Denville May 2021 by My Life Publications..Maljon LLC

No. 19 Vol. 5

www.mypaperonline.com

May 2021

Rally to Protect Denville Wetlands

esidents took to the center of Denville with signs to create awareness that the Wetlands on Luger Rd. are under siege and their homes and safety are being jeopardized. During COVID, many people remained isolated and were unaware that the Denville Planning Board was holding Virtual Hearings on the Weiss-Aug application to build a 63,000 sq. ft industrial metal and plastic stamping factory on Luger Road in the middle of the Wetlands. Because it is Wetlands, a bridge is needed to get to the factory, warehouse, and parking lot which will be close to the residents’ homes. The Wetlands support a habitat of deer, birds, small animals, fauna, and thousands of trees. The trees provide oxygen, remove toxins from the air, act as a noise barrier, and absorb tons of water which prevents flooding. They also provide natural beauty. There is alarm that this

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related safety concerns. The Hub Times (Jan. 2021) warns residents of flooding and advises residents in wetland areas to purchase flood insurance. The Town will increase its tax rateables by approving the Weiss-Aug

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Let Kids be KIDS: Why Summer Camp is More Important than Ever in 2021

f ever there was a summer that children needed camp, it is this summer. So many children have been learning remotely, with very few days of in-person learning each week, if at all. Children are missing out on some important developmental opportunities due to COVID and camp is an environment that can provide so many of these missed occasions. Here are just a few reasons why camp is so important for children after a year of remote learning. Dangers of Screen Time Overload One of the many disadvantages of life with COVID is that children are spending more time than ever behind screens. I feel kids are missing out on social interactions and the ability to connect with friends. When children are watching their teacher on a screen, they can zone out or use their phone while not focusing on what is being taught. It is also hard for teachers to connect with their students in a virtual classroom. This will also lead to learning loss. Camp is the opposite of this. Kids are connecting with peers and learning from role models by being present and participating, rather than watching on a screen. During the camp day, campers and staff get to sit and talk to each other where valuable lessons are learned at many moments throughout the day. There is a significant decrease in faceto-face interactions, facial cues, body language and the ability to just stand in front of someone and see how what you say is received and react to that. Camp allows children to immerse themselves in socialization which children need more than ever! Lack of Extracurricular Activities Like so many things, sports and extracurricular activities are not running in the same way this year and it is having a huge effect on today’s youth. So many of the activities that help kids find their passion have been modified or canceled like sports, performing arts, or band. Children are not able to do what used to excite them, but at camp, we can give them the opportunity to play sports, create expressive art and even do hands on science experiments. These activities are harder to do everywhere else but at camp, counselors able to make these things safe, fun and give opportunities to do things kids love or might learn to love. Youth Peer Relationships One of the main challenges of virtual learning is that while children are seeing kids on a screen, they are not interacting with them. Children are missing out on those moments that make memories. Laugher or a spontaneous comment is next to impossible in a virtual classroom. When children

sit together in camp at lunch and talk throughout the day, these are the moments that make camp so special. memories. It is what children are truly missing in a virtual environment. Kid-only opportunities are so valuable to children and it is so hard when children have lost nearly a year of those formative experiences. Just being with other kids is a learning curve of experiencing how to navigate being with peers and is an opportunity to find a common language. These are all important things that come along with kid-specific experiences such as camp. Loss of Independence Due to COVID, children are with their parents at home more than ever before. While this is good for family bonding, it can certainly delay a child’s development. When kids are home doing remote learning, a parent is often close by. Pre-COVID, when children go to school, they stretch in different ways socially and academically but when they are learning at home, they are still just at home. This limits how they think of themselves in relation to family or at home is still present, so kids are not stretching in the same way. Camp is where children can find their real self and become more independent. Separation from their parent will be so much more important this summer. Children need to gain independence individually and if they are only with their parents, they do not have these opportunities. Camp allows children to make their own decisions, with the guidance of their counselors. For example, if they need a sweatshirt if it is a colder day or being able to choose their own craft. Being without parents there to help is crucial because it gives children the opportunity to have these experiences which will help them develop into independent adults. Lack of Consistency Children thrive on routine. Unfortunately, COVID has taken that away in so many ways. Currently, kids do not know when a quarantine may happen or if school will close so they are forced into things being unpredictable. There is a certain level of consistency and routine at camp. Kids know they will be there for a certain number of weeks, what time their meals are, who is in their group and what kind of activities there are. This kind of consistency is good for kids and a way of getting back to a normal routine. Right now, children are in school for very few full five days from 8:30 – 3 pm. Children thrive off structure so when they only have three hours a day of school, it leads to lots of free time for Tik-Tok or Instagram. Acamp day reminds children of how to follow a schedule.

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Teens Lead Outdoor Worship & Carry the Cross on Good Friday

orris Knolls High School Senior, Zach Karpack, age 18, played the role of Jesus and carried a 12 foot long cross from the Tourne Park (Rockaway River Access Point) to the Denville Community Church on Diamond Spring Road. Teens, college students, and families of the Christian Drama School of New Jersey marked their 21st year of helping Jesus carrying the cross through Denville. As usual, Christian Drama School students and graduates wore Bible costumes to lead a dramatic worship service that included music and dance. Unlike other years, the worship was held outside next to the Rockaway River. Keeping with tradition, participants helped Jesus carry the cross with a police escort and congregation following behind. The route this year was cut in half from 4 miles to 2 miles. All state guidelines for Covid-19 were obeyed and enforced. Rev. Urbanik stated, “The whole point is to bring Jesus to life and inspire hope.”

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Local Morris Hills Student Named 2021 Coca-Cola Scholar

unal Kumar, an exceptional senior at Morris Hills High School in Denville, has been recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and has been awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. As a member of the 33rd class of Coca-Cola Scholars, Kunal Kumar not only exemplifies superior leadership, service, and academics Kunal Kumar is a change agent, positively affecting others in the community. Kunal Kumar is one of 150 selected from 99,403 applicants from across the country to receive this scholarship. A joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The CocaCola Company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States. With the addition of the 2021 class, the CocaCola Scholars Foundation will have provided more than 6,450 Coke Scholars nationwide with over $75 million in scholarships over the course of 33 years. “We believe that identifying these young leaders throughout the country and encouraging their passion for serving others not only empowers the students, but also lifts up those around them.” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Foundation. “The

Coca-Cola system is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve, and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is proud to be a part of that commitment.” In addition to receiving college scholarships, those students selected as Coca-Cola Scholars will be welcomed into a vibrant and growing family of alumni that have become a powerful force for positive change in the world. Through networking, collaborations, and friendships, the group strives to make a greater impact together. Recent initiatives include a podcast called The SIP, Coke Scholars Care (Coke Scholars doing good in the midst of the pandemic), and the fifth year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college. Every 5 years, all alumni are invited to a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world. With its 33rd class of Coca-Cola Scholars, the Foundation has provided more than $75 million in scholarships to over 6,450 program alumni who together have become a powerful force for positive change. Learn more at www. coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.

“Nasty Nellie Is An April Fool”

By Robert Massimi. Member Dramatists Guild and Drama League. n a rapid fire comedy tempo, Alison Arngrin talks about her life as Nellie Oleson from “Little House on The Prairie”; her growing up with show biz parents : the people she has met along the way in entertainment. Arngrim brings a unique perspective to being cast as the nasty one on the “Prairie” and what that role did too her growing up. What should have been a role of a lifetime, she was instead stereotyped as a “bitch” and was humiliated both in school and at social events. In a paradoxical way Arngrim was liberated by the “bitch” persona that she was given. In a rapid speech pattern she begins the play by giving us her parents background; her father managed Liberace and her mom was a voice over for many cartoon characters. “April Fool” is only 30 minutes long with about 45 minutes of material in it. The audience needs to be attentive and aware of who she was growing up to get the comedy routine. Some jokes are very funny; others fall flat, very flat. When it’s good, it’s good, when flat it reminded me of Tom Arnold trying to do comedy: forced jokes with fake expressions. The Liberace skit was hilarious;

her recollection of him and her father as his manager was great fun to listen to.. The skit then moved to her mothers voice overs, it is here that the jokes fall flat and just aren’t funny (being the voice of Casper, Gumby Davey and Underdog Arngrim’s comedy does not work here). Meeting stars as a young woman had a profound effect on Ms. Arngrim; the story of her meeting Eartha Kitt, her impression of her was spot on, as was her impression of Carol Channing. As she describes doing a movie in France, her time with Kitt and Channing might have been the height of the show... jokes were funny, you felt her revel in that period of her life. Arngrim was at her best when she had a detailed recollection of the people she met along the way, when she went into stories about cooking and her cats is when the show became boring and lackluster. The question and answer at the end of the show could have been dropped all together- It would have been a better show without this segment. Following this actor through her journey had ups and down in the 30 minutes. While Arngrim sheds some fun about her life in a speed run, the show could have been directed better in honing some of the jokes and perfecting its skit.

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Is Your Supermarket Doing Enough to Address the Plastic Pollution Crisis?

lastic pollution is not just an eyesore. According to environmental experts, it also affects marine species, accelerates climate change and adversely impacts human health, particularly in low-income communities near plastic production sites, which face greater exposure to toxins and waste and bear the brunt of the impacts of improper plastic disposal and incineration. A new report highlights the role supermarkets play in the plastic pollution crisis. The second ranking of 20 U.S. grocery retailers’ efforts to reduce single-use plastics from Greenpeace USA finds that all of the supermarket chains in the report are failing to adequately address the plastic pollution crisis, and that even retailers publicly committed to eliminating single-use plastic could be doing more to prioritize their efforts, engage with suppliers, and offer transparency with customers and the broader public. “There is not a single place that individuals are confronted with more single-use plastic than in our grocery stores, yet companies continue to move at

a snail’s pace on plastic reduction efforts,” says Greenpeace USA oceans campaign director, John Hocevar. “It is time to turn this around with action.” While Hocevar stresses that governmental policy shifts and the actions of major corporations will be necessary to move the needle, individuals can also get involved. Beyond opting for reusable bags and containers at the store, consumers can make their voice heard by talking to their local grocery stores about phasing out single-use plastics, writing to larger companies urging them to move in a better direction and asking their elected officials to support plastic bans. They can also learn more by reading the full report at greenpeace.org. “Every piece of plastic that comes through a grocery store ends up polluting the environment, and harming our health,” says Hocevar. “We need to see retailers acting now to dramatically reduce their plastic footprints and move from singleuse packaging to reuse and package free approaches.” (StatePoint)

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Don’t Let Allergies Get the Best of You this Season

don’t know about you, but I’m thinking spring cannot come soon enough… especially after the unexpected, late season, blizzards! Spring brings longer days, budding flowers, sunshine and warmer weather. Along with the beautiful flowers, spring also brings pollen and allergens! For some, these allergens can wreak havoc. If you’re someone who suffers from allergies, you might dread the spring season. Seasonal allergies can cause a multitude of nagging symptoms including: runny nose, itchy and/or red irritated eyes, stuffy nose/congestion, sneezing, scratchy throat and itchiness. If you suffer from any of the above, I’m here to tell you that there is a solution! Believe it or not, Acupuncture can help you to enjoy the spring again! So, you might be asking how can Acupuncture help? Acupuncture relieves symptoms of allergies by diminishing the body’s inflammatory response, without the unwanted side effects. It helps to open nasal passages, reduces sinus pressure, calms itching, decreases throat pain, coughing and sneezing. Here’s the catch… it’s always best to begin treatment before the season begins. It is better to prevent symptoms then try to tackle them when they are in full effect. In addition to Acupuncture treatment, you can help yourself at home with these simple tips: Flush out allergens with a Neti pot, keep windows closed to prevent allergens from entering your home, try an air filter, vacuum

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What Everyone Should Know about Melanoma

Written By, Chris Bauer MD n 2021, an astounding 106,110 people were diagnosed with melanoma in the United States. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It affects men at a greater rate than women and Caucasian people are affected at 20 times the rate of African American people. The average age of someone being diagnosed with melanoma is 65. However, there are significantly larger amounts of younger people getting Melanoma every year. Children and adolescents have also been diagnosed with this deadly form of skin cancer. The typical appearance of a melanoma is one of a pigmented spot almost resembling a freckle. Many times, that lesion can be raised and have an irregular border. The lesions can be exceedingly small sometimes only a few millimeters wide. If a skin lesion is crusting or bleeding frequently it may be melanoma. Melanomas can develop on nail bed surfaces or on the surface of the cornea in the eye. Most melanomas spread superficially and then invade to deeper layers of tissue. Melanomas that occur on the face, head, and trunk have a worse prognosis then melanomas that are located on the lower parts of the body. Due to its aggressive nature melanoma can spread or metastasize to any organ in the body. If an abnormal skin lesion is detected, then a person should either go to dermatol-

ogist or a primary care physician to have a full evaluation of the mass. At the doctor’s office, the physician will then do a thorough exam of all the skin areas especially the one in question. A skin biopsy will then be collected if the skin lesion is suspicious for either a cancerous or precancerous condition. Treatment for early-stage melanoma will most likely include removal of the affected area with some surrounding normal tissue around it. More extensive surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation are other treatments that are used to treat more advanced disease. People who are more at risk for melanoma should be completing regular selfskin exams. A small portion of melanomas are genetic and are present in one or more members of an extended family. People who have light skin complexion and light eye color are also at a higher risk. Those with many freckles or nevi on their body have increased rates of melanoma too. Use of tanning beds, frequent sun exposure and history of frequent sunburns during childhood and adolescence are other risks associated with developing melanoma. Prevention of melanoma and skin cancer is one of the many preventative health measures that physicians in New jersey believe in strongly. Melanoma patient education campaigns have been taking place in the US since the 1990’s. These campaigns have

been used to instruct younger people especially in the ways that they can reduce their risk of getting skin cancer and melanoma. Sun protection is one of the biggest ways people can reduce their risk of melanoma. SPF 15 should be applied to the skin during everyday use and SPF 30 sunscreen should be used during more prolonged sun exposures. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours and whenever you are going to do an outdoor activity. Use of protective hats, sunglasses and sun protective clothing are other ways to reduce the damaging effects of the sun. Daily avoidance of the sun’s most damaging rays between 10am and 4pm is also especially important. People should also avoid

getting sunburned at all costs. Lastly, indoor tanning bed use should be avoided. Those that have used indoor tanning beds especially in their early adulthood have a significant risk of developing melanomas compared to those who have never used a tanning bed. Spray tans and other cosmetic purchases can be used to create the “suntanned” look without having to take on the significant risk from the tanning beds. The month of May has been designated Melanoma Awareness Month. With spring in full bloom, let us remember our sunscreen and protective clothing and lets all stay safe in the sun!

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Lost Teens Find Home at Denville Orphanage

By Jillian Risberg lood doesn’t always make family but St. Peter’s Orphanage, the last known residential treatment program of its kind in the United States, provides a safe haven for teen boys who’ve been abused, abandoned or neglected. There they find a different kind of kinship and build lifelong bonds. And this past year definitely put those bonds to the test when a staff member tested positive for COVID. “When that person was in quarantine — one Friday morning in November I come into work and four of our five kids have a low grade temperature and don’t feel well,” says Executive Director, Kelly McNamara, LCSW. “Went and got tested, there were two positives and three negatives. But I made all the kids quarantine in their own bedroom.” And for the next few Saturdays it was more testing for the 16 to 18-year-old boys. “One child the first time (this company) came to the property to test came up positive; and it was a different child. There were three total positives and two negatives. I kept testing until everyone was negative,” McNamara says. According to the executive director, the boys were cherubs and didn’t go off the property often — except for hikes, walks and bike rides; and luckily their symptoms

were only mild. St. Peter’s gathered televisions from around the house and put one in each bedroom and purchased a streaming service (HULU) with parental restrictions. Staff members brought in a video game console, and they also did a lot of arts and crafts. “We just tried to make it as comfortable as possible,” McNamara says. “You have to remember, these are kids already in an unnatural situation and on top of that quarantine is an unnatural situation; I felt terrible for them.” The executive director says as their quarantine was ending in December, a donor called and asked what the boys would like for Christmas. “I need to throw these kids a party to thank them for being so cooperative during quarantine, for caring about the health of each other, the health of our staff and our staff’s families,” she says she remembers thinking, adding that it’s unimaginable to go through something like this as a welladjusted adult, let alone kids their age. “I couldn’t have asked for more, so we threw them a quarantine’s over party,” says McNamara. “It was a really wonderful way to wrap up that chapter for St. Peter’s — everybody’s been negative since.” The boys see each other as family and the executive director says in that vein,

‘they would kill each other (as only siblings could) inside the house, but they would kill for each other outside of the house.’ When it comes to the pandemic, she says it was one of the toughest challenges she’s had to face in her 24 years at St. Peter’s. “My greatest fear was that someone was going to get (COVID), either a staff member or a resident and something terrible was going to happen to that person,” says McNamara. “It was my responsibility to ensure safety in the home, to reinforce and

hold people accountable and to acquire the PPE. “If I don’t do everything I can to keep current with CDC guidelines, I could fail these kids and that is the last thing that I wanted.” The only difference between now and pre-COVID for the boys is that mask wearing has become a way of life, according to the executive director. “They don’t have to wear it in their rooms continued on page 15

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Lost Teens Find Home... continued from page 14 or the bathroom but everywhere else they have to wear it in their own home,” she says. “I just can’t get around that one.” The kids are back in school (hybrid/ remote learning) and heading back to work. St. Peter’s had three high school graduations last June, and on March 3 one of the residents graduated from cosmetology school. “To have an accomplishment like that when you’re in a residential facility to begin with and on top of that you’re dealing with COVID; we are very, very proud,” says McNamara. As the pandemic winds down and hopefully we achieve herd immunity, she wants the kids to be able to resume a life as close to normal as possible. “Their normal is different than the normal of others but I hope that everyone stays healthy and virus free until it’s safe out there. Once it’s safe maybe we’ll have another party,” the executive director says, adding that she sees the positive side of the whole experience. “If you described to me in a couple of years that we had gone through this at St. Peters and the world had gone through this, I can’t say anything other than myself, my staff and my kids have been blessed — as hard as it was, I really believe that.”

And for these boys who have been dealt such a rough card, they deserve light at the end of the tunnel. “Kids come from other facilities are shocked that we’ll play Monopoly with them or we went to their awards ceremony at school or took them out for a graduation dinner and gave them presents or that their birthday was celebrated — because it hasn’t been,” says McNamara. It’s a complete departure from the environment they were previously exposed to. Some of the boy’s parents are homeless, incarcerated, missing and addicted. “It is all sorts; on the flip side there are families that have two parents and from any therapist’s assessment they are good parents — but sometimes kids simply don’t have the ability to manage anger in a safe way,” the executive director says. In the early 70s the facility moved to a nine-acre property on Diamond Spring Road in Denville, where the brood includes teens with mild to moderate emotional, behavioral, social and/or learning problems. “The state of New Jersey changed things, they didn’t want the little ones in group homes and especially with older kids,” says McNamara. “I understand that and it does make sense. So now we can take 14 through 18-year-olds.”

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Kids often end up there after multiple failed adoptions and foster homes. “It’s unconscionable,” she says. “But the reasons are really all the same. When you’ve been treated the way they have been treated usually from birth and you’re in a family that you don’t know — it’s not emotionally safe or physically safe sometimes.” She says the kids will sabotage their living arrangement. They act out and it gets them kicked out because that’s safer, according to McNamara. “There’s only so much some people can take.” And there are kids one can love endlessly, be there for them and provide every service possible but they just can’t find their way. “They’ve been so horribly abused and may not have the wherewithal, some are born more resilient than others — that no matter what we do, sadly they’re not in that term successful,” says the executive director. The orphanage was established in 1864 on Lyons Avenue in Newark — where nuns from the School Sisters of Notre Dame cared for children left homeless following the Civil War. “There’s such a wonderful spirit; it’s why I’m still here,” McNamara says. According to the executive director, everyone involved has stayed for years and takes care of the kids as if they were their

own. “People don’t work within strict job descriptions. I could be making macaroni and cheese one night or (helping) a kid who needs a bandaid,” she says, adding that those aren’t typical duties and it’s part of what’s so great about this place. If it sounds like family, that’s how the executive director describes the vibe at St. Peter’s. “It’s a family-like atmosphere but we do provide professionally managed therapeutic care because obviously if the kids are here they’ve been traumatized (physical and sexual abuse),” says McNamara, adding that some need behavior modification and special schooling. She works with two other administrators and regulatory bodies, but they are like the parents. “That’s I think why it works,” says the executive director. “People who are here are paid to take care of them and that is significant for the kids. There is psychotherapeutic and behavioral management, which normally doesn’t exist in a family.” She says it helps them emotionally process what happened to them. “Obviously you can’t change the past but you can change how you respond to it now,” McNamara says. “That affects continued on page 16

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Lost Teens Find Home... continued from page 15 their behavior and we hope what we do is helpful. Honestly, I’d say (for) almost every child it is.” With traumatization comes a variety of mental health disorders and many of the teens are on antidepressant and anxiety medication to cope. Providing a loving, supportive home to the boys is everything. “It gives meaning to the purpose of my life,” says the executive director. “Being able to help heal; I don’t think I could ask for more.” Even when the teens outgrow the orphanage, it remains the place they call home. “They’re always returning, calling, e-mailing. We’re still family and they still look to us for guidance,” says McNamara, noting that it’s one of the signs they’ve been doing a good job. And she says many have utilized the foundation they gained at St. Peter’s as they embark on their adult lives. “Success for us is when they leave here they’re able to establish and maintain relationships because trust is so hard for them,” the executive director says. “They’re not inpatient psychiatric, they’re not in jail and they’re able to be self-sustaining

(ie: hold a job, an apartment and pay their bills).” The state of New Jersey funds the orphanage and also always relies on the kindness of donations. Sensory integration with kids who’ve been traumatized is almost as helpful as therapy but happens in the moment, according to McNamara. “In the moment that they’re anxious, in the moment that they’re angry, something they can do right now,” she says, adding that all the supplies and paints in each sensory room were donated. “We couldn’t have done it without that.” When it comes to the behaviors and psychiatric palette, it gets to such a point and may become criminality “that they’re either in jail or in-patient psyche before they’re in residential,” says the executive director. “They let it go, in my opinion, way too long and then you’ve got kids in such crisis that we’re too low level and these kids have higher critical needs than us,” McNamara says. “Hope the state realizes that if they really need residential let’s get them in residential; make sure they get what they need before it’s too late.” To support St. Peter’s mission, visit www. stpetersorphanage.org.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Denville Life • May 2021 • Page 17

IT HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN

The Story of Denville’s 1975 Summer Hailstorm

By Peter Zablocki hat started off as your typical run-of-the-mill early summer day, soon turned into what the Morristown Daily Record called, “One of God’s Strangest Acts.” It was Tuesday, May 13th, 1975 and Denville was about to become the prime victim of a storm which dumped, hail, rain, and flood debris on the small municipality. The deluge that followed would go on to cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and be referred to by Mayor Robert Dalrymple as “a minor disaster.” As is usually the case with every other storm, the first indication of the impending weather change were the dark clouds which set over Morris County. By early afternoon, the day had turned into night and rain began to pellet the small communities surrounding the “Hub of Morris County.” Then came the lightning. Within the span of three hours, it would strike and set off five fires in and around Denville. Soon, the rain turned to snow and hail the size of mothballs. It pelted down on the early blooming tulips and home gardens around the township. And as if all this were not enough, the wind’s ferocity seemed to increase minute by the minute. All apple trees at the Saint Francis Health Resort were defoliated. The Denville Gardens next to today’s library building, saw all of its vegetable plants beaten to a pulp. Storm windows throughout the township were ripped off and lay all over the streets.

According to the Daily Record, residents said mud, rockslides, and debris had clogged a multitude of drainage systems. The Police further reported on the sudden onrush of water eroding the ground around drainage pipes and causing them to collapse. The mayor later gave a statement where he admitted that the freak storm virtually turned certain Denville roads into rivers. In Indian Lake, where the damage seemed to be the worse, fallen power lines caused power shortages and further electrical fires. Due to the rapid flash flooding, a car parked on North Shore

Drive, at one point completely disappeared under water. Yet, the direst situation turned out to be on Route 53 which now resembled a river in Alaska. In fact, hail, snow, and water as high as five feet and even higher would later be photographed barricading traffic under the Erie Lackawanna Railway overpass. A St. Claire’s doctor was driving home on Rt. 53 when her car sank under four feet of water and hail. Nearby a Denville Firefighter could be seen wading through the same continued on page 18

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1975 Summer Hailstorm... continued from page 17 water trying to help those who suddenly found themselves in the most dire of situations. Another car, this time with kids as passengers would soon become stuck in the same spot. The Denville Police promptly dispatched the township bucket loader to the scene to get them all out and into safety. Upon inspection of one of the vehicles pulled out of the water, a look under the hood revealed that hail had come up and filled the entire engine compartment. As the storm was peaking, the Denville Fire Department’s transmitter was knocked out by lightning. They would continue to answer numerous calls of fires, floods, and landslides through the police phones. The Citizen newspaper reported that when Police first called for a plow

and road crews to dig numerous cars out, the response was, “What have you been drinking?” After all, this was midMay! Around 30 firemen were dispatched to the scene on Route 53. And although the storm passed in what seemed like a flash, it took three hours for road crews, police, and firemen to clear off the road and allow commuters through. As additional snowplows were dispatched to clear the roads and the Department of Public Works sent crews around the municipality to clear debris caused by landslides and winds, auxiliary policemen were called upon to direct traffic which backed up along Routes 53, 46 and 80. And then just as quickly as it began, it was all over. Mayor Dalrymple pledged the help of Denville’s maintenance crews in the upcoming days. They would spend that

entire evening following the storm surveying the streets and gathering additional damage estimates, and finally repairing what needed to be repaired. As the day was drawing to a close, clouds of dense white fog steamed peacefully up from the warm ground. All around town, one could now see snow and hail piles, sometimes a foot high, covering people’s lawns. The next morning, Denville youngsters may not have had a May snow day, but it sure was fun to have hail ball fights while waiting for school buses. After all, it was just another one of your typical run-of-the-mill early summer days. Peter Zablocki is local historian, author, and co-host of a “History Teachers Talking Podcast” available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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A Brunch Spread Fit for Spring

rom tasty small bites to a filling feast and even dessert for breakfast, brunch options are nearly endless. Take your spring brunch to the next level with recipes that appease appetites of all kinds. First, start with portioned pastry cups perfect for appetizers. Bring out the protein-packed breakfast burritos for the main course then, for a final touch of sweet deliciousness, offer up lemony doughnuts to cap off the feast. Find more brunch recipes at Culinary. net. Bite-Sized Breakfast Appetizer-sized portions and small bites of all sorts are ideal for breakfast spreads, and these Pastry Brunch Cups are perfect for starting a morning meal with loved ones. Or, if a busy schedule looms, try baking a batch and separating into appropriate serving sizes for a simple way to meal prep heading into a new week. Find more breakfast recipes at Culinary. net. Pastry Brunch Cups Servings: 18 2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 2 sheets puff pastry 18 eggs 2 cups diced ham chopped fresh green onions Heat oven 375 F. In small saucepan, melt butter. Whisk flour with butter. Gradually pour in milk, whisking each time. Bring to simmer, whisking until mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in Swiss cheese. Set aside. Use rolling pin to thin out puff pastries. Cut each into nine squares. Line pastry squares in muffin cups, pressing bottoms

down firmly and moving pastries up sides for edges to come up just over muffin tins. Fill each cup with 1 teaspoon cheese sauce. Crack one egg into each cup and sprinkle each with diced ham. Bake 10-15 minutes until eggs set. Sprinkle with chopped green onions. Power Brunch with a Protein-Packed Burrito A well-rounded brunch calls for a multitude of dishes and beverages, but it wouldn’t be complete without a proteinpacked recipe to get the day started. This delicious Breakfast Burrito is loaded with colorful veggies and Silver Fern Farms 100% grass-fed strip steak. Hailing from New Zealand, home to some of the world’s most natural tasting beef and lamb, this premium cut of beef is aged 21 days and minimally processed with no added growth hormones or antibiotics. The animals are grass-fed year-round and allowed to roam and graze freely, so the beef offers a lean, flavorful texture that tastes just as nature intended. Visit silverfernfarms.com to find more at-home brunch inspiration.

Breakfast Burrito 1 Silver Fern Farms New Zealand 100% Grass-Fed New York Strip Steak (10 ounces) oil salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, sliced lengthwise 4 large mushrooms, sliced 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon paprika continued on page 21

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A Brunch Spread... continued from page 20 1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder 1 tomato, finely chopped 8 eggs 1/2 cup milk 4 large tortillas 1 cup spinach 1 1/2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup cilantro 1 avocado lime wedges (optional) hot sauce (optional) Remove steak from packaging and set aside 10 minutes. Once steak reaches room temperature, heat pan over medium-high heat. Rub steak with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until medium-rare, approximately 3-4 minutes each side. Remove from pan and cover loosely with tinfoil to rest 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add splash of oil. Add onion; cook 1 minute. Add red bell pepper and mushrooms; cook 1 minute. Add cumin, paprika and chili powder; stir through. When veggies are tender (about 2

minutes), add tomato and cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. In large bowl, whisk eggs, milk and salt and pepper, to taste. Heat pan to medium heat and add splash of oil. Pour egg mixture into pan and cook, lifting and folding eggs until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains. Do not stir constantly. Lay tortillas on flat surface or plate. In center of tortilla, add cooked veggies and top with thinly sliced beef. Add handful of spinach, scrambled eggs, crumbled feta, cilantro and avocado. Fold bottom of tortilla and roll. Serve with lime wedges and hot sauce, if desired. Dine on Deliciously Sweet Doughnuts Brunch is never complete without something sweet to cap off the morning feast, and doughnuts are often the perfect complement to an array of main courses. These Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts pair the bite-sized morsels with lemon curd (if that suits your style) for a sweet-tart combination. They’re made using Domino Golden Sugar, which is made from pure

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cane sugar and is less processed than white granulated sugar, as one you can always trust in your favorite recipes. It works cupfor-cup just like white sugar but with a golden color and distinct hint of molasses flavor. Visit dominosugar.com to find recipes perfect for entertaining and celebrating throughout the year. Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 7 minutes Doughnuts: Vegetable oil, for frying 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 cups Domino Golden Sugar, divided 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons lemon zest 5 large eggs 1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Lemon Curd (optional): 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups Domino Golden Sugar 2 large eggs 2 egg yolks 4 lemons, zest and juice only

1/8 teaspoon salt To make doughnuts: In large saucepan, preheat oil to 350 F. Prepare cookie sheet with paper towel to drain doughnuts once out of hot oil. In bowl, mix flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Add lemon zest, eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract; mix until well combined. Use ice cream scoop to scoop small amounts dough into oil, 4-5 pieces at a time. Fry each batch until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Keep oil at or near 350 F; if oil is too hot, doughnuts will turn golden brown but centers may still be raw. Remove from oil and drain in paper towel. Repeat with remaining dough. While still hot, toss doughnuts with remaining sugar. To make lemon curd, if desired: In large bowl of stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and salt. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook at low-medium heat until thick and creamy, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool before serving with doughnuts.

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Lakeside Tavern Set to Re- Open in Mount Olive

By Megan Roche akeside Tavern “Your Neighborhood Bar and Grill “will is once again open for business. Lakeside Tavern will be the new go to spot. It’s convenient location on Route 46 will offer easy access to Route 80, Route 206, and Route 46. The family friendly location will have some incredible sunsets and houses picture windows for all to enjoy. Stop in for a game of pool, Darts while listening to some great music or just enjoy the neighborhood setting with a great selection of your favorite bar foods and drinks. Budd Lake has been a staple in the Mount Olive community for decades. Budd Lake is the largest natural lake in New Jersey at 374 acres. Formerly known as Hattacawanna Lake, the lake was named for Lt. John Budd who was the first military officer to train a home guard to protect the community against threats. Lt. Budd also owned 1300 acres of land in the area back in 1714. The lake has been home to many families throughout the years but was an extremely popular summer vacation destination in the 1920’s. Hotels graced the area around the lake, with the most popular ones being the Greene Inn and the Budd Lake Hotel. As time has passed, the lake has still been a source of recreation for many in the greater

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Mount Olive communities. The lake is also the source for the south branch of the Raritan River. Budd Lake has a depth of seven to 12 feet and was created by thousands of years of decaying plant material such as black spruce and tamarack. Budd Lake Beach is a great place to bring family and friends during the summer months. For Lakeside Tavern and Restaurant Village Hospitality Group owners, Steve and Andrea Bussel, opening and operating a restaurant is no new game for them. The couple also own Long Valley Brew Pub, OMG Burger and Brew, Bea McNally’s in Hackettstown, and White Birch, with Chef Sam Freund. “I was successful in the real estate business. I’ve always enjoyed seeing restaurant operations, they have always piqued my interest and as I became successful in the real estate business, I felt that I would try my hand at owning restaurants as well,” Bussel said. Lakeside Tavern is located at the old High Noon location, directly across from the lake. There will be ample parking available. The laidback atmosphere will house a 15-20 bar seats and be family friendly and economical. The food at Lakeside Tavern will feature tavern food, such as burgers, wings, and pasta.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Denville Life • May 2021 • Page 23

5 Ways to Go Beyond Saying ‘Thank You’ to Military Service Members

ow do you thank someone who’s willing to risk their life for yours? When it comes to military service members and their families, advocates say there are many avenues for giving back meaningfully. As part of its “Give More Than Thanks” campaign celebrating 80 years of being the “Force Behind the Forces,” the United Service Organizations (USO) is inviting Americans to take actions that can make a tangible difference in the lives of service members. Here are five ideas to get you started: 1. Offer Skills or Services. Many service members face difficulties translating the skills and experience they acquired in the military to civilian jobs. Others struggle to adjust to the norms of the civilian workforce. Meanwhile, military spouses face professional obstacles throughout their service member’s career due to constant moves and deployments. Consider offering career advice or volunteering to guest lecture via military transition programs, such as the USO Pathfinder Transition Program, which equips service members and military spouses with tools needed to tackle the civilian job market. If you own a business or are a leader in a company, advocate for hiring qualified veterans. By offering practical support, you’re not only thanking service members, you’re helping build an inclusive community that bridges the civilian-military divide. 2. Send a Care Package. Care packages filled with treats and reminders of home let troops know that friends, family and the American people are thinking of them, even from thousands of miles away. However, the process of sending military care packages can be complicated. One easy way to do so is through USO Wishbook, where you can select a symbolic gift from a catalog to be

sent to service members. 3. Support Military Spouses. Deployments are challenging for both service members and their spouses. Reach out to a military spouse whose service member is deployed and offer to cook their family dinner, or to pick up groceries. Simply reaching out to see how they are doing can also make all the difference. 4. Volunteer. Put your gratitude into action. Many USO locations across the country need volunteers who can facilitate programs and events – virtually or safely in person – that provide the military community with the support needed to carry out their missions. 5. Donate. The USO has been expressing its thanks to service members by supporting the troops since World War II. Today, that gratitude is shown in USO locations around the globe; these brickand-mortar centers serve as a home away from home for deployed service members, and a place of respite for the larger military community. USO programming keeps deployed troops connected to loved ones, provides resources for service members and their families and boosts the morale of the entire military community through entertainment and other supportive events. Charitable donations to the USO help make that mission possible. To learn more about the USO’s work and discover additional ways to give more thanks, visit USO.org/morethanthanks and follow the conversation at #MoreThanThanks. “Our service members and their families’ sacrifices require us to rise to the challenge. All Americans, united in spirit and action, can change the lives and communities of our military, and thus, our country, for the better,” says J.D. Crouch II, CEO and president of the USO. (StatePoint)

Page 24 • May 2021 • Denville Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Denville Fire Department Celebrates 95th Anniversary

By Steve Sears pstairs in the Main Street Company 1 firehouse of the Denville Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, current Department Chief James Crothers states, “People don’t realize were volunteers. We’ve been that way forever, and hopefully we’ll stay that way.” Crothers, who has lived in Denville his whole life, is in his second year of his current tenure as Chief. He also served as Chief from 2009 – 2011, and his dad as well at one time had the top seat. “I just like helping out the community,” he says. Joining Crothers on the overcast day were Charles Botti, a DFD member for 43 years and Chief in 1988; Troy Decker, Second Assistant Chief for two years and member for 8 years; and Tom Beatty, a member since 1960, and twice Chief: 1973, and 1996 – 2001. “I’ve been around for 60 years,” Beatty says proudly. The group is discussing the DFD’s 95th anniversary and history. Talks began about first starting the department in late 1925, and the official formation was in July of 1926. The First Aid Squad was formed in 1940. The active firehouses are Main Street Company 1, Union Hill Company 2, and Valley View Company 3. “There was a sports club started,” says Beatty of the early days, “which was swung into a volunteer fire department because we (Denville) were covered by Rockaway Borough for a while. They mortgaged their homes to buy the first fire truck.” And that first fire truck, an American LaFrance Pumper lovingly called “Old Betsy,” still “lives.” In the distance, you

90th anniversary department. photo courtesy of the Denville Fire Department.

can hear that rattle of the old engine of the restored truck as former Deputy Chief, Ed Saniewski, turns the key. “He’s going to pull it around the front,” says Crothers with a smile regarding the truck, which first saw action in August 1926. He then provides a numbers update. “At one point, we were at 120 members here. We are down

now probably to about 70, which is really a false number when you consider some of the older guys, and we have some college kids, juniors, that brings the number down to about 60. So were half of what we should be, for the size of the area and the amount of calls we run. Our challenge is continued on page 26

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Denville Fire Department...

continued from page 24 manpower, to tell you the truth. And when I say manpower, I mean willing to do the job.” “What the future is going to look like?” Crothers asks. “That’s something I struggle with as Chief.” The Ladies Auxiliary of the Denville Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1936, and they themselves are celebrating 85 years of service. In their first year of existence, the Auxiliary raised $1,000, and one-half of the money was donated to purchase the Department’s first ambulance (each firehouse currently has its own ambulance). The Auxiliary currently assists with the annual firemen’s carnival, fire prevention open house and the Halloween parade. Its support to the Denville’s firefighters is invaluable. “This whole Covid thing,” says Crothers, “has really cramped our style. We’ve worked hard just to keep our guys safe. There was no gathering in the firehouses for at least 8 months, everything went to small groups, I told the captains to split up maintenance on Monday and Thursday night. Decon (the fire trucks) the moment you come back, wipe them down. We put gloves and hand sanitizers in all the pumpers - we just stayed on it.” “I do have to say,” says Decker, who is 24 and first joined when he was 16, “that we’ve been very fortunate with the residents of this town and the town helping us out, getting supplies, making us masks, and donations.” For years, the volunteers walked the streets of Denville, knocking on doors for donations. In 2019, courtesy of a suggestion by Decker, they did a first-time mailing to all residents and businesses for their annual drive. His idea was apropos as it

The Old Betsy. Photo credit Charles Botti.

served well in 2020 and the pandemic. According to Botti, over the years the unit has changed from fire fighters to being first aiders. “That’s our busiest job for the town.,” he says. “A lot of manpower and it takes a lot of training. We have people who take extra training to do the advanced first aid. There’s 3 of 4 calls a day, and sometimes all three ambulances are in service.” First Aid Captain is Bill Keating. Crothers reflects on the anniversary, in a year where not

much can be celebrated due to COVID-19. “95 years is a big accomplishment. Most of us have been here for more than half of it.” No celebration is planned because of the pandemic, although banners are being created. Talk has been ongoing for the 100th anniversary. For more information and a more in-depth history of the Denville Fire Department & Rescue Squad, visit www. denvillefd.com.

Did You Know?

ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 percent of all adults in the United States have arthritis. Though that equates to more than 54 million people, the CDC notes that fewer than half of those people are limited in their activities because of arthritis, which is actually a general term for more than 100 conditions that affect the tissues around the joints. Though arthritis might not limit people in their activities, it can still make it hard for people to manage preexisting conditions. The CDC reports that arthritis

commonly occurs with other chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Arthritis can make it hard for people to engage in physical activity, which in turn can compromise a person’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. For example, the Arthritis Foundation reports that 43 percent of arthritis patients indicate pain limits their ability to walk. In such instances, arthritis sufferers should speak with their physicians to develop a total wellness plan that focuses on pain management but also improves physical function and quality of life.

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Page 28 • May 2021 • Denville Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

I Remember Dad: The Winds of Change

By Richard Mabey Jr. here is a fiber, a weave, a tapestry that often unites families together. And, then there is the pull, the outgoing tide of fate and destiny. It is almost as if there is a marker in time, wherein one chapter closes and another chapter opens in the books of our lives. Such a time came in early September of 1987. My beloved father turned 60 that year, on Sunday, September 6th. We had a most wonderful and magical birthday party for him, in the afternoon, after church. The backyard of the old Mabey Homestead was filled with family, neighbors, church friends, and friends from scouts. It was a most grand and glorious time. Beneath the shade of the tall, towering maple tree, Dad cut his large, sheet cake. It was beneath the very maple tree that Dad had climbed as a boy and I had built my tree fort on. Balloons filled the yard. Along with crepe paper strung from tree limb to tree limb. And we even had one of those long chain “Happy Birthday” messages that was strung between two trees. It was truly a happy and joyous time. At the time, none of us knew that the Autumn of 1987, was going to be such a profound point of events and changes in our lives. My cousin Edward, who lived with us for about seven years, got the courage to propose to the wonderful young lady whom he had been dating for over a year. My sister Patti went back to school to pursue a Master’s Degree in Divinity. Dad retired from the trucking company that he had worked at, for all so many years. Then Dad took on the role of Church Sexton at the Boonton United Methodist Church. Dad also began to attend

weekend classes at Drew University to prepare himself to become a Lay Leader in the church. Mom began focusing more on her home business of creating craft projects which she sold at flea markets and church bazaars. I discontinued publishing the old Lincoln Park Journal and moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania for about a year to help my elderly cousin with his Christmas Tree farm. It was there that I wrote three stage plays, among them was the very successful “Beyond the North Star.” Sadly, Aunt Helen, who lived with us quite a bit, went Home to be with the Lord in the Autumn of 1987. There was something in the air, that first Sunday of September of 1987. There was a joy, a feeling of great happiness, as my dad cut his birthday cake. But there was almost an intuitive knowingness that we all felt in our hearts, minds, and inner beings, that changes were in the air. I think that all of us felt a gentle mourning for the loss of a certain lifestyle of family closeness that we swam in for all so many years. How we all tripped over each other’s lives. And now, we were all moving into new territories, the calling of new directions in the Divine purposes of our lives was about to take place. Aunt Helen was failing. It was becoming more and more difficult for her to get around. Her heart was not good at all. The doctors offered little hope. I remember it all, as if it were yesterday. Aunt Helen sat at the table, in the shade of the towering maple, and smiled as she ate a piece of Dad’s birthday cake. I believe it would be the last piece of birthday cake that she would ever have. continued on page 31

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Denville Life • May 2021 • Page 29

Mailboxes

By: Sally Barmakian ailboxes at the end of the driveway are quite common. A wooden post with a tubular metal mailbox attached on top complete with the little red flag to indicate that there is outgoing mail in the box. However, have you ever

seen a unique mailbox? On my walks and observations while driving, I have seen some creative mailboxes. Some are painted with flowers and birds, or have covers which match a holiday but here are my favorites. On top of one mailbox was a statue of a bear.

On Halloween, it had a mask on, a Santa hat in December, during the winter, a fuzzy wool hat and scarf, and at Easter time - bunny ears! I do hope it got the mail person and neighbors in the spirit of the seasons. Another mailbox was the body of a fish and the open mouth

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was where the mail was inserted. Many mailboxes are the body of an animal. Picture a black mailbox complete with a head and long, floppy ears, tail, and paws dangling. The cutest dog mailbox ! Just open the tummy to retrieve your mail. The most unique and creative “up-cycling” mailbox I ever saw was made from the canister of an old metal vacuum cleaner. Cleaned out and perched on the wooden post, it was sturdy and workable. I always smiled when I drove by. Some people plant flowers around the base of the mail post. A delightful ring of pansies, happy daffodils, and beautiful, red tulip cups. Usually mail is a

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The Autumn of 1969: The Ford Falcon

By Richard Mabey Jr. n late August of 1969, a very dear and wonderful blessing came to my life. It was a blessing that was given to me, beyond my wildest imagination. Now, over 50 years later, it still amazes me the sequence of events that was an incredible blessing to my life. My cousin, Wes Mabey, was about 10 years older than me. Wes lived in Towaco. Back in late Summer of 1969, Wes got a promotion at his job. He was now the Supervisor of the Machine Shop of a small manufacturing company that was located on Route 202 in Towaco. And, as almost required with a work promotion, there’s the calling to buy a new car. And, that’s just what my Cousin Wes did. He bought himself a new car! As fate would have it, the Ford Dealer, where Wes was buying his new car, wasn’t willing to give him a really good deal on the trade-in for his 1961 Ford Falcon. So, without thinking twice, before he bought his new car, Wes drove to the old Mabey Homestead. It was a Saturday in late August. I remember this all so well. We were all eating lunch at the kitchen table, when

suddenly we heard a car horn honking in the backyard. It was Cousin Wes in his 1961 Ford Falcon. Dad got up and looked out the back window of the kitchen. “It’s Wes,” Dad said to all of us. And with that, Dad proceeded to go outside and I followed him. “Hey Unca Dick,” Wes called out to my father as Dad and I walked out to the back driveway. “Hi Wes,” Dad replied. I gave a hearty greeting to my cousin. “Never guess in a million years!” Wes said to Dad. “What’s that Wes?” Dad replied. “I got a promotion at work!” Wes said. “Congratulations Wes!” Dad enthusiastically told his nephew. “And that ain’t all,” Wes announced. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” Dad replied. “I’m buying a brand-new car!” Wes proudly announced. “That’s great, Wes,” Dad cheerily said to his nephew. “Well, here’s the good part. I figure Richie here’ll be driving soon. So’s I figured I give you the offer of a lifetime!” Wes gleefully announced.

“You’re selling your Ford Falcon?” Dad asked. “You got it, Unca Dick. I figure I’ll sell it to my favorite cousin here. Say, for a hundred dollars,” Wes announced. “What do ya’ say, Richie? How’d you like to be the proud owner of this deluxe Ford

Falcon?” Wes asked me. “I sure would Wes,” I happily replied. Well, one thing led to another. We all came into the house. Mom offered Wes some lunch, but he said that he just had a hamburger at Moe’s Sweet Shop. We all continued on page 31

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The 200 Club of Morris County Announces Its 50th Golden Celebration!

he 200 Club of Morris County invites the public to celebrate its 50th year of supporting Morris County first responders from Fire, local Police, New Jersey State Police departments and Emergency Medical Technician services on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 at The Birchwood Manor in Whippany starting at 5:45pm, President Jim Rizzo presiding. A not-for-profit founded in 1971, the 200 Club’s Mission helps to provide financial support for spouses and dependents of Morris County heroes who have lost their

lives in the line of duty while valiantly responding and protecting Morris County citizenry. To date, the Club has disbursed over $5 million dollars for this worthy cause. Scholarships are also awarded to qualified dependents of our Morris County first responders on a merit basis and are anonymously assigned a number for the selection process. Given events of the past year, our first responder family has tougher jobs than ever before, and their stakes are more real than ever. Join us in acknowledging

Ford Falcon...

continued from page 30 sat around the dining room table. Dad went upstairs and came down with five 20-dollar bills. Dad and I agreed that I would pay him 10 dollars a month, till I was all paid up. At the time, I had a little business of my own, where I would mow neighbors’ lawns. We signed the paperwork of the Bill of Sale at the kitchen table of the old Mabey Homestead. I was now the proud owner of white, 1961 Ford Falcon. Dad and I went to the Ford Dealer with Wes. I remember that at the Ford Dealer, Wes bought a shiny, red Ford Galaxie 500. It was a sharp looking car.

Outside the Ford Dealer, Dad and I said our goodbyes to Wes. We both wished him good luck with his new car. Dad drove us home. I wouldn’t get my driver’s license for another year, but I felt like I was walking on air, being the new owner of this great, classic 1961 Ford Falcon. A new era of my life was dawning. To be continued. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ hotmail.com. Please place the wording “My Life Weekly” in the subject line.

their daily risks in knowing they may not make it back home. Your ticket purchase, sponsorship and donation will make a world of difference to the spouses and dependent children of Morris County’s finest! 50th Golden Celebration Co-chairs Janet Rapisardi, Ron Barnett and Chairman

of the Board Bill Lockwood will soon be unveiling details of our special Keynote speaker and outstanding presentations. Stay posted! Sponsorship Chair, Sr. VP Rob D’Emidio has impressive media advertising opportunities waiting just for you. Contact our Chairs at 200clubofmorris@concast. net or call: 973-630-7933 today.

I Remember Dad... continued from page 28

There are times when we fear changes. We want so much to hold onto the way things are. But all so often, the good Lord calls us and our loved ones into new directions, new goals, new purposes to serve Him. Sometimes we try desperately to fight the changes. But it is like a man trying to stop the ocean tide from departing the sands when the moon calls upon its love for the deep blue sea. Love knows no boundaries. Love cannot be limited. I live in Central Florida now. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think about some little moment of those wonderful, magical years of living in the old Mabey Homestead. How we all tripped upon each other’s lives. And, all the people

who came and stayed at the old family farmhouse. Some for a week’s visits, some stayed with us for years. Please do know this, the psychologists, the scientists, the academicians, the spiritual leaders, really and truly have no idea just how far-reaching and how powerful this mystical, wonderful, and mysterious thing we call love really is. Love can transcend physical distances, the passing of time, and the transition from the physical plane to the heavenly worlds. Love is the key to all human understanding. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ hotmail.com. Please put on the subject line: My Life Publications.

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The USO: A Look Back at 80 Years of Continuous Service

he United Service Organizations (USO), the nation’s leading not-forprofit charity that serves the men and women in the U.S. military and their families, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Founded just before the U.S. entry into World War II, the USO rapidly expanded from a patchwork of local efforts with a handful of volunteers into a robust international organization. From Bob Hope to Marlene Dietrich to Bing Crosby, the USO offered now-legendary entertainment during World War II, as well as programs and services, quickly becoming an essential part of the war effort. “Honorably discharged” by President Truman in 1947 after the end of World War II and reactivated for the Korean War in 1949, it is widely believed that the USO was inactive during this time. However, recent findings in USO archives and external sources show that the organization actually never stopped serving. Though the future of the USO was at

first uncertain after World War II, it quickly became clear that even in peacetime, its contribution to the welfare of armed forces was essential. With hundreds of thousands of returning troops in-transit and new troops headed for occupation duty overseas -- as well as the many thousands of soldiers and sailors recovering in hospitals -- key government officials voiced a belief that the need for an organization such as the USO was just as pressing as it was during the war. Then-USO president, Lindsey Kimball said in February 1946, “We face a responsibility to stand by during the difficult days of transition from total war to total participation in an achieved peace.” And stand by it did. With only a skeleton headquarters staff, between 1947 and 1949, the USO continued to operate clubs and lounges, as well as sent entertainers to perform for thousands of wounded service members recovering in hospitals. The USO is still building on its continuous 80-year history today. (StatePoint)

Marlene Dietrich visits troops during World War II. Photo credit: (c) USO Photos

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IT HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN:

eld Beacon Hill, Josiah Hall, and the Battle of Springﬁ women and children –

By Peter Zablocki osiah Hall stood motionless, darkness around him. From atop Beacon Mountain he could see for miles. He knew this land. The hills, the plains, and the farms with homes resembling dark specs on an otherwise flawless canvas. It was the night of June 23rd, 1780, and around him was his hometown, Denville. He strained his eyes but did not see what he was looking for. News of a battle waging in nearby Springfield had arrived in the town that morning. Below the hill upon which Mr. Hall and his compatriots labored, many locals anxiously awaited his signal. As Josiah looked towards distant Springfield, he was startled by an excited dispatch rider galloping his horse up the hill towards him. And then he saw it himself. A dull red glare lighting the sky in the distance. He instantly ordered the prepared stack of brush in the shape of a pyramid to be set ablaze. As young men hurried around him throwing wet leaves on the fire to facilitate bigger smoke, Mr. Hall resumed his watch. Only the presence of two fires meant victory, and to his dismay, Josiah was still merely seeing one. “Morris County’s proudest boast is that no redcoat ever stepped on her soil ex-

cept as a prisoner of war,” said one-time Supreme Court Justice, Mahlon Pitney. That does not mean that the British never tried. In fact, the inhabitants of this area had a good reason to worry. In Denville Township alone, there were four known forges before the Revolutionary War, one each at Shongum, Ninkey Pond, Cold-Rain and Franklin, all on the Den Brook. Most of the iron ore also came from nearby Mine Hill and Rockaway’s Hibernia. This supply of iron essential for cannon balls, together with the powder plants at Chatham and Mt. Tabor, were all very tempting for the British. As such, and because of the lack of proper means of communication,

even were transported to a place designed to hide them safely until the threat had passed. The “Hog Rock,” or “Hog Pen” was located near “Rockaway Valley,” with many kids still finding corn cobs, dishes, and pieces of iron in the area nearly two centuries later. Once moved to the secret location, the people and animals would stay there for several days until a dispatcher would arrive with the news that it was safe to return. The Beacon Mountain (today “Hill”) managed throughout the war by Captain Josiah Hall – a Denville resident and the Colonists devised a plan an officer in the American in which they used the old Revolution – was selected Native American system of as one of the 23 beacons for fire and smoke beacons to its easy visibility. This was transmit information. When regardless of it not being British forces advanced the tallest peak in the vicintowards the area, twen- ity. ty-three mountain peaks Josiah’s men lit the beawould light up one by one con and waited, staring at all across the state in warn- the sole light coming from ing. Their smoke and fire a distant mountain. Then a would be seen for miles. second glimmer grew and On that June night, the flamed on the peak. A big citizens of Denville were smile lit up Mr. Hall’s face. frightened. It was well He did not need to give the known that the British and order to light the second Hessian forces advanc- beacon, his assistants were ing towards them through already at it. Down below, Springfield were quick to many people exhaled. Their steal, plunder, and burn homes would be safe after wherever they went af- all. But it was not time to ter the conclusion of each celebrate just yet. The fires battle. Following an estab- at Beacon Hill grew bigger lished protocol, Denville’s continued on page 11 hogs, sheep, cows – and

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Denville Life • May 2021 • Page 35

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