Patrick chooses Johns Hopkins & the Blue Jays

Patrick has made his college decision, choosing to join the Class of 2015 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

He'll be enrolling in the School of Arts and Sciences on the Homewood campus. He has not chosen a major yet but is considering economics.

Having developed his pole-vaulting skills at Fordham Prep, Patrick plans to continue vaulting with the JHU track team. He's met with the coach and has a spot waiting for him on the Blue Jays team.

Christine and Andy perform and play on annual SPFHS spring music trip

Christine and Andy took part in a Festival of Music student performance competition in the Washington area April 15-16.

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School music department - a couple of hundred students strong - traveled by bus April 14 to a hotel in Dulles, Va., for a three-night stay.

Concert Choir during warm-up.
Christine is standing in front, second from left.

Friday was performance day - and a long day it was! Four choral groups sang in the morning at Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Va. Christine sings soprano with the school's Concert Choir.

After lunch, instrumental groups took the stage at the Rachel Schelesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria. Christine performed on flute with the Concert Band. Andy played percussion in the Concert Band and with a percussion ensemble and a "jazz lab" group. Those are just three of the eight instrumental groups from SPFHS that performed.

Concert Band during warm-ups.
Photos by another student, via Facebook.

On Saturday morning, when awards were presented at Schelesinger Hall, the SPFHS musicians won every category in which they were entered.

Saturday afternoon was the students' chance to do some sightseeing at the Washington Mall. The weather was poor, so Christine and Andy and their friends spent most of their time in the Museum of Natural History.

Photos by Christine

Andy is bowled over by bowling.

That night the crowd took over a bowling alley in Sterling, Va., dressed in wild outfits for a "rave" party of music, dancing, pizza and (mostly bad) bowling.

Christine and Matt, seated at left, and other members of their senior class.
Photo by another student, via Facebook.

It was another successful, and fun, SPFHS spring music trip - Christine's last, and Andy's first. Congratulations to the student musicians of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

A tasty tour at a chocolate factory

Cathy sent along photos from a recent visit to the Anthony Thomas Chocolate Factory in Hilliard, Ohio.



"We only had to wait in line for about 20 minutes to get into the building (it's that popular) but we were able to see first hand how they make some of their famous candies. Of course they were making Buckeyes, which are a well known chocolate & peanut butter confection here in Ohio.

"The kids didn't want their picture taken with the Easter Bunny (can't imagine why?) but really enjoyed the free samples! Naturally we visIted the gift shop on the way out to take home more samples of their wares. It was a yummy tour!"

How to enjoy a rainy day

You can make the most of rainy weather if you wear the proper gear.

Discovering family history in print

Webmaster Dan writes: In a roundabout way I discovered a web site that has archives of various newspapers from around New York State, going back to the 1930s. It's a very slow and clunky site, but I managed to turn up some interesting articles from the Yonkers Herald-Statesman. For example: Mom and Dad's (Lorraine and Daniel's) wedding announcement.

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CLICK HERE to see the entire story on the full page from the Sept. 28, 1951 edition of the Herald Statesman.

Here is a link to the site, fultonhistory.com

In loving memory on his birthday

More photos have been added to the In Memory of Daniel page

The judge, the artists and the Peeps

Dolores is frequently called upon to judge art shows and needlework competitions. But at the Talbot County Visual Arts Center in Easton, Md., last weekend, she also judged a peep show.

Or, rather, a Peeps show.

Participants created dioramas and other artworks using the popular Easter-time candy, marshmallow Peeps.

The winner: A concert scene featuring Justin Peeper.

And yes, there was a real art show as well. Dolores and another member of the Rehoboth Art League judged the Spring Show of the Talbot County Art Council. There were about 50 entries in various media: oil, watercolor, pastel, fiber and a couple of mixed-media pieces.

"We agreed on awarding first prize to a beautiful pastel painting, second to a charcoal drawing and third to an unusual woven basket," Dolores said. "We'll probably hear about the fact that no oils won ... Some oil painters feel that they should always win, because they pay a lot for the paint! But what matters most is what they do with the paint."

Dolores' next judging assignment is at a major plein air show in June, also in Easton.

Lizzie is both student and teacher of ballet

At the Cape Cod Ballet Theatre for Children, Lizzie is an assistant teacher for a weekly class. These photos were taken at the "Parents Watch Day" performance of Cinderella.

Lizzie studies ballet at the Academy of Performing Arts. Her teacher there, Jacquie, is also the owner of the CCBT. This will be Lizzie's third summer assisting Jacquie with a dance program.

Tish writes: "Lizzie is receiving a wonderful dance education from Jackie, who attended the School of American Ballet, and graduated from Fordham University."