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In This Issue Going Smoke-Free!

Laughter – the Best Medicine!

Meet the Staff

Teen Rally 2012

Live Strong at the Ridgewood YMCA

Thanksgiving … and a Ridgewood New Year!

Upcoming Events December 12: Staff Volleyball Game. Long Island City Branch vs. Ridgewood, at LIC (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.)

Y Core Values It's great to see the Y's Core Values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY in action, and so many Ridgewood Y members and staff have been showing their CARING for the victims of Sandy, donating lots of clothes and essentials.

Enjoy This Issue? Feel free to share our newsletter with anyone you think may find it fun, interesting or useful.

Questions, Comments, Ideas? Contact Caitlin Moonesar at cmoonesar@ymcanyc.org; or Charles Geyer (newsletter editor) at: cgeyer@ymcanyc.org

CREATIVE NAME THE RIDGEWOOD YMCA NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Above: Ridgewood Kids, Staff and Guests, Proudly Smokeless!

GOING SMOKE-FREE! The Ridgewood YMCA recently established a smoke-free outdoor air policy in collaboration with the Queens Smoke-Free Partnership, part of an effort to protect people from secondhand smoke. The Ridgewood YMCA’s new outdoor air policy prohibits smoking within fifteen feet of its entrances or exits.

“I applaud the efforts of the Ridgewood YMCA for taking an important step to help protect the health of their youth, members and community,” said Yvette Buckner, Borough Manager for the Queens Smoke-Free Partnership. “They are leading the way to raise awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke and committing to limit exposure for everyone that walks through their front doors.”

“Our perspective is to promote smoke-free environments, so that it will make it easier for smokers to quit and stay quit as well as prevent youth from becoming smokers,” said Ms. Copperman, MS, RD, CDN, director of public health initiatives at North-Shore LIJ. “The Ridgewood YMCA has made a public commitment to the health of its members, staff and the residents of Ridgewood to become a smoke-free facility both inside and outside of the facility. Ridgewood residents will breathe easy as they will no longer have to walk through a cloud of tobacco smoke to enter or exit the facility.”

Check out our new signage by the doors and enjoy the smoke-free air!

LAUGHTER – THE BEST MEDICINE! A GRAB-BAG of YMCA GAGS, GOOFS and GIGGLES (submit your own!…)

From actual medical reports: "Patient reports feeling numb from the toes down." Huh?! / "Patient has two teenagers, but no other abnormalities."

RIDGEWOOD YMCA

69-02 64th Street , Ridgewood, NY 11385

December 2012

ymcanyc.org/ridgewood

RIDGEWOOD YPRESS

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MEET THE STAFF JESSICA BAEZA Q. Hi, Jessica. Please share with us your current position at the Ridgewood Y? A. Spin Instructor! Q. Best advice you received or would give someone who was considering moving with the Y? A. For potential clients, I would tell them to strongly consider joining. The Y offers tons of classes and has some of the best instructors in the industry. You can try a different workout every day. They offer state of the art equipment and such a knowledgeable staff. Q. What do you like best about Ridgewood Y? A. The people! The staff is great to work alongside and the members are terrific. The spin classes I teach feel like family. I appreciate every member and really enjoy being a part of the team. Q. Tell

us something about Jessica that we might not know? A. I took 16 years of dance lessons. I practiced ballet, jazz, tap, and pointe. I wish I could say I learned something, but even 16 years won't give you rhythm. Q. Your favorite song of all time? A. This is the toughest question ever. Anyone who takes my class knows how I obsess over the music. If you can let me pick more than one I'd say Saturday in the Park - Chicago, Public Service Announcement - Jay-Z, Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi, and Bigger than my Body - John Mayer. Favorite singer of all time is John Mayer, and I am not embarrassed to admit that!

TEEN RALLY 2012 Teens from Ridgewood and LIC came together to join other Ys from around the region for the Northeast Fall Rally from November 9th to November 11th. The teens participated

in leadership activities that included high ropes courses, wall-climbing, team spirit activities and so much more. LIC and Ridgewood had three new teens each in their rosters. We're growing all the time, and all the teens who participated had a

great, rewarding experience.

If you are interested in Teen Programs please reach out to the Ridgewood Y at 212-912-2574.

LIVE STRONG AT THE RIDGEWOOD YMCA Life after cancer is both a blessing and a mystery to many survivors. Many ask themselves how to live right after overcoming a challenge as profound and serious as cancer. LiveStrong at the YMCA is a partnership between the Y and LIVESTRONG, offering a free, personalized physical-activity and well-being program designed to help adult cancer survivors achieve their holistic health goals. This unique, research-based program offers people affected by cancer a safe, supportive environment to participate in physical and social activities focused on strengthening the whole person.

Continued in next column…

LIVE STRONG…continued from previous column

Participants work with Y staff trained in supportive cancer care to achieve their goals, such as building muscle mass and strength; increasing flexibility and endurance; and improving confidence and self-esteem. In addition to physical benefits, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA focuses on the emotional well-being of survivors and their families by providing a supportive community where people impacted by cancer can connect during treatment and beyond.

Contact Caitlin Moonesar (ext. 4804 or at cmoonesar@ymcanyc.org) for more details.

THANKSGIVING … AND A RIDGEWOOD NEW YEAR! November 21st was a significant day for the Ridgewood Y, as we marked the two-year anniversary of re-opening our beautiful branch. In celebration, the building was decorated with photos and quotes capturing Ridgewood past and present.

Of course, the branch was open on Thanksgiving Day, too (November 22), and staff celebrated with a feast in our own lounge, enjoying a wonderful multi-cultural menu provided by friends and staff alike.

Here's to a great Ridgewood Y third year, and best holiday and New Year wishes to all in the Ridgewood Y community.