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NRG Energy Backpacks donation, Aug. 2009
Abalos_press_release 1-7-03
Kerrie_Peterson 5-23-04
Latina Womens' Council 8-25-03
| Date: 21 April 2003 | ||
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2003 Re: Pete Bussone gets Cherish the Child Award Pete Bussone, a voluntary member of the Board of Directors of Better Beginnings, has been selected to receive a Cherish the Children 2003 award. These awards have become a valued tradition in the Mercer County community. The award will be presented at a banquet on April 30 by the Mercer County Cherish the Children Foundation, an offshoot of the Commission on Abused, Neglected and Missing Children.
Mr. Bussone’s considerable managerial and professional talent is an asset to the center. His compassionate and generous nature towards the families, children and staff of Better Beginnings is exceptional. He and his wife, Kerrie, provide each child at the center with a bilingual book for his or her birthday. They also provide a holiday stocking for each child, stuffed with goodies. He picks up the tab for the staff’s annual holiday party. He also provides other incentives that promote and express appreciation to staff and volunteers. In December 2003 when he heard that the center did not have a gift for the children’s holiday, wrote a check for $500 on the spot.
Mr. Bussone and his wife are known to provide meals to families that are going through crisis. They took into their home and provided care for a medically dependent elderly (unrelated) neighbor who did not want to be placed in a nursing home. The American Diabetic Association recognized him for his support and generosity to their various functions, including providing meals for their bike-a-thons.
“Pete”, also known as the “Neighborhood Good Guy”, grew up in Lake Forrest, Illinois. He was a star football player at Western Illinois University, where he earned a degree in Law Enforcement. Subsequently he changed gears and earned a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. In New Jersey, he works for Macaroni Grill, a Division of Brinker International. He is Regional Manager for seven restaurants in New Jersey and New York. He is the father of eight, ages 29 to one.
Base price for tickets to the banquet is $20. Tables of ten can be reserved. For further information: Luz Nereida Horta, 609-448-6226. |
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| Date: 5 March 2003 | ||
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2003 Re: Project Star Shine April is a very special month for advocates for children, families, and those who serve them as volunteers and professionals. Better Beginnings is asking that others join them in bringing recognition and action to this project. The Center has chosen to initiate a Milagros Project, in which children through their art work and written words express their aspirations, feelings and desired, and hopes that other children's organizations and schools will join them. The center is currently looking for sites in which to exhibit the milagros, preferably at commercial and business establishments and other public places, where they can be viewed by many. Other projects children, schools, and other youth organizations may wish to undertake include poster competitions, visits, entertainments, art activities, folk festivals, bone marrow drives, relay races, clinics, concerts, Cascarones festival, Ballet folklórico festival, family field-day, father-child events, kite making, paper hat day, family relay races, cook book, youth forum, tortilla cook-off. The following are the Goal and Objectives of Project Star Shine: I. Goal: To participate, and encourage others to participate, in National Campaigns to recognize and celebrate The Week (April 6-12, 2003) and the Month (April 2003) of the Young Child, National Youth Service Day (April 11-13, 2003) National Volunteer Week (April 27-May 3, 2003, and the new National Holiday that celebrates and uplifts all children in the United States, El Dia de los Ninos (April 30, 2003). The celebrations shall create opportunities for children of different ethnic groups to get to know each other's culture, and shall include various ethnic, cultural, racial and religious groups. Objective: To involve community leaders, organizations and members in a month-long celebration that uplifts and brings attention to the contributions and needs of young children, Youth, their families, and shows appreciation of those who serve them as volunteers and professionals.Objective: To help children and youth believe in themselves, articulate their feelings and desires, feel empowered and able, and to develop an appreciation of diversity and an understanding of concepts of self-responsibility, integrity, and self-expression.Objective: To show appreciation for those -families, professionals, and volunteers- who regularly and consistently contribute to the well-being of children and youth by helping to ensure that every child and young person experiences the type of early environment that will promote their early learning and enhance their ability to reach their full potential. Better Beginnings hopes that many others, community members, organizations, governing bodies, religious groups, schools, will join in this celebration. Better Beginnings plans to wind up the celebrations on April 30 with a multi-cultural covered dish dinner at which community volunteers will be honored. We hope you will join us.For further information: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc http://www.nlci.org/activity/handbook.htm http://www.ysa.org/nysd/ http://www.pointsoflight.org/NVW/nvw.cfm http://www.naeyc.org/woyc/default.asp Luz Nereida Horta, Executive Director, 609-448-6226 |
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| Date: 12 February 2003 | ||
| Luz Nereida Horta, Executive
Director, and Aida Cecilia CampoVerde, Co-Director of Education, have just
returned from a national conference in San Antonio, Texas, where they
accepted one of thirteen NATIONAL AWARDS. (La Promesa de un Futuro
Brillante Awards). Once selected to be a La Promesa Program, the
organization enters a "network of extraordinary organizations and are
considered national models."
Cecilia's two sons, Christian and Fausto, also attended the conference. Both are graduates of Better Beginnings. "To be selected for La Promesa de un Futuro Brillante 2002,programs must meet the following criteria. Each program must:
ŠNational Latino Children ’s Institute
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| Date: 14 December 2002 | |||
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| Date: 23 Apr 2002 | 01:30:32 -0700 |
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The Better Beginnings Shining Star Nomination Committee is seeking nominations for the 2002 Mayors’ Shining Star Gala. Someone you know has been an involved, participating member of our
community. |
| Date: 5 Dec 2001 | 01:30:32 -0700 |
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| Date: 20 Jun 2001 | 06:54:32 -0700 |
If you can spare just two hours one morning a week for seven weeks this summer, you can make a difference in the lives of children that will affect the rest of their lives. By volunteering at Better Beginnings as a literacy mentor, using a well-known phonics program, you can help children who are entering Kindergarten or the first grade get a grasp on reading. Learning to read, loving to read, reading to learn is the purpose. Most of these children are learning to read in their second language.
The children love this program and what they call their “reading class”. The mentors do not need to be a teacher or have training in teaching reading. They will have an orientation, and it helps if they love to read.
Remember that unlike their peers in so-called “Abbott Districts”, these children do not have the benefit of a full-day Kindergarten program. An Abbott District is one where the N. J. Supreme Court has decreed that children must have full day preschool and Kindergarten. To be an Abbott District, a percentage of the children must qualify for free or reduced lunches. Still, this district does have abut 15% who do qualify, and who, without community help, will “fall through the cracks”. Touch the future ..... teach a child.
To sign up, call Better Beginnings at 609-448-6226 or e-mail bbcdc@altavista.com. To learn more about Better Beginnings, visit www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc, maintained by volunteer webmeister Liston Abbott.
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| Date: 30 May 2001 | 05:22:26 -0700 |
| While it was the intention of Better Beginnings’
Selection Committee to choose one community volunteer and one family
volunteer to be honored, it became very apparent that there were close
parallels in both categories.
Jeff Eder and Sgt. Freddy Jara Almonte will be honored as community volunteers who have made a real difference in the lives of the families and children of the Hightstown-East Windsor community. They will be recognized at the graduation ceremony at Better Beginnings on June 7, 2001, at 4:00 p.m. Both responded to the center’s need for “computer mentors” and became teachers, role models, recruiters, advocates and more. Both contributed greatly in the center’s objective of closing the digital divide. Both responded to a posting “on-line” on Volunteer Match. Both are leaving the area. Also being recognized as family volunteers who have been involved advocates are two sisters. Sherry Watkins and Angela Watkins each has a child enrolled in Better Beginnings’ preschool, both serve as parent board members, both work with staff and participate regularly in parent/staff meetings and activities, both frequently donate needed items including paper goods by the case, both participate in the penny drive, both are cheerful and positive in their interactions with staff, children and others. Importantly, both are enthusiastically involved with their children’s education, including looking for ideas to work on at home. Previous awardees include Minnie Bell, Liston Abbott, Binnie Thom, Marsha Fais, and Gloria Perez. ***** |
giving personal one-on-one lessons to staff members.
A Master’s student at Rutgers, he also mentored young students, of
kindergarten age, as they used computers for learning games and began to
search the Internet. During that time, he contributed to the penny drive, encouraged others to make donations, and became enthusiastically engaged in managing an emerging objective at the center. He started to make an “impossible” dream become a possible reality: to place a computer in the home of every student and family as a way of closing the divide. He recognized that the gap between the “haves and have nots” was widening as more and more information and learning courses were offered on line; and “distance learning” became a way for low income families to improve their employability, and their children to stay abreast of their peers in school. He solicited used computers on-line, from Rutgers where he was in the process of obtaining his master’s degree, and from Princeton University. He then undertook the task of assuring that every computer was usable, prior to its being distributed in a drawing, by lot, to the homes of children and their families. He shared the excitement and joy of the first families who took home computers, and with even greater zeal worked towards obtaining and repairing even more used computers for family use Jeff said that he grew up in the area and has known about Better
Beginnings all of his life. He encourages others to volunteer at
Better Beginnings because it is a great cause, it is rewarding, and you
are helping to build someone’s future life. His greatest joy, he
said, is to see the smiles on the faces of the children at Better
Beginnings. He believes that we all have something to share and are
meant to share it. He encourages young people to set goals and to
work towards them. |
| Jeff certainly has modeled that in his own life. He
became a Master of Public Policy at the Edward J. Bloustein School of
Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in May, following
undergraduate work in Government and Politics at the University of
Maryland in May 1999. His volunteer work also includes Monroe
Township Public Library where he taught senior citizens and high school
students. Jeff is leaving in June to live in New York and will soon
start his new career. He is certainly leaving his community a better
place. ***** “Sgt. Freddy” recruited others, including members of Better Beginnings’ staff, other community members, and his own “troops”, so that the new project soon had an almost one-on-one learning status. This also helped to assure that the lessons would continue during times when the Air Force needed his services elsewhere in the world. Sgt. Freddy extended himself in other ways. He drew up lesson plans that were easy for others to follow. He drew up schematics for the new owners of donated computers to follow when setting up their computers at home, and even went into the new learners’ homes when needed to get them started. That he could do this in Spanish or English added assurance to the success of the project. He also assisted in setting up a network at the center, repairing donated computers, providing interesting experiences for the children, and more. Sgt. Freddy encourages everyone to get involved and share |
their talents; he especially encourages young people to
take advantage of the many opportunities to advance themselves in this country, including, of course, the Air Force. Sgt. Freddy grew up in the Bronx. He plans to retire from the Air Force in New Mexico. He will be leaving McGuire in July or August for a new post. His sharing will live on in this community long after he flies away. ***** education. She encourages others to volunteer for the chance to see how much work is involved behind the scenes and because your child sees that you care about his school. She works for a medical publishing company and appreciates the effort to see that every child has a pc at home; also the teachers who work with you and give ideas and suggestions. The center also supports family and child with speakers and workshops on a variety of subjects such as finances and health. Her son is in the Smilies’ classroom. Angela’s mother lives in Virginia, but, obviously, she has family in New Jersey as well. She enjoys reading, biking, shopping and church activities, and time with her child. Her favorite children’s story is the Three Little Pigs because it shows that it you do something correctly the first time, it doesn’t have to be done again. Her greatest joy is seeing her son accomplish small things as well as take big steps. ***** |
| pregnant and her proudest moment is when her daughter
accomplishes one more step in her life. Examples of the way she believes that Better Beginnings encourages families and children to reach their full potential is having family/staff meetings combined with some kind of workshop or training pertaining to the home environment. Better Beginnings also encourages children to speak two languages and educates them to their full potential and beyond. Her daughter has demonstrated many courtesies, as well pre-literacy skills, recognizes numerals and letters, and other knowledge that often surprises her “Mom”. |
providing affordable child care for families and developmentally appropriate early childhood education for children. In addition, the center is a conduit for many services that improve lives and community: these include computer access, substance abuse and violence prevention programs, adult workshops, literacy programs, and more. For further information, Luz Nereida Horta, 609-448-6226, or Bettie Witherspoon, 609-448-8682. |
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| Date: 13 Feb 2001 | 13:47:13 -0800 |
The effect of domestic violence in a child’s life is the topic for the March 5 meeting of the family/staff meeting at Better Beginnings. The public is invited to the gathering from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Presenters from the Family & Children’s Service of Central New Jersey are Mary Anne Corica and Ingrid Ortiz, in English and Spanish, respectively. Babysitting will be provided. For further information: 609-448-6226.
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| Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 | 13:14:56 -0500 |
Recognition Presentation to Bettie Witherspoon
by the H-EW Board of Education
The East Windsor Regional Board of Education will make a special recognition presentation to Bettie Witherspoon, Director Emeritus of Better Beginnings Day Care Center at the school board's meeting on Monday, March 5th.
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| Date: 26 Jan 2001 | 08:59:31 -0800 |
Subject: Discipline workshop: February 5, 6pm.
Positive Discipline as a Form of Love is the topic for the adult workshop at Better Beginnings on February 5. Two workshops, one in Spanish and the other in English, will be held, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Center at 318 North Main Street in Hightstown. Babysitting will be provided, and the workshops are open to the public.
At 7:00, the workshops will adjourn to Borough Hall where participants will observe local government at work, at which time, incidentally, the children plan to thank Retired Chief Kevin Hopkins for his years of protecting and helping them.
Ideas that will be provided, primarily for working with ages 2-1/2 – 7, include:
Encouraging Children to take Responsibility for their own actions;Certificates of Participation will be provided. The workshops are available through a grant from Monmouth Presbytery.
Giving Choices instead of Orders;
and Setting Reasonable Boundaries.
For a map to the site, visit Better Beginnings’ page at Community Connections found by hitting the local button at NJ.com. To make reservations or for further information, call 609-448-6226 or email bbcdc@altavista.com.
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| Date: 1/13/2000 | 09:15 AM |
The number of classes in the Child Development courses for adults at Better
Beginnings has been doubled for the year 2001 because of a grant from the First
Presbyterian Church of Hightstown. The classes under the direction
of Child Care Connection will continue to earn continuing education units that
an individual can apply to Child Development Certification or
as credits for college. Classes will now occur twice a month as follows:
| February 12 February 26 March 5 March 19 April 9 April 23 May 14 May 28 June 11 June 25 July 19 July 23 August 6 August 20 September 10 September 24 October 8 October 29 November 12 November 26 December 3 |
Developmentally Appropriate Practices Curriculum Planning Transitions Planning for a Rainy Day Sand, Water, Wood Stress Management for Adults Promoting Language with Young Children Woring with Parents: conferences, meetings Field Trips Creating Classroom Partnerships Exploring Early Childhood Education Self Esteem Math & Science Cooking in Class Professionalism Violence Resource File review Parent Involvement Observing Young Children Advocacy Environmental Science |
FPCH Mission Commission, in making the grant, stated that they believed that the course of study would benefit both the adults and the children. Classes are open to the public at one-half the fee charged in 2000, I.e., $7.50 per class rather than $15.
For further information: Luz Nereida Horta or Bettie Witherspoon,
609-448-6226,
Executive Director and Director Emeritus, respectively.
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| Date: 12/19/2000 | 09:15 AM |
Princeton Area Community Foundation has once again invested in Better Beginnings' multicultural, bilingual program. A check for $9,000 to support the bilingual family coordinator was bestowed on the center in response to the center's request for such a grant.
The Princeton Area Community Foundation is a public foundation whose work is to oversee endowment funds set up by members of the community, and to make charitable grants to local nonprofit organizations. Begun in 1991 to bring services of a community foundation to the greater Mercer County area, it has consistently invested in Better Beginnings' service to the community.
Nancy Keiling, Executive Director of the Foundation, states "We have quite a unique overview. We're in touch with both the givers and receivers equally. We're a networking hub. We have a good sense of where the resources are and the nonprofits that are doing good work."
Other Mercer County nonprofit organizations benefiting from the foundation
are the Princeton Senior Resource Center, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, the
Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area and the Family &
Children's Services
of Central New Jersey.
The foundation, located in Skillman, NJ, has a 24-member board of trustees. "It's people who are committed to this area," said trustee Chairman William Burks. "They have the concept (of a community foundation) down and want to go ahead and further our goals." The Princeton Area Community Foundation is one of 500 community foundations nationwide and one of five in New Jersey.
Better Beginnings' mission is to provide affordable child care, primarily for the working poor. This year their Spanish-speaking population rose to 53%, so that having someone to provide Cecilia CampoVerde, recently promoted to Co-Director of Education, continues to also fill the position of Bilingual Family Coordinator. She does this two-prong job by working no less than ten hours a day. In looking back at 1999, she lists among significant achievements the provision of materials in Spanish and English, the distribution of used but usable computers to children and the provision of computer workshops for adult family members.
New Community Board Member Pete Bussone, Regional Manager of Macaroni Grill, has responded to the children's need to learn in English and Spanish by providing a library of children's books, the same book in Spanish and in English, which can be read in tandem to the children.
Very shortly thereafter, First Books recently gave the center a grant through the Local Advisory Board at RSVP. During 2001, the children’s home library will grow. The grant provides for 1000 books, not to exceed $2,500. Each child will during a given month receive two books, the same book in Spanish and in English. These books will be read through the month in the classroom. Then on a particular night, the books will be read together one more time, this time with families present, and will then go home for the child’s home library. All of the children, regardless of their first language, are learning to speak and read in two languages.
Better Beginnings has been providing affordable child care to the community since 1967, and also serves families and children by providing a number of other services including substance abuse and violence prevention, literacy,. computer access, and adult workshops.
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| Date: 20 Nov 2000 | 14:13:54 -0800 |
Liston Abbott has pledged one more year of service as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Better Beginnings. Also elected to office at the annual meeting of the Board on November 13 were Rosalind Davies, Vice Chair; Binnie Thom, Secretary; and Marsha Fais, Treasurer.
Re-elected for one-year terms as Parent Members of the Board were Rosalind Davies, Rosalyn Pittway and James Samah. Joining them are Christina Toledo, Glenn Martindell, Dina Ledesma, Ivette Pineda, Sherry Watkins and Angela Watkins.
Elected as Community Members of the Board for two-year terms were Marsha Fais, Larry Schneider, and Pete Bussone. They join Liston Abbott, Susan Lloyd, Binnie Thom, and Mark Magee. Alternates are Linda Van Kirk, Gus Siggelakis, Esq., and Sparky James.
Officers of the Family/Staff group are Rosalind Davies, President; Rosalyn Pittway, Vice President; Carmen Reyes, Secretary and Hillary Edwards, Treasurer.
At the annual meeting, an amendment was introduced to expand the Board of Directors to include two additional community members and two additional parent members. The amendment will be voted on at the next regular meeting of the Board, December 11, 2000.
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| Date: 24 Oct 2000 | 14:40:38 -0700 |
Charity Ball Follow Up;
Also includes Shining Star Recipient omitted
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A record crowd of 150 attended the function, including many friends and corporate sponsors. New to the community, Yardville National Bank became the first platinum sponsor. Silver Star sponsors included Minute Maid, the Americana, Romano’s Macaroni & Grill and Comcast Cable. Jackie & Jerry Bodin are perennial Silver Star individual sponsors.
Corporate sponsors also included First Washington State Bank, Mercer Title Services Agency, the Ramada Inn, Diversified Rack & Shelving, Inc., Verizon, and the Presbyterian Homes at Meadow Lakes.
Mayor Mironov of East Windsor and Mayor Aughenbaugh of Hightstown made the presentations, and resolutions were also presented by Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Freeholder Ann Cannon, and Steven Cook on behalf of Senator Inverso. Former Mayor Ralph Bradley, originator of the Ball, introduced the staff and board of Better Beginnings. Dick Cunningham was again the master of ceremonies.
Larry Schneider, a member of the Board of Directors of Better Beginnings, was chair of the event. Facilitating were Ellen Schneider, BBccc staff members Althea Lewis, Bettie Witherspoon, and Luz Horta., Board Members Marsha Fais, Binnie Thom, Mark Magee, James Sumah, Gus Siggelakis, Susan Lloyd, Sparky James, Rosalind Davies, Rosalyn Pittway and Board Chair, Liston Abbott.
Contributors included Hightstown Free and Accepted Masons, #41; Packet Publications and the Windsor-Hights Herald; Schroeder/Perez, P.C.; Van Cleef Engineering Associates; Parker, McCay & Crisculo, P.A.; Weidel Realtors (Ted Skopas and Cathryn Boehm; NAI Fennelly; Marilyn Kline (Attorney at Law); Mercer Title Services Agency, Inc.
Individual contributors included Dr. & Reverend Edgar Thomas, John & Lorraine Sedor, Faye & Harvey Josephson, Skip and Eleanore Cox, Funds for Kids, David Witmer and Judy & Tory Watkins.
Printing was provided by Old Hights Print Shop and Triangle Printing. Contributors also included Senator Peter A. Inverso; Gus T. Siggelakis, Esq.; DC’s Gallery; PNC Bank; Glackin/Saul Funeral Home; Womanspace; Coppola & Coppola Associates; Summit Bank; the Junior Friday Club of Hightstown; Van Hise Agency; The Temp Agency; Humphreys Financial & Tax Services; L& J Electronics; a Better Photo.
For additional information: Bettie Witherpoon 609-448-6226
Shining Star Recipient: Celia Abalos has worked in many administrative positions at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Currently she is the Vice President for Regulatory Affairs/Corporate Compliance and also serves as the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Broadway House, the Newark AIDS Consortium's 60 bed facility for persons living with AIDS. She has directed the production of award winning publications, such as the Annual Report and Health State magazine, as well as all internal publications.
Ms. Abalos has been the recipient of the following awards: the A & S Spirited Woman Award, the New Jersey Women of Achievement Award from Douglass College, Principal for a Day at Newark's Roberto Clement School, and Macy's Follow A Leader Award, for which she was one of only ten recipients chosen in New Jersey.
Celia Abalos is extremely active in community programs, as is shown by the work in which she has been involved: the Seton Hall University Center for Leadership Studies Council, a trustee of FOCUS (a Hispanic community-based organization), Better Beginnings Child Care Center, the UMDNJ Administrative Leadership Program, the Association for Women in Communications, and the American Association of University Women. In our community Ms. Abalos helped establish the annual Latino/Latina Youth Conference and is an active participant in its activities. Also, she is a member the Community Action Center and has been President of its Board of Directors since April, 2000. Ms. Abalos's experience and knowledge, and her honest and caring character are well-suited for this agency's mission of building self-sufficiency for needy people. Ms. Abalos works with the Community Action Center in its programs that include: the Food Pantry, the Community Nurse Project, HIV Outreach, counseling programs and emergency housing programs.
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Better Beginnings is a not for profit organization providing affordable child
care, a developmentally appropriate multicultural, bilingual curriculum for
children. Other programs include computer access, literacy, substance
abuse/violence prevention, adult workshops and more.
For more information about Better Beginnings,
http//www.princetonol./groups/bbcdc or Althea Lewis, 609-448-6226.
Larry Schneider is Chairman of the Charity Ball Committee. Email about the ball can be addressed to him at bbcdc@altavista.com.
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| Date: 11 Oct | 2000 10:47:08 -0700 |
Mayor's Ball Shining Star Awards
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Shining Star Award: Individual
Dr. David T. Abalos is a professor of Religious Studies and Sociology at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. He has lectured and written extensively on multicultural and gender scholarship and on Latinos and Latinas in the United States. Articles of his have appeared in numerous journals. Dr. Abalos has published many papers, monographs and four books about Latinos in the United States and our multicultural society.
In 1988 Dr. Abalos was given an award for Excellence in Scholarship Dedicated to Latinas and Latinos in the United States. He has also been honored as the New Jersey Professor of the Year, 1987-88, by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. He was the recipient of a National Gold Medalist Award for being one of the top ten outstanding university professors in the nation.
Dr. Abalos has served as Visiting Professor at Princeton and Yale Universities, teaching courses on Latinas and Latinos in the United States. He has also been a Visiting Professor in the Politics Department at Princeton University, the Chicano/Latino Visiting Scholar at Illinois State University and a Lilly Foundation Visiting Scholar at St. Norbert College at Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dr. Abalos has served as a Faculty Fellow for the State of New Jersey to develop multicultural scholarship, and he works throughout the country with K-12 faculty to develop multicultural and gender-fair curricula.
In our community, Dr. Abalos was a leader in founding the Latino/Latina Youth Conference and has been the keynote speaker at the annual conferences. He also helped form the Latina Women's Council. Dr. Abalos has been an active leader in our community's schools. Dr. Abalos has given many educational workshops in our community. He formed the Adelante Youth Group at Hightstown High School; he volunteers to work with youths and serves as a liaison and role model for the students.
Shining Star Award: Business/Industry
Comcast will be awarded the Annual Shining Star Award for a business or industry that has demonstrated that service to the community makes a difference.
The award will be presented at the Mayors' Shining Star Charity Ball on October 21, 2000 at the Ramada Inn on Monmouth Street in East Windsor. Proceeds of the ball benefit Better Beginnings, celebrating 33 years of service to the community.
Mayor Janice Mironov of East Windsor and Mayor Amy Aughenbaugh of Hightstown will present the awards. Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Gary Gruer and Freeholder Ann Cannon will present State and County Resolutions.
Comcast, which has been in the East Windsor community for over 20 years, has been a valuable supporter of many community activities and programs in the local communities.
Comcast has helped to enhance educational activities for students in our community with free cable services, video equipment and @ home services to all the schools in its franchise. Other youth programs and activities that receive Comcast support include: the Hightstown-East Windsor Youth Baseball League, East Windsor PAL, the Hightstown High School Parent Association After-Prom Committee, Better Beginnings Day Care Center, the Twin Rivers Torpedoes Swim Team, the Twin Rivers Softball League and Central Jersey Girls Soccer.
Some of the numerous community service organizations that are supported by
Comcast are: the Community Action Service Center, the East Windsor
Volunteer Fire Company #2, the PBA Local 191, the East Windsor Recreation
Commission, the
Twin Rivers Homeowners' Association, the Latina Women's Council of Mercer
County, the New Jersey Municipal Management Association, the American Legion
Post 148, the Hightstown High School PTA, the Peddie Parents Association and the
Mayors' Shining Star Charity Ball.
During the Thanksgiving season, Comcast works in collaboration with the Americana Diner to prepare and deliver holiday dinners to senior citizens, disabled persons and shut-ins.
Shining Star Awards: Organization(s)
All three Fire Companies in the Hightstown/East Windsor area will be awarded Annual Shining Star Award for organization(s) that have demonstrated that service to the community makes a difference.
The awards will be presented at the Mayors' Shining Star Charity Ball on October 21, 2000 at the Ramada Inn on Monmouth Street in East Windsor. Proceeds of the ball benefit Better Beginnings, celebrating 33 years of service to the community.
Mayor Janice Mironov of East Windsor and Mayor Amy Aughenbaugh of Hightstown will present the awards. Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Gary Gruer and Freeholder Ann Cannon will present State and County Resolutions.
The East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company #1 has been in operation in our community since 1969. Company #1 is presently under the leadership of Chief Kevin Brink, East Windsor's fire marshal. Besides its regular firefighting and fire prevention services, Company #1 participates in numerous community and educational programs. During Fire Prevention Week they visit the local public schools and early childhood centers, such as Better Beginnings and Happy World, with educational activities for the children. Company #1 also attends East Windsor's annual National Night Out, one of our community's special activities.
Fire Company #1 supports many local community activities such as the Memorial Day parade, the Mercer County Fire Prevention Parade, community street parties, the Elks Pig Roast and the Elks Carnival and other departments' dedications of new fire trucks.
Since 1977, the East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company # 2 has been serving our community. The company currently has more than 30 volunteers, who serve under Chief William Askenstedt. Chief Askenstedt has been head of Company #2 for 18 years.
Fire Company #2 supports many community organizations and activities such as the annual Halloween party for local children, Twin Rivers Day, the Twin Rivers Flea Market, fund raising for fire departments, the Hightstown Memorial Day Parade, and the Mercer County Fire Prevention Parade.
The company also participates in East Windsor's annual National Night Out with educational activities for the community.
Fire Company #2 supports Fire Prevention Week with visits to the local schools, including the Drew School, the McKnight School and Shalom Torah. The company also opens it doors to tours from local Boy Scout and Cub Scout organizations. East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company #2 is proud to be the recipients of several trophies from the Mercer County Fire Prevention Parades and has won the first place award with its telesquirter equipment.
The Hightstown Volunteer Fire Company has served its community for 165 years. Under the leadership of current Chief John Archer, the organization of more than 40 volunteers not only performs the regular tasks of firefighting and fire prevention, but also are available for vehicle extrication, water evacuation from flooded basements and emergency services during severe weather. They also serve by keeping fire hydrants clean during snow storms, assisting the First Aid Squad with helicopter landings, and assisting the Police Department with lock-outs and searches for missing people. The Fire Police assist the Police Department also in directing traffic for special events, such as parades.
Among the many important community services the fire company performs, an outstanding area includes educational services with its tours and exhibits for the public schools, the YMCA, Better Beginnings and other youth groups in the community. Other community services include the holiday lights decorations, benefit ball games and fundraisers, and the installation of purple martin houses at the lake.
The Hightstown Volunteer Fire Company sponsors or supports many activities that enhance the community and benefit the residents. Some of these are: the Youth Fishing Tournament, Town Day Celebration, concerts in the park, the Memorial Day Parade, and the Santa Parade.
For the last six years, the Hightstown Volunteer Fire Company has been named the best overall fire company in Mercer County, an honor that includes its equipment and manpower. The company is the winner of the Biele Trophy for the last six years.
The Hightstown Volunteer Fire Company is proud to always be available to offer service and help to its community.
Shining Star Award for Lifetime Achievement
Mary Maccagnan will received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Mayors' Shining Star Charity Ball. The event will be held on October 21, 2000 at the Ramada Inn on Monmouth Street in East Windsor. Proceeds of the ball benefit Better Beginnings, celebrating 33 years of service to the community.
Mayor Janice Mironov of East Windsor and Mayor Amy Aughenbaugh of Hightstown will present the awards. Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Gary Gruer and Freeholder Ann Cannon will present State and County Resolutions.
Mary Maccagnan has been the Executive Director of the Hightstown Housing Authority for 10 years. Her work there has included activities such as program planning and development, public relations, tenant services and property maintenance and modernization. Prior to being Executive Director for the HHA, she worked as Assistant Executive Director for 8 years and Administrative Assistant for 4 years.
Mary Maccagnan is greatly respected and admired by the residents of the Housing Authority for her acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. She is known for going out of her way to find out what people need and to offer help.
As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Greater Hightstown-East Windsor Improvement Project, Mary Maccagnan has worked on the efforts to beautify and revitalize the community of Hightstown.
Better Beginnings is a not for profit organization providing affordable child care, a developmentally appropriate multicultural, bilingual curriculum for children. Other programs include computer access, literacy, substance abuse/violence prevention, adult workshops and more.
For more information about Better Beginnings, http//www.princetonol./groups/bbcdc or Althea Lewis, 609-448-6226.
Larry Schneider is Chairman of the Charity Ball Committee. Email about the ball can be addressed to him at bbcdc@altavista.com.
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| Date: 2 Aug 2000 | 09:47:08 -0700 |
Alert! Peace is breaking out! Several hundred plans for peace in this part of the world were written Tuesday night, August 1, by children who attended National Night Out and visited Better Beginnings' booth. In addition, many adults and children added peaceful sayings to a peace chain, the center's version of the paper chains children make for holiday trees. The chain, inch by inch, has grown to about fifty feet, and is still growing.
First steps in building peace written by the youth included, "Saying 'Hi' to a Friend", "To Get Along with All People", "No fighting", "Be nice", "To give someone a smile and a thank you", "Not buying violent movies", "Not arguing with my friends", "Help Mom and Dad", "Help stop children's hunger", "Being nice to everyone", "Be kind to my neighbors", "Throw away all the guns", "Helping people", "Stop racism", "Be kind to others and don't do drugs any day."
Others were "Help people in need of it", "To be nice with everybody", "Care for others", "Start loving everyone", "Not to kill people", "Stop thefts and take care of all forests and rainforests", "To help others. Be kind and very helpful to my peers and elders", "Hug my sister", "Everybody be free", "Stop the wars", "Es amor para todos", "Help a neighbor", "If my Mom and Dad will get along, I will be happy", "Amor", "Alegria", "Tranquilidad", "Being friendly", "Dejar todas las armas", "Appreciate others", "Taking guns away from people who shouldn't have them."
Althea Lewis, one of the organizers of the Toy Weapon Exchange, said that she was impressed because the number of children who participated was greater than in past years. She also noted that parents took it seriously, and sat down with their children to work on their plan and help them understand its meaning and importance. Parents themselves added many sayings to the Peace Chain. It was wonderful to see parents and children really getting into peaceful problem solving together, she said.
The plans and peace chain are on display at Better Beginnings. If you would like to add to the display, please email bbcdc@altavista.com or come by the center. The peace chain and first-step plans will be shown throughout the month of August and will be displayed at the preschool graduation on August 24. By graduation, Better Beginnings' staff hopes to see the chain grow to at least 100 feet.
Also working at Better Beginnings' booth which also included peace paint for faces were board member Binnie Thom, and staff members Janice Jones, Altagracia Minyetty, Cecilia Campoverde, Luz Nereida Horta, Gloria Perez, Iris Rodriquez, Nancy Green, and Emma Torres.
Funds to provide peaceful, constructive toys in exchange for toy weapons was provided by East Windsor Police PBA.
Better Beginnings is a child care center providing essential services for families who are determined to provide a better world for themselves and their children. The center is recognized for going far beyond contractual obligations in meeting the needs of families, children and community, and for its prevention activities.
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| Date: | 27 Jul 2000 16:49:58 -0700 |
Upcoming events for Better Beginnings:
August 1: Toy Weapon Exchange during the National Night Out Event at East Windsor Police Department
August 24: Preschool Graduation: Seventeen students will be honored. The Reverend Suzanne Shaefer-Coates will be honored guest and will present diplomas. Marsha Fais will be honored as a long time board member and active supporter of Better Beginnings. Famiglia's Pizza will be honored for the role they have played in keeping the children fed during the reconstruction of the kitchen at Better Beginnings.
October 21: The Mayors' Shining Star Charity Ball will be held at Ramada Inn, with reception beginning at 6:00 p.m. Shining Star Organization Awards will be presented to three Fire Companies serving Hightstown and East Windsor to The Business/Industry Shining Star will be awarded to Comcast, and the Individual Shining Stars will be awarded to Celia and David Abalos. For the first time, a special "Lifetime Staff Achievement" Star will be awarded to Mary F. Maccagnan, Executive Director of the Hightstown Homes.
The ball benefits Better Beginnings. Corporate sponsors are needed. More information is available at the Better Beginnings page, by calling 609-448-6226 or by email to better_beginnings@yahoo.com