JOY IN JANUARY!

Local Inspirational Speaker Helps People Find Joy in Day-to-Day Life

BERNARDSVILLE — Inspirational speaker Andrea Mastrobattista begins 2010 on a high note with a workshop called “Experiencing Joy” at the Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge on Monday, January 11, 2010, 7:00-8:30PM.

After the joy of the holidays, January is often a time when we feel down. But, holidays or not, and no matter what is happening in your life, you can experience joy at any time. Come to this workshop to find out how!

Additional upcoming workshops include:

Monday, February 8, 2010 – Eliminating Negative Self-Talk

Monday, March 8, 2010 – Being the Real You

Admission for each workshop is $30 for members and $35 for potential members.

For more information about this workshop, visit www.somersethillsymca.org, and click on the “Registration & Account Management” link, or call Andrea Mastrobattista at (908)766-6050.

Three local teens earn distinction in academics and athletics.

[Basking Ridge, NJ--] Three local teens, all of whom swim for the Somerset Hills YMCA Swim Team, have recently been named to the 2009 USA Swimming Scholastic All American Team for achieving success in both the classroom and the swimming pool. Stephen Raynes, Marissa Immormino and Janelle Zee earned this much coveted award that recognizes high achieving high school academic and athletic students.



The 2009 Scholastic All-America Team includes 26 girls and 15 boys from New Jersey with a 3.5 grade point average. With a grade point average of 4.0, and a very competitive time standard in an individual event, Stephen, Marissa and Janelle were given special recognition and were also awarded a special pin.



Moreover, when many teens focus on catching up on sleep, these teens spend many Saturday afternoons volunteering at Saturdays in Motion, a recreational program for children with autism and their families, held at the Somerset Hills YMCA. Peter Barry, Head Coach of the Somerset Hills YMCA, comments, ‘The commitment required when you belong to a swim team can be enormous and it is often a challenge for some of these kids to balance their athletic life with their academics. Marissa, Janelle and Stephen are unbelievable role models for others in their ability to keep equilibrium in their lives and to be such dedicated volunteers to help those less fortunate than themselves. We are all so proud of them here at the Somerset Hills YMCA.’

Sleepaway Camp Now Offered to Somerset Hills YMCA members!

Exciting New Partnership Offers Summer Sleepaway Camp To Children in the Community.

The Somerset Hills YMCA and Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA are delighted to announce a new partnership to offer quality sleepaway camp as well as group and family outdoor recreation programs to members of the Somerset Hills YMCA and to the community at large.

To complement the extensive range of excellent and diverse day camps already offered each year at the Somerset Hills YMCA, one and two week sleepaway camp sessions will be offered this summer to children in grades 3 – 7, and to youth in grades 8 – 11. Specialty interest groups and family getaways will also be available throughout the year.

Located just 75 minutes away from the Somerset Hills community, the camp sits on over 1,000 forested acres surrounding a private 42-acre lake, providing an unspoiled natural environment to explore and enjoy. Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA has provided magical camp experiences for thousands of children from the US and beyond since 1948, offering activities such as canoeing, kayaking, rowing and swimming in its pristine lake. Many cabins are modern and feature in-cabin bathrooms while others ring the shores of the lake with bathrooms conveniently located nearby. All cabin groups are 8-12 campers with 2 – 3 cabin counsellors.

Zane Moore, COO of the Somerset Hills YMCA, comments, “This is an exciting next step in the services that we are able to offer our community. Membership at the Somerset Hills YMCA will now take on even greater value and will provide families with unparalleled opportunities. Camp Speers-Eljabar is just over one hour away, literally a hidden gem on our doorstep. Anyone who has ever experienced a YMCA sleepaway camp knows firsthand that it can be a life changing experience that allows you independence and adventure in an extremely safe environment. We are proud to partner with such a reputable facility.”

In addition to sleepaway camp and other getaway experiences, Camp Speers-Eljabar is offering free Sunday Fundays for members of our community to get to know the camp and to benefit from a wide selection of season-appropriate activities. The camp will open its doors each Sunday from January 11th until June 6th, to all members of the Somerset Hills YMCA, along with their family and friends, from 10am until 3pm. Visitors can enjoy snow tubing, cross country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and arts and crafts. All equipment will be provided free of charge. Visitors are asked to bring their own lunch and snacks.

For more information on Sunday Fundays, please visit http://www.somersethillsymca.org/ or email campers@campspeersymca.org. For more information about summer sleepaway camp, please visit http://www.campspeersymca.org/.

Somerset Hills YMCA Holds Dedication Ceremony For New Swim Team Scoreboard

A dedication ceremony took place, Monday November 16th, of a scoreboard above the Chandor lap pool at the Somerset Hills YMCA. The scoreboard, donated by Mr.& Mrs. Steve Riggio, is a gift in memory of their daughter Melissa who, born with Down Syndrome, was an active member of the Bernards High School Swim Team from 2003 to 2007. The Swim Team practices and holds meets at the YMCA. Melissa always referred to her time and friendships at the Somerset Hills YMCA as amongst her most precious.
From left, Laura Riggio, Bernards High School Swim Team Coach, Ed Tsuzuki, and Steve Riggio.

Back By Popular Demand, the Somerset Hills YMCA Offers Homework Help
To Children in the Community.

Beginning October 14th, the Somerset Hills YMCA will be offering Students-Helping-Students Tutoring (SHST), a free tutoring program, every Wednesday night from 6:30 – 8:30pm. The program will take place in the Gagnon Teen and Community Center located at their main facility, 140 Mount Airy Rd, Basking Ridge. School age children in grades 3 – 12 in need of academic help are all welcome to attend, members and non members alike, and find support and tutoring from excelling high school volunteer students. Pre-registration is not needed and students may drop in at any time during the tutoring session; many stay for the full two hours to catch up on homework and have support at hand when needed.

Emily Pakrul, a senior, and Sam Rosin, a junior, are two Bernardsville High School students who participated in the program last year and are returning again this year. Emily and Sam are two of approximately thirty high school students who have signed up this year to volunteer their time and skills to help others.

Sam remembers one young boy in particular who came every week and was extremely excited and proud of himself when he mastered certain mathematical skills. “When he got something right, he would get very excited and throw his hands up in the air in triumph; it was great. Parents loved the program as it’s often difficult to tutor your own child. They would drop them off and sometimes fit in a workout upstairs knowing their kids were in good hands,” said Sam.

Emily comments, “I hope to one day become an elementary school teacher so, naturally, this is something that I really enjoy. Last year was very fulfilling for me; for instance, twins came regularly for help and, where one of them was shining academically, the other was struggling and somewhat unhappy. To be able to provide one-on-one help to the latter really helped turn things around. They both used to really look forward to coming in and seeing us. I hope they return to the program this year.”

For more information about SHST, please contact Susan at skamins@somersethillsymca.org or call 908.766.7898 ext.1590.

YMCA Night with the NJ Devils


The Somerset Hills YMCA presents Y Night with the NJ Devils on Saturday, December 12th, at 7:00pm at the Prudential Center, otherwise known as ‘The Rock’, in Newark NJ. With every seat affording a terrific view of the action as the NJ Devils take on the Philadelphia Flyers, Y Night with the NJ Devils is a great way for families to enjoy a night out and give back to a great cause.

A portion of the proceeds from this special game benefit the YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign, a financial assistance program that provides funding to ensure that the Y can assist those in need by sending children to summer camp, providing childcare services, offering reduced memberships, and supporting community outreach programs.

Tickets, available for only $45 each, (a $21 savings) must be purchased through the Somerset Hills YMCA in order to directly benefit Strong Kids.

Ticket order forms are available online at http://www.somersethillsymca.org/, or at the main branch of the Somerset Hills YMCA at 140 Mount Airy Road, and at the Riverwalk branch at 665 Martinsville Road. For additional information, please contact Nancy Auerbacher on (908) 766 7898 ext. 1350 or at nauerbacher@somersethillsymca.org.

The Somerset Hills YMCA Introduces New Swim Program For Adults with Muscular Impairment.
Individualized Program Is Offered Free to Members of the Community.

One of many new programs offered this fall by the Somerset Hills YMCA is SWIM, Inc., or Specialized Water Interest Movement. The program provides muscularly impaired adults the opportunity to exercise who would otherwise find it difficult or impossible to exercise on land. An orientation meeting, prior to the first class, will take place on Monday, September 14th at 11am; participants are encouraged to meet in the lobby at the Welcome Center at 140 Mt. Airy Rd, Basking Ridge. The program will meet every Monday between 12pm – 2pm, with the first hour spent in the pool followed by a social hour in a meeting room.

Inspired by the YMCA’s mission of serving all individuals regardless of their ability to pay, this weekly class will be free of charge to all members of the community, members and potential members alike. Last year, more than $317,000 was raised through the Strong Kids Campaign and other sources, which helped the Somerset Hills YMCA provide more than $620,000 in financial assistance and program subsidies for individuals and families who need it most.

SWIM, Inc., is an organization that has existed since 1975 to provide self directed water exercise to adults who have suffered from polio, stroke, cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, heart attack, Multiple Sclerosis, forms of arthritis, mood disorders, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, trauma, surgery, arthritis or other causes. Paul Kiell, a longtime Somerset Hills YMCA member, nationally ranked Masters Swimmer, and volunteer coordinator of the program said, “Physical fitness can be acquired in the pool even by non swimmers. Everybody wears a flotation belt and exercise is tailored to each participant’s needs. While not a substitute for treatment, it is certainly an adjunct to an individual’s therapy. As a psychiatrist, I firmly believe there is a direct correlation between aerobic fitness and absence of mood disorders.” Individuals interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Paul on 908.781.1703.

To learn more about SWIM, Inc., please contact Kim Wilde on kwilde@somersethillsymca.org or 908.766.7898 ext. 1582. To donate or learn more about the Strong Kids financial assistance program, please contact Kelly on kcastro@somersethillsymca.org or 908.766.7898 ext.1100