Building Mental Muscles With Music Builds Achievement

BY  |  Thursday, May 02, 2013 2:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Music Builds Achievement I’ve said it before and it bears repeating: music is super-duper important for kids. It’s good for their souls, and very good for their brains. Debbie Graham’s new Music Builds Achievement (MBA) program is focused on getting the developing brains of kids age 4-8 sharpened on the whetstone of music, using one-on-one, individualized at-home instruction.

Graham, who lives in Little Falls, is a longtime music educator who most recently worked with kids at the Montclair YMCA. She developed the MBA program in New Hampshire, working with an elementary school principal. “We realized there was a need for a skill-development program that reached all learning styles early in a child’s education,” she says. “Our mission was to help all students reach their goals both in and out of the classroom.”

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Play with LEGOs at Snapology and Raise Money for the American Cancer Society This Saturday

BY  |  Thursday, Feb 28, 2013 1:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

NOLA HalfHere’s what the kids and I are doing Saturday: We’re going to the awesome new LEGO Discovery Center called Snapology to have fun and raise money for the American Cancer Society.

I’m going to write more about Snapology next week because it’s so cool it deserves a blog post of its own. But I wanted to get the word out about their fundraiser today.

Cedar Grove mom Melissa Skabich (see left) will be running the New York City Half Marathon for the ACS in a few weeks, and she and her husband are running the full in November. Her husband Paul (also left) lost his mother to cancer in December, and they’re passionate about the cause and determined to help any way they can. Her goal is in 2013 is to run 13 marathons, all to get donations for what she and Paul call ‘Team Determination.’

So they partnered with Snapology owners Donna and Steve Meccia who donated their space for the party. This Saturday, for $10 per person, families can head to Snapology to play, have LEGO building contests, do arts and crafts, eat snacks and win door prizes. Melissa’s three boys Paul, 9, Christopher, 7, and Evan, 3, will be helping with all of the activities. “They lost their grandmother so recently, so they’re eager to contribute to the cause,” Melissa says.

Come!

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Dame Julie Andrews Charms Her Fans at Watchung Booksellers

BY  |  Thursday, Feb 07, 2013 7:00am  |  COMMENTS (1)

By 9pm, the line still extended out the door to see Dame Julie Andrews.

By 9pm, the line still extended out the door to see Dame Julie Andrews.

We were told we’d be glowing after meeting Julie Andrews, who signed 200 books at Watchung Booksellers last night. And it was true. As fans of the multi-talented star, some of whom had traveled from different states—and even other countries to see the author—left through the backdoor of the bookstore with their signed books, they really did seem happier and lighter and more joyful.

Ms. Andrews was in Montclair to promote the new children’s book The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart, which she wrote together with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Unfortunately, Ms. Hamilton was unable to attend the signing last night, so Julie Andrews had to go it alone. She did so with grace and kind words for everyone who passed by. The cap was set at 200 books, but many more people streamed through, hoping to have a brief moment with a woman clearly idolized by those who waited in the cold.

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Dino-Store: Montclair Parents Give Us an Interactive Storybook filled with Silliness and Surprises

BY  |  Thursday, Dec 20, 2012 10:00am  |  COMMENTS (0)

UPDATE: You can now purchase Dino-Store on your iPhone!

Usually it’s the kids who create homemade gifts for their parents, but when it comes to the creative folks over at New Jersey’s own Bluemarker, it’s the other way around.

Earlier in the year, Barista Kids told you about Janette Afsharian and her company’s award-winning on-line activities for young children. Well, she’s back with a brand new  interactive iPad Book App that is a true family affair – with dinosaurs! Janette and her husband, prize-winning poet Roger Sedarat, bring us Dino-Store, a silly and fun story about what might happen the next time you choose the EXTRA large eggs at the grocery store.

Rounding out the talent for this interactive story are Brooklyn illustrator Trade Loeffler and narrator Rachael Egan, also a Montclair parent. The App has been tested by the “neighborhood kids,” and now it’s ready for its public debut. Just released yesterday, Dino-Store is already garnering positive reviews! Parents can keep up with the App on its Facebook page, as well as the Bluemarker Dino-Store page.

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Check Out the Montclair Geyer Family Y’s Performing Arts Class at the Open House

BY  |  Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012 1:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

The Geyer Family YMCA School of Performing Arts (SOPA) hopes you’ll check out their classes for kids ages 2 through 8 at their Open House next Wednesday, Dec. 19. Register then, and you can grab a 10 percent discount on their fun dancing and acting offerings. Click to the jump for the details.

The wonderful and talented program director, Amy Costa, told me more about what’s going on right now at the Family Y. Read on to find out about their affordable fees and hassle-free recitals.

KK: What will happen at the Open House?
AC: It will informative for parents to learn about our classes while kids can take part in a demo dance with our great staff. We offer Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Break Dancing and Acting as well as Mommy and Me classes.

KK: What is unique about your program?
AC:  Students cam learn from professional teachers at a non-profit price. Our classes average $78 to $100 per 8 weeks depending on the length of the class. Registration is now open for the Winter Session. Register on the night of the open house and receive a 10 percent discount.

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The Modern Village Presents a FREE class: Divorced, Separated or Remarried – Now What?

BY  |  Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (0)

Divorce is never easy. Even amicable separations come with complications and emotional baggage. With children in the picture, all is magnified. No couple, no individual going through divorce, needs to navigate the stormy seas of separation alone. Today, more and more couples are finding creative solutions for living together in peace, apart—but it’s a long journey to “happily divorced.” And finding an objective support network takes the pressure off those already dealing with new and uncomfortable situations. To help make the search for that support network easier, The Modern Village presents: Separated, Divorced or Remarried, Now What?

The Modern Village will gather together experts to the offices of umojawa in Maplewood, NJ to help families going through transition. Our goal is to help everyone involved – parents, children, extended family – come through the life changes to the most emotionally healthy – then hopefully happy – life possible.

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Support the Montclair Developmental Learning Center with a Colorful 2013 Calendar

BY  |  Monday, Nov 26, 2012 10:00am  |  COMMENTS (0)

December’s Image in the DLC Calendar

For many, this last weekend the shopping spirit moved them to get out and support local businesses and get ready for the holidays with purchases of decorations and gifts. But if you still need a thoughtful gift idea that also helps raise money for a worthy cause this season, you’re in luck. And it’s something that will be useful the whole year through. The Montclair Developmental Learning Center’s Parent Organization is holding a 2013 calendar sale to benefit this wonderful school as well as the artist, Justin Canha, nationally recognized autistic artist and alumnus of Montclair Public Schools.

The Montclair Developmental Learning Center, the Special Education Public School Program for children ages 3 through 5 years, is fundraising with a fun and colorful 2013 Children’s Wall Calendar – illustrated by Justin Canha, who was featured last year in The New York Times.

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Hillary Frank Wants to Help Stories Shine

BY  |  Thursday, Oct 11, 2012 11:00am  |  COMMENTS (0)

photo by Richard Frank

In a town like Montclair, it’s tough to stand out as a writer. Between the journalists and novelists and poets and essayists, not to mention the website commenters, it seems like everyone is writing something. Hillary Frank, who can count novelist, essayist, writing instructor, and mom to a toddler as just a few of her achievements, wants our kids to know that writing is more about being interesting than perfect. Naturally, she also wants to help them to get as close to perfection as possible. To that end, Hillary recently opened Dog Star Tutoring, where she focuses on helping students develop stand-out essays for private school and college admission.

In the two years since arriving to Montclair from Philadelphia, Hillary has not only discovered favorite haunts around her new home, she has become a true member of the community as a resident, parent, and instructor at the Montclair Cooperative School.  Despite her busy schedule, Hillary Frank found time to answer a few questions for Barista Kids.

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Boone Studio’s Open House Attracts Kid Yogis and Dancers

BY  |  Monday, Oct 08, 2012 8:00am  |  COMMENTS (1)

Boone Studio, the brand new Barre and Mat studio on Church Street in Montclair, hosted a grand opening open house for children and adults on Saturday. Children danced in pirate and butterfly costumes while adults listened to Latin jazz and snacked on delicious food from Uncle Moustache while admiring the studio space and signed up for the open house classes.

As we reported at the end of September, the studio has been offering free classes during its first two weeks. With childcare available during most daytime classes, it’s the perfect time to try something new (hot power and barre fusion, anyone?) with no fee. And it’s not just for little kids, either. Tween and teen yoga is on the Wednesday open house schedule, and yoga for athletes is planned for the future.

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See Free Movies for Hispanic Heritage Month

BY  |  Saturday, Oct 06, 2012 8:00am  |  COMMENTS (1)

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. With fun activities we commemorate the contributions of Hispanic people and Americans with latino origins. The Hispanic culture is a dynamic part of America, and we honor our ancestors who created such rich traditions for everyone to enjoy.

Columbus Day–Dia de la Raza–will be celebrated on October 12 in Hispanic countries.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, several local events will celebrate our different backgrounds.

Montclair Public Library presents the 11th Latino Film Festival. Local Montclair High School students invite the people ages 13 and up to see Hispanic films including The Mask of Zorro. The movies will be in the auditorium on October 7 and 14 at 1:30 pm.

The traditional Hispanic Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan will be on October 14 starting at 11 a.m. More than 1 million people will see cumbia, vallenato, salsa, merengue, tango, and other traditional Latin American entertainment from our 21 countries.

Celebrate Latin style!

Diana Borray is a local Spanish instructor and tutor from Colombia.

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