Black River Life December 2022

Big Red Santa Brings Happiness to All Ages

By Steve Sears

For Bob Smith, it may have started in 2009, but you can tell during discussion with him that he’s had the Santa Claus goodness within him all along.

Just ask Emily.

Although in his words he was terrified when he first dressed up as the Big Red Santa and the event was a suc cess, it was best defined by little Emily, who the next day visited the event organizer and thanked them for bring ing a real Santa Claus. “And it was because I was nice and I had a real beard,” Smith says. It mattered not to Emily that the red Santa suit Smith wore was older, that his beard was short, or whether it was sprinkled with baby powder. What mattered was Smith’s kindness to her, which Emily returned the following year, she showing up with a gift for the Big Red Santa.

“I think 90% of Santas find their way into the role by someone asking them to fill in for somebody that can’t make it,” Smith says. “I think 100% of the people who get that question are kind of reluctant to do that because they’ve never done it before.”

Smith wasn’t reluctant when first asked thirteen years ago. He filled the role, but was concerned his voice wouldn’t be correct or he’d say something wrong. The request came from a group called Rainbows for All Children, a nationwide group which meets with and supports children who had a parent pass away during the year and are grieving. Smith recalls the instructions he received at that time. ‘They said, ‘We’ve got all the toys, we’ve got the bag. Just show up, everything’s tagged, call up the kids, take the picture, and off you go.’” The group had available a Santa Claus suit from K-Mart, and Smith took care of the rest. “I had this very short George Clooney beard,” he says. “It really wasn’t quite right, and I peppered it with some baby powder, be cause I was not going to wear a previously used polyester beard. Then I threw on a white turtleneck to cover the lack of beard.”

After his first appearance, Smith returned the suit and

thought nothing more about dressing up as Santa Claus –until the following September, when he was asked by Rain bows for All Children to do it again. This time, not only was the child called up, but Smith also asked the parent who had lost a spouse to head forward as well. Smith explains. “I would say, ‘What would you like for Christmas?’ and ‘How have you been?’ I realized it’s about the family.”

During his first eight years as Santa Claus, Smith would do just a gig or two per year. In addition to the Rainbows

event, he would get calls to do Breakfast with Santa get-to gethers. As he started to get more requests for appearanc es, he then began to buttress his Santa skills. “For the first eight years, I had no idea that there were Santa Claus orga nizations,” Smith says. “There are Santa Claus groups that will help you hone your skills in terms that if you’re going to see 200 kids in a day, one or two of them are going to be on the autism spectrum. How do you handle that? How do you deal with sensitivity in terms of questions? If some body asks, ‘Can you bring grandma back?’ There’s that part of it, the part in the chair, which we call ‘Chair Time.’ And then there’s also the business side of it.”

For the record, Smith now dons a custom-made Santa Claus suit, and his appearances aren’t limited just to the Christmas season. During this past summer, he had three Christmas in July gigs. Also, it took about six or seven years to convince Mrs. Claus (Smith’s wife, Pam) to make appear ances with him. “The Knights of Columbus, every time they saw her, they said, ‘You’re coming to the Breakfast with Santa, too?’ and she would say, ‘No, no, no.’ I just bought her the dress, and once she had the dress, she was okay with it, and said it was a lot of fun. And Mrs. Claus is an integral part of the Santa experience.”

For more information about the Big Red Santa, visit www.bigredsanta.com.

The Big Red Santa and Mrs. Claus (courtesy of Bob Smith)

Many people are aware that in order to receive a dental implant, they must have enough bone. Without

a proper amount of bone, a dental implant will be at risk of infection or failure.

So what do you do if you don’t have enough bone? Bone grafts are usually the answer. However, there are many different kinds of bone grafts.

When a tooth is removed, the remain ing hole is called a “socket.” This socket will fill in naturally with bone. However, if an implant is being considered a bone graft oftentimes is needed. Variables include the size, shape, and location of the remaining socket.

Besides socket grafting, there are other types of grafts. “Sinus grafting” is when you need implants in the upper back jaw, but the sinuses are too large. “Block grafting” and “ridge splitting” are necessary when your own bone are too thin to accept im plants.

Be aware that most of the time bone grafts need to heal before implants can be placed. Healing is usually required between 2 and 6 months.

Bone grafting material can be sourced from three locations, and will therefore have different names: an “autograft” comes from yourself. The bone is harvested from a different location within your mouth. An “allograft” comes from a human cadaver. A “xenograft” comes from a different animal, such as cow (bovine). An “alloplast” is syn thetic, meaning it is man-made.

One issue that is often overlooked is the condition of the gum tissue around a dental implant. Not only is it important to have enough bone for proper long term success, but the type of gum tissue that surrounds the implants is also critical. If you have thin, moveable gum tissue as opposed to thick and stable, your implants will be at risk of complications in the distant future. Overall health, medications, and smoking are oth er risk factors that can affect the long term success of dental implants, regardless of bone grafting.

One implant scenario that avoids bone grafting is “All-On-Four®” or “Full Jaw Den

tal Implants.” In this scenario, a full jaw of teeth can be placed onto 4 to 6 implants, and these implants are oftentimes purpose ly placed into areas that don’t require bone grafting.

Do you have questions? Visit Dr. Gold berg’s website, or contact us for a free con sultation.

About the author: Dr. Ira Goldberg has been performing implant procedures for 27 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Den tistry, a Diplomate of the International Con gress of Oral Implantologists, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Den tistry. He performs all phases of implant dentistry at his office in Succasunna, NJ. He lectures to dentists in the field of implan tology. For a free consultation, including a free 3-D scan (if necessary), please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his web site at www.MorrisCountyDentist.com Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist, and also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

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Saint Luke’s Parish of Long Valley Celebrates 40 Years

By Steve Sears

Just off of West Mill Road in Long Valley, there is beautiful land on which sits a beautiful church building, home to a welcoming and faith-filled parish congregation.

That very parish, Saint Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, on October 15, 2002 celebrated their 40th anniversary in a special way as a celebrated Mass took place at 4 p.m. with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Archdiocese of Paterson. “It was just a warm celebration of love. Lots of families who have been there from the beginning, families who are new to the parish, as well everybody in between,” says Nina Dorlon, Manager of Ministry, Media and Events for the parish. “We just had a nice potluck kind of celebration. It was a little bit on the more formal side. The Knights of Columbus made a barbecue for us and everybody participated, which was nice. Even the choirs; we had the Youth Choir and the SAS Choir, and all of the choirs came together. it was just a fun and happy day.”

In 1981 and 1982, residents of the valley area of Long Valley wanted a church

down in that vicinity. A group of families got together, and they started meeting in the Long Valley Middle School gym to discuss the same. The new parish was former thereafter, and was dedicated by then-Bishop Frank Rodimer on October 18, 1982, that date in October also celebrated as the Feast of Saint Luke. The first Mass was celebrated in the Long Valley Middle School cafeteria by named Pastor Rev. Peter J. Doody five days later. “Fr. Doody was the original pastor who built the church and brought everything together,” says Dorlon. “And he was there for several years until Fr. Mike Drury took over, and now we have Fr. Owen Moran.”

Saint Luke’s Parish 40th anniversary coincided with changes that were made inside the church building. “We refinished the entire church,” says Dorlon. “We changed the look and the feel. We updated the church, and so the bishop came to bless the altar and bless the pews.” New curved pews have been installed that center around the altar area, and new credence and gift tables have been added. The new oak altar was donated by an anonymous

Religious School

family, and a quartz top for the altar was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Sweeney.

A true testament to Saint Luke’s Parish is not just its beauty, but the people of the parish themselves. It’s a wonderful, spiritual place to visit. “We have people who travel almost an hour on any given Sunday to come to Mass in our parish,” says Dorlon. “It’s just a great place to be.”

Fr. Drury, who in 1994 was named Saint Luke’s pastor and remained in that role until 2019, says, “40 years ago, Saint Luke’s started as a seed planted in Long Valley. Through its leadership it has been a nurturing experience. 40 years later, we continue to welcome anyone and everyone who wishes to discover and deepen their faith.”

Not All Headaches are Created Equal

Almost everyone has experienced a headache, at some point in their life, to varying degrees. In fact, roughly 45 million Americans suffer from Headaches each year. In today’s world, most people reach into the medicine cabinet for one of the various pain relievers to alleviate their head pain. But what happens when that doesn’t work? Or, the headaches become more frequent and more painful? Some get headaches so often and so painful, they even take prescription drugs with side effects and no avail. But have you ever stopped to think, “What is causing my headache?” Headaches and more severe headaches, known as Migraines, can be caused by various triggers including foods, chemicals or preservatives in foods, allergens in the environment, chemicals in cleaning products or herbicides/pesticides, sinus congestion, tension in the neck or jaw, lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, and the list goes on… Sometimes the cause is completely unknown and with no relief the patient can be left hopeless, debilitated and in pain. An assessment by an Acupuncturist can often identify and treat imbalances (that are causing the headaches) that are unknown to the patient previously.

In Chinese Medicine not all headaches are created

equally. Rather, during an assessment, we evaluate the individual patient on many levels to determine their exact symptoms (i.e Is the headache frontal? One sided? Behind the eyes? Is there nausea? Frequency and intensity of pain?....) and if there are any triggers. We take a whole body approach and assess the patient’s physical condition as well as their constitution, emotional health, diet and lifestyle. Unlike the blanket treatment western medicine offers which is typically some type of pain reliever, Chinese Medicine finds a specific treatment for each patient based on their individual symptoms. Five patients suffering “headaches” may receive five completely different treatments. By addressing the root cause, Acupuncture can be a safe way to prevent and treat various types of headaches, without the unwanted side effects of medications.

Based on the individual assessment and diagnosis, tiny needles are inserted into various points on the body. Depending on the case, small electrodes can be attached to specific needles that elicit a small electrical current. The feeling of the electric stimulation on the needles is a comfortable sensation that generally elicits a feeling of tingling, tapping or heaviness. The electric stimulation en-

hances the release of specific neurochemicals which aids in the treatment of headaches. The needles are typically retained for 20-30 minutes, during which the patient is left to relax and take a nap.

Acupuncture is known to be effective and can offer long standing results, but it is not always a quick fix. Especially if the headaches are chronic, several treatments may be required to achieve the full result. Again, this is because it is addressing the root cause and not just covering up symptoms like other treatments.

If you suffer from headaches or migraines start getting relief today! Use the following tips to achieve long- lasting results for a healthy life: Be aware, track food and environmental triggers to see if there are any patterns, get adequate sleep, eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits (limiting sugars and processed foods), drink plenty of water, manage stress with things like meditation and try Acupuncture!

For more information about Acupuncture and Headaches contact Mount Olive Acupuncture & Wellness 973527-7978.

Morris County Launches Interactive Story Map to Celebrate 20 Years of Historic Preservation Trust Fund

Morris County is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund by launching an interactive, online story map of all historic sites found in the county, specifically offering background information, photos, video and geographic data on all sites that benefited from county historic preservation grants.

“We hope this story map can make the public more aware of the many historic treasures that are in our midst, and also acknowledge the strong support the Commissioners have shown toward historic preservation that contribute to the high quality of life here in Morris County,” said Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation.

The story map was created by the Office of Planning and Preservation to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the grant program.

The Historic Preservation Trust Fund was established by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners after voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum on Nov. 5, 2002, to allow a portion of the Morris County Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to be used for historic preservation.

“This has been an exceptionally successful and well received program, with nearly $46 million being committed to assist in the preservation, protection and restoration of 122 historic properties since the first grant was issued in 2003,” said Commissioner Stephen Shaw, the board liaison to

the county Office of Planning and Preservation.

“Almost everywhere you go in Morris County, you can point to a place, a building or a monument that represents a specific era in our history, from the days Native Americans lived here and Europeans began to settle in, to the American Revolution, the industrial revolution and beyond.

Morris County has a wealth of sites and structures embodying the American story, and our trust fund has helped to preserve that,” he added.

The story map is based in part on digital mapping data provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Geographic Information System, as well as data on historical properties compiled by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. A legend is provided identifying various levels of historical determinations afforded different sites.

However, the story map dives deepest into Morris County historic sites, specifically the 122 sites afforded grants through the Historic Preservation Trust Fund over the past 20 years. Using the GIS mapping, visitors may navigate to all 122 Morris County sites easily and view photos, background

information and, where available, videos and audio presentations that provide a fuller understanding the sites’ significance.

The videos can be watched on YouTube with captions for better accessibility.

The Historic Preservation Trust Fund considers grants for the acquisition, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration or preservation of historic resources by municipalities, qualified non-profits and the county. Many sites have received multiple grants over the years for various stages of preservation, from planning to actual construction.

Applications are reviewed by the volunteer members of the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board, and the board ultimately recommends each year to the County Commissioners what projects should be provided grants and the amount of each grant.

The new story map introduces visitors to the 11-member review board.

Historic resources must be listed or certified as eligible for listing on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, to be eligible for the program.

The map is available to view at www.storymaps. arcgis.com/stories/

The Tones Band Performs a Three-Decade Mix of Classics

By Steve Sears

NK Architects of Morristown (with offices as well is New York City and Philadelphia), President, Stephen Aluotto, admits it. Playing music is something he casually refers to as his “therapy.”

“It’s something that I’m comfortable doing,” says Aluotto. “There’s a physical aspect to it. When you’re playing rock and roll and singing and playing guitar, there’s a callisthenic or cardiovascular aspect to it. And it’s a collaborative art form; any musician will tell you that, in a band format, there’s no greater high than when the band is clicking together.”

Aluotto, a 33-year Chester resident who is on the Board of Advisors for the New Jersey Institute of Technology College of Architecture and Design, and is also Chairman of the Board for Morris Arts, is a guitarist and vocalist for a musical group called The Tones Band. “Between us in the four-piece band, we probably have close to 200 years of bar band experience at the various levels,” says Aluotto. “We do it for enjoyment, and we all love performing and listening to other bands.”

Aluotto’s fellow Tones Band members are lead guitarist Bob Marks, who lives in Hackettstown, bass player Scott Randolph of Flemington, and drummer Ed Lavery, a resident of Denville. Bernie’s Hillside Lounge and The Lamplighter Restaurant & Pub in Chester, and Adam’s Beer Garden in Rockaway, are just a few of the venues the band performs at.

The Tones Band plays a couple of times a month a set list that includes songs from the 1960’s – 1980’s along with a handful of current numbers. And they do have a following.

Aluotto alludes to why. “Our band goes over well, and I think one of the differences is, talking about the music, is that while there are many great amateur instrumentalists, there’s not a whole lot of bands that make the vocal harmonies a big part of their act, and I think that’s a big part of our band’s success. We incorporate a lot of vocal harmonies, which I think has a pedestrian appeal to it, when someone hears vocal harmonies versus just a hearing a great guitar lead.” Among their set list, The Tones Band performs Byrds and Beatles tunes, classic rock like Crosby, Stills & Nash and Van Morrison, and also do some blues oriented, classic rock. “That’s typically my favorite thing to play, music with a groove,” says Aluotto. “We do some Eric Clapton songs, and we like to add different, updated renditions of classic rock songs, too, as well.”

Occasionally Tones Band members take the stage

and play with other bands as well. “There’s more of a cooperative out there right now,” explains Aluotto. “And while no one was playing during lockdown, as venues started to have outside performances, we found ourselves sitting in and sharing gigs, so there’s some intermingling that goes on between the bands. I’ve performed as many as three times a month, but not solely with The Tones Band. It’s a fraternity.”

As Aluotto previously stated, he and his Tones Band colleagues love performing, and there are many special moments when it all comes together. “You could have played a song together 100 or more times,” says Aluotto, “but that occasion when it’s coming naturally, and it’s channeling out of you collectively, that’s a great feeling.”

To join The Tones Band mailing list, contact gigfreelee@ gmail.com.

The Tones Band L to R: Steve Aluotto, Scott Randolph (bass), Bob Marks (lead guitar), and Ed Lavery (in back on drums) Courtesy of Stephen Aluotto

The Chester Lioness Lions Have Been Busy

The Chester Lioness Lions Club is a volunteer service organization chartered under Lions International.

Our focus is on providing hands-on services to communities in need in Chester and its surrounding areas within Morris County. A particular focus has been on supporting women’s and family needs. This fiscal year, coming out of the pandemic, the club has a very full schedule of service activities on its calendar.

Over the summer, members provided home-cooked picnic meals to the residents of Community Hope in Chester, which provides housing and essential services to developmentally disabled adults.

We cooked and served dinner to the residents of the shelter at Homeless Solutions Inc., for one night in September and October and will be there again in November.

Members of the club were at Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s big fundraiser, Dining in the Dark, on October 26th. They supported the event by staffing the registration table, assisting and guiding visually impaired guests through the silent auction and cocktail hour.

We are reorganizing the library of P.G. Chambers School in Cedar Knolls, a private, non-profit school which provides special education and therapy programs for children with disabilities and developmental delays. The children will have a well-organized and cataloged library for their reading material once we are done!

In November, the club will be helping Jersey Battered Women’s Service unpack, inventory and store Covid supplies.

Club members in the Homeless Solutions Inc. kitchen, ready to cook dinner for shelter residents

And there is more to be done over the coming months!

One of our main goals this year is to increase membership, so that there are more “hands” doing this valuable work to help our neighbors. The club is open to all adults who are interested in providing hands-on service to

local communities in need.

We invite you to find out more about us at our website www.chesternjlionessclub.com or email us at chesternjlionessclub@gmail.com with your contact information.

CCM Athletics Presented with Champions of Character Award

The Athletic Department at County College of Morris (CCM) – from student/athletes and coaches to administration and staff – recently gained additional confirmation of their success with a Champions of Character Award from the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XIX.

The award recognizes outstanding results in the character development of student/athletes and coaches by embracing the five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Additionally, the award recognizes institutions that demonstrate outstanding involvement in the community, which results in positive character development through sport.

“It is such an honor to have our student/athletes, their coaches and the staff who support them recognized with this prestigious award,” says Jack Sullivan, director of Athletics at CCM. “The college places a very high emphasis on developing and supporting athletics who succeed both on and off the field, and we’re pleased to have Region XIX recognize those efforts.”

While the Titans have won many honors and championships over the years, this is the first time CCM Athletics has been recognized with this award.

To learn more about Athletics at CCM, go to www.ccm.edu/athletics/

A Remembrance of the Real Santa of Main Street

By Richard Mabey Jr.

There are people who touch our hearts and lives, to whom we will not truly appreciate their kindness till years and years have passed. Such is the case of my remembrance of the Real Santa Claus of Main Street. It was a long standing tradition, of the Mabey clan, to spend Christmas Day at the old Mabey Homestead. From the day I was born till I was six years old, my parents and I lived in Clifton. Every Christmas Day, we would sojourn westward on Route 46 to the little hamlet of Lincoln Park, where my great grandmother, Dora Mabey lived.

I remember we would arrive at the old Mabey Homestead, early in the morning. I was a shy and sensitive child, so the abounding number of relatives that would congregate at the old farmhouse, would seem all so overwhelming to me.

I don’t know at what age I had any degree of conscious remembrance of the dear, kind, elderly man who was the Real Santa of Main Street. I remember him fondly as a very kind man with a gentle spirit. He would knock on the door of the old Mabey Homestead, sometime during the late morning on Christmas Day, all dressed in his Santa Claus gear.

My dad was the fifth of nine children, so on Christmas Day the Mabey Homestead abounded with children, my many cousins. Santa would arrive with a big burlap bag strung over his shoulder, with a gift for each and every one of my cousins, my sister and myself. I remember the gifts were not expensive at all. Some were actually handmade toys. While some had a clue of having been passed down from another child, who had outgrown the little toy

car or doll.

My mom and dad, my sister Patti and I moved into the old Mabey Homestead in the early Autumn of 1959, shortly after Great Grandma Mabey went Home to be with the Lord. I was six years old that Christmas. I remember wondering if the real Santa would still be knocking on the door on Christmas Day. To my happy surprise, the real Santa did come by to visit us, with presents for my sister and I.

I never learned the name of the Real Santa of Main Street. My grandfather, Watson Mabey, one time told me that he thought that he lived in this little house at the end of Clover Lane. When I was about 10 years old, I walked down Clover Lane, stood at the front yard of that little home and wanted to knock on the front door and see if that was in fact, the home of the real Santa. Sadly and regretfully, I didn’t get the courage to knock on the door. That little home was torn down many years ago, to make room for a larger, modern home.

My Aunt Vi once told me that she thought that the Real Santa of Main Street lived in a little home in Towaco, just past the Lincoln Park border. I don’t think anybody really knew who this kind hearted soul was. It’s one of the greatest mysteries of my childhood.

The Christmas of 1961, when I was eight years old and in the third grade, was the last time that the Real Santa of Main Street ever came to visit us on Christmas Day. I once asked my father if he knew who this gentleman was. He endorsed Grandpa Mabey’s theory.

In deep fondness, I remember the Real Santa of Main Street. I think about him from time to time. My intuition tells me that he was not a wealthy man at all. I think he

From 1953, a photo of the Real Santa Claus of Main Street. Yours truly sitting upon the lap of Santa, with my mom and dad.

was actually quite poor. Somehow and someway, he accumulated toys for children in the neighborhood. Most of the toys he gave to us, were handmade. He was truly the real Santa Claus of my childhood.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

Chester Lioness Club Seeks New Members

The Chester Lioness Lions Club is a volunteer service organization chartered under Lions International. Our focus is on providing hands-on services to communities in need in Chester and its surrounding areas within Morris County. A particular focus has been on supporting women’s and family needs. Coming out of the pandemic, the club has a very full schedule of service activities on its calendar.

Over the summer, members provided home-cooked picnic meals to the residents of Community Hope in Chester, which provides housing and essential services to developmentally disabled adults.

We cooked and served dinner to the residents of the shelter at Homeless Solutions Inc., for one night in September and October and will be there again in November.

Members of the club were at Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s big fund raiser, Dining in the Dark, on October 26th. They supported the event by staffing the registration table, assisting and guiding visually impaired guests through the silent

auction and cocktail hour.

We are reorganizing the library of P.G. Chambers School in Cedar Knolls, a private, non-profit school which provides special education and therapy programs for children with disabilities and developmental delays. The children will have a well-organized and cataloged library for their reading material once we are done!

The club helps Jersey Battered Women’s Service unpack, inventory and store Covid supplies.

And there is more to be done over the coming months!

One of our main goals this year is to increase membership, so that there are more “hands” doing this valuable work to help our neighbors. The club is open to all adults who are interested in providing hands-on service to local communities in need.

We invite you to find out more about us at our website www.chesternjlionessclub. com or email us at chesternjlionessclub@ gmail.com with your contact information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Morris County’s Own Rob Asaro - Funny, Fearless and Found Himself

By Jillian Risberg

An unlikely pair travel cross-country in Rob Asaro’s new play Lost Again, inspired by the playwright and Parsippany native’s own adventures on the road as a stand up comic. Most recently it had its limited run at The Tank in New York City.

Lost Again is about two mismatched strangers paired up by a mutual friend: Ilona Young, a type-A, know-it-all travel blogger on a cross-country assignment and Casey Calvino, a jaded comedian on a tour of the US. Their story is one of identity, pain, adventure, friendship, moving on and moving forward. Each act takes place in a city or town, en-route from New York to Los Angeles. The story is part misadventure, part self-discovery and part buddy dramedy.

Viewers are sure to take something away from Asaro’s wild comic adventure.

“They feel a little understood — it’s very specific feelings,” the funny man says this project deals a lot with regret, also what matters and the meaning of things. “I hope people walk away like, ‘I feel that way too, it feels good that someone expressed some of these ideas,’ but also if they’re laughing and having a good time. I’m a comedian

so… I want people to enjoy themselves.”

Asaro hopes Lost Again, which he wrote after adapting it from his 10-episode series — can have life beyond the play.

“You live it; like when you’re doing this,” he says that’s all there is. “I’m obsessed with it.”

The script was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival pitch competition in 2021.

“I write these projects and fall in love — some you’re with for a long time, go back or adapt in a certain way,” says the comedian. “You become invested. Not just write it and hope somebody says yes,” Asaro says he wants it to live in some capacity.

Hence his desire to produce, act and write his own work: whether it be a web series, play or pilot, and get it to Netflix or HBO.

“I never just wanted to act and never just wanted to write. It was about being able to do both,“ Asaro says it’s tough to navigate when you’re a hyphenated sort of talent. “Many show business folks only want to see you one way: just an actor, a comedian, a writer.”

So the funny man keeps going — hoping to grow and get better to surprise his friends and colleagues who know him.

“If I can surprise them that means I am (evolving) because they know my style,” he says it takes tons of devotion. “It’s hard to have a normal life when you do this sort of thing.”

He shared that show business can be tricky and there can be attitudes, egos and a sinister undercurrent in certain ways. His advice to young people starting out: stay away from the element that doesn’t make you feel good or you don’t trust. Instead, surround yourself with plenty of good, talented people.

And patience is important.

“Be where you are,” says Asaro. “You can’t rush the process. It takes a while to develop not only your comedic voice but what interests you to write about.”

According to the comedian, he wasn’t a sophisticated child but had a keen understanding of comedy. He says one can learn to be funny if you immerse yourself in it and find your voice.

At three or four his mom took him to the mall, where he pretended to be a dancing mannequin and that connected him with his first agent — who sent him on a cereal casting call.

“Mom brought snacks for me and they

told her there were no snacks in the office. After that she wouldn’t bring me in because of the snack policy,” Asaro says. “The joke growing up was always, ‘I didn’t get to be a messed up child actor because my mother wasn’t allowed to bring in a baggie of Chex Mix.’”

Seinfeld was an early influence, he adored Norm McDonald… and the early Simpsons were amazing.

At 14-years-old, Asaro asked his dad to

Rob Asaro...

use vacation money to take a standup class. And the rest is history.

“He took me into the city once a week for the class,” the funny man says when it concluded he went to Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side.

“Did my set there; I was 14 performing when everybody else was in their late 20s,” says the comedian. “It was an interesting experience.”

Asaro has toured the country performing and is the founder of the nationally known Emerson College comedy troupe: Chocolate Cake City that’s still there 20 years later. He relocated to Los Angeles right out of college, studied with Second City, and returned to NYC in 2006.

The funny man grew up in Parsippany.

“It’s a different mentality, different energy, different speed, a different sense of humor,” Asaro says of the area and NYC, that shaped him significantly.

From there for years he tried to make short films; do standup, sketch comedy and improv, web series, one-man shows.

While sets involving topical humor are not the comedian’s thing, “I like comedy

that comes from within” — he admits the 24-hour (in your face) news cycle was hard to ignore.

And he says it feels nice to be out there again in the city, working through and living the creative and rehearsal process.

“Being in those spaces… with people who are jazzed to be there and excited about the work,” says the funny man, adding that Zoom never felt real.

His dream is to make Lost Again as a series and constantly produce work. He adapted another piece, Light at the Diner (various vignettes), to perhaps do on stage — about a bunch of people who enter a diner on a weekday night and their different experiences.

“I would love to have a production company one day and be able to produce this work, employ all my friends, collaborators and people I find funny who should be working all the time,” Asaro says.

“I would like to be successful where I could give people that I feel deserve it (amazing, wonderful talents) a platform.”

For more information, visit www. robasaroshow.com

Put a Zesty Spin on Weeknight Meals

Dinner in many households means foolproof recipes that families can count on, but those can become bland and boring. Finding new ways to put a twist on meals throughout the week adds fun to time spent in the kitchen while bringing new flavor to the table.

To help reinvigorate traditional weeknight dinners, chef Bobby Flay and Hidden Valley Ranch created the threepart Hidden Valley Ranch Night! series to debut dishes that bring bold flavor to traditional meals, such as these recipes for Ranch Crusted Burgers with Avocado Ranch Sauce and Ranch Seasoned Chicken and Mushroom Quesadillas with Tomato Salsa and Sour Cream. The series will provide a spin on weeknight staples to showcase the simplicity, versatility and zesty flavor of ranch seasoning when used to create family-friendly dinners any night of the week.

Find more information, including series episodes and additional recipes, at hiddenvalley.com/ranch-night.

Ranch Crusted Burgers with Avocado Ranch Sauce

Servings: 4 Avocado Ranch Sauce:

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon well-shaken buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

3 green onions, thinly sliced

2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced

Ranch Spice Crusted Burger:

1 1/2 tsps Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning

1 teaspoon paprika kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80% lean)

2 tablespoons canola oil

8 slices American cheese

1/4cup water

4 brioche buns, split in half Avocado Ranch Sauce

To make avocado ranch sauce: In bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, ranch seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth. Fold in green onions and diced avocados; set aside.

To make burgers: In small bowl, whisk ranch seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper.

Heat large cast-iron pan or griddle over high heat. Divide meat into four 6-ounce patties and make deep depression in centers with thumb. Season each with spice rub on one side.

Add canola oil to pan and heat until shimmering. Place on burgers in pan, spice side down, and cook until golden brown and lightly charred, 4 minutes. Turn burgers over and cook 4 minutes, or until they reach desired doneness.

Top each burger with two slices cheese. Add water to pan and cover tightly with lid 10 seconds, or until the cheese is melted.

Place burgers on bottom buns and top each with avocado ranch sauce and top buns.

An Appetizer Worth the (Short) Wait

Appetizers are many people’s favorite part of a meal. From dips and finger foods to little treats and fried pieces of perfection, there is a wide array of considerations for a pre-meal snack.

Some appetizers are much more appropriate at certain events. For example, buffalo chicken wings are best enjoyed on game days, salads are normally served at showers and vegetable trays are a typical Thanksgiving Day classic.

However, there are recipes that are too easy to make and too satisfying not to serve at almost every festivity you and your family attend. This Easy Crab Rangoon shines above the rest for many reasons, but the main point of this heavenly sample is it’s easy to make and bake.

This appetizer is placed in the oven until it’s golden brown, topped with little green scallions with a creamy filling all packaged in a crispy outer layer.

Plus, the cream cheese is mixed with luscious amounts of crab meat. This is a seafood lover’s dream. Actually, it’s any appetizer lover’s dream.

To make this mouthwatering recipe, you only need a handful of ingredients and a few kitchen tools.

The little bites of perfection come out of

the oven steaming hot, waiting to be topped with more crunchy, fresh scallions. Once they have cooled for a few moments, they are ready to be devoured.

Find more appetizer recipes that are simple and made to impress at Culinary.net Easy Crab Rangoon

Servings: 12 Nonstick cooking spray

12 wonton wrappers

4 ounces cream cheese, softened 4 ounces lump crabmeat

1 scallion, sliced thin, green and white parts separated 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Heat oven to 350 F.

Spray muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Press wonton wrappers into muffin cups. Lightly spray wrappers with nonstick cooking spray and bake until lightly browned, 6-9 minutes. Let cool slightly.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Combine with crabmeat, scallion whites, ginger and soy sauce. Fill each wonton wrapper with filling. Bake until filling is heated through, 6-8 minutes.

Sprinkle with scallion greens. Serve warm. (Culinary.net)

Celebrate the Holidays with Special Centerpieces

Few things bring family and friends together quite like the holidays, and serving up an elegant, seasonal meal centered around a mouthwatering main dish is a recipe for creating lasting memories with the ones you love.

Forging a fabulous holiday experience for the special people in your life starts with choosing a flavorful, tender cut of meat to serve as the centerpiece of the meal. Hand-cut by expert butchers, an option like Spiral-Sliced Ham from Omaha Steaks can serve as the focal point of a memorable holiday dinner. Flash frozen to capture freshness and flavor, you can select a standout cut of meat from the comfort of your home and have it delivered directly to your door in time to put together a tender, juicy main course.

Find more holiday recipe inspiration at OmahaSteaks.com/blog/recipes

Rum and Cola Holiday Ham Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 80 minutes

Servings: 10-12

Ham:

1 Omaha Steaks Spiral-Sliced Ham (8 pounds)

Glaze:

1 cup cherry fruit spread 3/4 cup dark spiced rum 3/4 cup cola

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

To make ham: Thaw frozen ham in refrigerator 24-48 hours.

Remove from refrigerator and let ham come to room temperature, about 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 F. Remove ham from foil and film. Return ham to foil wrapping and place in oven-safe roasting pan. Roll foil down leaving 2 inches of foil around bottom of ham.

Place roasting pan with ham in oven on lower rack and heat uncovered 60-75 minutes, until ham starts to brown. While ham

cooks, make glaze.

To make glaze: In medium saucepot, whisk fruit spread, rum, cola, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard and salt until well incorporated. Bring to boil then re-

duce heat to medium. Simmer over medium heat 10 minutes then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.

During last 15 minutes of cooking, glaze ham every 5 minutes. (Family Features)

by Paul Partridge

Bucket List Travels: 3 Days of Wonder in the Rainforest

Morristown resident Paul Partridge has been building a travel bucket list for years. Now he’s diving in –near and far – and shares his adventures in this column.

Alate-night flight into Quito makes the Sunday morning drive seem earlier than it is. Highway becomes local road becomes dirt road becomes jungle path enroute to Mashpi Lodge.

Mashpi is a nature-lover’s hideaway deep in Ecuador’s Choco Forest. If you’ve ever thought about visiting a rainforest, but a two-week trek into the Amazon perhaps seems overly ambitious, Mashpi might be the ticket – especially if you favor comfort over camping… enjoy great food… like to avoid crowds (this private resort houses only 47 total guests)… and appreciate making a gentler impact on the environment.

Looking back, I’m still not sure if it was real or a mirage. Our group of four was motoring along for hours, deeper and deeper into the wilderness, and then – suddenly, there it was, like some sort of plush Brigadoon. My first thoughts: “What the…? How in the world…?” Given the location and geographical challenges, its existence seems utterly impossible.

But alas, here it is. And waiting for us at the entrance, smiling broadly, is Santiago, our naturalist guide during our three-day stay. Having the same guide is a treat, because he gets to know your group, your pace, your interests, etc., and then tailors activities accordingly. Santiago is a rainforest encyclopedia. He can spot, identify, name and wax poetic about any plant animal, insect, tree, fungus, bird,

reptile, stream, or river we encounter.

A call echoes through the forest. “What kind of bird is that?” I ask.

“Actually, it’s a frog,” says Santiago.

Ok, I may be from Jersey, but to be fair, that was no ‘ribbit’ or ‘croak.’ That frog could win the national bird calling contest. Just the first of many surprises.

Staying at Mashpi feels like living in a large, fancy tree house. Floor-to-ceiling windows make you feel totally immersed in your surroundings. Right outside your window are 400 species of birds, trees, frogs, monkeys, and endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

Day 1: The Incredible Glass Frog

A quick lunch and we’re off into the forest, spotting Toucans, tayras, a tarantula, a giant snail, and hundreds of beautiful, exotic butterflies. Santiago informs us that the tayra is one of only three creatures on earth that thinks ahead, the other two being octopi and humans (females, mostly).

After sunset Santiago takes us on an unforgettable night walk using flashlights and headlamps. We’re stalking the rare transparent glass frog. Within 10 minutes Santiago has found one. It’s a great find, especially since glass frogs are the size of a thumbnail and blend into their environment. Santiago also points out assorted spiders, crickets, bats, and a formidable praying mantis.

A female praying mantis eats the male after mating

The

– especially the head because they desire the brain protein. We’re told of one jungle species where the male has evolved a second brain in his chest. This way he can pro-

continued on page 19

famous glass frog. Photos by Paul Partridge

Day 2: Cooling off in a Waterfall

The trail drops steeply from the lodge to the Laguna River below. At times we walk alongside the river, other times we wade right in (rubber boots are provided by the lodge). Down and down we go. Our reward is Magnolia Waterfall, and we’re invited to swim in its pool. This is one of those pinch-yourself moments. The staggering beauty and serenity leave a mark.

Eventually we must hike back. Note to self: walking down is easier than walking up. As we huff and puff, Santiago mentions that there’s a lunar eclipse tonight. It feels like we’re hiking up to it to see it in person.

Mashpi is home to over 30 species of hummingbirds, and in the afternoon, we see many of them at the Hummingbird Gar den. Colorful, playful, and mesmerizing to watch, the hummingbirds dart and flitter all around us.

One might not expect to eat well in the middle of the rainforest. At Mashpi, every entre and appetizer is meticulously pre pared. And the natural fruit juice concoc tions alone are worth the trip (you had me

at passion fruit lemonade).

Day 3: A Birds-eye View of the Forest

The highlight of the morning is a ride on the Sky Bike. Sky Bike is a two-person gondola that stretches 655 feet across the jungle canopy. Think of it as your average, everyday bicycle built for two – if you hap pen to grow up a member of the Flying Wal lendas. The Sky Bike sits on a tight rope. The front person enjoys the view; the back per son is the engine. Once you reach the other side, switch positions and pedal back.

At home I won’t even go on a step lad der due to severe height aversion. Some how, this seems doable. As we pedal and backpedal over the treetops, my adrena line is flowing and I’m shouting, “Isn’t this amazing?” My wife wants to know, “Who are you and what have you done with my husband?”

Mashpi offers another way to float in the clouds called the DragonFly. This is a onehour ride in an open-air gondola that holds four persons and rises more than 200 feet above the ground. Jaw-dropping views, no pedaling required.

In the afternoon, a transfer returns us to Quito and to pass the time I make up some rainforest awards.

Best Insect Name: Jesus Spider (because it walks on water).

The butterflies are comfortable around humans.

Amazing Flower Fact: There are 4,000 different varieties of orchids in the cloud forest.

Most Interesting Tree: Walking Palm. Its roots grow above ground and serve as “legs.” When the tree doesn’t get enough sunlight, it grows new roots in the direction of the sun and moves in that direction, thus “walking.” Walking palms can supposedly

move up to 20 meters in one year. I found this hard to believe until I saw a walking palm wearing a Fitbit.

[Resources]

Quito hotel: www.casagangotena.com/ Mashpi Lodge: www.mashpilodge.com Transportation and Transfers: www.met ropolitan-touring.com.

Adventure Aquarium Celebrates 30 Years of “Edutainment”

By Steve Sears

Melissa Patterson, Guest Experience and Events Manager for New Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium, coins what goes on at the facility perfectly.

“I like “edutainment”: entertainment that is educational. The entertainment and education really go hand in hand,” Patterson says. “Our main goal is always going to be to educate our visitors about the animals here and about the ocean, and why it’s important to care about these animals, care about the ocean, and to care about waterways and conservation, and caring for species, like our sea turtles and our sharks and our penguins. But, by adding that entertainment side of things into the mix, that’s how we really create those unforgettable experiences for the visitors, and that’s what keeps them engaged and keeps them excited.”

Patterson provides a brief history. “Adventure Aquarium was opened by the state as part of a plan to revitalize the Camden waterfront and drawing revenue to the city and to the area, and really revitalize western New Jersey and the Delaware River waterfront, especially on the New Jersey side. We opened officially as the New Jersey State Aquarium on February 29, 1992.” In September of 2004, the State Aquarium closed for expansion, and by the time it reopened in

May 2005, it had almost doubled in size, and was renamed Adventure Aquarium. Current parent company, Herschend Family Entertainment, acquired Adventure Aquarium in November of 2007.

Since its opening, Adventure Aquarium has not only been a huge cornerstone of both Camden County and the city of Camden, but even the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas as well. “We really have the support from Camden and from the community to thank for that,” Patterson says. “We would be nothing without our community, and we really pride ourselves on supporting the community and being out in Camden and trying to make a difference, and trying to have a positive impact on the residents. Because without them, what would we be?”

More than 700,000 visitors enter the doors every year. A large majority of those visitors are families with children, many of them living within 50 miles of Camden or residing in the Philadelphia area. “We really are definitely open to all ages; I think there’s really something for everyone to find here,” Patterson says. “We like to say that ‘We bring families closer together,’ and that’s whatever family means to you. Of course, there’s the traditional definition of family, but our school groups can be families, or groups of friends can be families. We have couples that have

started their relationship here by going on a first date, then getting engaged here and getting married here, and then they bring their kids. It’s really, really rewarding to see our guests who come here because they’re all so different from each other. But they can all find something, for sure.” Including business and corporate professionals, who utilize Adventure Aquarium for a unique team building experience. “Our Group Sales office is very, very busy,” says Patterson. “We love our groups here; they make up a big chunk of our visitor population. It really is very var-

ied on who comes in the door. I think a lot of people think just of children and families and schools, but we really do welcome everyone.”

One reason Adventure Aquarium is so popular is what Patterson calls “marquee” animals. “We love our sharks here,” she says. “We have the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, and some of those sharks have been here from when we first opened. But our hippos, especially; we’re the only aquarium in the world that exhibits hippos.

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Adventure Aquarium (credit: Adventure Aquarium Marketing Department)

continued from page 20

And something that’s really special about that exhibit is you see them underwater. When you go to zoos or safaris, you can see them in the water, but it’s not very often that you get that underwater view of them. We have two green sea turtles and a logger head sea turtle, and then our penguins are our next most popular exhibit. We have two different species of warm weather penguins; you can see our African penguins, and then we have our Australian little blue penguins

which are the smallest species of penguins in the world.”

Adventure Aquarium is always looking to present different things, including live mer maids that have made appearances the past few years. They will return again by popu lar demand in 2023, and a special, still-be ing-discussed pumpkin themed series is planned for next autumn.

Adventure Aquarium is located at 1 Riv erside Drive in Camden. Visit www.adven tureaquarium.com for more information.

Adventure Aquarium’s very popular underwater hippos (credit: Adventure Aquarium Marketing Department)

Prevention is Key Helps Educate Public on Substance Abuse Relief

By Elsie Walker

Substance abuse doesn’t have one face. An abuser could be an elderly individual, a youth, or an adult struggling with life who found “relief” in a drug or alcohol. For those who want to move from abuse to recovery, there’s help: the non-profit organization Prevention is Key (PIK). Located in several counties, its Development Director, Laura Jennings Pitt of Pompton Lakes, explained, “Our bottom-line goal is to create a stigma free community. …we offer programs that will help individuals at all stages of recovery to find their way back to a meaningful life, and so, we don’t require abstinence of our participants but… we strive to meet them where they are.” But, PIK is not just for those with an addiction; it offers help to family and friends who are trying to support them in recovery. Also, it has prevention education programs. PIK offers its free services through its brick-and-mortar CARES (Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success) centers, its mobile units, and its 24-hour hot line. Recently, Pitt talked a little about her role and gave an overview of PIK’s services.

Pitt is the organization’s first Development Director. Prior to her, everyone in the organization seemed to take some part in handling fundraising and it’s just become too big of a task for it to be managed in that way. “They needed to implement a centralized strategy led by someone who’s got the skills and the vision to deliver on the promises of the development department and that’s what brought me here to this organization,” explained Pitt.

In addressing PIK’s offerings, Pitt noted that there are five physical CARES locations: one in Essex County (Newark), two in Morris County (Dover and Rockaway), and two in Burlington County (Burlington County and Burlington City). “They’re a place where you can come and be part of a community that makes you feel welcomed. They’re really helpful for individuals who are just getting started in their recovery journey because they give them a place to go [where they] can be away from substances and around people who are encouraging and supportive and positive and just want to be there for them [when they need us],” shared Pitt. There’s peer support for both those in recovery and the people sup-

Those in the mobile unites reach out to substances abusers by building trust and creating a stigma free environment.

porting them, where someone coming to the center is matched with someone with a similar background who’s gone through recovery or has supported someone going through recovery. The centers offer a variety of meetings (NA, AA, etc.) plus various educational offerings which include Narcan training in recognizing an overdose and ad-

ministering Narcan. Administering Narcan to someone who is overdosing can reverse the effects of an overdose and save their life.

Pitt shared that there’s a monthly recovery recognition breakfast at the Rockaway location where individuals who are in or ex-

Prevention is Key...

ploring the idea of recovery can meet with each other as well as network with some of the providers PIK works with. The breakfast includes speakers who talk about the different services that are available and then there’s a story of recovery. The breakfast takes place the second Monday of every month.

PIK also has mobile recovery units such as HOPE 1 for Morris County plus mobile units in Essex and Passaic counties. Through these units, connection is made with those homeless individuals struggling with substance abuse. “The way that we get the word out about where the mobile recovery units are going to be is in partnership with the sheriff ’s offices, and those locations are publicized so we strive to make those units accessible to the communities,” shared Pitt. Building trust is the first step. Those struggling with addiction may not immediately ask to see a social worker or mental health professional or seek treatment for recovery. The mobile units give out homeless care packages, which are assembled at PIK’s general locations. What’s in the packages may vary but they contain things like food, personal hygiene items, toiletries and clean underwear. The unit will give rides to a place a homeless person might want to go to get a meal or shower or take the person to an appointment and then return the person to where they feel safe. It is through interactions like this that the trust is built so that the connection is there when the individual is ready to take the first step to recovery.

Jennings noted that in Passaic County, part of a care package is fentanyl test strips. Using these strips, a person can check for the presence of fentanyl in other substances such as heroin. This is part of “harm reduction”. Fentanyl is deadlier than other substances and Pitt noted that it can kill a person on the spot. PIK realizes people receiving its packages can still be abusing. Checking for fentanyl’s presence could keep a person from killing themselves by taking something laced with it. The idea is that the abuser will live longer with a chance of recovery in their future.

Besides the mobile unit and CARE centers, PIK has a 24-hour telephone recovery support line. “…if you don’t find our mobile recovery unit and you can’t come to our physical center. you can call us anytime,” said Pitt. She noted that it is not only for people who are struggling with substance

out the word on what harm reduction is in an interesting, visual way.

use but also anyone who’s affected by it. The hotline number is 973-625-1143.

PIK offers events during the year addressing education, recovery, and fundraising. Its website lists what’s upcoming, ways to volunteer, and also includes a “shop” area where people can buy items to encourage those in recovery or as a way to support PIK by buying a gift for someone.

While, as its website notes, PIK ”relies on many trusted relationships with private foundations and government agencies to sustain and advance its mission”, fundraising is needed. According to its website, “There are over 27,000 individuals with a diagnosed SUD in the communities served by Prevention is Key, plus many others who struggle with problematic and chaotic use without any official diagnosis.” The funds PIK raises helps it to provide its services. An example of a fundraiser was the online #PIKYourWhy on social media for Giving Tuesday in November. The organization encouraged supporters, friends, peers, and loved ones to post why PIK is important to them with a button for people to click to donate. Also, people can donate at any time to the organization by going to a tab on its website: preventioniskey.org/donate

Pitt shared about a special fundraiser in the upcoming year. Looking ahead, on May 24, 2023, there will be a Road to Recovery event at the Windlass in Lake Hopatcong. There will be a sunset cruise, a tricky tray, and a speaker who has used PIK’s services and is in long term recovery.

For more information on PIK, people can call 973-625-1143 or visit it online at preventioniskey.org

Here a PIK staff member gets

A New Year’s Day Story

By Richard Mabey Jr.

Can love be limited? Is it possible that God’s blessings can reach beyond our limited human understanding of time and space? Are the flames of sibling love, between two sisters, able to transition to a world beyond this world that we humanly know? Is it possible, that love is the greatest force in the universe?

On November 11, 2019, my mom, Janet Kemmerer Mabey, had heart surgery to replace her Aortic Valve. After the surgery, my sister Patti and I were elated that Mom still had a few years left upon this earth, before it would be her time to be called Home to be with the Lord. But by the first of December, it became painfully obvious that Mom’s time upon this earth, was coming to a close.

It was in early December of 2019 that Mom’s general practitioner, told my sister and I that it was time to set up for Hospice home visitations. It was a deeply sad time.

My mother was great stickler for cleanliness. But, I con fess that with the influx of nurses and home care profes sionals, it was tough to keep Mom’s bedroom as neat as a pin. In December, when there were no Hospice personnel at our home, I would read Mom excerpts from the Holy Bi ble. Mom would then gently fall asleep. But even as Mom would sleep, ever so peacefully, I would continue to read the Bible to Mom.

I remember that it was in the second week of December, that I was reading Mom her Bible, Mom fell asleep. I con tinued to read the Bible to her. Mom suddenly awoke and begin talking about her plans to have a New Year’s Day par ty. It was a long standing tradition of the old Mabey Home

stead, as far back as I can remember, that New Year’s Day was a time of open house and home-cooked food for the old family farmhouse.

When Mom awoke, she spoke as if we were still living at the old Mabey Homestead, rather than the reality of now living in our Florida home. And, one of the things Mom spoke about that afternoon, was that she was looking for ward to seeing her sister Alice on New Year’s Day. Mom be gan telling me what needed to be done to prepare for the big New Year’s Party.

As Mom would tell me that I needed to clean all the baseboards, vacuum the rugs, Mom would look me in the eyes and say, “oh Richard, I can’t wait to see my sister Alice again.” I remember this went on for a good half-hour, then Mom drifted off to peaceful sleep.

I stayed at Mom’s side. Even though Mom was sleep ing, I read her some passages from the Book of John. About an hour later, Mom woke up again and told me immense details of the New Year’s Day Party that we had just had. Mom recalled the memory of the dream that she just had, complete with the most tiny details of the splendid party that she had just been a part of.

Then, Mom looked at me and simply said, “Richard, it was so good to see my sister Alice again. It was all just so good.” Then Mom closed her eyes and once again drifted off to sleep.

On the night of the twenty-third of December of 2019, my beloved mother went Home to be with the Lord. It was a sad moment in time. Looking back now, three years later, I still remember how real Mom’s dream was to her.

Mom and Aunt Alice, in 1996.

Could it be that on some level it was all so very real? That on some Heavenly plain, Mom did see her sister Alice Kemmerer Knothe in spirit, that was as real as anything on this physical plain.

I am not a theologian by profession. I do know this though. God is a source of immense love and compassion. The rest is left to the beliefs of my dear readers.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

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