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.