Kiwanis at September 27, 2014 Madison, NJ Bottle Hill Day

Kiwanis sold Holiday Nuts at the 2014 Annual Bottle Hill Day festival in Madison, NJ.

Kiwanis Recognizes Eagle Scout Joseph Falco, III

Karen Swartz presents Kiwanis recognition plaque in honor of Madison Eagle Scout Joseph Falco, III at his October 13, 2012 Court of Honor Ceremony.

Kiwanis April 9 Meeting Program: Elliot Knight and Kit Cone gave an overview of the “Grace Church Recycling Ministry”

Elliot Knight (left in photo) and Kit Cone (right) were introduced by Nancy Boucher. They gave Kiwanis an overview of the “Grace Church Recycling Ministry” at the April 9th Kiwanis luncheon meeting. They organized the program about 12 years ago.

They collect furniture and other items from people who don’t need it anymore and deliver it free to people in need who are coming out of group housing. Kit took this on after he retired from a 46-year job as a Lutheran missionary in Liberia. Elliot joined with Kit to form an organization dedicated to help people who have no money and desperately need their assistance.

Clients are referred to them by a certified social or government agency.  They have a 13 year old truck named Bruno which they drive around picking up and delivering furniture.  Items are temporarily stored in their garages. Many clients have no furniture and first want a bed to sleep on.
The Recycling Ministry is affiliated with Grace Episcopal Church in Madison and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Dover.

After the presentation, members of Kiwanis applauded this inspiring effort which is helping many people. To learn more, please visit the website: www.recyclingministry.org

Kiwanis marches in November 23, 2012 Madison Santa Parade

Thirteen Kiwanians and spouses marched in the November 23 Madison Santa Parade (aka Christmas Parade). Madison High School Key Club was well represented with eight student marchers, the club advisor, and her family. Many thousands of adults and children crowded the sidewalks to watch this annual event. After marching, Kiwanians went to Charlie Brown’s for supper.

Steven Coppola, Coach of the Madison Little League Kiwanis Baseball Team Spoke at June 26 Breakfast Meeting.

Steven Cappola, Coach of the Madison Little League Kiwanis Team presents a photo showing the members of the 2012 team to Kiwanis President Mary Anne Maloney (Photo by Bob Stannard).

Coach Coppola told us of his pleasure at coaching a fine team, and receiving the strong support from our Chatham/Madison Kiwanis Club.  As a gift for our cub, he brought a framed photo of the team members.  He thanked us for the invitation to the meeting, and said that it was even more of a pleasure ‘having our sponsors at the game to root us on’.  “Kinda like having George Steinbrenner there for the Yankees”.  Steve invited our members and friends to come to the Rosedale Avenue ball field to enjoy and cheer for the Kiwanis Team.

In a follow-up message, he commented on the last (winning) game: “Ryan Stafanick pitched the first five innings, and then after we went up by 2 in the top of the 6th, I put (my son) Steven in to close the game.  He said, ‘Dad, why do you have to do this to me?  My reply was, ‘Cause I know you will get the job done’.  He came in, and like a true closer, threw one pitch to the first batter, who hit a ground ball, threw two pitches to the next, who also hit a ground ball, and four to the next, who popped out to first.”

2012 Madison Kiwanis Service and Music Awards

The Madison High School Awards Ceremony for the graduating class of 2012 was held Wednesday, June 21, the evening before commencement, at the Ferguson Recreation Center on the Fairleigh Dickinson University campus off Madison Avenue.

Among many honors for the graduating seniors, the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club bestowed awards on two members of the Class of 2012, one recognizing service to others, and the second applauding achievement in music.

Former Club President Nancy Boucher presented the Nancy Boucher Service Award to Rebecca Levin. Boucher said “the award is presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a commitment to service and through those efforts and by her example has had a positive impact on others.” Boucher also noted that Levin has done an outstanding job as President of the MHS Key Club, a service organization sponsored by the Kiwanis, leading the club in 600 hours of service in 2012.  Key Club projects included Color-A Smile, Babysitting for mothers who attended Dress for Success meetings, conducting a food drive for a local food pantry, making gingerbread houses with cognitively impaired students, staffing the MHS Blood Drive and running a dodge ball tournament to raise funds which were contributed to charities.

Madison jazz pianist Jerry Vezza presented the Jerry Vezza Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in the Field of Music to Sharlys Leszczuk.  Vezza said “the award, is given to a graduating senior who has shown a love for music with passion, discipline and dedication to excellence in the art of music.” Vezza also noted that Leszczuk has been active in MHS musical theater production and is a member of the Chorus and Jazz Choir. Leszczuk has played the harp since she was four years old and has won many classical and Celtic harp accolades. She is also an accomplished tin whistle player, vocalist, song writer, story-teller and Irish dancer. She is a member of the Harmonium Choral Society and Harmonium’s Chamber Singers and has performed with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey. She is a featured artist in Madison and the region, performing with her family, the “eclectic-Celtic” musical group “Dugan’s Hooligans.”

At the Awards Ceremony, Leszczuk also received the Arion Music Award, William Chemerka Student Council Award and Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.

Madison Kiwanis Little League Wins Major Division Championship - 9 to 7

In the final game on June 19 at Sonny Vitale Memorial Field in Madison tonight, Kiwanis took an early lead in the top of the first inning but North Stars came roaring back in the bottom of the first. By the end of the fifth inning, the score was all tied up, 7-up. In the top of the sixth, Kiwanis scored twice.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kiwanis changed pitchers. (The first Kiwanis pitcher went five innings!) The “closer” was excellent and after two hits to shortstop with put-outs at first, the final batter hit a foul ball, which the first basement caught just inside the fence.  WaaaHooooo!

May 19 Program: Meg Wastie, Curator of Education, Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison presents “What’s In a Name?”

Meg Wastie, Curator of Education, Museum of Early Trades & Crafts was introduced by Monty Montague at the May 29 breakfast meeting. She spoke about “What’s in a Name?” Meg has been at the museum for nine years after teaching for 32 years at the Columbia High School in Maplewood.

Meg gave a brief history of the museum and said that the building, built in 1899-1900, is the greatest artifact of the museum. It looks like a church, but was the James Library until it became a museum in 1969. Items in the museum cover the period from Colonial times to pre-industrial revolution. Meg gave a description of the Victorian building.

Her talk was about names of tools and how they relate to people’s names, which can be classified as geographic, patronymic or occupational. She gave a very interesting PowerPoint presentation showing tools and the occupation-related names associated with the tools. For example, barbers are associated with razor blades and bleeding cups. The original barber pole was red and white striped because the original barber wrapped bloody gauze bandages around the pole so that they would dry.

Another occupation is that of a brewer. We remember the name Teresa Brewer. Talking about printing presses and type setting, she noted that in the case holding the lead type, capital letters are found in the “upper case” and small letters in the “lower case.” Meg told many entertaining stories about the origins of names of tools and people.

Earlier, Monty provided a list of names to Meg for all the Kiwanis Club members and she researched the origin of the names. Meg shared the origins of those members who were in attendance. The audience was delighted with the stories and reacted loudly as the origins were read. Several members responded by providing their own understandings about their names.

At the end of the presentation, members enthusiastically applauded this interesting and entertaining event. To learn more about the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, visit their website.

Kiwanis Marches in November 25 2011 Madison Christmas Parade

Kiwanis members and spouses started gathering at 5:00 pm. It was warmer than last year.

 Marchers waved Merry Christmas.

The Treasurer (middle) of the Madison High School Key Club marched with Kiwanis.

At about 5:40 PM, the Kiwanis marchers lined up near the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps building.

A young marcher pulled a wagon carrying a Merry Christmas Tree, complete with lights.

 After we reached the end of the parade route, the marchers waited for Santa to go by on the final float.

Madison High School Graduating Seniors Receive Kiwanis Awards

The Madison High School Awards Ceremony for the 2011 graduating class was held on June 16 at the Fairleigh Dickinson University Ferguson Recreation Center. Two Madison graduating seniors received awards from the Chatham - Madison Kiwanis Club.

Club President Richard Plambeck presented the Nancy Boucher Service Award to Emily O’Gorman. The award is presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a commitment to service and through those efforts and example has had a positive impact on others. Emily has done an outstanding job as Corresponding Secretary of the MHS Key Club and has served as a bowling team coach for Special Olympics. She also participated in “Relay for Life”, has been an active leader in her church youth group and served as a Morristown Memorial Hospital volunteer. At the ceremony, she was also recognized as writer for the Yearbook, “Alembic”, and for her membership in the National Honor Society. Other awards included Presidential Award for Academic Excellence, Honors Graduate and National Merit Society – Commended.

Madison Musician Jerry Vezza presented the Jerry Vezza Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in the Field of Music to Elizabeth Meek.  The award, sponsored by Kiwanis, is given to a graduating senior who has a love for music with passion, discipline and dedication to excellence in the art of music. Elizabeth has been a member of the MHS orchestra for four years, where she has been a leader in the cello section. At the awards ceremony, she was also recognized for her work as Submissions Editor of the “Glyphs”, the Literary Magazine. At the end of the ceremony she was recognized for her membership in the National Honor Society, Presidential Award for Academic Excellence, and National Merit Society – Commended.

Wine-Tasting: Wines from Around the World

Chatham-Madison Kiwanis will hold the “Wines from Around the World" Wine Tasting event to benefit Kiwanis Chatham and Madison High School Scholarship Funds and the ECLC Foundation for Developmentally Disabled. The event will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940.  Wine samples from a variety of vineyards and food from a local restaurant will be served.  There will also be a 50-50 drawing, a “tricky-tray” auction of contributed items and door prizes. Advanced admission tickets may be purchased in-person at a price of $50.00 (cash or checks made out to “Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship Fund”) by visiting Main Street Wine Cellars, 300 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940. Go to website www.chathamkiwanis.org for more information, to place on-line ticket orders and to print a form for ordering tickets by mail.  Ticket orders by mail should be sent to arrive before February 18 to Chatham Kiwanis, P.O. Box 422, Chatham, NJ 07928. For more information and to order tickets, please call 973-635-7779 or 973-635-1705 (extension 17) or send email to Chatham-Kiwanis@comcast.net. Tickets will also be available at the door during the event at a cost of $60.

December 14 Program: Tim Butler, Co-Director of Green Vision, Spoke on the Recycling Program Staffed by Autistic Workers.

Tim Butler described Green Vision, which is the electronics recycling program affiliated with The Allegro School in Morris Knolls. The workers are Autistic developmentally disabled students and adults.

Valerie Olpp introduced Tim Butler who spoke about Green Vision, an electronics recycling organization

Green Vision is now incorporated, has 501(c)3 status and has its own board of directors.  Work continues to be done at the Allegro School but will move to a new building in Morris Plains. Workers take electronic equipment apart and ship it to companies for processing. The new facility will provide higher end training and employment for students and adults.

Arrangements have been made with several major corporations (e.g. Cantor Fitzgerald, ADP, etc. ) to supply discarded computers and other electronics to Green Vision. Green Vision can accept anything with a cord except for Televisions and Computer Monitors.

PC Problems, LLC in Madison serves as a location for collecting electronics discarded by Madison residents. Click here to learn more. The items are then delivered to Green Vision for recycling. Green Vision also handles New Vernon Township. Discussions are also underway with Chatham Township.

Over a period of one year, Green Vision recycled 101,000 pounds of materials. Just this morning, Tim collected 14,000 pounds of electronics. Autistic workers love the program and the staff.

Tim asked Kiwanis to encourage contacts who might have electronics to dispose of to get in touch with him at Green Vision. Click here to go to the Green Vision website.

Kiwanis marches in November 26, 2010 Madison Christmas Parade

Kiwanis of Chatham and Madison marched in the 2010 Madison Christmas Parade. The above photo shows marchers in the Ambulance Corps parking lot before the parade started.  Madison High School Key Club members pose in front of the Kiwanis Banner and 13 Kiwanians are standing behind the banner.

During the parade, an announcer at Waverly Place briefly described the Kiwanis Club. The above photo show marchers rounding the corner near Gary's on Main Street. Click here to view the Chatham Patch coverage of the parade.

Madison Christmas Parade - Kiwanis Jingle Bells

Chatham-Madison Kiwanis members met Wednesday morning at ABC in Madison for coffee, pastry and to work. (L to R) Betty Anne Keat, Evangeline Lee, AD Duderar, and Joan May assembled 100 “jingle bell” hand-outs for the Madison Christmas Parade.  Kiwanis will march in the November 26 parade. Marchers should assemble at the Madison Ambulance Corps building lot at 5:00 PM.

Madison High School Graduating Seniors Receive Kiwanis Awards

The Madison High School Awards Ceremony was held on June 17 at the Fairleigh Dickinson University Ferguson Center. Two Madison High School graduating seniors received awards from the Madison Kiwanis Club.

Former club president Nancy Boucher presented the Nancy Boucher Service Award to Catherine Turvey. She has done an outstanding job as co-president of the Key Club and has served as a tutor for students learning the English language.

Musician Jerry Vezza presented the Jerry Vezza Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in the Field of Music to Connor Leszczuk. He has excelled as violinist in the MHS Orchestra and is a violinist in the Baroque Orchestra of North Jersey, the NJ Concert Opera and frequently accompanies the Harmonium Choral Society. A former member of the NJ Youth Symphony family of ensembles, he’s been a guest artist of the New Philharmonic of NJ, and has played on occasion with the Livingston Symphony and the Stirling String Ensemble. Connor earned the first place championship in the Mid Atlantic Irish Fiddle competitions twice in a row, and has numerous first place championships under his belt. He can also be seen performing with his family, the musical group "Dugan's Hooligans."

THIRD ANNUAL ALUMNI CONCERT MAY 30th

Kiwanians Evangeline Lee and AD Dudderar host the Alumni Band Concert.  The "Bed of Torns" band is playing in the background.  This three-hour event provides a venue for local high school musicians and returning alumni musicians to entertain area residents on a pleasant Memorial Day Weekend Sunday evening. It is held in the Bayley-Ellard Field in Madison, NJ. The Concert is jointly sponsored by The Madison Arts and Cultural Alliance, The Kiwanis Club of Madison and Chatham and The Borough of Madison.

Cole Park May Day in Madison – 2010

On May 1, Kiwanis participated in May Day in Madison by sprucing up Cole Park. Cole Park is located on Greenwood Ave. and was given to the Borough of Madison by Howard Grant Cole on July 27, 1918 in loving memory of his wife, Louise Cole. Early in the morning on Saturday, 11 Kiwanis members, four Madison High School Key Club members and about 15 volunteers from St. Vincent the Martyr School (Girl Scouts and others) removed weeds from around bushes and trees – then distribute a huge pile of mulch to all the garden sites. Everyone had a lot of fun, even though temperature was over 80 when we finished, about 10:30am.

Madison Kiwanis Little League Opening Day April 10, 2010

The first photo is of the Madison Kiwanis Little League team, which is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the Chathams, serving the Chatham and Madison area. Team members and coaches marched in the opening day parade from St. Vincent’s church through downtown Madison to Dodge Field. Before the event, Kiwanians Joan, Nancy, Dick and Ron (with help from Bert) set up a sponsors’ table to hand out literature and sell nuts (see second photo). Our baseball team is called the “Kiwanis” team. We wish our “Kiwanis” team, a wonderful season.