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Junior League of Montclair-Newark to hold Twenties Gala

Junior League of Montclair-Newark Receives Recognition from Essex County Freeholders

The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills, and Emerge NJ during its Annual Women’s History Month Celebration on Wednesday, March 25th, at the Hall of Records.

Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc. honors eight combined decades
of service by the Humdingers, Kids On the Block

MONTCLAIR, NJ (July 8, 2013) – The Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc.
(JLMN) honors the eight combined decades of service provided to the
Montclair and Newark communities by the Humdingers singing troupe and Kids
on the Block puppet brigade. Both long-standing projects were retired after
the 2012-2013 League year.

The Humdingers, a female vocal ensemble, each committed at least 120 hours
a year to the project and over the past 53 years, volunteered more than
75,000 hours singing for the community. Focused on senior citizens, the
group performed in local centers after weeks of practice, which included
learning new music and choreography. Each dynamic show consisted of a
30-minute cabaret-style musical production.

“Our goal was to give the seniors a little bit of Broadway, or perhaps a
‘night out’ within their very own surroundings,” says Claudia Placentra, a
past chair of the outgoing project. “However, I like to think that the true
mission of the group was to bring joy to the elderly, who far too often are
a forgotten population.”

Kids on the Block addressed children's questions, concerns and needs in a
lively and engaging manner. In each program, the puppets discussed their
differences or social concerns candidly through entertaining skits,
followed by a discussion period between the puppets and the children in the
audience. The JLMN performed these puppet programs at schools in Montclair,
Newark and surrounding towns from 1984 through 2013.

The JLMN’s troupe of puppeteers used colorful, kid-sized hand and rod
puppets to perform 3 short skits. The performances, which were targeted for
second grade elementary students, focused on combating bullying, helping to
understand the needs of children with disabilities and promoting healthy
lifestyles.

“It has been quite an honor to lead Kids on the Block,” says Susan Fine,
chair of the outgoing project. “And, we are proud of the work we
accomplished in teaching children about healthy lifestyles and the
importance of understanding each other better.”

As a non-profit organization, the JLMN strives to provide for the ongoing
needs of the community. Next year, the organization will focus on Community
Impact, a multi-faceted project devoted to enhancing the community though a
variety of done in a day, hands on opportunities and Fostering Hope, a
partnership with CASA to work with children in New Jersey's foster care
system.

“After careful consideration and thoughtful deliberation, the membership
voted that these two wonderful projects be retired in good standing with
the League,” says Jessica Lane, outgoing president of the JLMN. “We are
honored to have had the opportunity to serve the community with song, and
most importantly, with important messages for the young and not-so-young.”

Incoming president of the League, Sandra Funk Levy says, “We are grateful
for the decades of service and will not forget the meaningful work as we
look toward the future of the JLMN.”

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