Denville November 2022

A Generous Denville Resident’s Annual Tradition

By Emily Pirrello

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s almost time for college students to return home for their winter break. While most are decorating their doorsteps, prepping food for family gatherings and shopping for their special someone, a generous Denville resident, Jason Viglione is getting ready to select a candidate for his annual tradition—flying a young scholar home for the holidays. Viglione calls this special time of the year, “the giving season”, and rightfully so.

In 2018, Viglione looked to the professional platform, LinkedIn to connect with a college student.

“I didn’t go away to college, but I was away in the military for 10 years and money was just as tight as a young enlistee as it is for a college student.”

Viglione empathized with those unable to afford transportation back home and wanted to reward those working towards their degree with the opportunity to spend the holidays with their loved ones.

“I wanted young people to see that the generation above them at the managerial and executive level care about helping them.”

Viglione worked in the Software and Technology Industry for many years, “My most recent focus has been building, scaling, and running Customer Support/ Success/Experience teams for SaaS companies. I design the teams that help the customers use software products successfully.”

Although he retired in August of this year, he plans on continuing to consult to stay “in the loop” of the industry.

He went on to share what he loves the most about this experience is being able to connect and hear student’s stories and personal testimonies. Viglione very much values connection, both personally and professionally. He also shared that “there’s always an opportunity for future, formal relationships” with these college candidates. “I tried to hire the first student I flew home when she graduated, but the timing of things had her take a different role.”

Which just goes to show, you never know where one connection will lead you, there are unlimited possibilities in life.

“The second thing I love is the genuine appreciation you get from a class of people that feel often overlooked. Not young enough to be cared for parentally. Not old enough to be wholly self-sufficient. Everyone is incubating you until you join the working world. It’s nice to be a helping hand to people that didn’t necessarily know they needed it.”

Viglione’s LinkedIn post for this year went live this month, “As has become tradition, I’d like to open my DMs to the world and make my Thanksgiving offer. If you or someone you know is a college student away from home and cannot get home, I’d like to get you there. Unfortunately, resources are finite so I can’t send everyone home, but based on a variety of factors we’ll see what can

be done.”

When asked what the parameters were for those who apply, he shared, “The “parameters” or “requirements” were tough to think through and are truly just a function of exclusivity and affordability. I wrestled with it quite a bit.”

“Do you extend the offer to reward those doing well or give a leg up to the ones that need some extra TLC? In the end, I chose to reward the successful ones. It’s not about A’s or 4.0 GPAs solely. Everyone comes to me with their story.”

Viglione went on to share, “When I win Megamillions, maybe I’ll fly home 1000 students, but for now I have to be discerning.”

The COVID-19 pandemic of course had put a pause on this annual practice. Viglione is elated to be able to pick this Thanksgiving tradition back up this year.

Viglione shared that when he was growing up, “You were a producer, as the employee. You produced your thing, and you were given a paycheck. And you stayed at that company for 30 years. Now we move between companies. We do it for money, work/ life balance, passion, feeling valued, new adventures, etc. It’s not linear and it’s not simple. I had no LinkedIn. I had no mentorship. I figured it out mostly through making mistakes and learning from them.”

Viglione wholeheartedly believes we should “set up tomorrow’s leaders for success—today.”

Viglione’s act of kindness is inspirational and empowering— especially during the holiday season.

your

your

your

And

Wishing you the Happiest of Thanksgivings

A.

Check out my references! Zillow.com, Peggy Lefsky

you

I’m the perfect Agent for you.

Saint Clare’s Sponsors Pink Witches Night Out

Clare’s Health was the sponsor of Pink Witches. They provided over 500 pink gift bags. For visitors to Saint Clare’s tents, they could ask questions to the Oncology team, including a Fellowship Trained Breast Surgeon, and enter a raffle to win fun prizes! Saint Clare’s is dedicated to proving exceptional cancer care with advanced technology, close to home. We are proud to support this event and provide education and care to our community!

By Steve Sears

Marlene Stager

Catholic

and

of Connecticut

she fondly recalls the enjoyment she had in a sport that she didn’t start playing competitively until her sophomore year in high school.

Darrell Halloran, who in the 1970’s coached the boy’s

team at Morris Catholic, assumed the role of the girl’s team as well. During her freshman year, Stager didn’t play basketball, but watched through the windows of the gym. In Stager’s sophomore year, Halloran was her Cultural Foundations instructor. He would also, eventually, become her head coach, he continuously encouraging her towards the hardwood. “He pushed me to give it a try, and then spent a lot of time during my high school career with me developing my skills, developing my understanding of the game. I was just very fortunate in that capacity,” Stager recalls.

During her three seasons at Morris Catholic, the team was competitive, participating on a few occasions in the Morris County Tournament, and made an appearance in the state tourney as well. The seed was sown, as a few years

later, the Crusaders would compete at the Brendan Byrne Arena in the Meadowlands. “My mother was the one who kept reminding me that we were pioneers,” Stager says.

College was not yet in sight for Stager as she approached her final years at Morris Catholic, until there was the possibility of an athletic scholarship. Her junior and especially her senior season buttressed that possibility. During her final 1977 – 78 campaign, she averaged 15.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game for the 16 – 4 Crusaders, and had her greatest game, connecting on 19 of 22 shots for 39 points in a triple overtime loss to Morristown. Afterwards, she was spotted at a summer league game at Franklin High School by a UConn men’s basketball player, who notified then-Huskies’ coach, Wanda Flora. “I was 6’ tall, strong, and I was blessed to also have some speed,” Stager says. “And, because I had the high school coaching I had, I could handle the ball.” She was recruited by the Huskies, and headed north. “It was a tremendous gift. Basketball presented a tremendous opportunity for me, and the opportunities that have come from that continue.”

Former Morris Catholic Basketball Standout Looks Back Fondly on Her Career continued on page 8

With UConn, Stager became a record setter for what at that time was a humble program. During her steady four- Marlene Stager as a Morris Catholic Crusader (courtesy of Marlene Stager)

Morris County Hope One Dedicates New Van

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon unveiled a new Hope One vehicle at a ceremony on Court Street in Morristown attended by human services and mental health professionals, law enforcement leaders, Superior Court staff and county employees.

The new vehicle, dubbed the “mini” Hope One truck, will help to expand the popular Hope One program, transporting the team to community events and client visits throughout the county. Launched in 2017, Hope One is a highly successful and often replicated mobile outreach program by which teams travel Morris County, offering critical support for individuals and families struggling with mental health and substance use disorders, and providing Naloxone (Narcan) education, training and kits in the community.

Since the beginning, the Hope One team has stopped at over 900 locations, marking over 30,000 contacts in the community. Hope One has distributed over 5,800 Narcan kits to family members and friends of those struggling with substance use disorders, free of charge. Narcan is used to immediately treat a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency, and 114 people have reported using the

Narcan kits distributed by Hope One to save or attempt to save a life.

“Hope One works because we go out into the community, we publish where we are going and we have a plains clothes sheriff ’s officer, we have a mental health clinician and we have a certified peer recovery specialist who go out into the community and talk to people where they are,” said Sheriff Gannon. “We truly deal with people where they are at, and we have been very successful.”

During the initial height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hope One Project witnessed an increase of individuals who required access to critical public services. It became clear there was an elevated need for an additional Hope One vehicle to serve the community.

However, due to production delays, the Morris County Motor Services Center could not obtain a new van.

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners stepped in to provide the Hope One Project a 2019 Ford Transit passenger vehicle, which was converted into the “mini” Hope One vehicle dedicated this morning. All three vehicles now used by Hope One van were on display today.

“This is an immensely important program

that has had a real impact with partner programs in Morris County on reducing drug overdose deaths, suicides and pulling people out of a cycle of despair and poverty. It’s why the program has been replicated throughout the state,” said Morris County

Commissioner Doug Cabana, the board liaison to Law and Public Safety.

The Morris County Sheriff ’s Office, in partnership with the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Mental

continued on page 8

Hope Hub Coordinator Officer Chelsea Whiting climbs into the new van, with (right) Hope One Coordinator Corporal Erica Valvano following her. Standing to the left (left to right) are Community Connections Coordinator Officer Justin Sudol and CPRS Jon-Erik Randazzo of CARES.

Basketball Standout...

from page 4

year career, she averaged six points and five rebounds per game, but most of all was a formidable player in the “paint.” In addition to her scoring, she was always given the assignment of defending the opposing team’s tallest inside player, and to also keep them away from the boards for rebounds. “I was always defending someone who was two to four inches taller than me,” Stager says, who also was a good shot blocker. She was the first lady Huskie to play every game of her collegiate career, and holds the single season record for free throw percentage. She shot 88.1%

Morris County Hope...

Health Association and the Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success (CARES), staffs Hope One units with a plain clothes Sheriff ’s Officer, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and a Mental Health Professional. In 2019, the team was awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Michael Shanahan Cooperation in Public and Private Partnership Award.

The simple yet effective Hope One model has been replicated in eight (8) other counties across the State of New Jersey.

The Morris County Sheriff ’s Office Hope One Project expanded in 2021 with the launch of the Hope Hub.

The Hub is a multidisciplinary panel made up of law enforcement, social services, mental health services, healthcare providers, treatment providers and recovery

from the charity stripe in her 1980 – 81 junior season. There is an interesting rejoinder to her art of free throw shooting, and it happened early in her collegiate career. “Interestingly enough,” Stager says, “somewhere along the line, there was an article about how much my free throw shooting had improved, which it did. But I was shooting free throws - and I’m right-handed - with my left hand because I had broken my wrist and they taped it up so tight. I couldn’t actually bend my wrist. I played at a time where they would tape up your wrist as opposed to saying, ‘Okay, you’re done for four weeks.” It also made her a better

player, and it harkened back to Halloran’s tutelage. “My high school coach was definitely adamant that there was no value to having a one-sided game. That was something we always worked on.” Proficient at shooting layups with the left hand, Stager started bettering her aim 15 feet from the basket with the left hand as well. “Close range, short range shots, my left hand got better. It kind of forced that.”

Stager, who graduated from UConn in 1982, finished with 608 points for her career, and was still a member of UConn’s top 20 all-time female scorers when the Huskies won their first national title in 1995.

Stager (who now works as a counselor for a not-forprofit in Westchester County, New York) and her husband, Chris Bledsoe, have been married for 36 years. The couple has three sons, Jordan, Dylan, and Ethan.

specialists. Struggling individuals and families are referred to the Hope Hub and connected to life-changing services.

To date, the program has offered assistance in 295 situations, reducing what is called acutely elevated risk (AER) in 97% of those cases.

Since Hope Hub’s inception, the Interfaith Food Pantry Network has donated a total of 17,603 pounds of food and Nourish NJ has provided Hope Hub with over 300 meals! Sheriff James M. Gannon is pleased to announce that the Interfaith Food Pantry Network & Nourish NJ’s logos have been placed on the newest Hope One van.

From homeless outreach to special events, Hope One provides a stigma free environment and a safe place for individuals and families struggling. Hope is here.

Click on Hope One to learn more about the program.

What is Movember?

If you think you’re seeing more moustaches lingering over mens’ upper lips as November unfolds, chances are your eyes are not deceiving you. November has long been synonymous with Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, but it’s also taken on a whole new persona in recent years, and moustaches are a significant part of that new identity.

Arguably as popular as ever, Movember® is a public health-focused effort designed to raise awareness of and support research into men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide. Men who participate in Movember typically begin growing moustaches on November 1 and keep them throughout the month.

The origins of Movember can be traced to 2003, when two men in Australia, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, met for a beer in Melbourne. At that point in time, the popularity of moustaches had waned, but Garone and Slattery joked about restoring the stache to its once-lofty status. At the time, a friend’s mother was fundraising for breast cancer, and Garone and Slattery were inspired to combine their efforts to bring back the moustache with efforts to raise awareness about men’s health and prostate cancer. In a testament to the two friends’

skills in the art of persuasion, they were able to find 30 men willing to take up the challenge to grow a moustache. Those who accepted the challenge agreed to follow the rules of Movember, which included paying $10 to grow a moustache.

That initial campaign generated significant enthusiasm among the initial participants, so the following year a decision was made to formalize their efforts and officially support a worthy cause related to men’s health. After some research, prostate cancer was chosen as the issue to formally support. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, though not an official men’s health partner of Movember, agreed to accept any funds generated by the 2004 campaign. By that time, 450 men, including some in Spain and the United Kingdom, had agreed to take part, ultimately raising more than AUD $50,000.

Nearly 20 years later, the moustachioed movement to raise awareness about various men’s health issues is still going strong, having funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects since its inception. Individuals interested in learning more about Movember can visit us.movember. com.

Morris County Proclaims October 2022 Blindness Awareness Month

Director Tayfun Selen of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners delivered a framed proclamation declaring October 2022 “Blindness Awareness Month,” as he toured the Denville headquarters of Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey.

VLANJ President and CEO Bill Schuldt was on hand to accept the proclamation. He and Vice President of Development and Communications Jennifer Singer also updated Director Selen on the nonprofit’s programs. Serving adults with vision loss for 79 years, VLANJ helps people cope and adapt to vision loss, while also providing them with training in independent living skills and assistive technology.

Blindness and profound vision loss affect more than 160,000 people in New Jersey, an estimated 7.68 million people in the U.S. and those numbers are expected to increase as the nation’s population lives longer, according to the National Federation of the Blind.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 93 million adults in the United States are at risk for vision loss and projects the number of Americans of ages 40 years old and up with serious vision loss or blindness will double to nearly 9

million by 2050.

The proclamation, signed by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, commends VLANJ for its nearly four decades of exemplary service to the public. It also proclaims October 2022 to be “Blindness Awareness Month” in Morris County to increase awareness of eye disease and eye care, so all citizens understand the challenges faced daily by our loved ones, friends, neighbors and co-workers with vision loss.

The nonprofit began in Newark in 1943 as the New Jersey Association for the Blind, a place for people with vision loss to socialize. Twelve years later, the organization opened a summer camp in Denville for women with blindness and, under the name NJ Foundation for the Blind, added life skills training to the summer camp experience.

Independent skills training became yearround in the late 1990s, and by 2006, the organization provided a comprehensive, nonresidential vision rehabilitation program for adults. Adopting VLANJ as its name in 2016, the nonprofit added low vision occupational therapy and other services.

Since the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020, VLANJ has grown tremendously as it added and expanded virtual programming.

Director Selen presents the proclamation to Bill Schuldt and Jennifer Spring under a mural at VLANJ that carries the Hellen Keller quote: “Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing.”

VLANJ receives the majority of its funding from individual donations, which can be made atvlanj.org/donations.

Consider These 13 Gratifying Thanksgiving Facts

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends and reflect on one’s blessings. In 2022, Canadian Thanksgiving takes place on October 10, while Americans celebrate on November 24. In anticipation of these holidays, here are some interesting facts about the Thanksgiving celebration.

1. American Thanksgiving is largely modeled on a 17th century harvest feast shared by the English settlers and the

Wampanoag tribe.

2. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. It is based on European harvest festivals.

3. The National Turkey Federation says around 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, which equates to about 720 million pounds of turkey being consumed (with the average turkey size being 16 pounds).

4. The Butterball hotline answers

roughly 100,000 calls every year on its turkey question hotline.

5. In 1953, the Swanson company overestimated the number of frozen turkeys it would sell for the holiday season by 26 tons. Rather than waste the meat, Swanson sliced it up, repackaged it and created the first frozen TV dinners.

6. Thanksgiving in America may be older than many recognize. While Thanksgiving is largely tied to the 17th century settlers, the National Parks Service says in 1565 Spanish settlers in St. Augustine (now Florida) celebrated by having a meal to which they invited the native Seloy tribe. The Spanish served pork stew, sea biscuits, red wine, and garbanzo beans. Some say the Seloy contributed turkey, venison and maize.

7. Thanksgiving didn’t become a civic holiday until Abraham Lincoln made it one after the Civil War tragedy. Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday on October 20, 1864.

8. The Pilgrims did not refer to themselves as “pilgrims.” They used the word “separatists” as they were separating themselves from a larger belief system.

9. In addition to Canada and the United States, Grenada, Liberia, the Philippines, Saint Lucia, and the Netherlands celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving.

10. Each year, the American president “pardons” a turkey from slaughter on Thanksgiving. This tradition dates back to when Abraham Lincoln’s son was upset that his family’s turkey that was going to be killed for Thanksgiving dinner.

11. According to the U.S. Calorie Control Council (CCC), an average American may consume 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day.

12. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual tradition. People line the parade route in New York City or tune in to watch the parade on television. It originated in 1924 and the famed balloons were added in 1927.

13. Apple pie is the pie of choice for Thanksgiving, even though pumpkin pie is prevalent this time of year.

Thanksgiving is a popular holiday in Canada and the U.S. Many traditions have been borne of the holiday, and it is a favorite time of year for many people.

with Saint Clare’s Aquablation- The Most Advanced Treatment for Enlarged Prostate

By Mark J. Bonamo

An enlarged prostate or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common health issue for men, particularly as they get older. According to Dr. Saman Moazami, Urologist at Saint Clare’s Health, men suffer from the many uncomfortable and disruptive symptoms, and often delay seeking professional solutions from a urologist. At Saint Clare’s Health, a new and advanced treatment for enlarged prostate known as Aquablation, provides an effective method to treat BPH while minimizing risk and worry.

The road to Aquablation begins with identifying the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Dr. Moazami notes that some of the most common symptoms are a weak urine stream, increased daytime frequency and urgency to urinate, waking up multiple times at night, and the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. This can ultimately lead to increased stress on the bladder.

“Increased pressure on the bladder, results in men having a sensation of urgency and frequency, feeling as though they need to frequently urinate,” Dr. Moazami explained. This can be quite disruptive to a lifestyle. For example, men may need to locate the nearest restroom, stop frequently on road trips, or leave work meetings. “Patients can also have urinary incontinence or leakage associated with enlarged prostate. In the most severe cases, they can’t urinate at all, which can be life threatening.”

Dr. Moazami pointed out an initial approach in treating this condition, is the introduction of behavioral modifications. For example, reducing the intake of caffeine and alcohol, particularly in the evening is helpful. There can be other bladder irritants, too, such as spicy and acidic foods. Patients are also counseled on limiting food and fluid intake to three or four hours prior to bedtime. “Overall, we work together with patients to

determine the best treatment course in order to achieve relief of their symptoms.”

If behavioral modification is not sufficient, then alternative options are considered. An enlarged prostate is continued on page 13

Dr. Saman Moazami - Urologist, Saint Clare’s Health

essentially a blockage of the lower urinary tract that can regularly be addressed with medication. The often-prescribed medication Flomax (Tamsulosin) works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck. However, there can be complications such as abnormal ejaculation, dizziness, and orthostatic hypotension. This is when a person’s blood pressure drops precipitously when standing up too quickly. While the majority of men tolerate medications with minimal to no side effects, many will require further treatment in the form of a surgical intervention.

This is where Aquablation comes in. Aquablation therapy is a robotic assisted procedure that removes prostate tissue using the power of water. The treatment, which can be used on any size prostate, is performed in a hospital under anesthesia. The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and may involve an overnight stay.

Before the recent advent of Aquablation, the most common type of surgery was the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) procedure. A TURP removes the obstructive prostate tissue by using a heat-based system, such as laser or cautery, to resect the tissue, and is limited to specific prostate size.

Aquablation has more than one important difference from TURP. First, it is the only procedure that combines a camera (called a cystoscope) with ultrasound imaging, giving the surgeon the ability to see the entire prostate in real time. The addition of ultrasound imaging in Aquablation therapy, allows the surgeon to map the desired area of tissue removal.

With the precise treatment plan in place, a robotically controlled, heat-free waterjet removes the prostate tissue that has been mapped out. This robotic

technology minimizes human error in removing critical prostate tissue, and ensures the prostate tissue is removed precisely, consistently, and predictably. This precision allows the surgeon to map around the parts of the prostate that cause irreversible complications, such as ejaculatory dysfunction and incontinence.

Dr. Moazami emphasizes that this advancement in medical technology can make a significant difference in the posttreatment life of his patients.

“There is a misconception thinking the robots are going to come in and do the job. It’s actually a physician-led robotic assistant that allows for positive outcomes,” Dr. Moazami said. “When it comes to sexual issues arising from BPH treatments, it’s an important part of the decision making process for patients. Aquablation lets patients worry less about what comes after prostate surgery, and to focus more on improving their urinary symptoms.”

Dr. Moazami knows men may be worried about prostate issues as they age. For men in their 60s, it has been reported that up to 70 percent will have some sort of issue with their prostate. As men age, this number continues to rise. However, Dr. Moazami assures his patients that the care they receive at Saint Clare’s Health is exceptional. “Men can be confident that they will receive treatment with the most advanced technology, close to home. The best in class care you receive at Saint Clare’s Health from clinically advanced physicians is what I would want for my family and myself. On all levels, Saint Clare’s Health delivers high quality care.”

For more information on Aquablation, please visit https://www.saintclares.com/ services/surgical-services/aquablation/

The History of Denville’s Santaland

By Steve Sears

It may be silent right now, but soon the activity on Clark Street in Denville will be bustling with activity. The Saturday following Thanksgiving, Santaland will officially open, and after the long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa is welcoming children and families again to his home away from home.

In 1961-1962, when Ralph Ford was the President of the Rotary Club of Denville, he decided to move forward with his vision of Santaland. However, some members were concerned that the cost of constructing “Santa’s House” would be more than the club’s budget could support. Also, as a volunteer group, time commitment and man power were key questions in completing the project.

“After much discussion and follow through, the project would become the vehicle to bring all the members 100% together, working with great enthusiasm toward a common goal – Santaland,” says Tony Toriello, 2007 – 2008 Rotary Club of Denville President and current Membership Chairman. “In 1960-1961, when Ralph was President-elect, he began thinking and planning for his year as club President. Ralph, a family man and lover of children, wanted to create a permanent place where families could gather yearly to celebrate Christmas.” Ford met with members of The American National Bank in order to get the approval for use of the needed plot of adjacent land to create Santaland, which now continues with the cooperation of Chase Bank.

Ford’s creation, with the help of others, became a reality. Toriello can attest to the fact that, when Santaland commences every year, you do indeed “hear” voices from the past. “When we are at Santaland during a work party,

it is not uncommon for members to start reminiscing of all the things that surround the wonderful and cheerful times enjoyed providing club service,” he says. continued on page 16

Religious School

Santaland opens for the first time in 1961

Santa Claus at Santaland

History of Denville’s Santaland...

continued from page 14

“Maintaining Santaland has also provided club members an opportunity to share meaningful fellowship and develop lasting friendships. For me personally, it is a good feeling to see all the joy and excitement it brings to families as they stroll through the park, play on the train, play on Santa’s sleigh, or just sit on the benches enjoying the ambiance. Also, it is quite rewarding and gratifying as a Denville Rotarian to know that Santaland has provided such excitement and joy to generation after generation of Denville families and their children - first, second, and, in some cases, third. That is what it is all about, providing ‘Service Above Self.”

The Rotary Club of Denville maintains a yearly budget for the upkeep of Santaland. Improvements and upkeep have been done on a yearly basis in order to maintain the park, including upgrading and rebuilding the train, building a new sleigh for Santa Claus and upgrading his house (new carpeting, painting, improved heating, a new tree, new wall hangings, new camera and printer), adding speakers to play

Christmas Carols throughout Santaland, and much more.

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, Santa’s house had not been open to the public, nor was Santa available to meet with children. The park, however, has been fully operational. “All display characters, Christmas music and tree lighting ceremony - same as pre-COVID,” says Toriello. “We recognized and celebrated our 60th anniversary of Santaland. Mayor Tom Andes read a proclamation at the tree lighting ceremony, and the Morris Knolls choral group sang Christmas carols as they have done for the last several years, replacing the Saint Mary’s Prep School choral group. They will be doing the same this year, and I am very happy to say that Santa will be back to meet, in his house, with children this year.”

Attendance has definitely increased at Santaland through the years, and although actual attendance numbers are not calculated, there has been a substantial increase in the number of photos taken with Santa, as well as a substantial increase in monetary donations. “For

approximately the last ten years, the Morris Knolls Interact students have been assisting with the taking of photographs of Santa and the children and families,” says Toriello.

For many community members as well as the Rotarians themselves, Santaland is considered the Rotary Club of Denville’s signature Community Service Project of all time. Adds Toriello, “It continues to

improve year after year. It continues to serve generation after generation of the community’s children and families.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Rotary Club of Denville or becoming a club member should contact Tony Toriello, Membership Chairperson, at ttoriello@ yahoo.com, or visit www.denvillerotary. org.

Just Like That….

A Story of Faith, Hope, Endurance, and Death

Husband dies of cardiac arrest .... She (OblSB) prays …. Death, Prayer, Hope.

To Purchase Go to www.amazon.com and search for Laura Anne OBLSB

"You've never read anything like this!"

A Denville Catholic's True story.

Laura Anne, Oblate of the Order of St. Benedict

Local Communities Ensure Veteran Heroes Are Not Forgotten Through Wreaths Across America

By Steve Sears

The communities of Hackettstown, Roxbury, and

every Christmas season that our loyal, deceased veteran heroes who served our

are not forgotten.

On December 17 throughout our nation, through the Wreaths Across America program, wreaths are laid on the graves on soldiers who fought for our country as far back as the Revolutionary War. And volunteers young and old in the three, before-mentioned communities are just some of the many placing wreaths on the graves and saying the veteran’s name, making sure he or she “hears” beneath the soil or above the clouds that they are being honored for their service and are not forgotten.

HACKETTSTOWN

Michele DeFazio of the Hackettstown’s Wreathes Across America has been location coordinator for two years. Elks Lodge #2331 is in their fifth year of doing the worthwhile ritual at the Union Cemetery. “At least a couple of hundred,” DeFazio says when asked how many wreaths are placed at gravesites. “It fluctuates depending on how many donations we get in and how many people sign up. But, with COVID, last year was a little bit harder, but we still have done it. Usually, it’s at least 200 (graves) or more than that.”

DeFazio has had family members serve in the military. In fact, her son is a United States Marine. It’s personal for her, and for many. “When they asked me the first year about Wreaths Across America, I was honored to be able to do this

Wreaths Across American volunteers gather in a Hackettstown cemetery because I felt that I’m honoring them, but I also felt honored that I could participate. One of the processes when you lay the wreath is you’re supposed to say the name of whoever’s grave that you’re laying the wreath on. When you do that, you actually almost feel like you’re personally there with that person. So, I’m very respectful of the military, and I believe this is something that we can all do.”

Every military branch is present at Union Cemetery, laying the official ceremonial wreath. DeFazio adds, “We also have the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts come out, and the Junior ROTC came out last fall. Each year it seems like we involve

more of the community.”

ROXBURY

Kim Armstrong is both a volunteer for Wreaths Across America and lead coordinator for Roxbury since 2014, when she initiated the worthwhile event in town. Her dad was a Navy veteran, and she brought the Wreaths Across America idea to her Ferro Monte Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Wreaths are layed at the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery & United Methodist Church Cemetery, and the Flanders-Hillside Cemetery. “We continued on page 19

H.B.

Wreaths

lay wreathes on all the veterans’ graves in Roxbury now,” Armstrong says. “We’re up to about 670 graves.”

As previously mentioned, all war vets are remembered. “We will mark our Revolutionary War soldiers’ graves,” Armstrong says of the earliest burial spots at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery & United Methodist Church Cemetery. During the Revolutionary War, First Presbyterian Church served as a barracks and hospital for the wounded, and General George Washington may have even visited the ailing. “We have the first one that was buried there who died of smallpox, and we honor him every day. If you looked at any of our materials, that’s the gray stone that we use, to honor his sacrifice for us to be here the way we are today.”

Roxbury Wreaths Across America promotes something a little different than the program nationally. They do a children’s wreath. Armstrong explains. “We get a wreath, and we have the kids waiting on line for Santa Claus stop and write a message thanking a veteran. It could be somebody they know or just a generalized one. They’re getting a little bit of that history themselves, which is really neat.” The wreaths are displayed on Main Street trees throughout the holiday season.

Armstrong also adds, “We also encourage people to bring their kids (on December 17). They do the Pledge of Allegiance in front of every veteran grave when they’re laying a wreath.”

DENVILLE

Wreaths Across America volunteers annually lay wreaths on the graves of veterans at 3,137 cemeteries nationwide. “When we started out, there was maybe 1,000, maybe 1,200,” Anna Marie Osvold says. Osvold started Wreaths

Across America in Denville six years ago. “Each year it’s grown, which is wonderful.”

Three of those over 3,000 current cemeteries are in Denville: Denville Cemetery, Cooks Cemetery at the Rockaway River Country Club, and a tiny plot for one gentleman on Cooper Road.

Osvold explains her introduction to the annual event. “My brother was in the army. He did a couple of tours over in Iraq, Operation Freedom. About seven years ago, he had sent me a picture, and it was him placing a wreath on a veteran’s grave in Colorado. It was lightly snowing, and they actually had a picture of him and my niece saluting after they placed the wreath on the grave. He told me about Wreaths Across America, and I thought it was something I really would love to start here. I looked into it and decided that there were veterans that are buried in Denville and have been here, some of them from the Civil War, and that I thought that it would be nice to remember these people for the sacrifices that they made, and their family made, for our freedom.”

Osvold gets between 200 to 250 volunteers on the day that Wreaths Across America is held. “It’s wonderful to see the community come out and support this event,” she says. “The fire department, the police department, the mayorjust everybody helping us is unbelievable. It’s such a good feeling.”

Osvold articulates perhaps the most important reason for Wreaths Across America. “Some of these veterans don’t have family members anymore. We need to thank them for their service. They’re not forgotten, and it’s important that we ensure that their memory lives on. When we place that wreath on a veteran’s grave, we say their name out loud, so

that their memory will live on. It’s just a thank you for the freedom that we have today.”

For more information about Wreaths Across America, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

group kids

and their parents

Mike Lateiner,

Dhaduk,

Denise Kitay,

How to Avoid Dry Turkey

Turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinners. The National Turkey Federation estimates approximately 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving each year, followed by 22 million turkeys at Christmastime.

There are many reasons why turkey can come out dry. Turkey is a lean meat, and Healthline reports that turkey has slightly less fat in its dark meat than chicken. Another reason why turkey may be dry is due to its poor breast-to-leg ratio. By the time one gets the leg meat to cook to temperature so it’s safe for consumption, the breast meat often has dried out.

There are many ways home cooks can prevent dry turkey this Thanksgiving. Consider these turkey-tending tips.

• Brine your bird. According to ScienceBlogs, what causes a human to perceive a food as juicy may actually be his or her own saliva at work. Salty foods may stimulate the production of saliva in the mouth, helping the food to feel much more moist while on the palate. To adequately inject enough salt into the turkey meat, submerge it in a salt brine for a few days before cooking.

• Watch your cook time. It’s important to avoid overcooking the turkey, which will turn

it as dry as the Sahara. Some turkeys come equipped with pop-up timers to help cooks gauge when to take them out of the oven. However, a more accurate tool is a digital food thermometer that can be set to go off when the turkey reaches the correct internal temperature.

• Cook the turkey parts separately. As previously noted, the breast meat will likely reach the desired temperature before the leg meat. To fix this, take the turkey out of the oven when it reaches five to 10 degrees before safe temperature for the breast meat, around 165 F. (Remember, the meat will continue to cook while “resting.”) Let guests “ooh and aah” over the picture-perfect turkey. Then cut off the legs and return them to the oven until they are done. Arrange the properly cooked breast and leg meat together on a serving platter.

• Offer condiments. A moist dollop of stuffing, a drizzle of gravy or a scoop of cranberry sauce can add moisture to turkey. This approach does not prevent drying out, but it can make a turkey that has dried out a bit more satisfying.

Dry turkey can put off diners. However, some strategies can harness as much moisture as possible to enhance Thanksgiving dinners.

Long Valley Pub & Brewery

A Chilly Day Dish with a Kick

Picture in your mind a warm bowl cupped in your hands, defrosting your fingertips after you just walked inside from a chilly afternoon. The bowl is heavy, full of hearty vegetables and spicy peppers that in just a few short moments will overwhelm your palate.

You dive in with a spoon, savoring every flavorful bite as you dip down to the bottom of the bowl searching for more to slurp up with every spoonful. Onion, red bell pepper and even corn all blended into not only a vegetarian meal but a chili-lover’s paradise. It’s got the spices to make you say, “wow” but the smoothness that reminds you of something your mom once made when you were young.

You throw your sweater to the side of the couch as your body temperature begins to rise. You start to feel your energy return as you spoon a second helping into your bowl for round two.

Not only does this recipe for Chipotle Veggie Chili hit you with a wide array of balanced flavors, but there is a surprise hint of citrus added toward the end – lime juice.

Just to add a little more texture and vibrance to this dish, it can be topped with your favorite garnishes like guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno slices and cilantro.

This Chipotle Veggie Chili is simple to make, needing just one pot throughout the entire cooking process. It simmers for about 25 minutes while you unwind from a long day.

So next time you need a pick-me-up after a chilly day outside, give this one a try. The savory aromas and wholesome consistency make this chili a 10-out-of-10 and a crowd favorite.

Find more recipes perfect for cooler weather at Culinary. net

Chipotle Veggie Chili

Servings: 6-8

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

5/8 teaspoon sea salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 can (14 ounces) diced fire-roasted tomatoes

1 can (14 ounces) red beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (14 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup vegetable broth

1 can (7 ounces) chipotles in adobo sauce

2 cans (15 ounces each) sweet corn with liquid

2 limes, juiced guacamole (optional) sour cream (optional) jalapeno slices (optional) cilantro (optional)

In large dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Stir and cook 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add garlic and red pepper. Stir and cook 8 minutes until soft.

Add tomatoes, red beans, pinto beans, broth, chipotles in adobo sauce, corn, remaining salt and remaining pepper. Simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chili has thickened.

Squeeze lime juice into pot; stir. Serve with guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno slices and cilantro, if desired. (Culinary.net)

Morris Museum Offers Something for All

By Steve Sears

Morris Museum prepares to celebrates 110 years in 2023,

and

a wonderful mixture of education and entertainment, all age groups are covered at this wonderful location at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown.

led the implementation of the Smithsonian Spark!Lab, and we just celebrated its one-year anniversary here, which is a huge endeavor for the museum,” says Morris Museum Director of Marketing and Communications, Marcus Romero.

Meyer is entering her second year as Director of Education at the Morris Museum, which welcomes school groups from preschool to 12th grade. “We have a bunch of programs for school visits and camps,” says Meyer. “Spark!Lab really helped to bring school groups back into the museum. It is from the Smithsonian and it is a hands-on invention space that incorporates the engineering design process. It allows everyone to act as an inventor, to create or innovate or tweak or change some sort of material. We have six different stations with things that range from a wind tunnel to build a vehicle to a towering teeter table. We have an exploratory phase place for our youngest friends, which is zero to five. There really is something for everybody. And what’s nice is in the world of STEM education, this fits very well into the curricular standards that are not only New Jersey-based but nationwide, where

kids are encouraged to think of things in a different way.”

The Morris Museum always has a tour or activity that’s based around current exhibitions. “We have for the fall the same type of idea, where it’s a specialized tour and then an activity, and that exists for our Native American Gallery, our dinosaur gallery, our rocks and mineral gallery, and then the two galleries that have just opened and we have programming for that,” says Meyer.

“The museum and it’s over 100 years of existence has been so many different things,” says Brett Messenger, Curatorial Director of the Bickford Theater. “And I think at a certain point, it was trying to be everything to everybody. In the last few years, the Board of Trustees and the staff here have really examined the resources we have, and what’s the most dynamic way we can serve this community and where do we fit into this cultural landscape.” A lot of the museum’s attention is in its Moving Art and Musical Machines: The Guinness Collection, which is one of the most significant collections in the world of music boxes, automatic musical instruments, and automata. Adds Messenger, “That’s also about the history of music and technology, of art and technology. So it relates directly to what Gaby is doing in Spark!Lab, where these kids are. You see them walking in and coming out with such a twinkle in their eyes as they’re doing these really dynamic projects, and then they walk into the Guinness collection or one of our art exhibitions and see it in a different way. So, that also informs how I

conceive of live arts at the Morris Museum; really looking at us as a place that can do things that are innovative, that involves technology, that are as entertaining as they are challenging, that make you look at something in a new way.”

Youngsters taking part in Spark!Lab (credit: Marcus Romero)

By Steve Sears

New Jersey-based celebrity bodyguard, Adriano “Bubba” Almony, is the first in his profession to be awarded a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award as a Humanitarian honoree.

“Just to be a part of history, to be recognized on such a high, prestigious honor scale, that just shows people as well in my industry that you don’t just focus on being a bodyguard,” Almony says. “Obviously when you’re working, yes, be focused, be sharp, be proactive visually; be the best man and bodyguard you can be. But even outside of that, most importantly, be a leader. Get involved in your community, get to know people. If you have an opportunity to help children, whether it’s self-defense or mentoring, or volunteering with nonprofits in your communities, whatever it is, just be of service.”

Almony will receive his award on December 4, 2022 at the Hotel ZaZa in Houston, Texas. The recognition comes from President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. That afternoon, Almony will also receive special congressional recognition from Texas Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee.

Almony, 28, is originally from Hanover, Pennsylvania, and in fifth grade moved to Ocean City, Maryland, where he grew up for the vast majority of his life. A Stephen Decatur

High School graduate in 2012, he thereafter headed for the Metropolitan area, and has resided in Fairfield, New Jersey the past four years. The owner of Bubba Almony Security Services, he recalls being bullied as a youngster, and suffering from abuse and neglect. He is only now truly opening up about both, and oftentimes he still faces these same challenges. “I’m learning to start to give my testimony,” Almony says. “Even as I was older, even with being an advocate for anti-bullying and for mental health, I experienced bullying as well, being I was on the frontlines with these things. A lot of people overlook that, but when you’re an advocate for something, sometimes you take on the problems head on, or you may experience your own trials and tribulations. I think it’s pretty impressive, though, if you can be a child at one point, you’re going through abuse, and then go on to be somebody who has protected some of the top names. As a respected leader in the industry, I think it just shows people that no matter what you’re going through, if it’s domestic bullying, abuse, anything toxic, you can overcome that. You can be something amazing. And without the struggle, you don’t develop strength. Sometimes we have to appreciate the struggle.”

Almony’s bodyguard services protects a number of well

New Jersey Based Man First Bodyguard Awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award continued on page 24

Battle Marketing Sales Associate

New Jersey Based Man...

known celebrities and their families, such as Dr. Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the wife of four-time heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, and her children, real estate tycoon Grant Cardone and his wife, Elena Lyons Cardone, P. Diddy’s children, and he also serves as a bodyguard at events, like the 10X Growth Conference (“the number one business event as voted by Forbes,” Almony says), and the 9/11 Memorial Commemoration in New York City.

Almony gives his definition of humanitarian. “A true humanitarian is somebody who understands most importantly over anything, money or monetary, giving your time, giving your words, just making people smile with a simple hug, handshake, or a fist bump,” he says. “Praying for others, using your voice and platform and influence - all of those amazing things. A lot of people think to be a

Morris Museum...

continued from page 22

Meyer and Messenger have been working hand-in-hand building theater experiences that have ties and links to activities, exhibitions, and Spark!Lab, exploring options out there so that children and family experiences can be multifaceted. “They can enjoy something amazing that Brett ’s been able to find, and then we’re able to support in a back end, so it’s not a one off,” says Meyer. “It’s part of an entire day. It leaves a mark and a memory, and really secures or cements some of the ideas or the principles or the themes of the show, but that is in the works. I’m excited to have that be such a unique experience which is not currently offered anywhere else.”

According to Messenger, there are some things that really honor the history of the Bickford Theater, and one thing is its long standing Jazz series, which has enjoyed great success. Now, the theater also welcomes artists creating unique and unusual works, whose practices engage with technology in different ways. “A place where lots of world premieres are happening of works that will

humanitarian you have to have millions and millions of dollars to help others, but it’s just simply not true. You just have to have a passion to want to volunteer and coach and mentor, and all those are things that I’ve been able to do on a consistent, persistent basis of just being involved. That’s very important.”

Adriano “Bubba” Almony has realized many dreams in his own life, and he encourages others not to give up on theirs. “Pursue your dreams. and don’t limit your dreams – dream as big as you can. Whether you want to be the Governor, the next President, the next award-winning bodyguard, the next elite martial artist, whatever you want to be, put your head down every day and go to work. Pray and keep pushing, and put God first in your life, and anything will happen for you, anything is possible. Just remember to be the best person you can be, and never forget where you come from.”

be performed in many other cities and other communities,” says Messenger, who then mentions another new, key component of the museum and theater’s offerings.

“During the pandemic, when theatres went dark and obviously everyone that was in charge of theater wanted to find a way to connect artists and audiences as soon as possible, we were really, really lucky. In July of 2020, we built a stage on the elevated parking deck behind the museum, and we started the Back Deck, where we’ve had now 70 performances over the last three years. But for a short period of time, in addition to our jazz series, we were doing classical music out there, and we were really the only presenter of classical music in the United States.” The full Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performed last April at the Bickford Theater, and will return in November (with pianist Angela Hewitt) in the spring of 2023.

For more information about the Morris Museum, visit www.morrismuseum.org.

The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs Announces New President Shirley Holly

The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC), the largest volunteer women’s organization in the state, is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Board President Shirley Holly of Barnegat, NJ. Holly has been a clubwoman for 33 years and served on the NJSFWC Board in various roles since 1998, as well as the national General Federation of Women’s Clubs Board since 2002. Holly’s history of public service extends outside of the women’s clubs as well; she was President of the Barnegat Education Foundation for five years, PTA President for six years, and a 13-year Girl Scout Leader. Holly has volunteered for Emmanuel Cancer Foundation for 27 years and is a fourtime puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence. Holly works full time as a Media Specialist for Russell O. Brackman Middle School.

“I am honored to lead NJSFWC, an organization that has meant so much to me, for the next two years,” said NJSFWC President Shirley Holly. “Sisterhood and service are vital to our cultural fabric, especially as we come out of the pandemic and a time of strife and isolation. I look forward to bringing everyone together to support great causes and to grow our community for generations to come.”

Holly’s administration, which will run through May of 2024, will support the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation for its Special State Project. The Emmanuel Cancer Foundation (ECF) provides New Jersey families facing the crisis of pediatric cancer a place to turn for comfort and support through professional in-home counseling and a uniquely tailored package of assistance – all free-of-charge. Each year, ECF helps hundreds of families in New Jersey with a

free package of support services. They assist any New Jersey family with a child who has cancer ages 0-18, regardless of race, creed, socioeconomic status, or any other demographic restriction. They continue helping the families for as long as they need it, whether it be one month or 10 years. There are no applications, forms, or other red tape for a family to deal with – they strive to make the delivery of services as quick and seamless as possible. To date, ECF has assisted over 2000 families.

Holly is joined on the executive leadership team by President-Elect Barbara McCloskey, 1st Vice President Susan Chambers, and 2nd Vice President Chris Sienkielewski.

Barbara McCloskey, of Rockaway, has been a member of NJSFWC since 1987, joining the Denville/Rockaway Junior Woman’s Club, where she served as President. McCloskey is presently a member of the GFWC Woman’s Club of the Denville-Rockaway Area, the GFWC Woman’s Club of Boonton, The Past President’s Club of the Highlands District, and the Phoenix Club. She was employed for 18 years as the Membership & Outreach Manager for the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, where she coordinated one-day stewardship projects with corporate volunteers and managed their community garden. Her goal for the next two years is to is work closely with local clubs to develop potential leaders, and promote the benefits of the NJSFWC to their clubs.

Susan Chambers, of Oradell, has previously served on the NJSFWC Board as Palisades District Vice President; Special State Project Chairman for Prevent Child Abuse - NJ; Health and Wellness Chairman; and Third Vice President/ Membership Chairman. She is a member of the Book and

Needle Woman’s Club of Oradell, having served as their CoPresident and in several other Board positions. She was a trustee of the Oradell Public School Board of Education; a Board member of the Oradell Arts and Business Coalition; and Secretary of the Oradell Community Outreach Committee. Chambers is also a lifetime Girl Scout and a certified Mental Health First Aid Responder.

Chris Sienkielewski, of South Plainfield, has been a member of NJSFWC since 1984. She served as the New Jersey State Director of Junior Clubs 1996-1998, and subsequently served twenty years on the GFWC Board of Directors in various Board positions in education, resolutions, leadership, conservation, and violence against women. After over two decades as a teacher and school director, she has used these skills to begin her own educational consulting business training teachers in preschool, elementary and adult education. Sienkielewski’s focus during this administration will be membership cultivation.

“I’m thrilled to have Barbara McCloskey, Susan Chambers, and Chris Sienkielewski on my Executive Board. The diversity of their combined experiences – both as volunteer and professionals – will make a strong and dynamic team to grow our membership and inspire local New Jersey clubs to participate in all NJSFWC has to offer,” said NJSFWC President Shirley Holly.

NJSFWC is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Learn more about NJSFWC at www.njsfwc.org

A Thanksgiving Story: The Precious Remembrances of My Beloved Grandfather

By Richard Mabey Jr.

One of the most endearing and cherished memories of the Thanksgivings of my childhood and youth is that of my beloved grandfather, heartily and enthusiastically celebrating this wonderful holiday. I remember, all so dearly, how Grandpa loved to carve the turkey after he took it out of the oven of the old Mabey Homestead in Lincoln Park. It was a task upon which Grandpa held as a most high honor.

Grandpa was a man who was governed by detail and precision. As a young man, Grandpa held the honor of serving as the Chief Engineer of Incline Plane Ten East of the infamous Morris Canal. The need to be detailed oriented, plus having raised his family in the heart of the Great Depression, gave Grandpa the wisdom to carve each slice of turkey with great care.

“You never want to cut the slices too thick, Dicky Jim. But on the other hand, you don’t want the family to leave the table hungry,” Grandpa would tell me with a bit of a song in his voice. My grandfather was the man who bestowed me with the nickname of Dicky Jim. He was the last person to ever call me by that name. I would greatly protest when I got to be about 11 years old and my aunts and uncles would call me by that nickname. But, Grandpa was a different story.

It is all so hard to put into words what Thanksgiving Day was like at the old Mabey Homestead. When I was a young boy and my great grandmother, Dora Mabey, was still alive,

there had to be at least 50 people congregated within the warmth and love of the dear old farmhouse that my great grandfather had built when he was just a young man.

Great Grandma Mabey worked hard to keep Thanksgiving Day all so organized. There was the old, stately dining room table, which could only seat six people. So, on Thanksgiving Day, my dad and my uncles would set up four or five additional tables. These extra tables were made up of old pieces of plywood resting upon carpenter’s wooden horses. It was as down home as you could ever imagine. I remember the touch of class that Great Grandma would add to the long procession of plates, glasses and silverware. Great Grandma would have these folded oak tag nameplates, for every single member of the Mabey clan. Great Grandma would decide where you would sit at that table and nobody dared to argue with the proud matriarch.

After the Thanksgiving feast, the women would clean up and wash all the dishes. Most of the men would congregate onto the enclosed front porch and tell remembrances of growing up in Lincoln Park. And Grandpa would sit in the big, easy chair in the southwest corner of the big living room. My cousins and my sister Patti and I would all sit upon the floor at Grandpa’s feet. Then, dear old Grandpa would tell these wonderful and colorful stories of his remembrances of life along the old Morris Canal.

There were no video cameras back then, in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Oh, how I regret that none of Grandpa’s

A cherished, old photograph of my grandfather, Watson Mabey, carving the Thanksgiving turkey at the old Mabey Homestead.

enchanting tales were not videotaped.

My grandfather was an incredibly talented story teller. He would hold us all spellbound with his voice flexion,

on page 28

A Thanksgiving Story...

dramatic timing, facial expressions, and lively hand

I would do my absolute best to engrave Grandpa’s stories within the fibers of my mind and the deepest chambers of my heart. Grandpa’s stories did not just center upon his work on Incline Plane Ten East. For when Grandpa was a boy and then through his teenage years, he worked with his father, William Mabey, at the old Mabey Ice House that stood along the banks of the Morris Canal, just a few yards to the east of Incline Plane Ten East. Great Grandpa Mabey had an agreement with Mr. Franciso, who owned the sawmill that was located just to the northwest of the end of Mabey Lane. Great Grandpa and his sons, Watson and Earl, would fill wheelbarrows with the sawdust from the mill and walk them over to the Mabey Ice House. In exchange, Great Grandpa would provide free ice for Mr. Francisco.

As a boy, and then later as a teenager, during the winter months Grandpa and his brother would cut ice blocks from the frozen water of the canal. They would tie a rope around the big block of ice, drag it to their father’s ice house and then thickly pack it with sawdust in the icehouse. It was

far from being the easy life.

In memory, I return to those wonderful and loving Thanksgiving Days. During my childhood and youth, I never really realized just how precious they were. An era has now long past. Like grains of sand slipping through the crevices of my fingers, time has passed all too quickly. Now, at 69 years old, I long to relive just one more Thanksgiving Day of that magical era.

To see Grandpa proudly carve the turkey. To see Grandma stirring gravy at the old stove. To see my father, young and proud. To see my mother, carefully placing the top crust onto an apple pie. To see my cousins all running around the old Mabey Homestead. To see my Great Grandma firmly, but lovingly, commanding everyone to different tasks. To see my aunts cutting up green beans and carrots. And to see my uncles, all gathered upon the enclosed front porch telling tall tales of their youth. And, for one more time, to be able to see and hear Grandpa tell just one of his colorful tales of life along the old Morris Canal.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ hotmail.com. Please kindly write “Thanksgiving Story” in the subject line.

reliance

$0

Request free no obli-

1-877-539-0299

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855903-3048

Attention Homeowners! If you have water damage and need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work with your insurance agency to get your home repaired and your life back to normal ASAP! 855-767-7031

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-4893936

MACPA

Vivint.

Professionally in-

for

Call to customize your

1-833-841-0737

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub.

Top-ofthe-line

and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855417-1306

Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Pest, rodent, termite and mosquito control. Call for a quote or inspection today 844-394-9278

Replace your roof with the best-looking and longest-lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors are available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - $500 Discount + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-338-4807

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-866-482-1576 or visit dorranceinfo.com/macnet

Looking for auto insurance? Find great deals on the right auto insurance to suit your needs. Call today for a free quote! 866-9242397

Internet & WiFi Starts at $49 Call us Today to Get Started. Find High Speed Internet with Fiber Optic Technology No Credit Check, No SSN Required. Call us Today! 866-396-0515

DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER? You may qualify for a substantial cash awardeven with smoking history. NO obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-888-650-9135

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-866-518-8391

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www. dental50plus.com/macnet #6258

Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-844-3175246

Vivint. Smart security. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. FREE professional installation.Four FREE months of monitoring! Call now to customize your system. 1-855-870-2073

Safe Step. North America ’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-ofthe-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-833-356-1954

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-866-783-0292

The bathroom of your dreams for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-877-540-2780

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options Request a FREE Quote – Call now before the next power outage: 1-855-465-7624

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855791-1626

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-629-6086

Need IRS Relief $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness Call 1-877-705-1472 Monday through Friday 7AM-5PM PST

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-590-5561

Are you receiving SSDI/SSI Benefits? You may be eligible for additional benefits. CALL US TODAY Citizen Disability 1-888-4906616

Attention Viagra users: Generic 100 mg blue pills or generic 20 mg yellow pills. Get 45 plus 5 free $99 + S/H. Call Today 1-877707-5518

Cancellation Experts Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 888-965-0363

WANTED! MOTORCYCLES! ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Triumph, BSA, and other foreign models. $$PAYING CA$H$$ 717-577-8206 Krmiller1965@yahoo.com

**American and Foreign** Any Condition. Buying entire car collections. $$PAYING CA$H$$ Please call 717-577-8206 Krmiller1965@yahoo.com

N J R e a l E s t a t e i s D O W N 1 7

2 % * W h a t d o e s t h i s m e a n f o r y o u ?

It's no secret, the real estate market has been on an incredible run for the past two years. However, the market has begun to shift as rising mortgage rates (decreased buying power), unhinged home price growth, rock bottom inventory and worries about an impending economic downturn come into view.

With an intimate understanding of the market. The Sheeran Group watches it minute by minute. We have multiple sources and data points to provide you a full picture of what is -- or isn't -- happening.

We don't give you unrealistic expectations. As the market changes, so are we. We've developed new and exciting plans of action to help you understand what it's going to take to get your home sold

In a shifting real estate market, it is important to choose an agent with proven results. Our Team's results are in the numbers WE SELL THE MOST HOMES in your community!

T

S N O T O N L Y A G O O D T I M E T O S E L L W I T H T H E S H E E R A N G R O U P

I T ' S T H E R I G H T C H O I C E