See Santa arrive on the big red fire engine at the Mendham Junior Women’s Club Winter Carnival on Saturday, December 5th from 10:00am until 2:00pm at the Brookside Community Club. Proceeds from this family fun event will benefit vital programs and services within Morris County.

• Bring your camera to take a picture with Santa in front of fireplace in time for Holiday cards - arriving at 11:30AM, visiting till 12:30PM
• Several Girl Scout, Brownie and Daisy troops will be there for a singalong… I know Maddie’s troop will be there, and London’s troop will be caroling at Kings
• There will be games (Cupcake Walk, Christmas Tree Ring Toss, Lollipop Snowman, Bean Bag Toss) with prizes
• Crafts: Make a Tree Ornament or Necklace
• Activities: Face & Nail Painting, Tattoos
• 50 / 50 Raffle
• Baked goods, bagels, pizza and drinks available for sale
• No Admission Fee – help MJWC help others, and have a fun time with the family while doing so!

For more information contact www.mendhamjuniors@gmail.com.

We’ve started our Thanksgiving weekend, and in addition to the usual reasons we give thanks (family, friends, good health), I would like to say thank you to every Mendham Township Taxpayer, whether or not you voted to pass the 2009-10 school budget, for contributing to the school programs that benefit my children, London and Maddie. Here’s why:

After our November parent-teacher conferences, I sent the following letter to Mendham Township Schools Superintendent Kris Harrison, MTES Principal Cara Allen, and Director of Curriculum Sandy Cullis:

Rex and I wanted to let you know how pleased we’ve been with the new programs at MTES this school year. Whenever we’ve been in the school halls, we’ve felt a very positive vibe among the students that reflects your “discipline with love” style, making “respect,” “cooperation,” and “work ethic” mean more than just words on a bulletin board. From the Outdoor Learning Center to additional technology in every classroom, the changes have taken MTES to a higher level. London and Maddie come home from school every day with enthusiastic stories about their classes with Allison Klacik and Laura Gallagher, and they’re even more excited about Gateways and Quest with Dori Smyth. Last week during conferences, Rex and I had the opportunity to meet with all three teachers to discuss our daughters’ progress, and we are thrilled about the enrichment experiences they have received from Gateways and Quest. It’s clear there’s an extra bounce in their steps because of these programs.

As you may know, we have been focused on challenging our children through a Gifted & Talented program at MTES since London started Kindergarten in September 2006, and your team’s implementation and execution in the program’s first year is impressive. The daily opportunity for London to go out to Gateways to read and interact on a level with her academic peers has made a world of difference in advancing her reading comprehension, encouraging her to reach to get to a higher level, and inspiring/continuing her love of learning. Beyond academic success, Rex and I have emphasized the value of leadership to our children, and Allison Klacik let us know that London has taken a strong leadership role in sharing her Quest experiences with the rest of her third grade class. In the second grade, Maddie has really grabbed hold of the weekly puzzles in her Gateways class, and always accepts the extra challenges that Dori Smyth delivers. Maddie has made serious progress in reading this year, as well as discovering and excelling at logic puzzles. Nancy Fuller continues to make sure math isn’t left out of the enrichment equation, and her energy brings out the math whiz in all of us when the girls bring home her enrichment packets.

Please let us know if there’s anything more we can do to continue to support Gateways, Quest, and other enrichment programs at MTES, and do let Dori Smyth know that both kids and parents believe she’s doing a fantastic job. Keep up the solid effort!

Kris Harrison responded quickly and reminded me that “During these difficult financial times, our schools, like others, will face deep scrutiny over every budgetary line item.  As we move forward this year, please feel free to share your experiences with other families and your neighbors who do not have children in our schools as every positive story should be told.  If our community is informed about how well we are meeting students’ needs  there should be little worry about passing the budget and sustaining programs such as G&T/Enrichment and guidance that so often can be characterized as luxury items.” 

So at Thanksgiving, I thought it was just the right time to thank each and every one of the Mendham Township taxpayers, particularly those of you who don’t have children or whose children have grown up and no longer benefit from the programs offered at our elementary and middle schools.  In addition to the Gifted and Talented programs, I never realized until Sarah Springer, the new Mendham Township Elementary School guidance counselor, came into our lives how much my daughters needed her.  Without airing too much of our family’s dirty laundry, I’d like to acknowledge how important a guidance counselor turned out to be:  London consulted Mrs. Springer for strategies to deal with her recurring nightmares about people-stealers; Maddie has also needed a resource for issues related to stress and worries.

For parents of children who don’t participate directly in the new MTES Quest and Gateways programs, I’d encourage you to consider the idea that enrichment benefits everyone.  When London goes out for 3rd Grade Gateways (reading enrichment on the seventh grade level), her friends who stay behind in Ms. Klacik’s class benefit from smaller reading groups and extra attention.  When she participates in Quest (the top 10% of academic achievers in the 3rd Grade), the rest of her class has an enrichment period devoted to Master Enrichment…  projects on each student’s topic of choice.

We’ve just come home after an awesome performance of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Hexagon Players of Mendham.  I believe there are still tickets available for next weekend’s performances, and our family recommends that you scoop them up and check out a spectacular show.  I’ll try to write a longer review over the next few days, but for now let’s say the adorable Oompah Loompahs stole the show.

Actually, I’ve got six (6) golden tickets… to the Hexagon Players’ Sunday, November 15th matinee performance of Willy Wonka at Delbarton Preparatory School in Mendham, New Jersey.

Back in June, I told you all about London’s audition for a part in the Hexagon Players Fall production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. After waiting among hundreds of wannabe Oompa Loompas until way past her bedtime, London bravely belted out “The Climb” and danced the Oompa Loompa dance while Maddie and I cheered her on.  I like to think our scheduling conflicts rather than London’s singing and dancing talents were the reason she didn’t get a part, but we are looking forward to seeing one of her good third grade buddies in the upcoming show.

Willy Wonka performances are scheduled for Friday, November 13th and Saturday November 14th at 7:30 pm; Sunday, November 15th at 2 pm; Friday, November 20th at 7:30 pm; and Saturday, November 21st at 2 pm and 7:30 pm.

P.S. — if you click on the Oompa Loompa you can make him dance.

We’ve just received the following H1N1 Influenza Update via London and Maddie’s “Backpack Mail,” so I thought I would share it with any of you who are seeking information about swine flu shots in the Mendham, Bernardsville, and Morris and  Somerset County NJ area.  The first part of the letter outlines basic healthy and hygiene practices, but farther down you’ll find details on who “qualifies” for the first round of H1N1 vaccines, and when and where to get them.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

With the peak of flu season just around the corner, we are beginning to see an increase in the number of students demonstrating influenza like illness. As with all past notices on this topic, we encourage you to make sure that you are reinforcing healthy habits with your child in your home as we are in school. We must all remember the following basics:

• Wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer;
• When sneezing or coughing, use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as germs spread easily that way;
• If someone is ill they must stay home;
• If ill with a fever and other flu‐like symptoms, a doctor shoulAll illness must be reported to school office; and
• Be sure to get plenty of rest and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

If a child is out ill with two or more influenza‐like symptoms, he or she will be required to remain out of school for at least 24 hours after the last sign of a fever without the use of fever‐reducing medication. Our school nurses will require the submission of paperwork documenting the child’s illness that must be completed prior to re‐entry to school. Upon re‐entry, the school nurse will take the student’s temperature to ensure that he or she is fever free.

H1N1 Vaccination Clinics

The Bernards Township Health Department is the contractual health agency for Mendham Township and will be facilitating public H1N1 Vaccination Clinics.  The ‘first round’ of health department clinics will only focus on the following high‐risk categories:

• Pregnant women;
• People who live with or care for infants under six months of age;
• Health care and emergency medical service personnel with direct patient contact;
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age;
• Children 5 years through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions

For your convenience the health department is using an appointment based system. Preliminary health department clinics will be held from 4pm to 7pm:

• at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge on November 2,
• at West Morris Mendham High School in Mendham on November 3,
• and at Bernards High School in Bernardsville on November 4

For an appointment please refer to the website www.greatersomerseth1n1.org (also called the Somerset County ‘Shotline’) for an online appointment or by calling (908) 533‐9330. Residents can attend any clinic in any town listed on the Somerset County Shotline or choose to attend any clinic throughout Morris County and the State of New Jersey. In addition, please check with your private pediatrician or health care provider for availability of vaccine. Residents should check the Bernards Township Health Department website for updated local clinic information at www.bernardshealth.org. Should clinics be cancelled due to vaccine shortage, they will be rescheduled once vaccine is replenished. As additional supplies of vaccine become available, more will be able to receive it. Vaccination for H1N1 remains optional at this time, and you should consult your doctor with any questions or concerns. The Center for Disease ontrol continues to provide updated guidance on its website www.flu.gov as does the New Jersey Department of Health, www.state.nj.us/health .

Wishing you a healthy autumn,
Kristopher Harrison

An invitation to the December 6th performance of Handel’s Messiah at Hilltop Church just arrived in the mail, reminding me that this time last year, a few days before Halloween, we had about two inches of snow on the ground here in the Roxiticus Valley!  Thankfully, a repeat of last year’s freak snowstorm is not in the forecast, and it may even be sunny and almost 70 degrees for trick or treating on Saturday.

Even though we don’t have wintry weather in October to get us in the mood, it is time to make plans to attend the eighth annual presentation of Handel’s “Christmas” Messiah by the Music Ministry of Hilltop Church.  There will be two performances on Sunday, December 6th at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Rex, London, Maddie and I have attended Hilltop’s performance of Handel’s Messiah three or four times as a part of our annual Advent celebration, though the girls (still) grow impatient and cause us to leave long before the grand finale.  Our family missed last year’s performance due to a typical holiday scheduling conflict…was it Rex’s granddaughter’s performance in the Nutcracker or our annual get together with our old neighbors in New York’s West Village??

This year’s soloists are: Soprano, Jamie Baer Peterson; Mezzo, Elspeth Kincaid; Tenor, Brian Ernstes; and Bass, Richard Zuch; with Hilltop’s 50-voice Messiah Choir and full orchestra under the direction of Thomas Berdos, our church’s fabulous Music Director.

Tickets are available for $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for students. Ticket sales do not completely cover the costs of presenting Messiah to the community. Hilltop Presbyterian Church is grateful for the support of patrons in past years, and is seeking patrons again this year. For a donation of $60.00, patrons receive two tickets to either the 4:00 PM or 7:00 PM concert and will be listed in the concert program. Please send requests for tickets or patron tickets to Messiah Tickets, Hilltop Church, 14 Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ 07945, along with a self addressed stamped envelope with check made out to Hilltop Church/Messiah and the concert time you wish to attend.

We’ll hope to see you there!

Our family just received an invitation from the Ralston Engine Company (Mendham Township Fire Department) to meet our neighbors and our volunteer firefighters at a pancake breakfast, coming up on Sunday, October 11th from 8am to 11am.  As long as the weather is nice, we’ll be away at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, celebrating my birthday over the long Columbus Day weekend.  If you’re here in the Roxiticus Valley next weekend, I’d encourage you to head out for all you can eat pancakes, sausage, eggs, fruit and pastry at the Ralston Firehouse, 332 Mendham Road West (West of Roxiticus Road).  The contribution for adults is $7.50, children 7-12 are $5.00, and kids under 7 eat for free.  There’s also a special offer to attend the Ralston Pancake Breakfast and receive admission to the Restored Ralston Cider Mill (pictured on the right)…the combo price is $10 for adults, $6.50 for children 7-12, and kids under 7 eat and play for free.

Come out and set the course record this Saturday, October 3rd, at the first annual Mendham Harvest Hustle 5k Race, dedicated in thankful and loving memory to Sergeant Richard Morales. The sanctioned and certified course winds through historic Mendham Borough.  The children’s events include a 1k run and dashes.  After the race, “Catch the Wave” to the Mountain View Middle School Fair.

Event schedule

• 8:00am:  Check in
• 8:30am:  Kids’ Fun Run ($10 entry fee — cash or check on race day)
• 9:00am:  5K Race ($25 entry fee — cash or check on race day)
• 10:00am:  Awards Ceremony
• Just steps from the finish line:  Mountain View Fair

Start time for the race is 9am in Mendham Borough Park, Mountain & Park Avenues.  Pre-race packet pick-up is available on Friday, October 2nd, from 4pm to 6pm at the Borough Park Gazebo.

Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers overall and in fve-year age groups. All Kids’ Fun Run racers will also receive a finishers’ medal.  Custom-designed cotton T-shirts are guaranteed to all pre-registrants.

Proceeds will benefit the Mendham Borough Home and School Association, which seeks to enhance the education of public school students within Mendham Borough.  A portion of the race proceeds will also be used in tribute to Sergeant Richard Morales.  The community is grateful for his many years of dedicated service ensuring the safety of our children.

London and Maddie are still trying to decide if we can get up early enough on Saturday morning to participate in the Kids’ Fun Run at 8:30am… so maybe we’ll see you out there!

Yes, I should have given all of you a bit more advance notice about this fun family event, but I have been quite busy hosting Rex’s family reunion this weekend.  Tomorrow — Sunday, September 20th, 2009, from 11am until 4pm  – is the second annual Schiff & Mendham Junior Women’s Club (MJWC) Family Farm Festival at Middle Valley Farms. This year, they are bringing back the old staples - hay rides, a corn maze, games and activities — as well as some new activities such as music (Railroad Earth’s Todd Shaeffer) and a Juried Art Exhibit for the kids.

London’s Girl Scout Brownie troop will be running a couple of activities at the event – including these really cool bracelets and necklaces that have flowers and bugs inside of glass beads and a simple and fun pumpkin ring toss game. Tomorrow’s weather forecast is warm and sunny, so we’ve decided to bring the whole family — including London and Maddie’s aunts, uncles, and Grammy — to the Family Farm Festival, so we’ll hope to see you out there!

Advnce ticket prices were $10/adult, $5/child, but they may go up at the door.

If you can’t make it out to the second annual Family Farm Festival tomorrow, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy good old fashioned outdoor family fun.  From September through early November, Middle Valley Farms gives hay rides to their “pick-your-own pumpkin” patch and a challenging, five-acre corn maze. If you’re not quite up to these bold adventures, just relax on a hay bale with a cup of apple cider and a hand-dipped candy apple, breathe in the clean fresh air and enjoy the rolling countryside while the vibrant hues of autumn surround you.

Hay and straw are year round staples of Middle Valley Farms. They will plant it for you, harvest yours, or deliver what you need. Middle Valley Farms has mulch and feed hay as well as straw.  Would you prefer to hike on a clear fall day or take a walk in the light spring rain? Do it, and let Middle Valley Farm take care of your seasonal clean-ups. They will edge and mulch your garden and flowerbeds, and even deliver a cord of fire wood to warm you on the chillier, change-of-the-season nights. Last, but not least, Middle Valley Farms offers commercial snow plowing during those nasty winter months.

Middle Valley Farms
Pleasant Valley Road
Mendham, NJ 07945
Phone: 973-543-7789

Having spent a couple of sun and fun-filled weeks at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, before school started, Rex, London, Maddie and I are staying here for a rainy weekend in the Roxiticus Valley. The rain kept us away from the annual clam bake at the Brookside Community Club, and the Sounds Around Town event in Bernardsville was postponed until next Thursday, September 17th.

Luckily, the weather is expected to be warm and sunny tomorrow, so if you’re a local Morris County Roxiticus Desperate Housewives reader, we hope you’ll join us for “Rally Day” at Hilltop Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 13th. Since he joined our church late in the “school year,” many of you may not know that Hilltop Presbyterian Church has a new pastor — Robert Heppenstall III. This Sunday gives everyone a chance to hear one of Pastor Bob’s sermons while the kids kick off the 2009-10 Sunday School program at Hilltop Church. The students will have a chance to meet their teachers and new friends after they are dismissed to Fellowship Hall following the Time with Children in worship. Everyone is invited to gather after the 9:30am worship service to enjoy a delicious brunch for all and games for the kids, hosted by he Fellowship Committee.