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Cedar Grove Panthers Football Team Celebrates Season with Banquet

By Lindsey Kelleher s players look back at the 2021 Cedar Grove Football season, they will remember a state championship win at MetLife Stadium and a time where they grew together as teammates and made long-lasting friendships. The Cedar Grove Panthers finished the season 12-1, with their only loss against the Caldwell Chiefs. They defeated the Park Ridge Owls 13-12 for the state title in the North 1 Regional Championship this past November in a nailbiter performance. The team celebrated the end of its 2021 season with a banquet on Jan. 12 at il Tulipano. The Cedar Grove Panthers Cheerleading Program was also honored that night. Football players, cheerleaders, and their families attended the dinner. “To me, every football dinner we have is special because it honors our CGHS football program and most importantly the dedication and commitment the players give to the football program over the course of their careers here, especially the seniors every season,” said Cedar Grove Football Coach Rob Gogerty. “To celebrate a state championship season is just extra special and doesn’t happen every year,” Gogerty said. The Panthers went 12-1 this season and were the SFC Independence White Division Champions, the NJSIAA North 2, Group 1 State Champions, and the NJSIAA Group 1 North Regional State Champions. Other team recognitions included being ranked fifth in Essex County by The Star-Ledger and nj.com for Group 1: 2, No. 36 statewide by Max Preps and first by N2G1, fifth in Essex County by Sideline Chatter and was the 2021 runner up for Team of the Year, and fifth in Essex County by the USA Today Network. These team awards plus individual player awards were presented at the dinner. “The banquet was awesome this year,” said Cedar Grove Panthers Linebacker Patch McCarthy. “It was cool to celebrate our accomplishments with the parents and cheer-

leaders.” McCarthy was named 1st Team Defense All Conference in the SFC National White Division, 1st Team Defense by the Coaches All Essex County for Groups 1, 2 and 3, 1st Team Defense Group 1 All State by The Star-Ledger/nj.com, and 1st Team Defense All Essex County by the USA Today Network, northjersey.com. Defensive back Nick Coletta was also named 1st Team Defense Coaches All Essex County for Groups 1, 2 and 3. Denham Ingalls and Mike Willis were also named 1st Team Defense in the SFC National White Division – All Conference. Coletta, Nick Christiano, Alfonso Lombardi, and Mike Marinelli were named 1st Team Offense in the SFC National White Division – All Conference. Ingalls, Lombardi and Marinelli were named 1st Team Offense by the Coaches All Essex County for Groups 1, 2 and 3. The Star-Ledger/ nj.com named Christiano and Marinelli 1st Team Offense

Group 1 All State and the USA Today Network/northjersey. com named Christiano, Marinelli and Lombardi 1st Team Oﬀense All Essex County. “The banquet was special because we got to commemorate our season,” said Panther Chris Nicolette. “Coach Gogerty took a lot of time to talk about our individual accomplishments and what we meant to him. The season had quite a few big moments including the state title game against Park Ridge. During that game Lombardi threw a towndown pass to Nick Iannacone to tie the game at 12-12 with a couple of minutes left to play. Christopher Babcock then kicked for the extra point to put the Panthers up 13-12 for the win. Earlier in the season, the Panthers made another big play late in the game against the Boonton Bombers. Wide receiver Marinelli scored on a pass from Lombardi. “The touchdown was a great play to staple our dominance and other teams our strength,” Marinelli said.

Page 2 • March 2022

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Page 6 • March 2022

Little Falls Seniors to Hold St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon

By Tina Pappas he Little Falls Senior Citizens Advisory Board will hold a Corned Beef and Cabbage luncheon to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The luncheon will be held on Wednesday, March 16 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Little Falls Civic Center, locat-

ed at 19 Warren Street. Little Falls seniors are free. Non-residents are $5 per person. R.S.V.P. call Janet at (973) 634-2372 by Monday, March 14. Please leave your name and telephone number when you call. (Takedown date is March 14).

Totowa to Hold Annual Easter Bunny Breakfast on April 9

By Tina Pappas he Board of Recreation will run the annual Easter Bunny Breakfast on April 9 beginning at 9 a.m. The buffet-style breakfast will be held at the Barnyard Carriage House at 754 Totowa Road. Admission is $15 per child and $25 per adult. An outside Easter egg hunt and parade (weather

permitting) is planned. Music DJ and Lu Lu the Clown will also be on hand. Registration is required through link: parksrec. egov.basgov.com/totowa. You can also mail check payable to “Board of Recreation” at 490 Totowa Road, Totowa, N.J. 07512. Call or text Mark Monteyne, Recreation Director with any questions at (201) 803-6111.

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Kid of the Year Nominee

emorial Middle School seventh grader Jayden Perez was selected as one of the top 20 candidates - out of 5,000 nominees - for the Nickelodeon & Time Kid of the Year. He was the only nominee from New Jersey. Jayden is the founder of From The Bottom of My Heart, a non-profit 501(c) organization whose mission is to provide toys, clothes, food, and necessities to children, families, front-line workers, and pets around the world affected by hurricane, pandemic, or living in shelters. Jayden and the other nominees were featured on the recent Kid of the Year special on Nickelodeon. Photos Courtesy of Ana Rosado.

Page 8 • March 2022

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Totowa Hosts Successful Annual Community Blood Drive “The lives saved will total 177 with these 59 pints captured! Community teamwork!” Monteyne gave special thanks to the Barnyard & Carriage House for hosting the event. He also thanked All-County Apparel, located at 785 Totowa Road, Totowa Bagels, located at 159 Union Blvd., Sopranos Pizzeria, located at 400 Minnisink Road, and Signarama, located at 681 Van Houten Ave in Clifton for donating. He also

(From left) Senator Kristine M. Corrado, Councilwoman Debbie Andriani, along with Barnyard & Carriage House owner Mike Holland and local resident Anna Sole, are pictured after donating blood. Photos courtesy of Mark Monteyne.

By Tina Pappas he Borough held its annual Community Blood Drive with a great turnout on Feb. 3. This year’s blood drive was held at the Barnyard & Carriage House, located at 754 Totowa Road. It was sponsored by Mayor John Coiro and the Totowa Borough Council, along with Senator Kristin M. Corrado. According to Recreation Director Mark

Monteyne, this year’s annual blood drive garnered record results since it was first held three years ago. “Thanks so much for the ones who stepped up within our community,” he said, adding that 41 whole blood pints, comprised of 18 double red cells, with total red cells at 59 pints were received. Each pint donated could save up to three lives, depending on age and need.

thanked Vitalant blood services staff. “Also, special thanks for our Mayor John Coiro and Council, and Senator Kristin M. Corrado for supporting the drive again this year,” Monteyne added. The next Community Blood Drive will be held at St. James Roman Catholic Church, located at 32 St. James Place in Totowa on Friday, April 15 from 6:30AM through 1:15PM.

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cientists note there is growing skepticism that the world will be able to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius during this century. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, achieving that goal, which could prevent the more dire climate change-related forecasts from becoming reality, will require dramatic action over the next couple of decades. The 1.5 degree goal was a point of contention in the recent past, when many European countries felt limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius was sufficient. However, small island states felt that the 2 degrees model put their nations

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Little Falls Pastry Shop Owner Competes in Spring Baking Championship on Food Network

By Tina Pappas local pastry chef in the Township recently competed in the latest season of Spring Baking Championship on Food Network and Discovery+. Jaleesa “Jay” Mason, who co-owns Mo & Jay Pastry with her husband Mohamad “Mo”, said she was thrilled to be selected to compete in the competition’s eighth season premiere. “Mo” and “Jay” established their business in 2016 as a French-pastry wholesaler, but seeing an opportunity to move into the retail space drove them to open a store at 44 Main Street in Little Falls where a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in November 2020. Originally from New York City, Jaleesa said she and her husband have always been in the field. She attended the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York, and afterwards started working for cake businesses. She eventually worked at Carlo’s Bakery, owned by Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro, Jr., star of the reality television series “Cake Boss.” Jaleesa also worked for the French bakery chain Maison Kayser in NYC, which is where she and Mohamad first met. Mohamad, who is Syrian

born, grew up in Paris, France and eventually came to the U.S., first residing in Brooklyn, N.Y. After their wedding, they relocated to Bloomfield. “Mo’s background is in culinary arts and my background is in pastry arts so we’ve always been in the field and never switched careers,” Jaleesa said. “We started here at this location in Little Falls in the middle of the pandemic, but things with our business are good now. We did well during the holiday season, and it picked up again around Valentine’s Day.” Jaleesa’s road to becoming a contestant began when a recruiting company reached out to her over Instagram. At first, she wasn’t sure if it was legitimate. “We’re on numerous social media platforms and I thought it was initially a scam,” she explained. “But now I’m glad that I did respond because it turned out to be legit. I was recently flown down by the producers to the show’s taping in Tennessee to take part in competing.” She said the biggest challenge was leaving her two young children to catch a flight and fly down to take part in the competicontinued on page 13

Jaleesa “Jay” Mason is pictured with her husband “Mo” and their children. Photos courtesy of the Township of Little Falls.

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Pastry Shop Owner Competes... continued from page 12 tion. “My son is four and my daughter is just 10 months, so my husband had to juggle a lot while he was working full-time at the business, especially caring for our baby,” she said. “My mother helped us out as well, but she’s very busy too - working full-time and going to school. Everyone was trying to do everything they could to support me to compete, but it was a bit challenging.” Jaleesa added that she went up against 11 other bakers all with professional backgrounds. The array of competitors consisted of resort workers, restaurant company employees, and business owners. The celebrity judges include Nancy Fuller, Kardea Brown, and Duff Goldman, with Molly Yeh as host. “There was a lot of diversity in the competition with everyone’s culinary backgrounds,” she added. Looking back, Jaleesa said she learned a great deal. “Honestly, it was such an amazing experience. There were things I was trying to do

that I don’t normally do, so I was a bit apprehensive about doing them on the show,” she further added. “I felt a bit rusty being home a lot with my young two young kids, so I was intimidated in the beginning, but I used that to branch out and learn. I picked up on more things and I use it now for my skill set. It worked out great for me.” Being a contestant in the competition was a wonderful experience, she said, and one she’ll never forget. “I had a blast! I made a lot of cake!” she quipped. “I also represented the business with eclairs and cakes because my background is in pastries.” A watch party is now being planned by her family and friends. “They’re all excited to see the premiere and they’ve been wonderfully supportive of me,” she noted. You can watch Jaleesa on the premiere of the Spring Baking Championship on Monday, Feb.28 at 8 p.m. (ET) on Food Network and Discovery+. It is also available to stream.

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Page 14 • March 2022

Wayne Hills Standout Running Back Signs Letter of Intent

By Anthony Sorce enny Contella III grew up with high school football in his blood. There were numerous stories he heard from his legendary dad Benny Contella Jr, whom played for Bloomfield High School in 1989 under Chet Parlavecchio (recently retired Passaic Valley Head Coach). Over the years , Benny’s grandfather Benny Sr. would show his grandson old VHS tapes from his dad’s Bloomfield years and how Benny Jr made history on a Bloomfield squad that was winless from 1983-1988. On October 1st 1988, Benny Jr was a starting Junior on a Bloomfield Squad that defeated Paramus Catholic 7-0 for their first victory since 1983. One year later, Bloomfield would be a Group IV contender and earn a playoff birth for the first time since 1977 . The Bengals went toe to toe in semi-final playoff game against the #17 team in the country, the Elizabeth Minutemen. Young Benny III was able to recognize the passion his family had for Varsity Football. A lot has changed in the high school football world since 1989. “ Ever since I was a kid, I loved the game of football “ stated Benny III. “ My Uncle Mark played for Wayne Hills under legendary coach Chris Olsen (Father of Retired Carolina Panther Greg Olsen) . Wayne is a serious football town, whether Chris Olsen was at the helm or current head coach Wayne Demikoff, the motto is simple , when you come out for this team, you better

know what you are getting yourself into. Benny III started his football career in Wayne, playing in the Wayne PAL league from 3rd to 6th grade. This was a stepping stone as the youth football league developed a “ Big Brother”Program with Wayne Hills High School’s football program. When Contella was a freshman in 2018 , he was good enough to practice with the varsity squad in preparation from their State Championship game vs Phillipsburg at MetLife Stadium. This was an incredible experience for the freshman being able to celebrate a state championship as the best Group 4 school in the North Region. In 2019 , Contella was a sophomore and he would be the future of Patriots . Contella made his mark in the 10th grade with 10 carry 124 yard performance vs Indian Hills. The Patriots cruised to a 51-14 victory on that night. The Patriots were expecting big things for 2020 with Contella in the backfield. Nobody could anticipate what was in store for the 2020 season. 2020 would be a season like no other with all the Co-vid restrictions still in tact from the previous Spring season. The week before the season opener , Contella was playing linebacker in a scrimmage game vs Union City. Contella went to make a tackle and something just wasn’t right. Contella tore his ACL and his season was over in 2020 any chance of playing in College was in doubt.

Benny Contella III of Wayne Hills scampers for key yardage in the 2021 rivalry game vs Wayne Valley. Contella signed a letter of Intent with Wilkes last month. Photo by Anthony Sorce.

“Ben put a tremendous effort into rehabbing his knee , allowing him to play at a higher level his senior year” said head coach Wayne Demikoff. “ I needed to get back to where I belong on the field, and I couldn’t do that without the support of my mom,dad, and sister Cassandra “. Said Contella . Benny was ready for his senior year and the 2021 season. Contella was a 2-way starter and finished his Wayne Hills Career with 74 tackles, 9 touch downs and over 500 yards rushing . This is very impressive considering Contella sat out his junior year.

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PVHS New Track and Field

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Page 18 • March 2022

PV Wrestler Earns 100th Win

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Page 20 • March 2022

Peckman River Project

t the corner of Jackson and Harrison Street in Little Falls, Reps. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Bill Pascrell (NJ09) hosted a press conference with Little Falls Mayor James Damiano, Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark, NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, and Colonel Matthew W. Luzzatto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to highlight the recent announcement that the Peckman River Basin Project, which will help address and mitigate flooding in the area, will be federally funded. This hard-hit neighborhood saw some 3 to 4 feet of water during Hurricane Ida in September 2021. Some homes were still visibly damaged. Residents here have been flooded numerous times over the years, and were especially hard hit in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd. The Peckman River flood prevention project will be fully funded by more than $153 million in federal funds - $146 million for flood prevention and $6 million for disaster relief investigations. Congressman Pascrell began fighting for funding in 1999, when he was the congressman for Little Falls and Woodland Park, along with local flood board members and officials. After Pascrell moved out of the representative district, Congresswoman Sherrill took the baton and pushed the project towards the finish line. The ACOE can now immediately begin moving forward. “I think many in our communities were very unsure that this day would ever come...that the funding for this life or death project would ever actually be allocated to pay for this project,” said Mayor Kazmark. “Well the day has come, and our residents who are impacted by flooding appreciate

Photo courtesy of the Borough of Woodland Park.

that something will finally get done.” Flooding from the Peckman River has caused multiple flash flooding events in Woodland Park and Little Falls. This includes flooding most recently during the remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021, which caused significant damage and tragic loss of life. Ida was a clear demonstration of the urgent need for this project. This project would mitigate flooding through a combination of a diversion culvert connecting the Peckman and Passaic Rivers; associated weirs; levees and floodwalls; channel modifications; and nonstructural measures. This project will install a 1,500-foot-long, 40-foot-diameter diversion tunnel near the Paterson Avenue athletic

fields to divert floodwaters out of the Peckman and into the Passaic River. This will solve flash flooding not only from the Peckman, but also from its tributaries - Dowling Brook and brook in the Kohl’s parking lot which frequently overflows its banks. It will not exacerbate flooding of the Passaic. In addition, the plan calls for 1,848 linear feet of channel modifications. 2,170 linear feet of levees and/or flood walls. 1,207 linear feet of levees and/or flood walls near Passaic Valley High School, between the track and baseball fields. Raising up to 16 structures and flood-proofing as many as 58 structures.

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March 2022 • Page 21

Totowa Promotes Three Oﬃcers to Rank of Lieutenant

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The Borough of Totowa recently promoted three oﬃcers to the rank of lieutenant. Pictured (from left) Mayor John Coiro, Police Chief Carmen Veneziano, Lt. Jeﬀrey Pasquariello, Lt. Jamie Titus, Lt. Daniel DiBlasio and Councilman Lou D’Angelo. Photos courtesy of Mark Monteyne.

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Pictured are Lt. Jeﬀrey Pasquariello, Lt. Daniel DiBlasio and Lt. Jamie Titus being sworn in by Mayor John Coiro during the recent council meeting, along with their families.

By Tina Pappas hree officers from the Totowa Police Department were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant during the recent Mayor and Council meeting held on Feb. 8 at the Totowa Municipal Building. Officers Jeffrey Pasquariello, Jamie Titus, and Daniel DiBlasio were sworn into their new positions by Mayor John Coiro. Also on hand for the ceremony was Police Chief Carmen Veneziano, Council Pres-

ident Lou D’Angelo, and council members, all of whom congratulated the three new lieutenants after the swearing in ceremony. Afterwards, Coiro said the new lieutenants were deserving of their titles and roles within the community. “I am pleased to be able to promote these three officers,” Coiro said. “They have worked hard to serve our community over the years and are worthy of this promotion.”

Page 22 • March 2022

Totowa to Hold Third Annual Car Show

By Tina Pappas he Borough will hold the third annual Totowa, NJ Car Show on Sunday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held at 515 Union Blvd. (the Wells Fargo parking lot). Registration is the day of the show from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost is $30 day of the show. Pre-registration is $20 due by April 11. Spectators are free. Trophy ceremony starts at 2:30 p.m. The event is coordinated by Mayor John Coiro and Council, including the Board of Recreation. It’s open to cars, trucks and motorcycles of all years. Proceeds benefit the

Totowa Board of Recreation. Cars must be parked by noon in order to be judged, Limited to 300 cars on a firstcome, first-served basis. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information contact Totowa Recreation Director Mark Monteyne at (201) 803-6111 or via email at mark.r.monteyne@gmail.com. “The community and towns throughout the state look forward to viewing and showcasing their vehicles,” said Monteyne. “They love coming to this event, which always proves to be great outdoor fun to be had with our fellow neighbors.”

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Memorial School Weight/Fitness Room

Photos courtesy of the Woodland Park School District.

tudents at Memorial Middle School in Woodland Park have an extensive new weight and fitness room located in the auxiliary gym. This is a fully functional gym containing a variety of equipment that was obtained by ELA teacher, Mr. Segarra, who also acquired various donations in order to fill the room. Mr. Segarra reached out to local gyms as well as per-

sonal contact to obtain the equipment. The majority was donated from a local gym, Women’s Way Fitness, and their contributions included: free weights, dumbbells, plyometric stairs, weight machines, ab/core machine, weight racks, spin cycles, resistance bands, kettlebells, exercise balls, Barre weights, a balance ball and more. Through personal donations and those obtained by

contacts, Mr. Segarra was able to add an elliptical machine, treadmill, three heavy bags, a plyometric box, resistance bands, free weights, dumbbells, and more. “The process took some time,” he said, “but it was well worth it. It looks amazing and the students love it!”

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Page 24 • March 2022

3 Tips for Selecting the Perfect Home

or those beginning the process of home buying, there are many factors to consider. Keep these ideas in mind as you conduct your search – whether it’s online or at a series of open houses. Consider future needs Because life is always evolving, it’s important to move into a home that has enough space for your family’s anticipated changes. While features and space are always prime considerations, don’t forget to, look into the area schools, day care options, parks and other kid-friendly amenities if you plan to grow your family in your next home. Look for flexible spaces Seek homes that offer rooms with multiple functions. For example, an office area may be suitable for a small child’s room, or a sunroom may be converted

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

to a laundry area down the road. Unfinished basements are also blank canvases that can be customized to meet your family’s wants and needs. Get to know the area The purchase of a home goes well beyond the property line. Be sure to examine the neighborhood in which the house is situated. From the condition

of the neighbors’ houses to highway access and the proximity of necessities like grocery stores and gas stations, be sure to take every factor into account to help ensure you’re selecting the right location. Find more tips to aid you in your home search at eLivingtoday.com. (Family Features)

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dding salmon to your weekly menu can take dinnertime from drab to delicious. Combining it with bright, fresh veggies heightens the savory experience even more for a burst of seafood flavor. Loaded with salmon and shrimp, this Salmon and Shrimp Coconut Curry is a perfect option for putting together a quick yet delicious meal. Fast becoming a leading source of seafood worldwide, aquaculture is similar to typical agriculture but with fish, shellfish and seaweeds. Farmed seafood can be raised and harvested in either fresh or seawater, where natural conditions are recreated. However, not all seafood you find in the grocery aisles is the same. Despite industry advances, aquaculture still faces challenges with fraud, mislabeling and questionable conditions. That’s why it’s important to look for responsible seafood products that are labeled by a trusted certification process. For example, the Aquaculture

Savor a New Way to Seafood Stewardship Council is a non-profit certification program that has created and enforced the world’s strictest and highest standards for seafood farming since 2010. Today, it is transforming the seafood industry with a new level of certification for farmed seafood. This “new way to seafood” includes: Seafood that can be traced all the way from the farm to the store, ensuring the seafood you buy is what it claims to be The strictest combination of requirements to protect the environment, workers and communities on the farms where seafood is raised Improving farmed seafood quality and safety Visit NewWaytoSeafood.com to find more information about the certification process. Salmon and Shrimp Coconut Curry Recipe courtesy of MOWI on behalf of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council Servings: 2 2 pieces of MOWI Pure portions salmon

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1 cup wild rice 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 clove garlic, sliced 1/4 cup red onion, diced 1 cup pumpkin or butternut squash, diced 1 tablespoon lemongrass, finely chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste 1/2 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1/4 cup tomatoes 4 shrimp 1 lime, quartered 2-3 cilantro leaves, for garnish Cut salmon into 1/2-inch cubes. Cook rice according to package instructions. In large skillet, heat coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion and pumpkin or squash; saute 5 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Mix in lemongrass and curry paste. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until

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Page 28 • March 2022

A Show-Stopping Strawberry Snack

hen you are craving something sweet, sometimes you just can’t get it off your mind until you have just one bite. You need something small, delicious and something that will ease your cravings. This recipe for Chocolate Coated Strawberry Treats is not only fun to make, but will give you that perfect little snack you have been longing for. The recipe begins with fresh strawberries and ends with a drizzle of mouthwatering peanut butter sauce. This is a great recipe for little ones looking to help out in the kitchen. These strawberries are fun to dip and even more enjoyable to devour. This snack can also be perfect for date night, a romantic date or just a picnic in the park with friends. They are easy to transport from place to place and don’t leave a huge mess behind to clean up afterwards. It’s also simple to just melt, whisk, dip and repeat. The red, ripe berries are bursting with color and the chocolate is glazed right across the top for the perfect bite. The best part is you can be creative

and dip these strawberries into a number of your favorite ingredients you already have in your pantry at home. This includes, sprinkles, small candies, white chocolate drizzle and different kinds of nuts. The possibilities are endless. Next time you can’t get chocolate off your mind, enjoy something delightful, rich and a show-stopping snack. Find more snack recipes at Culinary.net. If you made this recipe at home, use #MyCulinaryConnection on your favorite social network to share your work. Chocolate Coated Strawberry Treats Servings: 5 1 1/4 baking chocolate chips 1/2 baking peanut butter chips 3 tablespoons coconut oil, divided 1 pound fresh strawberries shredded coconut crushed almonds In saucepan, add baking chocolate chips and two tablespoons of coconut oil. Melt on low to medium heat and whisk until smooth. In a small bowl, add baking peanut

butter chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. Whisk together until smooth. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip all strawberries into melted chocolate. Then, dip 1/3 in coconut, 1/3 in

almonds and 1/3 just chocolate and lay on tray. Drizzle the melted peanut butter over the plain chocolate strawberries. Put in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until strawberry treats are chilled. (Culinary.net)

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March 2022 • Page 29

Peanut Protein to Power Your Day

ive your family meals a powerful boost with better-for-you recipes that pack a protein punch. Revamping the at-home menu with nutrition in mind can still include delicious dishes. Adding a nutrient-rich powerhouse like peanuts as a key ingredient in meals throughout the day makes it easier to zero in on health goals. In fact, peanuts rise to superfood status by delivering 19 vitamins and minerals plus 7 grams of protein per serving. When it’s time for fueling up the family at the dinner table, pair Thai Chicken and Pork Skewers with Brussels Sprouts with Peanut Chipotle Vinaigrette for a proteinpacked meal. Find more nutritious family-friendly recipes at gapeanuts.com. Thai Chicken and Pork Skewers Recipe courtesy of the Georgia Peanut Commission 1 tablespoon minced ginger 6 cloves garlic, crushed 2 cups creamy peanut butter 1 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1 tablespoon chili oil 1/2 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin In mixing bowl, combine ginger, garlic, peanut butter, broth, soy sauce, chili oil, lime juice, honey and cilantro. Mix well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cut chicken and pork into strips and thread onto skewers. In non-metal container, marinate meat in half of peanut butter sauce 1-2 hours in refrigerator. Reserve remaining sauce for dipping. Heat oven to broil. Broil skewered meats until done, turning once. In pot, bring remaining sauce to boil and serve warm as dipping sauce. Brussels Sprouts with Peanut Chipotle Vinaigrette Recipe courtesy of Parker Wallace (parkersplate.com) on behalf of the Georgia Peanut Commission 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, halved peanut oil 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons water 3 teaspoons champagne vinegar 2 teaspoons honey 1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder 1 pinch kosher salt, plus additional, to taste, divided orange or mandarin segments, for garnish fresh orange or mandarin juice, for garnish crispy fried shallots, for garnish crumbled French feta, for garnish chopped fresh mint, for garnish Preheat air fryer to 400 F. Lightly brush Brussels sprouts with peanut oil and place in fryer basket. Cook 10-15 minutes, shaking halfway through. In small bowl, whisk peanut butter, water, champagne vinegar, honey, chipotle chili powder and 1 pinch salt until well combined. Once cooked, remove Brussels sprouts from air fryer and place in bowl. Toss in chipotle peanut vinaigrette until well combined. Season with salt, to taste. Garnish with orange segments, orange juice, crispy fried shallots, feta and mint.

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Page 30 • March 2022

Better-for-You Family Breakfasts

aking sure your family members get a nutritious start to the day is an important job, and by focusing on a few wholesome ingredients, such as real milk, simple and healthful dishes can quickly become family favorites. Each day should begin with a balanced breakfast, so when mornings get hectic and meal prepping isn’t possible, you can still start strong with a convenient, iconic pairing – cereal and real milk. Enjoyable on their own, real milk and General Mills Big G Cereals, like Honey Nut Cheerios, are even better together, delivering essential nutrients to help fuel the morning with the taste kids – and adults – can call a daily favorite. In fact, dairy milk is the top food source of calcium, vitamin D and potassium, and cereal is the top food source of fiber – which are four nutrients of public health concern identified by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This nutritious breakfast combination costs only around 50 cents per serving – so parents can give their children nutrients they need

without breaking the bank. Another delicious breakfast option is a Cheesy Bacon-Broccoli Quiche, which offers 11 grams of protein per serving while introducing picky eaters to veggies in an appetizing way. If a busy schedule calls for an on-the-go option, real milk provides essential nutrients and can be blended into a Banana Breakfast Shake for a tasty and portable way to start the day. About 90% of the U.S. population does not meet dairy recommendations outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Most individuals would benefit by increasing intake of nutrient-dense, calcium-rich dairy milk. One 8-ounce glass of dairy milk contains almost as much calcium as six cups of kale and the same amount of protein found in 1 1/2 medium eggs, making real milk an easy and delicious way for your little ones to get important nutrients they need. Visit milklife.com for more healthfocused, simple and delicious family meal inspiration. Cheesy Bacon-Broccoli Quiche

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Let cool at least 10 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving. Nutritional information per serving: 280 calories; 16 g fat; 6 g saturated fat; 160 mg cholesterol; 11 g protein; 22 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 510 mg sodium; 150 mg calcium. Nutrition figures based on using fat free milk. Banana Breakfast Shake Servings: 2 (6 ounces milk per serving) 1 1/2 cups fat free or low fat dairy milk 1 frozen medium banana, peeled and sliced 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional) 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional) cinnamon, for garnish (optional) In blender container, combine dairy milk, banana, vanilla extract and almond extract. Blend until smooth, about 20 seconds. Pour into two glasses and garnish with sprinkle of ground cinnamon, if desired. Nutritional information per serving: 120 calories; 0 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 7 g protein; 23 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 100 mg sodium; 190 mg calcium. Nutrition figures based on using fat free milk. (Family Features)

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Sustainable Family Meals from Farm to Table

uch time is often spent planning and preparing family meals, from choosing recipes to gathering ingredients and working in the kitchen. However, where that food actually comes from and how it’s made is an often-overlooked part of food preparation. Next time you lay out a weekly menu that includes recipes like this Bone-In Prime Rib, keep sustainability in mind by considering the practices put in place by America’s farmers. For example, the corn industry’s evolution in sustainability along with its documented environmental, economic and social improvements over the last several decades points to farmers’ willingness to embrace change. As the largest sector in American agriculture, corn farmers impact hundreds of thousands of jobs, infuse billions of dollars into the economy and care for critical resources while overseeing substantial improvements in production. The family farm belonging to Nathan and Nicki Weathers in Yuma, Colorado, includes 3,000 acres of irrigated crops and 300 cows. They harvest grain corn, which goes to a feedyard, dairy or an ethanol plant, and silage,

which is sold to local feedyards. According to Nathan, corn is the best feed available for his farm and makes his beef production more sustainable. “They go hand in hand,” Nathan said. “To be able to drive the protein market and meet the demands of the future, we have to be sustainable in both. We need to have protein and be able to grow it and have a feed source for pork and poultry. Corn is an efficient and economic feed source for all our protein.” Consider these ways the corn industry is continuing its efforts toward sustainable practices, according to the National Corn Growers Association’s Sustainability Report. Soil Conservation Healthy soils are the foundation of agriculture production and why corn farmers are committed to leaving land in better shape than they found it. Adoptions in conservation tillage and other soil conservation strategies have contributed to a reduction in erosion. Water Stewardship Farmers recognize the invaluable role water plays in raising crops each year. They also know they must actively protect this resource for the benefit of their crops, their communities and the planet.

Ecosystem Resilience With approximately 90 million acres planted annually, corn is grown in a variety of ecosystems. Supporting the health of those ecosystems requires active attention from farmers, who respond by using integrated pest management techniques, establishing wildlife habitats on their lands and more. Energy Eﬃciency Technology that enhances farmers’ productivity also help reduce the amount of energy and emissions required for corn production. Farmers provide a carbon reduction strategy through the production of ethanol and the support of the Renewable Fuel Standard, a program created by Congress intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil. Minimal Waste Due to corn’s versatility, from animal feed to ethanol production and bioplastics, the components of each kernel find homes in a variety of uses, leaving little to go to waste. Find more information at ColoradoCorn. com. Bone-In Prime Rib

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Page 32 • March 2022

The History and Mythology of St. Patrick’s Day

By Henry M. Holden here is one day a year when people of all ethnic groups can claim to be Irish. Saint Patrick’s Day, (or from Gaelic: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “Day of the Feastday of Patrick”), is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the assumed death date of Saint Patrick (385 – 461). The original reason for the celebration was the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. More countries celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day than any other national festival. It is a public holiday in seven countries and is widely celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. The Potato Famine that struck Ireland (1845-52) led to the immigration of over one-million Irish to the United States, in one decade, although it continued to a lesser extent into the early 20th century. When Irish immigrants brought St. Patrick’s Day traditions to the United States, the day evolved into a secular celebration of Irish heritage and culture. Saint Patrick’s Day became an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century. Celebrations involve parades, céilís, a social event at which there is Irish folk

music, traditional dancing, shared folklore, leprechauns, and all things Irish. Pubs served green beer and the folks in Chicago dye the river green (a tradition dating back to 1962). Modern celebrations are still influenced by the Irish diaspora, the ethnic Irish and their descendants who live outside the island of Ireland and influenced by those that developed in North America. What we know about Patrick is he wrote his own autobiography in the form of a Declaration. He was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy RomanoBritish family, and became a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. The shamrock, a three-leafed clover is not only a feature of Celtic mythology, but it was also especially important in Irish legend in the spread of Christianity. The shamrock, aka the “seamroy” was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland. It symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. Saint Patrick tried to inform the Celts on the Holy Trinity, but they could not understand what he was saying. Patrick saw a clover and decided to use

it to explain the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit as one. The Celts realized what he meant, and that’s how the shamrock became so important in Irish history and social tradition. Spirited music is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day—and Irish culture in general. From earliest days of the Celts, music has been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs. The English began to seize land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism. The first British Law specifically banned the use of the Irish language was Article III of The Statute of Kilkenny in 1367. As a result, Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage, and their anger with English rule. After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember notable events and retain their heritage and history, as it often stirred emotion and helped to galvanize the people. One of the most lasting folklore stories

Leprechauns stem from the Celtic belief in fairies, tiny people who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. (Public Domain)

is the legend that during his mission in Ireland, Patrick once stood on a hilltop (which is now called Croagh Patrick), and with only a shepard’s staff, banished all the snakes from Ireland. The “banishing of the snakes” was a metaphor for the suppression of pagan ideologies from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within two hundred years continued on page 36

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An Irish Story

The silk mills of Paterson hired a lot of Irish immigrants. It was hard labor, requiring long hours in a working day.

By Richard Mabey Jr. hat force of nature could possibly bring a proud Protestant Dutchman and a shy Irish Catholic girl together, especially being that the lass from the Emerald Isle was 18 years younger than the gentleman from the land of windmills and wooden shoes? That magical and mystical force, of course, is love. In 1883, Catherine Cavanaugh, my great grandmother, came to America with her parents when she was only five years old. They first took up residence in Clifton. A few months later, the Cavanaugh family moved to Paterson. At the age of 16, Catherine worked in a silk mill in Paterson. Both of her parents also worked in the same silk mill. It was tough labor, requiring hard work for long hours. Somehow and someway, Catherine Cavanaugh met a Dutchman named Wesley Storms, who lived in a small farming town known as Beavertown. Wesley was a very shy, lonely widower, who lived alone in a very small home at the foothills of Hook Mountain. Wesley, my great grandfather, was 18 years older than Catherine, my great grandmother. Now at 68, I deeply regret that I did not ask my grandmother, Bertha Storms Mabey, more about her mom and dad. However, I am ever so appreciative for the information that Grandma did share with me about her parents. Wesley Storms never did know his father. Wesley was born in 1860. Shortly after he was born, his father, William Storms, signed up with the Union Army. My great-great grandfather served in the 15th New Jersey Regiment. Sadly, he was killed in the Battle of Salem Church in May

of 1863. It was a scar that was left upon Wesley’s heart, never to be healed for his entire lifetime. For Catherine Cavanaugh, working in a silk mill was very hard work. The men and women who worked in the silk mills in Paterson worked long hours for little pay. It was a tough life. Most of the people who worked in Paterson’s silk mills were immigrants. The Irish immigrants did not have it easy in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The prejudice against the Irish was very real in America. It’s painful to admit, but nonethe-less, there was very real prejudice against the Irish. In factories, stores, and other places of business, during the nineteenth century, it was not uncommon to see signs reading, “Irish need not apply.” Wesley Storms had a little farm in Beavertown. The greatest mystery is how it came to be that my great grandmother met my great grandfather. I remember my grandmother, Bertha Storms, told me that her father had close friends, who were also friends with her mother’s parents. In light of their age difference, and the fact that Wesley Storms was Protestant and Catherine Cavanaugh was a devoted Catholic, it is truly a miracle that they fell in love and married. As a boy, growing up in Lincoln Park (formerly known as Beavertown) one of my best friends lived in the very home that my great grandmother and great grandfather once lived in. The very home that my paternal grandmother grew up in. I was only in the home one time. It was a hot summer day and my friend, Robert, invited me in to have a glass of lemonade. I was about 10 years old at the time. continued on page 36

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St. Patrick’s Day...

An Irish Story... continued from page 34 I had only been in the kitchen of that dear old home, for about 20 minutes. But in that short time, I could feel the presence of my great grandparents. I was a very sensitive child, with a vivid imagination. As I sat at Robert’s kitchen table, as his mom poured cold lemonade in glasses for us, I could imagine my grandmother sitting in that very same kitchen as a little girl, eating supper with her mom and dad. I live in Central Florida now. I don’t travel up to New Jersey that often any more. But when I do visit Lincoln Park, I always take time to take a walk by the home that my grandmother, Bertha Storms Mabey, grew up in. From the sidewalk, I look up to that modest home, atop a hill, and feel the presence of the ghosts of my great grandparents. All in all, I deeply

The signs, “Irish need not apply,” were not uncommon to be seen in factories and stores during the nineteenth century.

regret that I didn’t ask my grandmother more about her childhood days. I regret that I didn’t ask her more questions about her parents, specifically the details of how they met and fell in love. Sadly, those questions will never be answered. If you are blessed to have even one of your grandparents, alive on

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this side of Heaven’s Gate, please do consider talking to them about their childhood, their history, their legacy, their heritage. Truly, it will be time well spent. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail. com. Please put on the subject line: An Irish Story.

continued from page 32 of Patrick’s arrival, most of Ireland was converted. Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St. Patrick’s Day to share a “traditional” meal of corned beef and cabbage. Cabbage has long been in the Irish diet, but it was at the turn of the 20th century that corned beef became popular. Irish immigrants living on New York City’s Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money. They learned about this inexpensive alternative from their Jewish neighbors. One icon of St. Patrick’s Day is the Leprechaun. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” They have appeared for centuries in Irish folklore. Belief in leprechauns stem from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny people who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns mended the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their mythical pot of gold. According to Irish mythology, butterflies move between worlds and bring messages

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and warnings. They are souls, waiting to be reborn on earth. Leprechauns are the cultural symbol of Ireland, with their names translated from ‘shoemaker’. They were said to roam Ireland before humans, with a unique hat and red hair. In oral folklore, you can find their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, so if you visit Ireland, be sure to look for a rainbow. The harp became cemented in the folk music tradition, everyday life, and popular culture of Ireland. The Harp of Daghda is a national icon in Ireland. Folklore says that evil gods stole the first harp from the Daghda, a king in Irish/ Celtic mythology. Daghda’s music made people feel transformed. The absence of music caused sadness to pass over the country. Eventually the evil gods gave it back to them, and joy returned to the land. Now that you know some of the myths and legends from Irish folklore, you are safe to wander through the most rural parts of Ireland. And if you visit, don’t forget to visit, and kiss the Blarney Stone. According to this author’s mother who was born in County Cork, if you hang upside down by your knees and kiss the Blarney Stone you will be given the “gift of gab” or a talkative streak.

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March 2022 • Page 37

Roseland’s Running 4 Answers Benefits Alzheimer’s

By Evan Wechman arolyn Mastrangelo of Roseland remembers the pain her whole family went through almost two decades ago. At that time, her mother became ill from having early onset Alzheimer’s disease and the toll it took on her loved ones was almost too much to bear. These memories will be with her this coming April 30 at Harrison Field in Roseland. There, her organization, Running for Answers will be holding a 5K race and 2-mile run/walk to benefit the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. This will be the 13th annual event which has raised well over $400,000 since its inception. Mastrangelo remembers fondly her mother, Pat Lepofsky, a registered nurse playing bridge around the house and always reading. However, when the Alzheimer’s illness hit her mother, they both knew things would take a quick turn for the worse. Her mother after a long battle, died in 2015, and Mastrangelo wants to make sure that other families don’t go through the same ordeal she was forced to endure. Mastrangelo, a professional fitness trainer and nutrition coach is aware of the ramifications of the disease. She recently said, “Alzheimer’s doesn’t just take away your memory, it takes away everything you are until it leaves just a shell.” Organizing the event has been no easy task for Mastrangelo who is the primary founder, chairperson, and fundraiser for the event. She said she has performed most of the work at her kitchen table, rather than a fancy office. However, she is grateful other people have helped her through the years. She appreciates even the smallest donations and still gets excited each year around this time of year. According to her, the event has 3 primary missions. The first is to obviously raise money and awareness, but the second and third goals are to have a great race and create a fun event that the community can gather around. In past races, she has had great sponsors who have held mini tricky trays and given balloons to all the children. Though the event seems to almost run effortlessly as each year passes, Mastrangelo is aware there is always a substantial amount of work involved. Her efforts began almost 15 years ago when she was looking for a race in New Jersey that benefitted Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a single race, so she was determined to organize her own.

She also carefully selected the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund which she said gives everyone the best chanced to find a cure for this disease. Mastrangelo is proud that 100% of the donations go directly to research. “The brain is tricky, and they (Cure Alzheimer’s Fund) are coming to a lot of dead ends, but this is the right organization, and they are coming closer every year,” Mastrangelo said. In 2020, due to COVID there was no race, but the organization still worked hard and raised a significant amount of money for research. This year, the effects of COVID will be closely monitored by Mastrangelo. However, she is confident that this year’s event will be a success because it is not only outside, but she is determined to take any cautionary steps to ensure everyone’s safety. Mastrangelo who has had many dedicated supporters through the years is still looking to add some sponsors to make this event larger. She hopes for the race to expand outside just the immediate area and become a significant race in the state of New Jersey. Since the pandemic has affected many small businesses in the area, Mastrangelo wants local owners to know she remains both flexible and creative in finding partnerships that would work for all involved. However, she is aware every bit of help adds up to having a terrific event and said “I would like people to know that there are so many simple ways to help us: walk, run, donate, fundraise. Even easier than that is just spreading the word to others.” She can be contacted by interested parties through her website, www.Running4Answers.org. Though she is hoping for a big turnout, Mastrangelo, a mother of two daughters wants people to come away with a significant lesson about Alzheimer’s disease. One important fact that Mastrangelo wants people to be aware of is that this disease is more serious than many people think it is. She said, “it is not a key-losing disease.” By this, Mastrangelo emphasized that families should know that Alzheimer’s is more than just misplacing everyday items such as keys. Rather, it robs the whole family of time, memories, and is indeed very painful for all involved. “I don’t want to see anyone else go through this,” she said. “The idea that anyone else can get it is scary.”

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Page 38 • March 2022

f ever there was a need to create a tranquil escape from the chaos of the world, the time is now. Converting your living space into a soul-soothing refuge may be easier than you think as a serene color palette is often all you need to shift the mood of your home. For many people, the home is a personal sanctuary, and through thoughtful color design, you can discover a renewed sense of balance and ease each time you walk through your front door. Incorporating colors inspired by simplicity and serenity can create spaces that transform the home into a soothing and comfortable space. A restorative style starts with soft and natural colors; simplicity, approachability and comfort are also essential. Softened tones keep things easy and uncomplicated for spaces that feel balanced and meaningful. To start creating a peaceful refuge within your home, consider these tips from the experts at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams to discover how to use color to paint a sense of calm for all who enter. Peace on the Porch Fuss-free styling on the front porch sets a tone for the ambiance inside. Make sure all who enter know this is a place of calm and comfort by using soft, subtle colors. A fresh coat of exterior paint – or a new shade on the front door – can help freshen and brighten

the space while purposeful, understated furnishings and accessories lend themselves to a graceful welcome. Balanced Bedroom There’s no space quite like the bedroom to command a peaceful presence. A curated palette like the HGTV Home by SherwinWilliams 2022 Color Collection of the Year offers multiple options that exude peacefulness and facilitate tranquility. The Softened Refuge Collection, available exclusively at Lowe’s, is composed of 10 soft and simple tones that can be mixed and matched in any combination for a perfectly cohesive look. One highlight is the 2022 Color of the Year, Aleutian, a washed indigo that is grounded by the warmth of its red undertones and bridges the gap between warm and cool tones. It pairs beautifully with wood tones so you can easily incorporate practical furnishings that lend to an aura of relaxation and comfort. Laid-Back Living Room Color that mimics the hues found naturally outdoors tend to soothe the soul. Introduce natural calm to a place your family enjoys congregating by updating walls to a sophisticated organic green that is rooted in nature. Carry the relaxed mood throughout the room with complementing natureinspired neutrals for your furniture, window

treatments and accent pieces. Subtle Kitchen Spice A stark white kitchen may feel crisp and clean, but it lacks the character that color brings. You can keep that airy feeling while infusing some gentle, welcoming warmth. Painted cabinets are on trend, so this is a perfect place to play with color. Use a light neutral taupe for the cabinets then balance with a warm, creamy white on the walls. If you’re worried the space may be dull, infuse a bit of color with a neutral blue on the backsplash. The soft hues work

harmoniously for a simple but stylish space. “The Softened Refuge palette is designed to simplify color selection for a perfectly coordinated home design,” said Ashley Banbury, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams senior color designer. “Color combinations within the Collection can easily be used to craft spaces that help promote positive physical and mental well-being.” Find more ideas for creating a sanctuary at home at hgtvhomebysherwinwilliams. com. (Family Features)

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5 Tips to Ensure the Best Care for Your Pet

he COVID-19 pandemic has placed historic pressures on the veterinary field and pet owners across the country. These challenges impact patients, especially at a provider like VCA Animal Hospitals, which has more than 1,000 locations across the United States and Canada that care for more than 4 million pets each year. Consider these tips to help navigate this new reality and ensure your pet has access to the care needed to stay healthy. Establish a relationship with a veterinarian. Establishing a relationship with a veterinary hospital means your pet will have a team to help that is familiar with his or her medical history and can identify concerns early to improve chances of a positive outcome. Just like your own health, don’t wait until something goes wrong to visit your pet’s veterinarian. Book appointments in advance and outside peak hours. The best appointments to book early include annual and semiannual wellness check-ups, vaccinations, dental cleanings and elective surgeries. If you’re unsure which appointments to schedule, ask your veterinarian. Booking

your pet’s next recommended exam while you’re checking out from your last one is an easy way to find an appointment time that works best for you. Have a financial plan. Veterinary care for unexpected events and emergencies can often be costly, just like human health care. Owners should consider the total cost of caring for a pet and create an emergency fund to use should something happen to your pet. Obtaining pet insurance or enrolling in a wellness plan are other strategies that can help lighten the financial load. Know where to go for emergency care. It’s important to know where you can take your pet in case of an emergency. Know where several veterinary emergency hospitals are in your area just in case your pet’s primary care doctor is unable to see you. You can also ask if your veterinary hospital offers tele-triage or other virtual care options. For example, through the myVCA app, you can access 24/7 live chat with licensed veterinary professionals to help answer questions and offer advice. Be patient. Veterinary medicine is undergoing a surge in demand. Remember that caring for pets is not just a career, but

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even with the increased patient load. Find more information at vcahospitals. com. (Family Features)

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Emotional Safe Spaces Help Children Express Their Big Feelings

any internet memes have been made about toddlers and their temper tantrums. While the outpouring of oversized emotions can be amusing when viewed from afar, most parents and caregivers simply want to know what they can do to help children express their feelings in less dramatic ways. According to child development experts, one of the keys to helping children learn to regulate their emotions is to develop emotional literacy; the ability to identify feelings. This can help children learn to recognize those feelings and apply coping strategies to (hopefully) calm down before their feelings overwhelm them. One way to help children work on their emotional literacy is to talk about emotions other people feel. “Sometimes it’s difficult to process our own emotions because that puts you in a vulnerable position,” said Taunya Banta from KinderCare’s Inclusion Services team. “When we’re able to find some detachment from the immediate emotion, like talking about characters in a story – ‘How do you think they feel?’ or ‘Why do you think they feel that way?’ – it opens an opportunity for kids to safely process their own emotions because they’re not in the spotlight.” Another way to help children work through their emotions before becoming overwhelmed is doing what many early childhood teachers do and create a space filled with things that allow children to find emotional release in a safe way. If space allows, Banta recommends creating both a quiet area and an active area. Quiet areas allow children to work through their LIC #8414

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emotions using fine motor or listening skills. Items in this space could include blankets or pillows to cuddle up in or headphones to listen to relaxing music or audiobooks. Some children may find comfort in expressing their feelings through art, so consider including some drawing materials or a journal. For young children, a set of pictures or cards showing faces expressing different emotions can help them as they learn to identify their own feelings. Active areas provide children opportunities to use their gross motor skills to work through emotions. If outdoor space is easily accessible, encourage your children to go outside and jump, stomp or run when they start to feel the urge to “let it all out.” An indoor active space could include pillows to scream into or hit and plastic bottles or bubble wrap to stomp on or squeeze. The action and noise can help get out the desire to hit or punch. Watch how your children show their emotions and give them safe alternatives. For example, if they tend to yell and hit when they’re upset, give them pillows to scream into or hit. You can also help them designate a box or a specific spot on the wall or floor that they can throw beanbags, wadded up socks or any soft object at. Acknowledge the emotions your children are experiencing and reassure them that while it’s fine to feel that way, it’s just as important they find a safe outlet for their emotions. For more tips to help children identify and regulate their emotions, visit KinderCare.com. (Family Features)

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Page 42 • March 2022

How to Choose Quality Vitamins and Supplements

ore than half of Americans take an over-thecounter vitamin or dietary supplement, but many may not realize that the quality of these products can vary greatly. Because supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration like other medicines, not all are quality products. When choosing a vitamin or other supplement, checking for independent verification can help ensure quality. A recent study in the “Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine” found that the amount of actual melatonin in 71% of supplements is off by a 10% margin, meaning that labels of many melatonin substances do not accurately reflect how much melatonin is in the pill. The study also found the amount of melatonin within pills in a single jar can vary by 465%. This incident illustrates the value of verification, which confirms what is on the label is what is in the bottle. Measures of Quality The following are some of the characteristics to consider when evaluating the quality of a dietary supplement: Positive Identification: There are products on the market that do not contain the ingredients indicated on the label. Tests by an independent third party can confirm that what is on the label is in the bottle. Potency: It is crucial that ingredients are present in the right amount. Too little may have no effect on your health, while too much may be harmful. Purity: Unwanted ingredients can have a negative effect on health. Examples may include heavy metals, mold or mildew, and chemicals from pesticides. Performance: A pill or tablet must properly dissolve, or

else ingredients cannot be absorbed by the body. In that case, it is more likely to pass through your system without any effect on your health. Another example is saw palmetto extract, a supplement commonly used to support prostate health and help to reduce frequent urination. Studies indicate that not all saw palmetto products are the same. Differences in purity, potency and quality among the various available saw palmetto products are thought to affect the usefulness of these supplements. “As with any supplement, a consumer should look for the most reliable option,” said Ed Wyszumiala, head of the Dietary Supplement Verification Program at U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP). “Only consistent and quality saw palmetto extracts have been shown to be effective based on clinical research. Therefore, consumers seeking a quality dietary supplement can feel confident choosing products with third-party verification, such as Flomentum, the only saw palmetto extract supplement that has been independently verified by USP.” How to Make Supplements Part of a Healthy Daily Routine Following a few simple guidelines can make it easy to include supplements as part of your daily routine. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements, as they may interact with your prescription medications. Do your homework on the manufacturer to make sure it is a reputable company that adheres to good manufacturing practices and does not appear to be the subject of frequent consumer complaints. Avoid companies making questionable claims about

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curing diseases and do your research on the science behind the products. Carefully follow the directions on the labels, so you take the supplement exactly as intended. Tests by an independent third party can confirm that what is on the label is in the bottle. Learn more about quality supplements and check whether your products are USP Verified at Quality-Supplements.org/Verified-Products. (Family Features)

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March 2022 • Page 43

How to Set a Proper Budget for Your Home Remodel

hen you decide to renovate your home – whether to sell or make improvements for you and your family to enjoy – setting a budget can be a challenge. Knowing what you want to accomplish may be the easy part but avoiding the bad advice out there and determining what you can actually afford takes research and detailed planning. Consider these tips from National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) member contractors to help build an appropriate remodeling budget. Identify your project scope and ideal budget. Start by creating a list of everything you would like to include in your renovation then separate your list into wants and needs. From there, determine a proposed budget for the project based on how much you’re comfortable spending and your home’s value. “Get your bids after you know what the project is,” said Michael Anschel, principal of OA Design+Build+Architecture. Meet with remodelers. Set up a meeting with a local remodeling company and share your proposed scope of work and budget to see if it’s feasible. An experienced, professional remodeler who is a member of an organization like NARI can share feedback on the costs in your area and any challenges involved with your project based on experiences with homes like yours. Once you have a better understanding of the true scope of the project, meet with other contractors to gather a few estimates to compare. “Are you hiring an installer or are you hiring an expert

guide?” asked Barak Steenlage, co-owner of Anchor Builders. “The difference is worth the investment.” Beware of low estimates. When evaluating companies for your project, remember estimates you may find online don’t typically account for regional variations, the cost of various types of labor and necessary permits. “Cost estimates you find may be national averages that are lower than the costs in your city,” said Bjorn Freudenthal, homeowner advisor at New Spaces. “Also, they may only account for the cost of the replacement materials, not other costs like changing the floor plan or updating electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. They might also be missing the costs of removal of hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint.” The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused some materials to rise in cost, so it’s important to account for these increases. “Bad contractor stories come from people cutting corners and hiring unqualified people,” Anschel said. “When you’re paying bottom of the barrel, there’s no bandwidth for the contractor to solve problems.” Ensure you have proper permits. Not all projects require permits, but it is important to determine if your project requires one from your city or county. Make sure you (or your contractor) obtain one, if necessary, to ensure the safety of the work and its compliance with building, construction and zoning codes. “If a homeowner or contractor doesn’t pull permits and something goes wrong, the homeowner is liable to fix the problem,” Anschel said. “This additional cost could be

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

a large percentage of the original job, and maybe more.” Understand your timeline. The purpose of your renovation can impact the long-term value of the project. Making updates to prepare your home to sell, for example, is a more immediate cost than updating a space you will spend time in for years to come. “When the homeowner is looking to stay 7-10 years or more, it impacts lifetime value because you can spread the cost out over a longer period of time,” Steenlage said. Find more tips for your next remodeling project, and member contractors in your area, at RemodelingDoneRight. com. (Family Features)

Spring into a New Kitchen!

Page 44 • March 2022

NJStarz

NJ Starz: Garrett Reisman Hometown: Parsippany, NJ

By Steve Sears t’s an amazing photo – taken from a million miles away. Dr. Garrett Reisman, a United States astronaut, had the opportunity and he grasped it, taking a photo of his hometown of Parsippany from space. “You can see Route 46 and you can see 287,” he says. “But you can’t see that with a naked eye. It’s just kind of a grayish blur. And by the way, you only have a couple of minutes because you’re flying over it so fast – you’re moving at 17,500 miles an hour. So it was tricky, but I got it.” Reisman’s excitement over his field is evident in his voice. His dream as a child reached fruition, and now he is helping others with their ambitions through teaching. He had his mentors, and he’s become a mentor for many. Reisman was born at Morristown Memorial Hospital, and was raised in Parsippany. His dad, Robert, who passed away in 2002, had a huge influence on him when he was a youngster. “It’s amazing,” Reisman says. “He never pushed me to go into the same field or pursue the same interest that he had. But, now looking back, I became a mechanical engineer, and ended up going into aerospace just like him, despite the fact that he never overtly pushed me in that direction. But I think subconsciously I just wanted to be like my dad because I just had tremendous respect for him, and he was my biggest role model.” Reisman’s mom, Sheila, who lives in Florida, was another big supporter of his as he grew up, as was his sister, Lainie, who now lives in Washington, D.C. Space flight, and life as an astronaut, fascinated Reisman since he was a child. “I remember I had the Super Eight movie of all the Apollo missions, and I used to watch that thing over and over. I just loved everything about it, and I read every book in the Lake Hiawatha Elementary School library that had anything to do with rockets or airplanes. But I never thought I’d become an astronaut because – and stop me if you’ve heard this before - my mom is scared of flying.” The situation was remedied, however. “I eventually got her to fly with me in a small plane out here in Los Angeles. “I told her, ‘I’m taking my dad and

my sister, so all three of us are going up. You don’t want to be the only one left - that’s a miserable life! So why don’t you come on in so we all go down together,’” Reisman says with a laugh. The single engine plane ride returned to the runway it took off from safely. “We actually ended up having a nice day. We flew to Catalina Island, got lunch and came back. That logic actually worked.” In addition to is dad, Reisman mentions that he had some outstanding teachers in the Parsippany public school system. Among them was his Parsippany High School Physics teacher, Jerry Vandervoort. “Still to this day, as I’m teaching as a professor now at USC (University of Southern California), I’m still using what he taught me as a high school student. He inspired me, and definitely if it weren’t for him, there’s no way I would have been successful in my career as an engineer.” And Gary Vittorio, his wrestling coach at Parsippany High School, taught him a lot about being a leader and follower, a good teammate, and how to be a good person. Reisman attended the University of Pennsylvania as an undergrad and was mentored by professors Joe Bordogna and Bill Hamilton, and then headed to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he met his doctoral advisor, Christopher Brennan. “One of the great things was a lot of them were able to make it to my (Endeavour) launch and be there as invited guests,” Reisman says. “That was like a great opportunity to say thank you.” Also at CalTech, Reisman met his wife, Simone. In fact, she was his flight student prior before they started dating. Both are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son, Buster, and a daughter, Bixby, who is 4. Prior to his initial 2008 launch into space, Reisman took part in Neemo5 as an aquanaut, where he spent two weeks underwater. He explains. “That was part of a training exercise. We call those analogues, where we kind of put ourselves into situations or environments that are extreme and somewhat similar to what we will face in space, and that helps just because you can simulate things and you can practice and train. So we searched for these opportunities, and one was this Neemo mission where we lived at the

Astronaut Garrett Reisman. Photo Credit NASA.

bottom of the sea for two weeks, and because we’re saturated with nitrogen, there’s no quick way to come back. You have to go through a lengthy decompression process that takes about a day. So really, we’re about as far away from a hospital should something go horribly wrong when we’re down there, as far away in terms of time as you are in the space station. So that’s a real thing, you putting yourself in that kind of isolation. And that was helpful in getting that mindset, and plus it was a

whole lot of fun.” STS-123, the Space Shuttle Endeavour, was his first orbit venture on the morning of March 11, 2008. He was delivered to the International Space Station for a 95 day mission and, while there, he walked in space for the first time. “Rick Linnehan was my partner,” Reisman says. “It was kind of a crazy mission for me. That was my first time being up in space, and three days into the mission I have to go out and continued on page 45

March 2022 • Page 45

NJ Starz... continued from page 44 do a spacewalk.” When he first opened the hatch, he said, “Whoa, that’s cool!” Reisman describes the “walk.” “You’re out there doing work. You’re kind of like a mechanic. You’re attaching cables and turning wrenches and doing that kind of work, but you’re wearing this ridiculously cumbersome suit. The suit itself is very familiar; how it fits you is exactly the same as it was down on earth. And then you look over your shoulder and you see the entire East Coast of the United States flying by below. There’s no way to prepare for that. You’re going back and forth between something very familiar and something completely surreal at the same time. and you try to ignore the surreal and focus on getting the work done, because it’s a lot of pressure when you do spacewalks. The time and the progress that you make out there is incredibly valuable to NASA.” His whole crew left him behind on the space station for a subsequent three months for Expedition 16 and 17. The former was commanded by Peggy Whitson, and the Flight Engineer was Yuri Malenchenko. He was with that duo for a month. “Our crew got a lot of work done. We we’re working

pretty intensely through that whole period, but we were having a lot of fun, too. That was great.” Next, Russian crewmates, Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, joined him for Expedition 17. “That was a little different. I was the only American up there, and I was kind of doing my thing and they were doing their thing on their side, and there were some days we’d go the whole day without seeing each other. But we still were a pretty close knit crew. I had some really interesting experiences with those guys, and I’m still friends with them too.” STS-124, the Space Shuttle Discovery, was next for Reisman, which returned him to earth in June of 2008, but STS-132, Space Shuttle Atlantis, headed back with Reisman on board to the International Space Station in May 2010. Following his space flights, he worked with SpaceX and currently serves as a Senior Advisor and consultant for them in addition to his USC teaching duties. “I had different leadership positions there in the company (SpaceX) and worked directly for Elon Musk.” His Astronautical Engineering teaching at USC is something he finds very rewarding. “It is very rewarding in a different way, especially when I have students that get

Garrett Reisman’s photo from space of Parsippany. Photo credit Garrett Reisman.

really interested in the subject. I’ve had a number of students go off and work at SpaceX and Boeing, at Axiom Space and Blue Origin, and when they come back and they talk about how the stuff that I taught them was useful and helped them on their careers, that is really nice. So, it’s kind of coming full circle.” Reisman, who with fellow astronaut, Mike Massimino, hosts a podcast called

“Two Funny Astronauts,” is partnering with the Monmouth Museum at Brookdale Community College on a new Air and Space Wing. “I’m donating a lot of my personal items for that exhibit,” Reisman says. “That’ll be coming up and we’ll probably do a ribbon cutting and some kind of opening later this spring.” To learn more about Reisman, visit his website at www.garrettreisman.com.

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Page 46 • March 2022

Understanding VA Home Loan Requirements

he U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guarantees loans made by qualified lenders for the benefit of servicemembers, veterans and their families. Fortunately, these once-limited home loans have become increasingly easy to find and remain one of the most costeffective products on the mortgage market. “A couple decades ago, a lot of lenders thought VA loans were too difficult to navigate,” says Rashalon Hayes, assistant vice president of field mortgage at Navy Federal Credit Union. “Today, there are plenty of lenders experienced with VA loans that can walk you through the process.” In fact, roughly 45% of the mortgages Navy Federal originates are VA loans. Meeting VA home loan requirements can help you buy, build or renovate your home with little or no down payment. Because the VA backs a portion of each loan in their VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, lenders can offer more favorable terms for new home purchases and refinancing. Your path to buying a home with a VA loan: As a longtime partner of veterans, servicemembers and their families, Navy Federal knows the VA loan process inside and out. Their experienced lenders can help explore whether you meet VA home loan

requirements and answer any questions along the way. * Get pre-qualified for a loan. Receive a pre-qualification from your lender and begin the homebuying process. * Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This certificate from the VA confirms your military service and verifies you are eligible to receive a VA-guaranteed loan. Your lender can establish eligibility and obtain a COE for you. You can also apply online at the VA for this document. * Shop for a home. Work with a trusted real estate agent to find a home that meets your needs and fits your budget. Navy Federal even has a unique service called RealtyPlus, which pairs homebuyers with a coordinator specially trained to support servicemembers and their families through the buying, selling and financing processes. * Sign a home purchase agreement. Make sure the purchase agreement that your real estate agent drafts has a VA option clause. This clause states that you aren’t legally bound to purchase a home if the VA appraisal amount is lower than the seller’s asking price. “Some buyers worry this provision will hurt their offer, but VA loans can actually strengthen a contract offer since income is more reliable and

seamless to verify,” Hayes notes. * Get a VA appraisal. A VA-certified appraiser determines the home’s fair market value and looks for obviously needed repairs to ensure the property meets the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). * Have the home inspected. Hire a professional home inspector to check the home’s structure for defects and to inspect

items like electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems. * Sign the closing documents. After the home closing, it’s official! Congratulations on your new home. And remember: If you need to refinance your home in the future, you can use a VA loan for that, too. Learn more about your VA loan options to see if you qualify to purchase a home with no down payment. (BPT)

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