One Common Cause

Under clear blue skies, friends and colleagues enjoyed a memorable day of golf on one of the top 100 courses in the world, whilst raising money for a charity close to their hearts, Strong Kids, the Somerset Hills YMCA’s financial assistance program.

This year we were thrilled to welcome back Open Road Auto Group as presenting sponsor. Open Road’s continued commitment is inspiring as their sponsorship directly supports community service programs including Career Forum to aid job seekers, STARS, a swim program that assists children with specials needs, Saturdays in Motion, a program for children with autism and their families, the Special Olympics and many more. Other sponsors included Classic Sponsor, Techno Gym; Double Eagle Sponsor, American Tae Kwon Do; Eagle Sponsors, Amato-Waldbauer Group, CGT Construction, Chubb Corporation, Gym Source/CYBEX, Investors Savings Bank, Matheson Tri-Gas and MCS; Birdie Sponsors The Doherty Family and MSIG; Patron Sponsor, Millington Savings Bank. Both Open Road Auto Group and Team Welsh Jeep were Hole In One sponsors.

The Somerset Hills YMCA was proud to honor John Fanning, a lifelong volunteer, supporter and advocate of the Y. Recruited to the YMCA Board of Directors in 1997, John became Chair of the Board in 2004 and played a key role in the recent expansion of the YMCA. News of the John Fanning Scholarship award was announced at the golf outing’s reception and awards ceremony that will recognize a high school senior from the Somerset Hills area who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and leadership to the community while pursuing excellence in academics.

For more information on Strong Kids, please contact Kelly on kcastro@somersethillsymca.org or 908.766.7898 ext. 1100. To inquire about volunteering, please contact Sylvia at svelez@somersethillsymca.org or 908.630.3530.

The Somerset Hills YMCA Offers Lifeguard Recruitment and Training Course
Job Opportunities Offer Flexibility and Competitive Pay

The Somerset Hills YMCA will hold a new Lifeguard Recruitment and Training Program in October. Attendance for the full duration of the program is mandatory to be eligible to pass. The training course will take place over two weekends; October 10th and 11th and October 17th & 18th from 9am – 5pm.

This is a great opportunity for anyone with a love of water and a desire to ensure the safety of swimmers in the community. Participants will earn their Lifeguard Certification and have the opportunity to become a member of the Somerset Hills YMCA Aquatics Team. Lifeguards at the Somerset Hills YMCA enjoy flexible hours, competitive starting pay, free membership at the Somerset Hills YMCA, discounts on programs, paid in-service training and more. The cost of the course, $320, will be fully reimbursed if they become employed by the Somerset Hills YMCA and complete mandatory on-site staff training.

Participants must pass a pretest which consists of swimming a total of 300 yards (12 lengths of the pool) continuously and retrieving a 10lb object from a minimum of 7 feet of water and swimming on their back with it for 20 yards and be at least 15 years old by the last day of the class.

For more information on this or future courses, please contact Brian Curtis on 908.766.7898 ext. 1518 or visit www.somersethillsymca.org

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body. We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Members of the Senior Health Summit Committee and their home towns include (front row, l-r): Diana and Ed Boquist (YMCA Senior Advisory Committee), of Basking Ridge; (back row, l-r), Barbara Donzeiser (YMCA Senior Advisory Committee) of Basking Ridge, Audrey Taffet (Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills) of Warren, Lucy Forgione (Bernards Township Heath Department) of Basking Ridge, Erin Toomey (Somerset County Office on Aging) of Morris Plains, Laurie Rowe (Somerset County Office on Aging) of Bridgewater and Kate Russo (Somerset Hills YMCA) of Branchburg.

HEALTH SUMMIT OFFERS DAY OF FUN AND EDUCATION FOR SENIORS

BASKING RIDGE, NJ (September 11, 2009) – A group of area health and community organizations is hosting a one-day Senior Health Summit on Thursday, October 22 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center, 202 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge. Participants must register by September 25 for a $10 non-refundable fee which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, workshops and exercise classes. Keynote speaker Nancy Cotter, MD, Medical Director of Atlantic Integrative Medicine, Morristown Memorial and Overlook Hospitals, will present “Healing Through Nutrition: Eating Yourself Well.” Registration forms are available at the Somerset Hills YMCA or Bernards Township Health Department, by calling (908) 766-7287 or (908) 766-0334 or by visiting www.visitingnurse.org/events, http://www.somersethillsymca.org/, or http://www.bernardshealth.org/.

“Seniors often feel like a forgotten group but our goal is to make them feel important and let them know all of these organizations are focused on providing resources for them,” said Diana Boquist, Chair of the YMCA Senior Advisory Committee and member of the Senior Health Summit committee.

Morning and afternoon workshop topics include Balance and Fall Prevention, Gentle Yoga, Sleep for Life: How to Get a Good Night’s Rest, Keeping Your Mind Sharp and Tai Chi for Arthritis. Participants may opt to try exercise classes in Kinesis, Qigong and Zumba at the YMCA; transportation will be available.

“Seniors make up the biggest population in our community which is why learning about the latest health trends and resources is so important,” said Lucy Forgione, Bernards Township Health Officer and member of the Senior Health Summit committee.

Optional blood pressure, hearing screenings and flu vaccines will also be available. The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills will offer free flu shots for those with Medicare Part B cards, or $30 for Medicare HMO members.

The event, developed to empower, educate and engage seniors in the Somerset Hills area on use of local health and community resources to promote optimal health and well-being, is sponsored by Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, Bernards Township Health Department, Bernards Township Recreation, Somerset County Office on Aging, Somerset Hills YMCA, Somerset Medical Center and the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills.

The Somerset Hills YMCA is a charitable community service organization, rooted in Christian values and dedicated to helping all people grow in spirit, mind and body. We are guided by our core principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.


For more information, please visit http://www.somersethillsymca.org/ or call 908-766-7898.

America on the Move Week
Free Activities for All!

This week, from September 20 – 27th, the Somerset Hills YMCA presents America On The Move Week, bringing a host of appealing and fun activities to anyone and everyone in the community, members and non-members alike, for free!

To wrap up the week’s activities, the Somerset Hills YMCA has planned a community walk from Oak Street School, Saturday September 26th, at 1pm, followed by live music by Jon Zlock and food at the Y. The ‘Get Movin’, Get a Month” promotion will be offered; if anyone becomes a Somerset Hills YMCA member between September 20 – October 4th, and visits the YMCA sixty times in the first six months, a one month credit to membership will be made, worth up to $99. “Our up-to-date expanded facility, extensive variety of programs to suit all ages, qualified experienced staff and strong leadership have enabled the Somerset Hills YMCA to continue to advance its work in helping our community address the growing obesity, chronic disease and health care crisis,” said COO, Zane Moore. “That is why the Somerset Hills YMCA along with other YMCAs across the country, are working to provide supportive environments for community members to adopt healthy lifestyles. America on the Move week can be the first step for individuals looking for a way to get moving.” This year’s America On The Move Week welcomes Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Basking Ridge as presenting sponsor, with additional support from Awakened Films; Fischer Family Chiropractic; Action Physical Therapy; Mellas Orthodontics, P.A.; and Somerset Hills Physical Therapy, PC. During America on the Move Week with the YMCA, families and individuals are encouraged to be more active and eat healthier by making smarter food choices. Research by the America on the Move Foundation has shown that making two small daily changes – taking 2,000 more steps (the equivalent of about a mile) and eating 100 fewer calories – can prevent the average annual weight gain of one to two pounds. “Steps” are awarded for actual steps taken during the week as well as equivalents for all other forms of physical activity, such as swimming, biking and dancing, and other group or family activities that promote well-being, such as eating together as a family. Participants are encouraged to report their ‘steps’ to the Y to contribute to the total goal of 10,000,000 combined steps. ‘Steps’ participants can track their “steps” by contacting the Somerset Hills YMCA to request an America on the Move Quick Start Guide with a tracking form and step conversions for common exercises and activities. Each YMCA has set their own step goals with a collective goal of 10 billion steps across the country during this designated week.