Many St. Patrick’s Day Traditions are not from Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day is made special by various traditions. Everything from dyeing major cities’ rivers green to parades to enjoying green foods has become part of the pageantry of St. Patrick’s Day.
The next time you raise a green beer to your lips, you may wonder which traditions are authentically Irish and which ones were created by regions with an abundance of Irish emigrants. Surprisingly, many seemingly Irish traditions likely began elsewhere.
First parade
It would be accurate to assume that various elements associated with St. Patrick’s Day began where St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, once resided, including the first St. Patrick’s Day parade. However, some of the first parades held in St. Patrick’s honor took place in two North American cities, New York and Boston, that had high numbers of Irish immigrants. But historians say the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held in St. Augustine, Florida in 1601, a year after gunfire blasts were used to honor the saint. The parade may have been at the request of an Irish priest living there at the time.
Corned beef and cabbage
Irish immigrants living in lower Manhattan. The salted meat was boiled three times to remove some of the brine and make it palatable.
Green beer
Green beer is not an Irish custom, but an American one. The most common beer consumed in Ireland is Guinness, which is dark brown to black in color, making green dye useless in Irish pubs since it would be largely invisible in the stout.
Golf tournaments
One would not associate golf with St. Patrick’s Day unless they reside in Nome, Alaska. Golf is a popular Irish pastime, and each year the Bering Sea Ice Classic Golf Tournament takes place right around St. Patrick’s Day. Bright green golf balls are used, and breaks are factored in between holes to warm up at local bars.
Wearing green
According to The Christian Science Monitor, individuals in the United States started wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the early 1700s. They believed it “made one invisible to leprechauns.” The official color for the holiday used to be a sky blue known as “St. Patrick’s Day Blue,” established during the reign of King George III.
What would St. Patrick’s Day be without an authentic meal of corned beef and cabbage? This dish is not so authentic after all, and actually is an American innovation. Ham and cabbage was widely eaten in Ireland, but corned beef was a cheaper alternative found in America by immigrants. Therefore, corned beef became a staple of poor
In addition to these traditions, specialty items, such as coffees and shakes, also are very popular. However, most of these do not have origins on the Emerald Isle, either. Yet, no matter where traditions began, there’s no denying St. Patrick’s Day has long inspired celebration.
Local Realtor® Laura R. Bellini Recognized for Excellence in Real Estate
Laura R. Bellini, a trusted real estate expert serving the Butler/Kinnelon area since 2002, has once again been honored for her outstanding achievements. Bellini's dedication to her clients and her impressive track record have earned her recognition as the top agent at Coldwell Banker Realty Butler/Kinnelon Regional Office for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Betsey Cavagnaro, branch vice-president/broker manager, praised Bellini's professionalism and commitment to putting her clients first, making her a standout in the industry. Bellini's hard work and dedication have also placed her among the top 4% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide, a significant achievement in the real estate community.
Bellini's commitment to excellence has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Award for 2004-2005, and 2012- 2024 and the Coldwell Banker President's Circle Award 2023, and 2024. Additionally, she was the top selling agent from her office in Pequannock Township, Pompton Lakes, and Lincoln Park in 2024, highlighting her success in the local market.
"I'm honored to be recognized for my work in real estate," said Bellini. "Helping my clients achieve their goals is what drives me, and I'm grateful for their trust in me."
Bellini worked in the mortgage industry for several years, giving her real estate clients an edge when securing funding for a home purchase. Her real estate career has spanned 23 years, serving home buyers and sellers in her
hometown of Pompton Plains, in Pequannock, and in surrounding communities in Morris, Passaic and Bergen counties. Bellini has developed contacts with many professionals, including decorators, stagers, painters, plumbers and more to ensure her clients earn top dollar with zero stress. For those looking for expert guidance in buying or selling real estate in the North Jersey area, Laura R. Bellini is a name you can trust. For more information about Bellini and her services, please contact her directly at 973-650-2357.
About Coldwell Banker
Realty in New Jersey and Rockland County, N.Y. and Greater Philadelphia
Coldwell Banker Realty in New Jersey, New York and Greater Philadelphia is a leading residential real estate brokerage company with approximately 6,900 affiliated sales associates and 70 office locations. The organization serves consumers in New Jersey, Rockland and Westchester counties in New York, and Philadelphia and Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. Coldwell Banker Realty is owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE:HOUS), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States. For more information, visit ColdwellBankerHomes. com.
Where Music Meets Passion and Excellence: Play It Forward’s Influence from Town to World Stage
Play It Forward School of Music began as a vision during the onset of the COVID pandemic. Starting with virtual lessons in 2020, the school opened its physical location in 2021. Located at 410 Route 23 in Pompton Plains, it has become a place “where music meets passion and excellence.” Now in its fifth year, Play It Forward has made a lasting impact—locally, across state lines, and even internationally. The school offers violin, piano, and cello lessons and has several musical programs under the leadership of its director, Ms. Ruth Tumpalan.
Joyce Noblett, a 7th grader from Pompton Plains, was among the first violin students at Play It Forward. She values music for teaching her focus, fostering creativity, and instilling a sense of pride in mastering challenging pieces. She also enjoys the camaraderie of playing with others. Her mother has witnessed many benefits of her musical journey, including perseverance, memory development, artistic expression, and confidence. Recognized for her dedication, Joyce was honored as an Outstanding String Player Student by the Morristown Performing Arts Center in February and as an Outstanding Orchestra Member in September 2024. Ms. Ruth shares, “If there’s a person I can think of for the word ‘perseverance,’ that would be Joyce. Whether it’s stage fright or a sports-related injury, she always rises above it and keeps coming back to excel.”
Play It Forward’s impact extends far beyond Pompton Plains. Students travel from various towns in New Jersey, as well as Pennsylvania and New York, often driving over an hour for lessons. The school also offers virtual lessons for students who strongly believe in the program but live too far to attend in person. Ameenia Johnson from Florida recently passed her auditions and now plays first violin in the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach. Shray Goyal from Texas earned the “Master Musician Award” from his school. Ms. Ruth says, “I have high admiration for the students and their parents from out of state because it immediately shows dedication on their part.”
Play It Forward students have also achieved success in international competitions. American Protégé International Competition 2025 prize winners include Ewan Kim, Teruna Sakyo, Ian Chen, and Gemma Chen (violins), as well as Yushin Kim (piano). First Prize Win-
ners include Frank Jose (piano) at the Vivo International Competition 2023, Sophia Petkov (piano) at the Crescendo International Competition 2023, and Chloe Cali (violin) at the Crescendo International Competition 2025.
Chloe Cali from Pompton Plains is the youngest international competitor and first-place winner from the school at 7 years old. As a first-place winner, she had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in February. “My favorite part about music is you get to play nice musical pieces! It helps my mind relax. Getting to play at Carnegie was challenging, but very exciting because I won first place.” Chloe says. Her parents enjoy the creativity, discipline, dedication, structure, confidence, and sense of community that music brings to
We Cancel Timeshares for You
Many people believe their timeshares cannot be canceled, but they often can be. Our founder and CEO, Chuck McDowell, has successfully fought in federal court for the right to help timeshare owners — like you — out of their “binding” agreements. Whether you were misled or pressured, you may have an easy exit.
How Does the Cancellation Process Work?
• Start with a FREE consultation to discuss your needs.
• If we see that the circumstances of your agreement qualify you to exit the timeshare, you’ll be assigned a specialist to walk you through gathering documentation.
• Our Resolution Department then works quickly to have your timeshare and related fees permanently terminated.
We are able to help most timeshare owners that contact us. You could be one phone call away from complete peace of mind. Get your free information kit and see if you qualify: 866-760-0679
and finding more
in
music. Her artistry is beyond her years.” In just five years, Play It Forward has created a thriving community of dedicated musicians. “This dedication often shows in their commitment, regardless if they are in their heights or lows of their musical journey, and ultimately in their progress and accomplishments,” Ms. Ruth reflects. As students continue to grow and achieve remarkable milestones, the future of Play It Forward promises to be just as inspiring as its journey so far.
A Story of Two Letters
By Richard Mabey Jr.
y father dropped out of high school to join the United States Army Air Corps during the latter part of World War II. During my early high school years, Dad earnestly studied and received his GED. For my father, his ministry, his service to God, was through being a Scoutmaster. In the basement of the old Mabey Homestead, on Dad’s workbench was a tent-folded piece of white cardboard that Dad had written these words upon. “It is better to teach a young boy morals, than to try to rehabilitate a wayward man.”
My father believed every word of that sentence. My father did not speak the King’s English. From time to time, he used the word “ain’t.” He used double negatives in his speech. Dad was a practical man, not
pretentious at all, so very down to earth. He worked all so hard, providing home and meals for his family, in his profession as a long-distance truck driver. In many ways, my father was one of the wisest men I have ever known.
In September of 1972, I began my second year of college, studying at County College of Morris. I worked, part time, in the Frozen Food Department of the A&P. And, I served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170. I remember all so well, it was a tough time for my dear father. One single letter, almost caused Dad to leave scouting.
Mrs. Johnson (I took the liberty of changing her name) was a single mom to her only child, Tommy Johnson. Tommy had so much fun at Summer Camp, during the Summer. He
earned his Tenderfoot badge and learned a lot about the ways and wonders of the forest. Mrs. Johnson had visited Troop 170’s campsite that Summer, several times during the week. She wanted to be sure that Tommy was well taken care of.
Tommy had been awarded a Scout Campership that paid for his full week at Summer Camp. It was a program that Troop 170 had to help boys go to Summer Camp, who may not have otherwise been able to attend. While Mrs. Johnson was appreciative of her son receiving a Scout Campership, during her visits she criticized the scout leaders of 170, on how they were running things.
Long story short, in September of 1972, Mrs. Johnson wrote a long letter to the Chief Executive Scout-
ing Commissioner of the Morris and Sussex Counties Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In her letter, Mrs. Johnson pulled out all the plugs and assaulted my father with a long list of things that he was doing wrong as Scoutmaster. It wasn’t so much that Dad was doing anything wrong, but rather that Mrs. Johnson felt her son should have been better cared for. She didn’t understand that part of the purpose of a scout going to Summer Camp, so that he could learn to stand on his own two feet.
Well, Mrs. Johnson wrote a full page, in her long letter, of all the times that she heard my father use incorrect grammar. This included, Dad using double negatives in a sentence and Heaven forbid, Dad using the word “ain’t” a few times in talking with Mrs. Johnson.
The Chief Executive made a copy of Mrs. Johnson’s letter and gave it to Dad at a Round Table Scouting Edu-
cation Meeting. He told Dad that he was writing a letter to Mrs. Johnson, as I remember the Chief Scout Executive put it, “to straighten her out about a few things.”
In his letter to Mrs. Johnson, the Chief Scout Executive wrote her that in all of his many years as a professional scouter, did he ever know a Scoutmaster who was more dedicated than Dad was. In his letter, he wrote of Dad’s many scouting accomplishments, including earning the coveted District Award of Merit and the prestigious Silver Beaver, which is the highest award a volunteer scout leader can receive. The Chief Scout Executive also included Dad’s long list of his many services to his church, including being an Instructor to Protestant scouts in their God and Country Award classes.
Sadly, the Chief Scout Executive’s letter only made Mrs. Johnson madder. In the late Fall of 1972, she
the Chief Scout Executive. Regarding Mrs. Johnson’s hurtful letter, I remember Dad saying, “a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.”
Here’s the secret of the decade. There never was an official Scout Campership. Hidden behind a stack of old rags, on his workbench, Dad had three or four old peanut butter jars. He would put his loose change in these jars. Sometimes, he would put
single dollar bills in the jars.
That’s where the funding for Troop 170’s Scout Campership came from. Dad saving his pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters from his hard earned paycheck.
Now at 71, I think of Mrs. Johnson and Tommy. I don’t know whatever became of them. I do know this. Sometimes, a parent just needs to let their child stand up on his or her own two feet.
And, if they fall, let them pick themselves up and simply carry on.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail. com.
pulled little Tommy out of scouting. My father was very saddened by this woman’s decision to take her son out of scouts. Tommy was a good boy and my father saw a diamond in the rough in Tommy.
It was sometime, in the mid 1980’s that I saw Tommy in Moe’s Sweet Shop. He looked rough and tough. He was with a few of his friends. Sadly, he used swear words, in talking with his buddies. I remember that Tommy told me that he was out of work, as he puffed on his cigarette and drank his bottle of soda. I asked him what work skills he had, if I knew of anyone hiring. He simply made a joke out my question, telling me “I’m a jack of all trades and master of none.” It made me kind of sad.
I know, in my heart of hearts, that Tommy would have benefited from staying in scouts. Dad thought very highly of Tommy, despite the scathing letter that this mother wrote about Dad to
My beloved father, in his Scoutmaster’s uniform, at age 45 in April of 1973.
The Last Big Bicycle Race
By Richard Mabey Jr.
It was in late August of 1970 that I took part in the big bicycle race. It was an annual event. I am pretty sure that it was held on the last Saturday of August of every year. The race began early in the morning, about 9:00 and would carry on till about 4:00 that afternoon. The morning was filled with heat races, then after we all ate our bag lunches, would continue on with the big grand bicycle race.
The bicycle course ran throughout the wooded section of Steinhauser Mountain in Lincoln Park. This was a 23 acre mountain top, that was part of Hook Mountain. It was a tumultuous course, filled with big boulders and fallen trees to avoid and ride around. It was a true test of endurance. The entire bicycle course was at least a mile long. And, the big grand daddy finale race, required the cyclist to ride the course, four or five laps. It was by no means, a piece of cake.
In late August of 1970, I was still 16 years old and was looking forward to entering my senior year at Boonton High School. I remember that my good buddy, Stuart Steinhauser, did not participate in the race that year, but chose to take black and white photos of the race with his little box camera.
I remember that there were at least 30 boys and girls who gathered together that morning for the big race. By lunchtime the group of racers had dwindled down to about a dozen competitors, due to the morning elimination races. It was a grinding bicycle race. I remember it being tough and brutal. The bottom line is that I won the race that year. I had participated in this great bicycle race, since I was about 10 years old and now, I had finally won the race for the first time.
Despite the rush of glory that I felt for a few minutes, after the race, I remember that about 15 minutes after the race ended, it left me with such a hollow and empty feeling. Bobby Taylor (I took the liberty of changing his name) had come in second place. Bobby was about 19 years old and had just graduated from Boonton High School. Bobby and I were in Troop 170 together, although we were in different patrols, we were pretty good friends.
Bobby had just signed up to join the U. S. Army. He knew, deep in the marrow of his bones, that he was probably going to be sent to Vietnam.
Although the race was not formally organized by adults, but rather set up by a lot of the kids in the area, it was still kind of a big deal event. We all paid about a dollar entry fee and that paid for the little plaque that was awarded to the first place winner. There was just one plaque presented. There was no second place award. It was a different time, a different mind set. It was still old school, winner take all thinking.
Bobby Taylor did go to Vietnam, in selfless service to his country. He did come home to Lincoln Park. But, respectfully, he was never the same again. Something happened to Bobby while he was in Vietnam. His joyful, fun-loving, happy-go-outlook on life had dissipated from his heart.
The other day, I thought about that last great bicycle race that I was to take part in. It made me sad, reflecting upon it. Now at 71, I have a much greater wisdom than I did at 16. I deeply regret that I didn’t let Bobby Taylor win that race. All through that race, which was held nearly 55 years ago, I remember that I kept telling myself, “gotta win! Gotta win! Gotta win!”
It never occurred to me that I still had one more summer to compete. I never gave one second of consideration of what it would have meant to Bobby Taylor to win that race. It was in the late 1970’s that Bobby Taylor’s family moved out of state. I remember that when he came home from Vietnam that I would see Bobby at Moe’s Sweet Shop or in the Shop-Rite or just around town. We would talk for a few minutes. One Friday night, Bobby stopped by Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s Thorpe Hall and visited Boy Scout Troop 170. My dad was Scoutmaster. Dad was so glad to see Bobby. I think that was the last time Dad and I were ever to see him.
Now at 71, I finally realize that winning isn’t everything. Sometimes a person needs to take a step back and let a friend have their moment in the sun. Oh, if I could turn back the clock, but my time machine is broken. Some life lessons are hard learned.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ gmail.com.
Yours truly, in a photo taken shortly after my last big bicycle race.
Take a Trip to Mars this Winter at the Longo Planetarium at CCM Visit the Red Planet and Explore Comets, Asteroids and More
The Longo Planetarium at County College of Morris (CCM) is ready to launch visitors into a new, out-of-this-world experience to Mars now through April 26, 2025. With the power of Digistar 7, the world’s most advanced planetarium system now installed at CCM, the community is invited to explore the fascinating red planet Mars in the night sky in this 45-minute show. Discover the many challenges astronauts face on this voyage, the farthest ever made by humans, and how creativity, communication and collaboration are essential for deep space exploration. “Mars: The Ultimate Voyage” may be seen on select Fridays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and is best suited for adults and children ages 8 and up.
Due to the immense popularity, the planetarium’s fall semester showings, “Edge of Darkness” and “One Sky,” will continue to be offered this winter. Narrated by Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter from the Marvel Cinematic Universe), “Edge of Darkness” explores comets, asteroids and Pluto. This 45-minute show is offered on select Saturdays at 5 p.m. and is recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up. “One Sky,” a great introduction to the night sky for young children ages 6 and up, is an international collaboration of short films. This 40-minute show is offered on select Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m.
The award-winning visual journey, “Mesmerica,” bringing music by Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood, continues to be shown for adults on select dates. For more information, including trailers plus ticketing information, visit the Longo Planetarium website at www.ccm.edu/meet-ccm/longo-planetarium/. Tickets for all shows are $10 per person. Online reservations are strongly encouraged, as limited tickets will be available for cash purchase at the door. For safety reasons, all shows start promptly at the time indicated. For inclement winter weather closings, call (973) 328-5580.
The Longo Planetarium is located on CCM’s campus, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. The planetarium is located in Cohen Hall Room 207. The closest parking lot is lot 7. Follow the planetarium signs to Cohen Hall located at the center of campus. About Longo Planetarium
Notable events that make spring even more fun
Spring is widely considered a season of rejuvenation. The warmer post-winter air that is a hallmark of spring certainly adds an extra hop to the steps of millions of people each year, but a number of notable events also lend a festive feel to this beloved time of year.
• St. Patrick’s Day: Though the holiday itself occurs on one of the final days of winter, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations tend to take place throughout the month of March. Many communities host St. Patrick’s Day parades after the spring equinox, and celebrations of the patron saint of the Emerald Isle have a reputation for being especially convivial. A St. Patrick’s Day celebration at a local Irish pub featuring live music and food that would be at home on any dinner table in Ireland can mark the perfect way to close out winter and usher in spring.
• March Madness: Basketball fans get their fix and then some each March, when the 68team, single-elimination NCAA Tournament tips off. Affectionately known as March Madness, the college basketball tournament that unfolds over three weeks from mid-March to early April features its fair share of buzzer beaters, upsets and, of course, busted brackets. Regional contests ensure that just about everyone across the United States is within driving distance of the exciting, if maddening, action.
• Major League Baseball Opening Day: Another hallmark of early spring, Opening Day of the baseball season embodies the seasonal spirit of rejuvenation. Baseball fans across the globe know that every team has a chance come Opening Day, when millions of fans return to stadiums to see their favorite teams kick off the six-month campaign.
• Spring flower festivals: Spring flower festivals dot the landscape every year. Many occur between mid-March and mid-April and serve as beautiful, awe-inspiring reminders of the blooms that make spring such a colorful and enjoyable time of year.
• Kentucky Derby: The annual “Run for the Roses” is held on the first Saturday in May and attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the race track at Churchill Downs. Often referred to as “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” the Kentucky Derby serves as the first leg of the Triple Crown and inspires men to don their best seersucker suits and women to showcase their most elaborate, and typically largest, hats as they sip a mint julep and watch the thrilling race unfold.
• Memorial Day weekend: Memorial Day is an American holiday that honors and mourns United States military personnel who died while serving in the nation’s Armed Forces. Though there’s a solemnity to Memorial Day events that is not present with other notable celebrations each spring, the weekend itself also has become a time to gather with friends and family for backyard barbecues. Beachside communities also have come to see Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial beginning of summer.
There are no shortage of events each spring that serve as reminders of why this time of year is so special and enjoyable.
Since 1973, the state-of-the-art Longo Planetarium at CCM has been inspiring curiosity and bringing the universe to northern New Jersey in an immersive theater experience. The newly upgraded Digistar 7 planetarium system is dedicated to displaying thousands of stars, the planets, the Moon and beyond onto a 33-foot diameter dome. Shows are available for the public to attend; school and scout groups can be scheduled in advance. Questions may be emailed to planetariuminfo@ccm.edu.
“Mars: The Ultimate Voyage,” the newest show at the Longo Planetarium at CCM.
Make Breakfast More Manageable
ornings for many families involve hurried breakfasts and mad dashes out the door. These Egg Tot Muffins can help take that grab-and-go breakfast to the next level. High in protein and flavor, they are a good way to get rid of early morning brain fog. Plus, you can make them ahead of time so all you have to do is pop them in the microwave and enjoy on the go. Find more morning meal inspiration at Culinary.net. Egg Tot Muffins Recipe courtesy of "Cookin' Savvy" Servings: 12
36 thawed tater tots
10 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or half-and-half
1/2 cup shredded cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces salt, to taste pepper, to taste
Heat oven to 350 F.
Grease muffin tin with butter. Place three tots in each muffin hole and smash down.
In bowl, whisk eggs, cream, cheese, garlic powder, onion powder and bacon pieces. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Fill each muffin hole completely with mixture. Place cookie sheet under muffin tin to contain messes and bake 20-25 minutes.
Source: Culinary.net (Family Features)
While some St. Patrick's Day celebrations call for green beer and large gatherings, you may instead opt for a cozy evening at home with comforting foods and close friends. Whether your shamrock spirit leads cont. on page 14
Favorites... cont. from page 13
you out for a local parade or you're more of a stay-athome leprechaun, there is one tradition all can agree on: delicious Irish food.
If a quieter night cooking at home is up your alley, you're in luck. You can put a meal worthy of gold on the table with these festive Irish favorites from "Cookin' Savvy."
A hearty home-cooked meal loaded with flavor and sure to fill you with cheer, Irish Beef and Beer Pot Pie is made piping hot to warm up any St. Patrick's Day party. Full of hashbrowns, carrots, peas and beef, it's a twist on tradition served with puff pastry topping the tasty stew. A cup of your favorite stout beer, of course, will come in handy for deglazing
the skillet to ensure you enjoy every bit of beefy flavor.
Perfect for serving as a sweet complement to coffee or tea, or all on its own as a nightcap nibble, Irish Sweet Soda Bread comes together in a snap so you can let it bake while enjoying the main course. Offering an easy way to participate in the festivities, it might just become a household favorite to be savored year-round.
Make your home a St. Patrick's Day haven with these hearty recipes then discover more celebratory meal ideas from "Cookin' Savvy" by visiting Culinary. net.
Irish Beef and Beer Pot Pie Recipe courtesy of "Cookin' Savvy"
Servings: 4-6
1 pound ground beef
1 cup stout beer
3 tablespoons flour
1 can (15 ounces) tomato puree
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 cup beef broth
1 bag (28 ounces) hashbrowns with peppers and onions
1 can (14 ounces) carrots, drained
1 can (14 ounces) peas, drained salt, to taste pepper, to taste
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 egg
Heat oven to 400 F. In large skillet or Dutch
oven, brown ground beef; drain and set aside.
Over medium heat, deglaze skillet with beer and whisk in flour. After thickening, whisk in tomato puree and add Worcestershire sauce. Mix in ground beef, garlic powder and beef broth. Add hashbrowns, carrots and peas. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Place puff pastry sheet on cookie sheet. Beat egg and brush over pastry. Bake 10 minutes. Place hot puff pastry on top of beef mixture and serve.
Irish Sweet Soda Bread Recipe courtesy of "Cookin' Savvy"
Servings: 4-6
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 cups self-rising flour
1 cup currants
2 tablespoons sanding sugar (optional) coffee or tea, for serving (optional)
Heat oven to 375 F.
Mix melted butter and sugar then add buttermilk. Mix in flour and currants. Flour hands and counter.
Add sanding sugar to dough, if desired, and knead into ball.
Grease small Dutch oven or pie plate and bake 40 minutes. Serve with coffee or tea, if desired, or as a dessert.
Substitutions: Raisins can be used in place of currants.
Source: Culinary.net
(Family Features)
MON
BYOB
Show Your Love with a Special Sweet Dessert
oing above and beyond for your loved ones, whether it's a special occasion or a regular night at home, can show just how much you care. Homemade desserts like these Cheesecake Cookie Cups offer a perfect way to make a delicious treat with love. Find more dessert ideas at Culinary.net.
Cheesecake Cookie Cups
Recipe courtesy of "Cookin' Savvy" Yield: 12 cups
2 packages (16 ounces each)
chocolate chip cookie dough
Whipping Cream:
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese,
softened 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream crumbled cookies, for topping (optional) sprinkles, for topping (optional)
Heat oven to 350 F. In muffin tin, press three pieces of cookie dough into each muffin hole. Bake 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes then use shot glass and press into each hole. Let cool
another 5 minutes and place on rack to cool completely. With hand mixer, mix heavy cream and sugar until it thickens then add cream cheese and powdered sugar; cream together. Spoon into cool cookie cups.
If desired, use piping bag and pipe pretty edge around cup. Top with crumbled cookies or sprinkles, if desired.
Source: Culinary.net (Family Features)
Savory Pork Chili Fresh from the Slow Cooker
If you're hunting for a cool-weather warmup or just need a break from the kitchen, the slow cooker is a perfect tool to make dinner a breeze. This Barbecue Chili recipe from "Cookin' Savvy" offers a hearty meal that serves a crowd.
Visit Culinary.net to find more family-friendly dinner inspiration and step-by-step recipe videos.
Barbecue Chili
Recipe courtesy of "Cookin' Savvy"
Servings: 8-10
1 pork loin (2-3 pounds)
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chilies
2 cups barbecue sauce, divided
1 cup water
1 can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
2 cans (27 ounces each) chili beans
1 package chili seasoning
1 tablespoon barbecue seasoning
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder salt, to taste pepper, to taste sour cream, for serving shredded cheddar cheese, for serving corn chips, for serving
Place pork loin in slow cooker. Cover with diced tomatoes and green chilies, 1 cup barbecue sauce and water; cook on low 4-6 hours.
Cut up cooked meat and
place in Dutch oven along with juices from slow cooker. Add remaining barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, chili beans, chili seasoning, barbecue seasoning, onion powder and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Cook over medium heat 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and corn chips.
Tip: Add can of beans if serving bigger crowd.
Source: Culinary.net (Family Features)
Roberto Arcucci doesn’t want his work every day as owner of Amore Ristorante in Woodland Park to feel like a job.
Neither does his executive chef Damiano Rosella.
Both Arcucci and Rosella have a strong passion for cooking, and want the menu at Amore to reflect the flavors and food they would make back home in Italy. They wanttheir work to be fun.
So when they hosted a soft, invite-only grand reopening event at the restaurant to celebrate their menu changes, they wanted to do just that. Newly-painted walls and artwork also add to the new vision they have created, which is to create an atmosphere that’s chic, and inviting, but one that mixes older tradition with modern-day décor. Come out and experience the new Amore!
“For the dishes now, I’ll bring back the original, old recipes, but I’ll plate and present them in a different, more modern way,” Rosella said. “I love mixing food, creating a recipe, and playing with spices.”
The new menu will offer options that are similar to what is presented at a fine-dining restaurant in Italy. Some of the more Americanized pasta sauces such as a marinara or Alfredo sauce will be swapped out for sauces that aren’t as heavy and creamy for example, and water that the pasta is cooked in will be incorporated into the sauce to give it a lighter and more authentic flavor. New platings may include adding a small vegetable assortment or salad or purée onto a dish. Pastas and desserts will be made in-house. Amore will also offer wine tasting and cheese events throughout the year.
“We’re capable of offering something that you’re not going to get everywhere,” Arcucci said.
Arcucci started cooking at home with his family in Capri an island in the Tyrrhe-
Enjoy a Fine Dining Experience at Amore Ristorante
nian Sea in the Amalfi Coast, not far from the metropolitan city of Naples. Rosella is from Sicily, an island in southern Italy. Aside from cuisine, Capri is known for its beautiful beaches and rugged cliffs. Sicily too is very well-known for its food and gorgeous coastlines.
“We want people to enjoy food from the regions where we come from,” Arcucci said.
He reminisced on the night of the soft grand reopening at Amore about working in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Arcucci spent much of his time in his early 20s working in bars and local restaurants in Bermuda. He worked for MEF Enterprises in Bermuda, a restaurant group on the island with a corporate structure that serves local and international dining options, in the late 1990s before moving to the United States in 2000.
Rosella also moved to the United States in 2000, but did not know Arcucci at the time. Arcucci first worked in West Palm Beach, Fla. when he came to the United
States, and then moved to New Jersey, and eventually came to Amore in 2014, a restaurant that was once family-owned.
Rosella started cooking in his family’s kitchen in Sicily growing up. He too moved to the United States
in 2000 but didn’t started his chef career here until about 2010, working at different events and as a line cook in New York City. He was executive chef for Maestro Pizza in New York City and for the catering company White Cactus. He also participated
in the 2024 New York City Wine and Food Festival.
He starting working at Amore in 2016 in various front-of-house positions before transitioning to back-ofhouse, eventually becoming the executive chef.
Rosella calls himself
“a mix of nuances … that he transfers to his guests through his dishes,” on his personal website, damianorosella.com.
“Once I step in the kitchen, I cook with love,” he said.
By Megan Roche
MNJStarz
NJ Starz: Matthew John Bocchi
Hometown: Harding Township
“My dad came from a poor Italian immigrant family. My grandfather worked very hard to give them a life that he didn’t have. My dad had a very similar idea of giving me and my brothers a life that he never had. He made it very clear from a young age that we weren’t going to grow up spoiled kids. My dad worked hard. He had so many things going on outside of work. He was very active in our town, he was very active in our church, so there was a lot going on where he was a vital role and voice in our community,” Bocchi said.
From sports car rides and time spent with dad as the coach of his soccer and baseball teams, Bocchi grew up happy. John worked in New York City at the World Trade Center. He was often out late at night entertaining clients or attending meetings. But he would always make sure to get home to kiss his four son’s goodnight.
In the short few years that Matthew knew his dad, he never thought he’d live a day like September 11, 2001.
“I comprehended the day itself, but I didn’t understand the severity of it. I was pulled out of my classroom and my first instinct was that I was in trouble, but I didn’t know what I did. Once I got into the hallway, I saw my brother who was seven years old. They had then told us that a small plane had hit our dad’s building but they were evacuating the buildings and that our dad was safe,” Bocchi said.
After spending the day at school, Bocchi arrived home and immediately realized that something had happened to his dad.
“I saw so many cars parked in the driveway. I walked into the house with my brother and I witnessed numerous family members crying and huddled in corners. But I kept walking and I walked into the tv room and I saw the footage for the first time and that’s where it really hit me. I saw my dad’s building on fire, I saw the second plane hit the second tower, and I watched them come down. A family friend had changed the channel on the tv and on the new channel, they showed an image of someone falling to their death,” Bocchi said.
Matthew’s dad worked on the 104th floor of tower one and never returned home. In the days following the attacks, Matthew became obsessed with thinking that his father may have been one of the jumpers. He searched thousands of hours of footage, hoping that one of the grainy figures jumping out of the towers would be his father.
“It really involved me looking at the same videos over
and over, hoping that I would find something different in those videos. I’d pause these videos and try to enhance the screen shot. It was my thought that I could find someone who resembled my father,” Bocchi said.
He reached out to so many photographers and videographers who had footage from 9/11, but Bocchi never heard back.
“That research phase was my entire life. I’d get home from school, I’d look at the photos, I’d look at the videos, and I would think that I would find him. I really believed that I would find him,” Bocchi recalled.
Bocchi often found himself in conversations with his mother and family members about what happened to his father. Those conversations became too much and Bocchi found himself still obsessed with trying to find out what happened to his dad. During this same time, Bocchi was also being sexually abused by his uncle. It led Bocchi down a devastating path of drugs and alcohol abuse and multiple suicide attempts.
“It was my sophomore year at Villanova that I was introduced to OxyContin. From there on out, I was addicted to opiates. I was in and out of treatment centers for two years. I graduated from Villanova in 2014 and I got arrested in November of that same year and charged with three felonies. I was facing up to five years in state prison,” Bocchi said.
One incident changed it all.
“I got put on probation in 2015 and I was told that I needed to be sober for one year, something that I couldn’t even do for one day. My lawyer told me that I would get drug tested twice. The first drug test letter came in June. Leading up to that drug test, I couldn’t get sober. I called up a dealer and he told me about a detox mouthwash that would show the test as clean, even though I wasn’t,” Bocchi said.
In addition to the mouthwash, Bocchi purchased clean urine from a friend.
“As I sat in that waiting room waiting for the drug test, high out of my mind, I kept thinking that it wasn’t a place I belonged. I thought that I was smarter and better than the addicts that were in there with me. I get called in and my probation officer gave me the test and I realized that I left that fake urine at home,” Bocchi said.
After failing the test, his probation officer gave him one more chance to get clean. If he wasn’t clean in a month, he would go off to jail immediately.
“As I’m sitting at my mom’s house, trying to figure out what I am going to do. I rolled a joint, made a drink and sat in the backyard. I looked up at the sky and I saw this crystal clear blue sky that looked just like it did on 9/11. I
started crying and I asked my dad for a sign,” Bocchi said. That sign did indeed come and Bocchi said that he was done with drugs forever. He checked himself into a detox facility and since July 2015, Bocchi has been sober.
Since then, Bocchi has not stopped. After writing a bestselling book, Sway, about his experiences being a child of 9/11, he’s started a journey of public speaking. Bocchi speaks on topics of drugs and alcohol abuse, his experiences on September 12, 2001, and emotional trauma.
“I’ve spoken to over 100,000 kids at this point and it’s absolutely unbelievable. I’ve dedicated my life to this venture. I get paid to help people and it’s incredible. My hope is that I can walk into a school and impact one kid, one faculty member, one person, to let them know that it’s okay not to be okay,” Bocchi said.
While he’s never found out the truth of what happened to his father, Matthew knows that his father is ultimately proud of him.
“My dad didn’t get a chance, and that’s a big part of why I do what I do today. I finally stopped worrying about what happened to him inside that building and I focus on the life that he lived in such a short period of time. It took a lot to get to that point, but I got to it. My dad wanted to find his happiness in life. He was going to quit, he had a vacation day scheduled for September 12 and he didn’t get to see that vacation day. Going into finance to try and be like him, why would I want to do something that he was trying to escape? I know, more than anything, that I didn’t care what anyone thought and I followed my heart, I know that he would be proud,” Bocchi said.
To learn more about Bocchi or to order his book, visit www.matthewjohnbocchi.com
atthew John Bocchi recalls his dad John Paul Bocchi.
Danielle Fiorina Awarded the Platinum Level of the 2024 NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award
Century 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is pleased to announce that Danielle Fiorina has been awarded the NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Sales Award Platinum Level for 2024. This is Danielle’s 3rd year obtaining this award level by having an annual minimum of $20 million in sales. In prior years she had obtained 9 years of the Gold Level Award, having an annual minimum of $12 million in sales.
Danielle is also the recipient of the Century 21 President’s Producer Award, Centurion® Award, Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, and Top Office Producer for 2024.
Danielle is a member of the NJ REALTORS® Distinguished Sales Club for achieving the Circle of Excellence Sales Award for a minimum of 10 years and is also a member of the CENTURION® Honor Society.
“We are thrilled to acknowledge Danielle’s accomplishments. Her hard work and dedication to her real estate business is evidenced by the many awards Danielle has received throughout the years,” said Patricia Wojtyszyn, Broker/Owner Century 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc.
“My clients always come first. Understanding their personal goals and needs is at the heart of my real estate business, and I believe it is the foundation for an effective client/realtor relationship. I am very grateful to my clients for putting their trust in me and thrilled to be acknowledged by NJ REALTORS® for this distinguished award.” says Fiorina.
Danielle Fiorina has built her reputation on professionalism and honesty. As a former business owner and accountant/controller, she is very innovative and promotes
her client’s needs to successfully reach their goal. Fiorina has been a professional realtor and top producer in the industry since 2006 and provides one-on-one personal expertise to each and every client from start to finish.
When you choose Danielle, you work directly, and only with Danielle. Call Danielle to put her experience to work for you and for all your real estate needs. Danielle can be reached at 973-460-4352.
Century 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. has serviced the Northern New Jersey area since 1981, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. has enjoyed a fine reputation specializing in residential, commercial and rental properties. CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is an award-winning, full service real estate agency. They are an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the iconic brand and franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, comprised of 10,000 franchised broker offices in 83 countries and territories worldwide with more than 125,000 independent sales professionals. The Century 21® System provides brand marks, marketing, communications and innovative technology solutions that help enable its franchisees and their independent agents to attract and engage prospects, nurture customers, and deliver a positive real estate transaction experience.
CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate Announces NJ Realtors® 2024 Circle of Excellence Award® Winners
February 18, 2025 -- CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate is pleased to announce that eight of its agents have achieved the NJ Realtors® 2024 Circle of Excellence Award®. These awards recognize the top producing agents in New Jersey. To earn the award, recipients must achieve designated sales levels and be in good standing.
NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence® Award (COE) Platinum Level achievers ($20 million and 30 units minimum or 125 units sold) are:
Danielle Fiorina: For 2024, Danielle has achieved the NJR Circle of Excellence® Platinum Level Award, CENTURY 21® CENTURION® Award, and President’s Producer Award. In addition, Danielle has been a Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award recipient for 13 consecutive years, 2012-2024. She has received the NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence® Award 2006-2024. She is a member of the CENTURION® Honor Society and the NJ REALTORS® Distinguished Sales Club. Fiorina is consistently honored for her Sales achievements, and also has been named CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate’s Agent of the Year for 2024. NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence® Award (COE) Silver Level achievers ($6.5 million and 20 units minimum or 70 units sold) are:
Colleen A. McMahon: Colleen has been awarded the NJR® Circle of Excellence® Award over 26 times during her 31-year career at CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate. Colleen’s 2024 achievements include NJR® Circle of Excellence® Silver Level Award, CENTURY 21® Masters Emerald Award and the Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award for commitment to Quality Service and Productivity. She is a member of the CENTURION® HONOR SOCIETY and NJ REALTORS® Distinguished Sales Club. McMahon has been named CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate’s #2 Agent of the Year for 2024.
Tere Episale: Tere has achieved the 2024 Bronze Level Circle of Excellence® Award for New Jersey Realtors® and is celebrating 37 years with CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate. She has been awarded the Circle of Excellence® Award 36 times since 1987 and has been named a NJR® Distinguished Sales Club “Lifetime” Award winner. Episale has also been awarded the CENTURY 21® Masters Ruby Award for 2024, and has achieved many Master Level and CENTURY 21® CENTURION® awards throughout her career.
Bronze Level COE recognition ($2.5 million and 15 units minimum or 30 units sold) was awarded to:
Regina “Gina” Petry: For 2024, Gina has achieved the Bronze Level Circle of Excellence® Award for New Jersey Realtors®. An agent with CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate for 16 years, Gina is honored yearly for her commitment and dedication to her clients and her productivity.
Marie Episale: Broker/Sales Manager Marie Episale has been awarded NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence® Awards since 1989 and has been named a NJR® Distinguished Sales Club Award winner. She has received CENTURY 21® Quality Service Pinnacle Producer, Presidents Award and CENTURION® Award many times over the course of her career at CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate.
Thomas Maggio: For 2024, Tom has achieved the Bronze Level Circle of Excellence® Award for New Jersey Realtors®. Since joining the CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate family in 1998, Tom has worked diligently in honing his craft as a Rental Specialist. He loves working hard for each and every client, and is eager to always go the extra mile.
John Tierney: Besides multiple Circle of Excellence® and Customer Service Awards over his ten-year association with Century 21® Crest Real Estate, John has achieved many NAR Designations and Certifications. As a Military Relocation Specialist, Pricing Strategy Advisor, Certified Real Estate Probation Specialist, Accredited Buyers Representative, Seller Representative Specialist, Senior Real Estate Specialist, and Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource, John can assist you in any real estate situation.
Nicole Ruggiero: Broker/Sales Associate Nicole Ruggiero has achieved the Bronze Level Circle of Excellence® Sales Award for 2024. In addition, she has received the CENTURY 21® designation of Quality Service Producer. Nicole utilizes her expertise as a Luxury Specialist with a very hands-on approach, ensuring her clients needs and expectations are always exceeded.
"At CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate, we are pleased to commend our agents who were named NJ Realtors® 2024 Circle of Excellence Award® winners. I am so very proud of my agents not only for their production, but most of all, for their dedication to superior customer service,” says said Patricia R. Wojtyszyn, CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate Broker/ Owner, adding, “I applaud their efforts in 2024, and look forward to helping them achieve their sales goals in 2025.”
Servicing the Northern New Jersey area since 1981, CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate, Inc. enjoys a fine reputation specializing in residential, commercial and rental properties. CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate, Inc. is an award-winning, full service real estate agency located at 142 Professional Center on Route 23 North in Pompton Plains. Members of CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate's award-winning sales team can be reached at (973) 686-1500.
About CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate Experience matters, in business for 44 years.
CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of Century 21® Real Estate LLC (century21.com), franchisor of the iconic CENTURY 21® brand. Century 21® Real Estate LLC is comprised of approximately 14,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 85 countries and territories worldwide with about 150,000 independent sales professionals. Century 21® Real Estate has numerous websites to help answer specific consumer needs. They are century21.com, commercial.century21.com, century21global.com, century21.com/finehomes, and century21espanol.com.
According to the Zillow Home Value Index, the median value of homes in the United States increased dramatically between 2019 and 2024. Data from the online real estate listing service indicates the median value of a home in the U.S. in August 2019 was $243,386. Just half a decade later, that value had risen to $361,282, marking a 67 percent increase in median home value over that time. Housing prices have experienced an even greater uptick in Canada, where data from the Canadian Real Estate Association indicates that the average selling price of homes sold in August 2024 was $717,800 CAD ($529,427.75 USD), a roughly 73 percent increase since August 2019, when the average homes sold in Canada went for $522,700 ($385,527.84 USD). The spike in housing costs has greatly outpaced inflation. In fact, according to a 2024 report from the real estate data firm Clever, if home prices had increased at the same rate as inflation since 1963, the median price of a home in the U.S. would be $177,511, which is less than half the median value reported by Zillow in August 2024.
Barbara Pagella Achieves Top Honors for 2024 at Coldwell Banker Realty Kinnelon/Butler Office
Coldwell Banker Realty is proud to announce that Barbara Pagella, a perennial top agent, has been recognized as the No. 1 sales associate at the company’s Kinnelon/Butler office for 2024. Pagella achieved this distinction based on her outstanding performance in adjusted gross commission income and total units sold. Her exceptional achievements have also earned her the prestigious Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle Award, placing her among the top 4% of 96,000 Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. Additionally, Pagella was honored with the NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Sales Award at the Gold Level for 2024.
Betsey Cavagnaro, branch manager of the Coldwell Banker Realty Kinnelon/Butler office, congratulated Pagella on her remarkable year, stating, “Barbara’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to her clients have set a new standard for excellence in our office. Her accomplishments in 2024 are truly outstanding, and we are incredibly proud to have her as part of our team.”
Pagella's extensive experience spans luxury real estate, property management, new construction, development, and renovation projects, positioning her as a trusted expert for homeowners and investors alike. Pagella has earned the A-REO, Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), e-PRO marketing professional, Million Dollar Guild (MDG), Real Estate Owned Specialist (REOS), and Short Sales Foreclosure Resource (SFR) designations. She is a Certified Luxury
Home Marketing Specialist™ (CLHMS™), having completed specialized training in serving affluent clients as well as demonstrating great success in the upper-tier real estate market.
"Luxury real estate requires an elevated approach, and my commitment is to deliver unparalleled expertise and results for all my clients," said Pagella. She is a Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialist, an exclusive group within the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® program that makes up approximately 10% of independent sales associates affiliated with the brand worldwide. Luxury Property Specialists have been certified through one of real estate’s most rigorous luxury training programs to ensure that they consistently deliver extraordinary representation no matter where their clients are in the world. Coldwell Banker affiliated agents conducted 42,638 transaction sides of homes priced at $1 million or more in 2024. This equates to $240 million in daily luxury sales with an average sales price of $1.95 million in this category.
For more information about the local real estate market or to work with Barbara Pagella, call (973) 418-3516 or email bpagellarealtor@gmail.com.
About Coldwell Banker Realty
Coldwell Banker Realty in New Jersey and Rockland County, New York is a leading residential real estate brokerage company with approximately 6,900 affiliated sales associates and 70 office locations. Coldwell Banker Realty is owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE:HOUS), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States. For more information, visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com.
How to navigate a costly real estate market
Real estate has long been touted as a worthy investment. Home values historically appreciate over time, making real estate a desirable investment opportunity and one that simultaneously fulfills an investor’s need for a place to live. That sounds like a win-win for those with the means of purchasing a home. But in recent years, many people have found themselves priced out of the real estate market due to a number of variables beyond their control.
It’s no secret that home prices have been on the rise in recent years. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median sale price for a home in the United States reached $419,300 in May 2024. Such high prices, coupled with decreasing yet still high interest rates, has made homeownership as expensive as ever and left many aspiring home buyers to wonder what they can do as they seek to buy a property to call their own. Though there’s no foolproof way to navigate the current real estate market to a satisfying end, the following are some strategies buyers can consider as they begin searching for a home.
• Be patient. Patience is a virtue prospective home buyers will need to embrace. The NAR reported a 3.7-month supply of housing inventory in May, which is low and suggestive of a seller’s market. Buyers confronting a low inventory market must remain patient if they hope to find a house that checks all their boxes. Such a house may not be on the current market, and might not be for some time. But forecasters predict the interest rate reduction announced by the Federal Reserve in September will lead to a higher inventory, even if real estate sales tend to be lower in winter than spring and summer. As indicators like lower interest rates gradually point to a higher inventory, buyers may benefit by remaining patient.
• Be ready to pounce. Of course, a market characterized by limited inventory is typically competitive, and the real estate market in recent years has certainly played out that way. Real estate markets can vary considerably, even within the same country, but an analysis from the New Jersey Real Estate Network indicated the average time homes in the Garden State were on the market decreased from 39 days in 2023 to 35 days in 2024. Patience is important when buying a home, as buyers don’t want to act too fast and then end up living in a home they don’t like. But it’s equally important that buyers be ready to pounce if they see a property they like. Limited inventory means sellers are likely to receive multiple offers, and hesitancy on the part of buyers could prevent them from finding a new home.
• Line up your finances. Mortgage preapproval and a solid nest egg have long been vital when buying a home, and that remains true in the current market. The competitive nature of the current market might make mortgage
preapproval more important than ever. A preapproval indicates to sellers that a buyer has already arranged financing and been approved to purchase a home for the amount of their offer. Buyers without a preapproval might be seen as more risky to sellers, some of whom may want to sell their homes as quickly as possible. Sellers in a competitive market may feel they need not wait around for a buyer to be approved, so it’s best to line up finances before beginning a home search. Lining up finances includes building a substantial nest egg that demonstrates an ability to make a sizable down payment as part of your offer.
The real estate market has been tough on buyers in recent years. A successful navigation of the current market may require some patience, a readiness to pounce and some conventional financial wisdom.
Home renovations are wildly popular, and that popularity can be traced to a number of factors. Some homeowners renovate their homes with their own comfort in mind, while others do so to improve the resale value of the property. For those in the latter group, a recognition of renovations that yield the highest return on investment may help them decide which projects to pursue. According to the housing market research and analytics firm Zonda Media, a garage door replacement offered the highest return on investment in the American real estate market in 2024, earning a whopping 194 percent return on homeowners’ initial investment. An entry door replacement with steel door offered the second best ROI at 188 percent of homeowners’ initial investment, while replacing siding with stone veneer was third on the list with an average ROI of 153 percent.
Rabbi Moshe Herson, 90, Built Chabad of NJ From the Ground Up Pioneering dean of the Rabbinical College of America and head of Chabad in NJ
By Tzali Reicher
Rabbi Moshe Herson, the regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch of New Jersey, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, after a lengthy illness. He was 90 years old. His passing follows that of his wife, Pearl, who passed away last month at 85. Herson transformed New Jersey’s Jewish landscape over six decades of leadership and was a pioneering force in establishing Chabad-Lubavitch’s large presence across the Garden State. As dean of the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, N.J., Herson built what is now one of the Jewish world’s flagship educational institutions, ordaining dozens of rabbis each year while overseeing the growth of more than 70 Chabad centers throughout New Jersey.
A trusted and devoted emissary of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, Herson was appointed by the Rebbe to serve on the board of Agudas Chassidei Chabad—the umbrella organization of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement— and played a pivotal role in advancing the Rebbe’s vision of Jewish outreach.
Though he spoke with a distinctive accent that betrayed his Brazilian origins, Herson
became one of American Judaism’s most effective institution builders in the second half of the 20th century. He was respected by students and supporters alike, and even in his final years, despite serious health challenges, he continued working until the end.
‘A Doctor of Divinity’
Moshe Herson was born to Asher and Hinda Herson in 1934 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the youngest of four siblings. The Hersons were a traditional, non-Chassidic Jewish family. Asher passed away in 1939, leaving behind his young family.
As a boy, Herson harbored dreams of becoming a doctor. That was until he met Chabad-Lubavitch’s “Globetrotting Ambassador” Rabbi Yosef Wineberg, who visited Brazil to raise funds for Chabad. After visiting his school class, Wineberg struck up a relationship with the young man and encouraged him to go attend a yeshivah. Too polite to decline a rabbi, Herson accepted Wineberg’s offer to help with the paperwork to apply for a student visa to the U.S.
Although initially reluctant, Herson became drawn to the idea of leaving home for yeshivah, and after finally receiving his mother’s blessing, he made the trip in 1950,
arriving to study at the Central Chabad Yeshiva at 770 Eastern Parkway, just months after the passing of the Sixth Rebbe.
At first, Herson was a fish out of water, and found the transition to full-time yeshivah studies difficult. But despite the challenges, Herson quickly began to love the environment. He was deeply impacted by the short glimpses he had of the Rebbe in that year; particularly inspired by how the Rebbe prayed. When he was battling homesickness, he sought the counsel of the Rebbe, who gave him advice and a listening ear.
“I came to become a doctor, but instead I became a doctor of divinity,” he loved to joke about what was supposed to be a short trip that became a lifetime of devotion.
Herson was in 770 Eastern Parkway in 1951 when the Rebbe accepted the mantle of leadership for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, charging his audience with the mission to share Judaism with the world and hasten the coming of Moshiach. The Rebbe’s secretariat charged Herson, when he was just 19, with the responsibility of translating the many Portuguese and Spanish language letters the Rebbe received from South and Central America, a sensitive role that showed
the Rebbe had a high degree of trust for Herson’s effectiveness and discretion.
In 1960, while still a student in 770, Herson was recruited to join the staff of the Chabad yeshivah in Newark, N.J., along with Rabbi Yisroel Friedman. Friedman would teach the Talmud classes and Herson would teach Chassidic texts. After the first year,
Rabbi Moshe Herson, dean of the Rabbinical College of America and head of Chabad in New Jersey, passed away at the age of 90. Shmulie Grossbaum
Herson noticed the need for increased focus on securing funding for the yeshivah and planned to vacate his teaching position to do so. When the Rebbe heard of this, he told him that he should direct “both the material aspects as well as the spiritual.”
Two years later, Herson was introduced to Pearl Glotzer. The couple married the day after Purim, settling in Newark to continue growing the school.
From Newark Outwards
Although already involved in the community for a few years, it wasn’t until 1965 when Herson officially assumed the role as the Rebbe’s emissary to New Jersey. As each new establishment opened in the state under his leadership, Herson would worry about it personally, think about and was deeply involved with.
“The Rebbe didn’t see the difference between if the person he was speaking to was a scion of a Chabad family or a ‘fresh’ Chassid,” Herson said in an interview with the Kfar Chabad magazine in 2020. “He cared what the person was accomplishing. Any other matter was secondary, irrelevant.”
“I am a good example of this,” he continued. “I did not grow up in a Chabad home. I have no familial connection to Chabad. … Regardless, the Rebbe ‘took’ me and turned
me into a shliach of his. The Rebbe literally ‘built’ me, shaped my personality.”
After a number of years, it was clear that the yeshivah had outgrown its home in Newark and needed to relocate. By then, Herson had cultivated warm relationships with leading community members and had set up a board to support Chabad of New Jersey’s activities.
On a Sunday in 1970, the board gathered in 770 for a special meeting with the Rebbe. The Rebbe was encouraged by their proposal to move the yeshivah, noting that young people need space to breathe and move around, and perhaps even have access to a swimming pool. Originally thinking of upgrading the school from a one-bedroom property to a slightly larger six-family unit, the board understood that the Rebbe was encouraging them to think bigger.
After looking at a repurposed bank in West Orange, they found an old monastery located on a large 14-acre property, complete with sports facilities, outside of Morristown. In 1971, the yeshivah moved and has been there to this day. In March of 2024, Herson was there to see the unveiling of a $9 million expansion to the campus.
Giving a blessing ahead of the grand opening, the Rebbe wrote to Herson: “Hash-
em should grant you abundant success in this institution, and in the institutions which you have begun building around it.” Herson understood that the yeshiva was to be the beacon around which the other Chabad institutions in New Jersey were to rise to make Judaism accessible in the state.
It was time for Chabad-Lubavitch to begin building in New Jersey.
Building Chabad of New Jersey
Recognizing the vast number of underserved Jewish people throughout the state, Herson began building Chabad outposts to serve them. He began in Bergen County, recognizing the burgeoning Jewish population in the area, and recruited dedicated emissaries to serve as the heart of each community. These emissaries—inspired by the Rebbe’s unwavering mission and Jewish outreach and Herson’s dedication to that goal—eagerly embraced the challenge of building vibrant Jewish lives in their respective locales.
From Bergen County—recognizing the unique needs of the growing Jewish student population at Rutgers University—emissaries were sent to the campus, creating a warm and welcoming haven for Jewish students seeking a sense of community, religious observance, and meaningful Jewish experiences, and from there, to the entire state.
Herson’s unwavering leadership and strategic planning led to the establishment of dozens Chabad centers throughout the vast expanse of New Jersey, reaching even the most remote corners of the state. He was always a guiding light and pillar of support for the emissaries under his purview, providing them with resources, mentorship and encouragement to thrive in their respective communities and fulfill their vital mission of bringing Judaism to life for every Jew in New Jersey.
Running the Rabbinical College of America and Chabad of New Jersey necessitated a significant amount of fundraising, and major Jewish philanthropists, including the Wilf, Kushner and Lauder families, became supporters of Chabad of New Jersey. There was something about this magnetic rabbi with the funny accent that attracted these donors to the authenticity of his mission. He was direct—yet unfailingly genteel—and completely sincere when he asked for their support. Perhaps it was his obvious sense of purpose and devotion to the mission entrusted to him by the Rebbe that drew people towards him.
David Chase was Herson’s most significant partner in building the Rabbinical Colcont. on page 28
Rabbi Moshe...
cont. from page 27
lege of America and served on its board, eventually developing an unusually warm and personal relationship with the Rebbe. He was at the initial meeting when the Rebbe suggested that they look for a place with significant space for the students and enthusiastically declared the Rebbe had removed all limitations, allowing them to think far beyond their original plans for growth. Based in Connecticut, Chase met Herson in the 1960s when the yeshivah was still located in Newark, where his in-laws lived. Herson was looking for financial support, and impressed by his selflessness, Chase began assisting him, developing a lifelong bond that Herson described as brotherhood.
As part of his mission of outreach and growth, Herson built warm relationships with the leaders and state representatives from New Jersey, beginning with Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who represented New Jersey in the Senate for five terms, and more recently, had a close relationship with Gov. Phil Murphy, the current governor of the state. His state connections came in handy during the battles over public menorahs in the 1980s, when a friend in the state senate advocated for their approval due to his friendship with the magnetic and persuasive rabbi. As part of his work representing the Chabad movement, Herson also met with all the presidents from President Gerald Ford through President Donald Trump.
Today, there are 72 Chabad centres in New Jersey. The Rabbinical College of America in Morristown serves as the headquarters for Chabad of New Jersey and maintains a thriving campus. Its educational ecosystem includes rabbinical students pursuing ordination, the main Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva, Yeshivas Tiferes Bachurim for those newer to religious
study, and more than 250 elementary- and middle-school students. Thousands have passed through since it opened its doors, and gone on to serve communities throughout the world.
During the summer, hundreds of young students flock to the campus for the Yeshiva Summer Program (YSP). Herson was also proud of a recent groundbreaking mental health initiative launched by Chabad of New Jersey.
In recent years, although Herson battled a series of health challenges, he remained remarkably sharp and alert, coming to work in his office to direct Chabad of New Jersey and the Rabbinical College of America until two weeks before his passing. At a moving celebration marking his 90th birthday in the summer of 2024, he was recognized by his latest generation of students for his years of dedication and remarkable service, and a new edition of the Tanya was printed in his honor.
Predeceased by his wife, Pearl, a little more than three weeks ago, Herson is survived by their children: Rabbi Asher Herson (Rockaway, N.J.); Sara Brafman (Morristown, N.J.); Rabbi Mendy Herson (Basking Ridge, N.J.); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
By Steve Sears
WBob Nulman Lovingly Remembers his Son, and Fights to Defeat Impaired Driving
ayne resident, Bob Nulman, speaks about his son, Danny. Nulman said, “Danny was a Communications major. He maybe had a career in broadcasting. That was what he was looking towards, but never really got a chance. Who knows what his future would have held? He was very popular, very funny, smart, and like a young blossom, a young little bud ready to burst forth. And then he was snuffed out, like it was an early frost.”
On October 11, 1987, Danny Nulman, a 22-year-old senior at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey), and four of his college friends were all tragically killed when a 20-year-old woman, impaired by alcohol and drugs, was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 95 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania and crashed into their car. The woman was also killed.
Nulman said, “It was a terrible, terrible crash - one of those crash aftermaths, where you look at just a jumbled pile of metal. It was just so terrible, and so avoidable.”
In early December 2024, during National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, Moth-
ers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) joined forces with liquor manufacturer, Diageo, the National Football League, and Uber Technologies, Inc. and unveiled the “Take a Minute. Make a Plan.” campaign. With drinking much expected on Super Bowl Sunday which would place safe driving in peril, the lifesaving initiative urged football fans to spend just 60 seconds arranging a safe ride home - and perhaps save countless lives as well.
Nulman, who is the National Ambassador for MADD and has been volunteering with them for 37 years, applauds the campaign.
“It is in everybody’s best interest for there to be safe celebrations,” he said. “Whether it is a holiday, whether it’s a major celebration like a Super Bowl, or anything else, it is in everybody’s best interest to avoid these kinds of tragedies that we see. Thank goodness that we are all teaming up here to try to make a difference.”
Nulman took his sorrow and turned it into positive energy to fight the battle against impaired driving.
He said, “I tell people it is my therapy, too, because it helps me get through the night that I am doing something in Danny’s
name. Not just to keep his memory alive, but to say, ‘Look at the good that we have done.’ My team is me, it is Danny, of course, and my daughter.”
Nulman, who along with his daughter, Kim, both volunteer for MADD’s National Victim Helpline, said. “There are people out there - like me who, still, after 38 years –are trying to recover from a tragic loss. I am not just a statistic. I am a bereaved parent. I could be the the guy who lives next door to you, and I want to help you to not have to go through the tragedy that I went through. We are still fighting the battle. We are not going to give up. We are making progress, and we cannot slow down.”
Nulman also applauds the HALT Drunk Driving Act (https://madd.org/haltact/), which was signed into law in November 2021.
He said, “Hopefully by 2026, the HALT Drunk Driving Act will be ready to go as soon as the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) promulgates the rules. It means that every new car that is manufactured will have a passive kind of detection system, a system that will detect the driver’s
biometrics. Whether there is alcohol in your system or on your breath, it will not let you start the car until it detects a driver that is not impaired. We are relying on technology.”
Nulman then paused, and said, “I think every day of Danny in my mind’s eye, looking down and saying, ‘Hey, old man, you are doing a good job. Thank you for doing it my memory.”
Bob Nulman (courtesy of MADD)
Main Street Antique Center SPECIALIZING
NJ Starz: Holly Paul Hometown: Landing
By Evan Wechman
Though being at the top of one’s sport usually brings widespread attention, skeet shooting is not yet on par with professional football or baseball. However, to be one of the best in this activity requires persistence and dedication. Holly Paul of Landing, NJ has been perfecting her craft for nearly four decades and has reached the top level of skeet shooting.
She is a New Jersey Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame inductee and a National Hall of Fame inductee. Skeet shooting is a recreational and competitive activity whose participants use shotguns to attempt to break clay targets which are mechanically flung into the air at high speed and a variety of angles.
Paul who has been participating in this activity since becoming an adult fondly remembers how she got started.
“I had always been interested in outdoor sports and things like that, but the way I was kind of brought up, girls didn’t do that kind of thing, so it wasn’t until after I got out of college that a friend of mine that I was working with invited me to go to South Jersey, where there’s a bunch of what they call gravel pits and I was really good at it there, right out of the gate, so they took me to the skeet field, and then I kind of got the bug, and it just started from there. So, I started when I was about 20, and still do it to this day,” Paul said.
Paul who was active in sports as a child, especially horseback riding, loved that there was nothing arbitrary about who won or not in skeet shooting. This was very appealing to her since competing in equestrian competitions was highly subjective, where victory was often based solely on the whims of the judges.
“What I like most about it is yes, it’s a competition, but it’s more of what I call a self-competition. There’s no judges, there’s no umpires, or something like that. So basically, no matter how you do it, if you hit the target, they can’t take that away from you,” she said.
Paul’s success is unique also because she is a woman in a male-dominated sport. There are more than twice the number of male competitors than their female counterparts in both New Jersey and throughout
the country. However, this has not deterred Paul but has inspired her to improve her repertoire of skills and try to be the best skeet shooter she can be.
For instance, she only competes against other women in competitive events, which is what the rules of the sport dictate. However, since there is a limited number of females to compete against, she has traveled out of New Jersey to various parts of the country to compete against all the best women’s skeet shooters.
As a result, she has proven time and again, she is a formidable competitor as she has won countless titles.
For instance, she has shot at some events, 400x400, which means that out of 400 attempts, she successfully hit the target 400 times during a weekend competition. This is a rare feat that no other woman in New Jersey has ever done.
Paul loves competing and doesn’t feel that being a female is a limitation.
“I feel that it’s just, it’s male-dominated because females don’t partake in it. But it doesn’t take extra strength or anything like that to excel in the sport. So, I kind of thought it was pretty even, you know, if you put in the hard work and learn the sport, you can have success,” Paul said.
Paul has also worked as a teacher to other aspiring female competitors and loves watching the growth of her students. In addition, when male shooters show up to a skeet shooting field with their wives or girlfriends who have never participated in the activity, Paul is one of the first to greet them and lend a helping hand. She enjoys teaching and taking them under her wing as they learn the ropes.
According to the hall of fame skeet shooter, this draws her and other participants closer to the activity. She said that regardless of your experience level, there are always people willing to teach you the ins and outs of the sport. Paul finds this camaraderie unique, and a beautiful part of the sport.
Paul is quick to point out that she is concerned with negative perceptions coming from people unfamiliar with skeet shooting since guns are involved. According to her, the participants are a big family, and
cont. from page 30
they are concerned about everyone’s safety. Therefore, gun safety is always stressed, and there is much instruction at the events between those experienced in shooting and those who are novices.
“I don’t want anyone to have negative connotations, because it is a shotgun sport. But I would say pretty much 99.9% of all your teachers are beyond responsible,” Paul said.
Though Paul has been competing for almost 40 years, she still loves it. However, she has been struggling with a shoulder injury lately, so she is not competing as much. However, she is determined to overcome this injury and continue competing at a high level.
However, when she is away from the skeet shooting field, Paul stays busy teaching and helping others.
“I’ve been an emergency critical, care veterinary nurse for about 38 years, on top of that, at the same time, I’ve been a pastor for about 10 years now through the United Methodist Church. So right now, I’m still working the veterinary job, and I’m still doing the pastor job. That’s why I’ve been moving around because the United Methodist Church has what we call an itinerary seat,” she said.
According to Paul, this means she travels and lends support to different communities throughout New Jersey and possibly neighboring states like Pennsylvania. She has lived in many different parts of New Jersey due to her devotion to her faith and serving others. However, she has called Landing, New Jersey home for almost five years.
Though constantly settling in different areas might seem
difficult to outsiders, she is dedicated to this lifestyle and finds it uniquely like her involvement in skeet shooting.
According to Paul, serving others through her church and competing with other skeet shooters brings a camaraderie not often experienced elsewhere.
The family atmosphere of skeet shooting is a big factor for Paul.
“I just want to keep participating in the sport because of the people and the travel. I have so many friends, and I know people from South Africa, from England, from all over as a result of this sport. And I used to say that if I’m stranded somewhere and I need to get some help, I can either look for a church or a skeet field because I’ve never met skeet shooters who aren’t willing to help somebody out. Even though it’s a very competitive sport, you’ll have people trying to help you out, she said.
For Paul, the sport is not about money or fame. Rather it’s about a deep connection to an activity that resembles family.
“It’s just amazing to me to watch people and the joy that they have traveling around. A lot of us have RVs or campers because of the fun times after the shoots are over, and everyone’s gathering by the campfire and gathering together after that, because it doesn’t matter where you’ve finished, we’re all in the same big club, almost, or a big camaraderie. So those are some of the best times I spent, sometimes up in Pennsylvania, on top of mountaintops, watching sunrises and sunsets, all with these incredible groups of people. So, to me, that’s the whole thing.
Holly Paul courtesy of Holly Paul.
Programs at Butler Library
Please call the Butler Library at: 973-838-3262 to register for all programs. Google Forms may also be used to register for some programs. If you are no longer able to attend after you sign up for this program, please call the library and let us know.
Butler Public Library
1 Ace Road Butler, NJ 07405 973-838-3262
More information on our website: www.butlerlibrary.org
Follow us on Facebook: Butler Public Library Follow us on Instagram: butlerlibrarynj
Children's
Friday Night Movies
One Friday each month
Join us once a month for a Friday Night Movie, showing Films for General Audiences on our 70" Flat Screen TV.
In the Program Room at the Butler Library
Friday, March 28, 2025, at 6:00 pm: Wicked (2024) PG 2 hours 40 minutes (Please feel free to bring your own camp chair or we have seat cushions for this event.)
Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7:00 pm: Moana 2 (2024) PG 1 hour 40 minutes
Read a Story to Cory For Beginner Readers
Every Monday from 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Come read to Cory, a Shih Tzu dog, with Ms. Kim Boon at the Library. Cory, a licensed therapy dog and his owner can’t wait for you to come and read a story to him. Sign up for a 15 minute session by calling the Butler Library at: 973-838-3262. This program is free and meets Monday nights.
Story Time
Tuesdays at 10:30am Thru March 25
For ages 3 – 5 yrs.
Story time offers 30-minute sessions with a story and other fun activities. Parents must remain in the Library. This free program is limited to 12 children. Registration is required on Google Forms
Toddler Time
Thursdays at 10:30am
Thru March 27
For ages 2 – 3 yrs.
Toddler time offers a 30-minute session with a story and a small craft for children and caretakers. This free program is limited to 8 children and 8 caretakers. Butler residents only. Registration is required on Google Forms.
S.T.E.A.M Diamond Dot Shamrock Project
Work together with a Caregiver
When: Saturday, March 15
Time: 11:00 – 12:00pm
Ages: 7 – 14 yrs.
Register on Google Forms on our website
Adults Welcome, too
Learn how to use Diamond Dots to create your very own sparkly project. Caregivers and children can work together on one of the projects. This class is limited to 10 children and 10 caregivers. All supplies are provided by the library, so register on google forms and join in on the fun.
“Circle of Friends”
An American Girl Doll Musical
Held in the Court Room (Enter through the Library)
When: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 6:00pm – 7:15pm (Runs 1 hour and 15 minutes with no intermission)
Ages: 6 – 10 yrs.
Bring your American Girl Doll to the show
Register on Google Forms on our website.
Seven little girls throw a surprise sleepover birthday party for their best friend, Laura. The party turns out to be a lesson for them all. Throughout the party they each travel back in time and tell their American Girl Doll story and they all learn the true meaning of friendship.
March BINGO
When: Monday, March 31
Time: 4:00 – 4:30pm
Ages: 5 – 10
Register on Google Forms on our website or visit the Library to sign up. Join us for March BINGO. Prizes will be awarded to those who are winners of each BINGO game. Each child needs to be registered separately on Google Forms so we have an accurate count of attendees.
S.T.E.A.M Diamond Dot Easter Egg
Work together with a Caregiver
When: April 7, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 6:00pm
Ages: 7 – 14 yrs.
Adults Welcome, too
Register on Google Forms on our website
Learn how to use Diamond Dots to create your very own sparkly project. Caregivers and children can work together on one of the projects. This class is limited to 10 children and 10 caregivers. All supplies are provided by the library, so register on google forms and join in on the fun.
Spring Candy Hunt in the Library
When: Saturday, April 12
Time: 11:00
Ages: Infant – 8 years
Register on Google Forms
Small bags will be provided.
Bring your walking shoes and come to the Library and participate in a candy hunt. Walk around the library and see if you can locate some hidden candy to bring home. The younger crowd, infant – 5 years, will be the first ones to search for the candy, then the older children will follow the little ones. Each child needs to be registered separately on Google Forms.
Paint a Moon Lamp
When: Monday, April 14
Time: 11:00 – 12:00pm (Spring Break)
Ages: 5 – 12 years
Register on Google Forms or visit the Library to register for this program. Paint a Moon Lamp with your very own set of paints. If you need help registering on Google Forms, please call the library at 973-838-3262. If you are no longer able to attend after you sign up for this program, please call the library and let us know.
Young Adult Program
Are you interested in volunteering at the Library? Do you need Community Service Hours? We are here to help. All you will need to do is call Ms. Arlene for more information. High School Volunteers: Looking for volunteers to help with library activities. Call or visit Ms. Arlene or Ms. Lisa in the Library. Ask for a student volunteer worksheet and fill it out in order to keep track of your time and hours. Give it to Ms. Arlene or Ms. Lisa.
Adult Program
Tuesday Afternoon Movies
On the last Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm
In the Program Room at the Butler Library
Are you looking for something to do on a Tuesday afternoon? If so, join us once a month for a Tuesday matinee movie at 2:00 pm shown on our 70" Flat Screen TV at the Butler Public Library. All movies are appropriate for adult viewing. Please call the Butler Library at: 973-838-3262, to sign up.
March 25, 2025: Let Them All Talk (2020) R Run Time: 1 hr 53 min
Crocheting Class with Janice For Beginners
The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of Every Month 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Presented by Janice Poizzi, Volunteer
Join us at the Butler Library to make a crocheted scarf! Students will need at least two skeins of worsted weight yarn any color, and a size G crochet hook. This program is free of charge.
The Butler Public Library Is Offering ESL Classes
When: Mondays
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
No registration necessary
The classes are designed for beginning and intermediate level speakers.
Growing Herbs 101 on Zoom
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Presented by Master Gardener: Linda Zenkert
Brought to you by Butler Public Library and Master Gardeners of Morris County Speakers Bureau
Grown for their fragrance and culinary value, herbs are among the easiest plants to grow. Use as borders, incorporate in existing gardens, or combine with potted flower arrangements. Many herbs grow successfully indoors as well, providing continuous availability for cooking. This presentation will include information on planning, planting, harvesting, preserving, and using herbs. You may be surprised to learn just how versatile herbs can be as additions to your indoor and outdoor gardens. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VMC62EWiQXiHtNrXxRv-og
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Glorious Ground Covers - Gardeners Best Friends on Zoom
Thursday, April 10, 2025
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Presented by Master Gardener: Gail Di Domenico
Brought to you by Butler Public Library and Master Gardeners of Morris County Speakers Bureau
Ground covers are no longer limited to lawns and pachysandra. There is a plethora of choices from those that carpet the ground, to clumping plants & even small shrubs and hardscaping that can reduce labor intensive lawns, help to eliminate weeds, control erosion, add more color and year-round enjoyment to your landscape and even cut down on constant mulch replacement. Enjoy gardening more with ground covers. Detailed handouts will be provided to assist in selecting, planting and taking care of ground covers. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IKaVe6xVTIKLRdZFb2Zj_w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Home Town Life is 100% mailed to local residents and businesses
We offer local news, informative articles, community happenings and online advertising
No long term commitments, free artwork and personal marketing guidance
Servicing Morris, Passaic, Essex and Warren Counties
