Set from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, the tour and activities surrounding it will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

In addition to the carriage rides, you can have photos taken with Santa and enjoy a sale of Christmas finery and holiday gifts.

Tickets are $10 per person, and children under 12 are admitted free silver money clips of charge.

Tickets are on sale at the JDRF Office, Fortnight and Walter & Associates Realtors.

For more information, call 481-5807.

Sponsors include Walter & Associates Realtors; Tony Domeck, Illuminations Lighting silver pendants and Lawn Service; Sondra Reeves, Catcher of Dreams; Lynne Bischoff, Fortnight; Tulsa National Bank; Peter Walter; B’Howlin Graphics; Norberg/IES; the Drotar Family, J.D. Young and Susan Coman.

JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, a disease that strikes children, adolescents and adults suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life and carries the threat of complications.

Since its inception, JDRF has provided more than $1.2 billion for diabetes research worldwide.

More than 85 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-silver earrings related education.

JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

At times, it was chaos.

But it was for a cause.

As a part of the church’s Awana gatherings, children assembled boxes of toys and goods to send to less fortunate children around the world.

The project is called Operation christmas gift Child.

Since 1993, the organization reports nearly 69 million boys and girls in more than 130 countries received the boxed gifts.

In 2008, nearly 8 million shoe box gifts were collected in the United States and other sending nations.

Jerome Greene, Awana commander, said Bible Christian Church has been involved in Operation Christmas Child for five years.

“Every year, they’ve got new ideas,” Greene said.

He said the boxes used to be shoe boxes, but because of the durability and usability of plastic boxes, the organization has made the switch.

“The kids can keep using the plastic boxes longer than the shoe boxes silver cufflinks,” Greene said.

Greene said the object of the project is to make children feel the joy of giving, not just receiving presents, during the holidays.

It’s something people forget, he said.

“It’s a way for us to give something in the U.S., where things are plentiful, to help those who are less fortunate,” he said.

The boxes are filled with toys, school supplies and necessity items, then taken to drop-off locations around the country.

Children, parents, volunteers and anyone involved provided the items for the boxes silver money clips. The items are in three categories: hygienic items, school supplies, and “fun stuff,” Greene said.

Greene said that during November, Bible Christian Church focuses on missions and sponsors a couple of area families for Christmas.

Moses Rodriguez, 7, packed a box for a boy Wednesday night at the church. He said he wasn’t sure where this particular box would go.

But he thought “someone without a house” would be receiving it.

Riley Methenny, 6, said she was packing a box for a girl.

“It’s going to people who don’t have presents on Christmas,” she said.

Last year, the church sent 48 boxes, and this year it will be sending 57.

The boxes are being collected at Family Bookhouse, 519 N. Main St. Semi trucks then will haul the boxes to Denver, one of six regional centers in the country, where volunteers inspect the boxes and pack them into cartons. The boxes are then shipped around the world.

Joan Lobmeyer, co-owner of Family Bookhouse, said the store has collected 217 boxes so silver pendants far from various churches and organizations, as well as a few individuals.

Last year Family Bookhouse collected 692 boxes.

“We’re hoping for more, but it’s up to the people,” Lobmeyer said.

The last day to drop off boxes is Monday, Nov. 23, before noon.

Family Bookhouse hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The store will be open Sunday, Nov. 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. for collections.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. officially opened the new “Tam- Tiffany and co Gibbons Reserve” at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange on Thursday, September 24th. Featured in the new Southeast Asian-themed exhibit are Gibbons Apes, Reeves Muntjac and White Naped Cranes.

“This visually unique exhibit gives visitors the feeling they have are stepping into the forests of Southeast Asia to watch these incredible animals. This kind of interactive experience and seeing the animals so up close and personal is what makes coming to Turtle Back Zoo such an exciting adventure,” DiVincenzo said. “Adding the Gibbons Reserve expands the Asian section of the Zoo, increases the international diversity of our animals and will help raise the public awareness about this endangered species,” he added.

Gibbons are found in the tropical rain forests of Southeast Asia and are becoming an endangered species because of the destruction of the jungle. They are small, slender apes with long arms and live most of their lives in trees. They are very agile and acrobatic and the males grow to be about 3 feet tall and weigh approximately 15 pounds. Reeve Muntjac are small members of the deer family that reside in forested areas. They are active year-round, grow to be about three feet tall and weigh about 30 pounds. White-naped Cranes are the only crane species with pinkish legs and a dark gray and white striped neck. These birds migrate throughout Asia and breed in northeast Mongolia. They grow to be about four feet tall and weigh 12 pounds.

“The Board of Freeholders has had a great partnership with the County Executive during the silver pendants last seven years and it has been easy to support the improvements that have been made here at Turtle Back Zoo,” Freeholder and Newark Councilman Donald Payne, Jr. said. “Projects like this elevate the zoo to another level and make it a great place for young people to come and have a great time,” he added.

The Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve is located in the western section of the zoo near the Amur Leopard exhibit. The Gibbons Reserve resembles an ancient Thai ruin with red brick buildings. Cargo boxes complete the setting of an archeological dig. Ropes and scaffolding provide features for the Gibbons to climb and the netted area for the apes is about 30 feet in height. The exhibit area will be landscaped with bamboo and other Asian plantings. To complete the Asian experience for visitors, there is a meditation garden with a fountain and statues of Buddhas, pandas, elephants and other Asian figures. Construction started in April and was completed in just five months.

“Introducing the Gibbons Exhibit will further enhance the appeal of Turtle Back Zoo. The energy and mobility of the apes will captivate our visitors and the exhibit will raise awareness about the importance of conservation and protecting our environment,” Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Director Dr. Jeremy Goodman said. “The natural habitat exhibits, enhanced amenities and attractions like our Carousel, miniature train ride and playground make Turtle Back Zoo a tremendous resource for the community,” he added.

“Every time we have a press conference, it means we are taking another step forward,” long-time silver earrings volunteer Docent Tina Schwartz said. “As a member of the Docents, I can say we all enjoy being here as a volunteer and working with children. This exhibit is a great addition,” she added.

French and Perrello from Wall received a $75,501 contract to design the Gibbons Exhibit. Shauger Property Services from East Orange was awarded a competitively bid contract for $1,729,000 to construct the exhibit. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to ensure delays are avoided. Funding for the Gibbons Exhibit was provided through a Multi-Park Improvement Grant from the NJ Green Acres Program, a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the Essex County Capital Budget.

From April 1st to October 31st, Turtle Back Zoo is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Regular admission is $5 for children and senior citizens, $9 for adults and free for children under 2 years. Off season hours begin November 1st and continue to March 31st. During the off season, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For additional information, please call 973-731-5800.

Revitalizing Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

In September 2006, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is among only 217 facilities worldwide that are accredited. Earning accreditation is a clear indication that an institution is committed to the highest standards in animal care, ethics, conservation and education. In addition, new attendance records have been set in each of the last four years, including in 2008 when an all-time record 425,000 visitors came to the Zoo.

Since taking office in 2003, DiVincenzo has spearheaded over $20 million in upgrades to Essex County silver key rings Turtle Back Zoo, which have included developing the Carousel, which features 33 figures of endangered animals; building the Australian Exhibit that features kangaroos, wallabies, emus and over 500 birds in the Aviary; Reptile and Education Center, open air dining pavilion and playground, Penguin Exhibit, Otter Exhibit, Wolf Exhibit, Alligator Exhibit, North American Animal Exhibit, Black Bear Exhibit, Animal Hospital, Essex Farm Petting Zoo and South American Animal Exhibit; renovating the Pepsi Pavilion for year-round use and making upgrades to the entrance as well as fencing and infrastructure to meet AZA requirements. Funding has been provided through Green Acres grants, existing capital improvement bonds, or donations from the Zoological Society, Essex County Parks Foundation, corporations or private foundations. Corporations that have provided support include Prudential Financial, Inc., Wachovia Bank (Wells Fargo), PNC Bank, PSE&G, Verizon, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Pepsi Bottling Company, Capital One Bank, TD Bank, Aramark and OxyMagic carpet cleaning.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system in the United States. It has been expanded to include about 6,000 acres of land. There are 19 parks, four reservations, a zoo, ice skating rink, environmental center, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, miniature golf course, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Turtle Back Zoo is located in Essex County South Mountain Reservation and was opened to the public in 1963.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.