Northvale
Vacation Bible school scheduled
Community Gospel Church invites children ages 4-12 years to experience, "Extreme Makeover: God Edition." Children will be learning to build their lives on the Lord as they discover the dramatic "makeover" in the life of the apostle Paul.
Demolition and reconstruction are set for Aug. 11-15, from 9 a.m. to noon. Daily activities include music, Bible stories, crafts, recreation and snacks.
For more information or to register, call the church at 201-768-6860. Online registration is also available at www.northvalecgc.com.
Community Gospel Church is located at 433 Birchwood Ave. in Northvale.
Norwood
Youth group helps fix parish house
The Immaculate Conception High School youth group traveled to Edgewater June 14 to help a family renovate their home with Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County.
The youth group is still in development stages and there has been a wonderful turnout of volunteers helping to clean-up, pull old wallpaper down and paint the entire parish house for Immaculate Conception Church in Norwood for their new priest, Fr. Leo Butler.
With the great response of helpful youth, the high school hopes the youth program will thrive.
For information on how to get involved, call Eileen Leocata at 201-784-2250.
Old Tappan
Join Vacation Bible School
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Pre-school in Old Tappan is offering Vacation Bible School for children 4 years of age through the sixth grade from July 28 to Aug. 1.
This year’s theme is "A Whale of a Tale, the Story of Jonah." Their format will be the same, filled with stories, games, songs and a snack, but this year they will be meeting in the evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
On Friday night, they will perform a play that shares what they have learned about God’s love through the reluctant prophet, Jonah.
The fee is $25 per child for the week. For more information, contact the Prince of Peace church office at 201-768-8691 or e-mail secretary@princeofpeacenj.org.
Ridgewood
Free summer sing set for residents
The Ars Musica Chorale will hold a free Summer Sing at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in choral music is invited to attend and sing with Music Director Robert Long and members of Chorale. Listeners are welcome. Scores will be provided for those who have not brought their own copies and light refreshments will be served. The evening will feature a reading of Franz Joseph Haydn’s "The Creation" with soloists.
Ars Musica Chorale recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Over the years, this organization has explored virtually every aspect of choral music from early masses to world premieres. The Chorale annually presents a season of concerts in Bergen County and has performed as a guest artist in such venues.
Long is recognized as an outstanding musician in the tri-state area. He served as director of music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral where he conducted the Cathedral Choir and many world-renowned guest artists, including Renée Fleming, Ruth Ann Swenson, Lauren Flanigan and the American Boychoir. He is also a founder of Seraphim, a New York City professional chamber chorus, and the Academy of Sacred Music in Altoona, Pa. He currently serves as music minister for Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham.
For more information or to schedule an audition for the 2008-2009 season, call 973-628-8793 or e-mail arsmusica@hotmail.com.
Rockleigh
Spring concert entertains crowd
The Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Russ Berrie Home for Jewish Living, welcomed a highly acclaimed performer, Hagit Avnon, to its sixth annual Myrna and Alan Cohen Spring Concert. The event was made possible through an endowment established by Syril and Lenny Rubin and Eleanor and Ed Epstein in honor of Myrna and Alan Cohen, who have since added to it generously, said Melanie S. Cohen, vice president of development and public relations.
The show, "Nefesh," or Jewish soul, touched on the history of Jews in Isreal from 1948 when the country was founded with a population of 600,000 Jews to today — after 60 years — when the country has a population of six million Jews, according to the performer.
Using slides of Israel and a schtatel (little town) in Europe as a backdrop to her songs and dances, Avnon was accompanied on the piano by her husband, Zvi Klein.
She related the story of her father who was born in Poland and moved to Israel after surviving a concentration camp. Singing a mix of songs in Yiddish and English, she included members of the audience in songs and dances as well as her son, Dvir, who performed on the violin and her daughter, Hillit, who played the flute.
An overflow crowd attended the concert, including residents of JHR and Jewish Home Assisted Living in River Vale as well as families of residents and members of the community. One resident of a nearby town said she looks forward to this concert every year.
For directions or more information about the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, call 201-784-1414.
Teaneck
Scholarship donations sought
In honor of Pearl Ratushewitz’s 37 years as head of the day care school, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is setting up a special scholarship fund for students to attend the Montessori Early Learning Center.
They are looking for ex-students and their families to make a tax-deductible contribution to this fund. Checks made out to the "St. Paul’s Miss Pearl Scholarship Fund" can be sent to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Miss Pearl Fund, 61 Church St., Teaneck NJ 07666.
St. Paul’s is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving the communities of Teaneck, Englewood and Ridgefield Park for almost a century.
Sunday Services are 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 201-837-3189.
Tenafly
Bat Mitzvah Club meets Mondays
Lubavitch on the Palisades is proud to present the Bat Mitzvah Club, a club for girls becoming Bat-Mitzvah led by Naomi Gershovitz.
The Bat Mitzvah Club is much more than a party; it’s a life-changing experience. Girls learn about the significance of their Bat Mitzvah and explore their uniqueness as Jewish women reaching this important milestone. Girls will get to know their Jewish self through art, creative writing and community outreach. Discussions on hot topics, sharing interests, goals, hopes and dreams through their own Club journal, are just a few of the many items presented. By joining the Bat Mitzvah Club, a Bat Mitzvah girl will receive the best gifts that will last a lifetime: self-confidence, Jewish pride and lasting friendships.
The Club meets every other Monday from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at the Beth Aharon Forem Chabad House located at 11 Harold St., Tenafly. For more information please contact Naomi Gershovitz at 201-871-1152 or visit us at www.chabadlubavitch.org.
