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BEGINNINGS PENNY PATTER by: Bettie Witherspoon |
November 17, 2006
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We got our hour back on October 29. I decided to celebrate the return of my long lost hour, rather than launch into my customary rant.
In years past, my happy hour has been spent dancing the time away at a Better Beginnings fundraiser, or, more recently, lying abed for an extra sixty minutes. This year I wanted to find a more meaningful way to spend my precious hour. I thought I could do something that I had been "trying to get around to" like sorting through a couple of drawers of old files. Better still; I could get started on the rainbow star afghan I have promised to crochet for auction at the celebration of Better Beginnings' 40th year on March 24, 2007.
Upon receiving a communiqué from Amanda Porter, however, I joyfully opted to use my returned hour to attend the fundraiser for the ESL students that was being held at "A Bit of N.Y.C. & more" (a gift shop on Main Street in Hightstown). |
The objective, to help with cost of a trip to Washington, D. C. for ESL students at Hightstown High School, appealed to me. Many unique items can be found at the shop where I have often found an unusual item that is just right for a special gift. I admired Rose Gallina, the proprietor, for opening up on her day off, her parents for coming all the way from Brooklyn to help her, and Jolly Paberra, ESL teacher, for coming in on a Sunday for the benefit of her students. Since I was celebrating time change, and my old watch stubbornly stuck to "daylight shavings time" and would not permit itself to be "corrected", I came up with a perfect treat for myself: a beautiful bracelet watch. The timepiece has since been much admired by many, for its beauty, yes, but also for its fine points. It has a numeral face and a stem set. It has an hour hand and a second hand. It does not use batteries. I love showing it to our young students who find it fascinating. |
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Reiterating the multi-generosity of our community members has become one of the joys of my life. The many ways in which our friends find ways to assist us in our struggle is manifest. Without such help, there is
Our list of supporters crosses many cultures and is as diverse as our student body. Sometimes we think of our totality as a big jigsaw puzzle into which each of fits and contributes to the whole in our own unique way.
The ways people find to help are also unique, worthy, valuable. Sometimes there are moves being made that we learn about later. For example, without my knowledge, for the entire month of October, GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics of Carnegie Center held fundraisers for the benefit of their "favorite charities". The result is that they presented us with many useful items, plus a check for $472.50, which is a mighty big help to us in bridging the budget gap. They played Bingo and something called Jeans on Friday, all of which is surely a morale builder for their staff; then, of all things, they thanked us for giving them the opportunity to give back to their community. Gallant!
Similarly, the Junior Friday Club, a constant support for every one of our 40 years, brought Halloween treat bags left over from the party they gave the whole community. St. David's Episcopal Church continued their practice of collecting and delivering juice for the children, helping to |
assure that our young students have nutritionally sound snacks. Jenean Meier thoughtfully brought in pumpkins for the children, giving them the opportunity to know the insides and outsides of this interesting fruity vegetable, relative of the squash and cucumber. Gert Horowitz will always live in our loving memories. Another generous memorial gift has arrived from the Berkowitz Family. The names are in our Book of Honors and the gift in our endowment fund, rendering interest for the daily expenses of our children for years to come. Her beloved widower, dear to us all, told us once that our school reminded them of a beautiful garden where we nurture these young "seedlings" and help them grow healthy, strong and true . The Horowitzes and their friends, then, are like sunshine and gentle rain. Generous contributors also are Liston and Joyce Abbott, Jackie Bodin, and Ondina and Will Jeffers, making it possible to offer some appropriate seasonal extended learning experiences for our enthusiastic young seedlings, uh, students. Mildred Bell and Frances Rios also continue to be supportive, as are Milly K. Brown, Nunzia Destefano, Jack Blog, Erika Ordonez, Cai Yun Chen, Delores Murphy, Mark Kennedy, Luis Morocho, "Mr. Jonathan" Craig, and Angela Danek. We are grateful for the learning materials, toys, the magazines, the paper goods, the children's furniture, the books and the arts and crafts materials. "Miss Dee" Murphy brought several items that are for auction at our March event, happily received and stashed away by us. Three beautiful brand spanking new bridal gowns have been donated by Mrs. Juana Zanini. And a beautiful star rainbow afghan has been started. |
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If you could see how excited and joyful the children are to see their "volunteers", you would know why we call them beloved. Therefore: Beloved volunteers include Joan Freeman, Kayte Sabo, Sara Gordon, |
Andrea Lenhardt, Jerry Turkel, Doris Wiegarten, Andrew Loss, and Sarah Lindbloom. Thank you for sharing your sunshine! |
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Denny Medary, grandson of Shining Star recipient and WWII Purple Heart Veteran George Medary, is out of Iraq! In honor of these two, on October 5, a United States flag was flown in their names over |
the U. S. Capitol, at the request of Congressman Chris Smith. Congratulations and Appreciation to them and to all whose bravery and service is our protection. |
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Cats love socks; therefore, the odd sock is perfect for giving Kitty a nice rubdown to reduce the dreaded dander. They also make great dust cloths (the socks not the cats). Of course, socks can be made into |
neat puppets and/or beanbags. The Pincher devises a tool for dusting under the refrigerator by sliding the odd sock onto a stick and securing it with tape or a rubber band. |
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The children and families of Better Beginnings made cardboard facsimiles of the proverbial "candlestick" over the weekend, and the young students are now having great fun demonstrating how to jump "over" like nimble Jack. The families are learning how many skills can be developed in such an enjoyable craft. The young students are also learning important position words . They |
take great delight in showing me how they can jump "up" and fall "down". Many of the weekend projects used paper plates and recycled tubes from paper goods as their raw material. What delights me is that each candlestick is beautiful and has many similar qualities, just like we do; but each is different in color, size, etc., just like ........ |
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I continue to believe that the whole concept of daylight savings time is an affront to our intelligence. I mean if "they" want children and teachers to come in an hour early, just say, "Come in at 6:30 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m." The daylight they are "saving" for me is as diaphanous as the tax they take from my pay and "save" for Social Security. |
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Have an "up" week. Don't put anyone "down". |
Comments, Ideas, Suggestions?
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Bettie Witherspoon is a former executive director of Better Beginnings, which has provided affordable child care to the East Windsor/Hightstown area since 1967. |
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