Denville Youths Publish Comic Book
By Megan Roche
Lucy Coster and Sabrina Bendo, two Denville teens, recently combined forces and wrote their own comic book.
The book, The Fighters Guild, was a project for their EXPO Class. The EXPO program, similar to a gifted and talented program, requires that students produce an original project that can be sold during the school’s TREP$ marketplace.
The two created the comic from the ground up. They started with brainstorming, character creation, story writing, deciding on number of pages for book, storyboard/ thumbnail sketches, line art, color illustration, and adding in text. During this process they also needed to get quotes from the printer and decide on how many books to get printed, and then determine a sale price.
While waiting with anticipation for the books to arrive, Coster and Bendo had time to reflect on the project.
“Working on this project, it deepened our friendship because we had lots of time to bond, and we know for certain that we can communicate well with each other and stay calm and enjoy the process, even with looming
deadlines,” Coster said.
In addition to the book, Coster and Bendo also created keychains of the characters to sell during the market. The two worked diligently on the project and spent a ton of time finalizing the details.
“I split my work into three groups of panels; in those three, one was 21, one was 20, one was 15, so it was a total of 56 hours for me for coloring. Plus, the keychain which I created and colored on my own in an afternoon - about six hours,” Coster said.
“My total time for drafting and line art, according to Procreate, was 36 hours. Plus, brainstorming with Lucy beforehand and
sketching thumbnails and afterwards to finalize the dialogue,” Bendo said.
Coster, a freshman at Morris Knolls, and Bendo, a freshman in the Design Academy at Morris County Vocational Technical School, are looking beyond their comic and at studying art in college.
Bendo learned a lot from the project.
“If I were to be hired as a job creating a comic, my experience with Lucy in creating our comic would prove beneficial because it helped me know the right terms to use and communicate better with someone I’m working with,” Bendo said.
Overall, the two girls are
proud of their work.
“I thought it was fun. I didn’t know how long it was going to take or where to start but once we got into the groove of things, it worked; it clicked. We worked well together,” Coster said. “I like drawing and I don’t like doing Math, for instance, so if choosing between a Math assignment and this project, I was happy to work on this project with my friend,” Bendo said.
The girls have 28 comic books ($5) and 25 character keychains ($3) left in stock. If you’d like to support your local teenage artists and illustrators, please reach out to conquestartwork@ gmail.com
By Evan Wechman
KDenville Non-Profit Spreads Hope about Cancer
athy Olenowski of Denville passed away from thyroid cancer in 2011 at the age of 55. She was a wonderful mother, a generous teacher and an outstanding business leader who touched the lives of nearly everyone she met. Since that time, her daughter Meg Olenowski and her father have been organizing community awareness events to raise money for local cancer survivors. In 2023, they officially organized the Kathy Olenowski Foundation with the mission of cheering on these brave individuals.
According to Olenowski, shortly after losing her mother, she and her family wanted to make a difference.
“We wanted to do something and give back to the community.”
In the last 11 years, Meg and her family have helped raise over $100,00 for local residents going through cancer treatments.
This past October, they held their landmark event, the Pink Witches Night Out. On this night, downtown Denville businesses closed early and came together to fight cancer. There was something for everyone from casino events to tricky trays, with a great pink bar in the middle of the street. Both men and women came out to enjoy themselves and rally behind those battling the disease.
This event’s beneficiary was Shannon Mulvey, a mother of four from the area who was diagnosed with the disease in 2017. Though her prognosis was initially poor, Mulvey has remained brave throughout the ordeal. She has also been very forthcoming about her battle, which has inspired other survivors to keep fighting against this disease.
The Kathy Olenowski Foundation will hold other events such as Barbells for Breast Cancer and Pickleball for Pink Witches throughout the year to help those in need.
However, it all started about 13 years ago when their wonderful mother died from cancer after a brief but courageous battle. The memory of how her mother touched other people’s lives remains with Meg today.
“She was extremely generous. She would give the shirt off her back. She was just one of those people, real salt of the earth with a great personality. She was the most generous and kind person you ever met, and she created quite a little legacy down here. She had a strong following and a great community of people behind her. When she became sick, she was still so worried about everyone else. She wasn’t worried about herself, but she was worried about how it was going to affect me, how it was going to affect my sister. What’s going to happen to my dad,” Olenowski says.
She recalls her mom, up until her final days, sending thank you notes and letters of encouragement to her friends and family.
The foundation is hoping to not only raise much needed funds but spread the message about cancer as well.
Olenowski is excited people are talking about the disease. She remembers when she was a kid, people were afraid to speak about it.
“I think for me, obviously it’s a horrible disease. It hasn’t been cured yet, but I think we’ve truly created an environment of inclusion for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their caregivers and family members, so I think that’s the thing I’m most proud of,” she says.” I think
the biggest thing for us is just how far we have come in the last 12 years. We have been able to do research for people, to be an outlet for people, and to be a real inclusive community for everybody. There’s always somebody that is going to lend a hand. There’s always somebody who will help foot the bill for you.”
For those who want to contribute to the foundation, any help is appreciated. Donate Now | Kathy Olenowski Foundation (givelively.org)
Morris County School of Technology Supports Downtown Denville’s Annual Pink Witches Night Out
For the past 12 years in downtown Denville, the Kathy Olenowski Foundation has been having an event called Pink Witches Night Out to raise breast cancer awareness and support women and their families affected by cancer. This year, over 70 Morris County School of Technology students in the Academies for Multimedia, Design, Health Care, Animal Science, Global Supply Chain, Finance, Computer & Information Science, Biotechnology and Education along with art classes worked together to design, create and paint 13 store windows in Denville which promoted the Pink Witches event. The event was a wonderful collaboration between MCST students, staff and Pink Witches - one that we hope to repeat next year!
An academy program of the Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) provides students in grades nine through twelve in-depth instruction in a specific career pathway. Students attend the
academy program instead of their local high school unless the academy program is housed in their local high school. Students take their academy class each year along with the NJ State Department of Education’s academic requirements. All academy students receive a high school diploma from the Morris County Vocational School District, regardless of their academy location. Each academy has a unique academy course sequence and opportunities for internships and earning college credit.
Students interested in an Academy may apply during the fall of eighth grade via an online application until November 18th. To learn more, students and parents are encouraged to attend an information session on November 12 at 6:30 PM at the Morris County School of Technology in Denville. For information, please visit https://www.mcvts.org/ apply or contact Gina DiDomenico, Student Recruitment and Community Relations at didomenicog@mcvts.org
New Professional Production Studio Space Opens in Denville
By Megan Roche
The team at StrixMedia has launched its newest venture: a fully operational and outfitted production studio in Denville.
Since the time StrixMedia opened its doors, the team knew that their tiny office space wouldn’t cut it. Constantly tripping over production equipment, Dan Gianfrancesco and Zach Ryan knew that it wouldn’t be long until they needed to find a larger home.
“Owning a production company in an office building with eight-foot-high drop ceilings isn’t the greatest for creating stuff,” Dan Gianfrancesco said.
Gianfrancesco began the hunt for a warehouse facility that had heating and air conditioning capabilities, which according to him, was not an easy feat. After finding a space in Denville that had exactly what they were looking for, the two and their team began the process of turning the facility into a studio with lots of hard work.
The StrixMedia team officially announced the opening of the new space on October 16.
The space houses all different technology for productions on any scale.
The 35,000 square foot studio features a 20 x 20’ corner cyclorama wall, prelit with Aputure Nova P300c Panels, a 107” Seamless Savage Paper backdrops in a variety of colors, a private editing suite, a drive up loading/unloading dock, a luxurious Green Room equipped with vanities and a full-length mirror, and a full kitchenette and more.
“We’re definitely not one of the largest studios in the area. We are however in this really nice sweet spot of being able to accommodate some larger productions but we’re really in that middle space of what we can fit from a production standpoint,” Gianfrancesco said.
The facility is open for professional production rentals.
“What truly sets us apart is our seamless functionality. We also provide a wide range of high-end equipment rentals, from camera packages to lighting kits, to ensure your production runs smoothly from start to finish. Whether you’re shooting fashion, portraits, or product photography, our
studio delivers a high-caliber space for your creative vision,” Gianfrancesco said.
Ultimately, Gianfrancesco hopes that the company continues to grow and can offer more to the production community.
“We want to host networking events, we want to have workshops, we’re trying to continue to do everything we had done before at our old location, just now all in one spot,” Gianfrancesco said.
To learn more or to rent the space, visit www.strixmedia.com
By Steve Sears
DMorris County School of Technology Receives Grant from the Rachel Ray Foundation
enville’s Morris County School of Technology recently received a $5,000 grant from The Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).
Morris County School of Technology, which was awarded the grant once previously, is part of the Morris County Vocational School District, and is one of 40 high schools nationwide to receive the grant. The school will use the current funds this year to aid its Academy for Culinary Arts by enhancing its school-based events like the Morris County Superintendent’s Breakfast, and another breakfast hosted for Morris County Alliance Network. Funds will also be used for curriculum, getting nicer silverware and nicer cups, and to update items like serrated knives, cutting boards, and more.
“Those simple things like that really enhance the experience of a student. They are very basic things, but they greatly affect the class.” said Miguel Alfonso, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and veteran of many
restaurant establishments. He is in his seventh year as a teacher for the Academy for Culinary Arts, which annually has 16 students. “The ProStart program is actually under the National Restaurant Association, and there is a standard curriculum that ProStart gives as a guide for career technical education. Each educator has a very good framework on how to teach and what to teach in order to get a student ready for an entry level position in the hospitality industry.”
“ProStart Grow Grants are a gamechanger for many ProStart classrooms, providing the support to add crucial curriculum, equipment, and experiences for students.
We’re grateful for the partnership of The Rachael Ray Foundation, which is helping educators give their students a front row seat to all that a career in the restaurant industry offers,” said Rob Gifford, president of the NRAEF.
153 ProStart Grow Grants have been awarded in the last five years, and The Rachael Ray Foundation and the Yum-o! organization have sponsored over 260 scholarships for students who are pursuing post-secondary degrees in the restaurant
and hospitality industry.
“Providing Grow Grants is one of my favorite times of the year. The educators who invest their passion and energy into their classrooms are inspiring. I love to see the impact their work has on the students who graduate from ProStart with
the knowledge and excitement for the restaurant industry,” said Rachael Ray. To learn more about what the Morris County School of Technology and its Academy of Culinary Arts program offers, visit https://www.mcvts.org/programs/ culinary-arts
Rockaway Native Creates Reality Television Series for College Senior Thesis
By Megan Roche
Jaden Lanfrank, a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), grew up loving unscripted, reality television shows. Lanfrank, who will earn a degree in television come May 2025, had to prepare a senior thesis project and usually, most students decide to make a short film. Not for Lanfrank, who shot and produced SCAD’s first ever unscripted reality series: Fly On the Wall.
Lanfrank is no stranger to putting together shows. A massive fan of Survivor, Lanfrank created his own spinoff with his friends where they would compete on the beach for prizes. When it came time to pick his senior thesis project, producing his own reality show was an easy choice.
“When it came time to decide on my final project for college, I thought about all of the scripted shows and things that I would want to go into, but nothing was really hitting for me the same way as making my own reality show,” Lanfrank said.
Fly On the Wall, which is reminiscent of Big Brother and Survivor, put a group of college students in a house for one week. Each guest competed for money, prizes, and power. At the end of each day, one person would be voted out of the house. The last
guest standing won $1,000 cash.
“I took eight people who would never interact in normal life, despite sharing a campus together, and they all moved in to see what would happen,” Lanfrank said.
After months of planning, Lanfrank and the team recently shot the episodes in a week in Atlanta. Lanfrank’s goal was to see what social dynamics would play out amongst the college aged houseguests.
“A big part of this was that it was created by, produced by, and cast completely of college students. I really felt like that was the best way to cap off my college career. This show really explores that in between in life where you are kind of a kid in the sense that you are in school and going to class, but you are also an adult in a way of getting a job, living with roommates, you have to be in this weird spot in life where you are in between. I really wanted to examine that social aspect,” Lanfrank said.
Lanfrank produced the series, but also hosted the show. All in all, he couldn’t have asked for better, from the community support to the seven days on set.
“It meant so much to see not only the show happen and come together in the way it did, but just having so many people be so supportive of the show. We had hundreds
Jaden Lanfrank, far right, directs Fly On the Wall house guests before a challenge
of people donate to create this and give it a chance. We had 50 people on set every single day, we had this revolving door of crew, but who were willing to give it a shot. All of these people thought the idea was so different and fun and they just kind of took a chance on my idea. It meant the world to have the support and backing from so many
people,” Lanfrank said.
Lanfrank and his production team are planning on submitting the show to film festivals around the country. For the most up to date information on release dates, follow the show’s Instagram at www. instagram.com/flyonthewall.show.
Bishop’s Celebration at St. Catherine of Siena Church
The Bishop’s celebration at St. Catherine of Siena Church celebrating two feast days – St. Therese the Little Flower and St. Michael the Archangel was spectacular. We had 300 people in attendance.
Affordable Full Mouth Dental Implants
Dteeth are removed, implants placed, and replacement teeth are attached to the implants. Most of the time this can be accomplished within one day!
super-strong “snaps” we can temporarily bypass the screws, which again passes on a cost-savings to patients.
save their teeth!
Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term
This is a service we provide on a regular basis for patients who have a need for it. Unfortunately, quite often we see people who have a need, but simply can’t afford it, even with financing. The investment for this service can range between $23,000 & $30,000 per jaw (arch).
Recent advancements in both technology and materials are significantly changing the playing field in the arena of Full Mouth Dental Implants, and one result is decreased cost. We’ve been excited to be able to go back to our patients and let them know about these changes, and many have now been able to afford the dentistry they desperately need.
Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI
revolutionary advancements in the last few decades: they have given people additional alternatives to conventional dentistry, which can provide healthier, longer-lasting results. Within the field of implant dentistry there is something called Full Arch Dental Implants: it goes by many names such as All-On-Four, All-On-X, Teeth-In-A-Day, and many more. Essentially, compromised
Dental Implants
New Patient Special
These new advents can drop the financial investment to around $14,000 to $21,000 per arch (jaw). This is a significant savings over the standard All-On-X process, and can give a consumer the opportunity to start restoring a debilitated dentition.
$149 Cleaning, Exam, Full Set of Films Regularly $362.00
Traditional All-On-X treatment consists of teeth that are screwed onto the implants. These teeth have also been fabricated from very strong acrylics with an internal metal support or from a “porcelain-like” material known as Zirconia. With the advent of super-strong acrylics we can offer a “longterm” temporary restoration that patients can upgrade in the future to the proper, durable materials, and with the advent of
We encourage you to view the wealth of information on our website: we perform so many dental implant procedures, including full mouth dental implants, that we’ve dedicated an entire section of both the website and our facility just to the delivery of proper implant care. If you have additional questions, reach out to us for a free consultation, which is also outlined on our website.
Cannot be combined with other discounts
Refer to New Patient Specials on our website for details Coupon must be presented, & mentioned at time of scheduling Expires 2/28/22 3/5/6
General
I do want to point out that the All-On-X process has been around much longer than this newer system, which is called Locator Fixed. Although the results of Locator Fixed are excellent, there may be issues with it that we simply are not aware of. The reverse could be true, too: it may be just fine, and our current sense of caution may be unnecessary. We simply don’t know. What we do know is that we are able to provide patients with the treatment they are searching for, and as funds accumulate, they could upgrade to the All-On-X if they find it necessary.
Its important to understand not everyone needs advanced implant procedures, or even basic implant care. It may be appropriate when all remaining teeth require removal, but oftentimes people leave my office after a consultation with a list of other options that help to
About the author: Dr. Ira Goldberg has been performing implant procedures for 29 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He performs all phases of implant dentistry at his office in Succasunna, NJ. He lectures to dentists in the field of implantology. For a free consultation, including a free 3-D scan (if necessary), please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his website at www. MorrisCountyDentist.com Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist, and also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist with credentials in multiple organizations. Please visit his website
Dr. Goldberg is a leading expert on dental implants. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, which is a degree held by only 1% of dentists worldwide. Whether you require a single implant or complex full-mouth rehabilitation, a free consultation with Dr. Goldberg should be considered.
Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services include cleanings, check-ups, fillings, Invisalign, dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term relationships they build with their patients.
Did You Know?
The National Football League (NFL) was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The first-ever NFL game was played at Triangle Park in Dayton, Ohio, on October 3, 1920. In that contest, the hometown Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0. Though the Dayton Triangles were eventually purchased by a Brooklyn-based syndicate and relocated to New York as a result of that transaction, the team’s status as the host of the first NFL game continues to pay dividends for residents of the southwestern Ohio city where the franchise ushered in the now wildly popular league. In recognition of the place the city of Dayton holds in NFL history, the NFL Foundation, in partnership with FieldTurf & Vasco, pledged to fund the installment of a new artificial turf at the city’s Kettering Park.
New Practice! Internal Medicine Faculty Practice
Saint Clare’ Health announces the inauguration of the Internal Medicine Faculty Practice. The services offered are designed to conveniently provide patients with both primary care and urgent care services supported with all the technology and capabilities of an acute hospital.
In one location, patients can walkin for urgent care and if necessary, receive care from emergency trained physicians. Hospital lab and radiology services are available. Results will be read by board-certified radiologists
and available in a short period of time.
As with primary care services, for example, vaccinations, sutures removed, rapid test for flu, strep and COVID are available. Appointments can also be made for women’s wellness exams.
Walk-ins are welcome, and we accept most insurances. The practice is open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 4:30 pm – with an on-call answering service 24/7. Address: 25 Pocono Road, Wing B, Denville, NJ, 07834. Phone: 973-983-5310.
About Saint Clare’s Health Saint Clare’s Health, a member of Prime Healthcare, is an awardwinning provider of compassionate care delivered with the latest technology, serving the communities of Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties. Its network of hospitals and healthcare facilities, include Denville Hospital, Dover Hospital, Behavioral Health Centers in Boonton, Denville, and Parsippany, and an Imaging Center in Parsippany, among other satellite locations.
By Elsie Walker
APost Office Says Good-bye to Dekleine after 42 years
t 3:15pm, on September 28th, Bobby Dekleine finished his career at the Landing Post Office in Roxbury. He retired after 42 years with the postal service, having worked at the same location all of those years. He noted that those he worked with at the Landing Post Office are like a second family to him. Family is a thread that runs through Dekleine’s history with the Landing Post Office and his plans for retirement.
Dekleine, of Denville, previously lived in Hopatcong. Growing up, his parents had a box at the Landing Post Office, and he would come in there with them. When it came time to decide on a career, his dad gave him some advice. His dad worked at Picatinny and suggested going into government work. “My dad said it is a good job if you can get in,” Dekleine shared. The younger Dekleine took and passed the test to work for the post office. He was interviewed by the man whose son would later be his coworker. That son, Bob Hand, and Dekleine worked together for 40 years. They were known by Landing Post Office customers as the two Bobs: “Big Bob” (Hand) and “Bobby” (Dekleine).
Dekleine was a carrier for the first three years of his postal career. He delivered mail all over Landing. When an opportunity came to work behind the counter, he took
it and had been assisting customers with a smile ever since. Interacting with the customers was his favorite part of the job. Although you might get the occasional grumpy customer, Dekleine noted that “most people are genuinely nice.”
What Dekleine will miss the most about working at the post office is his post office family: “I’ll miss Bob [Hand] and Roxanne [Carbonelli],” he shared. A tight knit group, they’d go together to see Roxanne’s son at Rutgers play football. Dekleine noted of those who have worked there that “Everyone here always got along. For years, we would have Christmas parties at one of our houses and everyone would attend. We got together to play softball in Port Morris Park, and we even played the Succasunna Post Office in football once”. Some of his favorite memories are of getting together for the retirement parties of fellow postal workers. Now, it was Dekleine’s turn. He noted it was just time to move on.
What are Dekleine’s retirement plans? His wife, who works in the IT area of the Parsippany school system, has one year left before retirement. DeKleine will be busy fixing up their house, as when she retires, they plan to move down south. Meanwhile, he and his wife like to bike. Also, with the time he now has, he can do a few things he might not otherwise get to do. He will accompany his 14 year-
old grandson to Minnesota; his grandson’s hockey team (7th in the nation) will be playing the 3rd in the nation. For Thanksgiving, Dekleine will be travelling to Louisiana to see his daughter who is expecting a baby.
By Henry M. Holden
Janis Blackburn flew as the second officer on an Eastern Airlines Airbus A-300. According to the Airbus Corporation, she was the first woman in the world to be a crewmember on that airplane. “I was 36 years old when Eastern Air Lines hired me in 1985. To get hired, and to be the first says something. It was exciting,” she said.
“I was about the same age or just a couple of years younger than the other second officers. I had more in common with them.” Most of them Janis worked with were in their early 20s. “We talked about the same things in the cockpit. My daughter was in college, and many of the second officers had kids in college or just starting. So, we have the same problems, tuition, etc. If you’re single, and 23 as opposed to married with a family then we have different things in common.”
At the age of 14, Janis had her first airplane ride as a civil air patrol cadet and immediately fell in love with flying. “I knew then I wanted to fly.” Two days after her 20th birthday, Janis earned her pilot’s license.
For the next few years, she remained on the edge of the flying community until 1977, when she got her instructors rating. She then taught for 3 1/2 years.
A year earlier, Janis had the opportunity to compete in the last Powder Puff Derby. “I remember hearing
Pioneer Pilot Captain Janis Keown-Blackburn
about it on the news when I was very small, maybe five or six and I remember the newscaster say, that ‘today is the powder puffers air race.’
“The newscaster began to talk about the race, and it was then that I decided I wanted to be in one. I didn’t know at the time that you had to be a pilot to enter.
“Years later it was exciting to be a contestant in that race. A friend worked for a company that agreed to sponsor us. The company went bankrupt two weeks before we left for California so my copilot, Claire, Korica, and I paid our own way.
“When we began to taxi out, we saw hundreds of spectators and in the front row, I saw my daughter Sandra, who was six at the time. I recognized her in the crowd because she was wearing a Bicentennial dress, her grandmother had made for her.
“We didn’t finish in the top 10 but our objective was to finish the race and we did that. We were flying my Mooney, and I had no intention of damaging anything to try and win an air race. I learned a lot about flying and have a great scrapbook and photo albums for memories.”
Janis began flying in the 1960s, serving as a full-time flight instructor with the airlines at Marlboro Airport during the 1970s. “I began flying for the airlines in 1981 — first with Princeton Airways in Princeton,
followed by Summit Airlines, in Philadelphia, and then with Sun Country Airlines in Minneapolis.”
Janis flew for Princeton Airways for 15 months until they went out of business. Then for a year and a half she flew charters until Summit Airlines hired her to fly freight from Philadelphia. “When I flew freight I was away a lot. When I was home, it was not quality time with my family since flying freight is a night job, and my body clock was totally messed up.”
Janis stayed for 18 months until Sun Country Airlines offered her a job in Minneapolis as a second officer on a Boeing 727. When she arrived at their headquarters they decided to train her as a standby first officer riding both the back seat and the right seat.”
Janis always wanted to fly for Eastern Air Lines. She grew up just outside of Philadelphia and TV advertising always featured. “I applied to Eastern for eight years before they called. The personnel officer said, ‘I’ve been reading your name for eight years and I’m getting tired of it” Janis replied, “Then you’re going to have to hire me because I’m going to keep on writing.”
When Janis first applied to Eastern Airlines she had about 1,500 hours in the cockpit and they are looking for pilots with 2,5o0 to 3,000 hours. Vietnam was beginning to shut down and the Air Force was discharging
pilots. The airline could hold out for pilots with jet experience, and Janis didn’t have any back then.
There were also some personal struggles. In those days, a flight engineer’s ticket was $7,000 and then it was seven weeks away from her family.
One Christmas Janis got all the flight attendants together for a small celebration with Christmas presents for everybody in the crew. “We were like a family. None of us were with our real families. It was just nine of us together, just enjoying each other’s company.”
Janis joined Spirit Airlines in 1999, retiring in 2013 as an A-320 airbus captain with more than 22,000 hours. During her flying career she handled a few non-routine situations. On one occasion challenged with a cracked windshield at 39,000 feet.
On another occasion she had to make an emergency landing at Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, A passenger in the forward cabin was having difficulty breathing, while
a flight attendant in the aft cabin appeared to be having a heart attack. Once on the ground, both people survived. In September 2015, Janis was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, in Teterboro.
Janis recently wrote a children’s cook, “Teddy, the Airplane” a story of a little airplane listening to his friends adventures and deciding to create his own adventures.
Shop Morris County: Teen Entrepreneur Launches Local Business Hub
By Cheryl Conway
Anyone can google a business, but how helpful could it be if all the businesses were found in one search?
Thanks to 15-year-old Giovanni DiDomenico of Parsippany consumers can check out Shop Morris County, the first Morris County guide/resource for finding local events, restaurants, news and more in Morris County. Launched on Instagram on April 1, 2023, the official website launch was June 10.
With more than 100 businesses that have registered on the website so far, Shop Morris County is becoming the one stop spot for googling businesses on one website.
“There’s a huge benefit to businesses and the consumer because anyone can google for businesses when you are on the Shop Morris County site,” says DiDomenico, 10th grader at Morris County School of Technology.
“I am not aware of any websites that are Morris County-focused with the core mission of shopping and supporting local.”
DiDomenico and his father came up with his business idea two years ago when he was in eighth grade.
“I was having lunch with my father in Boonton, and my father told me that he’d been thinking of launching a Morris County Guide years ago, and I was thinking, ‘why should I
wait, let’s do it!” he explains. “Then at lunch in Boonton I created the Instagram page and posted Al Aqsa Restaurant as the first ever post on Shop Morris County.”
He is very grateful for the collaboration and support by his father.
“My father has helped me a lot along the way, especially by driving me around to get to local businesses, since I am only 15 years old,” he shares.
“The cost for me to get this going was my time; to this day I put hours in every single day to grow and keep it moving,” he adds.
Hopefully, his work will pay off in other ways as he looks toward his future.
“I’ve made connections with many towns such as Randolph, Dover, Jefferson, Denville, Rockaway,” he shares.
“Over 100+ businesses have been featured either on the Shop Morris County Instagram and/or website,” he adds.
“My career plans are growing Shop Morris County and building more brands,” he says.
“My goal for the Shop Morris County initiative is to make a significant community impact and help promote shopping locally,” he says. “I also look forward to growing the Shop Morris County brand and supporting our local communities.”
A value add for visitors is “there is no
cost for users/subscribers to view content on Shop Morris County,” he says. “This is to prioritize an enjoyable experience for the reader.”
Shop Morris County is on Facebook, Instagram and a website. https://www. instagram.com/shopmorriscounty/ https:// www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=61559045103192 https:// shopmorriscounty.com/
There are numerous ways to partner with Shop Morris County. Any interested businesses can email DiDomenico at gio@ shopmorriscounty.com.
Kidz World Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
November Highlights Children’s Grief Awareness by Supporting Families
By Cheryl Conway
November kicks off the holiday season where families gather and spend time together, and while for many it can be a joyous occasion, for others facing the loss of a loved one, the happy may be missing from their table.
Hence, why November is Children’s Grief Awareness Month and the third Thursday of each November is recognized as Children’s Grief Awareness Day. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the impact of grief on children and need to support those who have experienced loss.
Originated in 2008 in Pennsylvania as a collaboration between the Highmark Caring Place and students from local schools, the day was created in response to students’ desire to bring attention to the struggles of their grieving classmates, explains Annette Mendez of Mt. Olive, Training & Curriculum Manager at Good Grief, a non-profit grief support center for children and families.
The day is observed annually on the third Thursday of November, which is the Thursday before Thanksgiving in the United States. This year, the day falls on Nov. 21.
“The timing of the day is intentional, as the holiday season can be a difficult time for grieving children and families,” says Mendez. Some families do not know where to turn when faced with grief. The good news is there are organizations out there that can help! One of those organizations is Good Grief, with support centers in Morristown and Princeton.
“Everyone’s grief is unique, but we encourage
people to find support, community, and connection in ways that work best for them,” says Mendez who has been working at Good Grief this past year. “They don’t need to navigate this experience alone.”
Her role at Good Grief is to collaborate with school districts and organizations throughout New Jersey on the implementation and delivery of grief informed workshops and professional development.
“As part of the Good Grief Schools Initiative team, I provide workshops and training on how to build resilience within the grief community and how to grow from adversity,” she says.
“As a former bi-lingual educator, I have passion for working with my community and cultivating relationships with educators across districts to ensure they are providing lessons and spaces that are equitable,” she adds. “We can’t be equitable without being grief informed.”
Good Grief was established in 2004 by a group of concerned volunteers who saw the lack of high-quality grief support for kids in post 9/11 NJ.
“Our purpose is really to empower children and families and help to build up resiliency and strength after adversity and loss,” explains Mendez. “We do this by going into schools and other organizations and destigmatizing grief. We strive to shrink this big elephant in the room into something that is not as difficult to address.”
With 20 years of helping families, Good Grief has served 1,000 individuals each year in its centers, Mendez notes. Since 2018, it has partnered with 380
schools and has trained 20,391 individuals in Good Grief Schools.
For most of the organization’s history, it has been providing peer support programs to grieving children and families starting at 3 years old through young adulthood. In recent years, its work has expanded through education and advocacy to provide training, curriculum, and resources to schools, hospitals and healthcare, the funeral industry, corporations, and other spaces to empower professionals, parents, and the broader community to support the needs of children and families facing loss.
Since November is designated as Children’s Grief Awareness, Good Grief will be hosting a free community webinar in honor of Children’s Grief Awareness Day. It will be sharing a lesson plan and activity that participants can take back to their schools or clients. It will also have a t-shirt campaign through bonfire, htt ps://www.bonfi re.com/ goodgrief-2024/; a portion of the proceeds will go to Good Grief.
“We also have our annual Gala coming up in November in Princeton, as well as two 5ks,” adds Mendez. In addition to that, continued on page 18
By Richard Mabey Jr.
Now, at 71, I find myself dreaming more and more about moments that I shared with my paternal grandfather, Watson Mabey. I walked the forest path with Grandpa, from the end of Mabey Lane to the tow path of the old Morris Canal, over a hundred times in my childhood and youth. During the Summer of 1965, when I was just 11 years old, Grandpa and I came across the Magnificent Buck, on one of our walks to the old Morris Canal. It was a moment that, to this day, holds a dear and precious place in my heart.
I grew up in the old Mabey Homestead, that my great grandfather, William Mabey, built in 1890. On Thanksgiving Day, Dad’s sister and seven brothers, with their spouses and children, would gather at the old farmhouse, to feast and have heart-felt fellowship.
My paternal grandmother, Bertha Mabey, would peel apples for apple pie, very early in the morning. While the women cooked in the kitchen, Dad and his brothers would gather around in the big, enclosed front porch and tell tales of deep sea fishing excursions, grand adventures of hunting, and fond remembrances of growing up together. And, in this mist of all
Grandpa Mabey’s Last Thanksgiving
this, Grandpa would sit in his easy chair, in the living room, with all of his grandchildren sitting on the floor at his feet, and tell stories of working on the old Morris Canal.
There was something very different about Grandpa’s tales that he told in the morning of the Thanksgiving of 1967. I was 14 years old at the time and in my freshman year at Boonton High School. I was a sensitive boy and was gifted with a certain amount of intuition about things.
Grandpa had just had a stroke, a few months prior to that Thanksgiving Day. For all practical purposes, the stroke left his left arm almost useless. But Grandpa did his best to hide it.
Usually Grandpa would tell stories of his remembrances of working as the Chief Engineer of Incline Plane Ten East, which was located at the Towaco and Lincoln Park border, along the old Morris Canal. But this particular Thanksgiving morning, Grandpa talked a lot about Heaven. He told us that he had a good friend in Jesus. And, he talked a lot about his brother Earl, who was killed in battle in France, during World War I.
Grandpa spoke of angels, how they would visit him at night time. There was a solemn, reverent quality to Grandpa’s stories, during that Thanksgiving monring
of 1967. It was mixed with a bit of sadness.
I remember Grandpa spoke of the Majestic Buck, as he called the wonderful, magnificent, mystical buck that walked the forest behind the old Mabey Homestead. He talked of a time, when he was younger and had the giant buck lined up in the scope of his rifle, but could not find it within himself to pull the trigger. Grandpa would often say that the Majestic Buck was a true mystical beast.
We used to eat our big Thanksgiving feast at about two o’clock in the afternoon. Grandpa always sat at the head of the dining room table and the three or four additional folding tables that were set up, from the dining room and onto the formal living room.
I remember that halfway through his Thanksgiving prayer, Grandpa began crying. It was the one and only time that I ever saw my grandfather cry. As tears flowed down his cheeks, he asked God to bless each and
every one of us at the table.
On the seventeenth of May of 1968, the angels called Grandpa Home to Heaven’s Gate. That was over 56 years ago. Since the day Grandpa passed, I don’t think a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about him. I loved him with all my heart. Now at 71, I still mourn for my beloved grandfather. I still miss him very much. I would give up my entire collection of antique books and my whole comic book collection, to have just 10 minutes to once again talk with that dear, wonderful, kind old man.
Love those near and dear. Hold them precious in your heart. Forgive them of every wrong they may have ever done to you. Cherish every moment with the people you love and care for. For none of us have a written guarantee for tomorrow.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.
US Army Field Band Provides Music Across the Nation
By Megan Roche
One may think that the Army is just a military institution, where everyone gets deployed and goes to war, but those people would be wrong. Members of the US Army Field Band serve as soldiers, all while playing their instruments and using their voices.
“One of the biggest things that they stress to us in the beginning is that yes, we are musicians but first and foremost you are a soldier. Every single person that you see in this unit has been through basic combat training, they signed a contract that didn’t necessarily say, ‘I’m signing up to be a musician’, we all sign up to be a soldier,” Staff Sergeant Emily Perkins said.
The Army Field Bands are made up of five different groups; the US Army Field Band, the Jazz Ambassadors, the Army Rappers, the Soldiers Chorus, and the Six-String Soldiers. Each group performs around the country, in different areas, throughout the year.
Perkins, who is a vocalist with the Jazz Ambassadors, didn’t see herself getting into the military early on in her career.
“I just really was impressed when I learned about the mission of military bands and how they serve. You get to serve your country but also get to do something that is a huge passion. For me, I was really attracted to the dual aspect of it, feeling like I was a part of something bigger than myself and wearing the uniform that heroes have worn before me, but also getting to do something that I’ve been doing since I was five or six
Children’s Grief Awareness...
continued from page 16
educators can reach out at education@ good-grief.com if they are interested in any professional development opportunities not only for their staff but for parents and caregivers as well.
“We have monthly community webinars that are free to the public, they are conducted via zoom, recorded and then uploaded to our Youtube page,” she adds.
While November is being highlighted, Good Grief is a year-long center and community support is always welcome.
“Getting the word out,” is paramount, she says.
“Come visit us, we have open houses periodically,” says Mendez. “Spread the word, tell people about us. Tell your neighbor whose child may have lost a pet recently, tell a friend who you know is dealing with grief. Reach one teach one is my motto.”
Mendez explains why her work at Good Grief is so important.
often feeling isolated and misunderstood. I have a profound empathy for those navigating the difficult landscape of grief, and I recognize how crucial it is to create a safe space for them to express their emotions.
“By fostering open conversations and encouraging emotional expression, we can help individuals understand that their feelings are valid and shared,” she continues. “This organization plays a vital role in guiding families through their grief journeys, and I am inspired to contribute to this mission, helping to ensure that no one feels alone in their struggle
years old,” Perkins said.
While performing free concerts around the country is a big part of the Army Field Band’s mission, so is getting in front of youngsters and encouraging them to consider the military as part of their future.
“Everything we do is free to the American public. If a music educator wants us to come out and do a clinic with his kids, we are world class musicians that he doesn’t need to pay for us to come to do a clinic. We’re just happy to get there and do that for these kids,” Perkins said.
Each show by each group is different but ultimately focuses on telling the story of the military through music.
“We all tell the story of our Army in our performances and really make it a point to honor our veterans in the process. It’s one of the best kept secrets and hidden gems that the Army has to offer. People don’t realize all the things that bands do and the kind of scenarios they can enter that a lot of other parts of the military can’t be involved in,” Perkins said.
In between practices, rehearsals, and a busy touring performance schedule, the members of the group still must maintain Army standards in physical readiness. They also attend briefings and seminars on issues facing today’s military.
Performance schedules for each group vary, as the Jazz Ambassadors are currently on a tour throughout the southeastern US. For more information on all the groups and to see performance schedules, visit www. armyfieldband.com
“I am deeply passionate about this organization’s purpose because I believe that grief is a universal experience that touches all of us at some point in our lives,” shares Mendez. “Many children and families struggle silently with their feelings,
“Whenever I tell people what I do for a living, they often respond with, ‘Oh, that’s so sad,’” adds Mendez. “However, I always emphasize that I truly love my job. While it is indeed heartbreaking to think about a child in grief, it is equally rewarding to witness the joy of children visiting our centers, knowing they are embraced fully and unconditionally, regardless of where they are in their grieving process. They are not broken, and there’s no need to fix them. Our role is to listen, provide support, and remind others that grief can be a positive experience, hence our name Good Grief.”
Local Community Unites to Commemorate Attack on Israel
By Cheryl Conway
More than one year has passed since the October 7 Hamas led attack on Israel, and rather than forget, the local community is finding light, hope and compassion.
About 50 people from Mt. Olive, Washington Twp., Roxbury and other surrounding areas gathered at 7 p.m. at the Chabad Jewish Center in Flanders to commemorate the attack, to honor those whose lives were lost, remember the horrific day and unite as a people. Rabbi Yaacov Shusterman organized the hour-long event—Light Over Darkness— to memorialize victims of the October 7 massacre of last year.
“This was the worst antisemitic attack since the Holocaust,” says Shusterman. “We always have to remember and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
At the event, different people from the community spoke and candles were lit to remember the day when Hamas and several other Palestinian nationalist militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel. The attack coincided with Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings.
The memorial event included prayers, a candle lighting ceremony, poetry and speeches read by Jewish teenagers and members of the community of various age groups who read the biographies of some of the hostages, describes Shusterman.
He also spoke.
“365 days, an entire year has gone by since that day
when our worlds changed forever,” recites Shusterman. “We witnessed the unthinkable—the brutal loss of innocent lives, families torn apart, and a pain so deep that words can barely express it.
“We cannot stop thinking about the 101 innocent people still held captive in the darkness of tunnels beneath Gaza; the over 20,000 rockets and missiles fired at Israel, and the hundreds of thousands still displaced from their homes,” he adds.
“For many of us the pain remains so raw and so real,” he continues. “Yet, amid this silence, something remarkable has emerged. The heart of our people, the Jewish nation is showing its true beauty. We see acts of kindness and strength that reflect the essence of who we are. Communities are coming together like never before, strangers are embracing each other with love and support. We see those who refuse to let despair win, who rise with hope, compassion, and a fierce commitment to one another.
“We hope for peace in the region and that the people of Israel live with serenity,” adds Shusterman.
One attendee, Scott Sclar of Succasunna, attended the event in order “to pay homage to those negatively affected by the unfortunate situation unfolding in the Middle East,” he shares.
While the event was to memorialize a tragic day, Sclar walked away with some positive light.
“My main takeaway was that it is important to stay positive and look at the bright side of things even in dark times,” says Sclar. “To dance for a bright future instead of
cry over a troublesome past. I learned that throughout history the Jewish people have always been ostracized but have always been able to rise above.”
He was grateful that he was able to attend such a meaningful event.
“I am pleased that I attended because it allowed me to reflect on my ancestral history and remember where I came from,” says Sclar. “It was great to see a sense of community and everyone coming together for a common cause.”
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