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The group gathered because the future of financially troubled Valley View is in doubt because of state licensing problems. “We want 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to communication and quality care,” activist Lillian Hoshauer said through an interpreter. “We want to ensure that they are never separated and placed in isolation.”

State agencies, county officials, legislators, and managers of Valley View have been working to find a solution for several months, said Erik Arneson, spokesman for state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware). The most recent meeting was Wednesday.

The goal is for Valley View to stay open, Arneson said, and “that is well within the possibility.”

On March 15, board members of Elwyn Inc., which operates the home, were told Valley View had been operating under a waiver from state licensing requirements, said Sharon Antal, a vice president of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf and a board member who attended the meeting.

Board members were told the current license would expire on Saturday, but the deadline was extended, Antal said.

Reese said, “nothing expires at this point” and the agency is committed to finding a solution.

State budget cuts did not play a role in the matter, Arneson said.

Lew Manges, executive director of Elwyn Behaviorial Health and Deaf Services, said in a statement he was optimistic an agreement would be reached.

But any doubt is too much for local deaf community activists, Valley View residents, and their families.

With our exciting 2012 conference theme — “Our Future is in Our Hands,” we encourage friends, families, artists, educators, and activists to join forces to build the future together. The youths are our future. This theme will allow everyone to direct his or her amazing empowerment to our community, especially the youths, into a whole new light.

We hope that you will join us in making this conference a grand success. See you there!

New Jersey Black Deaf Advocates is proudly hosting….

4th Biennial Eastern Regional Black Deaf Advocates Conference

Theme: “Our Future is in Our Hands”

Where: Holiday Inn

4701 Stelton Road

South Plainfield, NJ 07080

Date: July 13-15, 2012

Early Bird Combo – Deadline: February 29, 2012

Member ………… $65

Senior Citizen (55+) /Student ………… $55

Non-Member ………… $75

Senior Citizen (55+) /Student ………… $65

Regular Combo – Deadline: April 30, 2012

Member ………… $75

Senior Citizen (55+) /Student ………… $65

Non-Member ………… $85

Senior Citizen (55+) /Student ………… $75

Late Combo –Deadline: July 5, 2012

Member ………… $85

Senior Citizen (55+) /Student ………… $75

Non-Member ………… $95

Senior Citizen (55+) /Student ………… $85

Combo Registration will include:

Welcome Reception

Workshops

Exhibition Booths

Dinner

Entertainment

And MORE!!

For more information, please contact us:

Registration Coordinators –

Ivy Fowler & Roxann Richards

E-mail: erc12.reg@gmail.com

Congratulations New Board of Trustees!!!

President – Joey Garth

VP – Kevin Mona

Treasurer – Tom Montemorano

Board of Trustee – Peter Wall

Board of Trustee – Lynne Jacob

More Information click on www.nwjad.org

FYI…. The Growing Stage Theatre in Netcong, NJ presents “Mother Hicks”, with Eddie Buck, a Deaf actor, in one of the lead roles.  The performance on Saturday, February 4^th at 4 pm will be interpreted into ASL for the audience.  Tickets are available at www.growingstage.com.   The Growing Stage Theatre is a not for profit professional theatre who is committed to bringing beautiful, quality family productions to the stage.  Don’t miss this opportunity to see a great family show here in northern New Jersey and support a very talented Deaf actor in his professional acting debut!

Click here to see more…

We’re thrilled to announce another sign-language-interpreted Shabbat Service
and hope that you can join us!

WHAT: A Service with full readings from the Torah and Haftorah (Prophets)
WHEN: 10:00 AM — 12:30 PM on Saturday, January 28th
WHERE: Town & Village (T&V) Synagogue (www.tandv.org), 334 East 14th Street,
between 1st and 2nd Avenues in Manhattan
WHO: Jessica Ames & Christopher Tester

A Kiddush (refreshments and social hour) will follow Services, and all are
welcome to participate!

(Please note: Out of respect for Shabbat, pen, paper and electronic devices
cannot be used at T&V on Saturday morning.)

For additional information, please contact Bram at bramweiser@usa.net or (212)
677-0368v.

Thanks, and we’ll hope to see you there!

(Schedule is subject to change.)

P.S.  Coming soon…a workshop to introduce (you, ) your friends, family and
colleagues to American Sign Language; Purim Night @ T&V with its traditional
ASL interpretation; and more…so please keep your eyes open for more details
as they become available!

P.P.S.  ASL interpreters are available at T&V when requests are made in
advance.  Please contact Bram (bramweiser@usa.net) for more information.