HILLSDALE—Guests are in for a bigger than usual Joan’s Joy Child Safety Fest, in person on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Hillsdale Train Station. The seventh annual event features a butterfly release, live music, speakers, face painting, and raffles.
Speakers start at 2, a circle for social justice organizes at 2:30, the butterfly release is at 3, and entertainment starts at 3:30. Raffle winners are announced at 4:30.
Through it all is a day of fun for children. Mask wearing is appreciated.
The event follows on the heels of Rosemarie D’Alessandro being given a unique honor — the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office named its new Bergen County Child Advocacy Center in Paramus after her — it’s a suite of rooms called Rosemarie’s Room, with the dedication Sept. 7 — Joan’s birthday.
This center is a child-friendly environment decorated with green walls and butterflies. Victimized children will be supported here, and can speak with professionals about what they went through without feeling threatened.
A plaque on the wall reads, “May those who enter this room find hope, comfort and resilience.”
Rosemarie is the mother of Joan, a 7-year-old Girl Scout assaulted and murdered by a sexual predator in 1973. The tragedy launched Rosemary on her mission: tireless advocacy for laws that protect victims’ rights and keep child murderers imprisoned without parole, and workshops and more to keep all kids safe.
Rosemarie was given Joan’s sneakers and a lock of her hair at Rosemarie’s Room’s dedication.
Joan’s killer, Joseph McGowan, died in June at South Woods State Prison in Cumberland County. He was serving a life sentence but through a loophole was able to petition for parole.
With his death, Rosemarie told Pascack Press last week, this year’s Safety Fest “is going to be big, very focused. It’s going to be the best we’ve had.”
She said, “What’s happening now is we’re at a different place with this case since the killer died. We’re going on to a deeper level.”