Gerrit's in charge of the fun in Cape Cod town

Gerrit has been named to the newly created post of recreation coordinator for the Town of Dennis, Mass.

Gerrit grew up in the town, and over the past five years has assisted with many Dennis Recreation Department programs. He also has served as a recreation programs specialist in nearby Harwich for the past two years.

Click here to read a full article on a local news web site about Gerrit's new position.

Here's a rundown of Dennis Recreation programs for the fall.

Join the Walk to End Alzheimer's

The start of the 2011 Walk

The annual New York Walk to End Alzheimer's is just four weeks away, and Shanna is once again organizing a team to take part.

This will be the fifth year our family team has contributed to this event in support of the fight against a disease that has touched us in numerous ways. Each year, our team has surpassed its fundraising goal. This year Shanna has set a goal of $1,000.

"I take great pride in the money we have raised over the years and the awareness that has spread," Shanna said. "I can not thank those who have supported my family and I enough. ... It's really awesome how involved everyone has been and I hope it continues this year."

Please visit our Team Page to find out more, and to contribute if you can. And if possible, join our family team for a pleasant walk in Riverside Park on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Our motto: We walk to win!

Kathy points the way to victory

Lobster, a la Tish, on the menu

A reproduction of Tish's painting "Claws Crossed" is going to be one of several works by local artists featured on the menus at the Dan'l Webster Inn and Spa in Sandwich, Mass.

This summer, Tish has been among the artists showing their works at the weekly Monday Painters Exhibit and Sale on the Dennis Village Green. 
 

See more at Tish's web site

Marching band season well under way

Chris playing stand cheers at a recent Darby Panthers away game.

Andy in New Jersey and Chris in Ohio are busy with their high school marching bands again this season.

Andy and his fellow drummers make drummer faces.

Andy, a junior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, plays tenor drums in the Raider Marching Band drumline.

Chris, a sophomore at Hilliard-Darby High School, plays saxophone in the Panthers Marching Band. Here are some photos of him and his bandmates cheering the football team to victory at a recent away game.

Incidentally, both schools' football games are having good seasons. The Raiders are 2-0, while the Panthers, who started their season earlier, are 4-0.

Below is a bit of video of the SPF band debuting its 2012 show at halftime of the football team's opening game, at its home field Sept. 7.

This part of the show features the drumline. Andy is second-from-left among the tenor drummers.

UPDATE: Click here to watch a Hilliard-Darby parent's video of the Panther band's show, titled "Metroplex: Scenes from the City," as performed at a recent competition.

Rising: One World Trade Center

Views of One World Trade Center rising over Lower Manhattan. As seen from Hoboken in October 2011, April 2012 and September 2012, and from Sandy Hook on Sept. 9, 2012.

McLean Avenue neighborhood remembers 9/11

Workers prepare the 9/11 memorial on Saturday.
Photo from McLean Ave. Merchants Association.

Pieces of steel from the Twin Towers have been erected at Conor Park on McLean Avenue in Yonkers and will be dedicated Sept. 11 as a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Brien writes: "I just got off the bus after work and saw they were putting up plaques for every Yonkers victim behind the WTC beams. It's an honor to live in this neighborhood and I've lived in it my whole life."

Brien at the memorial on Monday.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 Tuesday evening.

Our annual Roster of Scholars for 2012-13

Here's our annual back-to-school rundown of teachers and students in our extended family. Please let us know of any errors or additions.

Kathy - Teaching science at School of the Holy Child in Rye.

Mary - Director and head teacher at Stillwater Head Start in Stillwater, N.Y.

Shanna - Teaching at the Ann and Andy Child Care preschool in Elmsford.

Rebecca - In her senior year at Rochester Institute of Technology, studying polymer chemistry in the College of Science.

Christine - Sophomore at Rochester Institute of Technology in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Patrick - Sophomore at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Lizzie - In her senior year at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School.

Andy - Junior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

Christopher - Sophomore at Hilliard Darby High School.

Shannon - In her freshman year at Saratoga Springs High School.

Stephanie - In 7th grade at Hilliard Heritage Middle School.

Xander - In kindergarten at Hugh Mercer Elementary School.

Who are we missing? Let us know!

Another school year is under way

Xander joined our family's roster of scholars on Sept. 4, his first day at Hugh Mercer Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Va.

"Kindergarten is awesome," Xander told his parents at the end of the day.

Elsewhere in our extended family, at least two teachers, three college students and five high-school and middle-school students have started or are about to start their 2012-2013 academic years.

We're putting together an updated list and will post it soon.