East Hanover/ Florham Park Life March 2024

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

Hanover Park High School’s Samantha Cicerone Honored and Reaches Milestones

HANOVER PARK - Hanover Park High School senior, Samantha Cicerone, had a pretty nice December and January.

Cicerone learned in December that she was to be her school’s recipient of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) National Girls and Women in Sports Award, which is bestowed on an individual for their achievement and dedication to academics and sports, and then in January she was at New Brunswick’s Jersey Mike’s Arena to receive her award when the Scarlet Knights women’s basketball team took on the Penn State Nittany Lions. There was much more to come. On Wednesday, January 30, as she and her Hanover Park Hornet girls’ basketball teammates played against

(and defeated) rival Whippnay Park, 56 – 20, Cicerone – who plays guard and small forward – scored the 1,000th point of her career, and as well grabbed her 800th rebound and swiped her 200th steal – all in the same game.

The afternoon contest was well attended, and it included Cicerone’s dad and mom, Joseph and Kimberlee, her younger sister, Sophie, as well as out of state relatives.

Cicerone said, “I was super excited for that game, because we knew ahead of time that I was going to get it (the 1,000 point). I was nervous going into it because I had to score nine points. Until that happened, it was just a little nerve-wracking.”

The record setter came on a free throw for Cicerone, who had no idea during the game

that she was approaching new century marks for rebounds and steals as well. She recalled with a chuckle about being told about the other notable numbers. “When people told me, I said, ‘Oh really?!’ I had no idea, and that was kind of cool, too.”

Cicerone, a three-sport athlete who also plays soccer in the fall and lacrosse in the spring, has led the Hornets in hardwood scoring every season since her sophomore year.

Hornets Head Coach, Doug Wear, lauded the talented senior, “Samantha Cicerone is one of the most hard-working student athletes I have had the pleasure of coaching. She is a fantastic leader and role model.”

Speaking about Wear, Cicerone said, “The big thing that he always reiterates to us

Samantha Cicerone’s milestone 1,000th point is celebrated by her and her team (credit: Lisa Mita)

is defense scores our points. I feel like that really reflects what my teammates and I have been able to do the last couple of years, and we have really gotten to a mindset that we are so focused on our skills and

Florham Park Education Foundation Moves Ahead in 2024

Organization to award grants for inspiring classroom initiatives

BY JEFF GARRETT STAFF WRITER

FLORHAM PARK – Many school districts across the United States are privileged to have education foundations to assist families during hard times, functioning as non-profit benefit corporations which are helped by a plethora of volunteers.

Florham Park Education Foundation is no different.

Spurred on with a Mission “to strengthen public education in the (Florham Park) School District through advocacy, fundraising and investment in programs that empower every student to achieve both academic and personal success,” the organization seeks to address gaps in programs with tax-funded dollars, add on new and creative programs which allow kids to excel and again and help students who’s family financial situation requires it, enough for the student to progress.

Teachers have also benefitted from the efforts of the Foundation inside their class-

rooms. In Fall 2023, Brooklake Elementary School saw eight teachers receive grant awards. Four teachers at Briarwood Elementary School received grants while three more did at Ridgedale Middle School.

Over the years, these grants have funded projects for classroom learning for ideas like Wordless Picture Books for third-graders and a Sensory Station for Kindergartners and culturally-aimed preschool books to enable pre-schoolers to get a grasp on the world around them, yet in the classroom.

It takes a village of sorts to make the Foundation run and to have its programs and objectives fulfilled. At the helm, is Executive Committee President, Alexis Seubert who is flanked by Secretary Megan Mink and and Treasurer, Eliza Puzzuoli (the Committee is looking for both a Vice President and Financial Planning and Controls Chairperson). Six other positions ranging from a Grants Chairperson to Business

Development to Marketing chairperson round out the volunteer-support positions which allow the FPES to run smoothly.

Donations help too. They help so much so that the Foundation runs an annual campaign and accepts general donations with visible donor recognition levels where sponsorship opportunities are available.

It’s possible to donate and make a restricted gift to the Foundation’s Community Care program which again, helps students in the school district who’s parents or guardians have fallen on hard times.

Events are also a mainstay of the FPEF.

In October 2023, an Arts, Crafts and Music Festival was held at Ridgedale complete with sponsors, vendors and performers. While grants are awarded to several grades, FPEF offers its 7th Grade Student Grant Program of $1000.00. Only 7th graders themselves at Ridgedale, sub-

mit their ideas on how to make noteworthy, positive change in their school community. It’s stipulations for consideration are that the program suggested must make a meaningful impact on one aspect of student life at Ridgedale, must have a budget of $1000.00 or less and be implemented one year the award. While the deadline passed for submissions for 2024, all will know shortly who this year’s big winner is.

With so many initiatives, programs and contributions in gear, along with a dedicated volunteer Board, it’s no surprise that FPES gets closer and closer to meeting it’s Vision, which is, “to make Florham Park School District a recognized model of educational excellence and innovation, where every student can thrive and have the opportunity to reach their highest potential.”

To learn more about Florham Park Education Foundation (FPEF), logon to www. fpefnj.org

CASA of Essex County Announces “Pinwheels of Possibilities” Kick-Off Celebration for Child Abuse Awareness Month

AREA - CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Essex County is thrilled to announce the launch of its “Pinwheels of Possibilities” celebration with a kick-off cocktail party. This special event will take place on March 22nd at the Loop in Montclair, marking the beginning of a month-long campaign in April for Child

Abuse Awareness Month. The campaign aims to raise awareness and funds to continue supporting the youth of Essex County in foster care.

“Pinwheels of Possibilities” serves as a beacon of hope and support for the vulnerable children in Essex County, representing the bright future that every child deserves. The

Winner from February’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” Contest

event will bring together community leaders, advocates, and supporters for an evening of solidarity, reflection, and action. Guests will enjoy a curated selection of hors d’oeuvres by Skopós Caterers, a dessert spread by The Dessert Ladies and engaging presentations about the impactful work of CASA Essex as well as musical performances by Dawn Patrick, Abraham Burton Trio and the Condrad Herwig Quartet.

Event Details: March 22nd, 7:00pm at Loop, 80 Maple Ave., Montclair, NJ.

Tickets: https://www.casaessex.org/pinwheelsofpossibilities

Throughout the month of April, CASA of Essex will lead a series of initiatives to shine a light on the critical issue of child abuse and the vital role that advocacy provided by CASA volunteers plays in the lives of foster children. These efforts include community workshops, educational outreach, and fundraising drives, all designed to mobilize sup-

PLEASE SEE CASA OF ESSEX, PAGE 2

our rebounds more so than the points, because that is where we get most of our points from.”

In addition to her family and coach, Cicerone also credits Hanover Park High School

Athletic Director, Michael Menditto, for her career success. Cicerone said, “He’s also been a great influence at Hanover Park for me.”

Hidden Children of World War II Program Offered by Historical Society of Florham Park

FLORHAM PARK - The Historical Society of Florham Park is hosting its first of four free and intriguing presentations for the public in 2024 next month. «Hidden Children of World War II» is scheduled for March 12, 7:00pm at the Florham Park Library. Of the 1,600,000 Jewish children who lived in Europe before World War II, only 100,000 survived the Holocaust. Most were hidden children, shuttered away in attics,cellars, convents or in villages or farms. Maud P. Dahme, a New Jersey resident, New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2014, and former president of the NJ State Board of Education, was among those who were hidden and survived. Dahme was one of the estimated 3,000 to 8,000 Jewish children in the Netherlands who were hidden and saved from the Nazi death camps by courageous Christians. The Hidden Child, a one-hour high-definition documentary, is Dahme’s own story of courage, hope and bravery in the face of evil and death.

Today,Dahme devotes her life to genocide education. Issues such as tolerance, mutual respect and understanding are discussed in depth in the presentation. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this important presentation.

ABOUT The Historical Society of Florham Park

The Historical Society of Florham Park was founded by a group of women in 1935 to save and preserve the Little Red Schoolhouse. Located on the corner of Columbia Turnpike and Ridgedale Avenue the former schoolhouse (built in 1866) was converted into a museum. It is the symbol of Florham Park. Virtually all the artifacts in the museum were donated to and are the responsibility of the His-

torical Society. Many know the Historical Society from the informative free presentations such as this one offered for all residents. Many are familiar with books sponsored by the Historical Society such as SAGA OF A CROSSROADS (per John T. Cunningham, is “a first-rate history, … one of the best local histories every written in New Jersey”.”) and FONDLY FROM FLORHAM (letters written by a girl as she grew up in Florham Park more than 100 years ago in 1917-1921).

Still more know the Historical Society of Florham Park from the decades of providing tours of the Little Red Schoolhouse. The Historical Society hopes to once again offer tours in the museum soon, on the first Sunday of each month, as 2024 is the 125th Anniversary of Florham Park.

To learn more about the Little Red Schoolhouse, check- https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Little_Red_Schoolhouse_ (Florham_Park,_New_Jersey)

Facebook fans can check the Historical Society of Florham Park page at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/875453746446134

And to learn more about The Historical Society of Florham Park contact Peter Nicolasat pnicolas@optimum.net or call at 973-520-8654.

Florham Park Rotary Scholarship Deadline is March 15

FLORHAM PARK - The Florham Park Rotary scholarship is all about volunteerism and community involvement. Applications for the 2024 Scholarships are currently being accepted.

To be eligible, students residents of Florham Park who are Seniors in good standing in a local high school. They must have a background in volunteerism and community involvement, and be in the process of applying to a certified school (technical or trade, college or university) of higher learning.

Students should contact their high school counselors for the applications and return the completed scholarship applications by March 15. The Rotary Scholarship Committee will schedule the interviews with the finalist the week of March

27. There will be at least two scholarships and possibly more. The Florham Park Rotary annually is able to build the funds thanks to the generosity of residents and businesses in and around Florham Park who participate in Rotary events. In 2024 those scholarship fundraisers, (which include 50/50 raffle ticket sales) are:

• 4th Annual Taste of Florham Park at the FDU Mansion (May 20),

• Independence Day Parade and celebration (July 4)

• 5th Annual Halloween Dog Parade & Costume Contest (October 19).

The Rotary Scholarship Committee has received student applications from several local high schools in recent years. Examples of local High Schools are: Hanover Park

High, Morris County School of Technology, Oratory Prep, Seton Hall Prep, St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark Academy, Morristown-Beard, Delbarton, and Academy of St Elizabeth.

Rotary International is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian organization open to all people, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, or political preference.

40,000+ clubs in 200 countries worldwide dedicated to humanitarian services, high ethical standards, and goodwill and peace around the world. This global network of 1.4 million people who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs.

One such club is in Florham Park. To learn more and consider joining, guests are welcome to attend a weekly

Women’s History Book Shines a Light on the Stories Lost to Patriarchy

AREA - If history is written by those in power, then there are countless unsung heroes among the women who lived it. For too long, women who have served as leaders, champions of justice, and pioneers in their fields have been relegated to footnotes in our textbooks. Dr. Jackie Casper Agostini writes this powerful, transformative volume to rectify those errors, shining a light on these social movers. Women like Mary Harris, Ida B. Wells, and Isabella Baumfree (known to most as Sojourner Truth) are some of the most prominent forces behind not only the feminist movement but also many of the rights we all hold in society, regardless of gender. Shining

a Light on (Her)Story paints a vivid picture of how conventions were defied to bring us the world we know.

The book is a powerful statement on the dangers of patriarchy, championing the importance of women crafting their own visions for the future.

Featuring historical accounts of the lives of powerhouse social contributors like Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul, Agostini’s work is a treasure trove of forgotten stories. In addition, the book functions as Agostini’s personal memoir as she explores her own relationship with America’s historical narrative. Readers of any gender will find nuggets of wisdom to glean from

this title. Women in particular will find it empowering, inspiring, and revelatory as stories of the past point toward a future built on solidarity.

Shining a Light on (Her) Story is available for purchase online at Amazon. com and Barnes and Noble. com

2023 Winners Sophia Maugeri and Morgan Shepard graduated from Hanover Park High and Ryan Raushenberger graduated from Seton Hall Prep.

Rotary breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner at 182 Ridgedale Ave. Meetings are 7:47 to 8:50 a.m. every Friday. For additional information

about the Florham Park Rotary visit the new website at www. FlorhamParkRotary.org, check Florham Park Community TV (Channels 21 for Cablevision

and 35 for Verizon), or write or call Membership Chair George Gregor at ggregor@florhamparkrotary.org or 917-8480982.

CASA of Essex...

FROM FRONT PAGE

to

and ad-

for the most vulnerable among us. With the support of our community, we can provide a strong voice and a brighter

future for every child in foster care.”

All proceeds from the event and the month-long campaign will directly support CASA of Essex’s ongoing efforts to train and support volunteer advocates who work tirelessly to ensure that children in foster care have the care, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.

For more information about the “Pinwheels of Possibilities” event, including ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.casaessex.org/pinwheelsofpossibili-

ties or contact: Stephanie Phelan at sphelan@casaessex.org.

About CASA of Essex County: CASA of Essex County is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the best interests of children in foster care. Through the efforts of trained volunteer advocates, CASA works to ensure that every child in the foster care system has a safe, permanent, and nurturing home. For more information, please visit www. casaessex.org. Together, we can help change a child’s story.

Dictionary Words of “Anniversary” and “Volunteer” for Brooklake School 3rd Grade Students

7:47 to 8:50 a.m. every Friday.

word as students learned that this year is the 125th ANNIVERSARY of Florham Park.

“Volunteer” was searched and the 3rd Graders understood that it was both a noun (person, place or thing) and verb (action word). Indeed, after reading the definition one girl asked if girls could be volunteers also. Rotarian Peter Nicolas pointed to teammate and fellow Rotarian Debbie O’Keefe as she was a volunteer (noun) who was there volunteering her time with the class!

“Tick” was another word used and was assigned as a homework word for the students in preparation for their May 23 visit by the Morris County Division of Mosquito Control. Teresa Duckworth, Assistant Superintendent of the Division, will be returning for her 4th time. The effort is coordinated with eager support by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Caponegro, Principal Robert Foster, and Rotarian Peter Nicolas, so 3rd and 4th Grade students can learn how to stay safe from mosquitos and ticks.

The Table of Contents in the student dictionary held extra interest for the 3rd Graders as they found it contained Sign

Language, Planets, Presidents, and the Longest Word in the Longest Word in their dictionary (it wasn’t Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious)!

At the end of the day students brought their personal dictionaries home so they could easily get into the habit (a word of the day) of reading them often to expand their vocabularies. Per Rotarian Bob Feid who has coordinated this Florham Park Rotary project for more than 20 years - “Yes, there is Google, but there continues to be something special about having one’s own dictionary in your hands to explore”.

Afterwards, Brooklake School Principal Robert Foster sent the following Thank You note to the Florham Park Rotary:

“We are so grateful for the Florham Park Rotary Club’s generous donation of dictionaries and time to Brooklake’s 3rd-grade class. The Rotarians provided an informative and educational lesson to our 3rd graders, teaching students how to properly use their dictionaries. This annual event at Brooklake School exemplifies

the true value of community support and educational enrichment.

The Rotary Club’s contribution not only provided our students with a valuable experience and lesson but also fosters a community bond between our students and the greater Florham Park community. We are immensely grateful for their partnership in shaping the bright futures of our students.”

Rotarian George Gregor, also extends a big THANK YOU to the local businesses who generously donated to the Dictionary Project this year:

Alan Feid Inc,, Anita’s Baked Wonders, Lucy’s Gift, Cathy D’s Hair Salon, Florham Park Diner, Eddie’s Barber Shop, Edmund M. Kramer Photographers, Pastosa Ravioli, Florham Park Skating Rink, Florham Park Liquors, The Leonardis Family, Global Capital Service Group

Ltd

About Rotary

Rotary International is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian organization open to all peo-

ple, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, or political preference. 40,000+ clubs in 200 countries worldwide dedicated to humanitarian services, high ethical standards, and goodwill and peace around the world. This global network is made up of 1.4 million people who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs.

One such club is in Florham Park. To learn more and consider joining, guests are welcome to attend a weekly Rotary breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner at 182 Ridgedale Ave. Meetings are

For additional information about the Florham Park Rotary visit the new website at www.

FlorhamParkRotary.org, check

Florham Park Community TV

(Channels 21 for Cablevision and 35 for Verizon), or write or call Membership Chair George Gregor at ggregor@ florhamparkrotary.org or 917848-0982.

Mayor Mark Taylor, George Gregor, Judi Gregor, Rotary Club president Damion Bernard, Nick Franklin, Peter Nicolas, Debbie O’Keefe, Simone Campbell, and Brooklake School Principal Robert Foster. Students holding their dictionaries are Matteo Priori, Alessandro Frungillo, Brayden Comprelli, Francesca Rella, & Ruby Sabatos.

Wow! Brooklake School 3rd Graders are fascinated by all the words to explore on each page!

Student opening his own dictionary and the many words awaiting him.

Local Masters Swimmers Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Annual Awards Breakfast!

AREA - A group of Masters Swimmers from Madison and the surrounding areas have now had the privilege of swimming together for two decades at the Madison YMCA, the Madison Community Pool, the Summit YMCA and other close by locations. Traditionally, we track monthly swim yardage for the entire year on a user friendly web site (with support from our web site coordinator Barry Lass). Each of our 60 swimmers has a chance to see how they rank throughout the year in total yards within the group in a monthly newsletter.

Also, as we do every year in January, the Masters Yardstick Swimmers gathered recently at our 20th anniversary annual awards breakfast on January 6th- a combined live (at the Kemmerer Library in Harding Township) and online (via Zoom) event- with strong participation (39 in person and 6 on Zoom)! Hosted by longtime swimmers Bob Nissen, Joe Donohue, and Richard Clew, the multi-media slide show and event highlighted activities of 2023 (aided by our group historian, Barbara Rushman) and brought us together in such a way that all active members could enjoy.

It began with a fascinating summary of our 20 year history- how we started, how we

have evolved and grown as the “Yardstick Swimmers”, and what we have accomplished as a group. Since 2004, our collective swimming efforts are amazing- logging more than 371 million yards- or nearly 211,000 miles! That is equivalent to swimming “around the world” more than 8 times!

After reviewing a number of “20th Anniversary Workouts” submitted by our swimmers, we were entertained with a Surprise Video Tape and Congratulations Message from Rowdy Gaines, 3 time Olympic Gold Medal Winner in Swimming.

Many of our swimmers enjoy participating in group workouts at the Walker D. Kirby Aquatics Center in its modern eight lane pool at the Madison YMCA! For further information on the pool and swim program, please contact the main desk at the Madison YMCA at 973-822-9622.

Ultimately, we moved on to the highlight of the event- our Annual Awards. Jane Ikeda of Mendham, Diane Dinsmore of Madison, and Bob Franks of Chatham were each named “Bold Performer of the Year”, for demonstrating improved performance, exceptional effort and a special commitment to the swimming program. 3 D(imension) 20th Anniversary

Row

Row

Row 5-

Bauman,

Przedpelski,

Awards for long term participation and passion for swimming by exemplifying Commitment, Consistency, and Competitiveness were presented to Jennifer Bauman of Parsippany, Bill Sullivan of Florham Park, and Richard Clew of Harding Township.

The Team Competition was unbelievable, with our two

Clew,

squads each swimming more than 12 million yards in a competition that was close until the final day, when The Yardstick Rulers (led by Captain Richard Clew) bested the Yardstick Junkies (led by Captain Bill Sullivan). Finally, our top two swimmers for 2023 were runner up Cindy Viola of Chatham, and Yardstick Winner

Sandra Seddon of Chatham, swimming 1,461,630 yards, or 830 miles! Sandra was awarded the Doug Clark Championship Yardstick, named in memory of our former “Yardstick Swimmer”. We all had a great time, and were so happy to connect with our swimming friends for this special 20th Anniversary cel-

ebration. And we will continue our monthly yard tracking in 2024, and are convinced that our program will grow in numbers! Adult swimmers of all levels from beginners to experts are welcome to the Masters programs. To learn more about our Yardstick Challenge, please contact Bob Nissen at bobnissen@gmail.com.

Pictured are: Row 1- Yardstick Winner Sandra Seddon, Barbara Rushman, Bob Nissen, Deborah Fennelly, Joe Donohue

Row 2- Bob Franks, Bree Olivari, Nicole Sullivan, Noreen McManus, Melissa Griffie, Jane Ikeda, Nicole Bearce

3- Chachi Sabatino, , Bill Sjovall, Debbie Goulian, Susan Kirk, Irene Fisher, Ed Tsuzuki, Jim Sullivan

4- Diane Dinsmore, Bill Sullivan, Alan Sawyer, Lynda Przedpelski, Sarah Sangree, Barry Lass, Ted Bohlman, Sam Kongsamut

Jennifer

John

Richard

Barbara Wattenbach, Cande Olsen

BY DANA JACKSON

Q:I remember when singer Usher used to be on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Has he done any acting since? -- S.L.

A:Born Usher Raymond IV, superstar Usher was born in Dallas and sang in the church choir that was directed by his mother. The family later moved to Atlanta and then Los Angeles, where Usher released his fi rst album in 1994 at the age  of 16 and also hit it big with his second album, “My Way,” in 1997. He fl exed his talents  even more by branching out into acting -- fi rst in the sitcom

“The Parent ‘Hood” on The WB network, then in recurring roles on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Moesha.”

More recently, he’s just played himself in several TV shows like “Dave” and The Lonely Island movie “Popstar.” However, being selected to

BY DEMI TAVERAS

“Ferrari” (R) -- From director Michael Mann (“Collateral”), this biopic follows Enzo Ferrari, owner of the car manufacturer Ferrari, during the summer of 1957 as the racing division of his company prepares for the Mille Miglia race. Portrayed by Adam Driver (“House of Gucci”), Enzo is in a state of chaos due to his company facing extreme fi nancial  losses and his deteriorating relationship with his wife, Laura (Penelope Cruz). On top of this, kept hidden away from his wife in the countryside of Modena, Italy, is Enzo’s son, Piero, with mistress Lina (Shailene Woodley), who longs to be a true family. But even with the pressure rising from all aspects

ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrity Extra

headline the Super Bowl halftime show is a high honor for any recording artist, so I doubt he has any regrets about not having a hit acting career. He also just released his ninth album, “Coming Home,” so perhaps he’ll be adding his ninth Grammy to his mantle during the next award season.

***

Q: When is “Young Sheldon” coming back with new episodes? Is it true that this will be the fi nal season? -- A.M.

A:By the time you’re reading this, you might have noticed that “Young Sheldon” returned to CBS with all new episodes on Feb. 15. Delayed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, the seventh and fi nal  season will only consist of 14 episodes, with its hour-long series fi nale airing on May 16.  It was inevitable that the show would end, since the title char-

acter was getting closer to the age of his future self in “The Big Bang Theory,” the hit sitcom that preceded “Young Sheldon.”

However, there is a bit of good news on the horizon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is “reteaming with exec producers Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland and Steve Molaro to develop a spinoff of their prequel series ‘Young Sheldon.’” Although nothing offi cial has been announced,  word is that the new show will focus on Sheldon’s brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), and his fi ancee, Mandy (Emily Osment). It will debut as early as the 2024-25 television season. Hopefully, Iain Armitage will pop in occasionally as Sheldon.

***

Q: Is it true that Jon Bon Jovi lost his voice? Will he still

Couch Theater

of his life, Enzo is determined to keep his company out of hot water and pull off the win at the Mille Miglia. Out now to rent. (Amazon Prime Video)

“The Greatest Night in Pop” (PG-13) -- This documentary fi lm casts a spotlight on a magical evening in 1985 when some of the most famous musicians in the world at the time were brought together to record a memorable pop anthem called “We Are the World.” With incredible insider footage of the night, viewers feel like fl ies  on the wall watching legends like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan attempt to fi nd their  footing amid an elite group of

their peers. The footage is interspersed with new interviews featuring some of the musicians as they recount the long hours they put in that night and how beautifully the song came together in the end. Out now!

(Netfl ix)

“Tracker” (TV-14) -- Justin Hartley (“This Is Us”) leads this new CBS action-drama series based on the novel “The Never Game” by Jeffery Deaver. Hartley plays -- cue the burliest name you can think of -- Colter Shaw, a “lone-wolf survivalist” with excellent tracking skills. Colter travels around the country to help citizens and law enforcement solve the mind-boggling mysteries and tragedies that have

be able to sing? -- I.S.

A:Singer Jon Bon Jovi is recovering from surgery to mend a vocal cord injury, but his career is far from over. According to Entertainment Weekly, the lead singer of the popular rock band Bon Jovi had undergone surgery 19 months ago with a specialist in Philadelphia who used a plastic implant to fi x an  atrophied vocal cord.

While promoting “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” an upcoming docuseries on Hulu about him and his bandmates, Bon Jovi said that their new record has been completed and that he recently performed live for the fi rst time  since his surgery. He’s also about to become Millie Bobby Brown’s (“Stranger Things”) father-in-law, as his son, Jake, proposed to the actress last year.

Send me your questions at

affected their town. In the fi rst  episode, Colter heads to Klamath Falls, Oregon, to dig deeper into the disappearance of a 14-year-old boy. Hartley also serves as an executive producer for the series, so here’s hoping this network show will be gripping enough to pull in viewers and get picked up for another season. The fi rst two episodes  are out now, with subsequent episodes premiering every Sunday. (Paramount+)

“Constellation” (TV-MA)

-- This psychological-thriller series centers on Jo (Noomi Rapace), an astronaut who barely survives a mission gone wrong in space. Upon returning to Earth, Jo starts to notice some eerie differences in her

NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando,

FL 32803. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

life back home, like a piano suddenly placed in her living room even though she doesn’t play. She also experiences intense hallucinations, and as time goes on, her relationship with her daughter becomes estranged. Despite getting therapy and speaking with other

astronauts about her situation, Jo inches closer to the brink of madness and is left to wonder if this terrifying phenomenon will ever cease. The fi rst two  episodes premiere on Feb. 21. (Apple TV+) (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Musician Usher. Photo Credit: Depositphotos

Justin Hartley stars in “Tracker.” Photo Credit: Courtesy of CBS

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN STAFF WRITER

AREA - There is a small town, Troy, Ohio, that celebrates an occasion that put it on the world map of the grocery trade.

On June 26, 1974, when the fi rst item marked with the Universal Product Code (U PC) was scanned at the checkout of Troy’s Marsh Supermarket.

It was a ceremonial occasion and involved a little bit of setup. The night before, Marsh employees had moved in to put barcodes on hundreds of items in the store: while the National Cash Register installed their scanners and computers.

The fi rst “shopper” was  Clyde Dawson, who was head of research and development for Marsh Supermarket. Legend has it that Dawson dipped into his shopping basket and pulled out a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum. Dawson explained later that this was not a lucky dip.

“I had chosen it because nobody had been sure that a bar code could be printed on something as small as a pack of chewing gum.”

Finally, there was a solution to the problem of slow checkout lines and inventory control. But it would take years for its successful implementation.

The Universal Barcode

On October 20, 1949, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver fi led their patent application for the «Classifying Apparatus and Method,” describing their invention as “article classifi cation...through  the medium of identifying patterns.” The fi rst patent for  a barcode type product (US Patent #2,612,994) was issued to the inventors on October 7, 1952. The invention was based on Morse code. It was Morse code that gave Woodland the idea. Woodland had learned Morse code when he was in the Boy Scouts. As he was sitting in a beach chair and pondering the checkout dilemma, Morse came into his head:

“I remember I was thinking about dots and dashes when I poked my four fi ngers into  the sand and, for whatever reason—I didn’t know—I pulled my hand toward me and I had four lines. I said ‘Golly! Now I have four lines and they could be wide lines and narrow lines, instead of dots and dashes. Then, only seconds later, I took my four fi ngers—they were  still in the sand—and I swept them round into a circle.”

However, it took twenty years before this invention became

commercially successful.

An early use of one type of barcode in an industrial context was sponsored by the Association of American Railroads in the late 1960s. Developed by General Telephone and Electronics (GTE). It was called KarTrak ACI (Automatic Car Identifi cation). This  program involved placing colored stripes in various combinations. to the sides of railroad rolling stock. Two plates were used per car, one on each side, with the arrangement of the colored stripes with encoded information such as ownership, type of equipment, and identifi cation number. The plates  were read by a trackside scanner located at the entrance to a classifi cation yard, while the  car was moving past. The project was abandoned after about ten years because the system proved unreliable after longterm use.

Barcodes fi nally became  commercially successful when they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task for which they have become almost universal. The Uniform Grocery Product Code Council had chosen, in 1973, a barcode design devel-

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oped by George Laurer. Laurer’s barcode, with vertical bars, printed better than the circular barcode developed by Woodland and Silver. Their use has spread to many other tasks that are generically referred to as automatic identifi cation and  data capture (AIDC).

In June 1974, the Marsh supermarket in Troy used a scanner made by Photographic Sciences Corporation to scan the Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode on a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum. Woodland said it sounded like a fairy tale: “I had gotten the inspiration for what became the barcode while sitting on Miami Beach. What I was after was a code of some kind that could be printed on groceries and scanned so that supermarket checkout queues could move more quickly, and stocktaking would be simplifi ed.”

That such a technology was needed was not Woodland’s idea: it came from an anxious supermarket manager who had asked a dean at Drexel Institute of Technology, in Philadelphia, to come up with a way of getting shoppers through his store more quickly. The delays and the regular stocktaking were costing him profi ts. The dean shrugged him  off, but a junior postgraduate,

Bernard Silver, overheard the conversation and was interested. He mentioned it to Woodland, who had graduated from Drexel in 1947. Woodland decided to take on the challenge.

In 1948, Silver joined together with fellow graduate student Joseph Woodland to work on a solution.

Woodland’s fi rst idea was to  use ultraviolet light sensitive ink. The team built a working prototype but decided that the system was too unstable and expensive. They went back to the drawing board.

With the barcode it was soon realized that there would have to be some sort of industry standard.

So confi dent was Woodland  that he would come up with a solution to the supermarket dilemma left graduate school in the winter of 1948 to live in an apartment owned by his grandfather in Miami Beach. He had cashed in some stocks to tide him over. It was in January 1949 that Woodland had his ah ha, moment. Though the brilliance of its simplicity and its far-reaching consequences for modern existence were not recognized until many years later.

Back in Philadelphia, Woodland and Silver decided to see if they could get a working sys-

tem going with the technology at hand. Although the patent illustrates the basic concept, there is only limited anecdotal evidence about what Woodland and Silver built.

A crude prototype in Woodland’s own home used a powerful 500-watt incandescent bulb. An oscilloscope was used to “read” the code; the whole thing was too big. Allegedly, it worked, up to a point. But an objective evaluation judged it would take 20 years. Bar codes became commercially successful when the scanning technology came up to speed, and were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task for which they have become almost universal. The Uniform Grocery Product Code Council had chosen, in 1973, the bar code design developed by George Laurer. Laurer’s barcode, with vertical bars, printed better than the circular barcode developed by Woodland and Silver. Their use has spread to many other tasks that are generically referred to as automatic identifi cation and  data capture (AIDC). Today the barcode business is booming throughout industries and by 2023, virtually all products sold contain bar codes.

Irish soda Bread Makes the Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Appetizer

AREA - Irish cuisine may not be as widely recognizable or familiar across North America as Chinese, Italian or Mexican fare. But that doesn’t mean Irish food lacks fans and fl avor.  As the world prepares to cel-

ebrate St. Patrick’s Day on or around March 17, individuals who want to include some popular Irish fare in their festivities won’t want to exclude this recipe for “Irish Soda Bread” from AllRecipes.com.

Irish Soda Bread

Yields 11⁄2 loaf (20 servings) 4 cups all-purpose fl our 1⁄2 cup margarine, softened

4 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon baking powder 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1⁄4 cup butter, melted 1⁄4 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Mix fl our, softened margarine, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly fl oured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Combine melted butter with 1⁄4 cup buttermilk in a small  bowl; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

NJ Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame Enters 52nd Year as One of State’s Most Enriching Places

BY JEFF GARRETT STAFF WRITER

AREA - If fl ying peaks your  curiosity and you have an interest for all things air with a slice of history, a stroll on the campus of the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum in New Jersey many be just the tonic as warmer weather approaches. Located at 400 Fred Wehran Drive in Teterboro, the Museum showcases helicopters and airplanes along with displaying the career highlights and attributes of some of New Jersey

and the country’s greatest contributors to Aviation since fl ying began.

One interactive exhibit is apart of the institutions “Fundamentals of Flight” interactive aerodynamics exhibit allowing guests to do more than just view historical aircraft. Another exhibit offered showcases the rocket which propelled the famous X-15 to previously unheard of, record-breaking speeds and heights, as Ameri-

ca’s fi rst hovercraft.

Inside the museum, smaller almost model airplanes are displayed along with key parts and fi gures from planes from  different military eras. Space equipment is also on display as well as important artifacts, pictures and photographs and a library which has well over 3.800 volumes with video.

There’s something there for pilots on an interactive level no less. The hall of fame and mu-

seum showcases an FAA-approved Gleim Virtual Cockpit BATD Flight Simulator where pilots in-training can log hours for their Private Pilot Certifi cate and stay current on the latest pilot innovations.

Now in its 52nd year, having opened in 1972, over 200 inductees have a spot in the Hall of Fame in Teterboro.

These include pioneers of Aviation such as Amelia Earhart, who was the fi rst woman

I Remember Dad: A Most Precious Moment In Time

BY RICHARD MABEY, JR. GUEST WRITER

AREA - My father went Home to be with the Lord on the twelfth of May of 2006. The days, weeks and months that followed were a time of deep mourning. I was blessed to have a close bond with my father. We had hiked week-long sojourns of the Appalachian Trail, many times as scout leaders of Boy Scout Troop 170. When I was in middle school and then into high school, Dad and I shared a canoe on six separate week-long adventures canoeing down the Delaware River. We had gone on countless campouts together, with the scouts, over a time-span that covered several decades. Now, Dad was gone from life, in this physical existence. I found solace and comfort in fi shing. I had a most unique  fi shing technique. I would use  a dobber and a sink weight, but never tied a hook to the end of my fi shing line. I would throw  my line out to the middle of the pond and watch the dobber fl oat and gently move up and  down. Then I would sit upon the earth and read. I mostly read Thomas Wolfe’s novel, Look Homeward, Angel.

At the time, I was living in the little hamlet of Saint Thomas in Central Pennsylvania, just west of Chambersburg. I had found his wonderful lake to fi sh in, along the Lincoln Highway (Route 30) in the nearby town of Fort Loudon.

It was in the middle of June of 2006, a little over a month from when my Dad’s soul left his physical body, that I experienced a moment in time that brought great comfort to my heart. I know what I experi-

Yours truly fishing at the pond in Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania.

enced was true. Nobody could ever convince me otherwise.

As I sat upon the earth, near the shore of that pond, I heard my father calling me. Dad’s voice was coming forth from the forest that bordered the lake. I put down my book that I was reading and looked behind me. There standing at the edge of the woods, was my father. He waved to me. I waved back to him. He smiled at me.

His spectre stood just a few yards from me. I stood up in awe of my father’s ghostly presence. He held his right hand up, his palm facing me.

I heard him gently say, “I love you son.” And then, he simply vanished.  A stillness fi lled my  heart center. The pain of my mourning was gently soothed.

I know that there are religions that will argue that things like this are not sound. But I know what I know. I know what I experienced that afternoon, beside the still waters of that graceful pond, was real. I know it with every fi ber and  sinew of my heart, mind and

Blood vs. Plasma

AREA - Donating blood is a selfl ess act. Each year, blood

donors collectively save the lives of millions of people across the globe. The American Red Cross reports that blood levels continue to be low, and hospital need often outpaces the rate at which many blood donation organizations can replenish their supplies, That reality results in emergency shortages. When people think about blood donations, they frequently envision whole blood donations. But it is possible to only donate plasma as well. And donors typically can donate plasma with greater frequency than they can donate blood. Whole blood donations include all four blood components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. By contrast, plasma donation involves collecting only the plasma component of blood and returning the other three components to the donor, says Plasma Hero. The American Red Cross indicates plasma helps maintain blood pressure and volume; supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity; carries electrolytes to muscles; and helps to maintain a proper pH balance in the body to support cell function. Plasma is around 90 percent water and is utilized in therapies to replace missing, defi cient  or malfunctioning proteins in people with life-threatening

diseases, including primary immunodefi ciency and hemophilia. It also can be given to trauma and burn victims. It is an essential component, and a donation of plasma only takes a few minutes longer than donating whole blood. Unlike type O blood, which is a universal blood donation type, with plasma, type AB is universal.

soul. Can the power of God be put into a box? Can the strength of love ever really be limited? Do miracles still happen in our modern times? There are no easy answers to these questions. I know, deep in my heart of hearts, that my father reached out to me from the Heavenly Worlds on that sunny afternoon in the midst of the Summer of 2006.

Love your family members.

Be kind to one another. Be especially kind to the homeless. Give food to a stray cat. Adopt a dog from a shelter. Simply put, love one another. Tomorrow knows no guarantees. 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@ hotmail.com.

to fl y over the Atlantic Ocean  using a Teterboro-built Fokker Trimotor. Another inductees is Charles Lindbergh who made a successful transatlantic fl ight  in the Spirit of St. Louis, an aircraft powered with a motor tuned at Teterboro.

The Mission of the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey is, “to provide an enriching experience to all visitors about New Jersey’s role in achieving innovative air accomplishments.”

The Museum offers membership at Solo, Companion and Crew Membership levels while having a Corporate Membership level as well. The Museum is a constant source of curiosity and wonderment for children too and is open from 10:30am until 4pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays.

For more information on the Museum and HOF, logon to www.njahof.org , email info@ njhof.org or call 201-288-6344.

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

NJStarz

NJ Starz: Christina Lamberti Hometown: Phillipsburg

Chrstina Lamberti can relate when I tell her that, for me, the few times I have experienced her forte of Opera it has been an emotional experience.

Lamberti said, “I appreciate that, because that’s why I do it.”

And is it diffi cult to remain  composed amidst the emotion? Lamberti said, “It can be at times. I think you have to separate yourself a little bit, just because it can be too much and then the voice will get completely cut off if you start to feel emotional. It is tough; there has to be a little bit of a sort of almost watching yourself, and I think if you are too emotional, then the audience does not always get it. You sort of almost have to be this sort of this vessel that’s just sort of relating the music.”

The 54-year-old Lamberti embodies the hardworking and grit of Phillipsburg, the city she grew up in and again calls home on the Delaware River. Lamberti was born Christina Cox in Wisconsin on August 11, 1969, and after living in New York State and West Virginia for a period, moved to New Jersey with her parents, Donald and Pamela, and her sister (and fellow singer) Alyssa, when she was about nine.

Lamberti said,” We moved here, and I started at a public school, and what my parents did was get us very involved in locally in Belvidere was the little theater. My parents also got us very much involved in dance. I was taking dance and I had taken piano at a little theatre company called Country Gate Players.”

While at Phillipsburg Middle School, Lamberti embraced both the drama club and choir, and started singing lessons when she was about 12. She said, “I was doing a lot of musical theater. I did not start off necessarily in opera, per se. I was singing a lot of that classic musical theater, like Oklahoma and The Sound of Music, and the great songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe, and the great musical theater songbook.”

Phillipsburg Catholic High School was next for the 15-year-old, and the summer before entering, Lamberti learned that the theater department was going to present Camelot during freshman year. One of her favorite musicals, she spent the whole summer memorizing the score and the lines, auditioned, and got the lead role. Thee next four years, she did the same in Brigadoon,

Guys and Dolls, and Hello Dolly.

Lamberti said, “And my mom, who was a Spanish teacher at the school, was very much involved. she costumed the shows, and my dad - even though he was very busy working - was involved in the community theater.”

It was a family affair, and it all set the table for her future as not just a Mezzo-Soprano opera singer, but a performer who put her love into all she does.

Lamberti’s voice teacher at Phillipsburg Catholic, Karla Lake, was  perhaps the fi rst person who really had a great infl uence on her start as a singer  and entry into the opera world.

Lamberti recalled, “I started studying with her privately, and then we started working on more classical songs, and then I started auditioning for certain programs like the Westminster Choir College summer program. I was accepted into Governor’s School (of New Jersey).”

As a senior, Lamberti won fi rst prize in the Westminster  Choir Voice Competition and was awarded a scholarship to attend Westminster Choir College to study Voice Performance. In her second year of college, she did a summer

program with Claudia Pinza (daughter of famed Italian opera singer Ezio Pinza). At age 19, she was on her way to Italy.

Lamberti said, “I went to Italy my fi rst time and studied  there all summer with her, and then she actually invited me to move to Pittsburgh and study with her privately.”

Lamberti’s next stop was continuing her schooling at Duquesne University, and a residency with the Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh. She was in Pittsburgh for about three years, sang with the Pittsburgh Opera, and then from there, and was awarded residency with the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia for three years. After that, she was next in San Francisco, where she was young artist in the Merola Opera Program, and then was also named an Adler Fellow, hers a three-year fellowship with the San Francisco Opera. Her talent has taken Lamberti as well to stages in Europe.

True to her singing career, Lamberti still trains and sings, and in 2016 met her husband, Lars Frandsen, a classical guitarist (her stepdaughter is Is-

abella). The duo put together a program which included an array of great Spanish music, opera, classical, and pop, including Broadway and some American Songbook tunes. They do a lot of performing together, and experienced in catering as well, Lamberti and Frandsen also created “Dining with the Diva,” where the couple goes into people’s homes and creates Italian dishes and plays beautiful music.

“We love the idea of food, song, and music all in one evening,” said Lamberti, who also now teaches voice at the Hunterdon Academy of the Arts in Raritan Township. “We are

grateful we can still do what we are doing. We are healthy, we can still go out there and perform. That is what I am grateful for.”

And she still loves her home. Lamberti said, “Phillipsburg was a lovely place to grow up in. We did a lot of community things. We could ride our bikes and things like that. It was just lovely, and I loved Phillipsburg Catholic. It was a great high school. I loved growing up and going to high school there. It was a great experience”. For more information about Christina Lamberti, visit www. christinalambertimezzo.com.

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical events from March 2024

• Nikola Tesla announces he has perfected a system of transmitting power without wires on March 8.

fund on March 21. The Massachusetts Investors Trust allows investors to withdraw their account money at any time.

• On March 3, the Turkish National Assembly formally ends the Ottoman Caliphate, which had operated for more than 400 years. In a corresponding move, Abdulmejid II, who was elected Caliph in November 1923, is formally deposed at 2 a.m. on March 4.

• The University of North Carolina men’s basketball team ends its season with a 26-18 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide on March 4. The Tar Heels’ victory secures a perfect 26-0 record for the season.

• The site of Tutankamun’s tomb is formally opened by Egyptian Prime Minister Saad Zaghloul on March 6. The opening attracts a large crowd and ultimately turns into an anti-British demonstration upon the arrival of the British High Commissioner, Field Marshal Allenby.

• The United States Supreme court issues a ruling on March 10 that upholds a New York state statute banning late-night working for women.

• On March 11, cabaret singer Belva Gaertner is arrested for the murder of her lover, Walter Law, in Chicago. Law was found dead from a bullet wound in Gaertner’s car, though Gaertner is later acquitted of the murder. The incident inspires both the 1926 Broadway play “Chicago” and the 1975 musical of the same name.

• The opening session of the fi rst-ever Egyptian constitutional parliament is opened by King Fuad I on March 15.

• Winston Churchill loses the Westminster Abbey by-election by 43 votes to Otho Nicholson on March 19. The results come when Churchill requests a recount after initially losing by just 33 votes.

• The Eugenical Sterilization Act goes into effect in Virginia on March 20. The act provides for the sterilization of individuals in mental institutions.

• Edward G. Leffl er introduces the fi rst modern mutual

• Benito Mussolini presides over a Fascist parade in Rome on March 23. Mussolini uses his speech as a chance to campaign for the coming general election.

• The Greek Parliament votes to depose King George II on March 25. A public referendum for the issue is set for April 13.

• French Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré abruptly resigns after his government suffers a surprising defeat on March 26. In a vote in the Chamber of Deputies, Poincaré and his government are defeated 271 to 264, all while the Prime Minister was not even present. Poincaré accepts President Alexandre Millerand’s request to form a new government on March 27.

• United States Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty resigns over the Teapot Dome Scandal on March 28. The Teapot Dome Scandal was a bribery scandal that enveloped the administration of U.S. President Warren G. Harding, and since 1924 has often been cited when new issues affecting the offi ce  of the president, such as Watergate, have surfaced.

Christina Lamberti (credit: Theater Regensburg, Germany)

Celebrating Women’s History Month: A Tribute to Women’s Contributions Throughout the Ages

AREA- Women’s History Month is a time to honor and celebrate the countless achievements and contributions of women throughout history. This annual observance, which takes place in March, serves as a reminder of the remarkable women who have shaped our world and inspired future generations.

The origins of Women’s History Month can be traced back to the early 20th century when International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909. Inspired by labor movements and activism, this day aimed to highlight the social, economic, and political achievements

of women. Over the years, the observance of International Women’s Day spread globally, gaining momentum and recognition.

In the United States, the push for a designated month to honor women’s history gained traction in the 1970s during the height of the feminist movement. In 1978, a school district in Sonoma, California, organized a week-long celebration of women’s contributions, which soon spread to other communities across the country. Encouraged by this grassroots movement, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation de-

claring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week in 1980.

The momentum continued to build, and in 1987, Congress passed a resolution designating March as Women’s History Month. Since then, Women’s History Month has been a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in all fields, including politics, science, literature, art, and beyond.

Throughout history, women have made significant strides in the face of adversity and discrimination. From trailblazers like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who

fought tirelessly for women’s suffrage, to Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus sparked the Civil Rights Movement, women have been at the forefront of social change.

In science and technology, women have also left an indelible mark. Figures like Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer, shattered glass ceilings and paved the way for future generations of women in STEM fields.

Literature and the arts have also been enriched by the contributions of women. From

the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Maya Angelou to the novels of Jane Austen and Toni Morrison, women writers have captivated audiences and challenged societal norms with their words.

In recent decades, Women’s History Month has expanded to recognize the achievements of women from diverse backgrounds, including women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities. This inclusive approach reflects the intersectional nature of feminism and acknowledges the unique challenges faced by different groups of women.

Today, Women’s History

Month is celebrated with events and activities that highlight the achievements of women past and present. From panel discussions and lectures to art exhibitions and film screenings, there are countless opportunities to learn about and honor the contributions of women in all aspects of society.

As we commemorate Women’s History Month, let us not only celebrate the achievements of the past but also recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for gender equality. By honoring the past and uplifting the voices of women today, we can create a more equitable and just future for all.

Harriet Quimby – First Licensed Female Aviator in U.S.

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN STAFF WRITER

AREA - Quimby was the first woman licensed as a pilot in the United States (1911); first woman to pilot (solo) an airplane (1912) across the English Channel, and the first woman to make a night flight (1911).

Harriet Quimby was born in Coldwater, Michigan, 0n May 11, 1875., She moved with her family to California in 1887.

In 1903, Harriet Quimby moved to New York to work for Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, a popular newspaper. There, she was the drama critic, writing reviews of plays and the new medium, moving pictures. She also served as a photojournalist, and one of the first women to use a camera to support her journalism. She traveled to Europe, Mexico, Cuba, and Egypt for Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly. She also wrote articles, advising women on their careers, and on household tips.

Harriet Quimby epitomized the independent woman of her day, living on her own, working at a career, and driving her own automobile.

In October 1910, Quimby went to the Belmont Park International Aviation Tournament on Long Island, to write a story. She befriended Matilde Moisant and her brother, John Moisant. Along with his brother, Alfred, John ran a flying school. Quimby was bitten by the flying bug. She began her flying lessons. Harriet dressed in disguise as a man, to hide her identity and become the first licensed female pilot thus gaining a one up on the almost exclusive fraternity of male journalists. The press discovered Quimby’s lessons and began following her progress.

On August 1, 1911, Harriet Quimby passed her pilot’s test and was awarded license #37 from Aero Club of America, part of the International Aeronautic Federation. Quimby was the second woman in the world to be licensed; the Bar-

oness de la Roche had been awarded a license in France.

“Once I had my license,” said Quimby, “I’ve realized that I could share aviation with my readers. I wrote in the first person because my readers could feel closer to the events in the cockpit. I called some of my adventures “How A Woman Learns to Fly” and ‘The Dangers of Flying,” and “How to Avoid Them.”

After earning her pilot’s license, Harriet Quimby began touring as an exhibition pilot in the United States and Mexico.

At that time, women used adapted versions of men’s clothing.

While wide hats were in fashion, they were not practical in an open cockpit airplane. For most American women emerging from the Victorian era, pants were unacceptable and immodest. Some women attempted to compensate with trousers with buttons on the inside that converted the garment into a skirt. Most women found this uncomfortable, awkward, and sometimes dangerous. Eventually a flying outfit emerged that was acceptable. “It may seem remarkable,” Quimby said “When I begin to fly I could not find a regular aviator’s outfit for me in New York.

“Finally, my tailor helped me design a style that was extraordinary for the era, one piece outfit with full knickers reaching below the knee and high-top black kid boots.

The outfit had matched gauntlet style driving gloves and a long leather coat for cold weather flying.

In late 1911, Harriet Quimby decided to become the first woman to fly across the English Channel. Another woman Miss Trehawke-Davis flew across as a passenger.

The record for the first woman pilot remained for Quimby to achieve, but feared someone would beat her to it. So, she sailed secretly in

March 1912, for England. She borrowed a 70-hp Bleriot monoplane from Louis Bleriot, who was the first person to fly across the Channel in 1909.

On Sunday, April 14, Quimby was ready. She had never flown a 70-hp plane and wondered about its control. She was used to flying a 30-hp plane. The weather is perfect: She could see Calais, 22 miles across channel and everyone urged her to take off immediately and take advantage of the weather.

However, it was Sunday. She refused to fly on a Sunday for any reason. The following day there was heavy rain, and her ground crew sat all day in a cramped room waiting for the weather to clear.

On April 16, 1912, the weather had cleared of the rain but there was a substantial fog along her planned route.

Quimby decided to go for it. Her route was approximately the same route that Bleriot has flown -- but in reverse. She took off from Dover at dawn. The fog-overcast skies forced her to rely solely on a compass which one of her pilot-friends had just showed her how to use for a bearing.

About an hour later, she landed in France near Calais, 30-miles from her planned landing spot. In doing so she, becoming the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel.

But fame did not catch up to her accomplishment. The Steamship Titanic had hit an iceberg on April 16, and had sunk with over 1,000 lives lost.

When the press “noticed” her accomplishment they were not pleased. Because the Titanic sank the newspaper coverage of Harriet Quimby›s record-setting flight received little acclamation in the United States and Britain. Any coverage was sparse and buried deep within the papers.

The editorial page of the New York Times on April 18,

Quimby’s

1912, took a narrow view. The editorial was no doubt influenced by the paper’s lack of support for women’s suffrage movement that was in bloom in spring of 1912. A reporter said, “Just a few months ago the same flight was one of the most daring and

everywhere a remarkable accomplishment by man. Since then, the passage has been repeated by men, and now with them there is no glory. The flight is hardly anything more than proof of ordinary, professional competency.”

The Times continued, and

in a condescending warning, said “The Feminists should be somewhat cautious about exalting Miss Quimby’s exploit. They should not call it a great achievement lest by doing so they invite the dreadful

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tailor helped her design a style that was extraordinary for the era, one piece outfit with full knickers reaching below the knee and high-top black kid boots. (photo credit: public domain).

Mary Edwards Walker the Only Female Medal of Honor Winner

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN STAFF WRITER

AREA - Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) challenged the practices of her day. Born and raised on a farm in Oswego, New York, Walker became one of a handful of female physicians in the country.

Despite the mockery and destain from her contemporaries she continued to break customs and wore men’s clothing rather than corsets and large petticoats and dresses. She believed they were unhygienic and caused health issues.

Walker lectured and campaigned for woman’s suffrage, and for prohibition, and against tobacco, and alcohol.

From the outset of the Civil War, Walker volunteered her services as a physician. Despite opposition from army commanders and field surgeons, Walker served as a surgeon at Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Chickamauga, and other bloody theaters of the war. She attended to the wounded soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict. At the time, women physicians were considered unfit for military service.

Captured by Confederates

near Chattanooga in 1864, she served four months in a Southern prison near Richmond where she nursed wounded prisoners of war. Walker was a skilled surgeon, and graduated in 1855, from Syracuse Medical College. She was an abolitionist, prohibitionist. and prisoner of war. She was captured and arrested as a spy for the Union Forces by Confederate troops after crossing enemy lines to help a Confederate doctor perform an amputation on a civilian. She remained a prisoner of war for four months until August 12 when she was released in a prisoner exchange.

. She frequently crossed battle lines to treat civilians, and this led to her capture by Confederate troops in 1864. She was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865 by President Andrew Johnson.

Before her capture, Walker wrote to the department of war, and requested to act as a spy in the conflict; she was rejected, but later was employed as a civilian surgeon by the army of the Cumberland, becoming the first female surgeon

Harriet Quimby...

FROM PAGE 6

and humiliating qualification ‘great for a woman.”

The smell of the sour grapes still lingered by the time Harriet arrived back in New York on May 12. She received no hero’s welcome and there was no ticker tape parade. It was a matter of timing. Only a week earlier 15,000 women and 619 brave men marched in support of women’s suffrage. The male leaders of the city had not yet recovered from this demonstration of feminine assertiveness. They weren’t ready to admit that there were female

eagles, let alone honor them. Harriet was not a woman who would like some anonymous editors to have the last word. “I wish I could express my views and ideas,” said Quimby. “It’s not a fad, I did not want to be the first American woman to fly just to make myself conspicuous. I just want to be the first, that’s all, and I am honestly delighted that I have written so much about other people, you can imagine how much I enjoy sitting back and reading about myself for once. I think that is excusable in me.”

to work for the US Army surgeon general.

Walker’s Medal of Honor was withdrawn following a 1917 review of Army Medal of Honor awards. In their review it recommended that the medal be restricted to enlisted personnel.

There is no higher accolade awarded in the United States Armed Forces than the Medal of Honor.

In 1917, Congress passed an Act detailing the requirements for qualification for the Medal. The Medal of Honor recipient must be enlisted personnel. And involved in actual combat with an enemy. This review resulted in over 900 names being deleted from the Medal of Honor roll.. Dr. Mary Edwards was one of those names.

In 1977 President Jimmy Carter, reinstated Dr. Walker’s Medal of Honor; Walker was only one of six people who had their medals restored.

Although married, there is no evidence that she had children. She divorced her husband on the grounds of his infidelity.

After the war, Dr. Walker became a writer, lecturer,

Harriet Quimby returned to exhibition flying. On July 1, 1912, she had agreed to fly at the Third Annual Boston Aviation Meet. She took off, with William Willard, organizer of the event, as a passenger, and circled the Boston Lighthouse.

Suddenly, in view of hundreds of spectators, the twoseat plane, flying at 1,500 feet, lurched. Willard fell out and plunged to his death in the mudflats below. Moments later, the plane nosed down and Harriet Quimby also fell from the plane and was killed.

The editor added a preface

and advocated in support of women’s rights. At the time, it was illegal for women to wear men’s clothing. She was arrested many times for wearing men’s clothes, but never stopped insisting on her right to wear the clothing she felt was appropriate.

Dr. Walker tried to vote in 1871 but was turned away. She became a leading member of the early suffrage movement, arguing that women already had a constitutional right to vote. Dr. Walker never stopped pushing for women’s rights. In the exact words of the Congressional Resolution on 12 July 1862 “the award is for gallantry, and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing force or while serving with a friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict … It is awarded to only American military personnel for incredible acts of valor and selfishness..

In a presidential review of

to Miss Quimby’s now posthumous article, “In her tragic death, there is a note of pathos in the enthusiasm, energy, and prophecy for women in her article.

The New York Times, also commented on her tragic death. This Quimby woman is now the fifth woman in the world to die in an airplane accident. They were students and with the loss of Quimby it is five too many. The sport is not one for which women are physically qualified. As a rule, they lack the strength, and presence of mind, and the

the Medal of Honor In 197, after reviewing her record of valor, President Jimmy Carter said that although a civilian at the time of her valor she was restored to the Medal of Honor Roll in 1977. After a long illness, Walker died at home on February 21, 1919, at the age of eightysix. She was buried at Rural

Cemetery in Oswego, New York, in a plain funeral, with an American flag draped over her casket, and wearing a black suit instead of a dress. Her death, in 1919, came one year before the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote.

courage of aviators.

More than 110 years later, time has vindicated Harriet Quimby. Her spirits, at the time were angered by the negative and condescending editorials. If she were here today, she would smile, and rejoice, and say, “see, I told you so.”

Looking back, it is obvious that the cause of the accident and fatalities was due to Willard suddenly shifting his weight, disturbing the center of gravity and, Willard and Quimby failed to wear their seat belts.

All though Harriet Quimby’s career as a pilot lasted

only 11 months, she was nevertheless a heroine and role model for generations to follow -- even inspiring Amelia Earhart. As a late but somewhat redeeming gesture, on April 27, 1991, the U.S. Post Office issued a 50-cent air mail stamp in her honor. At the time, Harriet Quimby was a third female aviator to be honored on a postage stamp; Amelia Earhart (1963), and Blanch Scott (1980) and were the other two. Harriet Quimby is buried at Kensico Cemetery, in Valhalla, New York.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker dressed in men’s clothing, and wearing her Medal of Honor. (Photo Public Domain)