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when it's time to give up

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:14:09 GMT

When You Think Your Marriage is Over,
Give It One More Year
By: Mort Fertel

One of the questions I'm frequently asked is, "How do you know when it's time to give up on your marriage?"

If you’re considering divorce, I suggest first trying to make it work for at least one more year.

Did you hear that?

Try for at least one more year!

And I mean REALLY try. You can always call it quits. You always have that option. But once you pull that trigger, it's over. No more chances. Your life will never be the same. Do you have kids? Their lives will never be the same.

If you end your marriage, you don't want to have a shred of doubt about what might have been. You don't ever want to look back and wonder if things could have been different. You don't want to ask yourself, “What if this? What if I tried that?”

If you have to end your marriage, you want to know DEEP IN YOUR HEART that you did everything you could to make it work.

Giving it one year of serious effort will also help you to move on with your life and into another relationship with a clear head, should you ultimately divorce. You want to come to a place of healthy closure. That is crucial! In my experience, the best way to do that is to work at your marriage for at least one additional year. I know it probably seems like a long time, but it's an investment in the rest of your life.

Here's the key point: It's a good investment for the rest of your life whether your marriage succeeds or not. Obviously, it's a good investment if you turn your marriage around. But if you don't, it will not have been a wasted year. It will have been the most important thing you could have done with that year because of the impact on the rest of your life and (if it comes to this) your next relationship.

I have seen too many cases of spouses ending their marriages prematurely, and as a result, never reaching closure in the relationship. A few years later, they find themselves in the same situation with someone else.

Sometimes the progress individuals make in relationship counseling turns out to be more beneficial for them in their next relationship than in their current one.

I remember an instance when a man’s marriage ended in the middle of a seven-week marriage boot camp. The individual asked whether he should continue with the final weeks of the program. I said, "Absolutely."

He responded, "Why? What's the point? My marriage is over."

"You're not doing it for this marriage," I explained. "You're doing it for the benefit of your next one."

Now don't get me wrong; your intention for working on your marriage shouldn’t be simply to benefit your life after marriage. You need to be intent on restoring your current relationship.

But if you fail, your effort will not have been for naught.

Bottom line is this. If you're asking, "When is it time to call it quits?"

The answer is: one year after you think you're done. If after one more year of trying everything in your power to make your marriage work you're still miserable, then you should consider moving on. Until then, hang in there and don't give up.

This topic reminds me of my situation many years ago. I remember learning late one night that my wife had an appointment with a divorce attorney the next morning. We were hours from "done." Who would have thought that we could turn things around at that point?

We did, of course.

It's never too late! In fact (and here's real food for thought), very often the turning point in a marriage is when a couple hits rock bottom. Sometimes it's not until things couldn't get worse that they can get better.

About Mort Fertel

Mort Fertel is a world authority on the psychology of relationships. He has been featured as an expert on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and Fox television networks, as well as dozens of publications including Glamour Magazine and Family Circle, to discuss his Marriage Fitness System. His program is endorsed by a wide variety of mental-health professionals, and he has helped save thousands of marriages. Fertel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, was the CEO of an international nonprofit organization, and is a former marathon runner. He lives with his wife and five children (including triplets!) in Baltimore, MD.

5 Real-Life Tips for Widowhood

Wed, 15 May 2013 03:49:06 GMT

Life after ‘Till Death Do Us Part’
5 Real-Life Tips for Widowhood from Former Romance Novelist

Perhaps the only bad thing about a lifelong romance is, eventually, someone has to die.

Short of an unnatural occurrence – a violent crime, a suicide pact, a plane crash – a wife or a husband will be forced to go on alone. After decades of shared life, love and happiness with her husband, Ralph, Thelma Zirkelbach says surviving “till death do us part” can be like wandering lost in a foreign wilderness.

“Ralph has been gone for 7½ years now; when I first lost him I had no idea that I’d have to get used to an entirely new lifestyle,” says Zirkelbach, author of “Stumbling Through the Dark,” (www.widowsphere.blogspot.com), a memoir about an interfaith couple facing one of life’s greatest spiritual challenges.

“When you’re grieving – whether your loved one is suffering from a terminal condition, or he or she has recently passed – practical things like funeral arrangements, short- to long-term financial issues or even what’s for dinner can seem very conceptual, abstract and far removed from what you’re feeling.”

But the biggest challenge is having no one with whom to share your life, she says.

“Family milestones, major news stories and technological changes are just a few things Ralph has not experienced with me,” says Zirkelbach, a grandmother, speech pathologist and Harlequin Romance author.

She offers five areas in which couples can prepare for both the process of dying, and life after death:

• At the hospital: We tend to take our health for granted until we don’t feel well. Sometimes, it’s something we can’t shake; for Ralph, flu-like symptoms would prove to be leukemia. At one point during her life at the hospital with Ralph, Zirkelbach kissed her husband before he was sent off to isolation as part of his treatment; it would be the last kiss for an entire month. When a spouse gets sick and requires extended hospital treatment, be ready for a shortage of parking, general uncertainty and an irregular schedule. Zirkelbach’s sanctuary during Ralph’s time at the hospital was the hospital’s café, where she “gorged on smoothies and cookies – sweets are my comfort food,” she says.

• Finances: This can be one of the most difficult areas because, too often, couples don’t prepare for the eventuality of a death well in advance. While older couples are more likely to be financially prepared for a death, younger couples are often caught blindsided by the loss of a spouse. Consider getting professional assistance from a financial expert.

• Spirituality: What is often put aside as secondary in daily life can quickly become the primary thought for someone who is grieving. Zirkelbach and her husband were an interfaith couple – he came from an evangelical Christian background and she is Jewish. Ralph was admitted to the hospital as Jewish; he had planned to convert, but as his condition worsened and his family became more involved, he stuck with Christianity. This was emotionally confusing to Zirkelbach during an already stressful period. Understanding each other’s views on matters of life and afterlife before a loss is helpful.

• Bad things can still happen: When Ralph got sick, Zirkelbach’s mother was also beginning a rapid decline, and ultimately died before Ralph. “Just because a terrible thing is happening to you doesn’t cancel out the possibility of another one happening,” she says. “There’s no credit limit for misfortune, which is all the more reason to show love, regularly, to the people you care about the most.”

• The journey of letting go: Zirkelbach quotes Mary Oliver’s poem “In Blackwater Woods”: To live in this world / You must be able … To love what is mortal … knowing / Your own life depends on it; / And when the time comes to let it go, / To let it go. “I had no idea I could survive all by myself; it seemed like I needed help with everything,” she says. “But I’ve learned a very important lesson -- I’m much more resourceful, much stronger and much more independent than I ever thought I was.”

Stumbling Through The Dark

About Thelma Zirkelbach

Thelma Zirkelbach received a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Texas, a master’s in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Houston and an education doctorate in curriculum and instruction with emphasis on reading disorders from the University of Houston. She has been in private practice in speech pathology, specializing in young children with speech, language and learning disabilities, for many years. She began her writing career as a romance novelist, publishing with Harlequin, Silhouette and Kensington. Her husband’s death from leukemia in 2005 propelled her to creative non-fiction.

3 Tips to Lower Your Veterinary Bill

Mon, 13 May 2013 03:36:39 GMT

3 Tips to Lower Your Veterinary Bill
New Tax Adds to Already Growing Costs

Pet owners’ vet bills are growing, which may explain why fewer are taking their dogs and cats to the animal doctor although more Americans than ever have pets.

To make matters worse, a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices that kicked in Jan. 1 includes equipment that’s used for animals as well as people. Items as basic as IV pumps and scalpels are now subject to the tax, which is to help fund the Affordable Care Act.

“Even before the tax, the latest survey showed spending for dog care alone rose 18.6 percent from 2006 to 2012. And even though cat vet visits dropped 4 percent in that time, cat owners paid 4 percent more,” says Dr. Rod Block, citing the 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook, a survey of more than 50,000 households.

“Add to that the new excise tax and I’m sure we’re going to see even more people torn between paying the light bill and taking their pet to the vet,” says Block, a board-certified animal chiropractor and author of “Like Chiropractic for Elephants,” (www.drrodblock.com). But there are simple ways to keep veterinary costs down, while still providing excellent care for your pet – whether it’s a dog, cat, horse or guinea pig, Block says.

“It’s important to always get appropriate care when your animal needs it, but you can easily prevent problems, or catch them early, by simply staying in tune with your pet’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs,” he says.

He offers these tips for accomplishing that, and distress signals to watch for:

• Is your pet in pain?: Before X-rays and MRIs, health practitioners relied on these physical indications of pain: heat, redness, lumps or swelling, tremors, obvious discomfort. To recognize the first four, a pat on the head is not enough. Get used to taking some quiet time to place your hands on your pet, and work on honing your perceptive abilities. Being in a rush or having your mind on what you need to do next will impede your ability to perceive changes – use the time to simply be with your animal. If a joint feels warm, it may be inflamed. Mild localized tremors can indicate a problem in the area beneath your hand. Lumps or an asymmetrical feel when you have your hands on either side of the pet may indicate growths. “Take your time and quiet your mind. Animals are keenly aware of intent, and they’ll work with you if feel your intent,” Block says.

• Watch how your pet plays: It’s important that a pet gets physical and psychological stimulation, but those needs vary with temperament, age, and even how energetic the pet owner is. “Pets tend to match their owners’ energy levels, for instance, very elderly owners will tend to have pets that like to nuzzle and curl up next to them,” Block says. Take note of how your pet plays so you’ll be aware of changes. Is he becoming more aggressive? He may be telling you something’s bothering him. Has she stopped hopping up on the couch? Is he favoring a paw (or hoof?) Beyond the physical, your pet’s play can also communicate emotional distress. For instance, if he becomes fearful or timid, consider any changes in the home, routines, etc., that may be affecting him.

• Have a thorough neuro-muscular-skeletal exam done. A veterinary chiropractor can examine a pet’s frame, muscles and nerves for areas that may be pre-disposed to injury, and suggest ways you can help protect them. In dogs, cats and horses, joint injuries are common, with muscle and tendon strains and tears. Problems with the spine can lead to compressed or herniated discs, and neck issues can lead to mobility problems and even seizures. If you know your pet’s vulnerabilities, you can take steps to prevent injuries.

“If you decide to take your pet to a chiropractor, make sure he or she is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association,” says Block, who’s been treating people for 43 years and animals for 16.

“Find one who is in tune with animals – a host of technical skills does not compensate if the practitioner is not in tune with his patients.”

Like Chiropractic For Elephants

About Dr. Rod Block

Dr. Rod Block serves as a chiropractic consultant to numerous veterinary practices in Southern California and is an international lecturer on animal chiropractic. He is board certified in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, is a member of the International Association of Elephant Managers and serves as an equine chiropractic consultant to Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Block is the equine chiropractor for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Mounted Police Unit, a lecturer at Western State University College of Veterinary Medicine and a lecturer at University of California Irvine (Pre-Veterinary Program). He completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA and later received his Doctorate in Chiropractic.

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Fri, 10 May 2013 03:22:06 GMT

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5 Tips to Lead Change in Challenging Times

Wed, 08 May 2013 03:17:03 GMT

Struggling to Transform Your Business
to Survive and Thrive?
5 Tips to Lead Change in Challenging Times

Putting the right people at the helm has launched many high-profile, highly successful turnarounds, from Jack Welch in his early days at GE to Meg Whitman at eBay.

But companies don’t have to fire the entire C-suite to put “new” leadership in place, says Barbara Trautlein, author of “Change Intelligence: Use the Power of CQ to Lead Change that Sticks” (www.changecatalysts.com).

“Leadership is the key to successful major organizational change, which has had a failure rate of 70 percent decades,” she says. “It IS possible to lead successful and sustainable change - IF it's led effectively. The problem has been that, so often, it’s not.”

Workforces in every industry -- from manufacturing to service to health care to high tech -- are confused and bruised, she says. Employees in this economy thirst for guidance but are distrustful and disenfranchised -- not engaged, empowered, or equipped to do what is needed to help their organizations transform to survive and thrive.

The solution? Those who lead change must first change themselves.

Trautlein shares five simple but effective ways to accomplish that:

• Change Your Story - Reframe resistance. Resistance in organizations is like the immune system in the body; it protects against harmful invaders from the outside. Just like pain in the body is a symptom something is wrong, so resistance is a sign to which managers should pay attention. The goal is not to eradicate it, but to allow it to surface, so it can be explored and honored. To lead more effectively, learn to see resistance as your ally, not your enemy.

• Change Your Stance - Picture a triangle. So often, we view ourselves on one angle, others at another angle, and "the problem" on the third angle. In our minds, it feels like it's us against the other people as well as the problem. That's exhausting. Instead, re-envision yourself and the other people working together to solve the problem. Move from being and feeling and acting against others, or doing something to others, or even in spite of others, to working with and even for them. If you can make this simple mindset shift, how you relate to others will almost immediately become palpably partnership-oriented to them.

• Change Your Seat - What you see depends on where you sit. Change looks very different at different levels of the organizational hierarchy. Those at the top are typically isolated. Those at the bottom are most resistant. Those in the middle are squeezed. Sit in others' seats and appreciate their pressures. Adapt your approach and messages to the very different needs and concerns of these very different audiences.

• Change Your Style - We all know the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. To lead change effectively, follow the Platinum Rule: Do unto others as THEY want to be done unto. Tell stories they can relate to. Share statistics relevant to them. Demonstrate what's in it for all of us to work together in new ways.

• Change Your Strategy - So often, what looks like resistance is really that people don't get it, don't want it, or they are unable to do it. Engage the brain by explaining the "why" and "what" of the change -- help the "head" understand your vision, mission, and goals. Paint a clear picture of the target and the end game. Inspire the "heart" to care about the change objectives by engaging with others, actively listening, dealing with fears and insecurities, and building trust. Help the "hands" apply the change -- provide tactics, training and tools, and eliminate barriers standing in people's way.

The good news: None of these prescriptions require leaders to change who they are.

“They are all about shifts in mindsets and behaviors. It's about the flexibility to adapt our leadership approach to get us all where we need to go,” Trautlein says. It's amazing how when we change, others change.

“It's been said before -- because it's true: Be the change you wish to see in the world. That's leadership.”

About Barbara Trautlein, PhD.

Barbara Trautlein is a change leadership consultant, author, international speaker and researcher with more than 25 years of experience partnering with organizations to lead change that sticks. She helps all levels of leaders in achieving their personal and professional goals, from Fortune 50 companies to small- and mid-sized businesses, in industries ranging from steel mills to sales teams, refineries to retail, and healthcare to high tech. Trautlein earned her PhD in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan.

Monday, May 06, 2013

Mon, 06 May 2013 03:12:22 GMT

iCAN-Global Will Host the May 15, 2013
Entrepreneur’s Breakfast Forum

Featured Guest Speakers:

Bernia Wheaton, Chief Communicator at Achieve Consulting - Canada

Christopher Fry, Project Specialist in the New York Power Authority – New York

Ethan Mayers, Founding Partner atSynthenai – New York

Cleantech is a hot topic in regional and global debate. At the May 15, 2013 iCAN-Global Entrepreneur’s Breakfast Forum, a group of experts will discuss business development services available to early, emerging and mature companies, market opportunities for sustainable energy in Canada and New York State and planning and how to best protect your company’s reputation in the digital marketplace.

The iCAN-Global Entrepreneur’s Breakfast Forum is a monthly business education event that brings together an assortment of entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, academics, professionals and investors. Guest speakers deliver presentations about their companies and business expertise to educate attendees. This month’s event will be broadcast from the Center for Personal and Professional Development in Ellipse Room 8180 at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY. And because the event is broadcast online, individuals from all over the world can tune into itslive webcast!Registration, breakfast and networking will run from 8:15am-9:00am EDT. Presentations, moderated by CEO of iCAN-Global, Les Neumann, will take place from 9:00am-10:30am EDT.

Les will first introduce Bernia Wheaton, the new iCAN-Global Business Development Partner in Canada.Bernia is the Chief Communicator at Achieve Consulting Group. She is an award winning Social Media Strategist and Business Developer. Delivering her presentation via Skype, Bernia will discuss why she chose to partner with iCAN-Global and provide an overview of the cleantech, economic development and entrepreneur climate in Canada.

Les will then introduce Christopher Fry, Project Specialist in the New York Power Authority's (NYPA) Energy Resource Management department. Chris manages NYPA's Green Power Program including procurement, contract negotiation, regulatory reporting, and Green-e Energy certification. In "Financing Renewables from a Utility Perspective" Chris he will provide an overview of NYPA's Energy Services and Green Power Programs.

The final presenter for the Forum is Ethan Mayers, founding partner at a New York City-based management consulting firm called Synthenai. Synthenai focuses on rethinking and reframing strategy and processes for small to mid-sized businesses in ways that preserve their reputation while ensuring sustainable scalability.In "Shepherding Success: How Good Operations Sustains Growth, Unleashes Innovation and Wins in the Marketplace" Ethan will share best practices he learned from working with startups.

Want to learn about sustainable development on a regional and global scale? Need more information on business planning?If you answered yes to either of these questions, become part of May 15, 2013 Entrepreneur’sBreakfast Forum! If you plan to attend the event in person visit Register Now!to pay and register for the event. If you cannot attend the event in person but want to watch its live webcast click Live Webcast. Keep in mind that the webcast link is active on the morning of the webcast only.

For more information on the event, visit the event webpageor contact sarah@icanny.net.To receive invitations to all future events become part of the iCAN-Global email list! For more information about iCAN-Global, visit http://www.icanny.net/.

What Will Really Make You Happy?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:36:34 GMT

What Will Really Make You Happy?
Research Reveals 4 Common Misconceptions

The idea of a happy and meaningful life has become unnecessarily complicated in some circles, says author and certified positive psychology coach Lynda Wallace, who left a high-powered executive career with Johnson & Johnson to pursue her real passion – helping individuals and groups achieve greater happiness and success.

“Happiness has been appropriately cited as a goal in political debates on issues from taxation to the social safety net to marriage equality, but the debate is often confused,” says Wallace, author of “A Short Course in Happiness: Practical Steps to a Happier Life,” which topped Amazon’s Self-Help Best Seller list.

“Some people claim that happiness is all in your DNA or bank account. The truth is that happiness is largely a matter of everyday choices and actions. There are straightforward, well-researched and effective things every one of us can do to create greater happiness in our lives and in the lives of those we care about.”

The essential elements of a happy life are not mysterious, she says.

Research shows that the happiest people do four basic things that make the difference: they focus on what is good and positive in their lives; cope effectively with life’s inevitable challenges; develop strong relationships; and pursue meaningful goals.

“We can all become happier by putting our efforts into these areas,” Wallace says.

One of the first steps we can take is to get past some of the common misperceptions about happiness that can stand in our way. Wallace offers these four examples.

• Misconception #1: Happiness is about getting the big things right. It’s natural to think that if we were suddenly rich, beautiful and living on the beach somewhere, we’d be happy. But that type of good fortune turns out to have a surprisingly small impact on happiness. The happiest people are most often not those in the most enviable circumstances, but those who cultivate positive emotional outlooks and actions. So how can we do it? “Take concrete steps to practice optimism, gratitude, kindness and self-compassion in your everyday life,” says Wallace. “The cumulative effect of those everyday choices can have a tremendous impact on how you experience your life.”

• Misconception #2: Happy people suppress negative emotions. Happy people actually experience sadness, grief, worry and other so-called negative emotions nearly as frequently as unhappy people do. The difference is what happens when those feelings occur. Happier people are generally able to experience negative feelings without losing hope for the future. “They give themselves permission to feel sad, angry, or lonely, but they remain confident that things will get better. As a result, their sadness progresses into hope and action rather than regressing into anxiety and despair.”

• Misconception #3: Pursuing happiness is self-centered. The strongest of all conclusions drawn by researchers into emotional well-being is that our happiness is determined more by our relationships with other people than by any other single factor. The happiest people build their lives around good, trusting relationships. “If other priorities are getting in the way of your relationships,” says Wallace, “take steps to shift the balance back to where it will really make a difference.”

• Misconception #4: I’ll be happy when I achieve my goals. Have you ever noticed that when someone wins the Super Bowl or an Academy Award, or when you achieve a long-sought ambition, that wonderful sense of accomplishment and happiness seems to fade faster than you’d expect? “That’s just the way our brains work,” says Wallace. “Committed goal pursuit is one of the keys to a happy life, but most of the happiness we get from striving for goals comes while we’re making progress toward them, not after we achieve them. That’s why it’s so important that we choose goals that are in synch with what we love and value, and that we make a conscious effort to enjoy them along the way.”

About Lynda Wallace

After twenty years as a highly successful executive with Johnson & Johnson, where she was responsible for a $1B portfolio of businesses including Band-Aid, Neosporin and Purell, Lynda Wallace chose to change careers to pursue her passion. She now helps individuals and groups apply proven insights and techniques to achieve greater happiness and success in their lives, families, careers, and businesses. Lynda holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a certified positive psychology coach. She is also a sought-after speaker and the author of the #1 Amazon Self-Help Best Seller “A Short Course in Happiness: Practical Steps to a Happier Life.” More information is available at her website: www.lyndawallace.com

Beckerle Lumber ~ A Family Tradition

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:02:58 GMT

Beckerle Lumber

A Family Tradition of Giving Back to the Community

Since 1940, Beckerle Lumber has been a Rockland institution, with commercials proudly boasting that their business is a 'family tradition'. What you may not realize is that the Beckerle family also has a family tradition of philanthropy in the county that goes back even further.

"My grandfather, Laurence Beckerle, was a proud member of the Lions Club for many years," explains Larry Beckerle. "He instilled in our family the importance of doing charitable work and giving back to the community." Beckerle family members still live in Rockland, and their charitable activities are as numerous now as they were back in the day.

Rotary membership is definitely a Beckerle family affair. Larry's father Pete (Laurence Jr.) has been a member of the Nanuet Rotary for 60 years. Larry's brother Michael is also a member. Larry himself is a member of the Spring Valley Rotary, and his father's cousin is a Rotarian in Pearl River. As one of their Rotary activities, the Beckerles have taken on delivery routes for Meals on Wheels. Once a month, they deliver much needed meals to homebound residents in our county.

Just as Becklerle supplies its customers with the basics they need for their homes and businesses, the family works to help provide the basics for Rocklanders in need. In addition to their Meals on Wheels routes, family members work to support our local hospitals and serve on the boards of the Salvation Army and St. Thomas Aquinas College. Additionally, Larry is head track coach at Nanuet High School.

The Beckerle commitment to community extends beyond basic needs; they also work to elevate the spirit of Rocklanders through the arts. Larry is President of the Board of Directors of the Elmwood Community Playhouse in Nyack, a Rockland mainstay for 65 years whose complex will soon undergo a complete renovation. "My mother Denise has been a member for over 50 years. She's acted and directed on the Elmwood stage, and has been honored as a Life Member of the Playhouse," Larry says proudly.

"We are part of this community, and have raised our families here," Larry continues. "Our customers, associates and employees are our friends and neighbors. Lending a helping hand or providing donor support if we can is simply the right thing to do."

Larry keenly points out how the success of local businesses is impacted by the needs of its residents. "Giving back to the community is not only the right thing to do, it's good business as well. Everything is interrelated. If the community struggles, then we all struggle. "

About the Community Cares Blog and the Rockland Community Foundation

The Community Cares Blog, hosted by the Rockland Community Foundation, celebrates the spirit of giving in our community. Each week, we will post a story of philanthropy or shine a spotlight on an activity that is making a difference in the lives of our neighbors. We invite Rockland non-profits, individuals and businesses to contribute to the Community Cares blog by sending an email to info@rocklandgives.org .

As the umbrella charitable organization for the county, the Rockland Community Foundation is working to connect donors with the causes they care about most. Our grants support a wide range of interests and, with the support of Rockland residents and businesses, we are committed to a path of growth that will enable us to help the non-profit community continue their vital work. You can learn more by visiting us at rocklandgives.org.

Community foundations put philanthropy within reach, offering the ability to establish funds that will continue to give for years to come, with tax benefits that donors can take advantage of now. Most importantly, the funds stay in the community, which means donors will see the impact of their contributions in the place they call home.

If you are interested in creating a fund and would like more information, or would like to make a donation, please contact them at 845-947-2868 or info@rocklandgives.org or visitrocklandgives.org.

Earth Day Activities at RCC, Ramapo NY

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:18:14 GMT

April 23 – Earth Day Activities at RCC
all events are free and open to the public

Ramapo, NY— Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate Earth Day at Rockland Community College, Tuesday, April 23.

EARTH Day at RCC
Tuesday, April 23
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901
For additional information please call Maureen Brown at 845-574-4357

Earth Day displays and activities focus on personal wellness, ecology and the environment, and recycling. There will be vendor displays and product give-aways, demonstrations and seminars. Bring your plastic bags, batteries and small electronics (no tvs, computers or printers) for alternative recycling. Help other people and our planet by bringing your new or gently used sneakers for donations to (http://www.greensneakers.org).

Earth Day Activities Include:

Green Contest Winner Awards (9:00 am)
Yoga and Mediation (9:30, 10:00, 10:30, and 11:00 am)
Birds of Prey Demonstrations (11:00 am –Noon, and 12:30 – 1:30 pm)
Solar Oven Demonstrations (weather permitting)
Seminar –Economics and Environmental Impact of Waste Generation (2:00 – 3:00 pm)

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Birds of Prey Demonstration

Don't miss this MUST SEE show next Sunday!

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:37:00 GMT

Reserve your tickets NOW for just $20 (adults)

You can go by Neve Shalom tomorrow (April 21) from 11am - 3pm
and buy your tickets for just $20
Neve Shalom
250 Grove Avenue
Metuchen, New Jersey 08840

Tickets are $25 at the door

2013 Susy Schwartz Concert Salutes Life in Israel

April 28, 2013 at 7 pm

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Reserved tickets will be held for pick-up at the door

Real life in Israel is the theme of the 2013 Susy Schwartz Concert, to be held on April 28 at 7 pm. The program continues our congregational celebration of Israel’s 65th birthday and features the Israel-focused comedy stylings of Benji Lovitt, whose act will follow an Israeli sing-along led by David Amar.

Benji Lovitt’s unique and hilarious perspectives on lsrael—combined with his deep connections to Jewish education—help make his stand-up performance a total delight for Jewish audiences across a wide age range. Drawing from his own experiences as an American who followed high school with a life-changing year in Israel on Young Judaea Year Course, worked after college at the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta and with Hadassah’s Young Judaea and Israel programs and later made Aliyah, Benji offers a take on Israeli life and culture that you just don’t see every day, but rings true nevertheless. The Birthright program regularly engages Benji to entertain participants during their trip. As one Rutgers student described Benji’s appearance on campus, “People had a blast laughing and remembering their time in Israel. I’m ready for my next trip!”

Benji’s stand-up comedy has been seen in person and online by viewers in Israel, the US, and around the world, and his improvised videos and hilarious blog entries have been featured in publications such as the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post, Ynet, PresenTense Magazine, the Jewish Daily Forward and Israel21c, among others.

David Amar joins our April 28 concert program in the role of song leader - one of the many hats he wears with joy and distinction. Born and raised in Israel, he is a second generation Sephardic cantor and a third generation rabbi. In New Jersey, he is best known as Cantor Amar, Hazzan and Educational Director of Congregation Ahavat Olam in Howell. He began his cantorial training at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem (the Re’nanot Institute) and also attended the Belz School of Music at Yeshiva University. Cantor Amar, as you will see, has an immense talent for leading everyone in singing along.

The Susy Schwartz Scholarship Fund and annual concert event were created as a fitting memorial to Susy, who loved Israel, music and young people and deeply valued education. The goal of the fund is to raise money to give each Bar or Bat Mitzvah a “Passport to Israel.” Each child now receives a voucher for $1,000, which may be redeemed towards any trip to Israel that has an educational component, taken between ninth grade and the end of college. High school students are also eligible to receive an additional $1,000 from the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County.

Thanks to enthusiastic support from the congregation and the greater community, the memorial scholarship fund has been issuing the Passports continuously since 1991. Our students tell us through their words and actions that their experiences in Israel have crystallized their vision of a positive and sustainable Jewish future and created memories and connections to last a lifetime.

Primary funding for the Passport to Israel program comes from this annual concert event. So, on behalf of the next generation of Jews we are nurturing to love and support Israel, we urge you to consider becoming a Benefactor ($200) or Patron ($100) of the Concert. General admission is $20 for adults ($25 if purchased at the door), and $12 for children under 12. Free babysitting will once again be available by preregistration.

Contact the Neve Shalom office at 732-548-2238 if you need additional information. This year’s concert chairs are Rena Kallman and Barbara Du-Bois.

250 Grove Avenue
Metuchen, New Jersey 08840

Phone: (732) 548-2238
Fax: (732) 548-2335

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