Letter
to the Editor
UNITY
DAY 2008 – WRAP-UP
Despite
all odds, when a community wants to get together, it gets together
and nothing will get in its way. Not even the weather! By all
accounts, Unity Day 2008 was a huge success with an estimated
4,200 visitors according to one local source. The sports events
were dampened but not completely shut out, entertainment was
enjoyed by many, the community fair was well received, the food
courts offered something for everyone, a health fair provided much
one-on-one assistance and the bazaar was like no other!
Families
turned out in droves. Children lined up for the inflatables. A
line of shoes along the side, our youth in the gym sitting on the
floor listening to and watching the various entertainers, our
future leaders of the Youth Advisory Board, made the day complete.
To
all the food vendors, bazaar participants, community fair
participants, the entertainers, our township public officials who
worked past the slight setback with the weather, approached this
challenge with a “let's make this work”, “the show must go
on!” approach. THANK-YOU to all. To the community that helped
make this happen, let’s be sure to keep the date open for the
next event! A special thanks to all those that gave of themselves,
their time, their expertise to share in the vision to make this
day a reality: Dr. Meer Ali, Tahamei Aziem, Pastor Kimberly &
Dr. Keith Attles, Larry Bauer, Susan Berger, Saleem Chaudry, Rev.
Randall Day, Nancy Ellson Kevie Feit, Roxanne Frost, Paul Gingras,
Charles Gonzales, Mohammed Hameeduddin, Siraj Hasan, Elsworth
James, Jackie Kates, Mayor Elie Katz, Khaja Khateeb, David
Langford, Lillian Lewis, Dean Makkaoui, Etzion Never, Avi &
Lynn Ofrane, Lizette Parker, Howard Preschel, Janice Preschel, Dr.
Henry Pruitt, Brendan
Reskakis,
Cory
Reskakis,
George Reskakis, Julie
Reskakis,
Sabastian Rodriguez, Maggie Ryan, Mohammed Sadequcia, Farouk
Sheikh,
Rev. Edna Simpson, Alana Smith, Syed Tahir, Dr. Ali Tamkeen,
Miriam Taub, Angelae Wilkerson and Rabbi
Lawrence Zierler.
UNITY
DAY 2008 was made possible thru the generosity of the following
members of our community: The Puffin Foundation, The EID Committee
of Bergen County, The Suburbanite, Holy Name Hospital, Howard
& Larry Preschel Family & CMG Vending, Senator Loretta
Weinberg, Assemblywoman Valerie
Vanieri-Huttle,
Davis Saperstein & Salomon, Chopstix, Jacqueline and Michael
Kates, Shelly’s Restaurant, Mark and Naomi Schwartz and Family,
Helene Fall and Fred Fall, Teaneck Chamber of Commerce, Township
of Teaneck, Henry Muñoz, J & J Pharmacy, Elite House of
Style, St. Anastasia's R.C. Church, Madison Dental Group, Unity
Church of Christ, Teaneck Rotary, Edible Arrangements, New To You,
Noah’s Ark, Taj Palace, Youth Education Sports and Society
(YESS), Resource Education Awareness by Latinos (REAL), Church
Moving On Life Center, Covenant Life Ministries, Special Parents
Of Teaneck (S.P.O.T.), Manor Shoes, Michelle Bivens and Jeffrey
Foxx, Colisium Pizza, Laurel & Gregory Abbruzzse, Councilman
Elnatan Rudolph, Knights of Columbus, Aura Car & Limousine and
Training Grounds.
A
special mention about Special Parents Of Teaneck. S.P.O.T.
ensures
effective and appropriate learning environments for all of
Teaneck's special needs children, to enhance the family-school
partnership in special education and to facilitate access to
services. S.P.O.T provides opportunities for families to support
each other and share information, to
educate, support and mentor parents as they advocate for their
child's special education needs. http://specialparentsofteaneck.org )
Thanks
to our talented entertainers, most of whom are our neighbors and
friends:
Dance
instructor Lisa Attles and Covenant Life Ministries Dance
Ministry, G Status (Brian Thorn, Ben Mather, Eli Ostroff and Paris
Marks Saint-Preux.), Jimbeau & The Retrocasters (Jim
“Jimbeau” LeMaire, Jeff Moore, Steve Giordano and George
Shater), Next Generation Band (J. Allyn Fox, Jarren Fox, Evan
Bowler, Sam Fennell, Sumner Perera, Ivan Ramires, Jeff Foxx of
98.7 KISS and mom, Michelle Bivens who jammed with the band),
Opening Day (Michael “Speedy” Rueger, Casey Grabe, Mike
Chiaradio and Anthony Berroa), Sweet Melody The Clown (Maya Kates).
Thanks
goes out to the members of the Teaneck Fire Department, Teaneck
Police Department and Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps where
members of our community had an opportunity to see up close the
equipment and some of the personnel responsible for our safety and
well being. Feel
free to make direct contributions to their fund-raising efforts.
Contributions can also be made to the
Teaneck Volunteer Corps either through their yearly mailing
solicitation or by going on-line to http://www.teaneckvac.org/contact/donate.html).
Thanks to A-Plus Photo Video for taking photos.
Thanks
to Dr Keith Attles for arranging the sporting events. Despite the
weather, he managed to get in the 1 mile run, the 1 mile walk and
the 3 mile run. Thank you to all the participants. Unity Day
medals were awarded.
Thanks
to Inflatable Party Adventures (Titanic
Dual Lane Super Slide, Jurassic Survivor Super Obstacle Course,
Jumbo Bounce House, Large Disney 3D Castle Jump, 50 Foot
KiddiePillar, 24 Foot, 4 Lane Rock Wall - www.InflatablePartyAdventures.com)
who were so accommodating with some of the last minute changes to
accommodate for the weather.
Thanks
to Holy Name Hospital where Nancy Ellson, RN, MSN, APN, (a
coordinator of the Holy Name Hospital Center for Healthy Living)
hosted the Holy Name Hospital Wellness Education room all day
where there were three tables filled with health information
focusing on prevention, early detection and lifestyle changes that
will prevent heart disease including stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
Most importantly, Teaneck residents had a one-to-one opportunity
to interact informally with Nancy, a health care professional
with 30 years experience as a preventionist and community health
educator.
Another
event, “Inside Teaneck” was sponsored by Mayor Elie.Thanks to
the following and their presentations: Larry
Robertson - "Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Community
Involvement", Rev Dr. Keith & Kimberly Attles – “Keys
to Empowering your Marriage", Past Teaneck Mayors, Eleanor
Kieliszek, Frank Hall and Jackie Kates - "Fascinating Insight
into Teaneck's History and Personal Experiences", Dr. Lonnie
McLeod - "Parenting in the 21st Century" and Ronald Mays
- "Speaking on Unity".
Teaneck
Suburbanite, thank you for being our media sponsor and assisting
us to get the word out.
Darn,
will have to wait for next time for the Dunk Tank (reprieves
went out to Mayor Elie Y Katz, Deputy Mayor Lizette Parker,
Councilman Elnatan Rudolph, Councilman Adam Gussen, Board of
Education Member Sebastian Rodriguez and Charlie Gonzales).
Rounding
out the week-end, we cannot forget the memorable presentation of
the Garage Theatre straight from off-Broadway, “Piaf: Love
Conquers All” the latest production of the Teaneck Festival
of the Arts (TFOA and Unity Day are projects of the
Puffin Foundation.)
We
can’t forget the food vendors who also had a large task, not
only by securing the proper credentials necessary for the event,
but also had to make last minute arrangements to accommodate for
the weather and the comfort of their guests. Chopstix,
EJ’s Pizza, Festival & Joe's Ice Cream, Kabob King, Ma'adan
and Howard Preschel
Thanks
to Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblywoman Valerie
Vanieri-Huttle and
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson for their participation as well. Thanks
to the Youth Advisory Board (Benjamin
Chideckel, Ashley Edwards, Nick Hoffman, Jenika Parson, Michael
Pleasants, Tzvi Solomon, Janiene Thiong, Jahrell Thompson, Brian
Thorn, Molly Voreacos, Samantha Wilkerson, Julie Williams)
for taking such an active role, a special thanks to Lenny Hennig
and the VFW for including a UNITY DAY insert with their Poppies
for Veterans mailing, our Police for directing traffic, the DPW
who were kind enough to lend us their two way radios, the support
staff at Rodda Center that have contributed their time, their
efforts to make the quick changes to accommodate the weather, set
up and clean-up, your efforts were truly appreciated. A special
thanks to Helene Fall, Municipal Manager for her full support to
help make the day a success.
Summing
it all up, Teaneck can be very proud in that we, a diversely
united family from all corners of our community (residents,
business, public officials and elected officials) came together at
one place on the same day with a common goal. UNITY DAY 2008.
Yes,
the day was not without some glitches, but when you consider the
magnitude something was bound to go wrong. Senator Loretta
Weinberg and Special Parents of Teaneck, our sincere apology that
your ads in the Unity program went among the missing. We
appreciate all that you have done and contributed to our
community. Teaneck is blessed to have you as members of our
community.
Thank
you to our very own Larry Bauer for making sure all press releases
and media coverage was present for Unity Day. You made sure people
knew about the events of the day and they were excited to come out
and enjoy one another. Thank you for your dedication and support.
Thank you to Roy D Smith Inc., 20 Foster St, Bergenfield, NJ for
being so accommodating and helpful with our program guide.
As
you, the Teaneck resident, volunteer or business that was involved
in this event, are important, your thoughts, ideas, suggestions
for an encore would certainly be appreciated. Contact us at teaneckunityday@gmail.com.
As
the coordinating committee of UNITY DAY 2008, we want to thank you
all!
Jackie
Kates (Chairperson), Angelae Wilkerson (Event Coordinator), Dr.
Keith Attles, Kimberly Attles, Kevie Feit, Mohammed Hameeduddin,
Elie Y. Katz, Howard Preschel, Janice Preschel and Randall Day.