Mark your calendar for a musical event like no other — monsters making music! Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is pleased to present the East Rutherford performances of Sesame Street Live "Elmo Makes Music.” Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird and all their Sesame Street friends are taking to the stage to share their love of music on Sept. 21 to 24 at The Theater at Continental Airlines Arena. Tickets for all nine performances are on sale now at the Continental Airlines Arena box office. The 2006-07 Sesame Street Live tour season is sponsored nationally by Beaches Resorts, the Caribbean’s No. 1 ultra all-inclusive luxury resorts for families featuring exclusive year-round furry fun with your friends from Sesame Street.

Jenny, an enthusiastic new music teacher, arrives on Sesame Street only to discover that her instruments are missing. Jenny’s new Muppet friends quickly come to the
rescue and discover ‘instruments’ they never knew existed…rubber duckies, trash can lids and even cookie jars. Elmo and friends teach children that everyone can make and enjoy beautiful music together.

Performances are as follows:

Sept. 21, 10:30 a.m . and 7 p.m.
Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 24, 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Ticket prices are $15, $20, $25, $35 (Floor) and $50 (VIP) Opening night, all seats (excluding floor & VIP) are $12. Call 201-935-3900 or visit meadowlands.com.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, at the Arena Box office, Ticketmaster charge by phone, 201-507-8900 or 212-307-7171, or visit Ticketmaster outlets. For group ticket information and discounts, call 201-460-4370.

SUMMIT AREA YMCA TARGETS OVERALL WELLNESS

Getting fit. Eating healthy. Avoiding illness. These are the basic goals of "wellness" and the Summit Area YMCA is rededicating itself to helping all area residents — not
just Y members — achieve them. It's a lofty ambition, especially in light of the alarming trends toward inactivity and obesity, most notably in our nation's children.

From nutrition lectures to community partnerships to classes for preschoolers that provide the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle, the Y is doing all it can to give members of the community the tools they need to live their best life.

This fall, the Summit Y will be offering Y-Sports Wellness Physical Education, a class made up of general exercise, stretching, sports/games, fitness, and information
on nutrition and character development, all packaged in a non-competitive, fun environment.

The Learning Circle strives to establish good habits in the children who spend the day there—including healthy eating and the importance of daily physical activity. This
general philosophy on wellness includes offering balanced meals, a combination of restful and bustling activities and a predictable schedule. Children learn about proper portions and are encouraged to try new foods.

The Berkeley Heights Y’s Fitness Dynamics class for 12 year old boys and girls consists of instruction on how to properly use the weight machines, an overview of
functional anatomy, keys to better flexibility, balance and core conditioning, introduction to the cardio machines and the importance of a good warm up and cool down.

At the Springfield YMCA, in addition to dance, sports and fitness activities, wellness also means being welcomed by staff who greets members by name. "We offer a cozy, non-threatening environment and all the staff are very social with the members," says Terri Clinton, branch executive.

For a full list of program and class offerings, visit www.summitareaymca.org.

VISUAL ARTS CENTER: BRINGING PEOPLE AND ART TOGETHER

The Visual Arts Center’s fall semester will begin Sept. 11. We offer many classes and workshops for both children and adults. For the little ones (ages 4-5) we have Pee-Wee Prodigy workshops with Lynn Cellar. On Oct. 4 from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 pm there will be Autumn Landscape Acrylic Painting where they will learn about mixing colors and complete an acrylic painting on canvas. For the older kids we offer classes such as Fun with Clay (ages 6-9) on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.. In this class they will learn the basics of hand-building ceramics such as coil, pinch, slab construction, sculpture and modeling, and even have an introduction to wheel throwing.

The Arts Center is offering a new class this semester for children ages 11 to 13 called Touch Drawing with Linda Howe. Students will learn the process of mono print
using Plexiglas, water-soluble oil paint and a rubber brayer, to create unique pieces of art on paper. All necessary materials will be included in the price of the class.

For the teens we offer classes such as Comic Book Art (ages 13+) taught by Rich Hedden, of DC Comics and artist of the Demon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Figure Drawing for Teens (Ages 14+) where students will work with a live model. For the photographers we have Teen Photo (ages 13+) with Nancy Ori, founder of the New Jersey Photography Forum.

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm St., Summit, NJ, 908-273-9121. To view the entire fall brochure and register for classes and workshops, visit www.artcenternj.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE NURSERY SCHOOL

Since 1920, the Neighborhood House Nursery School has been committed to presenting an excellent pre-school program to the children of parents who live or work in
Millburn/Short Hills and its surrounding communities. Operating out of a picturesque Victorian house on Taylor Street, the Neighborhood House provides 2 1/2 to 5-year-olds with a warm, nurturing environment where they can develop the necessary social and academic skills through a curriculum of enriching hands-on experiences. These varied experiences are designed to develop self-expression, creativity, responsibility and self-control, as well as instilling an interest and joy of learning, making children familiar with a group setting and preparing them to make a successful break from home. All classes are arranged in a home-like fashion with a low student/teacher ratio to ensure each child a comfortable, supportive learning environment. The school’s staff is made up of certified teachers and assistants. The staff takes pride in knowing that all graduates are prepared to enter kindergarten.

Aside from their daily programs, the Neighborhood House Nursery School offers a weekly music program, biweekly drama and frequent cooking classes as well as year
round gardening to enhance the science curriculum. Daily use of a new, fully equipped outdoor playground helps to develop large motor skills. Children will also gain first-hand knowledge of community life through numerous walking trips to places of interest in Millburn such as the Fire Department, First Aid Squad, Post Office and Red Cross. Monthly interaction with disabled children from the Millburn Regional Day School aids in developing a greater sense of self, and appreciation of others.

The nursery school is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for full day, morning and afternoon programs. Come in for a visit to the Neighborhood House Nursery School, “Where Caring is a Tradition.”

Neighborhood House Nursery School; 12 Taylor St., Millburn; 973-376-0739.

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