Ten Outstanding People Inducted Into Hackettstown Area Senior Hall of Fame
Ten outstanding people who have made a difference in the community were recently inducted into the Hackettstown Area Senior Hall of Fame.
A gala luncheon, hosted by Riverwalk Village at The House of The Good Shepherd retirement community in Hackettstown, was held at David’s Country Inn on May 8.
The Hackettstown Area Senior Hall of Fame recognizes senior citizens in the Northwest New Jersey region who have made a significant impact on the lives of others in the community through their volunteerism. The event – an annual celebration hosted by Riverwalk Village – is held during Older Americans Month, a time to reflect on the contributions of seniors. This year’s inductees include individuals who have been involved in a host of volunteer programs such as Habitat for Humanity, Knights of Columbus, Hackettstown Rotary Club, Heath Village, and the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Crisis Center of Warren. This year’s group also includes two married couples!
“This year’s inductees are all truly community-minded folks and have shown through their efforts that giving back is a worthwhile endeavor,” said Susan Lanza,
Executive Director of Riverwalk Village at The House of the Good Shepherd. “You really have to tip your hat to all of them as they have and continue to make a difference in the lives of those around them.”
Lanza added, “The Senior Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is comprised of a group of ten remarkable individuals who are a testament to the strength and resilience of the Greater Hackettstown community.”
This year’s inductees are:
· Willard and Frances Blaskopf: Active members of the Heath Village Community who have served the Hackettstown area in various capacities over the years, inspiring others with their dedication.
· Barbara L. Brady: An active volunteer for over 15 years, Barbara has initiated various fundraisers for women and children with the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County and is a champion for the vulnerable.
· Candy Church: A volunteer with various organizations in Allamuchy Township, including the Senior Citizens Club and Allamuchy Road Clean-Up, Candy has shown the power of community service.
· Donna and Dave Detrick: The couple has volunteered with the Warren County
Habitat for Humanity since 1998, with Donna serving on the Boards of Habitat for Humanity and the Hope in the Hills of Warren. Dave was a founding member of the Warren County Parks Foundation and served on the Warren County Board of Recreation Commissioners & Morris Canal Committee.
· Roger A. Hines Jr.: Roger has served the Our Lady of the Mountain Church community with his CCD instruction and supports youth athletics as a soccer and
softball coach. His volunteer work has been in actively serving on the Joyce Kilmer Council of the Knights of Columbus for 50 years and many years with the Sons of the American Legion.
· Mary Ann Moore: Mary Ann has worked for the Hackettstown Democratic Club and the Warren County Democrats, in addition to volunteering at the Hackettstown Health Department for 24 years.
· Nancy E. Paffendorf: A community continued on page 4
L to R: Bill & Fran Blaskopf, Candy Church, Roger Hines, Mary Ann Moore, Tarcila Sutterley, Barbara Brady, Nancy Paffendorf, Dave & Donna Detrick
Rmake patients grimace, but root canals have a good place within dentistry.
Root Canal or Implant?
Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term
fractured, or a bad story heard from a friend regarding a root canal that they had done. However, a properly done root canal can be highly successful.
If I evaluate a tooth that I feel can be fixed, I usually encourage this avenue. Nothing that we (dentists) can do for you can replace what mother nature has given to you originally. Also, keeping the tooth preserves the option for an implant when it truly becomes necessary, and the tooth must be extracted.
Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI
Quite often people will come to me requesting an implant over a root canal. They state reasons such as a previous root canal that failed, a root canaled tooth that
New Patient Special
both the implant and the root canal require “studs” or “posts.” In the case of the root canal, a “post” is oftentimes placed into the tooth. With the implant, the “implant” or “fixture” is placed into the bone. To some of you this may be obvious. However, to many patients, this is a rather confusing topic.
$149 Cleaning, Exam, Full Set of Films Regularly $362.00
Unfortunately, there are times root canals will not be advised, and the tooth must be extracted. Reasons can include: root fractures, decay that is extensive enough it renders the tooth non-restorable, teeth that have been re-treated multiple times, and the presence of concurrent periodontal (gum) disease.
One item that requires clarification is what must be done for each procedure. When you perform a root canal, you are keeping the tooth. When you perform a dental implant, the tooth is removed. Also,
Dental
dentist advises this. Just be sure to follow through with his or her recommendations once the procedure is completed, such as a crown. Remember, keeping your tooth is almost always a better option than the alternative: an extraction followed by a dental implant, bridge, or denture. Please remember, additional information regarding this, and other topics, is available on our website.
Cannot be combined with other discounts Refer to New Patient Specials on our website for details Coupon must be presented, & mentioned at time of scheduling
Expires 2/28/22 3/5/6
What I cannot advise you on is who should perform your root canal. That is between you and your dentist. Endodontists are root canal specialists: these are dentists who have continued their studies for 2 or more years beyond dental school. They have advanced training in the field of endodontics (root canals), and have well developed skills and advanced equipment. All of these will allow for a highly successful diagnosis, followed by highly skilled treatments. However, your general dentist may also have highly developed skills, knowledge, and equipment to allow for the same results.
So, in conclusion, I encourage you not to be too quick to rule out a root canal if your
About the author: Dr. Ira Goldberg has been a dentist for 28 years, and maintains an extremely well-respected practice in Succasunna, NJ. He performs general dentistry procedures, cosmetic procedures, as well as dental implant procedures. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, and a Scholar of the Dawson Academy for Complete Dentistry. He is also a lecturer in the field of implantology. For a free consultation, please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his website at www. MorrisCountyDentist.com
Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist with credentials in multiple organizations. Please visit his website
Dr. Goldberg is a leading expert on dental implants. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, which is a degree held by only 1% of dentists worldwide. Whether you require a single implant or
Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services include cleanings, check-ups, fillings, Invisalign, dentures, cosmetics, and
He and his staff enjoy the long-term relationships they build with their patients.
Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI
Annual Event Brings Representatives from Major Sports Teams and Organizations to Centenary
Centenary University hosted its 13th Annual Sports and Entertainment Management Conference presented by Enterprise Holdings on April 19 on the Hackettstown campus. A capstone project for students studying the field, the event brings professionals from major sports teams and organizations to the David and Carol Lackland Center for panel discussions, networking, and a keynote address. This year’s keynote speaker was Leslie Korkgy Valenti, small business owner, founder of Allstarz, and coach.
The panelists—many of whom are Centenary University graduates— represented a host of major sports teams in the New York and Philadelphia markets. Teams attending included the New Jersey Devils, New York Jets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Mets, New York Red Bulls, New York City Football Club, Cabras Football Club LLC, and Philadelphia Eagles. Providing a well-rounded sampling of career opportunities in the field, the event also featured representatives from organizations such as the U.S. Golf Association, East Point Sports, New York Road Runners, Atlantic East Conference, PGA of America, Fanatics, FanDuel, Legends, Jersey Sports Group, and USA Sports Group, as well as Centenary University and Warren
Hills Regional High School.
Centenary students plan the entire conference, from logistics and publicity, to ticket sales, attaining event sponsorships, and booking guest speakers. “Our students do a tremendous job each year organizing this conference,” said David Perricone, associate professor of sports management.
“It gives them real-world experience navigating the challenges of staging a largescale event. Networking with seasoned professionals—including many Centenary alumni—also shows them the broad range of jobs available in the field.”
Julia Campen, a Centenary University senior, was the student leader for this year’s conference, working with a committee of students to organize every aspect of the event. “Serving as the student leader for the conference will help me in many aspects of my career,” said Campen. “It has helped to improve my communication and leadership skills, and also challenged my problemsolving abilities. I had to figure out what to do when something went wrong. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone.”
Sponsors for this year’s event were Cinépolis, Jersey Sports Groups, Real-time Fitness, Sussex County Miners, Mama’s Café & Baci, OMG Burger & Brew, Frank’s Trattoria, and Weis Markets.
Senior Hall of Fame...
continued from front page
volunteer leader for many organizations, including the Hackettstown Rotary Club, Centenary University Alumni Association Executive Board and the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Nancy is also the recipient of Centenary University’s coveted Gold Dome Award, the highest honor that her alma mater offers.
· Tarcila Sutterley: An active resident of Riverwalk Village, Tarcila has helped systematize the library at the community, while serving previously as the Independent Living Resident Council President, she promoted ORANJ (Organization of Resident Associations in NJ) to Riverwalk Village.
“We at Riverwalk Village congratulate all of the honorees for this year’s Senior Hall of Fame,” said Lanza. “The hours of work and volunteering that these individuals have spent in service of their larger communities is proof that we all can make a difference, no matter how old we may be.”
About Riverwalk Village at The House of the Good Shepherd Riverwalk Village at The House of the Good Shepherd is a premier Life Plan Community dedicated to serving active adults for over 142 years.
As part of FellowshipLIFE, a not-for-profit organization with a vision to transform the aging experience and empower all those we serve to live their best life, Riverwalk Village at The House of the Good Shepherd is the leading destination for senior living in Hackettstown, NJ. Located on 15 acres of riverside woodlands with all the modern amenities and services you prefer, Riverwalk Village at The House of the Good Shepherd offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Assisted Living, Rehabilitation, Respite care and Wellness programs all on one campus. To learn more about Riverwalk Village at The House of the Good Shepherd visit www.fellowshiplifeinc.org.
About The Hackettstown Area Senior Hall of Fame The Hackettstown Area Senior Hall of Fame was originally established as part of the community outreach initiative at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center. From the start, honorees have been recognized for their impact on helping others. As the initiative expanded over the years, 256 members were inducted since its inception. This roster includes individuals from Warren County and adjacent parts of Hunterdon, Morris and Sussex counties.
birthday, anniversary, graduation? Email us at production@mylifepublications.com
Centenary University Student Founds Literacy Program for Incarcerated Men and Women at New Jersey’s Warren County Correctional Center
As a small child, Kayla Diee was fascinated by law and the court system. Her favorite game was playing Judge Judy, wielding a wooden spoon as a gavel to hold mock trials and mete out justice just like the television icon. Today, Diee is seeking justice in a different way: The Centenary University student has founded a literacy program for incarcerated individuals at the Warren County Correctional Center.
Called The Next Chapter Foundation, the program seeks to increase the confidence and communication skills of imprisoned people, providing them with an outlet to process their experiences and emotions. First, Diee organized a drive that collected more than 600 books to establish a recreational reading library at the prison. Then, the Wantage, NJ, resident launched a 16-week writing course for detainees, providing them with communication skills to better assimilate to life after incarceration.
“Statistics show that people who take educational courses while they’re incarcerated are over 60 percent less likely to be reincarcerated once they’re released,” explained Diee. “But beyond helping them to seek stability and find a job, I want to help people grow in confidence within themselves and learn to communicate in healthy ways.”
Diee first experienced the dynamics of incarceration through the New Jersey State Police Explorer Program, a nationally-recognized career exploration activity for teens. During a visit to an Atlantic City correctional facility
through Stockton University’s CSI program, she witnessed dire conditions, including a man whose pleas for a doctor were ignored and a maximum security prisoner whose only recreation was pacing back and forth within a small caged area. “I made direct eye contact with him, and it was just like this lightning strike moment,” Diee recalled with tears in her eyes. “I knew I needed to do something. There’s no way people can live like that, and then be expected to go and build a life with no resources to rely on. There is a really pressing need for libraries in prisons, and just humanities opportunities in general.”
When she tells people about her work at the Warren County Correctional Center they often express fear for her safety. “I completely understand,” Diee said. “But there’s a misconception that people who are incarcerated are sort of like caged tigers waiting for any opportunity to strike. That’s not true—it’s a much warmer, kinder, and gentler experience than people really anticipate. When my students collaborate, I’ve never heard ill will or criticism. They’re always amplifying each other, offering suggestions and ideas on how they can develop their writing.”
At Centenary University, Diee will earn dual degrees in English and writing, along with a minor in paralegal studies, next December. She has been involved in a host of activities on campus, including as a tutor for the Writing Collaboratory, resident assistant, copy editor of the Cyclone Chronicle, and member of Alpha Alpha Alpha, the University’s honor society for first-generation college
students. She is also editor-in-chief of Centenary’s student newspaper. In addition, Diee is a photojournalist and intern for the Prison Journalism Project, a national organization that publishes the work of incarcerated writers.
After completing her Centenary education, Diee plans to pursue a career in correctional education administration: “What I hope to give back to incarcerated people is a sense of value that leads to making healthy decisions to benefit themselves and the world around them.”
Warren County Habitat for Humanity’s Community Center Celebrates 2 Years!
For the past two years, Warren County Habitat for Humanity’s (Warren County Habitat) building at 31 Belvidere Ave in Washington has operated as a successful Community Center. Many will remember the building as a simple office space with construction needed in the back, a Habitat for Humanity thrift shop, or even as the home of the Central Warren Youth Association (CWYA) for many years. In 2009, the CWYA donated the building to Warren County Habitat for Humanity with the hopes that the organization would someday continue providing services for youth. In 2022, that dream was finally realized.
Two years and almost one thousand events later, the Warren County Habitat Community Center has grown into a lively hub bursting with activity! With an average of sixty-two events per month, from restorative yoga to high-energy kids’ parties and Zumba classes, Warren County Habitat is honored to carry on the traditions set in motion by the CWYA.
Faith Tempany, organizer of the Community Center’s monthly Toddler Time, shared that “[the Community Center and Toddler Time] have definitely been a huge impact for me and the other moms, and for
our kids. They’re building friendships, and it’s really sweet to watch! It’s [also] good for the parents…we’ve built friendships, we vent to each other and we know we’re not alone.”
During the first two weeks of April, the Community Center hosted a series of events to celebrate their Two-Year Anniversary. Beginning with free Tai-Chi/ QiGong on Thursday, April 4th, members of the community focused on centering themselves and channeling positive energy. The very next day, adults and children alike spent some time unleashing their creativity with crafts and even had surprise visits from Disco Barbie and Batman!
Two hours of free exercise classes took place that evening, beginning with a warmup from Sandy who instructs Zumba Gold, a low-impact version of regular Zumba, and moving into an hour of regular Zumba taught by instructors Camee Lee and Marina Tasevska. After participants danced their hearts out, they cooled down with a half hour of yoga from instructor Silvia Baldwin.
To round off the celebrations, there was a special lunchtime performance hosted by Kevin McCann and Steve Kirchuk, the organizers of the biweekly Open Mic Nights. Local bands and musicians such as
break being serenaded.
Warren County Habitat for Humanity is proud to serve the community of Washington Borough and beyond with programs, company and organizationrun meetings and events for all ages. To
book your next meeting or event at the Community Center, please fill out an interest form at warrenhabitat.org/cc. For more events at the Community Center, please visit warrenhabitat.org/cc/cccalendar. To support the work Warren County Habitat for Humanity is doing in your community, feel free to visit their website at www. warrenhabitat.org.
Diana Dove, Fred Romano and Avoiding Foreclosure played covers and originals as Warren County music lovers spent their lunch
Moe-Tion Dance Theater Presents IntermixA Choreography Showcase At Centenary University
Under the artistic direction of Maureen Glennon Clayton, moetion dance theater will present a new event, Intermix ~ A Choreography Showcase, as part of the Centenary Stage Company’s season at Centenary University on Saturday, June 15, 2024, 7:00pm.
This new curated showcase will feature emerging and established artists from the tri-state area; dancers, choreographers, and dance companies. Artistic Director, Maureen Glennon Clayton, created this showcase to unite the dance community to celebrate dance, movement, and creativity. Her goal is that this first showcase will be the stepping stone towards more opportunities for dancers and dance lovers alike.
Intermix ~ A Choreography Showcase will feature works by Shelby Bakota, Kaitlyn Esposito/Extensions Dance Project, Nathan Forster/ReFrame Dance Theatre, Lara M. Friedman-Kats, Kelly Guerrero, Juliana Hassouna, Heather Kroe, Mattie McGarey, Sabrina Olivieri, Nicole Smith Levay/ In Good Company and Heather Warfel. Choreographer, Andrea Kramer, will present the narrative-dance film, “The War Is Over”,
created in collaboration with Dave Lamm/ Wild Little Bird Productions.
Maureen Glennon Clayton will premiere two new works; Still Waiting, a trio signifying that women’s rights are human rights, and Walk Move Jump, a sextet made in collaboration with the dancers. This work is purely movement-based, but there is also a subtle relationship component.
The company will also perform 1,000 Vigils, a piece choreographed by guest choreographer, Lisa Peluso. This quartet, inspired by the idea of strong matriarchal women who instinctually protect, is powerful, highlighting the dancers’ physicality.
Order tickets online at www. centenarystageco.org or call Centenary Stage Company at (908) 979-0900. Ticket prices are $20.00 Adult, $15.00 Children Under 12.
Moe-tion dance theater Artistic Director, Maureen Glennon Clayton, who resides in Flemington, is a well-known dancer, choreographer, and dance educator in NJ. She holds a full-time teaching position at Somerset County Vocational and Technical
High School’s Gifted & Talented Honors Dance Program in Bridgewater, NJ. She is also co-founder of Outside the Lines, a site-specific dance series, founded with Lea Antolini-Lid, a professor at Centenary University. Maureen graduated from Montclair State University, where she earned her BFA in Dance, and County College of Morris, where she earned her continued on page 9
“moe-tion dance theater” Courtesy of Maureen Glennon Clayton (photo credit: Stephanie Gamba)
Moe-Tion Dance Theater...
continued from page 8
AS in Recreation & Leisure / Dance. In December 2022, Maureen earned her MA in Dance Education at the University of Northern Colorado. In July of 2023, she became a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT 200) and an SEL Facilitator (SEL*F) through Breathe for Change, a 200-hour Wellness, Social & Emotional Learning (SEL), and Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Her modern dance theater company, moe-tion dance theater is dedicated to experimenting and creating new forms of expression. Known for their diverse repertory, and collaborative work, they have performed at numerous festivals, showcases, and venues throughout the tri-state area. Glennon Clayton’s mission is to create an atmosphere of individualistic contribution, allowing her dancers, collaborators, and audiences to explore their own thoughts, interpretations, and ideas of the subject matter presented.
“Her approach to theater is her own, one in which she lets us participate in her life, through a collection of dance pieces… each one unique and delicious” Ruth Grauert, Journal of Art and Idea
For more information, specific
performance dates or ticket price details please visit centenarystageco.org or call the box office at 908-979–0900. The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1PM-5PM and two hours prior to every performance. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in Centenary Stage Company news and special offers.
The 2023-24 Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, the John and Margaret Post Foundation, the CSC corporate sponsors, including Platinum Season Sponsor the House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center Atlantic Health System, Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.
The Wave Set donates to New Jersey Sharing Network’s Joseph S. Roth Simulation Training Center
By Steve Sears
The Wave Set, formerly a 501 c3 nonprofit and now a partner of the NJ Sharing Network, in April donated $10,000 to the new Joseph S. Roth Simulation Center’s located at NJ Sharing Network headquarters in New Providence.
Jared Wohl of Livingston is the counder and advisor of The Wave (We Are Vital to Each Other) Set, which was begun in late 2013, right before his 65% partial liver donation to his brother Cameron in February 2014.
Wohl said, “Leading up to that point, as we were going through the process, we recognized that we really had limited experience with organ transplantation, and we felt like that was likely the case for many families being struck with that sort of situation.”
Also, when doing more research on organ donation in general, Wohl and his family learned at that time that 18 people a day were dying while waiting for a deceased person’s organ for a transplant, and that many people were being added to the waiting list every day.
“That list was growing exponentially,”
Wohl said, “but we learned that there were options for living donations, like in our case. The fact that I donated a portion of my liver to my brother, we just realized that there was this immense lack of awareness on the topic.”
In December 2013, The Wave Set launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise money for the production of a documentary describing the family’s journey through the transplant experience. The documentary, titled 65 Percent, was featured during a film festival circuit, which side-by-side with speaking engagements, further created an awareness and educated people on the importance of organ donation.
Many years later, the non-profit joined forces with New Jersey Sharing Network which is New Jersey’s largest organ procurement organization. The $10,000 donated by The Wave Set was in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Cameron’s transplant, and it also coincided with National Donate Life Month in April - as well as Jared and Cameron’s birthday (they were born on the same April day three years apart). A National Donate Life Month Flag Raising and Simulation Center
Ribbon Cutting was held on April 16 for the staff and funding partners.
Wohl, a musician with a few albums to his credit and whose background is in educational technology and sales embraced the idea of being able to educate patients and families on what that process courtesy of the Simulation Center could look like. He
said of the donation, “It was a great feeling all around. When we learned about the opportunity, my brother and I immediately said that is what we wanted to support with the funds.”
For more information, visit www. sharingnetworkfoundation.org/thewaveset.
The Wohl families present The Wave Set’s donation to the New Jersey Sharing Network’s new Joseph S. Roth Simulation Center (courtesy of the Wohl Family)
Morris County Welcomes Israeli Survivors
By Evan Wechman
The October 7th attack in Israel by Hamas has had a terrible effect on Jews all over the world. Not only did many Israelis lose loved ones, but it has fueled antisemitism both abroad and in the United States.
This tragedy has brought about significant acts of valor from Israeli natives in temples and community halls throughout the state.
This is due to the newly formed organization, The Faces of October Seventh. It was formed by Dar Halevy Feldman who was in Israel during the horrific attack. She has been mainly in Morris County the last few weeks, educating the public about her experience.
Feldman, who has been a director of Hillel at several universities in California, has seen firsthand the acts of hatred towards her community both here and in Israel.
She is not surprised by the wave of antisemitism that has been moving across college campuses.
“Antisemitism has been in the universities for a while now. All the misinformation that is occurring is not surprising,” she says.
As the leader for The Faces of October Seventh, she is hoping to educate both Jews and others about the hate they have been receiving.
“I was in Israel October 7th, and it was very scary, and October 8th was scary as well because the reaction of the world was terrible,” Feldman says. “I was worried and felt like I had to do something.”
Feldman took the initiative of forming her organization which is comprised of Israeli volunteers who have brought approximately 14 survivors of that horrible night to speak to Americans about their experience.
One of the more prominent speakers is Daniel Dvir who has spoken at dozens
of synagogues such as the Chabad of Morristown. The temple welcomed Dvir with open arms as she spoke about attending the concert with friends and then, fortunately, surviving the atrocities of that evening.
Dvir, who has lost loved ones from that night, continues to display strength, courage, and even humor to help her deal with the trauma.
She can talk about parts of her escape from Hamas which bonds her instantly to fellow Jews in America.
“While I was running in the field, my mom called me, asked me who I am with, and when I said I was alone, she starts screaming like any Jewish mom, so I hung up,” Dvir says.
However, as much as she can use humor to alleviate the pain, she is fully aware of her near-death experience.
“At some point when I was hiding in the tree for like 30 minutes, there was a moment of silence. For a full minute, the automatic gun shuts stopped. It was super weird because it hadn’t stopped since they attacked us two hours ago. I thought they killed everyone.,” Dvir says.
Such honesty has brought change for non-Jews as well. According to Feldman, after one of the receptions recently, a woman admitted her parents had raised her to hate Jewish people. She was even taught the Holocaust never happened.
However, from listening to Dvir, she said she understands the truth now and is happy she has finally been educated.
If anyone is interested in speaking, hosting a talk, or can provide much needed funds for the organization to travel the country to speak to others, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/faces-ofoctober-7th
By Henry M. Holden
OJune 16, - Father’s
n June 16th let us be thankful for the fathers we’ve had in our lives, who made positive outcomes for us and celebrate their contributions to the fathers of tomorrow.
On July 5, 1908, a West Virginia church sponsored the nation’s first event explicitly in honor of fathers. It was a Sunday sermon in memory of the 362 men who had died in an explosion at the Fairmont Coal Company mines, in Monongah. But it was a one-time commemoration and not an annual holiday.
The following year, a Spokane, Washington, woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by a widower, tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. She went to local churches, and shopkeepers to solicit support for her idea.,
The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers did not meet with the same gusto as Mother’s ’s Day–perhaps because, as one florist explained, “Fathers haven’t the same sentimental appeal that mothers have.”
Eventually Sonora was successful: Washington State celebrated the nation’s first statewide Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. However, it was not until 1972—58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. Father’s Day 2024 will occur on Sunday, June 16.
William Jackson Smart was a twicemarried, twice-widowed Civil War veteran and father of 14 children. One of his children would dedicate her life to the creation of Father’s Day in honor of her devoted and selfless father.
The idea slowly caught on and the holiday spread. In 1916, President Wilson honored the day by using telegraph signals to unfurl a flag in Spokane, when he pressed a button in Washington, D.C. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged state governments to observe Father’s Day.
Today, the day honoring fathers is celebrated in the United States on the third Sunday of June. In other countries, especially in Europe and Latin America, fathers are honored on St. Joseph’s Day, a traditional Catholic holiday that falls on March 19.
Many men, however, continued an indifference to the day. As one historian writes’ They scoffed at the holiday’s soppy attempts to domesticate manliness with flowers and gift-giving, or they derided the proliferation of such holidays as a commercial gimmick to sell more products–often paid for by the fatherf.”
During the 1920s and 1930s, a movement arose to scrap Mother’s Day and Father’s Day altogether in favor of a single holiday, Parents’ Day. Every year on Mother’s Day, pro-Parents’ Day groups rallied in New York City’s Central Park a public reminder, said
Day – A Salute to Dear Old Dad
Parents’ Day activist and radio performer Robert Spere, “that both parents should be loved and respected together.” That one day of togetherness didn’t appeal to some of the divorced or separated men, and women.
Paradoxically, however, the Great Depression derailed this effort to combine and de-commercialize the holiday. Struggling retailers and advertisers redoubled their efforts to make Father’s Day a “second Christmas” for men, promoting goods such as guns, neckties, hats, socks, pipes and tobacco, and greeting cards.
When World War II began, advertisers began to argue that celebrating Father’s Day was a way to honor American troops and support the war effort. By the end of the war, Father’s Day may not have been a federal holiday, but it had become a national institution.
In 1972, in the middle of a nasty presidential re-election campaign, Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making Father’s Day a federal holiday. Today, economists estimate that Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts.
The first official Mother’s Day services in 1909 were held at Sonora’s church in Spokane, Washington, when she had an epiphany—if mothers deserved a day in honor of their loving service, why not fathers?
When Sonora was 16, her mother Ellen died, leaving William as a single father to Sonora and her five younger brothers. And by Sonora’s account, he performed brilliantly. “I remember everything about him,” Sonora said many years later to the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “He was both father and mother to me and my brothers and sisters.”
Sonora’s mother Ellen, herself a widow, had three children from a previous marriage. On top of that, William had also been married and widowed before he met Sonora’s mother. William had five children with his first wife, Elizabeth, who were already grown when William became a widower for the second time.
In 1910, Sonora brought a petition before the Spokane Ministerial Alliance to recognize the courage and devotion of all fathers like William on June 5, her dad’s birthday. The local clergy liked the idea of a special Father’s Day service, but couldn’t pull something together so quickly. So they settled for June 19, the third Sunday in June.
On that first Father’s Day in 1910, church sermons across Spokane were dedicated to dear old dad, red and white roses were passed out in honor of living and deceased fathers. The mayor of Spokane and governor of Washington issued proclamations, and Sonora found her calling. She would spend much of the next 60 years pushing for the official recognition of Father’s Day as a national holiday.
William Jackson Smart, the original
inspiration for Father’s Day, was born in Arkansas in 1842. He enlisted as a Union soldier there in 1863. That was odd because Arkansas was a Confederate state. Spokane resident, Jerry Numbers, who owned what had been Sonora’s home, researched the Smart family history for Spokane’s Father’s Day Centennial Celebration in 2010. Numbers says that William, in fact, fought for both sides in the Civil War.
Driving a supply wagon for Confederate troops, William was captured in the Battle of Pea Ridge, a decisive Union victory in Arkansas in 1862. Rather than languish in a prisoner of war camp, he opted to join the northern cause. As indication that William was a “Reb” before he was a “Yank,” Sonora was a member of both the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of Union Veterans.
When Sonora was born in 1882, William and his second wife Ellen were living on a “coal ranch” in Jenny Lind, Arkansas. Instead of mining for coal, William and the family “farmed” it, collecting chunks of coal from the surface and carting it to town for sale. William and Ellen sold the property in 1887 for $5,000—a handsome sum at the time— and the family traveled by train to a new homestead outside of Spokane. (The farm in Arkansas would turn out to be one of the most productive coal fields in the entire nation.)
It was on the Smart’s family farm near
Creston, Washington, where William’s second wife died, and he became a widower again at the age of 56. His youngest son was seven and Sonora, his oldest child still living at home, was 16. In Sonora’s memories of this difficult time, she recalls her father as a “great home person,” a man who exemplified fatherly love and protection.
Sonora won the support of her congressmen, who began to lobby for the creation of a national holiday. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson celebrated Father’s Day in Spokane during a visit to Washington. We don’t know if William Jackson Smart was there to shake the president’s hand, but it would have been one of his last Father’s Days. William died three years later, in 1919.
Much more than a Father’s Day booster, Sonora Smart Dodd was an accomplished artist, poet, children’s book author, funeral home director, and founding member of just about every civic organization in Spokane. But she never let go of her determination to give fathers like hers the recognition they deserved.
It wasn’t until 1972, six years before Sonora’s death at the age of 96, that President Richard Nixon finally signed a Congressional resolution declaring the third Sunday in June to be Father’s Day. Sonora’s quest was challenging but had a happy ending. Her dad, no doubt, would have been proud.
3 Grilling Hacks for Delicious, Plant-Based Summer Menus
Cooking and entertaining outdoors can bring friends and family back together, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple, flavorful recipes can be easy on the home chef yet still tasty and enjoyable for those at the table.
One of the best parts of the season is grilled fare like burgers, hot dogs and fresh vegetables. This year, consider adding a plant-based option to your menu. Made with simple, recognizable ingredients, Lightlife offers vegan, non-GMO options that are made for the grill, like Plant-Based Burgers, Smart Dogs and Italian Smart Sausage. These products can help satisfy the craving for protein and are made with ingredients you can feel good about serving your friends and family.
“Food brings people together, and now more than ever, grilling season and dining al fresco is one of the best ways to do that,” said Tommy McDonald, executive chef at Greenleaf Foods. “Think of the grill as an additional seasoning element – a zero-fuss way to add miles of flavor. One of my favorite products is Lightlife’s Smart Dogs, which have been reformulated to taste better than ever. Try topping them with a freshly made onion jam or quickpickled relish.”
Consider these tips from McDonald to properly grill plant-based variations of your favorite meals:
Be mindful of cook times. Plant-based protein products typically taste best when cooked properly, usually over a low, open flame. When you’re almost ready to dish them out in recipes like Grilled Pineapple Burgers with Honey Garlic Barbecue Sauce or Avocado Toast Dogs, give them a quick sear. If you’re unsure, reference the recommended cook times on the packaging.
Keep it separate. During these seasonal celebrations, there’s often some people who want traditional meat and others who crave plant-based options. To satisfy your group, drop a cast-iron skillet on the grill and allow it to heat up. Put your favorite plant-based proteins in the skillet, along with veggies, to keep the grill organized. Top it off. Don’t skimp on the toppings. The next time you’re looking to jazz up burgers, sausages or hot dogs, make an easy DIY onion jam to spread on top. While the burgers and dogs are on the grates, prepare some extra coals; once they’ve
burned down a bit, bury foil-wrapped onions in the coals. After the onions are soft and warmed through, pull them out and enjoy a smokey onion jam.
For more simple summer recipes, visit Lightlife.com/Recipes.
Grilled Pineapple Burgers with Honey Garlic Barbecue Sauce
Total time: 30 minutes
Serving: 2
2 rings freshly cored pineapple
2 Lightlife Plant-Based Burger patties salt, to taste pepper, to taste
2 sesame seed burger buns, lightly toasted
1 cup baby arugula
1/4 cup crispy fried onions
2 tablespoons honey garlic barbecue sauce
Heat grill to medium. Grill pineapple slices 4-5 minutes per side until grillmarked and slightly caramelized. Cut slices in half and set aside. Wipe down grill.
Season burger patties with salt and pepper, to taste. To grill burgers from refrigerator, grill 4-5 minutes per side until evenly browned with internal temperature of 165 F.
To assemble burgers, layer toasted bottom buns with arugula then top each with burger patty and two slices grilled pineapple. Sprinkle with crispy fried onions and drizzle with barbecue sauce.
Top each with top bun.
Avocado Toast Dogs
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 Oil
2 medium avocados
1/2 lemon, juice only 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 Lightlife Smart Dogs
4 hot dog buns
Grilling
Hacks... continued from page 14
1/2 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning sriracha
Lightly coat grill grates with oil and preheat to medium heat.
In small bowl, mash avocados, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and rest in refrigerator.
Grill dogs 6-7 minutes, turning frequently.
While dogs are grilling, lightly toast buns.
Spread avocado mixture on one side of toasted buns. Sprinkle each with everything bagel seasoning. Add dogs and drizzle with sriracha. (Family Features)
Budd Lake Diner
By Henry M. Holden
The Whirly Girls is an international group of female licensed helicopter pilots.
In June 1987, 17-yearold Kim Darst landed a Bell JetRanger helicopter in a soccer field behind her high school in Blairstown, New Jersey. When the rotor blades stopped, she climbed from the cockpit and change her sneakers into high heels. She put on a white cap and gown, and she became the first person to fly a helicopter to her high school graduation.
In retrospect Darst recalls, “It sounded like fun,” but Darst wanted to do it the right way. “I asked for permission from my school, the town, the state police, and the FAA.” They all agreed to let me do it.”
The event came just 2 months after she had earned her private helicopter certificate.
Darst wasn’t always interested in flying. Until her junior year of high school, she had never even flown and was planning a career in marine biology. Then, on a family vacation in November 1986, she and her parents flew for 20 minutes in a JetRanger on a charter flight through the Grand Canyon. Darst sat up front, watching the pilot, fascinated by what he was doing. “I can’t tell you anything about the Grand
Whirly Girl Kim Darst Sets New Records
Canyon,” she says, beaming, “but I can tell you everything about that helicopter.”
When back on the ground, she began taking flying lessons in a Bell 47.
When she wasn’t flying, she worked as an apprentice mechanic alongside her flight instructor, Ernie Kittner. She earned her airframe and powerplant certificates that way, spending as many as 18 hours a day at the airport, and living out of a trailer.
At first, Darst didn’t realize she had been bitten by the flying bug. And all she could do was think about flying. It wasn’t long before she was busy signing the papers for her first helicopter. She found her 1957 Bell 47 near Homestead, Florida, in March 1988. Her father cosigned a loan with her on the condition that if she missed a payment, she would have to sell the helicopter.
With the deal sealed, she and Kittner flew the helicopter with Kittner aboard to give Darst a rest. It took eight fuel stops, and 17 hours in the air from Florida to her New Jersey home, following the “concrete compass” of Interstate 95. While she was enroute family members were clearing trees from the family’s 12acre trac. She also needed a fuel tank to be installed and a windsock raised. With all the details ironed out,
Kim Darst opened her flight school, and KD Helicopters, was born.
Darst has a love for the low-and-slow airplanes that goes beyond her earlier attraction to the airlines. Kiwi Airlines offered her a job as a flight engineer on the Boeing 727.
“I found out that the “big iron” didn’t have the same appeal that flying close to the ground in a helicopter or single-engine airplane does. I didn’t like the airlines like I thought I would. I thought it was the next step, but when I got there, I said, “I like general aviation better.” She gave up a career with Kiwi Airlines and turned down a job offer from the FAA so that she could continue instructing in the helicopter and five airplanes she owned.
There is no doubt Darst is having fun. One measure of her of her love of flight is her airtime. Darst stopped keeping a logbook when she logged 30,000 hours in the air. “I would have to estimate I’m at least 35,000, near 40,000 hours in the air.” That is nearly six years in the air.
She has had students for each of her instructor ratings, which include airplane, single-engine and multiengine; helicopter; gyroplane; instrument, airplane; instrument, helicopter; and glider.
When living in New Jersey she kept her Piper Cub; two Cessna Skyhawks; a Lake amphibian; and her favorite among her airplanes, a pristine blueand-white Cessna 195 she’s affectionately named Clyde.
Darst says she’s happy as an instructor, but she is also looking at her options. She wants to stay close to her general aviation roots, “flying and fixing helicopters and ‘little airplanes.’”
On a trip to Alaska to visit a friend she found another challenge when she witnessed the annual Iditarod Dog Race. “I said to myself I have to try that.”
Kim Darst drove 6,000 miles in a truck with 18 dogs to come to Alaska and realize her dream — racing in the 1,100-mile Iditarod.
“I hooked up a couple of Samoyed dogs and took them for a run. I was hooked! I started out the way I did in aviation, from the bottom up. I would race larger and larger races. I raced in the 30-mille, then 60-mile up to the 1,100-mile Race.
Darst has worked for more than 30 years to get to this point. She estimates it took about 10 years to get the money for it. The cost of just running the race at about $50,000 with dog food and entry fees and getting up to Alaska. The race has 26 check points and food bags waiting along the way and it generally takes a few days to complete the race. Driving the 12,000 miles to and from Alaska in her truck that gets 8 miles to the gallon cost a a lot, she said.
Kim Darst was born and raised in Blairstown, New Jersey. “I am a helicopter pilot by trade but a dog musher by passion. My dogs continued on page 17
Kim Darst...
continued from page 16
In 2009, Kim became the 1st New Jerseyan to race in the Iditarod. Kim is currently operating her flight school and giving dog sled rides and presentations in Shingleton, MI.
The Iditarod Race began
come from Susan Butcher’s kennel. I look forward to bringing my dogs back to their origin. Kim owns and operates a flight school on an airport named Husky Haven in NE Pennsylvania. The flight school consists of three helicopters and seven airplanes. I was the first New Jersian to qualify and enter the Iditarod. My favorite part of the race was the friends I met and the fans.”
in 1973. During the Alaskan Gold Rush in 1909, they used the Iditarod Trail route to get to snowbound areas using dogs to pull their sleds. This became a national historic trail.
The original Iditarod was established in 1967, and it was a dog race that only included a smaller portion of the trail. It was six years later
when the race was changed to include the entire trail, from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. I never truly moved to AK. I went up there and trained for Iditarod in 2009 but I found my favorite place in the world for me to be the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In my opinion it is a mini-Alaska. We get lots of snow, lots of trails, and nice and quiet. I love it there. I now own 73 dogs and run a sled dog touring business up there. I certainly never gave up aviation. I still own 3 helicopters a Bell47, my first aircraft ever that I bought back in 1988. I own a S300 helicopter that I bought back is 1995 and then of course the Jet Ranger that I bought in 2000. I reduced my airplane fleet to a Cessna 172 and it is the first airplane
Bell, 47. Photo credit Kim Darst
I ever bought so my second aircraft and I still have my J3 cub which is now on floats as I live on a lake. I never won Iditarod, but I did win other dog sled races like Stratford NH race and the High Point race.
Around 1,500 dogs start the race each year,
I sold my airport that I had in Pennsylvania, and I sold my parents properties in Blairstown as my mom just passed away a year ago,. Kim Darst is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Whirly Girls and says her hobby is water skiing.
Help Keep Lights On and Doors Open at Shelter
By Cheryl Conway
Women and children victimized by abuse have turned to Strengthen Our Sisters in Passaic County for the past 55 years, but with mounting challenges both financial and regulatory, the shelter’s mission of providing a safe sanctuary is in jeopardy.
SOS had seven houses, a day care, food pantry and thrift store but with recent hurdles was forced to close one of its main houses. A few months ago, the final closure sale of The Cathy House in Wanaque went through forcing seven of its residents to relocate to the main house in West Milford.
“The Cathy House in Wanaque needed extensive repairs after a recent storm,” says SOS Founder and Executive Director Sandra Ramos. “There was damage that we were unable to repair over the years. We also needed the money for utilities, insurance, and repairs on other houses.”
SOS got $250K for the sale of The Cathy House. The money was used to keep the other six houses afloat for now.
“It was used to pay down the mortgage of the other houses,” says Ramos.
She fears the other houses are at risk.
“I started this 55 years ago and I’ve have been struggling to take people that no one else would take,”
explains Ramos. “All monies go to directly provide the needs of the people. I don’t earn a salary and even when I did it was nominal. I was a professor and much of what I receive these days comes from that. The people that make the rules live in a different reality. They can imagine how difficult it is for those who struggle for a safe place to sleep.”
Lack of money and support, as well as state laws have become a thorn in SOS’s side.
“The state is not giving us our voucher money because we don’t have paid staff, and they asked that we make repairs (which were done),” says Ramos. “With the support of former Senator Gerald Cardinale, we were able to have volunteer staff that were board members. They also have a problem with the fact that we keep people for longer than 90 days, but they have nowhere else to go. Apartments are very expensive, those that have section 8 have a hard time finding places that are willing to accept it. There are also extensive waiting lists.”
Ramos has not given up and continues to seek support.
“Our dedication to serving our community knows no bounds, but we find ourselves at a crossroads,” says Ramos. “Without the necessary funds to cover electricity costs, we face the difficult decision of potentially having to sell our properties. However, this raises the crucial question: Where will the individuals we currently serve, and those
who will seek our assistance in the future, turn?
“I have tried to get publicity, we write grants, we received a recent $30k from ‘Metallica’, and other donors we received $10k and $20k,” says Ramos.
She is seeking people who would donate their time to make repairs on the remaining houses, as well as any monetary assistance to go toward utilities, and of course, any legal assistance.
“I need a lawyer to challenge what the state is doing, which is illegal,” claims Ramos. “They say we are the only ones taking people in wheelchairs and walkers, they don’t respond to our calls.
“I have written the Governor repeatedly,” adds Ramos. “Holly Schepisi has been helpful but I’m still waiting for her to call me back.”
Those willing to contribute to help women and children who are abused with no place to go, can send a check to P.O. Box 1089 Hewitt, NJ 07421; or contribute to GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/manage/ stop-the-shutoff-notice
Email Ramos at info@strengthenoursisters.org
SOS is a grassroots, community based, nonprofit, 177bed shelter program serving battered/homeless women and children. Its mission is dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence, poverty, and abuse by restoring balance and harmony through individual empowerment.
God Loves You More Than You Will Ever Know!
By Richard Mabey Jr.
It is when we feel defeated, down-trodden, saddened, or depressed, is just the time that we need to dig deep within ourselves, to bounce back with a greater inner strength. No matter how dismal things may look, the one thing that none of us can afford to do, is to give in to feelings of defeat and surrender. No matter how grim a situation may look, we still need to look for hope, faith and inward encouragement.
God loves you more than you will ever know. God’s love is infinite. It knows no boundaries. God’s love for you, is the love that brings the peace that passes all understanding. Hold dearly to this truth. Hold fast to the principle that the Divine One, who created the universe, deeply cares about your well being.
Since September of last year, I have been to three different cardiologists, in search of treatment for my Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I want to be very sensitive here. The three doctors that I went to, at different times, were all very sincere. I believe they were doing their very best to help me with my HCM. But the hard, cold truth is that they did not really have the specialization of working with treatments for HCM. It was not their fault. HCM affects one in 500 people. So, the average cardiologist does not come across a lot of patients with HCM.
I prayed and prayed and prayed to find a doctor who was very well versed in treating HCM. I never gave up. I focused my energies into deep prayer. I held steadfast focus. The kind of focus that a soldier might hold in heart and mind, just before facing a battle.
As if the odds were a
Yours truly with Little Izzy.
million to one, the door opened for me to be seen by a cardiologist at the University of Florida Medical Center (Shands) who specialized in treating patients with HCM. My specific classification of HCM is known as Apical HCM. It requires very, very specific treatments and prescription meds. And, yes, the meds are rather expensive.
Am I out of the woods now? Not by a long stretch. But with my new prescription meds, I have been getting less and less chest pains. I’m not as easily winded. Yes, I still do get chest pains. But they are not as frequent as they once were. And now, I can walk around the block, without getting overwhelmingly winded. I’m making some degree of progress to getting back on track.
I am convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that the door that opened to my getting treatment at UF Med Center, was the
result of deep prayers, holding steadfast faith, and persevering with a laserfocused energy on finding a path to healing.
Know this: God loves you more than you will ever know. Miracles really do happen. Prayer is the key to unlocking the doors that are holding you back. A deep belief in a miracle, coming to you in your life, is essential for supernatural events to unfold. Hold deeply to this golden truth: God loves you more than you will ever know. Pray, pray, pray and then pray even more for a miracle to come into your life. Truly, expect a miracle to come into your life!
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.
By Henry M. Holden
The
Zepplin Hindenburg, 804 feet long,
and three times the length of a Boeing 747 was powered by four 1,100-horsepower diesel engines, giving it a maximum speed of 84 miles per hour. It was the largest and fastest air vehicle at the time.
On May 3, 1937, the airship Hindenburg departed Frankford, Germany, on its second season of service to the United States. This trip was the first of the 1937 season for passenger service between Europe and the Lakehurst Naval Station (NAS). In 1936, Hindenburg had completed ten successful trips (1,002 passengers) and was so popular that they had to turn away customers.
War clouds in Europe did not seem to bother the Hindenburg’s passengers. They were paying a hefty sum in 1937 dollars, $750 round trip (the equivalent to $16,267 in today’s money). Many said it was the future of luxury air travel. The trip was made to order for executives and businessman since the trip would take at least a week on a ocean liner.
On this trip, the airship was only half full, carrying 36 passengers despite it being equipped to carry 72, but, Hindenburg was booked solid for the return trip. The passengers were among the wealthiest who had received invitations to attend the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizebeth. The airship was due to turn around in record time for its trip back across the Atlantic.
Several theories have been put forth, each seeking to explain the ignition source that led to the airship’s rapid destruction. These theories range from a spark igniting leaking hydrogen, to the presence
Celebrating 50 Years
Hindenburg: What Really Happened
of a flammable fabric covering, a puncture caused by a broken wire, the possibility of engine failure, and even the specter of internal sabotage that would add an additional layer of intrigue to this already intricate historical event.
Meanwhile, the passengers were being treated like royalty and could relax with fine wines, and food. It was almost a fantasy trip for them. They could play, sing, or listen to piano music or just sit and write postcards and letters to family.
Rumors abounded that soon the United States would be dragged into the European conflict with Hitler. Japan had invaded China, and Spain was engaged in a civil war with a proxy air force from Germany. And the isolationists were preaching to their followers in the United States.
The weather had been calm for most of the trip but that began to change as the behemoth reached Boston. Zeppelins normally took two and a half days to reach the US from Germany, moving twice as fast as an ocean liner. Although Hindenburg had taken three days because of badweather it had plenty of diesel fuel left. It could have flown further.
Out of an abundance of caution, when the rain and sporadic lightning became a threat, Captain Max Pruss changed course and headed towards lower Manhattan. The weather seemed to follow him, so he changed course and headed for the New Jersy shore.
On its flights in 1936, it had been struck by lightening several times without any damage to the airship or its passengers.
When the weather improved, Captain Pruss decided it was safe enough to head for his destination, Lakehurst.
Hindenburg was over Lakehurst at an altitude of 295 ft. when the captain ordered the mooring lines dropped from the bow (back); the starboard line was dropped first, followed by the port line.
In one of the many postmortems that took place was the claim that the port line was overtightened according to an eye witness. The line was connected to the post of the ground winch. The light rain
began to fall as the ground crew grabbed the mooring lines, which were now getting wet.
As Pruss made the final turn of the ship and aligned the mooring post with the airship, he ordered 1,100 lb. of water ballast in successive drops because the airship was stern-heavy. As these measures failed to bring the ship in trim, six men were
continued on page 22
The Hindenburg destroyed itself in 32 seconds because of the hydrogen it was using for lift.
Hindenburg...
continued from page 20
then sent to the stern, adding their weight to correct the trim of the airship.
Several other eyewitness testimonies suggested that the first flame appeared on the port side just ahead of the port fin, and was followed by flames that burned on top. Commander Rosendahl (USN), an expert on lighter than air ships testified that the flames in front of the upper fin were “mushroom-shaped.” Rosendahl was the commanding officer of the Lakehurst Naval Air Station at the time and considered an expert on rigid airships.
Others reported seeing a dim blue flame – possibly moments before the fire on top and in the back of the ship near the point where the flames first appeared. Several other eyewitness testimonies suggested that the first flame appeared on the port side just ahead of the port fin.
One witness on the starboard side reported a fire behind the rudder on that side. On board, people heard a muffled detonation and those in the front of the ship felt a shock as the port trail rope overtightened; the officers in the control gondola initially thought the shock was caused by a broken mooring line.
At 7:30 p.m., a few witnesses saw what appeared to be fabric ahead of the upper fin flutter as if gas was leaking. Others reported seeing a dim blue flame – possibly static electricity, or St. Elmo’s Fire. (St. Elmo’s fire is a weather phenomenon in which luminous plasma is created by
a corona discharge from a rod-like object such as a mast, spire, chimney or in this case a mooring line in an atmospheric electric field.)
There was a buildup of static charge from the storm on the craft, surface and frame. When the mooring rope, wet from the storm, was dropped to the ground, the frame discharged, creating an electrical difference between the frame, and covering that started the fire.
Immediately, the radio and newspapers blamed the Germans for sabotage. Others said the opposite, that the United States had sabotaged the craft. Questions arose, was it mechanical failure? Was it shot down? Was it a bomb, or sabotage?
Eighty years of research and scientific tests support the same conclusion reached by the original German and American accident investigations in 1937: It seems clear that the Hindenburg disaster was caused by an electrostatic discharge that ignited the hydrogen leak.
The Hindenburg’s cells were designed to carry helium for lift. But the United States had restrictions on its export. The Germans modified the cells for hydrogen. There is no record of inspecting the modifications.
The cause of the hydrogen leak is more of a mystery, but we know the ship experienced a leakage of hydrogen before the disaster.
The FBI found no evidence of sabotage, and no convincing theory of sabotage has ever been advanced.
It became clear during the investigation that the disaster had nothing to do with the zeppelin’s fabric covering being “highly flammable.” In fact, Hindenburg was just one of several hydrogen airships destroyed by fire because of their flammable lifting gas. The fact is that Hindenburg was destroyed in 32 seconds because a spark that triggered the hydrogen to ignite.
The spark was most likely caused by a difference in electric potential between the airship and the surrounding air: The airship was approximately 200 feet above the airfield in an electrically charged atmosphere, but the ship’s metal framework was grounded by its landing line; the difference in electric potential likely caused a spark to jump from the ship’s mooring line to the fabric covering.
The intensity of the effect, a blue or violet glow around the object, often accompanied by a hissing or buzzing sound, is proportional to the strength of the electric field and therefore noticeable to the gondola crew primarily during thunderstorms or volcanic eruptions.
Zeppelin flights didn’t end immediately with the Hindenburg disaster. But by the late 1930s passenger airplanes had greatly improved in speed, reliability, and operating cost as airplanes became increasingly popular and safe. The airships’ slow speeds, their vulnerability in stormy weather, and the difficulty of procuring steady supplies of helium soon rendered these unusual aircraft obsolete.
submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-866-482-1576 or visit dorranceinfo.com/macnet
Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-338-4807
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www.dental50plus. com/macnet #6258
DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER and 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. NO obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-866-590-5563 Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-866-518-8391
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-844-317-5246
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-465-7624 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
Safe Step. North America ’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-833-356-1954
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs!
(Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer.) Offer ends 6/30/24. Call 1-844-826-2535
DIRECTV OVER INTERNET - Get your favorite live TV, sports and local channels. 99% signal reliability! CHOICE Package, $84.99/mo for 12 months. HBO Max and Premium Channels included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-6296086
Need IRS Relief $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness Call 1-877-705-1472 Monday through Friday 7AM-5PM PST IMPORTANT! PLEASE NOTE!!! Slight change to the email address. Capitalize the KRM at the beginning of the email KRMiller1965@yahoo.com.
BUYING CLASSIC CARS, TRUCKS, SUVs **American and Foreign** Any Condition. Buying entire car collections. $$PAYING CA$H$$ Please call 717-577-8206 KRMiller1965@ yahoo.com
WANTED! MOTORCYCLES & MINI BIKES! ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC. Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Triumph, BSA, and other foreign models. $$PAYING CA$H$$ 717-5778206 KRMiller1965@yahoo.com
Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-877-327-0686 today!
Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF and find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! FREE quote: Call 1-866272-0492
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-791-1626
Want a greener lawn? TruGreen’s your go-to for a tailored lawn care plan. Act now and get 50% off your first service with a purchase of an annual plan. Call us at 1-844-634-1742 to learn more.
Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-837-7844
VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills
SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español
Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus. com/ads #6258
Attention oxygen therapy users! Discover oxygen therapy that moves with you with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. Free information kit. 1-866-477-9045
Aging Roof? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888878-9091
Water damage cleanup: A small amount of water can cause major damage to your home. Our trusted professionals dry out wet areas & repair to protect your family & your home value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809. Have zip code!
Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936
Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day!
Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189Change In Ad Copy - Wording & Phone #!
Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398
Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-479-1516
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405 Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707
Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234 Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer.) Offer ends 6/30/24. Call 1-844-501-3208
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833-399-3595 Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢/day! 1-844591-7951
MobileHelp America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call 1-888-489-3936
