Written from the heart and experiences of Patty Blanchard, ‘Patty’s Turn: It took faith, courage and the love of her children to save her from attempted murder†sees the author piece together her memories following almost six-decades of abuse at the hands of parents, siblings and lovers. Blanchardâ€s survival is nothing short of a miracle and, by sharing her story, she hopes to empower millions of abused women to take a stance against their malefactors and embark on their own journey to a better life.

Bayonne, NJ — (ReleaseWire) — 11/1/2014 — Memoirs about abuse are certainly not rare, but hardly any span a lifetime and come from the family members of those in the public eye. Tammy Blanchard may be known to audiences and critics around the world, but her mother Patty has kept quiet about her own life, until now.

‘Patty’s Turn: It took faith, courage and the love of her children to save her from attempted murder†fuses a tragic life story with an inspirational message of hope.Synopsis:

This is the memoir of Patty Blanchard, one of 14 children raised in a tough Jersey City family during the 1950s. Patty survived many things during her childhood, but it was the attempted murder she experienced as a mother-of-three that helped her discover what courage, faith and the love of family is really all about.

“I start right at the beginning, aged four years old and at the hands of a physically-abusive mother who had six kids packed into a cramped Jersey City flat without enough beds, clothes and often just stale pieces of bread for dinner,” explains Blanchard. “My baby sister died of Croup and I became the punching bag for my motherâ€s grief, who physically and mentally abused me for the next decade and a half. We also lost a brother, Arthur, who was murdered at fourteen. I left home and married an older man when I was just seventeen. This was my ticket to a new life, or so I thought.”

Continuing, “He and my next husband abused me. At the age of thirty-two I packed up my belongings, my kids and we set off on my promise of a better life. Things were looking up as I built a successful cleaning business from the ground up and was both confident and independent for the first time in my life. I was determined to stay away from abusers. But at the age of thirty-five I found myself fighting for my life, with multiple hammer wounds and being left for dead. Somehow, through the grace of faith and love of my children, I survived.”

Patty didnâ€t write her book for commercial gain. In fact, it started as personal therapy.

“My therapist asked me to write down my thoughts and memories as they came back to me. I did this for years but didnâ€t ever read my notes back. Over twelve years I accumulated more than four-hundred pages and the power of my words caused me to break down when finally reading them. I decided to compile them into a book to help others facing the demons of abuse. If I can help just one person avoid a life like mine, then Iâ€ll see it as a huge success.”

Since its release, the book has garnered a string of rave reviews. Charlotte McNamara comments, “I absolutely loved this book! The writer was very brave, honest and real. Some like to portray” our lives to be perfect. Some of us like to read what really happens in someone’s life, whether good or not so good. This writer however captured my soul. Reading of her childhood and through her life was a heartfelt and left me in tears. Tears for that little girl, tears for that struggling teen …tears for all the other women who can’t tell their story, but sometimes can identify with some things in her book.”

River View Observer adds, “An excellent read -a real page turner about an American family and a young woman’s abusive life and triumphant return from an attempted murder on her life by a former spouse. Ms. Blanchard has created a road map for women looking to move past abusive relationships to a place of empowerment.”

‘Patty’s Turn: It took faith, courage and the love of her children to save her from attempted murder†is available now: http://amzn.to/1usDPU9.

About Patty Blanchard
Patty will celebrate her 60th birthday on Nov.3th with her 3 children, William, Tammy, Thomas and her 4 grandchildren, Ava, William, Kaylee and Jaidah. Patty can finally say she knows what true love is, she met her soul mate Joe and has been skipping down the road of happiness for the past 8 years.

www.facebook.com/pattysturnbypatriciablanchard 

The post Patty’s Turn: New Book, by Mother of Actress Tammy Blanchard, Exposes Lifetime of Harrowing Abuse & Empowers Bold Transition from Victim to Victor first appeared on River View Observer.

(BAYONNE)The GFWC Peninsula Womenâ€s Club will be conducting a Dress For Success and Prom Dress Clothing Drive on Saturday, March 2, 2013. On that day, club members will be available at the Richard L. Korpi Ice Rink between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm to accept donations.

 In 2012, the PWCâ€s successful Prom Dress collection enabled 28 local girls to attend their proms and graduations in style! Please think about donating your gently used, special occasion and bridesmaid dresses to this worthy cause.  In addition to dresses, the PWC will also be accepting shoes, jewelry, handbags and accessories to help the girls feel even more like Cinderella. Garments of all sizes will be accepted. Plus sizes are especially needed.

 For this yearâ€s collection, the Club will also be taking donations for Dress For Success and Suits For Success. These organizations prepare women and men for entry into the workforce by providing them with suitable business attire. Any and all business attire, both menâ€s and womenâ€s, will be accepted along with shoes and accessories.

Start your Spring cleaning in your closets! There is someone out there that can use your unused clothing more than you can!

 The GFWC Peninsula Womenâ€s Club is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Womenâ€s Clubs (NJSFWC) of GFWC, which was founded in 1894 and has been headquartered on the Douglass Residential Campus, formerly Douglass College in New Brunswick since 1966.  The Federation is a member of the General Federation of Womenâ€s Clubs, the oldest and largest nonpartisan, nondenominational womenâ€s volunteer service organization in the world.  Opportunities are provided to women in education, leadership training and community service through participation in local clubs, enabling members to make a difference in the lives of others, one project at a time.

 For more information about the club or any of its projects, please contact MaryKay Tokar at 201-320-8403 or President@PeninsulaWC.org , find the club on Facebook: GFWC Peninsula Womenâ€s Club (Bayonne-NJ) or on the web at www.PeninsulaWC.org; to learn about the NJSFWC, visit the Federation website at www.njsfwc.org or call (732) 249-5474.

 

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The post Dress for Success and Prom Dress Clothing Drive first appeared on River View Observer.

            First and foremost, these affiliates of the Miss Black USA pageants

focus on recognizing scholastic achievement and the impact that education can have on achieving lifetime success. Lori Bryant, the 2010 Miss Black New Jersey USA winner, plans on attending law school in the fall of 2010 while also working to start her own online book club that will cater to issues that directly affect African American women. In addition, she seeks to give back to her community by teaching free dance lessons to inner-city youth in addition to encouraging young people to vote and advocating breast cancer awareness.  She believes that success “can be defined as a journey where one has to overcome obstacles that shape his or her character.”

            The main pageant itself is definitely an event that leads its young female participants to grow as individuals. The Miss Black New Jersey and the Miss Black New York competitions are based on participants’ scores in a personal interview, on-stage question and answer, a talent, evening gown, and personal fitness. Fedlene Larose, the 2010 winner of the Miss Black New Jersey Talented Teen competition, believes that, while many perceive pageants are based on beauty or superiority, that it challenges “physical and mental endurance.” Larose is convinced that the Miss Black New Jersey Talented Teen competition helped her to learn what she is capable of, in addition to the various aspects that she needs to improve on in order to project herself as a “confident young woman.”

            The Miss Black New Jersey USA and the Miss Black New York USA pageants, in addition to each organization’s Talented Teen pageants, seek to showcase the talent, beauty, and intellect of young women to family, friends, and a panel of judges in 2011. Applicants for the Miss Black New Jersey and Miss Black New York pageants must be between the ages of eighteen and twenty-seven and must be either a high school graduate or in their senior year of high school. They must live, work, or attend school in either New Jersey or New York respectively, and, in addition, have a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of their application. Talented Teen applicants must be between the ages of thirteen to seventeen. Interested young women should apply online at either www.missblacknewjersey.org and www.missblacknewyork.org.

            Larose speaks highly of the way the pageant helped her learn the importance of responsibility, dependability, and commitment. The pageant winners’ focus and drive for causes and lessons outside of the typical conception of beauty pageants is certainly something that young women-as well as men and women of all ages araces can certainly learn from themselves.

The post The Miss Black New Jersey USA and the Miss Black New York USA Pageants first appeared on River View Observer.

Consumers Can Now Upload Digital Coupons to Their Store Loyalty Cards to Save on Leading Brands

“We are a company with a history of providing customers with exciting new offerings that make their lives easier and their shopping more affordable,” said Jennifer MacLeod, senior vice president, marketing & communications, A&P. “Now, more than ever, we are working to help our customers through these challenging economic times. Digital coupons will allow our customers to not only save money, but also time. Now saving more is effortless.”
“A&P’s adoption of digital coupons will allow customers to put down the scissors and stop the cumbersome process of clipping, filing and remembering paper coupons,” said Thad Langford, president and CEO of Zavers. “Instead, it will be much easier for consumers to save money on the products they want by simply saving their preferred coupons online and swiping their loyalty card at the register.”
BONUS FOR SHOPPERS – Save Money and Trees!
For a limited time, beginning Friday, September 11, Red Tag Online Savings will offer FREE reusable Elizabeth Haub Foundation shopping bags to shoppers who register for the Red Tag Online Savings program. All shoppers have to do is register their club card on their preferred grocery store’s Web site, click on the FREE Reusable Bag coupon, and save it to their club card. Consumers can register at www.apfreshonline.com.
A&P is encouraging the use of the 100% recyclable bags for a great cause. Every time shoppers redeem this offer with their club card, a donation will be made to the Elizabeth Haub Foundation, a group dedicated to protecting the environment. It’s never been easier to save money and trees – all at the same time!

About A&P
Founded in 1859, A&P is one of the nation’s first supermarket chains. The Company operates 435 stores in 8 states and the District of Columbia under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum’s, Pathmark, Best Cellars, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, SuperFresh and Food Basics.
About Zavers
Zavers offers paperless coupons on the Internet and on mobile phones so consumers can save on the products they want at their favorite stores. Zavers’ easy-to-use platform allows consumers to save time, save money, and help protect the environment. For more information on the Company, please visit www.zavers.com.

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The post STOP CLIPPING AND START CLICKING! A&P ANNOUNCES FIRST ONLINE COUPON PROGRAM IN HUDSON COUNTY first appeared on River View Observer.

The event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Collegeâ€s Student Lounge, 25 Journal Square (adjacent to the Journal Square Transportation Center) in Jersey City. It is free and open to the public.

“Given the numerous incidents of domestic violence – among both celebrities and private citizens – that have been reported in 2009, and the increased risk of abuse occurring due to current economic conditions, this event could not be more timely,” said Ophelia Morgan, Director of Student Activities at HCCC. “It is our hope that as many who are able will come out to educate themselves.”

During the vigil, there will be information booths, an open forum and candle lighting ceremony.  Actress Lisa Regina will perform a monologue titled “A Write to Heal.”

For more information about this event, please contact the Office of Student Activities at (201) 360-4199, or Margaret Abrams at WomenRising, (201) 333-5700, ext. 544.
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The post Hudson County Community College and WomenRising to Host Domestic Violence Awareness Month first appeared on River View Observer.