History - See

Continued From Page 1

during the Civil War. Lincoln established the day as the last Thursday in November and thus began an unbroken series of autumn proclamations still issued by Presidents today. In its November 26 edition that year, the Ocean Emblem - then one of Ocean County’s two newspapers - printed New Jersey Governor Joel Parker’s proclamation of the holiday in our state. The Emblem noted that on November 23rd, a committee of “six ladies and six gentlemen” was created at a meeting at the Courthouse to solicit contributions for a “Thanksgiving donation for the families of our noble volunteers” in the Union Army.

20th Century Thanksgivings

In 1918, with the end of World War One just days earlier and while the world was in the midst of a pandemic, President Woodrow Wilson issued a Thanksgiving proclamation observing that “this year we have a special and moving cause to be grateful: peace.” The New Jersey Courier - then Ocean County’s weekly newspaper - printed a proclamation passed by the Dover Township Committee (today, Toms River) which stated we “do urge most strongly that the people of Dover Township, one and all, do join in a real Thanksgiving” in a service to be held on Wednesday evening, November 27, at the Methodist Church. The Courier went on to say that “this date was taken to give the women of the community an opportunity to attend, and still get ready that dinner next day.” The Wednesday night service “will be short and snappy all the way through.” In 1945, President Harry Truman’s proclamation noted that our victory in World War Two was “absolute and final {and that} liberty knows no race, creed, or class.” The Courier reported “Toms River Churches to unite Thursday at Christ Church for a union service of Thanksgiving.” Reverend Ansley Van Dyke of the Presbyterian Church gave the sermon. Pastors from the Methodist Church and Christ Church participated. It was an ecumenical service of thanks after another war’s end. In 1962, just days after the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy issued a Thanksgiving proclamation stating that “we live in a world of peril and change {but we} are all the more grateful for the indestructible gifts of hope and love.” A year later, just days before the holiday, Kennedy was dead - felled by an assassin. The Courier printed photographs of deserted downtown Toms River streets and the American flag at Town Hall flying at half-mast. Toms River, like all of America, was in shock and grief on that Thanksgiving. In an editorial, the Courier said “Thursday Americans will observe Thanksiving….it is an honored day, one of history, tradition, and in most years, it is a day filled with solemn joy. This year, in American homes, there can be no joy.” Thanksgiving, this year, said our local newspaper “should be a day of sympathy…and it is perhaps for this reason that Thursday shall also be a day of Thanksgiving.”

Thanksgiving And High School Football

Our special American holiday here in Toms River is also remembered beyond official proclamations of war and peace, Church services, and times of joy and sorrow. What would Thanksgiving be like in Toms River without high school football? For decades, it was an annual Thanksgiving tradition for Toms River High School (today, South) to play neighboring Lakewood on the local gridiron. Beginning in 1919, the two schools faced off in an annual holiday classic and Toms River won a majority of those games. For those of us with long memories, it seemed like everything stopped in our town for that annual rivalry. Over the years, Toms River High Schools North and East, along with South, have played on Thanksgiving Day.

Our Virtues And Values

“Thanksgiving,” once said Peter Gomes, of Harvard University and President of the Pilgrim Society, “is a big deal in America because we Americans believe it to be our unique holiday, hardly found in this form anywhere else on Earth. And wherever on Earth Thanksgiving is celebrated, it is invariably associated with America and its founding virtues and values.” Thanksgiving is certainly a “big deal” in Toms River. Let us remember America’s virtues and values as we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends. SOURCES: The Ocean Emblem; The New Jersey Courier; “Thanksgiving” by James W. Baker, University of New Hampshire Press, 2009; Pilgrim Hall Museum J. Mark Mutter is the retired Toms River Clerk. He served on the Dover Township Committee for three terms and served as Mayor in 1993 and 2000. He served as Chairman of the Township’s 250-year anniversary committee in 2017, its 225-year anniversary committee in 1992, and its Constitution Bi-Centennial committee in 1987. He is writing a book on the history of Toms River.

photophoto ofof thethe weekweek

Although Thanksgiving does mark the start of the holiday season, the Christmas creep continues to get earlier each year. Recently, Mikaela Hunter and her family spotted this display in Toms River. Luckily for us, Mikaela grabbed her camera. We couldn’t resist sharing this one!

Dottie’s House Annual Holiday Cocktail Party

BRICK – Join us for the Annual Holiday Cocktail Party at River Rock Restaurant & Marina Bar on December 1. Included in your ticket: Buffet Dinner, Beer + Wine, Wine Pull, Silent Auction, 50/50 Super Raffle. Enter for a chance at winning one of three prizes: • 1st Ticket: $5,000 • 2nd Ticket: $3,000 • 3rd Ticket: $2,000

Limited to 200 tickets. Top prizes as stated above are based on 200 tickets sold. No substitution of the offered prize may be made. 50/50 Super Raffle Drawing will take place at this event, but winners need not be present. Join with friends, family, or co-workers for a chance at winning big, just in time for the holidays! Get your group together and purchase your tickets today! Holiday Cocktail Party Tickets: $40 per person; 50/50 Super Raffle Tickets: $100 each Proceeds directly support our mission at Dottie’s House; to provide safe housing for women and their children through a program that empowers them to become self-sufficient and free from violence.

Fun & Games

Sudoku

Crossword Puzzle

Across

1 Honshu drama 4 Words before a recap 11 Audi rival 14 Boise-to-Billings dir. 15 “Raging Bull” boxer 16 Infamous Vietnam War site, My

__ 17 “Take my advice: no use crying over spilled milk ... “ 20 Compact part 21 Greet warmly 22 Spumante source 23 PC core 26 Spot to get a bite on the street 27 Rockets’ org. 28 Low cloud 32 Two-__: halfprice opportunity 33 Pouch 1 __ Own Organics 2 Where “The Man With the Hoe” carried the world, in an Edwin Markham poem 3 Great sadness 4 Plus 5 Iraq’s __ City 6 Brief “I think” 7 Oceanus, to Gaia 8 Snacked 9 “How sweet __!” 10 Sprint 11 Lose it 12 Public policy declaration 13 Cookout fare 18 One less than tetra19 OB or ENT 23 Rock’s Mštley __ 24 Formal agreement 25 Four Corners state 28 Roget entry: Abbr. 29 Dress, with “up” 30 Le Monde article 31 Auto additive with a red oval logo 37 Seaweed product 38 Quite often 42 Supermarket chain with a red oval logo 43 Overhauls 44 Put away 45 Titania’s Husband 46 Serving as a symbol 47 Fin. neighbor 48 Loyalty 49 Start 50 “Human beings ... may hide their feelings, but __ does not”: Hemingway 51 Fjords, e.g. 52 Teach privately 53 Foolish sort 56 Superskinny 58 Battle of Normandy town 60 Claim 62 Actor McKellen 63 Andean root vegetable

34 With 36-Across, “There’s no going back ... “ 35 Ship letters 36 See 34-Across 39 Brewery vessel 40 Celestial feline 41 Snoots put them on 45 Other, in Oaxaca 48 “Put everything behind you ... “ 53 Sigma follower 54 Shorebirds related to stilts 55 Crux 57 Cards 59 Up on the latest 60 Sax type 61 “And look ahead.” 64 Force featured on “Bosch,” for short 65 “So close!” 66 Oodles 67 They often take turns

Down

(c)2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

SolutionS

Sudoku Crossword Puzzle

Omarr’s Astrological

Forecast For the week of nov 26 - dec 2 By Jeraldine Saunders

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The most memorable masterpieces are inspired by memorable moments. In the upcoming week, you might be inspired or inspire someone else to make a great effort. Look forward to fun-filled gatherings with your tribe. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may be attracted to the latest breakthroughs and trends since they could fill a need. The most up-to-theminute news or technology may be fascinating. Test out something new in the week ahead. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Projects can trigger your desire to uphold the highest standards. During the upcoming week, you could set a steady pace and use your organizational skills to complete a plan. Loved ones may break up the monotony. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Think your way out of a box. A boring routine might run contrary to your desires in the week ahead. If your bank account is just gathering dust, you may be tempted to break it open and invest your money so it can grow. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Ask yourself if someone’s possible disapproval is a good enough reason not to reach for your dreams. Avoid any obsession with complicated business strategies as the week begins and aim toward fun and laughter. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Great ideas may occupy your mind. However, if you are breaking new ground, you might hit an obstacle too big to handle. Use patience to navigate the ups and downs and occasional dead ends in the week to come. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Patience and understanding can pay off in the end. Put your stockpile of diplomacy to good use in the upcoming week. Someone may suspect your motives or push you a little too hard for comfort. Boundary up! SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Rethink your priorities. Money is good to have but how you spend it could become more important now. To improve your resources, focus on getting along with coworkers and earn their support in the week to come. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the week ahead, you can build a sophisticated strategy to support kindness and tolerance. Your sincerity can help you persuade loved ones to institute a positive change. Meet new people through a hobby. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You understand there are limits but you may be feeling willing to exceed them. You can accomplish a great deal in the week to come through sheer persistence. Extra effort can ensure that your job is on stable ground. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Any plan to become part of a group or a circle may require exercising mindfulness and diplomacy. Your thoughtful and cautious approach might be helpful in the week ahead when you attend social activities. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): World-weary people may not appreciate your idealism. You could be tempted to sign a contract or make a commitment that takes advantage of your sympathies in the upcoming week. Avoid making impulse decisions.

(c) 2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

THIS CREATIVE DESSERT ALTERNATIVE FOR THANKSGIVING MAKES INDIVIDUAL ‘PIES’ THAT FEEL SPECIAL

By America’s Test Kitchen

BANANA CREAM PIE IN A JAR

Serves 4

2 ripe bananas 5 tablespoons sugar 3 large egg yolks 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon table salt 1 1/4 cups half-and-half 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 whole graham crackers, broken into pieces (or 1/3 cup store-bought graham cracker crumbs) Whipped cream

1. Slice one banana into 1/2-inch-thick circles. In a large bowl, whisk sugar, egg yolks, cornstarch and salt until smooth and pale yellow, about 1 minute. 2. In a medium saucepan, combine half-and-half and sliced banana. Place saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally with rubber spatula, until mixture comes to simmer, 5 to 7 minutes (small bubbles should break often across surface of mixture). Turn off heat. 3. Place bowl with egg yolk mixture on top of a damp dish towel. Use a ladle to measure 1/2 cup hot half-and-half mixture into a liquid measuring cup. Slowly pour into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly (the towel will keep the bowl steady). 4. Pour warm egg yolk mixture back into saucepan with half-and-half mixture. Return saucepan to medium heat and cook, using rubber spatula to stir gently but constantly, until mixture begins to bubble and is thickened and pudding-like, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. 5. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl. Use a rubber spatula to scrape custard into the fine-mesh strainer. Gently stir and press custard through the strainer (do not try to force banana pieces through the strainer). Discard solids in strainer. 6. Add butter and vanilla to custard and whisk until butter is melted. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard. Place bowl in refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours. 7. When custard is chilled, place cracker pieces in a large zipper-lock plastic bag. Press out as much air as possible from bag and seal bag. Use rolling pin to gently crush graham crackers into crumbs. Place 1 tablespoon crumbs in the bottom of each of four jars. 8. Peel remaining banana. Slice banana into 1/2-inch-thick circles. Use a clean rubber spatula to divide chilled custard evenly among jars. Top each jar with whipped cream, banana slices, and remaining graham cracker crumbs, dividing evenly. Serve.

(For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www.americastestkitchen. com/TCA.) (c) 2022 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.