Ridgewood NJ, On Dec. 6, the faithful commemorated a bishop in the early church who was known for generosity and love of children. Born in Lycia in Asia Minor , modern day Turkey around the late third or fourth century, St. Nicholas of Myra is more than just the inspiration for the modern day Santa Claus .
St. Nicholas, the original person behind the Santa Claus legend. Known as Nicholas of Myra .The bishop was noted for his unbridled generosity .
Interestingly enough, he played a role in a key event in Christian history, as he answered a request in 325 by the Roman emperor Constantine and took part in the First Council of Nicaea. During that council, leaders of the early Christian church including Nicholas approved the Nicene Creed and settled on a date for the Easter celebration.
St. Nicholas became associated with Christmas because of the tradition that he had of giving secret gifts to children. It is also conjectured that the saint, who was known to wear red robes and have a long white beard, was culturally converted into the large man with a reindeer-drawn sled full of toys because in German, his name is “San Nikolaus” which almost sounds like “Santa Claus.”
Interesting enough, letters weren’t sent to Nicholas until long after his death. While he was recognized as a saint, “letters to santa “didn’t start coming from children until more than 900 years later. They were not seen as toy requests as much as written prayers. The St. Nicholas Center records the first letter as being sent by a little girl at some period after the year 1200.
Ridgewood NJ, Pro Arte Chorale will be joined by members of the NJ Wind Symphony in a concert featuring Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata, Vaughn Williams’ The Blessed Son of God, favorite traditional carols and more!
For more information and advance discounted ticket sales
please visit: www.proartechorale.org
info@proartechorale.org or 201-497-8400
Tickets: Adult $25 / Senior $20 / Student $10
Ridgewood NJ, They’re here!!!! Please come for a visit to pick out your beautiful freshly cut Christmas tree. Our stock is vast and we anticipate a great season.
Ward’s Farm is a seasonal Farm offering a wonderful array of freshly cut Christmas trees which include Douglas, Nobel, Grand and Fraser Fir trees.
We also have a beautiful assortment of both large and small hand crafted wreaths, table-top trees, super sturdy tree stands, and white pine roping (garland).
We also offer pumpkins, mums and other fall foliage during October and November.
There is also a small petting zoo which is great fun for the whole family.
You are always welcome, so please feel free to stop by and say hello.
Please don’t forget…National Ugly Sweater Day is 12/16 but your ugly sweaters are welcome every day at Ward’s Farm!!!!
Ridgewood NJ,MacMurphy’s in Ridgewood will be hosting their 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Party on December 10th .
The Ugly Sweater party will offer a night of raffles, prizes, drink specials, & great holiday fun for an even better cause- Tristan’s Gift of Hope Foundation. This amazing charity provides funds for children in need of proton beam therapy- an advanced & expensive form of Chemotherapy.
There will also be a cash prize for ugliest sweater as well as raffles you wont want to miss out on!
Everyone will have an elfin’ good time !
I wanted you to know about my friend Rob Skead’s new short Christmas story, which takes place entirely in Ridgewood, and stars his church, Bethlehem on Linwood Avenue. It even has a cameo by Ridgewood’s most famous Thriller author, a completely bald guy everyone should recognize.
Rob got the idea from a dream he had where he was waking up on a cardboard box at the Ridgewood train station. He wanted this story to move people, and represent Christmas in a way stories did many years ago, and he wanted it to represent the true pains of life.
I think he nailed it.
The Light of Bethlehem – A Christmas Novella… Welcome to Bethlehem Church, where a bunch of quirky but committed parishioners have been praying for their pastor. His life is challenged when he meets John Turner, a man who hates churches. Homeless and penniless, John struggles to regain meaning in life after he loses everything. His bad day takes a strange turn when he walks through the front door of Bethlehem Church before Christmas. But can a man angry at God—and himself—get away from the memories that haunt him?
This story will give everyone who reads it that most-special Christmas feeling.
The eBook is priced at a $1 and available via amazon and NOOK.
Some of you may remember Rob who ran Upward Basketball in Ridgewood for nine years.
This morning at 10 am I had the opportunity to meet with PSEG officials along with Village Engineer, Chris Rutishauser and Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager. The hour long meeting resulted in PSE&G representatives agreeing to reschedule work on North and South Broad Street to begin in January. David Hollenbeck, PSE&G regional public affairs manager, who along with other representatives from the utility agreed to implement a work-around schedule pushing the start date to on or about January 9, 2017, avoiding a critical fourth quarter impact on businesses in the area. The rescheduling resulted from a cooperative effort to resolve the issue of work previously scheduled to begin Sept. 26, in the Village’s historic business district. The meeting was cordial and professional. PSE&G officials appreciated the vulnerabilities of our small businesses, especially during the fourth-quarter holiday retail season. They responded and we’re most appreciative.
The Village Council, recognizing the serious nature of the work in upgrading utility infrastructure, is grateful to PSE&G for working collaboratively with us.As well we appreciate the patience of our businesses while we worked through the details with PSEG. We wish you all the greatest success and many, many sales during the upcoming fourth quarter.
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If hoverboards are this year’s most buzzed-about holiday gift, drones are probably a close second. They were a big hit last year, and that appears to be the case again this year — even if this time around, the new drone owners will have to register their new toys with the FAA.
The next best thing to opening one on Christmas morning is basking in the glory of watching people crash them, and if you’re hungry for some drone crash schadenfreude, nothing beats seeing one happen from the drone’s perspective.
Location: Ridgewood YMCA, 112 Oak St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Looking for the perfect tree this year? The Ridgewood YMCA’s annual Christmas Tree lot will open at 6pm on Friday, November 27 with a selection of Fraser trees in sizes to fit any home.
All proceeds from tree sales benefit the Ridgewood YMCA Good Works Programs.
Through its Good Works Programs, the Ridgewood Y addresses community needs and strives to serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay. “Buying a tree from the Y is a great way to make a difference in the community and get a wonderful tree at the same time”, says Gary Imhoff, Marketing and Membership Director at the Y.
The Christmas tree lot also sells wreaths, roping and other holiday items.
Opening hours for the tree lot are Fridays from 6pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 9am to 9pm and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
The Ridgewood Y Christmas Tree lot is located at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood, NJ.
Spend Christmas at Bethlehem Lutheran in Ridgewood
The members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church invite everyone to spend Christmas at Bethlehem. Please join us for any of the services listed below in our sanctuary located at 155 Linwood Ave. in Ridgewood, NJ. We will be celebrating the blessed birth of the Christ child and the love of family and friends. What better place than Bethlehem to spend Christmas! Bethlehem Lutheran Church invites you and your family to join us for Christmas worship.
Our Sunday School will present their Christmas program on December 21st at 9:30 a.m.
On Christmas Eve–Wednesday, December 24th we will host Happy Birthday Baby Jesus at 4:00 p.m. for pre-school children in our parlor. Bethlehem’s Christmas Eve services include a family candlelight worship service at 6:00 p.m. as well as a Christmas candlelight service of festival worship at 8:00 p.m with pre-service music at 7:30.
On Christmas Day–Thursday, December 25th we will hold a communion worship service at 9:30 a.m.
On Sunday, December 28th – we will have one worship service at 9:30 a.m. The Power of Christ (Isaiah 40:10-11): God himself came to live among us & be our Savior, but his power was displayed in the weakness & humility of the manger & the cross.
We end the year with New Year’s Eve worship on Wednesday December 31st at 5:30 p.m.
We truly hope to see you and wish everyone a joyous Christmas season and a beautiful finish for 2014. The members of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgewood want you to know that God has a plan for you and he loves you. Our faith is in Christ. Our guide is in the Bible. Our love is for all. Come celebrate with us. Our regular worship schedulewill begin again on January 11. We offer 2 Sunday services: Contemporary Praise Service at 8:45am and Traditional Worship at 11am with Sunday School and Bible Class at 10am. Please join us at 155 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood. For your information, please see our website, www.BethlehemChurch.com.
Breakfast with Santa – Call for reservation 201/652-1070 Visit Santa in the Park – 12Noon to 3PM
Santa is at his house in Ridgewood-bring your list.
8:00am-12:00Noon Breakfast with Santa-The Office Beer Bar & Grill
12Noon-4:00pm Visit Santa at his house – Memorial Park @ Van Neste Square
Kilwins serving hot chocolate Weather permitting
Free Parking in Ridgewood Lots on Saturdays
The Ridgewood Village Council has approved FREE Parking in the Ridgewood metered lots on Saturday, December 13, 20 and 27.
Come shop and dine in Ridgewood!
Menorah Lighting to Celebrate Chanukah
All are Welcome!
Menorah Lighting takes place at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square – Tuesday, December 16 at 5:30PM. Lighting times are posted for the rest of the week on the fence in the park.
Gloria – A Festive Holiday Concert
NJ Choral Society – West Side Presbyterian Church
New Jersey Choral Society presents “Gloria,” a festive holiday concert Bergen and Essex County
Experience festive music of the season as the New Jersey Choral Society presents “Gloria,” a concert of sacred and traditional holiday carols on Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair. A third performance will be presented on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood. The joyous and uplifting program features John Rutter’s “Gloria”, the New Jersey premieres of “Glory to God” by Julian Revie and “Gloria” by Rick Ryan (a member of the Connecticut Choral Society) and David Hamilton’s elegant work of Christmas worship “Gloria.” Excerpts from Daniel Pinkham’s Fanfares, “Sanctus” from Verdi’s Requiem and “Bogoroditse Devo” (“Ave Maria”) by Rachmaninoff will also be featured. Some traditional carols such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” will be included as well. The chorus will be accompanied by organist Linda Sweetman-Waters, a Brass and Percussion Ensemble, and the Junior High School Chorus from the New Jersey Home School Association under the direction of Noelle Dachis. Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, and this past summer in France. Come one hour prior to concert time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture that provides an insightful and intimate discussion of the music for all ticket holders. Tickets are $25.00 for general admission, $22.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities and $12 for children 12 and under (add $5.00 at the door). Group discounts are also available. For reservations or more information, visit www.njcs.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719. In support of the Center for Food Action, the New Jersey Choral Society will be collecting nonperishable food items at this concert. The Church of the Immaculate Conception and Westside Presbyterian Church are both wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Breakfast With Santa – Visit Santa House December 20th
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
Breakfast with Santa – reservations at 201/652-1070 Visit Santa in his house in the park Noon to 3PM www.experienceridgewoodnj.com
YWCA Solstice Yoga Workshop 12/20
Introductory Classes
YWCA Offers Solstice Yoga Workshop on December 20th YWCA Bergen County will be holding two Solstice Yoga classes for all ages and levels on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Intro to Yoga, a light-hearted, introductory class taught by Colleen Fontes, a certified instructor of over 20 years, will be held from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. A short break and refreshments will follow. At 4:30 p.m. there will be a second class, Winter Solstice 108 Sun Salutations for regular yoga practitioners, led by instructors Colleen Fontes, Fran Milde, and Christa Hughes. All participants must bring a yoga mat. Classes will be held at the YWCA, 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood. Movement@YW members can participate for free; for non-members there is a suggested donation of $10 per person per class. Participants should be in general good health and able to sit, stand and lie down. For more information and to register, call Colleen Fontes at 201-444-5600 x351.
Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus
Holiday Concert
Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus of Ridgewood Concerts on the calendar. First one is Sat Dec 20 at 7:30 pm at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, and the second is Sunday Dec 21 at 4 PM.
Christmas – The Joy and Spirit at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Ridgewood NJ, Celebrate the Christmas Season at Bethlehem With Greg Caldarone and The NJ Brass Quintet Sunday Dec. 7 at 3:00PM This concert will feature classic and contemporary Christmas songs and instrumentals plus a carol sing along. Greg Caldarone and The New Jersey Brass Quintet, accompanied by Bethlehem’s organist and pianist Elena Crudge, will perform a free concert “Christmas: The Joy and Spirit 2014”.
Come celebrate this joyous time of year with old classics and contemporary Christmas favorites. The NJ Brass Quintet is a fabulous ensemble that will immediately give you that warm wonderful feeling of an old fashioned Christmas. Greg Calderone will feature some classic Christmas songs as well as some newer ones. Invite your friends and neighbors to this concert. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas season!
December 6, 2014 , 9am to 1pm Santa at Columbia Bank, 60 S. Broad Street – gifts and pictures for children 10:30 Am Free Movie at Bowtie Warner Cinema – ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ Breakfast with Santa – Call for Reservation 201/652-1070
Breakfast with Santa
Chamber of commerce
December 13, 2014 , Breakfast with Santa – Call for reservation 201/652-1070 Visit Santa in the Park – 12Noon to 3PM
Breakfast With Santa – Visit Santa House
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
December 20, 2014 , Breakfast with Santa – reservations at 201/652-1070 Visit Santa in his house in the park Noon to 3PM www.experienceridgewoodnj.com
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving Santa makes an early visit to South Irving Street
November 27,2014
Boyd A. Loving
7:18 PM
Santa Claus dropped by unexpectedly at a home on South Irving Street on Thursday afternoon where 1-year old Declan and his 5-year old sister Delia were having a Thanksgiving meal with their grandparents.
Declan was a slightly unnerved by the surprise visit and kept his distance, but Delia sat right down near Santa, and had a nice 15 minute conversation with the fat man from the North Pole.
Santa did not arrive empty handed; Declan was the recipient of a toy vacuum cleaner, and Delia found a Play Doh kit when she unwrapped her present.
Mr. Claus arrived in a bright red SUV, which he told Delia he uses on every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and was gone in a flash 15 minutes after his arrival.
As he waved goodbye to Declan and Delia, Santa did reveal that retired Ridgewood Police Department Captain and former Ridgewood Mayor Keith D. Killion was the person who wrote the North Pole and requested Santa make an early visit to South Irving Street.
Pro Arte Invites You to Our Messiah Sing In Sunday December 14
Come join the Pro Arte Chorale for a joyous sing-along of Handel’s Christmas masterpiece, conducted by Maestro Steven Fox. The Chorale will gather for this event on Sunday December 14 at 3:00pm at the Central Unitarian Church located at 156 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ. Bring your own scores or we will lend you one of ours. Admission is $10 at the door, including rental score.
Handel created such compelling melodic and fluid music that it’s easy to overlook what is one of history’s great examples of “word painting.” The baroque era in music — roughly 1600 to 1750 — saw enormous interest in this technique of depicting a word’s meaning through music. A basic example is using dissonance to set the word “pain.”Even those who have sung “Messiah” aren’t always made fully aware of Handel’s continual crafting of music to express the words
Steven Fox, the Music Director of The Pro Arte Chorale, is also the artistic director of Clarion Music Society in New York, and the music director for Musica Antiqua St. Petersburg in Russia. The Pro Arte Chorale, a 60-member volunteer chorus based in Ridgewood, is committed to enriching the lives of its members and its audience by exploring many musical traditions. All performances are held in ADA compliant venues with handicapped accessible parking, ramps and restrooms. For more information about Pro Arte Chorale or to join the mailing list, visit www.proartechorale.org or send an email to info@proartechorale.org.The Pro Arte Chorale is sponsored in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.
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