Author Archives: RocklandNYMom

Yo Ho Ho…It’s the Penny the Pirate Show!

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

We visited the FASNY Museum of Firefighting years ago and ADORED it.  What an interesting day trip to take!!!  Here’s some virtual fun for you, plus information on booking a visit!

Join us virtually at the FASNY Museum of Firefighting on April 24, 2021 at 11am for a FREE virtual program featuring Penny the Pirate. Where did all of Pirate Penny’s magical treasure chests come from, and what is in all these amazing treasure chests that Pirate Penny will open? Tune in to find out.

Next, go on a virtual treasure hunt in the Museum with Penny the Pirate and her friend, Molly the Pirate Dog (AKA Molly the Museum Dog.) Will they find the treasure…or at least a dog treat? These presentations are filled with music, sound effects and comedy, but more importantly, they will teach children fire safety and prevention through these fun filled virtual activities. Finally, Penny the Pirate will read a pirate story to Molly the Pirate Dog and the virtual visitors. Stay tuned to the end of the program to find out how you can have some super pirate crafts sent to your home for more pirate fun! Batten down the hatches and prepare for a pirate adventure your child will not soon forget! This program is FREE and can be accessed on the day of the event by going to the Museum’s website and clicking on the link for the calendar OR by going to YouTube and using the key words FASNY Museum of Firefighting to get to the Museum’s You Tube channel.

The FASNY Museum of Firefighting is America’s interactive museum of firefighting! Activities for families include, but are not limited to, the Fire Service Carnival and the interactive Race to the Scene Fire Truck. With over 60 pieces of apparatus on exhibit, whether you’re a firefighter, a student of history or a family looking for a fun and educational day trip, you will not want to miss this unique Museum. The Museum is currently open to the public by reservation. To make a reservation, visit www.fasnyfiremuseum.com or call 518-822-1875.

2021 Camps Spotlight- JCC Rockland Camps!

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post as JCC Rockland Camps is a member of the Camps Directory

*Please keep in mind that camps are at a limited capacity to accommodate COVID-19 Regulations.  If you are considering a camp, book early.*

JCC Rockland Camps provide campers a summer camp experience that gives children the opportunity to explore their interests, talents and abilities. Through creative and engaging programming, campers participate in fun and exciting activities that develop self-esteem and confidence. We offer a variety of programs for campers’ ages 18 months through 10th grade.

  • J Land (18 months-entering Pre-K)
  • Discover (Entering grades K-5) a specialty camp program with exciting themes each week and traditional activities
  • All Star Sports (Entering grades 3-5) recreational sports and fun competitions
  • Summer STEM (Entering grades 3-8) is a STEM based program which will explore robotics, gaming, coding, rocketry, chemistry and photography.
  • Yomi & Yomi Sr. (Entering grades K-7) a traditional day camp; in partnership with 92nd Street Y.
  • J-Teens (Entering grades 6-8) on campus activities, day trips, late nights and overnights
  • CIT’s (Counselors in Training) (Entering grades 9 &10)

Contact:
Carrie Sakin
JCC Rockland Camps Director
camps@jccrockland.org
845.362.4400 x107

Facebook – Families Rock at JCC Rockland
Instagram – JCC Rockland

 jccrockland.org/camp

Open House Schedule –

Sunday, 3/1 – 11am-2pm – S’Mores and Tours

Sunday, 3/29 – 11am-2pm – S’Mores and Tours

Coupé Theater Studio Students Excel Despite Covid Restrictions

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

Coupé Students:
Ella Anselmi, Leah Seigel, Josie Brooks, Kalina Egan, Gianna Stedjan, Isabella Higgins, Serena Boschen, Summer Royston, Serafina Sciorra, Sophia Eichinger, Alessia Cividini, Avery Cerabona, Zoe Poulin, Dakota Scanlon, Olivia Quesada

ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (April 5, 2021) – The pandemic has led to challenging times for educators navigating the restrictions on in-class teaching and an emphasis on virtual classes. Despite this, students of the Coupé Theater Studio’s Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble, a full-service dance studio for over 50 years, have thrived, taking classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, musical theatre, voice training, vocal performance, acro dance, acting, and kinder classes. All classes are taught by professional instructors who either hold a degree in dance and education or have a professional performing background and as a result Coupé has become known as the area’s preeminent school for producing well-rounded dancers and performers, with many working professional alumni.

Taylor Quesada enrolled her daughter Olivia, now 10, when she was just three. “I liked that it was a well-established program that was very supportive of the girls and the parents,” she recalls. “The teachers have been amazing—they think of each individual child and what will work for them and are honest about what kids can accomplish—and how much work is required to reach their goals. When live classes were finally allowed to reopen, the school was very transparent about safety protocols, even giving dancers individual ‘boxes’ to dance in. There was always a volunteer army of mothers as well, checking temperatures and monitoring social distancing.”

Rather than having a live performance for the 2020 Nutcracker—which is the highlight of the year for the parents and students—the school’s non-profit Dance Company – Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble (RYDE) produced a movie that families could watch together at home. “Creating a movie together was a new learning experience for the girls and gave everyone something to be excited about,” Quesada says.

Sophie Eichinger, now 15, has been enrolled at the school for the past eight years and her classes have become the favorite part of her day, a way to escape the stresses of high school life. “My dance friends have become some of the best friends I ever had,” she says. “When I walk into a dance class, I am surrounded by people I love, doing what I love. I know I will get good instruction and get good correction, and I’ll walk out of class as a better dancer. I want to dance as long as I can—I do it because I love it and it brings me so much joy.”

This year, Coupé students have been accepted into the prestigious Summer intensive programs run by the Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Steps on Broadway, NYSSSA Modern Intensive, Boston Conservatory, Berklee Musical Theatre Program and the Oklahoma City University Musical Theatre Acting Intensive.

Coupé summer programs are scheduled for June, July, and August, and include classes for all ages pre-school through pre-professional. Daytime Dance and Theater camps, teen, and adult drop-in classes. August programs include Back to School Intensives in Ballet, Acro and Jazz, and Broadway Musical Theatre. Learn more at www.coupedance.com 

Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble (RYDE), a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, offers a forum for dance and theatre students and emerging artists to develop their talents in a fully integrated environment of education and performance. RYDE primarily features young performers, ages 7 through 18, who have accomplished high-quality performance ability through their studies in the performing arts. For nearly four decades, numerous RYDE dancers have qualified to attend Summer Dance Programs with prestigious national companies throughout the United States. Many have also become successful performers in dance, theatre, and related professions. RYDE artists include students and professionals from Broadway, national dance companies and regional theatre. For more information visit www.rocklandyouthdanceensemble.org 

Media Contact: Risa B. Hoag, GMGPR, 845-627-3000, risa@gmgpr.com

Askenas Chiropractic adds Acupuncture to its Assets!

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  All opinions expressed are our own. 

Dr. Todd has been taking care of me and my family members for years now.  He has been an integral part of keeping us healthy.  We are so happy to see the addition of a new member, with special talents!!!

Askenas Chiropractic is excited to announce the addition of a new doctor to our practice: Dr. Zach Truncali. With the introduction of our new doctor, we are delighted that we will now be able to offer expanded hours as well as Acupuncture to better serve our patients.

Dr. Zach Truncali is a licensed Chiropractor and Acupuncturist and has been practicing since 2017. His uses a variety of evidenced-based techniques to treat spine related pain. His goal is to quickly relieve pain and to empower people to understand and take control of their health.

He graduated from New York Chiropractic College in 2016 and the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2017.

Some of his post-graduate studies include Primary Spine Provider certified through the university of Pittsburgh in 2021 and McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy for the Lumbar Spine in 2019.

Dr. Zach enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  He is an avid reader and lifelong learner, always seeking new perspectives and ways to refine and evolve his approaches to healthcare.

His passion for Chiropractic and Acupuncture was born out of a desire to help others not just with a short term relief, but with tools to create lasting wellness, empowerment, and connection with their bodies and movement.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Zach by coming in to schedule a visit!

 
Askenas Chiropractic
(845) 735-3737   |   Email us   |   Visit our website
67 South Main Street, Pearl River, NY 10965

Communion Prep Begins! Saying “Yes” to the Dress!

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Disclosure:  This is an unsponsored post.  We simply got an appointment at this amazing shop and wanted to share.

With E’s health issues at the forefront of our mind we needed to start making preparations for her First Holy Communion.  Although we are still unsure of what it will look like for her, we wanted to make it as special as possible.  E loves fashion, she chooses my clothing most days.  I knew she would want an extra special experience for her dress shopping.  I researched a few places that we could take her, and decided on Little Nikki’s in Ho Ho Kus NJ.  It’s less than a half hour away from us here in Rockland, and the shop just looked special.

Well I was right.  I emailed to make an appointment, hoping that we could do it safely and solo.  Well, that’s the only way they do it.  You book a 1 3/4 hour time slot and its just you and whomever you would like to bring.  We decided to invite the ladies in the family.  The whole making of the appointment was easy as pie.

The day of we showed up and what a CUTE SHOP!  So many beautiful dresses, I wish my wedding shopping had been this sweet!!!  You start by getting a quick tour of where to find things, and then a rolling rack that you can add any dresses you are looking to try on to.

Once we selected the options that we liked, E and I went to start the fashion show.  There are shoes you can wear while trying for effect, and of course we had to try the HEELS!

We tried so many variations of dress (there is really something for everybody) from layered, to eyelet lace, to classic, to prairie style. Our second runner up even had POCKETS!!!  It is not easy to decide (especially when you have a lot of opinions).

Here is what I LOVED.  As we modeled, the owner watched carefully, and provided some input but watched more carefully.  She waited for E to have a reaction.  She knew when E had chosen a dress before I did.  She came right in and completed the look with a veil and a tiara (how did she know E was a tiara gal?), and that was it.  I couldn’t believe my eyes, and neither could E.  We were sold.

After we made the decision we got to go over to the adorable photo-op area (now you’re speaking my language) to take “Said Yes to the Dress” pic ( I am saving the dress one because I want it to fit well when you see it).  What a great experience!!!  As always, should you decide to go to Little Nikki’s we appreciate you letting them know you heard it here.

What was even better, is that my sister is due with baby #2 in April, and so we walked next door to check out the fabulous collection of Baptism clothing as well, something tells me this is not our last trip :o)

Little Nikki’s – Luxuries for Baby & Child

618 North Maple Avenue, Ho Ho Kus, New Jersey 07423, United States

(201) 445-7888

2021 Camp Spotlight- Deerkill Day Camp

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post as Deerkill is a Camps Directory member. 
*Please keep in mind that all camps are at a reduced capacity at this time to accommodate the COVID-19 regulations.  If you are considering a camp, be sure to book early as spots will fill quickly.*
Deerkill Day Camp is a very popular camp option among Rockland families. This third-generation
family business, celebrating its 64th season, is located on a wooded 15-acre site and brings a
community feel to the summer camp experience for campers age 3 through 15. Deerkill successfully
opened in 2020 for 6 weeks with NO confirmed COVID cases – learn how they did it at
www.deerkilldaycamp.com.
Deerkill offers children a chance to pick up a new sport or hobby, learn to swim and form lifelong
friendships this summer. The diverse program includes professional swim instruction in large heated
pools, an array of athletics on fields sized for younger and older children, creative and performing arts
such as arts and crafts, ceramics, woodworking, dance, theater, and digital photography, and specialties
such as karate and nature, among other activities. A new 28-foot climbing tower and 250-foot zipline
were also recently added to the program.
Deerkill offers door-to-door daily transportation on mini air-conditioned buses, staffed with
professional drivers and bus counselors. The Directors are on the camp grounds every day and
accessible by phone by day and night; there is no large administrative staff and all the individual group
leaders are adults, many of whom are teachers.
2021 Session (June 28 to August 20)
All campers may register for 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 weeks. New campers may also register for 2 weeks for
their first summer. For those campers registered for 5, 6, or 7 weeks, parents may choose any weeks
throughout the summer.
With the exception of horseback riding, an optional elective, there are no extra charges at Deerkill.
They do not allow tipping, a large expense at many camps, and tuition includes the following:

Door-to-door transportation by air-conditioned mini-buses supervised by bus counselors

Hot lunches prepared daily in our own modern kitchen

Field trips and all camp supplies

Ice cream and Ices for afternoon snack

Daily towel service

Group photo, camp shirt, backpack, DVD yearbook, Fall Festival, winter reunions

Tuition varies by camper age and pick-up and session length. You may go to their website and enter
your child’s information to see rates for the 2021 summer and request a brochure. For more
information call 1-845-354-1466, email office@deerkilldaycamp.com or log onto
www.deerkilldaycamp.com .

Employment Opportunity!

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Not only is this a great opportunity, its a fantastic office to work in.  It also happens to be the office I go to for my back needs (a total life saver).
Askenas Chiropractic is seeking the right person to assist Doctor with patient care in a friendly work environment.
The right person will enjoy people, be able to multi-task, work well on the go, be outgoing, and willing to learn.
Experience is not required but a desire to help people is beneficial. Spanish peaking a plus.
We will fully train the right person to be an active part of our team!
Hours are Part-Time
Monday and Wednesday 2:30-6:30
Tuesday and Thursday    2:30-7:30
Salary discussed to be discussed at interview.
Please send email or resume to askenaschiro@gmail.com
check us out at www.EliteSpineCare.com

A New Pandemic Skill

Posted on by Posted in Direct Sales, Food, Reviews, Uncategorized .

Disclosure:  This is an unsponsored post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  If you choose to use my link to try Hello Fresh we do get a small coupon off our next box.

As you have read from some of my past posts, my kids have been home all pandemic.  That’s a year today.  Little E has some health issues that puts her in the high risk category and we can’t take any chances.  Like everyone else we have been exhausting all options to keep our 10  and 7 year old kiddos entertained.  To add to the craziness I am a teacher who goes to school daily, and works other jobs (including this one) in her free time.  I generally don’t get home until about 7 pm and cooking at that point is just BLEH.

I have long ordered groceries online because its convenient for us. But like many was struggling with dinner time ideas.  A friend had been posting about Hello Fresh and I was intrigued.  We ordered our first box with a coupon (like the link I am providing here) for $70 off your first box.  Its a good deal, and if you cancel after the first week you won’t get a second box, although you might want one.

We loved it, and kept it going.

To further complicate things, despite my running 6 miles a day and trying to take care of myself- I ended up herniating a disk in my back pretty badly, requiring surgery, less work, and less around the house (sidebar if you need a chiropractor or pain management Dr I have the best in Askenas Chiropractic and Grammercy Pain Management).  Enter my 10 year old A.  He said he wanted to cook the meal one night in January, and has been since.  He can easily follow the directions, and just requires a little assistance from time to time organizing, and lifting hot items (although his confidence has really improved and he does it without worry now).

I started posting on my personal page his creations and how proud I am of him.  I don’t have any disillusions that he will become the next great chef, in fact, he says he doesn’t want that.  What I do have, is a kid with a useful skill, and that makes me happy.

Fast forward to a month ago.  A Facebook “friend”, Stephanie Riccardi, who I will say was really more of an acquaintance, because I had ordered from her once during pandemic, saw my posts and was super impressed with him.  She happens to be a Pampered Chef Consultant.  She sent me a private message saying how impressed she was with him, and wanted to send him a little something from their catalog, and wanted to keep it a surprise.  Well she did, but it wasn’t a little something, it was a big box full of top of the line goodies.  He was so excited, and now has nicer tools than I do!

I decided that with all of the negativity around today and in the past year I had to write about this kindness.  I am so proud of my guy and his love of cooking for the family, and glad that someday someone else may be able to reap those benefits.  I am blown away by the kindness of someone who I barely knew, because she was glad to see a kid flourishing.

Hello Fresh info if you’re wondering: LINK

Why I like it- I don’t have to think about what to cook, we eat things I never would have “found” looking at internet recipes.  Its a balanced and portioned meal, so we aren’t overeating.  My kids are continuing to broaden their food horizons.  I don’t have to go shop for the ingredients, they show up, ready to be prepped and put together.

  • You pick how many people you have to feed
  • You pick how many days a week you want
  •  You choose a meal plan (we do meat and vegetables)
  • You choose a delivery day
  • The app I have found is the best way to do it all
  • Each week you can choose from about 25 different meals, or let them pick for you
  • When you call to cancel it stops

To Order: CLICK HERE we receive a small discount if you sign up with this $70 off coupon (afforded to everyone, its not because I am RNYM).

If you are in the market for any kitchen items from tools, to small appliances, please consider checking out Stephanie’s Link- she’s a great person and I am still taken aback by her kindness.  In fact, I don’t even think she realized I have a “BLOG” where I would write about the experience.  Her LINK

 

Egg Hunts are Not Cancelled- Stew Leonard’s Socially Distant Events Announced

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STEW LEONARD’S HOSTS ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT EGG-STRAVAGANZA   

New Social Distancing & Safety Measures in Place for 2021 Event

WHAT:               

Stew Leonard’s invites children aged 8 and younger to join the farm fresh food store’s annual Easter Egg Hunt Egg-Stravaganza on March 24 and 25, 2021!  Tickets are free and are now available via Stew’s Leonard’s online events calendar.

This year’s event will have new safety measures in place to ensure that a safe and fun time is had by all:

  • Tickets will have timed entry so that no more than 75 Egg Hunt participants will enter the store per hour.  Stew Leonard’s security team will additionally count customers so that the store remains at or below 50% capacity.
  • Once inside the store, children will visit five stations where Stew’s Team Members will distribute the eggs via a “picker” or candy chute. If a line develops, children will be asked to stand 6 feet apart on Easter egg-shaped floor decals. Hand sanitizer will be available at each station as well.
  • The Easter Bunny will be joined by just a few of Stew Leonard’s famous costumed characters so that participants may take a socially distanced photo to commemorate the holiday.  Stew Leonard’s holiday selfie station, constructed entirely out of oversized green and white building blocks, will also be available so that up to four people can have their photos taken with their choice of backgrounds.

Stew Leonard’s will supply each child with a cellophane bag in which they can collect their eggs.  All eggs will contain small trinkets and candy, however two lucky children will each win a $100 gift card to a locally owned toy store and ten children will each win a special Easter Basket.  Participants are kindly asked to open their eggs in their cars or at home.

Given the incredible need in our local communities this year, Stew Leonard’s is also asking Egg Hunt participants to donate a canned good item.  Each Stew Leonard’s location will collect and deliver the items to a local food bank.  Please see in-store for details.

WHEN:

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 from 3 – 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 3 – 6:00 p.m.

TICKETS:

Tickets are free and are available via Stew’s Leonard’s online events calendar.  Customers can also go to Eventbrite.com and search “Stew Leonard’s” for tickets.

Everyone attending the event must have a ticket, however only children aged 8 and under can collect the Easter eggs.

WHERE:              

Stew Leonard’s in Connecticut:

100 Westport Ave., Norwalk, Conn. / (203) 847-7214

99 Federal Road, Danbury, CT / (203) 790-8030

3475 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT / (860) 760-8100

Stew Leonard’s in New York:

1 Stew Leonard Dr., Yonkers, NY / (914) 375-4700

Stew Leonard’s in New Jersey:

700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ 07652 / (201) 649-0888

Code Ninjas Adds MLK Activities!

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post. 

Code Ninjas Locations in Bergen County to Offer Coding Workshops on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 18th

(ROCKLAND/BERGEN, January 5, 2020) On Monday, January 18th several locations of Code Ninjas in Bergen County will be hosting events for students. Code Ninjas of Midland Park will host a free MLK Coding Workshop Day with three one-hour workshops to be held at 10:00am, 11:30am and 1:00pm. The coding workshops are appropriate for children ages 7 to 10 years old. Children will experience creative and analytical challenges and opportunities as they build, mod, and create ‘Minecraft’ like games in Scratch. Participants will be able to choose their own characters and actions inside the games and learn to control and manipulate those characters.

Registration is required. Please register at http://bit.ly/codeninjamlkday

The coding workshops are designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer programming, specifically looping, condition statements and variables and children with no experience in coding can participate as well as those with some previous instruction. The workshops are designed to be entertaining, fun and educational and foster the young creative mind and teach children to be ‘digital producers’, as opposed to digital consumers. To reserve a spot call 201-882-1234. Workshops will be held at Code Ninjas at 85 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ.

Code Ninjas in Saddlebrook is hosting school fundraisers for Martin Luther King Jr Day. They will offer a virtual “Hour of Code” to participating schools, where kids get to design and code their own games and share them with friends and families. The proceeds of each hour will be donated back to the participating schools. For more information on how your school can participate call 551-300-2633. Code Ninjas is located at 383 Market Street, Building B Unit 6 in Saddle Brook.

Code Ninjas is the world’s largest and fastest-growing organization helping kids learn to write code on computers. At their centers, kids learn to code while building their own video games. They gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. For more information and the location near you, visit www.codeninjas.com