kings Shopping Center, Mendham, NJ

84-88 East Main Street, Mendham NJ 07945

Phone: (973) 543-5200

For those of you who don’t live within driving distance of The Sports Section in Mendham, NJ, I’m doing my best to figure out where you can get one of these simple kids snowboards, but as you know, my earlier Internet research had me thinking I’d need to spend over $1,000 on snowboards, boots, and bindings for my two girls. The brand appears to be “ESP Advanced Level ProXX145,” but I can’t find it anywhere on the Internet… that’s why I gave up last weekend. So if you’re not from Mendham, NJ, here’s my recommendation: please call The Sports Section (tell ‘em Roxy sent you) at (973) 543-5200 and ask them how to get one of these really cool and simple snowboards…

We’ll be heading back to The Sports Section in a few weeks to get a pitchback for Maddie’s 8th birthday… the girls are starting Little League fast pitch softball this year.

London and Maddie Read to Feed at Mendham Township Elementary School

Roxy — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:38:48 +0000

The Tiger Leaders at Mendham Township Elementary School have organized their fellow students to “Read to Feed” to raise money for Heifer International. Until March 17th, 2010, London will be reading as many pages as they can, and have raised $120 in pledges from our family sponsors… enough to buy a Gift of a Goat donation. Maddie’s goal is to read 600 pages (including Wellspring of Magic by Jan Fields, two Amelia books, and a Judy Moody); London plans to read 1,200 pages (including Mary Lou Retton’s autobiography, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and Tunnels).

Summer Camp 2010 at Randolph Gymnastics

Roxy — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:30:24 +0000

There’s another 4 to 7 inches of snow headed for the Roxiticus Valley tonight and tomorrow, so I’ve decided to warm things up by reviewing London and Maddie’s summer camp options. While I will write about ballet, tennis, singing and acting camps in the coming weeks, today’s focus is gymnastics summer camp for kids 5 and up.

London and Maddie are in the midst of another great year of weekly gymnastics lessons at Randolph Gymnastics. The new session started the week of February 8th and runs through May 1st. If you’d like your child to get started right away, they’re very flexible about pro-rating the session cost for the remaining weeks. Since the kids have off from school today (Monday, February 15th) for Presidents’ Day, Randolph Gymnastics is hosting an open workout from 1 to 3pm. It’s a great chance for you to see how your kids like it while you meet the instructors. For $10/person, you can turn them loose at Randolph Gymnastics, where instead of jumping on your sofa, kids can go crazy on the inflatables (giant slide and bouncing castle), as well as the trampolines, balance beams, and other gymnastics equipment, all supervised by a staff of professional instructors.

A few weeks ago, Rex and I had the chance to stop by and see our girls in action during a Friday make up lesson, and we continue to be impressed when we see Maddie cartwheeling on the balance beam and London’s back flips on the trampoline.

Over the summer, starting the week of June 28th and running through August 27th, Randolph Gymnastics offers a 10-week Summer Day Camp Program for aspiring gymnasts age 5 and up to learn or maintain their gymnastics skills during the off-season. Both a full and half day camp schedule is available. The full day runs from 9:00am through 4:00pm and half day runs 9:00am through 1:00pm. Before care starting at 8am and after care until 6pm is available if needed for $5/hour per child. Some of the camp’s activities will include: recreational gymnastics & open work-out, arts & crafts, games and races, swimming, non-contact team sports, and a climbing wall.

The awesome climbing wall shown in the photo on the left is right next door at Randolph Climbing Center, where London and Maddie have enjoyed several rock climbing birthday parties.

The Randolph Gymnastics Summer Day Camp schedule is flexible, and you’ll find rates on the Randolph Gymnastics web site for one to five days per week and one to ten weeks of camp.

Call Randolph Gymnastics at (973) 584-4111 to learn more about summer camp, group classes, private lessons or birthday parties. If you let Shannon know that Roxy sent you, she’ll arrange for an age and skill appropriate free trial class for your child.

Mansions in May Comes to Harding Township, NJ, in 2010

Roxy — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:45:59 +0000

Maddie, our family weather girl, tells me that it is 14 degrees outside and feels like zero, so it is hard to believe spring will ever arrive… but I just read in our local paper that Mansions in May is coming to Harding Township, New Jersey, this year. I’ll post more details and maybe a photo soon.

The Women’s Association of Morristown Memorial Hospital (WAMMH) is pleased to announce its 15th Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens at Fawn Hill Farm in Harding Township, New Jersey. Proceeds from the May 2010 event will be directed toward the $25 million expansion of the Emergency Department at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Last renovated in 1993 to serve 50,000 patients per year, the Emergency Department is now approaching 80,000 visits per year with a 4% annual growth rate.

“The Mansion in May is our signature fundraiser,” said Tina Mulhare, President of WAMMH. “We are very excited to showcase Fawn Hill Farm this year; it is an exquisite property. After evaluating over 100 proposals, 36 interior designers and 18 landscape designers were selected to create unique spaces around the property.”

The 34-acre estate, originally named Graymar Farm, traces back to 1937 when businessman Allan Kirby, the president of Alleghany Corporation, purchased part of a large farm located in prestigious New Vernon. The farm remained in the Kirby family until 1980. A few years later, the estate was acquired by its current owners, renamed, and greatly enhanced through a meticulous restoration of the main house and other buildings.

Fawn Hill Farm, one of the largest intact estates within the New York City tri-state area, is replete with picturesque pastures, ponds, stable and barns and adjoins miles of equestrian trails that lace Harding Township. At the heart of the estate sits a gracious 21-room stone manor perched atop a knoll, affording sweeping views of the countryside. This classic structure with a slate roof and colonnaded rear terrace boasts extensive moldings, arched doorways, pegged hardwood flooring, seven distinctive fireplaces, seven bedrooms and a grand wainscoted foyer with an elegant Georgian staircase.

The WAMMH has been a driving force and supporting presence since the hospital’s earliest days. The Association has over 750 members and raises more than $700,000 annually for the hospital. The Mansion in May is the most profitable event, generating over $5 million for Morristown Memorial Hospital since its inception in 1974.

WAMMH’s 2008 Mansion in May at Froh Heim involved over 1,000 individuals volunteering in excess of 12,000 hours in the Showhouse and Gardens. Over 18,000 visitors attend the Mansion during the month of May. Volunteer to work at the mansion during May by emailing MIMvolunteer@optonline.net or call the Volunteer Hotline at 973-971-8800.

Mansion in May - Fawn Hill Farm will be open for the entire month of May. To learn more visit www.WAMMH.com or www.MansioninMay.com. Fawn Hill Farm is available for sale. Contact Mary Horn of Weichert Realtors at 973-713-9489.

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School Holiday Open Workouts… and Another Amazing Make-Up Lesson for London and Maddie with Coach Jordan at Randolph Gymnastics

Roxy — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:47:43 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I feel like the last month or so of holidays was both relaxing and a blur… while we had plenty of family time, including Rex’s terrific holiday meals, with London and Maddie’s brothers, sister, niece, nephews and grandmothers, we got away from our usual routines… ballet, modern dance, gymnastics. Now that we’re back at school, we’re off to a great start in the New Year 2010, and the girls are happy to be back to their after-school classes at Randolph Gymnastics, including a couple of fun Friday night make-ups with Coach Jordan for the classes we missed during the hectic holidays.

Our Friday night make-up sessions have become a big event for the whole family, since instead of having our nanny drive the girls to class, Rex and I go along to see the progress they’re making in their classes at Randolph Gymnastics, followed by dinner at Pizza Pub in Ironia or Redwoods in Chester, NJ. Even though our girls will never be Olympic champions, we are always impressed with the moves and positions they’re able to perform… Maddie has become a master of the “bridge” and is practicing the back walkover… a position that demonstrates her incredible flexibility, while London loves the back bend kickover so much that she’s writing a “how to” for her third grade class. Both of the girls keep working to improve their flips, handsprings and carthweels on the in-ground power tumble track. Whenever I see them bouncing down the track, I want to jump right in! Even though many of the moves are quite challenging, with Coach Jordan there to “spot” the girls (and catch them before they fall), we never have to worry that they’ll hurt themselves by doing something they shouldn’t. A reminder that if your child is really talented, Randolph Gymnastics also offers private lessons with many of their coaches.

Even though we’re just past ten days of Christmas holidays, on Monday, January 18th, London and Maddie and kids all over New Jersey are looking forward to a day off in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Instead of having the kids running around the house, bouncing off the walls and looking for something to do… why not let them burn off that energy with an Open Workout at Randolph Gymnastics? For $10/person, you can turn them loose at Randolph Gymnastics, where instead of jumping on your sofa, kids can go crazy on the inflatables (giant slide and bouncing castle), as well as the trampolines, balance beams, and other gymnastics equipment, all supervised by a staff of professional instructors. Open Workouts will be offered at Randolph Gymnastics from 1:00 to 3:00pm on Monday, January 18th (MLK), and Monday, February 15th (Presidents’ Day).

The next session starts February 8th and runs through May 1st, with open registration starting on January 25th. So if your children love their Open Workout, you can meet the instructors and sign up for weekly classes, available for all ages and abilities. London and Maddie have been attending classes since they were toddlers, and while they’re not likely to make the Randolph Gymnastics team, they’ve progressed to Novice II and Novice III and show no sign of stopping.

Call Randolph Gymnastics at (973) 584-4111 to learn more about group classes, private lessons or birthday parties. If you let Shannon know that Roxy sent you, she’ll arrange for an age and skill appropriate free trial class for your child.

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