YOU’RE A FUN ONE, MR. GRINCH…Valley Road Elementary School’s third graders received a surprise visitor on December 13 as they celebrated “Grinch Day” — none other than the Grinch himself! Dressed in his signature green fur and red Santa coat, the holiday icon brought mischief and also a lesson in kindness to the classrooms. The visit, organized by the teachers and some volunteers as part of fun December festivities, aimed to engage students with the classic Dr. Seuss tale “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The Grinch greeted the students with his usual grumpy attitude but soon warmed up. His visit helped remind students about the importance of community, generosity and love during the holiday season. The fun visit concluded with some group photos, while the Grinch also had endless high fives to give out.
WESTFIELD — The next program in the Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series will feature author, historian and longtime educator Melissa Ziobro speaking on “What America Sounds Like: 250 Years of American Music.” The luncheon will take place January 8 at the Echo Lake Country Club, beginning with check-in at 11:45 a.m.
Ms. Ziobro’s interactive, multimedia talk will provide a look at the iconic music that helps Americans understand their shared history as the country approaches its 250th anniversary of independence. Special emphasis is given to Thomas Edison, Paul Robeson, James P. Johnson, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Queen Latifah, Bon Jovi and others from New Jersey who have contributed significantly to the American music landscape.
Ms. Ziobro is the curator of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University. She also serves as director of public history and adjunct professor at Monmouth University, and has authored the book “Fort Monmouth: The U.S. Army’s House of Magic.”
Those wishing to attend the luncheon may make a reservation by email to westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com, or by calling (908) 654-1794, before Thursday, January 2. They are asked to advise if there are special dietary needs.
The luncheon fee of $40 for Westfield Historical Society members or $45 for non-members includes a three-course meal, coffee/ tea and gratuity. The luncheon fee should be paid in advance (check payable to Westfield Historical Society) by mailing it to: Westfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 613, Westfield, N.J. 07091; by Venmo to @Westfield-HistoricalSociety; or online at https:// www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org/ registration. Registration and payments should be received by Thursday prior to the luncheon.
The Echo Lake Country Club is located at 515 Springfield Avenue, Westfield. For information about the venue’s dress code and guest policies, visit echolakecc.org/guest-info.
Since 1968, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Westfield Historical Society has worked to preserve, interpret and encourage interest in history, Westfield and its residents through educational efforts and communityoutreach programs. For more information on the Westfield Historical Society and its events, visit http:// westfieldhistoricalsociety.org, like the organization on Facebook and follow it on Instagram.
