THE PARK HILL PLAYGROUP
The Park Hill Playgroup was formed last Fall by Park Hill Racquet Club members Hestia DeVries and Patty Schumann in an effort to nurture the friendships our kids develop during the summer pool season. The Playgroup is a place where parents and caregivers can mingle and share information about issues and events that concern our kids and our neighborhood. The Plagroup is FREE for club members and, occasionally, by invitation only, for our neighbors in Park Hill.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please drop us a note at Parkhillplaygroup@gmail.com and we will keep you posted about playgroups and events.
Playground Cleanup - See photos here
Several parents turned out for the 'rejuvenation' of the playground. Armed with 2 belt sanders, rakes, a saw, a weed-wacker and dust masks, Dave Steck, Bill Coffey, John Palacio, Mark Maier and Hestia DeVries 'attacked' splinters, dead branches, and weeds. Special thanks to Luz Montez who weeded the flower beds and discovered many hidden perennials.
The wooden play structure is still in very good shape; the hardwood is holding up well. It is mostly the small parts made out of a different wood that are 'splintering'. We hope to add fresh sand later this month. Some parts of the jungle gym still need more sanding, but we need to wait until the wood is thoroughly dried. Later this season we should also apply the waterproofing stain. So please keep your eyes on your email inbox for further announcements! Hestia DeVriesPlaygroup Events
The kids had a great time at our first Kid’s Bowling Party. A light attendance gave the kids many turns on the lanes. Thanks go to Stuart McPhee for maintaining order and troubleshooting the pin setters, to Nora Byrne for volunteering to supervise the children outdoors when they decided to take a “bowling break” in the playground, and especially to Karin White for organizing the day.
Playgroup Sessions Continue
The playgroup meets for three sessions per week: Sundays 4-6 PM, Mondays 9:30-11 AM, and on Thursdays 3:30-4:30 PM. Check with Hestia DeVries for any changes or cancellations.
The playgroup's Cookies & Cocoa party on December 9 th was a great success with over a dozen families attending. Pre-baked gingerbread cookies were decorated by the children, and the few cookies that were not immediately eaten were taken home to serve as Christmas decorations. A simple buffet and, of course, hot chocolate milk were also enjoyed. The ambience was very festive, largely thanks to the decorations and lights, and the helpful crew of mothers' helpers (Morgan, Madison, Christopher & Gabriella) dressed in red & white. The older kids had great fun bowling with bumpers. Thanks go to Stuart for the bowling supervision, Laura for help with the set-up, Patty G. for welcoming guests, and Patty S., Karin, Annette and Hestia for the cooking and baking.
After a week's weather delay, our family-favorite Breakfast With Santa still had a good turnout. Patty Gamba, Adrienne D'Alessio, Jim Beirne & Nora Beirne got the room set up for the party. 28 kids and 37 adults attended. Santa (Jim) seemed to be wrestling with his beard during the delivery of presents. A little two-sided tape seemed to do the trick. Thanks, Hestia, for the quick thinking! We had plenty of food: spiral ham and quiches were a big hit. Donna Ventarola again led a piano-accompanied sing-along. Many members contributed to My Sister's Place. We thank them for their generosity and spirit-of-giving. Rosemary & Jim Beirne delivered the gifts to the shelter in time for Christmas. Lots of folks pitched in for clean up after the party. We thank Patty Gamba, once again, for leading the team for a wonderful day.
Several families enjoyed a few hours of playtime and talk time at the New Year's Day Brunch , hosted by the playgroup. Our vast collection of ride-on, slide-on, jump-on, make-believe, educational and not-so-educational toys were shared by the tots while mommies & daddies discussed all the topics that needed discussing. A spread of brunch-type pastries, muffins & breads were downed with cups of hot coffee, mimosas & bloody Mary's. Our thanks go to Patty Schumann & Hestia DeVries for organization, set up and clean up.
Playgroup News
The playgroup meets for three sessions per week: Sundays 4-6 PM, Mondays 9:30-11 AM, and the newest session on Thursdays 3:30-4:30 PM. Time slots will be continued (or eliminated) as attendance dictates. Everyone appreciates the dedicated job that Hestia DeVries has been performing by opening and closing the club and supervising all of our playgroup sessions. Thank you so much, Hestia.
Playgroup News
The playgroup is now meeting for three sessions per week: Sundays 4-6 PM, Mondays 9:30-11 AM, and the newest session on Thursdays 3:30-4:30 PM. Time slots will be continued (or eliminated) as attendance dictates. Some new families have been attending the group and are interested in joining the club! The next playgroup party is the second annual Cookies & Cocoa Party , which is scheduled for Sunday December 9 th from 4-6 PM. Older children are invited to come too - bowling (with bumpers) will be offered for a small additional charge.Playgroup Activities
The group of young club families (aka the Park Hill Playgroup), headed up by Hestia deVries & Patty Schumann, has announced their upcoming calendar - which is chock full of fun for everyone.
Weekly activities include two playgroup sessions:
Monday mornings from 9:30 till 11 AM and Sunday afternoons from 4:30 till 6 PM.
Both are headed up by Hestia and are basically unstructured with a story telling finish. If weather permits it is held outside. Hestia welcomes any assistance you can provide.
A Soccer Camp is held by Max Sanchez on the first Sunday of the month from 9 till 10:30 AM. (Bring your own coffee!) Several special events have been planned for the rest of the year as well:
Halloween Costume Swap/Donation Sunday 10/14 from 4:30 till 6 PM. Cookieswill be baked on the premises! Disco Ball - Toddler Dance Extravaganza! Date & details to be announced Cookies & Cocoa Sunday 12/9 from 4 till 6 PM - $5 per child New Years' Day Brunch Playgroup - Tuesday, 1/1/08 from 10 AM till Noon. Details to follow
If you have any questions regarding these or any playgroup activities, please contact Hestia or Patty at parkhillplaygroup@gmail.com.
EVENT REPORTS
Playgroup Tag Sale
Playgroup families and volunteers enjoyed a sunny day and the company of fellow members at the annual Playgroup Tag Sale . The kids played together, got their faces stamped and got their portraits taken by local professional photographer, Eve Prime, who donated her talents. Adults had an opportunity to empty out their attics and basements and to reconnect for the new summer season. Leftover donations were picked up by Westchester Families/Big Brothers & Big Sisters. We sincerely thank everyone for their generous donations and support: Kieran Michael Brown, Kathryn Buckley, Mairead Coffey, Ray DeAngelis, Patty & Gabriella Gamba, Justine Henry, Annette Maier, Elizabeth Mayer, Robert, Mary Kay, and Madison Moment, Jennifer Ringstad, Daphne Romeo, May SooHoo, and Karin White. These volunteers worked hard either gathering donations, setting up tables, purchasing & selling food, entertaining the children, washing dishes - you name it, they did it! Thank you all! Special thanks go to Patty Schumann, Hestia DeVries and Diane Scott for coordinating the event. Proceeds will be used for club play equipment for the children.
PLAYGROUP PIZZA PARTY!
Patty Schumann reports: Our Playgroup parents held a Pizza Party on April 1 st . Around 30 parents and kids attended. Elizabeth Mayer did a little puppet show and then took the kids outside to plant some seeds in eco-friendly pots. (Hestia DeVries and I are holding onto the plants until they germinate; they will be planted outdoors when the weather is better.) There was a lot of free play in the ballroom and playroom. The parents had a couple of drinks and socialized. It was really cool to see all the kids getting to know each other and learning to play together. All in all, it was a very neighborly day!
About 25 kids and their parents came to celebrate spring at our Spring Fest early in April. While enjoying a lunch of pizza, sandwiches, salads & snacks, the children enjoyed some fun activities. The day started with Easter egg coloring. The littlest ones got to work on a coloring mat as well. The clubhouse was then scoured for almost 12 dozen hidden eggs. The day was capped off with three teams of mixed ages engaging in a Treasure Hunt. Each team had their own set of clues which led them inside, outside and all around the grounds to finally find their own team treasures. They had a great time. We thank Patty Gamba for organizing a wonderful day with the help of Claire Miko for shopping, set up, clean up and filling treasure boxes, as well as Patty Cecere for her help with set up, clean up & general organization.
Special thanks to Jill Feldman for organizing the treasure hunt & clues. Honorable mention to Daphne Romeo who got drafted to help hide all the eggs!
During the off-season, Labor Day to Memorial Day, the Playgroup meets Monday and Saturday mornings, although a permanent schedule is still evolving. It is geared toward kids 0-6. We have access to the Racquet Club ballroom which is transformed into a play gym equipped with swing/slide, activity balls, cardboard playhuts, ride-on and push toys, a gated play gym for the wee ones, and much more. We play music and sing and dance and, best of all, our children have a safe, fun, familiar place to go wild with their friends. In the summer, the playgroup has a more spontaneous and organic schedule, since many of the kid's parents and caregivers spend more time at the pool and in the back field with the baby/toddler pools and sprinklers.
Although the playgroup is intended to serve Park Hill Racquet Club members, guests are welcome, by invitation. Please let Patty Schumann or Hestia DeVries know that you would like to be their guest, and they will make sure that, in addition to the playgroup fun and festivities, you are treated to a Club tour and provided with information regarding Club membership opportunities during your visit!
For more information email: parkhillplaygroup@gmail.com or contact
Patty Schumann, 917-374-2932 pattynumeric@aol.com or
Hestia DeVries, 968-7003 or 917-696-4932
Lakeside Drive and Glenbrook Avenue
Yonkers NY 10705
Office: 914.969.6770 Clubhouse: 914.963.2339
email: parkhillracquetclub@yahoo.com
Copyright 2007 -- The Racquet Club on Park Hill, Inc. Web Hosting by Beacon Computers Webmaster: John Palacio
