Black River January 2023

All Out - Hard Working Local Robotics Team 10096 “Those Guy’s” Hosts Their First Successful Competition

Team 10096 proves to be the hosts with the most!

On November 20th, 2022, “Those Guy’s Robotics” First Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 10096, successfully co-hosted and participated in a competition for 18 High School robotics teams at the Dickerson School in Chester, New Jersey. Along with The Krypton Warriors, the two teams provided an arena for 18 local robotics teams. They volunteered their time, talents and passion to give back to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) community, and if that wasn’t enough Those Guy’s placed 4th of 10 in the am event.

This all access competition was a welcome departure from the past 2 pandemic years where friends and family could only attend virtually.

“Those Guys Robotics” 10096 is a private team competing in the First Tech Challenge league. The team is independent from the high school robotics team which does not compete in the same organization.

Every year FTC unveils a new game with different goals. It’s up to the team mates to problem solve, build and program a new robot within the league parameters. Every match consists of a field with two sides and four teams, where two teams are randomly partnered with each other to form an alliance.

Kometani explained, “Each match consists 2 parts. The first 30 second are called “autonomous” where the robots movements are pre programmed by our coder. After 30 seconds, the participants pick up the controllers and manually control the robot for the remaining 2 and a half minutes accumulating as many points as possible.”

The FTC league is limited to grades 9 to 12 and this will be the last year for some of the members of Team 10096. This year’s team roster includes Tyler Kometani, Rameen Iftikhar, Jeffrey Jiang, Bailor Tumminelli, Jack Sciortino and Gabby Flynn, all of who are students at West Morris Central except for Iftikhar, who attends Morris County School of Technology in Denville. Tim Rybarski founded the team in 2015.

Team 10096 has been known over the years for their outreach, they are passionate about promoting STEM to the local community and inspiring the next generation of thinkers.

“This year we had the opportunity put on demonstrations at 14 youth summer programs, one of which was an all day event at the Morris Museum.” Sciortino explained. “We not only presented our robot,

we introduced the kids to the idea of problem solving during the build process, then we showed the kids how to work the controls. It was so exciting to see the kids light up with joy when we gave them a chance to control the robot!” Iftikhar said.

At the end of the day, becoming involved with FTC Robotics offers opportunities rich with experience in

teamwork, problem solving, programming, hand on technical engineering and goal attainment. These are great skills for any future endeavors.

“Amazingly, most of the former team members have moved on to attended colleges where their majors were STEM related,” Coach Rybarski said. “This is a testament to the positive impacts First has on a young persons life.”

From left to right: Bailor Tumminelli, Jeffrey Jiang, Tyler Kometani, Rameen Iftikhar, Jack Sciortino.

Sometimes people need to replace missing teeth or teeth that will be extracted shortly. Bridges, dentures, and implants are the most common ways to accomplish this, but what are the differences?

The most common area of confusion lies

between dentures and bridges. Dentures are removable: you take them in-and-out of your mouth. Bridges are permanent: you do NOT take them in-and-out.

Dentures can be made from a number of different materials: acrylic (plastic), metal, a combination of acrylic and metal, or “thermoplastic.” The advantages of the acrylic include cost and simplicity. They are the least expensive, and the easiest to fabricate and repair. The disadvantages include thickness and low stability.

Metal dentures are thin, rigid, and fit tightly. The downsides include increased difficulty to repair (although not terribly difficult) and cost (they are the most expensive).

Thermoplastic materials have the advantage of being flexible, which many patients find to be more comfortable. However, repairs can be difficult to impossible, based upon the type of material utilized.

Unlike dentures that are removable, bridges are permanent. This is one reason why bridges are more popular than dentures. Other advantages include increased biting / chewing power, increased

esthetics, and less fuss with them since they don’t have to be taken in and out. Downsides include the “shaving down” of teeth on either side of spaces to keep them in place (called “abutment” teeth), and potential cavity development or need for root canals on these abutments over time.

Dental implants provide a host of options. Most people think of an implant as a post that is placed into the jawbone to hold a single tooth (crown). This is one use of an implant, but there are other functions. The implant is actually the post: you can use it to secure a denture or a bridge, also! With respect to dentures, the implant can help to eliminate or decrease the number of clasps, providing a more esthetic outcome and more stable set of teeth. Bridges benefit from implants because now you cannot develop cavities around the abutments and there is no need for root canals. Implant bridges also eliminate the need for drilling on other teeth.

A very common substitute or replacement for large partial dentures and full dentures is “All-On-Four®.” This revolutionary technology provides the patient with permanent, non-removable teeth in just

a few appointments. Gone is the stigma and disappointment of removable teeth and poor chewing ability. Patients instantly benefit from a strong bite, excellent smile, and freedom of re-gaining the roof of their mouths if they had a denture that covered it previously. Many patients who have dentures or require removal of most teeth present to Dr. Goldberg for this procedure specifically: he is a leading authority on this type of procedure within the community.

More information regarding this, and other topics, is available on our website.

Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist & implant expert located in the Roxbury Mall in Succasunna, NJ. He provides general dentistry for the entire family, including: cleanings, check-ups, whitening, veneers, crowns, root canals, dentures, periodontal (gum) services, dental implants, and much more. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Implantology/Implant Dentistry, holds multiple degrees and is recognized as an expert in dental implants. You can find additional information on his website:www. morriscountydentist.com. The office can be reached at: 973-328-1225 or via email: frontdesk.mcda@gmail.com

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Cosmetic Dentistry

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Cannot be combined with other discounts Refer to New Patient Specials on our website for details Coupon must be presented, & mentioned at time of scheduling Expires 2/28/23

Chester Illustrator Helps Preserve Beautiful Memories

By Jillian Risberg

Remembering your loved one in a special way doesn’t have to come from a photo.

Illustrator John Newhouse uses his pencil to create a treasured keepsake of your dearest.

“You may have a memory or folder of photos, but want something a little more meaningful to reinforce that connection. I try to capture that emotion and put it on paper,” he says, adding that he uses pencil as his artistry.

The last major job he had was at Bloomberg, where it became a lot of management and art direction but not enough creation to satisfy him. So Newhouse went back and picked up his pencil again and began drawing like crazy. |

It was 2015 when JMN Illustrations (formerly Portraits in Pencil by John) was born. The artist calls this a passion project.

He has always been interested in portraiture because art is so subjective.

When the illustrator went to museums with his wife she said she didn’t

know if any of the works were good.

So Newhouse asked if she liked them and she said yes.

“Then it’s good,” he told her.

But with portraiture there is accuracy in it as well. He tries to capture the essence of the person

(or subject).

Newhouse does many pet portraits, some of whom have passed.

“They give my illustration as a gift to remember their beloved dog or cat,” the artist says.

“You want to (convey) that silliness or happiness that continued on page 6

I’m Referring to Your Genes Not Your Jeans

Imean you should probably change your jeans every few days as well, but that’s a discussion for another time and another day.

You have probably been taught that the genes you are born with are yours for life. You excuse things like your angry behaviors, high blood pressure or your weight on your genetics. My patients often tell me that their illnesses are genetic, and because of that they can’t do anything about it. What if I told you that isn’t completely true? What if I told you that changing the way you think can actually change your life? That might sound like fantasy to some, but it’s true! I know, I know… now you feel like you’ve been living a lie, but it’s time to wake up!! Check this out… Research shows that those who practice Meditation/Yoga can “steer” their DNA, reducing inflammation and reducing their risks for diseases like cancer.

You may be asking how in the heck is that possible? Let’s break it down…

Our bodies have a sympathetic nervous system and a parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) aka “fight or flight” response is

activated by stressful situations. Historically this fight or flight response was needed for survival in the wild. For example, when being chased by an animal the SNS kicks in and all functions that are not needed for immediate survival (i.e digestion…) are shut down. Among other processes, the body speeds up, heart pumps faster, the muscles contract and the brain is more alert. Activating the SNS also triggers the production of a molecule called Nuclear factor Kappa b (NF-Kb), which is responsible for our gene expression. During this process NF-Kb activates genes that release cytokines. These cytokines are responsible for producing inflammation on a cellular level. During a life/ death event this is actually helpful short -term. However, in modern day life this same sequence of events occurs due to every-day stressors (that weren’t present in our early ancestors lives). Things like traffic, work-related stress and finances trigger this same “fight or flight” response, causing the same cascade of events that lead to increased NF-Kb and increased release of cytokines. In fact, just thinking about that stressful situation you had earlier will cause the same cascade of events to take place. Most people in

today’s society are living in a constant “fight or flight” state. This long- term “exposure” to these cytokines are linked to cancer, premature aging, mental disorders (including anxiety and depression) and other diseases.

On the other hand, it has been found that practicing yoga/meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS, known as the “rest and digest” state, is the way that the body should be functioning normally. In this natural state, the heart rate slows down, blood pressure decreases and digestion takes place. Studies show that practicing Meditation/Yoga, specifically, reduce NF-Kb, therefore turning off the genes that release the cytokines, which in turn reduces the inflammatory response and therefore prevents premature aging and diseases like cancer. This is all happening on the molecular level! You can actually leave a molecular signature on your cells to regulate your own gene expression! Boom… and there you have it! Now all you have to do is start Meditating to experience the benefits for yourself!

For more information about Acupuncture, contact Mount Olive Acupuncture & Wellness 973-527-7978.

His pieces are incredibly meaningful for people — and the artist hopes their eyes well up a bit (they feel depth looking at it) and realize exactly what it is.

“It’s a black and white illustration but gives you everything,” says Newhouse. “Moving your eye across the subject and capturing that inner essence — is the reward.”

His passion is for graphic design. In the television news business since 1982, the illustrator loves the challenge of telling a story in a unique way in five-seconds. Especially now, when so many watch the news on their phone or tablet.

The artist says he hasn’t had any showings because the pieces he creates go directly to the client.

“It’s not like I have a great deal of content just hanging in my house that I can say, ‘let’s have a show,’ it would be something I’d love to do but the greatest challenge is just getting out there,” the illustrator says.

And there are so many talented people doing this, with many variables: do you want it in black and white, color, paint, what size.

“It’s finding that niche,” the artist says some people don’t want to look at a drawing of someone who’s passed, while others want a reminder, so it’s that as well.

They connect with Newhouse on social media, his website, word-of-mouth and share they’d like a portrait of their loved one.

First the illustrator gets some insight into who the person is/or was and asks for as many photographs as

the family member can provide, then creates a photo reference of the person and begins the drawing.

“I’ll do studies, decide what style and how big they want it (usually 11x15 or smaller) and then go about producing it,” he says. “Sometimes I hit it right away and other times it’s a fistfight.”

According to the illustrator, there was the time someone contacted him about their roommate’s father — who went to the doctor, received a dire diagnosis and was gone six weeks later.

He commissioned Newhouse on a rush — the illustrator turned it around in two days and the family put it up for the funeral.

What was he like? “He seemed cold and businesslike on the surface but was a great dad,” the artist thinks he captured that.

Portraiture is tricky, Newhouse says one slight little line can reshape the eye, nose, mouth.

“And artists are all nuts — what you see and what I see on the canvas are two different animals,” he says.

It all started for Newhouse after art school, his sister’s roommate was a producer at Channel 11; he got an internship, got the job and the rest is history.

“But I’ve always been an artist and someone who likes to bring portraiture out,” he says. “Even when I was heavy into graphic design, it was still the illustration and drawing that always attracted me.”

His family has been in the art business for more than 100 years… the illustrator’s father, uncle and grandfather had a New York gallery (but no artistic talent) and his

sister was a painter.

As a little kid Newhouse used to watch her do these incredible drawings and paintings and picked it up.

If the illustrator could draw anyone he says he’d want to capture a crowd.

“Five or six people standing in line and there’s a story,” says Newhouse. “I would want to have you look at it and ‘I wonder what she’s thinking, why is this guy in front of me, where did he come from.’ That would be a great challenge.”

He’s currently working on famous people, icons of interesting faces, and says Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) has got the greatest face and one he’d love to draw.

A huge fan of Edward Hopper, Newhouse also likes Monet and Norman Rockwell.

“With his subjects there’s an entire story in every painting,” says the artist. “Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings (he was a tormented alcoholic) and you see the anger in the way he put down those paints. I don’t paint much, but would love to be able to illustrate the way any of those guys do.”

Newhouse has his own way and his clients cherish his artistry.

The special people and furry friends in one’s life mean everything and he knows getting the essence of them just right is so important.

“That is why your reaction is my greatest reward,” the illustrator says, of their tears, laughter and memories shared.

For more information, www.jmnillustrations.com

Who Was Saint Valentine?

alentine’s Day presents an opportunity to express feelings of love. Greeting cards and heartshaped chocolate boxes are traditional gifts, as are red roses. Most people know how and why Valentine’s Day is celebrated, but few may know the person behind the holiday’s name. The Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred individuals with the name Valentine, who each may hold ties to the Valentine’s Day celebration. The name Valentine comes from the Latin “Valentinus,” which means “worthy, strong or powerful.” The name was a common moniker at the time. It is not known just how many Valentines were around in that era, but historians believe there were many. According to the Catholic Education Resource Center, the following three Valentines share February 14th as their feast days. The historical records are sparse, but here’s what is known about these men.

1. One St. Valentine was a priest and physician in Rome. He comforted the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor

Claudius II. This Valentine was arrested and condemned to death by beheading for his faith.

2. Another St. Valentine was the Bishop of what is now Terni, located 60 miles from Rome. He also was arrested and beheaded under Emperor Claudius II.

3. The third St. Valentine suffered martyrdom in Africa, but not much else is known about him.

Historians are unsure which Valentine inspired Valentine’s Day or if the day is meant to commemorate each of them. Stories about Valentine and his actions helping the faithful are used interchangeably.

According to Britannica, although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognize St. Valentine, he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the lack of reliable information about him. In addition to being the namesake behind Valentine’s Day, he is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics and beekeepers.

GRAMMY Museum Experience™ Prudential Center Educates and Provides a Timeline of GRAMMY® History

By Steve Sears

Even though COVID-19 came calling in March of 2020, don’t think activity wasn’t bustling at the 8,200 square foot GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark.

“We lost a year and a half in the physical museum, but we went digital,” Mark Conklin, Director of Artist Relations and Programming, states. “We did a lot of programming. Our ‘Behind the Song’ series, our ‘Off the Record’ series, our mini masterclass interviews, and we did virtual education programs for lots of kids. We lost the foot traffic in the physical museum, but we kept at it pretty strong.”

Also, as part of the museum’s fifth anniversary celebration in 2022, a “Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles!” traveling exhibit opened in October, and will run until June 25, 2023. On display are many Beatles-related pop culture artifacts from the period, as well as original lyric sheets, clothing worn by the band, posters, photographs, interviews, interactive displays, and more. Ladies and Gentlemen…

The Beatles! provides insight into how and why The Beatles impacted America in the

1960s—and beyond.

Two offshoots of the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, California – Recording Academy GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland, Mississippi and GRAMMY Museum Gallery at Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee - predate the Newark Museum, which was the first to open on the east coast on October 20, 2017. When interviewed for his position, Conklin asked founding Executive Director, Robert Santelli, why Newark was the chosen spot. “His response to me was great. He said –and I’ll never forget what he said, ‘Because New York doesn’t need it. New Jersey needs it.’ It was his vision to bring it to New Jersey, and also because obviously New Jersey has had a large influence on music, probably greater than a lot of people realize. I think Newark needed it for the education side, but also there’s a great cultural contribution musically and historically here in Newark. And then I think finally and very importantly, they found a great partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment company, who owns Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils.”

If visiting the GRAMMY Museum

Experience in person, you’ll discover that about 70% of it is interactive. First, there’s the ability to play actual instruments and learn about the recording process. Conklin says, “You can drum along with Max Weinberg from the E Street Band, and you can rap along with Wyclef Jean. There

are a lot of things that you get your hands on, which is really great for anybody, but especially for younger people, or students that come through with large groups.” Then there’s celebrating the history of the GRAMMYss featuring a timeline, with a

on page 9

GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark continued

GRAMMY Museum Experience...

from page 8

focus on Garden Staters who have made a significant contribution to music. “You can see artifacts from legends like Bruce Springsteen, Whitney and Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Kool and the Gang, and Les Paul,” Conklin adds. “And then there’s the traveling exhibit, which changes once or twice a year, and programs. We just screened May Pang’s new documentary, we’ve had Gloria Gaynor, we’ve had Mary Wilson of the Supremes. You can come and get a very close and intimate experience with artists, and hear their stories and talk about the creative process.” If you can’t visit in person, online virtual visits yield informative, digital interviews. “If you just love music and want to learn more about artistry and creativity, that’s a great place to be,” Conklin says.

A deep focus of the GRAMMY Museum Experience is education and even music career planning. Conklin says, “The big thing that we focus on is teaching young people how to have careers in music. We’ve developed a program called Record High. We’re going into schools and organizations and teaching young people how to have careers in the music business.” Record High after-school classes are available in the spring and fall, in addition to a week-

long immersive camp experience during the summer. Courses include contemporary songwriting, Hip-Hop performance, vocal performance, audio production, and the music business itself. Additionally, there are exclusive mentorship and internship opportunities.

The GRAMMY Museum Experience has been working with youths for almost four years, and the initial seeds are bearing fruit. Conklin speaks proudly about progress made with regard to young people enjoying success. “There are so many avenues for young people that can have exciting, fulfilling careers that we’ve been doing with this program. We have a kid that just signed his first record deal, and we have a girl that signed her first music publishing deal. We have several of them now at USC, and they’re also at NYU. I don’t know of anybody who’s really doing it as well as we’re doing it. That’s the most fulfilling thing that we do, the role that we play in the community, and that’s what we’re very excited about.”

For more information including directions, ticket prices, visitation and event hours for the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, visit www. grammymuseumexp.org.

Cupid’s Chase 5K Morristown Spreads the Love for a Beautiful Cause

By Jillian Risberg

Since 1989, Community Options has encouraged the freedom and selfdetermination of all people with disabilities by always advocating for them.

And 2023 will mark the 15th anniversary of Cupid’s Chase. It originated in Princeton, and this is the 10th year being held in Morristown — on Saturday, February 11 from 11am to 6pm.

There are also races in Bridgewater, Burlington, Glen Rock, Princeton, Seaside Heights, Spring Lake, Westfield; and occurring simultaneously in 40 additional cities across 10 states.

“We raise the funds to improve our residences and accessibility supports,” says Northern NJ State Director, Tracy Mendola. “Funding for these are not provided by the state, and we want to ensure that those we support have the most up to date technologies, activities, and homes in order for them to live their most meaningful lives in the community.”

The 5K became a yearly tradition for people to stay fit while raising money for a worthwhile cause.

There are currently about 55 runners registered in this year’s race and they expect to have about 300.

According to Mendola, the course runs throughout the town suburbs, beginning and ending at their Daily Plan It location,

150-152 Speedwell Avenue in Morristown.

This location provides rental space for businesses and employment training for individuals with disabilities who provide concierge services for those tenants.

For the State Director, the most rewarding part of this journey is being able to include the local community in raising awareness for individuals with disabilities and their housing and employment needs — and the substantive lives they are living with the support of Community Options staff.

The most challenging part is the unpredictability of February weather.

“Last year we had a beautiful 50-degree day, but negative temperatures and snowstorms make logistics of the race a bit more complicated,” Mendola says. “Thankfully we have a wonderful team and group of volunteers that ensure the race goes off without any issues.”

The State Director has organized the Morristown race for 10 years. Although she has not attended other races, they all often share information regarding what works and what doesn’t.

“It is truly a team effort with the National office and the race directors to ensure each race is successful,” Mendola says this year’s goal is $30,000; currently they have amassed about $5K. “Last year we raised over $26K, so we are hopeful.”

All proceeds from each Cupid’s Chase race

go directly to benefit the region that hosts the race. So anything raised for Morristown benefits the residences and services in Morris, Sussex, and Essex Counties.

“In the past we have utilized the funds for updating wheelchair ramps, creating accessible bathrooms and many more improvements for residences,” says the State Director.

Her greatest hope for this year’s Cupid’s Chase is that everyone has a great race, and they exceed their fundraising goal.

According to Mendola, the race has a little catch.

She says on the runner’s registration one is asked if they are “available” or “unavailable,” which translates to the color of the Under Armor shirt they are provided in their competition goody bag.

“This year single runners looking to make a connection at the race will be wearing a white shirt with ‘available’ on the back,” says the State Director. “Those who are ‘unavailable’ will be wearing a red shirt with ‘unavailable’ printed on the back. This makes it easy for Cupid.”

They also have sweatshirts (available in pink and red) for sale with the CC logo and “Morristown” on the back.

With previous races sidelined because of COVID-19 everyone couldn’t be happier to be back.

“Community Options is grateful for all the local participation and support,” Mendola says, adding they hope for a lovely day.

For more information, www.comop.org/ cupidschase

Heath Village Resident Receives Special Recognition Award

Heath Village Retirement Community is proud to announce that its resident Alan Cooper, Ph.D. was recently honored by Somerset County’s Cultural and Heritage Commission with a Special Recognition Award for his work on the Lord Stirling Archaeological Project.

He accepted his award at the County’s recent Historic Preservation and History Awards Ceremony. Dr. Cooper led the public archaeology program for the county Park Commission for more than 25 years. The project included uncovering structural

and artifact material representing the 250+ year habitation on this site, including that of the residence of William Alexander, the Earl of Stirling, who during the Revolution played a prominent figure on the staff of George Washington.

The ceremony was highlighted by the keynote address, given by Dr. Richard Veit, Professor of Archaeology and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. The talk focused on the work of Dr. Cooper at the Lord Stirling historical site in Basking

Ridge, NJ, and his efforts bringing greater attention to this hero of the Revolution.

Dr. Cooper is steadfast in his mission to preserve local history, culture, and traditions and this carries through in his daily life at Heath Village. On behalf of everyone at Heath Village, we congratulate Alan on this prestigious award.

Heath Village is a full-service

located at 430 Schooley’s

Road in Washington Township, Morris County. For further information, please call 908-852-4801 or visit us on our website at www.heathvillage.com. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ heathvillage.

retirement community

Mountain

Madison Resident and Golf Historian Pens New Book on History of the Game in Garden State

By Alexander Rivero

As far back as he can recall, Madison resident and Louisiana native Kevin Casey, 69, has been in love with the game of golf. As a child he played it with his parents and older brother, and by 8 he won his first trophy. By his own estimation, he was a “pretty good” junior player in the state of Louisiana, and went on to the University of Georgia, where he played on the school team. He followed with a five-year stint in the army, during which time he, naturally, continued playing.

Now retired and hungry to remain within the game he loves, Casey wrote a

book tracing New Jersey’s historical place within the history of golf in the United States. The book— Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—is published by Legendary Publishing & Media Group, and dives into local golf history by way of its greatest stories.

The book is of the coffee table variety, 11 by 14 inches in length, rich in description and photographs, and is a fine addition to the library of anyone that appreciates not only the beauty of the game, but the extent to which New Jersey helped determine its development in the United States up through the 19th and 20th

century.

Like anyone who had taken a head-first plunge into a deep subject, Casey’s main problem in putting the book together was in determining what information to keep and what information to discard.

“There was easily enough material here for another book,” he says. “The history is so rich, it was a struggle to determine the scope of what I’d focus on.”

Casey knew that there was always a great deal of interest in the subject of golf in New Jersey, both from the practical perspective of gamesmanship and the historical element of it. He took a careful inventory of

the books published on the subject of local golf, and found an opportunity to add a volume of material that no one had ever delved into beyond a peripheral point.

“New Jersey didn’t have any place that pulled together the history of the game in the state,” Casey says, “and the more I dove into it, the more amazing it all got.”

Front cover of the book, available for order from http://www. njgolfstories.com.

Two of the most interesting stories that caught his eye during his early research phase were

the very first golf club ever managed completely by women, and the first golf

The author, Kevin Casey. continued on page 13

Golf Historian Pens...

continued from page 12

club ever managed wholly by AfricanAmericans.

The first story centers on the Morris County Golf Club, which started in 1894. From the beginning, it was an all-female operated club, and the course itself was designed for women as well.

“The men would be able to come and play on Saturdays, during the afternoons, after 3 o’clock,” Casey says. “But before long, the men, who controlled the pursestrings at the time, ended up deciding it was something they had to take over, and they did.”

The options were to either pull out their funds entirely, or keep the club with the men as the board of governors. The women’s board disintegrated and Morris County Golf Club was born.

The golf course set the stage for female participation in the sport, and it had a lasting impact on golf’s attraction to female participants for years to come.

The second story centers on the Shady Rest Golf Club of Scotch Plains (now the public Scotch Hills Country Club), which

ran from 1920 to 1963. In 1921, Shady Rest became the first ever African-American owned and operated golf club, a first for both New Jersey and the United States.

Throughout most of its history under African-American ownership, all the way up through 1964, the club went beyond the simple standards of a golf club. Shady Rest was a community center, a place for African-Americans to congregate and relax, as well as a venue for some of the greatest singers and musicians of its day. Some of the talent that stopped by Shady Rest include none other than Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway.

Shady Rest ultimately closed in 1964, and in the process transferred over to public ownership.

For more information on Kevin Casey’s book—Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—please visit his website at www.njgolfstories.com. Click on the “order now” link on the upper right hand corner of the page to purchase a copy.

John Bonanni: Retiring Morris County Administrator Attends Last Board Meeting

Long-time Morris County Administrator John Bonanni was hailed for his years of leadership at his final meeting of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, who thanked him for 33 years of service and a steady management style that steered Morris County government through good and bad times over the years.

“Morris County government really does run like a top, as our Governor once said, and the reason is people like John Bonanni. The hard work and sound advice he brought to the office every day for the past 33 years is immeasurable, and the entire county is a better place because of him and the people he surrounded himself with. I will deeply miss John’s day-to-day guidance, but I know he will pick up the phone if I call to ask his advice. That is who John is,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

The Commissioners and administrative staff presented Bonanni with an etching of the Morris County Courthouse, a traditional gift given to retiring, long-time employees. The etching bears a placard that simply reads: “Thank You, John G. Bonanni For 33 Years of Distinguished Service To the People of Morris County.”

“There truly are no words that could describe my deep appreciation to Morris County. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work for this amazing county for over three decades. I am so proud of what we have together accomplished,” said Mr. Bonanni during the public meeting.

“John’s impact is as much about the future as past accomplishments. His pride in Morris County and his drive to provide a high level of caring and service for our residents is embedded in how the county operates and will have a

significant positive effect for years to come,” said Deputy Director John Krickus.

Many honors and awards have been bestowed upon Mr. Bonanni over the years. Among them was the New Jersey Association of Counties first-ever County Administrator Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2020. That honor was later put on the Congressional Record in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) in February 2021.

Mr. Bonanni’s tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic also earned him The Arc of New Jersey Heroes of 2020 award for helping to rescue and support people with disabilities who were stricken by the virus and suffered staffing shortages at group homes.

“John has been a true friend, mentor and partner. He’s a humble guy who -- and let’s be honest about it -- has always made the board look good. He has guided all of us to be the best representatives we can be for Morris County,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith.

“I’ve known John my entire life, so I’m not going to even try to encapsulate everything about him in just a few words. But we grew up together in Boonton. I knew his sister first and his father, and I remember John back when he first began working in a bank. We’ve known each other through so many different relationships over the years that, on a personal level, I’m sure we will continue to stay in touch somehow. On a professional level; however, I’ll miss continued on page 15

his insight and his ability to get things done effectively. He has been a great asset to Morris County and it’s difficult to envision Morris County without him. So, I just want to wish my old friend the best life has to offer in this new phase of his life and to say thank you for your friendship,” said Commissioner Douglas Cabana.

Mr. Bonanni, who is noted for shunning the spotlight and deflecting praise for his achievements over the years, was heralded – and roasted somewhat – during a recent retirement party attended by hundreds of family, friends, colleagues and elected local, county, state and federal officials. He officially retires on Jan. 1, and Assistant Administrator Deena Leary, who was appointed by the board earlier in the year to assume the helm, will officially become the new administrator in the New Year.

“The people in Morris County have benefited from John’s wisdom and knowledge. His legacy will be felt for many years to come. I also enjoyed his sense of humor,” said Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo.

“Morris County is a better place because of John Bonanni’s 33 years of service. John’s motivation is simple, he has a deep rooted desire to help others. This motivation coupled with uncompromising ethical and work standards has served Morris County and the Commissioner Board well. John prefers to work tirelessly behind the scenes and has also developed a phenomenal support staff that is enabling the commissioners to make a seamless transition at the Administrator and Deputy Administrator positions. It has been an honor and great learning experience to work with John since I have been on the board,” said Commissioner Stephen Shaw.

A lifelong resident of Morris County, Mr. Bonanni began

his employment with Morris County in January of 1990 as Assistant Director of Operations within the Department of Human Services. In 1992, he was promoted to Director of the Department of Human Services, which is the largest department in county government, charged with providing a wide array of services directed at enabling residents an opportunity to improve the quality of their lives.

“As the second longest serving freeholder-Commissioner on the board, I have seen John Bonanni in action through economic downturns and through events such as Irene, Sandy, blizzards and a pandemic, exemplifying what good government should be,” said Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo. “Most importantly, he guided me during my two terms as Director of the board, helping me to insure that any decisions made were not influenced by politics, but instead were decision of good government for all the people of Morris County as we delivered zero percent tax increases, introduced a $60 million debt reduction plan and remained one of the best financially run counties in the country. His example of leadership will be missed.”

Mr. Bonanni was promoted in 2004 to the position of Morris County Administrator and has served the county in the position for the past 18 years.

As County Administrator, he was directly responsible for operations and management of the six major county departments, as well as the development and management of the county’s annual $331.1 million budget. Mr. Bonanni also oversaw the Departments of Public Works, Human Services, Law and Public Safety, Finance, Employee Resources, and Information Technology.

Looking back over his tenure, Mr. Bonanni said he is proud of the advancements that have been made in the areas of Human Services, Public Safety and shared services.

Having been Administrator during Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Bonanni has experienced firsthand the emergent and ongoing needs of the county’s residents. He says he was extremely fortunate to have been able to partner with the many local community based nonprofits, local municipal governments, local first responders and faith based groups to address those needs.

Mr. Bonanni was issued the 2016 Patriots Path Council, Boy Scouts of America Morris County Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2016 Mental Health Association of Morris County Community Leadership Award for his years of advocacy on behalf of the Morris County human services community.

In 2018 he was presented with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce Alex DeCroce Public Leadership Award.

Mr. Bonanni has served as a Commissioner on the N.J. Public Employees Relations Commission, as a member of the Morris County Insurance Commission, and as chairperson of the Morris County Improvement Authority. In 2010 he chaired Governor Chris Christie’s Departments of Human Services and Children and Family Transition Teams.

He is a 40 year member of the Boonton Fire Department, serves as a Board member on theMorris County Economic Development Corporation and on the New Jersey Association of Counties.

Mr. Bonanni also has regularly served as a presenter and instructor for Rutgers University’s Center for Government Services, sharing his extensive knowledge of county government.

Mr. Bonanni, however, takes greatest pride and delight being with his three daughters and two grandsons.

PH Steakhouse Revives Historic Chester Publick House

By Stacey Feintuch

The history behind the building that now houses PH Steakhouse in Chester dates back over 200 years. The location has been a stagecoach stop, prep school, hotel, tavern, and famously The Publick House up until 2020. Now, the Restaurant Village Hospitality Group is reviving the space as an upscale steakhouse.

The building itself is part of the National Register of Historic Places. While developing PH Steakhouse, the 18,400-square foot space received cosmetic renovations, but no structural changes have been made. For instance, wood was stripped down and refurbished, and the walls have been painted burgundy and forest green shades. They also upgraded the kitchen appliances to accommodate steakhouse cooking.

“My vision for this place is to have everything be first class and high end,” says Steve Bussel. This includes hosting a live piano player and offering valet parking on Friday and Saturday evenings. The President and Owner of Restaurant Village Hospitality Group, Steve resides in Tewksbury but once lived in Chester. He works alongside Andrea Bussel, his wife, who manages all of the marketing and social media for the group.

A Prime Menu Selection

PH Steakhouse offers an elevated steakhouse menu. They only serve prime cuts of meat, with sirloin, porterhouse, tomahawk, T-bone, and New York strip options. All their meats, desserts, and dressings are made on-site. Steve says he prefers to try a little bit of everything, but ultimately loves the porterhouse for two. Other menu highlights include seafood, chicken, burgers, and salads. But save room for tasty desserts like crème brulee, 24-layer chocolate cake, apple crisp, and banana bread pudding.

As for drinks, the cocktail menu comes from a professional mixologist, and their high-end wine list from a sommelier. PH Steakhouse presents favorites like the dirty martini and classic collins, as well as seasonal flavors. For example, fall options include the Harvest Spritz and A Stroll on the Boulevard. The former mixes Grey Goose Essences White Peach & Rosemary Vodka, Aperol, apple cider, honey syrup, and Prosecco. Meanwhile, the latter combines Starlight Applejack, apple cider, Nonino Aperitivo, and Blandy’s Rainwater Madiera with shaved cinnamon and lavender.

About the Building

Despite the updates, PH Steakhouse has the look and feel of a 200-year-old building. In particular, décor includes some old art and sewing machines from the building’s previous lives. “The ambiance suits a steakhouse. It has a lot of history and charm,” Steve says.

The interior seats 130 diners, in addition to a catering room for up to 80 guests. Meanwhile, the outdoor porch has nine

tables that can seat 30 people comfortably. There are also 10 renovated hotel suites on the upper floor which will open in the future for reservations. Each suite includes a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Future plans include opening a gelato café within the building.

Visit PH Steakhouse at 111 Main St in Chester. To learn more, visit www. phsteakhouse.com.

Warm Up with Classic Comfort Foods

ith plenty of cold-weather events and gatherings to celebrate alongside loved ones, one classic way to warm up the crowd is hot, comforting food. Soups, chili, casseroles, stews and more provide perfect ways to shake off the chill that comes with the season.

Ideal for serving family and friends after time spent outside or just as an excuse to get together, Beet Lentil Chili with Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Beets and Loaded Chicken Bake made using READ German Potato Salad provide filling options for satisfying a group with eight servings each. Plus, they’re easy to make – the chili calls for 20 minutes of prep before simmering while the chicken casserole requires less than an hour spent in the kitchen.

Next time a brisk day cools your family to the core, keep these hearty meals in mind for simple options to warm up from the inside out.

Find more comforting recipe ideas at auntnellies.com and readsalads.com.

Beet Lentil Chili

Recipe courtesy of Angie McGowan of “Eclectic Recipes”

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 2 hours

Servings: 8

2 jars (16 ounces each) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Beets

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, diced

4 stalks celery, diced

3 medium carrots, diced

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cloves garlic, diced

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

2 tablespoons ground cumin

1 1/2 tablespoons ground coriander

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

2 quarts low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock

1 quart water

1 pound lentils

Garnishes (optional):

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup radishes, cut into matchsticks

1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro

1/2 cup finely chopped onions

1 cup crumbled queso fresco

Drain beets; dice and set aside. Discard liquid.

Preheat large soup pot over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil. Add onion, celery, carrots and salt; saute until softened, stirring occasionally.

Add garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano, chili powder and tomato paste; saute until fragrant, stirring frequently.

Add stock, water, beets and lentils. Bring to boil; reduce to simmer. Simmer about 2 hours, or until lentils are tender.

Serve with sour cream, radishes, cilantro, onions and queso fresco, if desired.

Loaded Chicken Bake Recipe courtesy of “Hungry In LA”

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cans (15 ounces each) READ German Potato Salad

4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon

French-fried onions (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Lightly coat 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Spread potato salad evenly in dish. Top evenly with chicken.

In small bowl, stir together cream, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over chicken.

Sprinkle with cheese, bacon and Frenchfried onions, if desired.

Bake 15 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes. Top with additional French-fried onions, if desired. (Family Features)

A Classic Steakhouse with a Modern HHHH Twist

By GAIL GERSON

From its tasteful 18th century décor, to their smooth, nicely liveried servers, to a versatile & intelligent wine list & sophisticated kitchen, the PH Steakhouse is everything a refined steakhouse should be. Although many of the dishes seem familiar, they are designed with a creative & very modern flair, that contribute to a singular & memorable dining experience. The beautifully appointed & fully restored dining room with comfortable chairs & roomy tables, the extremely knowledgeable servers, who are absolutely up to their eyebrows trying to make sure that guests have good reasons to like the restaurant, indicate someone is paying attention. The talented host-owner, Steve Bussel, who has developed many restaurants, along with manager Jennifer Evans, Assistant Manager Blake & the talented Chef Juan, believe in making almost everything from scratch, following the seasons & savoring & caring about the food. Here, the original flavors are wisely presented in all their opulence. They do believe in the slogan: “Keep it simple, work with quality ingredients.”

ABOUT THE OWNER

The steakhouse & Publick House hotel re-opened September 28, 2022. Mr. Bussel’s plan was to offer the finest cuts of USDA, perfectly seared prime, dry-aged steaks. Steve Bussel, the son of a Kosher butcher, grew up in an atmosphere where food was the main topic in the family, from the start.

He fell in love with the 1812 building that was a stagecoach stop between Morristown & Pennsylvania & accomplished his dream to restore the building to its original splendor. After our press tasting, our researchers concluded that the entire staff presented a combination of style, personality, know-how & perseverance, along with a passionate mix of delectable culinary delights. With mouth-watering side dishes created to enhance the flavors of the cuisine & award-winning cocktails & dazzling desserts, our group of researchers were truly impressed. This talented team brings a unique hands on approach, to restaurant ownership & hospitality. Mr. Bussel and his skillful organization have created a recipe for success, by applying their own unique ideas & extensive experience, to this new American steakhouse. Gail says “Go!”

HHHH STEAK & SEAFOOD SPECIALITIES

PH Steakhouse 111 Main St., Chester, NJ 908.955.7911 Phsteakhouse.com

Valet Parking & Piano Player Sat in Bar 6:30-9:30pm; Open 7 days Mon-Thurs 12-9pm, Fri & Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-9pm; Full Bar; All Major Credit Cards Accepted; Handicap Access; Flat Screen TVs; Bar Menu at Eat in Bar; Specialty Cocktails; Outside Catering (up to 20 miles), Call For Info; Train 10 mins away in Peapack-Gladstone; Total Seating: 130; Outside Porch, 9 tables - Seats 30; Restaurant Reservations Preferred; Daily Specials; Gift Certificates; Available for Private Parties - All Custom Designed, Private Party room Seats 80; 3 Dining Rooms: Chester, Publick, Washington Rooms Seat 130; Party Pkgs - Call ASAP to book; Ample Parking; Open Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve; Complete Art Deco

Renovation Hotel with 10 suites, 5 on each floor, various sizes; Reserve online with Resy & Roomkey.com; Prices-Moderate. GELATO CAFÉ - OPENING IN SPRING Call Mgr Jennifer Evans to book a party

To say the starters are impeccable, would be an understatement. Try the colossal new SEAFOOD TOWER, the unique CRABMEAT COCKTAIL, the addictive TUNA POKE BOWL & the exquisite Fall CHOPPED SALAD, along with a superb LOBSTER ROLL. The deletable MARGUERITA & BLANCO FLATBREADS were a joy to our tastebuds and true flavor explosions.

I heartily recommend the DRY AGED PORTERHOUSE FOR TWO, but the generous cut of oven roasted BONE-IN RIB-EYE, is marvelous as well. From the impeccable DRY AGED DOUBLE CUT DUROC PORK CHOP, to the delicious TOMAHAWK CHOP FOR TWO, our researchers were impressed with every bite. The unsurpassed FILET MIGNON is another glorious selection. Non steak entrees include the pleasant tasting AHI TUNA STEAK & the striking GRILLED SWORDFISH STEAK. Other dishes that readers recommended are the OLIVE CRUSTED SALMON & sauteed mushrooms. The list of superb sides includes the supreme TRUFFLE SMASHED YUKON GOLD POTATO, the CREAMED OR SAUTEED SPINACH, the JUMBO GRILLED ASPARAGUS and BAKED WHITE CHEDDAR MAC & CHEESE. The ROASTED BROCCOLINI & THE SMOKED BRUSSEL SPROUTS are divine. You can also choose your own sauce from a wonderful selection.

“Owner Steve Bussel, along with famed Chef Juan, GM Jennifer Evans & Assistant Manager Blake, present the area’s best steak & seafood by any standard, with the USDA’s highest designation for beef. The PRIME steaks we experienced have the necessary marbling that impart a unique combination of taste & texture & define the ultimate steak-eating experience,” Writer Gail Gerson.

Chef Juan presented us with the perfect finale. The succulent CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE & CREME BRULEE are finger-licking good & the RICOTTA CHEESECAKE delish, but the HOMEMADE DELICATE MILK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE is enchanting.

Ten suites, five on each floor, of various sizes & each with its own living room, are quite historical & beautifully appointed. Several can accommodate 4-6 guests. Reserve with Roomkey.com.

The New Seafood Tower

Majestic Catering Room Seats 80

The next time your loved ones crave a comforting dish that’s warming from the inside-out, turn to an alltime classic with a touch of southern flair.

Take inspiration for this Tex-Mex Beef Lasagna from season 3 of “BBQuest: Beyond the Pit,” a video series that dives into the long-held traditions, new flavors and everyday inspiration that make Texas barbecue legendary. Developed from the show by BBQuest co-host and “Hardcore Carnivore” cookbook author Jess Pryles, this tasty take on comfort food can be the perfect solution for a family meal with plenty of leftovers.

Turn to Tradition for Tex-Mex Taste

After dinner, settle in together and learn pitmaster techniques from the experts as the series follows four themes that capture the essence of Texas barbecue: legacy and tradition; creativity and innovation; Texas trailblazers; and family and community.

“Since launching BBQuest four years ago, it’s truly remarkable to see how much has changed and yet stayed the same when it comes to Texas barbecue, and that’s exactly what you see in season 3,” said Rachel Chou, Texas Beef Council’s director of consumer marketing. “There has been so much exciting innovation around cooking methods and international

flavors while there’s still a huge dedication to longheld recipes and smoking techniques.”

To find more pitmasterworthy recipes, visit BeefLovingTexans.com

Tex-Mex Beef Lasagna Recipe courtesy of Jess Pryles on behalf of Beef Loving Texans Total time: 60 minutes Servings: 10 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 pounds ground beef 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin 2 teaspoons chipotle powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder 15 ounces canned corn, drained 15 ounces canned seasoned

black beans, drained 10 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained 15 ounces canned red enchilada sauce 1 cup Mexican crema or sour cream nonstick cooking spray 12 corn tortillas 8 ounces shredded Mexican blend cheese cilantro (optional) green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In large pan or skillet, heat olive oil over mediumhigh heat then add onion. Cook until softened, 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly.

Add ground beef and cook, stirring regularly, until beef has browned.

Add kosher salt, garlic

powder, cumin, chipotle powder and onion powder; stir well. Add corn, black beans and diced tomatoes. Turn heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

In bowl, combine enchilada sauce and crema; mix well.

Spray casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour about 1/4 cup enchilada sauce mixture on bottom to prevent tortillas from sticking.

Layer 2-4 tortillas across bottom then top with layer of ground beef mixture. Use ladle to spoon some enchilada sauce mixture on top, distributing evenly. Top with another layer of tortillas then repeat layers until casserole is full, 3-4

layers. Top with shredded cheese.

Loosely cover dish with foil in tent shape to help prevent cheese from sticking then bake 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake 1015 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Cool 5 minutes before serving. Top with cilantro and green onions, if desired. (Family Features)

Give Quick and Easy Meals a Fun Spin

Work, school, extracurricular activities, social events and more can make the winter months feel frantic and it can often seem like you’re running out of time. This seasonal time crunch makes it even more difficult to answer the age-old, mealtime question kids are always asking: “What are we having?”

To help solve that daily meal dilemma and discover family-pleasing recipes that take 35 minutes or less, the RAGÚ Meal Wheel lets the entire family take an active role in choosing what’s on the menu. Simply ask one of your kids to click the “spin” button to find delicious, quick-andeasy recipes like Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo with Fettuccine and Mini Turkey Sloppy Joes.

Both easy-to-make recipes take 35 minutes or less and feature RAGÚ sauces, which come in a variety of taste-tempting classic flavors and styles, perfect for any mealtime occasion. Created 85 years ago by an Italian mother using a family recipe she brought to the United States from Naples, Italy, the sauces are made from quality ingredients like vine-ripened tomatoes, hearty vegetables, Italian cheeses, herbs and spices, allowing home cooks to “Cook Like a Mother” and quickly create affordable, crowd-pleasing meals for their busy families.

To find more quick and mouthwatering recipes to feed your family during the chilly winter months, visit RAGU.com/ meal-wheel

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo with Fettuccine

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 4

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 jar RAGÚ Classic Alfredo Sauce

1 package (12 ounces) frozen broccoli florets, thawed

1 package (12 ounces) fettuccine pasta grated Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)

In large nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat, melt butter. Cook chicken, in batches if necessary, stirring occasionally, until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove

chicken and set aside.

In same skillet, add sauce and broccoli; stir. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 2 minutes.

In separate pan, cook fettuccine according to package instructions.

Serve chicken, broccoli and sauce over hot fettuccine and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.

Mini Turkey Sloppy Joes

Recipe courtesy of “Honey and Birch” on behalf of RAGÚ

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup diced onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound ground turkey

1 cup finely diced carrots

1 medium green pepper, diced

1 medium red pepper, diced

1 jar RAGÚ Simply Chunky Marinara Sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

4 mini buns

In large skillet over medium heat, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When hot, add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is translucent.

Add ground turkey. Break up meat and stir frequently until browned. Add carrots, green pepper and red pepper. Cook 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.

Add marinara sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and partially cover pan. Cook 10 minutes.

Serve on mini buns.

(Family Features)

Bucket List Travels: Surprising Cape May

years. Now he’s diving

By Paul Partridge

Even after 12 years of family retreats, Cape May offers new surprises and adventures

The Bread Lady

Down towards the Nature Conservancy on Sunset Boulevard sits an inconspicuous roadside stand that’s open one or two days a week, and the days change randomly. Enfin Farms operates like Vatican City does when choosing a new pope. Thousands breathlessly wait for the signal, only in this case the signal comes via Facebook and Instagram: One hour ‘til fresh bread!

Signal given, the race is on. Men, women, children, and dogs dash to the stand on foot, bike, car, golf cart and jogging strollers to secure a place line in hopes of getting one or two loaves of the best (still warm) homemade wood-fired

bread you’ve ever tasted.

The Bread Lady makes 15 or so different varieties, but those waiting in line don’t know what today’s offerings will be. But we don’t care. Because whether it’s beet and dill or rosemary or pumpernickel, we know it’s going to be amazing. We also know that her 100 or so loaves will sell out within minutes, so we pray she doesn’t run out before it’s our turn.

Tiki Cruise

The phrase ‘tiki cruise’ conjures up images of loud, drunken revelers cruising the harbor in a floating Mexican hat. Nevertheless, I agree to go when I learn that we have the boat to ourselves, and our dog Billie is welcome.

Our 2-hour sunset cruise gives us a chance to explore Cape May from the water. As a bonus we have Captain Rob, a fountain of knowledge. By day, Rob is

a tugboat captain. Today he’s sitting in for the boat owner, who’s taking part in the MidAtlantic fishing tournament. Some fun facts we learn from Rob: 80% of the world’s squid production comes from Cape May. Also, a very high proportion of bunker, which is used for cosmetics and other fish oil products.

The tournament purse for this year’s MidAtlantic competition was $5.23 million. 1st prize in the white marlin category paid $871,404. Second prize went to Michael Jordan’s boat (yes, that Michael Jordan), paying $693,615.

One angler tried to cheat by pumping his catch with seawater to add weight. One of the judges was a taxidermist who deduced that the fish was waterlogged. The competitor was disqualified. The Marvelous Mrs. Mallard

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J A N U A R Y T H A W

Damn Tall Buildings

January 21 8 PM

In their early days, this Brooklyn-based group didn’t rehearse –they busked. Now, whether live or on record, the band still radiates the energy of a ragtag crew of music students playing bluegrass on the streets. Their varied influences stretch beyond bluegrass, even beyond American roots music altogether.

SPONSORS:

Chuchito Valdés Jr. T r i o

January 28 - 8 PM

Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, pianist, composer and arranger Jesus “Chuchito” Valdés, Jr. is the third-generation manifestation of a Cuban jazz piano dynasty that includes his father, Chucho, and grandfather, Bebo Valdés.

Save these February dates

NEXTSTAGE REP

William Shakespeare

February 2-6

Set in Scotland, the play dramatizes the corrosive psychological and political effects produced when evil is chosen as a way to seize power.

The Ladykillers

Graham Linehan Feb. 17 thru Mar. 5

One afternoon my daughter Emma and I are taking a walk. Suddenly, a mallard duck lands at our feet and starts to follow us. Her little duck feet struggle to maintain our pace. So she flies ahead and waits by the side of the road for us to catch up.

The same pattern repeats a few more times. Finally, she takes flight high into the sky. We wave au revoir.

A minute later she’s back, this time landing across the street. She waddles through traffic straight to us and settles at our ankles. Maybe it’s a relative reincarnated, Emma suggests. The duck accompanies us for another half mile, finally breaking off to swim in a backyard pool.

Later that evening, we learn that Carol, my mother’s best friend for 70 years, passed away earlier in the day. Mom wonders if the Marvelous Mrs. Mallard was

Billie after her rescue at sea.

Carol saying goodbye. Pontoon Swoon

My wife’s brother Marco is an avid fisherman. The rest of us are the gang that couldn’t cast straight. Our specialty is hooking

everything that’s not a fish. Fingers and thumbs? Check. A baseball cap? No problem. The boat’s canopy? Snagged it. A PBS tote bag? Reel it in. For years we rented continued on page 23

Posing as amateur musicians, Professor Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the house of sweet but strict Mrs. Wilberforce. She becomes wise to their ruse…and there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet.

Macbeth

Morristown resident Paul Partridge has been building a travel bucket list for

in – near and far – and shares his adventures in this column.

Bucket List Travels...

the same ragtag pontoon boat. To picture it, imagine a 1967 VW Bus – not well maintained. Duct tape holding the seat cushions together. Shag carpeting. Cigarette burns in the dashboard. More than a little rust.

On our first fishing trip, we said to the marine owner, “We’d like to rent this pontoon boat.”

“You would?” he said, totally surprised. Even worse than the relic’s shabby condition is the engine – a 4 horsepower lawnmower engine. It’s the only craft that can go full throttle through a no-wake zone without creating even a ripple. Each year we putt-putt along, embarrassed, passed by kayakers, row boats, floating sea gulls, turtles. Last year, when a woman doing an open ocean swim zipped lapped us, waving, we decided it was time for an upgrade.

We found a new marina with an updated pontoon boat and – best of all – a 60 HP engine! So we set out with great expectations and the wind in our hair (for once).

The fish start biting right away. First a small shark. Then several dogfish. Marco tries to kiss a dogfish for good luck, but it jumps out of his hand. Uh-oh, is this bad luck?

As we wonder, the engine makes a grinding noise and abruptly conks out.

The mooring line is wrapped around the propellor. We cut the line free, restart the engine, and breathe a sigh of relief. Then… “Dog overboard!” Billie is in the water –and getting pulled away from the boat by the current. Emma leaps in and manages to wrestle her aboard after a few nervous minutes.

We decide it best to take Billie ashore. My daughter Grace, Billie and I offload at The Crab House at Two Mile Landing. The rest of the crew ventures back out, catches more dogfish, several black sea bass and a 19” flounder, which becomes dinner.

Other Fun Surprises

Elaine’s Porch – an ideal summer hangout with a neat outdoor bar. One of the regulars is Chunk the bulldog, a spitting image of Winston Churchill. Only thing missing is a cigar.

The Washington Inn restaurant – at some point during dinner, you will say Wow! Especially if you try the crab & corn chowder or the lamb cavatelli.

Cape May Point Beach – never crowded, a daily dolphin show right offshore, good fishing off the rocks, and delightful sunsets.

Music – free concerts all over town. Enjoyed the Sensational Soul Cruisers and Hunka Junk at the Cape May ferry, and The Big House Band in Rio Grande.

SERVICES

Approaching 70: Remembering West Virginia

By Richard Mabey Jr.

In September, I’ll turn 70. In many ways, it is a most

milestone. From having done decades of research on my family heritage, I found out that my forefathers settled in what is now known as Lincoln Park, way back in the 1600’s. Here is a most interesting fact. Going back many generations, none of my forefathers ever made it to 80. So, I have become ever aware of the clicking of the clock and tearing of the pages of the calendar.

I tend to write about my family heritage, of the years of growing up in old Lincoln Park, and of people who deeply touched my life. I don’t write much about my years of living alone in a small town in West Virginia, wherein I did my very best to maintain a small chiropractic practice. They were painful years. You see, back in the mid seventies to the early eighties, in a small town in West Virginia, I may as well have put up a sign that read, “Witch Doctor.” I don’t mean to sound harsh, but sadly, that is the painful truth.

There was a time when there was a great prejudice against chiropractic, sadly it was headed by the well meaning, buy poorly misdirected leaders of the established medical profession. I don’t write those words with malice and bad feelings, but rather as facing a cold, hard historical fact.

A very close friend of mine, whom I have known for many years, suggested that I should write about those years of struggle, the years of counting pennies, the years

of a certain loneliness. In many ways, my failure to make it as a chiropractor in that little town in West Virginia, was actually one of my greatest successes.

Each and every one of us knows deep within the chambers of their heart that they hold the key to their own fate and destiny. Struggles can be looked upon as a means to feel sorry for yourself, to look with envy at those who have all so much while we are faced with living on hot dogs and beans as a dietary mainstay. Or, we can look at our times of struggle as a precious gift that gave us the opportunity to grow and become stronger and dig deeper to find faith in God.

The West Virginia Years as I now call them were the some of the toughest times of my life. But along the path of that journey in time, I did come to meet and know some very kind people. And, sadly, I came to know some very cruel and mean-spirited people.

This is a most painful, but still inspiring, memory of my life. It has been very hard to face square on, let alone write about it. Now, at the age of 69, I have found the courage and strength to revisit that time of hard challenges, a certain loneliness, a devastating heartbreak, and a struggle that only strengthened me in heart, mind and soul.

In the next few montths, that lie ahead, I will share this heart warming story with you.

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

A recent photo of yours truly with my dear friend, Little Rocky. I still wear my old West Virginia sweatshirt and baseball cap, for old time’s sake.

Preschool Advantage Annual Gala Funds Tuition for 40

Morristownbased non-profit

held its 2022 annual Turning Leaves benefit dinner at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park on October 12th. After a two-year hiatus,

guest emcee Guy Adami of CNBC’s “Fast Money,” who challenged the 250 attendees

support from Hackensack Meridian Health, Private Advisor Group, Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes, and several other individual donor-sponsors.

event

sponsored by the William T. & Marie J. Henderson Foundation with additional

At this year’s event, Preschool Advantage honored its 11 past board presidents. Under their selfless leadership, the nonprofit has sent 1,300 local children to preschool since 1995. Special recognition was given to trustee, Gail Reuther for her 40 years as director at Mount Olive Child Care & Learning Center, a partner preschool of the Organization. Preschool Advantage Executive Director, Nancy Bangiola noted,

“Gail has generously shared her decades of experience and expertise in early childhood education with Preschool Advantage. Her peers recognize her a leader in the field, and we consider ourselves very lucky to have benefitted from her wisdom for so many years.”

Preschool Advantage also recognized a local family whose twin daughters attend preschool with a grant from the Organization.

The twins’ mother, Jillian, remarked “The cost of preschool turned out to be one of our biggest challenges.” Expressing gratitude to the supporters in attendance, Jillian shared that her daughters are thriving and will be ready for kindergarten in the fall. “It has been an extraordinary journey watching our children learn and grow,” she said with great emotion.

Jillian (left) and Hector (right), Preschool Advantage parents with Nancy Bangiola, Preschool Advantage Executive Director (center). Photo by Baseline Productions

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program Returns to Deliver Message to High Schoolers

By Steve Sears

For the first time in two years, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program, courtesy of the Partnership for a DrugFree New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (HBCBS), in collaboration with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), has returned to deliver a powerful message to high school students in the area.

And late in August, current Harrison High School football coach, former Rutgers Scarlet Knight quarterback, and New York Jets/New England Patriots/Miami Dolphins player, Ray Lucas, delivered a key address. Lucas suffered numerous injuries and underwent more than a dozen operations while and after he was a player. After becoming dependent on prescribed opioids, Lucas sometimes took up to 1,400 pills monthly.

Recognizing the concern that teen athletes who get injured can also suffer the same type of addiction, PDFNJ, HBCBS, and the NJSIAA wants to stop the spread before it gets out of hand.

“The Partnership has developed a multi-pronged approach to educating young people in the state of New Jersey on the opioid epidemic,” Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director, says. “That approach includes events such as what we’re doing with Ray which we’ve just completed at Clifton High School: talking to student athletes who are very vulnerable, unfortunately, because they experience injuries, and as a result, may be in a

position where they may be prescribed an opioid. We’re also delivering messages through various media outlets, including but not limited to signs on buses and trains and billboards, and messages on our social media platforms.”

Another part of the process, per Valente, is engaging young people in many of the PDFNJ’s school-based programs, allowing them to become more knowledgeable about the issue. “ That’s also another part of the approach,” Valente adds. He also feels that, in addition to Lucas being representative of an esteemed group that had risen to the top ranks of professional sports and had fallen on hard times in addiction, Lucas’s presence is also emblematic of someone who, if he knew back then what he knows now, he would not have become dependent on opioids. “That is one of the reasons his presentation is so important. As a person who has gone through athletics on the high school, college, and professional levels, by speaking to athletes, he can easily relate to what they are experiencing on a day-today basis. When he delivers his message about looking at ways to deal with pain other than through opioids, speaking to your trainers, doctors, and coaches about alternative to using opioids to address any sports injuries, I think that’s most important.”

Lucas played for seven seasons in the National Football League, primarily as a quarterback. Two years after he left the NFL, he had major back surgery, and five years after that started to experience serious neck issues. He started to take pills regularly, and his addiction had begun. “I was

Lawyer

J. Greenbaum, Esq.

in a very dark place,” Lucas says. “I don’t know if I’m a role model, but a survivor definitely. Again, I was in a very dark place.” He had also dropped from his playing weight of 215 pounds down to 164 pounds, and he was approached about telling his story. “That night I went home and prayed, and I heard a voice that asked, ‘How many others are suffering in silence like you?’ I didn’t know, but made the decision that, if I could tell my story, then maybe they (others) could get some kind of hope.”

For more information about the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey and its programs, visit www.drugfreenj.org.

Robert

New Jersey native Ray Lucas and Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo Valente at an event

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