East Hanover/Florham Park Life August 2024 by My Life Publications..Maljon LLC

EAST HANOVER FLORHAM PARK

BY PETER NICOLAS GUEST WRITER

AREA - The Morris County Division of Mosquito Control returned to Brooklake Elementary School on June 3, 2024, to teach the Third and Fourth Grade students how to identify mosquitos and ticks and stay safe during the summer and beyond.

Teresa Duckworth, Assistant Superintendent of the Morris County Division of Mosquito Control and her team returned for her fifth time since 2018 to share engaging educational presentation with many cautions and tips.

Examples included the importance of emptying out standing water with an adult, using an EPA registered repellent, and avoiding areas of high mosquito activity at dawn and dusk are all ways to reduce mosquitoes and their bites.

Tick checks on pets, children and yourself are an easy way to help minimize tick-borne diseases.

Each student also received a Morris County Division of Mosquito Control bag with several handouts such as “Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick!”, a Test Your Knowledge Crossword puzzle, coloring pages, and Quick Reference cards.

Commented Peter Nicolas, “A summer activity assignment could be to check those handouts and also the student dictionaries (donated annually to Third Graders by the Florham Park Rotary) to review a few words heard in the presentations – habitat, larva, parasite, saliva, and stagnant.”

Duckworth and Nicolas graduated from the Morris

County Chamber of Commerce Lead Morris Class of 2016. Lead Morris annually brings together a class of approximately 30 individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences who are preparing for or who have demonstrated business leadership ability through community involvement. This is one example of teaming to benefit the community. Their teamwork has now reached 1,000 students in Florham Park.

Principal Foster thanked Duckworth and her team for “taking the time to present to our students this week. They were all so excited and learned so much. Even our staff commented on how much they enjoyed the presentation. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon!”

Students Learn about Mosquito and Tick Safety

Youngster Earning Medals as Rollerskating Career Takes Off

BY MEGAN ROCHE STAFF WRITER

AREA - After attending a Girl Scout event at the Florham Park Roller Rink, 10-year-old Natalie Dublanica thought she found a sport she loved. She enjoyed the Girl Scout party and as her mom Annie watched her get the hang of skating, she knew that Natalie had found her calling. Annie and Stephen had tried everything they could to find Natalie’s sport. From dance and gymnastics to soccer, nothing really clicked with Natalie. Until that fateful Girl Scout rollerskating party, her love for the wheels came through.

“I just felt like I was good, it’s like it speaks to me. It was different from the other sports I did because it had wheels. I just like the wheels making me glide across the ﬂoor,” Natalie said. As mom and dad watched with their jaws dropped, the idea of lessons and classes came to their minds. Neither had any idea if the sport would stick. In lessons, Natalie was laser focused with her coaches.

“I saw her paying attention

to her coaches’ instructions and connecting with the sport. She trusted them even when she was frightened of a new jump. Some moves came easily to her; others were more challenging and took time to overcome,” Annie shared.

Natalie competes in two disciplines: Figures and Freestyle. In figures, Natalie has to trace figure eight patterns on the ground. With figures, discipline and focus are required as she has to navigate tight turns with precision. While in freestyle, Natalie gets to work on jumps and spins, much of what modern day figure skating looks like.

“Originally it was all tracing figures in ice and then the jumps and dancing became more popular and the sport changed, the name didn’t! Go figure! Turns out you can do just about all the jumps, crossovers and spins on rollerskates that you see on ice skates. You know that stopper in the front of the roller skate? That’s your toe pick for toe-based jumps,” Annie said.

During her first-ever rollerskating competition, Natalie

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brought home a gold medal.

“I was kind of nervous, but I got first place. It was my first competition, so that was pretty special to win a medal,” Natalie says.

As her passion for the sport grew, Natalie had to face some challenges, especially when learning new skills.

“The waltz jump was very hard to overcome, but I kept trying and I did it. I like to compete with spins. The one foot spin and the two foot spin are fun,” Natalie said.

At the end of the 2024 rollerskating season, Natalie took second place at the Juvenile C Figures Regionals where she competed with 13 other girls.

“Her Silver means a lot to

me as a parent because that was the culmination of a year’s journey of her embracing the skates, the sport, the practice and really opening herself to being her own athlete. When she is in the competition “zone” she’s like another person. She doesn’t seem like the same 10 year old!” Annie shared.

As for her future with skating? Natalie hopes to hit the international stage.

“There are no rollerskating events in the Olympics, but there are nationals and even international competitions. I can maybe see myself being an elite skater. You will feel it in your heart when you find a sport you love.”

Post 5351 of Whippany Awards “Unsung Heroes” and VFW Scholarships

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA - Thus far in 2024, the VFW Post 5351 of Whippany has contributed from its heart in funds to worthy youngsters.

The Post contributed two separate $1,500 scholarships to the Morris County School Boards Association “Unsung Heroes” awards program, and this year also revisited its own VFW scholarship program, awarding another two $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors who are entering either the military or first responders’ realms.

The “Unsung Heroes” program was started by the Morris County School Boards Association in 2001, the goal to honor students who otherwise go unnoticed. 2024 was the first year Post 5351 contributed funds.

Joanne Greene Tobias, a member of VFW Post 5351 since September 2023, is a 14year United States Air Force veteran who also taught special needs students in Jersey City for 30 years. Tobias also is a member of the Hanover Park Regional High School Board of Education, and one of the charter members “Unsung Heroes” awards committee.

Tobias told her fellow Post 5351 veterans about the MCSBA’s wonderful program and knew that one nominee each could come from both Hanover Park and Whippany Park high schools. Her comrades were in unanimously, generously donating $3,000 in scholarship funding to the “Unsung Heroes” program, which was awarded to two students during a May 2 ceremony at Roxbury High School. But the Post was not done. At a subsequent meeting, members discussed resurrecting their own VFW scholarship program which had laid dormant since the COVID-19 pandemic. Tobias, Post 5351’s scholarship chairperson, said, “We all decided on criteria. Our first priority was any student enlisting in the military; our second priority was any student going into a career field of first responders; and a third was a trade school.” After Tobias and fellow Post 5351 member, Thomas Miller, updated the application, students from Hanover Park High School and Whippany Park High School applied for the scholarships. After a review of the applications, a student and future firefighter from Hanover Park, and a Whippany Park senior entering the United States Naval Academy, were both awarded $1,500 scholarships, upping the VFW Post 5351’s total this year to $6,000 donated. Tobias said of the Post and its members, “The small membership that we have, the guys are wonderful. They keep the wheels grinding.” And while the total amount of scholarship funds is significant, so is the worthiness of the recipients.

Miller said, “There are a lot of great kids out there. The two who received the VFW scholarships were very, very exceptional young men.”

10-year-old Natalie Dublanica poses with her silver medal from the Juvenile C Figures Regionals competition

Brooklake Elementary Principal Robert Foster, Division of Mosquito Control Assistant Superintendent Teresa Duckworth, and Florham Park resident/Leadership Morris alumni, Peter Nicolas. (courtesy of Peter Nicolas)

CCM Hall of Famer Recalls First Ever Titans Base Hit

AREA - County College of Morris Hall of Fame baseball player, Dennis Mack, always recalled his late dad’s advice when stepping up to the plate.

And it was no different on a May afternoon back in 1969 when the CCM Titans faced Bergen Community College in Roxbury.

Mack, back then number two in the batting order, said, “When my dad was alive, he would say, ‘You get three swings. Do not just sit there and get two strikes and then swing at anything. Get the first pitch and go ripping.’”

His son heeded the advice. “I was going to take a shot,” the former Dover High School star said. “I was in college now, I was proud to be on the team, starting and being near the top of the batting order, and so I said to myself, ‘The first fastball I see, I am swinging,’ and I did.”

Mack delivered a line drive up the middle to center field for the first ever base bit in CCM Titans baseball history.

The Titans coach that summer was Jack Martin, who

was the college’s first athletic director and had a legendary run as CCM head basketball coach. When Mack was on first base after the hit, Martin smiled and pointed to his second baseman and held up one finger, signifying Mack’s historical feat.

Martin said, “I still remember putting the finger up denoting the first hit - number one. And although it was the first hit, he got a whole bunch after that. It set the stage for him.”

Mack in 1969 batted .383 and was named to named First Team All-East by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Martin added, “He had a wonderful career for us.”

“I can feel it like it happened yesterday,” Mack said. And geography has had much to do with his recall of the moment. The actual field the Titans called home back then was and still is between Franklin and Lincoln Roosevelt schools in Roxbury. Mack, when he served as Superintendent of Roxbury schools, had

Did

AREA - According to Worldwide Cancer Research, an organization that helps to supply funding to pioneering cancer research, blood cancers are the fifth most common types of cancers across the globe. The American Society of Hematology notes that blood cancers affect the production and function of blood cells. When a person is diagnosed with blood cancer, oftentimes his or her normal blood cell development process is in-

an office in the Board of Education building overlooking the field.

It was ﬂashback Heaven, and often during a rough day he would visit the diamond.

Mack recalled, “It was a very surreal feeling. It would be a beautiful day out there, and I would see the little kids out there running around on the field. I would just go down there, and the field was identical to when I played, I would look at the field and say to myself, ‘I remember this like it was yesterday, and now here I am, Superintendent of schools - so many years later. Who would have thought this would happen to me?!’”

Mack would have tryouts with three Major League Baseball teams, two being the Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds.

But neither signed him. The problem? There was already “company” at second base with future Hall of Famer, Joe Morgan.

After attending at CCM, Mack received his bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickin-

You Know?

terrupted by the uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell. The ASH reports that leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are the three main types of blood cancers. Leukemia is marked by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Lymphoma occurs when abnormal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells and multiply in the lymph nodes and other tis-

sues. Over time, lymphoma cells impair the immune system, making individuals vulnerable to infections and other adverse health outcomes. Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, which the ASH NOTES are typically responsible for producing diseaseand infection-fighting antibodies. Myeloma prevents the normal production of those antibodies, leaving patients vulnerable to infection.

Dennis Mack gets the ﬁrst hit in CCM Titans baseball history in May of 1969 (courtesy of County College of Morris)

son and eventually coached baseball and was a teacher at Randolph High School. In addition to serving as Roxbury superintendent of schools,

he has done the same in the communities of Mine Hill, Morris Plains, Rockaway, and Warren Hills.

Harry Sun, MD, FACS, Named Director of Transplant Surgery at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

AREA - The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC) announced the promotion of Harry Sun, MD, FACS, to Director of Transplant Surgery. Dr. Sun joined the program in 2007 and has served as the program’s Associate Director of Transplant since 2016. He also holds the position of Associate Professor of Surgery at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School.

In addition to being a highly experienced kidney and pancreas transplant surgeon, Dr. Sun’s clinical interest and expertise include laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, minimally invasive technique, pediatric kidney transplantation, and vascular and peritoneal dialysis access. His interests also include clinical outcomes research and teaching medical students and residents with particular focus on surgical skills and evidence-based

medicine and practice. Prior to joining CBMC, Dr. Sun completed a two-year fellowship in multi-organ transplant at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He performed a General Surgery internship and residency at CBMC, serving as Chief Resident during his final year. He received a medical degree from SGU’s School of Medicine and an undergraduate degree in biology from Muhlenberg College. Dr. Sun is board certified in surgery and has presented his original research at several national conventions. Dr. Sun, together with Stuart R. Geffner, MD, Chairman and Surgeon-in-Chief, Department of Surgery, Matthew Rosenzweig, DO, and Matthew Hanlon, MD, with Associates in Transplant and General Surgery, and James Guarrera, MD, Grace Lee-Riddle, MD, and the transplant surgeons from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical

School and University Hospital in Newark, NJ, form New Jersey’s largest and most experienced group of transplant surgeons. They specialize in renal and pancreas transplantation, dialysis access, and general and advanced laparoscopic surgery. About the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division, located in Livingston, NJ, is one of the leading kidney transplant centers in the country. In 2023, the program performed 396 transplants, making CBMC the largest kidney transplant center in the Northeastern U.S. and fifth largest in the country. In addition, CBMC was the eighth largest living donor kidney transplant program in the U.S., performing 107 kidney transplants from living donors. In addition to these transplant surgeons, the Trans-

RWJBarnabas Health Calls for Blood Donations During Summer Months

AREA - With the summer here, RWJBarnabas Health is hosting several blood drives throughout July and August across its healthcare facilities to help reduce shortages already experienced at many of our facilities.

Life-saving blood and platelet donations are given to patients in a wide range of circumstances, including cancer care, trauma events such as car accidents and home accidents, childbirth, and mass casualty events. Historically, blood and platelet inventories drop during the summer months when donors are on vacation or off from school and college.

“Fewer people think about donating blood during the summer, but accidents and medical emergencies don’t take a vacation,” said Sally Wells, Business Development and Community Liaison for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s (RWJUH) Blood Donor Services. “Blood and platelet donations could be the difference between life and death for someone in need. This is why donations are needed throughout the year, but especially during the summer when hospitals across the state experience declining supply levels.”

A full list of upcoming blood drives, starting with those occurring in July, include:

August 13, 2024: Pine Belt Subaru, Community Showroom, 1021 NJ-88, Lakewood, NJ 08701

August 14, 2024: Lakewood Community at Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus Conference Rooms A, B, C, 600 River Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701

August 27, 2024: The Ashley Lauren Foundation, Recreation Gym, 601 Main Street, Belmar, NJ 07719

August 28, 2024: Monmouth Medical Center, Unterberg Learning Center, 300 2nd Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740

August 29, 2024: Long Branch Employees and Community, Adam “Buckey” James Community Center, 231 Wilbur Ray Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740

Donors must be 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds if 16 years old), and present photo identification. Donors who are 16 and 17 years old require written parental consent. If the donor has a history of viral hepatitis at age 11 or older or is recovering from an infectious illness, they are ineligible to donate.

To make an appointment at a fixed RWJUH Donor Room or to find a blood drive location near you, please visit https:// www.rwjuhdonorclub.org or call 732-235-8100 ext. 221.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson Univer-

sity Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety.

RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. For more information, visit www. RWJBH.org.

plant Division includes eight transplant nephrologists, and a large and dedicated team of transplant coordinators, advanced practice providers, social workers, pharmacists, and dietitians. The program also conducts extensive clinical research that allows patients to participate in trials of new medications, therapies, and diagnostic tools. CBMC’s experienced and multi-disciplinary transplant team seeks to ensure that patients receive the greatest possible benefit from kidney and pancreas transplantation and achieve excellent long-term transplant outcomes. To learn more, visit rwjbh.org/kidneytransplant. About Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Since 1865, Cooperman

Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC), formerly known as Saint Barnabas Medical Center, New Jersey’s oldest nonsectarian hospital, has worked to exceed our community’s highest expectations for compassionate, comprehensive health care. The 597-bed institution is one of the largest health care providers in the state, treating more than 34,000 inpatients and 96,000 Emergency Department patients each year.

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center provide treatment and services for more than 250,000 outpatient visits annually.

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center has long been recognized as a leader in providing world-class care—delivering

close to 6,300 babies annually which is one of the largest programs in the state, leading the nation in Kidney Transplant, and providing more than 100 medical and surgical specialty and subspecialty services.

RWJBarnabas Health and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings an excellent team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. For more information, call 973.322.5000 or visit www. rwjbh.org/cbmc. Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center is located at 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039.

“News From the Nest” Delivers School News to the Morris Knolls High School Community

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA - The Morris Knolls High School TV Production and Film Club broadcasts interesting news to its own student body.

The club, courtesy of the Morris Hills Regional Schools District website, “is comprised of students who display an active interest in learning more about television production techniques and equipment. Activities range from producing original programs (interviews, music videos, demonstrations, etc.) to assisting classes with their productions, and finally, producing programs for district-wide use.”

Students write and produce “News From the Nest” under the tutelage of Keith Kasper, a TV Production and Film teacher for the Morris Hills Regional School District. He has also been teaching English in the district since 2012.

Kasper said, “We’ve taken from an English elective in journalism and media, to a

Career in Technical Education (CTE) program in television production and filmmaking.”

18 students took part this past year in the program at Morris Knolls High School, and part of what they do is produce the “News from the Nest” broadcasts. The first part of the year from September until November, students are working on the technology of television show production - how audio, cameras, and lighting works, what goes on in the TV studio, and how to research, write, and produce a news package. Then, from November through the rest of the year, students spend a month working on creating that news package.

Kasper said, “They find their own stories, write their stories, do all their own B-roll, edit their own stories, and then they put those stories into a script for a show that airs on the second Monday of every month.”

Jacob Kelly, who first at-

tended County College of Morris in Randolph and now studies part-time at Montclair State University, benefitted from the program. He is a filmmaker and freelance camera operator for TV and film but has also worked for an editing company in Hackettstown.

Kelly, who as a ninth grader attended both Roxbury and Hackettstown high schools prior to transferring to Morris Knolls for his sophomore year, said, “Morris Knolls had a TV production program that was already established; a really nice studio with really nice gear. Once I started looking at Morris Knolls, I pretty much went right into their television program.” He then added, “News from the Nest’ is supposed to be like working on a news production team. And it really can feel like that, especially when you get to the point where you are actually producing episodes of the news and having to prepare your articles

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical Events from August 1924

AREA - The month of August has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in August 1924.

• Three people are killed and 10 others are injured when a boiler fire erupts on the French battleship Courbet on August 1. The Courbet survives the fire and is eventually utilized during World War II.

• Boca Raton, Florida, is incorporated as “Bocaratone” on August 2. The name is changed to “Boca Raton” less than a year later.

• John Carroll O’Connor is born on August 2 in Manhattan. O’Connor would become one of the most memorable television actors of all time, notably

portraying “Archie Bunker” in the sitcoms “All in the Family” and “Archie Bunker’s Place” in the 1970s and early 1980s.

• Berlin Jews hold a memorial service for Jewish soldiers who died during World War I on August 3. The Jewish service takes place after a Jewish preacher was forbidden from delivering a prayer during a similar service held outside the Reichstag commemorating German soldiers who died during the war.

• Women from six European nations compete in the first Women’s International and British Games in London on August 4. The competition is held because track and field events at the Summer Olympics were limited to men only.

• Confidence man Charles Ponzi is released from prison in Plymouth, Massachusetts on August 6. Ponzi served less than four years of a five-year sentence for financial crimes.

• Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia, a first cousin of the late Tsar Nicholas II, declares himself “Guardian of the Throne” for the Russian Empire on August 8. Two years later, the Grand Duke would declare himself the emperor-in-exile.

• On August 10, Austrian police claim they discovered a Soviet slush fund for stirring up unrest and revolt in the Balkans.

• The earliest sound film footage of an American president is recorded on August 11

when Lee de Forest films U.S. President Calvin Coolidge on the White House lawn. De Forest uses his experimental Phonofilm process to make the recording.

• Andrew S. Anderson, the Democratic Party nominee for South Dakota Governor, is gored by a bull on his property on August 11. Anderson does not survive the attack.

• Former world middleweight title holder Kid McCoy shoots his lover, Teresa Mors, on August 12 in Los Angeles. McCoy, retired from boxing at the time of the shooting, shot Mors in a drunken rage after she told him what her friends thought of him.

• Anthropologist Margaret Mead arrives in Samoa on

August 17. Mead proceeds to begin working on her book, Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth for Western Civilisation, which became a landmark text and sparked years of ongoing, intense debate upon its publication in 1928.

• Canadian mountaineers complete the first ascent of the 2,603-meters-tall Mount Fitzsimmons in British Columbia on August 19.

• United States Senator Nathaniel B. Dial and John J. McMahan, his challenger for the Democratic Party nomination in an upcoming election, are each arrested for disorderly conduct in South Carolina on August 20. Dial approached McMahan brandishing a chair

during a campaign meeting that became contentious.

• On August 23, the planets Mars and Earth are the closest they had been since August 18, 1945. The two planets, which were the equivalent of around 34.6 million miles from one another, would not be as close again until August 2003.

• On August 26, The Montreal Star publishes an interview with American automotive executive Henry Ford in which the industrialist claims the Ku Klux Klan was a patriotic organization and “a victim of lying propaganda.”

• Director John Ford’s first major film, “The Iron Horse,” premieres in New York City on August 28.

This year’s News Form The Nest Team

and then run the show.” Kasper, who also teaches at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park, said, “We work with cameras and switchers and editing software, so it

basically like hands on the hardware and software of

BY HENRY HOLDEN

AREA - The Appalachian region of the northeastern United States is home to many proud Americans, but it is also home to some of the poorest regions of our nation. They survive from donations of monetary gifts, nutritious food, warm clothing and safe housing all provided by like-minded people.

Many people in Appalachia live in unsafe and deteriorating homes. Project Appalachia and other programs provide repair services to keep children, their families, and seniors safe. Crews consist of industry professionals, volunteers, and anyone willing to donate some time, treasure or talent.

Each year the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) comes up with a theme for their work. This year it is: “And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

Since 1969, more than 440,000 volunteers from across the nation have repaired more than 19,000 homes and, in the process, Appalachian families, volunteers, and staff have been immeasurably blessed.

This year, a team of 35 volunteer/parishioners from Resurrection Parish and the Morristown United Methodist Church, helped the people of Jonesville, Virgina, with more than six different homes throughout the week from June 29 to July 6.

“My daughter started with ASP around 2013,” said Eileen Tarnacki. “She invited me to join her in this experience saying that I would enjoy it. She was so right. I’ve done this about eight times now. We missed a few during Covid.”

Today, with the help of more than 15,000 volunteers each year, Appalachia Service Project (ASP) goal remains to make homes warmer, safer and drier for families in need. ASP provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation.

Yet ASP is more than a

Be Kind To One Another

home repair and replacement program. It also provides a unique framework that fosters transformational experiences for volunteers, families served, and staff — by building relationships with each other that break down cultural, social and economic barriers.

We often hear of significant life changes resulting from the ASP experience: of families renewing their faith in the goodness of others, of people newly motivated to continue their education, of young adults choosing careers of service. No one walks away from the Appalachia Service Project experience unchanged.

Since 1969, ASP made homes warmer, safer, and drier for families and provided transformational service experiences for volunteers. Each year, more than 15,000 volunteers serve with ASP, providing critical repairs for more than 350 families.

Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that rouses hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.

ASP believes all people should be able to live in affordable, safe, and sanitary housing. Shelter is a basic human need impacting all areas of life for families. ASP addresses this basic need, so families no longer need to worry about leaky roofs, soft ﬂoors, or unsafe porches and stairs.

Appalachia Service Project envisions the eradication of substandard housing in Central Appalachia and the transformation of everyone who encounters this ministry.

“I started with no experience said Tarnacki. I did not know how to handle tools. Today I can spackle, put up drywall, and I even climbed up on a roof. I’ve been under a house, and I’ve helped people repair a bathroom and put up a deck. I’ve used all the tools that go into repairing a house. It wound up being a great experience for me. Overall, I underestimated my capabili-

ties with housing and repair of homes.

“By summer’s end, six families will have safe, warm homes for the winter and their lives have been changed forever.

“We have young people and sometimes we will show them how to do something. Then we will turn it over to them and let them do it. We encourage them to build up that skill and feel comfortable with that. We had six different homes that we were interacting with and helping to repair.

“What is probably one of the most important things that stand out from the repair work is the interaction with the families.”

A 2018 census data shows 11.8 percent of families living in the United States are living in poverty. However, Appalachian families experience poverty at a rate of 16 percent according to the Appalachian Regional. Commission.

It is important that we have the three SSS to follow, sensitivity, safety, and stewardship.

“We need to be sensitive to their surroundings and thank them for allowing us to come into their homes. We must be respectful to them, and not use derogatory words or actions that would be offensive to them.

“We interact with the families and hope we can make them feel better.

There were 35 total people who attended this year nine people from Resurrection Parish.

There were three other groups that were working in the area probably over 100 people, there. I think the total number of families that are eligible for our repair is about 600.

In 1969, the late Rev. Glenn “Tex” Evans — a United Methodist minister — became one of the first people to connect the energy of youth with the deep needs of the poor.

During Tex’s 13 years as director at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, he

Be Driven Safely Campaign

AREA - Summer is in full swing, which could bring trips to the Shore or more far-ﬂung destinations. AAA has predicted to see road trips reach a record high this year, while air travel exceeds pre-pandemic levels by 9%. This means more cars on the road, whether crawling down the Garden State Parkway or getting in and out of EWR unscathed, and greater risk for accidents.

While it may be tempting to save a few bucks using a friendly neighborhood driver, your/ your family’s safety is not to be comprised. Protect your most precious cargo with the following tips: Use licensed providers who

maintain $1.5M of commercial liability insurance (required by NJ Law). Don’t be a victim who cannot afford to pay medical expenses if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident as a passenger. Do not accept rides from a driver who has not been properly background screened, regardless of if they are your neighbor! Do not accept rides from people who do not have New Jersey “Limousine” license plates.

Chauffeured transportation provides a seamless, stress-free experience with high-touch service and robust safety standards. The National Limousine Association’s established Driv-

er Duty of Care and Passenger Bill of Rights guarantee regular vehicle safety certifications and driver screening and training with passenger safety top-ofmind.

The NLA is responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the ground transportation industry at the global, national, state, and local level. With more than 1,000 members nationwide, it is the unified voice of the industry committed to exceeding expectations with regards to professionalism, transportation efficiency and safe riding.

Visit www.lanj.org or www. NLARide.com or to find a local ground transportation provider.

witnessed the great need for home repair assistance. So as part of his already-thriving outreach to the people of Appalachia, he recruited 50 teens and adult volunteers to repair homes in Barbourville, Kentucky. They worked on-site during the day and worshipped in the evenings.— and a longstanding legacy was born.

But Tex was more than a leader; he was a born motivator. A true student of Appalachian culture and a legendary storyteller, he set the tone for what ASP is today: an extended family where laughter is king. Where relationships matter. And where changing the lives of families and volunteers alike is the highest priority of all.

Eileen Tarnacki says the Book of Matthew best sums it up “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, …whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

—Matthew 25:35-40

The nine people from Resurrection Parish who helped transform deteriorating homes into livable dwellings. (Photo credit Eileen Tarnacki)

With gratitude for your service to those in need: Megan Barry, Vivian Barry, Lindsey Bona, Kirstina Harth, Elizabeth

Olechowski, Olivia Olechowski, Sophia Olechowski, Victoria Olechowski, and Eileen Tarnacki.

Morristown, You Have a Professional Football Team!

home arena. A coach for the Morristown team has not yet been hired, and the team’s name is up to the fans, who can visit he league website at https:// www.goentfla.com/morris-county/ and make suggestions. In September, the franchise will also host an inschool coloring contest for students to design the Morristown uniforms.

National Football League Hall of Famer, Andre Reed, Commissioner of the new Entertainment Football

League (ENTFLA), a brand of the Entertainment Football Association, said, “There’s nothing better than to see a community come together through sports. Especially in small towns like Morristown, communities feel a sense of pride when there is a strong purpose to uplift all those involved there. Businesses begin to ﬂourish more when everybody is involved. Our communities are an important part to cities being uplifted by the people who live and prosper.”

Dave Helmer, who is in his 21st year as the Executive Director of the Morris County Parks Commission, said of the selection of Morristown, “Just to be considered, with the history that Morris County has from a youth football perspective, I think it is great. I think this, in a community where people know each other and get to know each other, is just a great opportunity for us.”

The ENTFLA is a unique

brand of football. Seven players on each side of the line of scrimmage on a 50-yard field, no huddles, no kicking field goals or punting. You go for it on fourth down, and for a twopoint conversion following a touchdown, which translates into high scoring games. There are 12-minute quarters and 20 seconds between each play. And, should a pass wind up in the stands, the first fan to catch the ball or recover it gets to keep it.

However, the ENTFLA will be much more than football. Consider that sandwiching the game itself is energetic, pregame activity with live music, and youngsters elevating themselves in bounce houses while sharing the parking lot with barbequing tailgaters. Then, once doors open, an electric atmosphere of indoor laser lights, smoke and fireworks will greet entering fans. At halftime, America’s Got Talent contestants will perform,

and once the game is over, the fans are allowed on the field to meet the players, coaches, and cheerleaders.

Finally, a fairly high-level concert will close the afternoon.

Tomy Benizio of BeniZio S ports, who for about 30 years has either owned or operated professional sports teams, started a consulting firm that

works with pro sports teams and leagues on their business operations. He was contacted Entertainment Football Association founder, Doug Freeman, to help build an arena football league in the New York\ New England area. Danbury, Connecticut and Fitchburg, Massachusetts were the initial two communities awarded franchises, and Morristown

NAS Wildwood Museum Houses WWII Planes, Contains Rich History over Past 82 Years

2024 Aug. 29-Sun., Sept. 1, 2024

AREA - With about a month left of Summer, there’s a lot of time to enjoy the serenity of the beach with a trip to the southern New Jersey coast. While there, you might strongly consider a visit to Wildwood’s Naval Air Station Aviation Museum in Lower Township, NJ where aviation history awaits. Museum-goers will be amazed at the many World War II planes all situated in a World War II-designed hangar as well as many artifacts from the 1940’s. After America declared war on Germany and entered World War II officially in the European theatre, American bases along the Atlantic coast gained importance unlike ever before. The Wildwood Naval Air Station became a great training ground after it was commissioned. Between 1943 and 1945, pilots practiced night ﬂying and target practice over the Delaware Bay nearby. The hangar itself came to Wildwood by railroad as a kit which was put together to house air-

crafts in 1942.

Sitting now in the hangar are TBM Avenger and F6F-3 Helicat among a collection of over 25 planes. Yet the hangar’s usage was far from only being utilized during wartime.

After being de-commissioned following the conclusion of World War II, a dentist and U.S. Navy pilot named Dr. Charles Cox decided to operate United States Overseas Airlines. The company provided national and international fights out of the hangar.

An aficionado of memorabilia and artifacts from the WWII-era, Cox utilized the space to display his collection – which includes Coca-Cola machines, record players and posters among other era-related items.

Other magnificent areas of the museum emphasize more modern components of aviation such as speed and propul-

sion. Jet-propelled aircraft is showcased with military jets such as the T- 33 and supersonic F-16. Also at the museum, one will find many rotary-wing aircraft in the collection. On display are a retired HH-52A from the U.S. Cast Guard as well as a Bell UH-1 Iroquois known in aviation circles as a “Huey.” Another display shows off a Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Jet Engine from a Boeing 777. The museum contains remnants of early aviation development dating back to the Wright Brothers era.

A great time to visit the museum will be from Thurs, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Sept. 1 when “Airfest 2024” takes center stage. This year the four-day show features aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police, AtlantiCare MedEvac and Cape May County Mosquito Commission among a wide array of

was the third for the

community is yet to be selected. Benezio said, “It is this kind of full event, not quite a full day festival, but a day of entertainment, with all things happening.”

vendors. Kids will love the amount of hands-on and interactive exhibits at the museum as people continue to say that it’s one of the best kept secrets in Cape May County. Admission is $16.00 for those 13 years old and up, and $12.00 for those between the ages of three and 12. Active duty military members are admitted for free as do museum members. U.S. Military Veterans receive a $2.00 discount and dependents must pay regular admission.

NAS Museum Hours are from 10am-4pm daily from March through December and closed on weekends during January and February. It is located at 500 Forrestal Rd, Cape May, NJ 08204. For more information about the NAS Aviation Museum and in Wildwood, logon to www. usnasw.org.

Did You Know?

AREA - Atrial fibrillation, often referred to as “AFib,” is more common among men than women. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes AFib is caused by extremely fast and irregular beats from the upper chambers of the heart. Males are more likely than women to develop AFib, though that does not

mean the condition is not a threat to women. In fact, age is a significant risk factor for AFib, and a report from Henry Ford Health noted that women tend to live longer than men, which could explain why there were more women living with AFib in 2020 than there were men. The condition also manifests differently in men than women. HFH notes that high blood pressure and heart valve disease are more likely to lead to AFib in women, while coronary artery disease and a history of heart attack are most common risk factors for AFib in men.

Entertainment Football League Commissioner, Andre Reed, speaks at the Entertainment Football League’s introductory press conference Photo credit Joseph Schilp.

ENTFLA’s inaugural season of four home games, four away games, and one neutral site game per club.

fourth

BY DANA JACKSON

Q: Is it true that Mandy Patinkin is returning to “Criminal Minds”? Wasn’t he on the first season, then got replaced? --

K.K.

A: Mandy Patinkin lasted two full seasons on the hit crime drama “Criminal Minds” before choosing to depart early on in season three. He had an issue with the moral content of the show, saying that he never thought they were going to conduct such violent acts against women “every night, every day, week after week, year after year.” He told New York Magazine, “It was very destructive to my soul and my personality.” He was worried that he wouldn’t be hireable again, but he was soon cast on the Showtime drama “Homeland,” where he was nominated for an Emmy on four separate occasions.

Joe Mantegna filled the void left by Patinkin when he joined

BY DEMI TAVERAS

“2024 Paris Olympics” (NR)

-- On July 26, the Summer Olympic Games kick off in Paris! Through its streaming service, NBC will provide 7,000 hours of Olympic Games coverage as the 17 days of sports events commence. We know that for sports like basketball, gymnastics and swimming, viewers from all across the world will be glued to their screens, but don’t forget to check out the many other sports (39 in total) that will be available to stream, such as fencing, skateboarding, track and field, and volleyball. There’s even a “Multiview” option so that fans can watch up to four events at one time. And if you miss an

“Criminal Minds” in season three. The show ended on CBS in 2020 after 15 seasons, and a spin-off, “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” emerged on Paramount+, with Mantegna and several other cast members of the OG series.

As for Patinkin, you might be confused by the news that he’s guest-starring on a couple of episodes of an upcoming new series called “Brilliant Minds.” Zachary Quinto (“Heroes”) stars as a neurologist named Dr. Oliver Wolf, who is based on the famed physician and author Dr. Oliver Sacks.

In “Brilliant Minds,” Quinto’s Dr. Wolf leads a team of interns at a fictional Bronx hospital “as they explore the last great frontier -- the human mind -- while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.” It will air on NBC beginning Monday, Sept.

Celebrity Extra Couch Theater ENTERTAINMENT

event that you really wanted to see, there will be many chances to catch up on the Games’ best moments with segments like “Gold Zone” and “Primetime in Paris.” (Peacock) “Time Bandits” (TV-PG)

-- This new fantasy-adventure series is an adaptation of the 1981 film of the same name by Terry Gilliam. In just 10 episodes, viewers of all ages can travel through time with a fearless group of thieves - and an 11-year-old history geek named Kevin (Kal-El Tuck).

Failing to fit in at school due to his niche interests, Kevin is told by his family to let go of “the past” and focus on what’s right in front of him. But when

23, at 10 p.m. ET.

*** Q:Is Justin Hartley’s new show coming back with new episodes this fall? I still miss “This Is Us,” but I’m happy if he’s on my TV regardless. -D.A.

A: Yes, there will be a sophomore season of “Tracker” on the CBS fall schedule, but not until Oct. 27. Justin Hartley returns as an “experienced survivalist” who travels the country using his skills to help solve crimes, including missing persons cases.

Jensen Ackles (“Supernatural”) will be returning for a few episodes. He was introduced later in the first season as Hartley’s brother. Melissa Roxburgh (“Manifest”) is also expected to return as another sibling. So, in a way, you’re getting to see Hartley in another family drama. It might not be the same as

Kevin discovers a time-traveling portal in his wardrobe, any attempt to curb his love of history goes out of the window as he finds himself face-to-face with Vikings, pirates, cavemen and more! Created by and starring Taika Waititi (“Thor: Love and Thunder”), this series premieres July 24. (Apple TV+)

“Cult Killer” (R) -- Alice Eve (“She’s Out of My League”) leads this crime thriller film out now on streaming. Eve portrays private investigator Cassie Holt, the lucky mentee of renowned investigator Mikeal Tallini (Antonio Banderas). When Mikeal is suddenly murdered, Cassie takes on the case, with a driving motivation to exact revenge

“This Is Us,” but perhaps it’ll do.

*** Q: Is “Severance” ever returning to Apple TV+? I know it was delayed, but I thought they started filming again. -D.J.

A:Yes, the second season of “Severance” will premiere on Apple TV+ on Jan. 17, 2025. It’s still a long way off, but it’ll give you plenty of time to rewatch the complex but gripping first season, in case you’ve forgotten all of the intricate details.

Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry and John Turturro will all be back as the severed workers, along with some new faces like Bob Balaban (“The Chair”), Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones”), and Alia Shawkat (“Arrested Development”).

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628

on Mikeal’s killer. Relying on all the knowledge that her mentor showed her, Cassie grasps for any leads she can find to solve his case, no matter how dangerous or deadly. Seems like your average, cut-and-dry thriller, right? Perhaps this was the reason behind its abysmal box-office earnings. Or maybe it was its uninspiring movie poster that looks like it belongs in the back of a Blockbuster in 2004.

(Hulu)

Facing A Terminal Illness

spired me to get the word out about Apical HCM. Basically, one in 500 people have HCM. Considerably less have Apical HCM, which means that the heart muscle tissues are filling up the bottom of the heart ventricle. HCM gets very little educational publicity. I am working on changing that.

Secondly, it has forced me to get my personal affairs in order. I’m a bit of a pack rat, and in the past few months, I have thrown out a lot of old calendars, broken scissors, instruction manuals, left-handed smoke shifters and dozens of old computer wires. I’ve given a lot of my clothes to thrift shops. Along with an assortment of bric-a-brac, old ceramic horses and old vases. And most importantly it has been a time of focusing, and I mean laser focusing, on getting right with God. Reading scripture, praying and meditating

have taken on a new vitality of importance to me.

One thing I have noticed, since being diagnosed with Apical HCM, is that a lot of my relatives, friends, neighbors and fellow church members have backed away from me. There is an unspoken awkwardness in them, when they talk to me. It’s almost as if they don’t know what to say to me. It’s so ironic, dealing with a terminal illness is the time when a person needs the support of others, but all so many people end up retreating from the terminally ill individual. O. Henry himself would be in awe of the irony of it all.

If you know of a terminally ill individual, please do reach out to them with kindness and a loving spirit. Please, please, please do not say things like, “well, we all have to go sometime.”

Leave the past behind, in talking with a terminally ill person. There’s no need to bring up the time your terminally ill

friend or relative broke Aunt Melinda’s favorite, incredibly expensive vase.

Please do not say that you are praying for the terminally ill person. Rather, instead, ask your friend or relative if you can pray for them, right then and there. The words of comfort and assurance will mean the moon and the stars to that person.

If you visit a terminally ill person, give them a gift. It could be a very inexpensive gift. Maybe even something that you bought in a dollar store. It can even be something as simple as a rock or a leaf. Something that the terminally ill person can look at and hold in hand, long after your visit with them is over.

And finally, mail them (using good old fashioned U. S. Mail) a little card. In your own hand writing, share a little memory that was near and dear to your heart, about your terminally ill friend or relative. Life is short. None of us are

going to live forever, upon this third rock from the sun. Love one another. Forgive, forgive and forgive people for the wrongs they may have done to you. Be kind to strangers. Give a couple of dollars to a homeless person. Support animal shelters. Rescue a dog or cat from a shelter. Love one another. For truly, love is the single most

and

The Incredible Healing Power of Prayer

BY RICHARD MABEY, JR. GUEST WRITER

AREA - Growing up in the old Mabey Homestead in Lincoln Park, Grandma and Grandpa Mabey lived with us. If you faced the old farmhouse, my bedroom was on the second floor, in the front of the house on the right hand side. Grandma and Grandpa’s bedroom was right behind mine. Both of our bedrooms looked out to West Drive on the side.

When I was 12 years old, I had a severe case of Rheumatic Fever. For one full year of my life, my feet never touched the ground. I spent the entire year, except for the times I was in the hospital, in my bedroom. Grandpa would often come into my room to visit with me. He loved to tell me his remembrances of working on the old Morris Canal. For decades, Grandpa served as the Chief Engineer of Incline Plane Ten East.

But more than telling me wonderful and colorful tales of life along the old Morris Canal, Grandpa would often pray for me. Grandpa would sit at my old desk chair, on the right hand side of my bed and pray and pray and pray for me.

While sitting down, Grandpa would place his right hand upon my right shoulder, close his eyes and most earnestly

pray for God to heal me.

The late Dr. Martin Rosenthal was my doctor. He would climb up the 15 steps of the old Mabey Homestead, with his little black bag in one hand and a portable EKG Machine in his other hand. He was a wonderful doctor.

I remember one time, Dr. Rosenthal entered my bedroom while Grandpa was praying for me. Grandpa was so lost in praying for me, that it took him a few seconds to realize that Dr. Rosenthal was in my room with us. I think that Dr. Rosenthal was a little amazed of the sincerity and earnest voice tone of my dear grandfather’s prayer.

I deeply believe, without one iota of doubt, that my grandfather’s prayers greatly helped me to heal. For the strep infection had moved from my throat to the valves of my heart. I was most seriously ill.

My grandfather, Watson Mabey, did not have a lot of formal education, yet he was one of the wisest men I have ever known. He knew the ways of wildlife. He had a great knowledge of wild flowers. He would often leave apples at the end of Mabey Lane, in the forest area, for the deer to enjoy.

Grandpa went Home to be with the Lord in May of 1968. I don’t think a day has gone by

that I haven’t thought about that dear, kind, gentle, strong old man. In many ways, he taught me the fine art of story telling.

If there is one thing I can share with you, dear reader, it is this. Never, ever, ever underestimate the incredible healing power of prayer. For God loves you, more than you will ever know.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

Yours truly with Yodie. One of the many pups, I took care of, when I had my little dog walking business.

positive powerful force in the universe. To thine own self, be true.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry

short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ gmail.com.

An old, old picture of my dear paternal grandparents, Watson and Bertha Mabey.

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

NJStarz

NJ Stars: The Semonski Sisters Hometown:

Hackettstown

AREA - During a recent, beautiful spring Tuesday, two of the original six Semonski Sisters of Great Meadows, Audrey and Michelle, paid a visit the New Jersey home of their mom, Roberta “Rusty” Semonski.

When the time was right, the duo got together and sang for their mom.

If you closed your eyes, you could envision the remaining Semonski Sisters – Joanne, Donna, Valerie, and Diane –joining in and transporting you back to 1974 – 1978 when as young women they performed on The Lawrence Welk Show.

Joanne said, “They (Lawrence Welk and those who worked on his show) were wonderful people.”

Audrey added, “They were like a family.”

Later that afternoon, Audrey and Michelle headed back to their roots, a 150-acre farm property the ladies lived on in the early 1970s. They hiked the land they had run on as children, as the lake installed by their dad reflected the many surrounding trees.

Via Facebook, Michelle aptly described the day. “So many memories of my dad and family. Gosh…. I got teared up!”

You cannot tell The Semonski Sisters story in just 1,500 words. There is too much history and music, and so much love.

So, consider this August 2024 feature – the first NJ Starz article ever to highlight an entire family – just an introduction. There are plenty of videos on You Tube for further exploration and enjoyment.

Raised by their loving parents, Joseph and Roberta “Rusty” Semonski, the birth order of the talented sisters is as follows: Diane (1956), Donna (1958), Joanne (1960), Valerie (1962, who passed away in 2022), Audrey (1963) and Michelle (1967). Diane and Michelle are Hackettstown High School graduates. The other four sisters graduated from high schools either in Florida or California.

The Semonski Sisters first performed on The Lawrence Welk Show during Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas specials prior to appearing regularly starting in 1975. Diane left the group in 1976 to pursue her own career in music and songwriting, while her five sisters remained with the show until 1978.

The Semonski Sisters started singing in the Garden State, but their big break came in Florida.

Donna explained. “My dad saw that we had talent, and he showcased us in different things, because my mother and dad had a band that they used to perform in for weddings and banquets.” Joseph also owned a music store in Dover called Tempo Music Center, and he would bring musical instruments home and saw that his daughters could also play instruments in addition to their singing. Realizing the young Semonski six

needed a bigger stage to display their talent, he moved his family to Florida.

The east coast’s southernmost state would prove fertile ground for their discovery. Two months into their new home, “Rusty” saw in a local newspaper that Donald O’Connor was going to be performing at the Top of the World restaurant at Walt Disney World.

“It was a big, huge restaurant which had this huge elevator all the way up to the top, and it overlooked all of Disneyworld,” Donna recalled. “We got tickets, and we all rode the elevator up and off. It was eight of us, and because there was so many of us - God had his hand in it, of course - the maître d’ sat us at a table right off the dance floor. We sat there watching Donald O’Connor perform and, in his act, he came off the stage and he would get someone to sing and dance with him.”

Youngest sister, Michelle, was the one to initially draw O’Connor’s attention, and that led to her and her sisters performing with him that evening. This encouraged a meeting between Joseph and Harry Weist, Disneyworld’s band leader. Aware that Welk was heading to Orlando to do the popular show, Dining for Dollars, Weist thought the girls should audition for him. This then led to an introduction to Walter Windsor, who was producer of Channel 9 WFTV in Orlando, the Dining for Dollars network.

Joanne recalled, “Walter Windsor set up a live, on-air audition on Dialing for Dollars. And it was hysterical because my dad and mom had to go out with us, and we had to get all these outfits. We looked like the Partridge Family!”

Audrey said, “We were rushed into the studio and sang, and he loved us, and he said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I just found one of the finest actsThe Semonski Sisters - and I am going to take them all to California with us.’ And he did

just that.”

Floridians for just under six months, the Semonskis packed up their station wagon and headed almost 2,500 miles to Welk’s mobile home resort in Escondido, California.

“It was a whirlwind,” Audrey added with a laugh, “and it was with our dog.”

Michele, who was seven when the sisters first appeared on the show and 10 when they departed, said, “He (Welk) was very good to us. He was very professional in that way. He wanted us to be pure and wholesome. He took us so many places and gave us this beautiful opportunity.”

While performing at the Welcome Inn Restaurant, Welk’s eatery in Escondido, the older Semonski sisters served as hosts and servers, but eventually all the sisters would sing while their dad would walk the restaurant playing his accordion. They were being groomed for their four seasons on the show.

It got to be hectic at times, and California was much different from their humble beginnings.

Joanne said, “Were very naive to the Hollywood thing. There was a lot of things that we saw, that were so absurd compared to where we came from. We were in this laid-back town, and then there was this hustle and bustle and everything.”

And there was the demand to perform, a commitment they had to make.

Donna said, “Every week, there was an arrangement that we had to learn and memorize. There were no words in front of you. You had to memorize the words to the song, and fortunately we were singing all the old-time standards which The Lawrence Welk Show always performed. We were accustomed to these songs because of our dad and mom, and we heard these songs a lot. We did not know the words, but we

heard the melodies.”

Joanne added, “We had to really be serious about what venture we were on. It was overwhelming. There were times when we would just really want to pack it in. But we knew this was what we wanted to do.”

When it came to the songs they had to sing, Jimmie Rogers’ “Honeycomb” was the most difficult. Audrey said, “It was so many verses, so many words, and it was fast.”

And then there were the favorites. Donna added, “We always wanted to copy the Andrews Sisters. We would sing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” and “Apple Blossom Time,” and Lawrence had the Lennon Sisters on for many years, and he wanted us to sing those songs, too, which we liked.”

“Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins was perhaps the highlight, and with good rea-

son. In addition to singing, the sisters got to act while dressed as chimney sweepers.

Around the time The Semonski Sisters were preparing to leave The Lawrence Welk Show, Joseph in 1977 bought an inn and restaurant in Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains, which he called the Semonski Sisters Country Inn & Lodge, a venue of music, dance and food, offering entertainment every Saturday night in the main dining area as well as in the lounge.

The Semonski Sisters waited tables and, of course, sang for the guests. Donna said, “It was nonstop Monday through Sunday. It never stopped, and it was overwhelming. It was a very difficult life, but we enjoyed it.”

Joseph Semonski has passed away, but Roberta “Rusty” Semonski is healthy and well at age 86.

Michelle said, “I miss my dad. If you had to look back at the way God placed everything in our path, it really had a lot to do with my father. He groomed us from the time that we were babies to be musical. And if I had to reminisce for five minutes, all of us - including Valerie - would all be in one spot at one time singing, and seeing that proud look that he always had on his face.”

For Audrey, her wish would be to have to family return to their first days in Escondido, when the family ascended a mountain and sang “He,” a 1954 song about God written by Richard Mullan and Jack Richards.

“If we can all sing that together with daddy and mommy standing there with us,” Audrey said, “that would be something. That was such a beautiful song.”

The Semonski Sisters on The Lawrence Welk Show (courtesy of The Semonski Sisters)

Families Can Make the Most of Summer’s End

AREA - It seems like just yesterday people were heralding the arrival of summer. After many months of fickle weather, summer’s warm temperatures and ample sunshine can be that hug from Mother Nature people need. But soon summer will be coming to an end, making room for apples, corn and pumpkin spice.

Even though summer will soon be singing its swan song, there is still plenty of time for families to enjoy the waning days of surf and sunshine. Here are some family-friendly options to consider.

Catch a concert

Summer is a time of year when many artists go on tour and sell out everything from arenas to ampitheaters to more intimate venues. Find a singer the entire family enjoys and grab some tickets.

Pick fruit Peach season varies depend-

ing on where you live, but May through September is a prime time for pick-your-own farms to open their orchards to the peach-picking public. Turn those peaches into pies for Labor Day festivities.

Watch some ﬁreworks

Those who didn’t have an opportunity to catch a fireworks display already this summer, or who enjoyed it so much that they want more, can find out when the next big display will take place. Some beachside towns and even amusement parks regularly host fireworks shows on the weekends.

Climb a lighthouse

National Lighthouse Day occurs on August 7. Locate a lighthouse within driving distance and visit one of the beautiful and historic structures that commemorate maritime history. For example, Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey, which was lit for the first time

in 1764, is the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. Pick a day to re-do

Ask all members of the family what sticks out in their minds as the best summer day so far. It may have been paddleboarding in a lake or taking a scenic drive. Compile the answers and then pick one activity to enjoy all over again.

Head to a state fair

State fairs fill calendars this time of year. They’re perfect ways to enjoy carnival rides, fair foods, live entertainment, and even livestock.

Watch balloons rise

Check to see if there is a hot-air balloon festival taking place nearby. Watch these huge items become lighter than air and get lifted off the ground.

Enjoy an outdoor

Athletes are Ready for Action During Fall Sports

AREA - Scores of student athletes participate in scholastic sports each year. Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), an organization that connects young athletes with college coaches, says high school sports in particular provide competitive experiences for nearly eight million student athletes each year.

Schools follow seasons that determine when certain sports are played in a school year. Sports seasons are largely consistent across the country, though there are some exceptions. It is always best for potential student athletes to understand how their schools break down seasons so the opportunity to participate in a sport of choice in any given year is not missed. Generally speaking, here is a list of the

sports student athletes can expect to encounter once school begins (or shortly before) as part of the fall season, courtesy of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Field hockey A field hockey season typically begins in mid- to late-August. Field hockey is similar to ice hockey but is played on grass or a turf field. It also uses a hard ball instead of a puck.

Each goal scored in field hockey is worth a single point. Although both boys and girls can play field hockey, on the high school and collegiate levels in the United States, field hockey is traditionally a girl’s sport.

Cross country

USA Track & Field indicates cross country is a sport in which teams and individuals

run races on outdoor courses over natural terrain. Cross country courses may be set up in parks, open country, fields, golf courses, and grasslands. The runners are known as harriers, and the goal is to come in at the lowest time for the set course.

Football

American football is one of the most popular fall sports across North America among athletes and fans. NCSA says football attracts more than one million players each year. The object of the game is to score more points than the opponents in the alloted time. Each team gets four downs to move the ball 10 yards forward. There are 11 players from each team on the field for each play.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics requirements vary depending on location, and competitions feature a specific number of skills to be displayed in routines. Gymnasts will compete on different equipment, including bars, beam, floor, and vault. Chalk

Bucket Gymnastics Community says skills are valued at medium, superior, high superior, and bonus high superior.

Soccer

Both boys and girls play soccer during the fall season. Each team consists of 11 players, and games are split into

two halves. Games are shorter at the youth soccer level than professional play and the game may run two 40-minute halves.

Tennis

Girls participate in tennis in the fall while boys do so in the spring. Players will be assigned as singles and doubles and some schools may restrict singles play to varsity teams.

Sherwood Tennis says match lengths vary by varsity and JV. Sets must be won by two games.

Volleyball

Girls play volleyball in

the fall while boys play in the spring. Generally speaking, volleyball consists of six players per team on the court at a time, designating “front row” and “back row” positions, says USAVolleyball. All players rotate clockwise through the six positions on the court. To win a game, a team must earn 25 points with a two-point difference.

Sports can be a big part of students’ lives, and the fall season can be an especially exciting time for young athletes.

Calm First-Day-of-School Jitters

AREA - Starting school for the first time or simply returning to campus after another summer break can lead to mixed feelings. Kids may be excited to see their friends every day, but that comes at the price of the end of lazy summer days.

The first day of school is on the horizon, and parents may discover their children seem a bit despondent that vacation is coming to a close. Such feelings may stem from more than the end of summer vacation. Some students may be nervous about going to school. New faces, new experiences and new teachers can lead to a little anxiety. Here are some ways to tame the nerves.

• Do a trial run. Before school starts, do a test run to the drop-off location, bus stop or pick up whomever will be carpooling together. Getting into that routine can help reduce nervousness.

• Participate in meet-andgreets. Some schools offer certain events designed to in-

troduce students even before classes begin. Schools may host ice cream socials or picnic lunches on school grounds, particularly for younger grades. These events give children an opportunity to get to know their classmates before the first school bell rings.

• Take a school tour. If a student is about to start in a new school or will be attending school for the first time, families will want to see if they can get tours of the school and facilities. Just one glance inside can be enough to familiarize students with the lay of the land, which might make things less scary on the first day.

• Check the class list. Some schools do not provide a list of all students in particular classes, but increasingly those that rely on programs like Google Classroom or Canvas may enable students to see who will be in their class. Children also can use social apps like Instagram and Snapchat to locate school-associated groups to

find other students. Parents and their children can brainstorm how to deal with other students who may have been difficult in the past, while also perusing lists for friendly faces.

• Practice conversation skills. Many modern kids have their eyes locked on devices. They may be a little rusty with ice breakers and initiating conversation. Role playing at home can give kids some ideas of how to forge new relationships in the classroom.

• Recognize and take concerns seriously. Parents and other caregivers can be receptive to conversation with children regarding their concerns about starting school. Talking about feelings can help kids tame their nervousness, especially when adults take them seriously.

Children may be nervous about starting school. Parents, caregivers and teachers can work together to help students overcome these jitters quickly.