Hometown 12 August 2022 by My Life Publications..Maljon LLC

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No. 18 Vol. 8

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August 2022

United States Navy Veteran Saves North Haledon’s American Legion Post No. 428

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By Steve Sears t first, United States Navy veteran George Van Der Wal was not a member of North Haledon’s American Legion Post No. 428. He’d been asked to join many times over 40 years, but didn’t. “I’d always been interested in veterans, but I declined joining,” he says. Two of his coworkers at his part-time job at the Department of Public Works recycling plant, Peter Botbyl and Louis Severi, themselves American Legion Post No. 428 members, asked him to join. “They came up to me and they said, ‘Give me one reason why you don’t want to join?’ And I couldn’t give them a reason. So, I took a membership application, filled it out, gave my $30, and joined.” Today, he is Commander of the ship, and saved the organization by raising its dwindling membership. “At one time, there was a lot of members after World War II,” Van Der Wal says. “As time went on, the membership got less and less and less. Around 2017 and 2018, we got down to less than 20 members. Once you reach 15 or less, you basically get suspended from Passaic County and the state, and you lose your charter. They don’t recognize you as a Post because you have to have a certain number of members of that Post.” In his first year as Commander, Van Der Wal, who served in the Navy from September 1964 to September 1968, tripled the membership number of Post No. 428. “I saw ours getting down to 16 or 17 paid members, so I decided to increase the membership rather than go into default. You don’t have an organization without members, that’s the bottom line.” Van Der Wal first started going to the county meetings with a few other members, which are held the third Tuesday of every month. “They got used to seeing my face there. And then I was told by the Judge Advocate that we (Post No. 428) were getting down to that critical 15-member mark. ‘Once you reach that number,’ he said, ‘you’re in trouble.’” Van Der Wal, at that time the Chaplain of Post No. 428, shortly thereafter was voted into the role of Commander after the pass-

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George Van Der Wal (courtesy of George Van Der Wal) ing in 2019 of former Commander, 93-year-old Dulio Alvino. Van Der Wal has also been Passaic County Commander the past two years. Once at the helm, Van Der Wal took action. During his Tuesday and Wednesday shifts at the DPW, he asked everybody who entered the building if they were ever in the armed forces and, if they were, if they’d like to join the American Legion. “The majority of the guys that I got into the American Legion were age 55 to age 90,” Van Der Wal says. “These are guys that were in World War II or after World War II. A lot of them joined.” Van Der Wal was able to elevate Post No. No. 428’s membership to 49. “We picked up two new members this past Memorial Day weekend,” he says. “They saw an article in the continued on page 4

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Caring and Serving the local communities dental needs for over 14 years

DEMENTIA

Dementia typically occurs gradually, making it tough for family and friends to notice the signs in a loved one. One of the noticeable side effects is poor oral hygiene, which leads to plaque buildup and gingivitis.

HEART CONDITIONS

Gum disease has a potential link to heart disease, so irritated or infected gums (paired with other other heart disease risk factors) suggest that you should see a cardiologist.

DIABETES

Many symptoms accompanying diabetes actually show up in the mouth. Periodontal disease, bleeding gums, loose-feeling teeth, and other subtle signs point to the possibility of diabetes. Your dentist may recommend you see your doctor, and if you’ve already been diagnosed, these symptoms show that your blood sugar isn’t under control.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Loss of bone tissue can lead to brittleness and changes to the jaw bones, which might show as receding gums or loose teeth.

EATING DISORDERS

If you or a loved one has struggled with an eating disorder, you know how difficult it can be to seek out the care you need. Enamel erodes when exposed to stomach acids or as a result of poor nutrition, and your dentist can help you address this and find a way forward.

HEARTBURN

While heatburn is usually noticeable to the patient, nighttime acid reflux is tougher to diagnose because it occurs during sleep. Your dentist will notice erosion of enamel on the upper back morals and consider whether nighttime heartburn might be the cause.

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Navy Veteran Saves American Legion Post... continued from front page the newspaper, called me up, and asked to be members, and they came to Flag Day on June 14. Right now, we get between 10 and 12 members that come to a monthly meeting on the second Tuesday.” Van Der Wal also hoped in 2020 to go door-to-door to veterans’ homes in town to increase membership further, but the COVID-19 pandemic squashed those hopes. “I wanted to increase it to 75 to 100 members from 49, but I was

told that was a bad idea to go door-to-door to because of the pandemic, which was at its height in February and March of 2020.” He still has the list, however. “About four months ago, I had an updated list. There’s a lot of people in North Haledon that are ex-servicemen, and my intention is to try and increase the membership by a least another 20 or 30 this year.” Van Der Wal’s wife is not well, so he has been unable to trek and

accomplish what he’d like. American Legion Post No. 428 is located at 512 High Mountain Road in North Haledon. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month, and Passaic County Amer-

ican Legions meetings are held at different Post locations every month. For more information about both, contact Van Der Wal at 973-617-6854, or via email at seamangeorgee3@gmail.com.

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which can look black or greenish-black, likely has something to do with its appearance. But homeowners still have reason to be fearful of mold in their homes, regardless of what color the mold may be. That’s because mold can lead to a host of unwelcome health problems, including stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. Symptoms may be even worse for people with asthma and mold allergies.

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Sales: Joe@mylifepublications • Editorial: editorial@mylifepublications Please e-mail all press releases and calendar information to editor@mylifepublications.com. Advertising in My Life Publications is affordable and effective. We are a “family friendly” publication and therefore reserve the right to accept only advertisements that appeal to the entire family; the final determination of which is made by My Life Publications. Views expressed in My Life Publications are those of the respective columnists and writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, or My Life Publications. Advertising is open to anyone desiring to reach the public and is subject to approval, revision and/or rejection at any time by the publisher. Many of the articles are paid for by the author and are in effect advertisements. Publication of any advertisement does not constitute, either implied or inferred, an endorsement of services, products or businesses advertised.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 5

First Responder Day Promises Sports and Fun Activities, Music, and Food for Both First Responder Families and the General Public!

By Janet R. Rapisardi resident Dr. Robert D’Emidio of The 200 Club of Morris County announces the Clubs’ First Responder Day to be held at Whippany Park High School, 165 Whippany Road, Whippany. The event will be on Saturday, September 24th from 11:00am till 5:00pm and is open to the general public. Rain Date: Sunday, September 25th.

Admission is free as you enter the grounds to enjoy Live Music by Scoot on Down, John & Rocky, and a contingent of the Whippany Park High School band! Lots of competitive fun for First Responders, Families and Friends await you! First Responder competitors are encouraged to register with The 200 Club of Morris County for our Home Run Derby and Corn Hole Championship by September 6th. Spouses/

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Partners – you’re covered as well, with a Spouse/Partner Corn Hole Championship just for you. Kids can ‘Touch a Rig’ to see what working on one is really like, watch first responder demonstrations, and smile during Face Painting while Paw Patrol is keeping watch. There’s lots to eat from an assortment of food, ice cream, popcorn, and other goodies while you listen to the music. Of course, we’ve got Swag, and it’s all for a good cause. “It takes a special person to run toward danger in a moment’s notice. It requires having compassion for others along with highly specialized training. These are the heroes we believe in and trust in to keep our families safe,” says President D’Emidio. “This inaugural First Responder Day has been planned by The 200 Club, Hanover Township and many town and local volunteers who support all our first responders from Emergency Medical Technicians to Fire, Police, New Jersey State Police and Office of Emergency Management responders. This special day of thanks will create happy memories for

First Responders, all families, and the public in making this an annual tradition in Morris County!” The 200 Club of Morris County is a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization in its 51st year of providing first responders and their families with emotional support and financial assistance. Annual scholarships to qualified students of first responder families and surviving death benefits to the family of first responders who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty has surpassed $5,000,000 in our history. Sponsorship Opportunities are available for the First Responder Day event, and donations are always welcome. Help us to help our Heroes! First responder competitors–Sign-up today! https://www.200clubofmorriscounty.com Sponsorship and Donation Opportunities are available see hyperlink: https:// w w w. 2 0 0 c l u b o f m o r r i s c o u n t y. c o m / first-responder-day-sept-24-2022. Call Administrator Lori Richmond: 973-6307933 and mention ‘FRD”. Bring the family for an unforgettable event that you can’t wait to come back to next year!!

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Five Reasons Why the IRS Will Audit You

ach year, the IRS audits over 1 million tax returns. With agency resources shrinking, the IRS is more selective when choosing which tax returns to audit. Knowing what the IRS is looking for can help you understand and reduce your audit risk. Here are five of the biggest reasons the IRS may choose to audit your return: Your income is high or low. The reasoning is simple – higher earnings may lead to bigger errors and lower earnings may mean incorrect deductions. The adjusted gross income (AGI) range with the least audit risk is $25,000 to $200,000. As your income moves toward the extremes in either direction, the chance of an audit increases. You fail to report all your income. The IRS Automated Underreporter Program matches W-2 and 1099 information with the information you report on your tax return. When a mismatch occurs, expect to receive an automated CP2000 notice from the IRS notifying you of the discrepancy and the additional tax amount due.

You own a business. Rules regarding business deductions are confusing and constantly changing. The IRS knows this. Incorrectly deducting personal expenses or having your business classified as a hobby, thereby eliminating deductions, can get you in trouble with the IRS. Cash heavy businesses are under increased scrutiny due to higher fraud rates. Solid tracking processes and good records are necessary for income and expense substantiation. You make a math error. The IRS identified over 2.5 million math errors on recent tax returns. The biggest culprits were tax liability and credit calculations. Math errors can create

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a two-fold problem for you – additional tax owed and more scrutiny applied to other parts of your tax return. You claim the earned income tax credit. According to a report by the U.S. Treasury Department, 21 to 26 percent EITC payments are paid in error. Numbers that large are sure to get the IRS’s attention. Eligibility confusion and calculation errors are mostly to blame. While some of the risk factors are out of your control, many can be minimized. If you are chosen for an audit, don’t deal with the IRS alone – please call for help. Shah & Sokoloff , CPA’s, is a year round full service CPA firm providing a wide range of Accounting and Tax services to both Small Business and Individual Clients. We are QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisors and provide new business set up, training and support. Our office is located at 166 Main St. Lincoln Park, NJ 07035. Our website is www. cpanewjersey.com and email is rps@cpanewjersey.com. To contact us by phone please call 973-633-1001.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 7

New Help for Veterans and Active Military from Project Help

hese unprecedented times are only getting more concerning and contributing to a higher level of anxiety, particularly among our Veteran population. The constant streaming of mostly discouraging news, along with a reduced ability to freely mingle with others to keep spirits up, makes it difficult for many military and veterans to maintain their morale. A Warrior’s

Welcome, Transitioning and Remembering, is a military and veteran’s community, wanting to help those who have given so much. A new secure place for Veterans to come together to help each other through issues they are having, is being launched by Project Help. “The meetings will be facilitated by Reno Schwind, a Marine Corp veteran and resident of Sussex County,”

said Sandy Mitchell. During a veteran’s military service, their base, ship or shore station is a place to call home – a safe haven to share in the company of some of the finest men and women with a mission in common. A Warrior’s Welcome aims to create that same spirit of brotherhood at its weekly gatherings. A Warrior’s Welcome will consist only of active service and veterans,

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and will provide a safe place for all veterans to communicate and engage with other veterans on a level that is simply not possible in most social networking environments. A Warrior’s Welcome gathering encourages informal discussions on a wide range of interests – from problems they are dealing with, local community concerns, uplifting stories and humor and other topics as the group determines as favorable at the time. Quite often the discussions are about issues these warriors are trying to handle. With a number of members suffering from combat-related and other health issues, AWW’s weekly network support gatherings provides a safe environment where veterans can discuss the situations they face each day. As deemed necessary and desired, there will be experts in the field join the meeting.

Once every other month there will be a webinar that is open to all to help with issues, answer questions and bring in experts to supply real answers to the problems faced by our warriors. In support of the Military/Veteran community at this difficult time, they invite you to join A Warrior’s Welcome via the following link: https://projecthelp.us/ warriors-welcome/ AWW will quickly evolve into a hybrid event, meaning it will be virtual and live at the same time, so more service men will be able to participate. This networking group is for men only. There will, in time, be a group for women only. All questions can be directed to Reno Schwind at renoschwind@gmail.com or Sandy Mitchell at Sandy@ ProjectHelp.us. Need an urgent response? Call sandy@973-875-2068 Project Help is a grass

Reno Schwind, Marine Corp veteran

roots 501c3 organization whose mission is to support and serve military and veterans in times of need. Through their hardship fund, they are able to provide grants to veterans and military in crisis situations. The need for volunteers, board members and donors is massive. “You can visit our website to learn more about our mission and how you can get involved” said Sandy Mitchell, founder and Executive Director. https:// projecthelp.us

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Glory Days: Kyle Presti and His Nine Touchdown Game

By Steve Sears yle Presti’s career as Kinnelon High School Colts quarterback was an interesting and rewarding one, and there’s one thing that he makes clear: it was about the team, not just him. “It’s a team sport,” Presti says about football. “Somebody’s got to catch the ball, and somebody’s got to block for me.” On November 15, 2014, he had plenty of that blocking, and nine of his passes were caught by his teammates for touchdowns, those nine TDs setting a New Jersey state record. “That was like our consolation game,” Presti says, recalling the contest against Sussex County Technical School. “We were a little bit upset that we weren’t in the playoffs, so we kind of felt like making a statement a little bit. It was our last game together, we knew that going into it, so it was kind of just buying in and giving everything we’ve got for one last time. Obviously, we put up a ton of points that game, so our offense was really clicking. Definitely we spread the ball around, and I had to hit everybody one last time between Sean Duncan, Liam Nelson, Travis Rode, Connor Chiuchiolo, and Aaron Anello. It was really just like kind of a last hurrah, and it turned out better than we expected. I don’t think I ever walked into that game expecting to pass for nine touchdowns and breaking a record.” During his sophomore season, Presti was backup to Sean Robbins, who led the Colts to their first ever gridiron state title. After an injury derailed his junior year, Presti had a fabulous senior campaign. In addition to his record-setting last game, he led New Jersey with over 3,000 yards in passing for Head Coach Kevin White’s Colts. He completed over 60% of those passes for 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and was named Morris County Football Coaches Association Player of the Year among other accolades. Presti reflects on the Colts 2014, 7 - 3 season. “We were coming off of a championship my sophomore year, and then my junior year, the first year that I was the starter, everything didn’t really go as planned,”

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he says. “I don’t remember what our record was. I’m pretty sure we were under .500, and it was a bit of a letdown, especially coming off the first school state championship. We had high hopes. So, I think going into senior year, myself and a few of my other teammates were thinking, ‘This is it.’ I wasn’t really at that point expecting to play college football, so it was give it all or nothing. I felt like that was the biggest thing for the team - we all sort of bought in and just gave it our all. Things turned out a little bit better than we expected. Obviously, we didn’t get the playoff chance, which was disappointing, but I think we were very pleased with the season overall.” Other star seniors for the Colts were receivers Kyle Graupe and Mike Shokouhi, offensive linemen Pat Stewart and Jarrett McSpirit-Brush, and defensive lineman Joseph D’Amico. Presti, who also played baseball for Kinnelon High School, credits Sean Robbins with his development as a quarterback. “I owe a lot to Sean Robbins,” Presti says of the four-year starter. “He was a phenomenal player. I knew when I took over junior year and senior year that I had big shoes to fill. At the football banquet after the sophomore year when we won the state championship, coach White said to me, ‘You’ve got big shoes to fill. You’re trying to replace a walking highlight reel in Sean Robbins.’ Those words kind of stuck with me a little bit, because it was absolutely true. Sean was a beast, to say the least. He could run the ball and he could throw the ball. He was absolutely one of the leaders of that state championship run, but everybody else on that team, it was a great senior class in general. My brother, Joe, was part of that championship run.” Presti also recognizes the contributions of White and quarterback coach, Larry Simms. “They definitely pushed me,” Presti says. “Without them, without their coaching, their knowledge, their wisdom, I don’t think I really have the senior year that I did. Believing in me and pushing me as far as they could, and in trusting me to lead the team.” Kyle Presti in 2014 passing for some of his over 3,000 yards

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Brought to you by Dr. Matthew Krupnick, the owner of Pequannock Animal Hospital

What to Know About Sharing a Bed with Pets

tle extra warmth, as their body temperatures run a ets provide companionship for thousands of few degrees warmer than their owners’. people around the world, so it is understandCon: An extra body in bed can disturb sleep. able that pet owners want to be around their Just as individuals may have trouble with a spouse companion animals as much as possible - with or a child being in the bed next to them, pets can many even welcoming them into their beds. bring about the same disturbances. In a study According to PetMd, an online animal healthfrom the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, 53% care resource, around 80 percent of pet owners of pet owners surveyed said their pets disturbed allow pets to share beds with human family memtheir sleep in some way each night. Dogs that bers. Data from the American Pet Products Assosnore and cats that chase “prey” around the room ciation has found at least half of all pet parents alcan disturb their owners’ sleep. low pets to sleep with them every night. Whether Pro: A deeper connection forms between pet this is safe, healthy, or wise is a matter of debate. and owner. Many pets like to be around their ownThere are pros and cons to sharing a bed with ers because it gives them reassurance and comfort pets. Understanding those pros and cons can help that they are loved. Animals that were rescued or pet owners make more informed decisions. are anxiety prone may be especially comforted by Pro: Get into a relaxed state. Companion anisnuggling in bed with their owners. Happy pets ofmals can help relieve stress, which may translate ten make for happy owners. into better sleep for their owners. Some people Con: It may cause behavioral problems. Dogs in particular may mistake sleeping in their find that the rhythmic breathing of dogs or cats can help lull them to sleep. Con: Possible transmission of illness or zoonotic agents. Snuggling so close to a pet may owners’ beds as a sign of dominance. Some veterinarians suggest puppies that are more put people at risk of acquiring illnesses that are transmitted from animal to human. In the prone to issues with aggression may fully develop these behaviors if allowed to sleep with past, MRSA skin infections and H1N1 influenza have been transferred from pets to people. humans. At the very least, it is advisable to wait until dogs are trained and exhibiting good Pro: Pets are warm. If the goal is to get cozy under the covers, animals can provide a litcontinued on page 11

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Sharing a Bed with Pets... continued from page 10 behavior for extended periods of time before allowing them to sleep in their owners’ beds. Pro: It’s a sign of trust. According to Victoria Stilwell, an internationally renowned dog trainer, dogs only sleep with the people or dogs they trust. Therefore, dogs who like sleeping with their owners are exhibiting trust and recognizing the same from their owners. Whether or not to allow dogs or cats to share personal spaces like beds, is a deci-

sion pet owners have to make. It should be based on safety, comfort, and mutual agreement with any other bed partners. Dr. Matthew Krupnick is the owner of the Pequannock Animal Hospital. He grew up in Kinnelon and is happy to be home – with his wife, three cats, and two dogs – to provide quality and compassionate care for pets in the community. The Pequannock Animal Hospital is located at 591 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pompton Plains. You can reach the hospital by calling 973-616-0400.

Did You Know?

ardening enthusiasts recognize that fall is not a time to rest on their laurels. In fact, fall is a great season to spend time in the yard. The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst indicates fall is the ideal time to improve the soil for next season. Amending the soil in the fall allows it to react accordingly over time and reap the benefits in spring. UMass suggests getting an accurate soil test to see what is needed in the garden. Samples should be taken from various areas. Avoid doing so when the soil is very wet. At-home kits can test for nitrogen, potassium and phospho-

rous and determine the soil’s pH. Gardeners should till the soil and add compost or manure, which will counteract many nutritional deficiencies. Worm castings also are good to add, particularly for summer vegetable gardens. The gardening company Park Seed says that worm castings are high in minerals and effective at holding water — so much so that they even can be used alone in place of potting soil. Crushed egg shells, coffee grounds and banana peels also can be added in the fall, even if they are not part of a compost pile. The nutrients will break down throughout the fall and winter, and be available just in time for summer plantings.

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Page 12 • August 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

So Dear Be, This Precious Memory

By Richard Mabey Jr. ow many of us have looked into the eyes of our grandfathers, saw their joy, saw their pain? My paternal grandfather, Watson Mabey, by his own definition was a horse-drawn man. He was singly one of the greatest positive influences of my life. From the time that I was in those early years of childhood, from about the time I was three years old, Grandpa would tell me the stories of the old Morris Canal. Of his days, working with his brother Earl and his father William, at the old family icehouse that once stood along the banks of the Morris Canal, near Incline Ten East. When I was 12 years old, during my year-long battle with Rheumatic Fever, Grandpa would often come up to my bedroom and visit with me and tell me more of his stories of life along the old Morris Canal. My bedroom was the very same bedroom that Grandpa and his brother Earl shared, when they were boys growing up in the old Mabey Homestead. My grandfather went Home to be with the Lord, in May of 1968. I was 14 years old and just finishing my freshman year at Boonton High School. I remember that I cried a river at his funeral service. The proud patriarch, the man who served as the last Engineer of Incline Plane Ten East, had now answered the beckoning call of the angels in Heaven. Grandpa had meant all so very much to me. I loved him dearly. At the dawn of the Summer of 1968, I began the process of writing down, to the absolute best of my memory, the endearing stories that Grandpa had told me over the years. The mules, the canal boats, the hard work of cutting ice from the frozen waters of the canal during the harsh, cold winter days. Stories that intertwined in the

very chambers and chords of my heart. I wrote these stories down, while sitting upon the third-tier planking of my old tree fort. My tree house was an elaborate setup, consisting of three platforms, each one quite higher than the one below it. From the third-tier, I could see Earl’s Meadow, the full length of Mabey Lane, quite a bit of the forest path that led to the old Morris Canal, and a good half-mile, both east and west, of old Route 202 that ran along the front of the old Mabey Homestead. I found solace and comfort in the solitude of my old tree fort. Squirrels would scurry about the thick tree limbs, birds would bring songs to my heart, the gentle breeze would sway the maple leaves, and from time to time a lone blackbird would fly nearby. I kept my journals, my hand-written remembrances of Grandpa’s enchanting canal stories, in a wooden box that was nailed to the outer portion of the highest tier. Upon this highest tier, rested a little table that was nailed to the flooring of the wooden plank. It was upon this little table, that I had wrote my stories that Grandpa had bequeathed upon me. The wooden box was quite an elaborate box. The inside of this wooden box was lined with heavy-duty plastic. My good friend, Stuart Steinhauser, helped me build it. We built it during the Summer of 1965, on Dad’s workbench in the basement of the old Mabey Homestead. The wooden box was complete with a little latch and padlock. Originally it was designed to hold some of my comic books and Mad magazines. But as the Summer of 1968, unfolded, it became solely dedicated for a storage center for my notebooks of my hand-written journals. In early August of 1968, I began typing

up some of the best stories that I had written, based upon my memories of Grandpa’s dramatic story-telling days. I had shown them to Mr. Marino, the Editor-in-Chief of the Lincoln Park Herald. And, I was blessed to have a few of them make the pages of that dear old small-town weekly. In September of 1968, I began my sophomore year at Boonton High School. Keeping up with Spanish homework, solving algebraic problems, and studying biology, distracted me quite a bit from finding time to climb the heights, to the third-tier of my old tree fort, and write the stories of the old Morris Canal. Now at 68 years old, I look back with great fondness of those summer days of writing stories, high atop that dear old maple tree. Sadly, that dear old majestic maple tree no longer stands. It gave me great comfort to write down Grandpa’s stories, during that summertime when I so deeply mourned the passing of my beloved grandfather. I still miss that dear old man.

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Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ hotmail.com. Please put on the subject line: “Hometown Life.”

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It’s 65 Years for Lincoln Park Archers

By Steve Sears he Lincoln Park Archers was founded in 1957, but love of archery among residents in the Lincoln Park area spurned conversation a few years prior. “The whole establishment of this organization was just a couple of guys that enjoyed the sport of archery getting together and, over the course of maybe a year or year and a half period, decided to formally organize something and make it a club or an organization,” says Bob Calabro, the Treasurer of the Lincoln Park Archers. The number grew to almost 20 individuals who would meet at each other’s homes and, eventually, made Henry’s Café in Lincoln Park their official meeting spot. “They had the opportunity to come into where we are now, which was formerly a YMCA day camp called Camp Dawson,” Calabro explains. At that time the club had expanded to 50 members, and Lincoln Park Archers used the Towaco facility once a weekend. However, when the YMCA was no longer needed, Lincoln Park Archers took it over permanently. “The opportunity was given to the Lincoln Park Archers to take over what we call the barn or clubhouse, and it really is a converted barn where they were able to set up an indoor range and be able to shoot indoors without having the elements of the weather outside and so forth. We also have an outdoor range, but the experience at that point was, “We have an indoor range, and we can be out of the elements, and we can shoot all year round.” We do have an outdoor range that’s 30 plus targets when we have our open shoots to the public, and that’s in April, June, July, and August”. The current facility is 67

An early day Lincoln Park Archers photo.

acres. “I would say over 20 years ago or so, they built a sports complex with turf fields and so on so forth - it’s a shared facility,” Calabro says. “Specifically, about our organization, what makes it unique in comparison to other archery organizations is that we’re really the only indoor archery club in all of North Jersey. That’s number one. It’s a private organization and it’s run solely by our members, and we take care of a big part of the facility with landscaping, and we do some of the maintenance in our range. It’s heated, it’s well lit - once again, it is a converted barn - so we have a range downstairs and we have a range upstairs. Actually, from our perspective, it’s probably the largest indoor range in all of North Jersey in this area., maybe even into New York state.” Much activity goes on at 80 Jacksonville Road in Towaco. “We have our own internal tournaments, we have leagues for adults, and we do instructional sessions for children of the community. We work with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to give them the opportunity to learn the skill of archery, and also assist in achieving qualifications for their archery merit badges.” Lincoln Park Archers also follows the National Archery in the

Schools Program (NASP). “We teach that as they do in some of the schools around the area, and implement the methodologies that they teach in the schools. In addition, we offer them to other organizations; the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and also, we have what we call our Kids League. It’s two, four-week sessions during the winter where anybody from the community can join, and grades 4th through 8th can sign up through the recreation program. The NASP program or NASP concepts, which are the basics of archery, some of our members who are our certified instructors, and national instructors as well, teach that. It’s a good experience for the kids, and we’ve had a couple of kids that have gone through that program and go on to be very successful in archery, and also join us as members later in life.” “A big portion of our members are hunters,” Calabro says. “They utilize the club and their membership to hone their skills for hunting. They’re bow hunters, but we do have another group of archers that are members just for the love of the sport. They enjoy the camaraderie of the members just coming down and spending time socially. And then we have another group

Lincoln Park Archers in Towaco

that are our target archers, who are very competitive in archery and travel. We have an 18-year-old boy (Kevin Klinedinst of Oakland) that’s a member of our club who is nationally ranked. There are all different levels of the sport.” Membership in Lincoln

Park Archers is made up of Life, Honorary, Active, Probationary, Associate, and Youth memberships. “We’re still accepting members,” Calabro says. “We go through an interview process. We bring the people in to meet our membership committee, and we just go

through the basic ins and outs of the club, and find out a little bit about the people who want to join. Then the membership committee makes a recommendation at the next monthly meeting.” For more information, visit www.lincolnparkarchers.org

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Pequannock Township Public Library Celebrates 25 Years

By Henry M. Holden n July 15, the Pequannock Township Public Library celebrated 25 years in the current building. A new building replaced the original building in 1997. Debbie Maynard, Pequannock Township Public Library Director, said, “The old library was in the Town Hall, and it was in a very small space. It could never house the collection we have today.” Maynard estimates the library has over 55,000 books in the collection, including digital books. The Friends of the Library sponsored an anniversary concert on July 15th, on the li-

Grand Opening

brary lawn at 6:30. It featured The Guthrie Brothers, a group that pays tribute to Simon and Garfunkel. They performed a repertoire of the duo’s most famous songs. There was also music, games, giveaways, food trucks and family fun. The mayor read a proclamation, and Maynard spoke on behalf of the library board president. There was water and cupcakes as refreshments, and an ice cream truck if anyone wished to purchase ice cream. According to Maynard, the largest part of the library collection is fiction, followed by adult nonfiction. “I would say that children’s fiction and nonfiction are probably about

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equal.” Maynard says that digital technology has some advantages. “We can tell what titles our patrons are looking for. Then usually we would purchase those materials as well as popular titles in the electronic format. Of course, we have budget lines for printed material, and digital material.” “If necessary, we can tell what the percentage of people is using digital versus paper books (hard and soft cover) is. I don’t know exactly but I’m sure that there are people who use both. I lean more toward print books because I can feel it, and touch it, stop reading when I want, and I can take it with me. But, those things one can do with a digital book, but they weigh a lot less and can be stored in a smart phone.” Maynard encourages children to use the library and its facilities in any way they can. “We had a lot of young people coming to

the library and grabbing a book. That is so encouraging. We also offer programs for the adults to come to the library for materials. We have 8,337 library card holders and we offer educational programs, workshops, and classes for all. We have large variety of books, and we have two special collections. One is the Holocaust Collection that contains approximately 400 volumes. It was gifted to us and we also have a Virginia Forde Collection which is a smaller collection donated by Ms. Forde.” The library’s busy times are during the school year about 2:45pm when classes let out. “It gets very busy and during the summer it is a very busy time, especially when we offer the programs for the children. Several of our children’s programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. In addition, many of our local businesses procontinued on page 16

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Library Celebrates 25 Years... continued from page 15 vide prizes or incentives for the programs. And summer reading is not just for kids. We also have programs and prizes for adults and teens, so everyone can join: Monday Book Clubs: Short Story Group: Trivia: Knitting and Crochet: and the Writers Group: The website has meeting times and dates.” “Inevitably, I am asked, ‘how busy is the library in the summer?’ Most people assume it’s quiet: people go on vacation and students aren’t stopping in to do research for school. However, our library is a hub of activity in the summer! Everyone has more time to read and enjoy the programs that are offered at the library. We thrive in the summer because of our stellar summer reading program for all ages!” The Friends of the Library provide books for the summer reading programs, so each child receives a free book when they register. “We don’t have an outside Story Walk as some libraries have. What we’ve done instead, was during COVID, we created an indoor story walk but it goes around the perimeter of the building inside. And like the outdoor version, we have different pages from a book placed in new windows. And, we don’t have to deal with weather since we have it inside.” The Friends of the Library group are very active. They do fundraising for different items. “It’s kind of like a wish list of things, such as new furniture. When there are sig-

nificant times within the library’s timeline, they are active and supportive of those efforts.” “When I arrived at the library 10 years ago, there was not much as far as a digital collection goes. It didn’t take long to realize it was something new, and different and we wondered how it would change the library. I think it made some things easier for the patron. They can access eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines. They can place holds on up to 10 items and have 5 items checked out at one time.” “I feel like we have embraced this digital technology. It’s different and it’s so much more involved than people realize as far as copyright issues, etc. The digital world is all well and good for the publishers and companies that sell books, but when it comes to libraries it takes on a different meaning. It’s a new way to do business. It’s not the same as buying books from a vendor. The publishers and the vendors quite frankly don’t want to work with libraries because we are the model that takes one digital edition and loans it to many people. So, we’re not as lucrative as an individual who will purchase 10 books. Nevertheless, I think the paper side of our library is doing very well.” Consult the website www.pequannocklibrary.org for hours, special events and programs. The Pequannock Township Public Library is located on 477 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, 973-835-7460.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 17

Morris Museum Announces Exhibition of Federico Solmi’s Work That Features VR and Video Installations and New Mixed Media Works

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ederico Solmi: Joie De Vivre is the first exhibition to explore the artist’s unique process—which combines traditional art practices and digital technologies—through a case study of Solmi’s most ambitious video-painting to date, The Bathhouse (2020). This monumental, 20-foot-wide, five-channel, multi-sensory video installation depicts an excess of revelry by leaders from across world history in the setting of a Roman bathhouse. It is displayed alongside a selection of never-before-seen preparatory drawings, storyboards, and sketches. The exhibition will be on view September 16, 2022 – February 19, 2023 at the Morris Museum. There will be a Member Preview on Thursday, September 15. Federico Solmi is a multimedia artist who examines the absurdities of the human experience through the lenses of colonialism, nationalism, religion, and consumerism. Born in 1973 in Bologna, Italy, Solmi has lived and worked in Brooklyn, New York, since 1999. His figurative narratives reflect the perspective of a cultural voyeur in the United States, questioning the nationalistic and revisionist histories often presented as historical truths. Solmi creates narrative video sequences built from traditional techniques of painting, drawing, and sculpture combined with technological approaches of animation, video game design, programming, and virtual reality. Through these narrative video constructs, Solmi presents a satirical, dystopian vision of lurid colors and grotesque imagery which challenge society’s constructed memory and historical mythos. The art of Paolo Uccello, Giorgio Morandi, and Giorgio di Chirico serve as reference for his visual compositions, while

Federico Solmi, Joie De Vivre (IX), Oprah Winfrey and Warren Buffett (Detail), 2021, Soft pastels, white pen and ink, gouache on wood panel, 60 x 36 x 1 in. (152.5 x 91.5 x 2.5 cm).

the writings of Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, and Oriana Fallaci serve as inspiration for his social and political commentary. This juxtaposition of preparatory work alongside the finished product allows visitors to develop an understanding of the processes undertaken to create the final video installation. Adjacent to this is an interactive, Virtual-Reality (VR) installation, The Bacchanalian Ones (2020), composed of three VR headsets with accompanying 3D-printed character masks. The visitor is invited to enter the world of The Bathhouse as one of three characters—George Washington, Colombo (Christopher Columbus), or Empress Theodora— wearing a VR headset and manipulating hand-held controllers allows them to embody the chosen perspective through the eyes of one of these historical avatars. Thus empowered, the visitor creates and controls the narrative. Also on display are seven new drawings (white pen, ink, gouache on wood panel) and six

new pastels (soft pastel, white pen and ink on wood panel) created expressly for the exhibition, as well as four hand painted artist books (acrylic paint, gold leaf, and mixed media), the 20-foot-wide painting The Great Debauchery (2019; acrylic paint, gold and silver leaf, pen, ink, and mixed media on three wood panels with carved wood relief), and four additional videopaintings (acrylic paint, gold and silver leaf, LED screens, and video), including the eight-foot-wide The Grand Masquerade (2018). In association with the exhibition, the Morris Museum will produce a 112page, color, fully illustrated book, Federico Solmi: Escape Into the Metaverse, by Black Dog Publishing, London. This exhibition is organized by Michelle Graves, Assistant Curator, Morris Museum. Federico Solmi: Joie De Vivre is made possible through the generous support of the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation. Additional support is provided by Luis De Jesus Los Angeles.

Page 18 • August 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Master Summer Meals with an Apple and Mandarin Macaroni Salad

kip boring dishes and instead dive into a sweet, satisfying macaroni salad that’s perfect for enjoying al fresco. With fresh ingredients and appetizing flavor, this Apple and Mandarin Macaroni Salad is more than just a side – it’s a meal on its own. Grilled chicken breast is complemented by mandarin oranges and the sophisticated sweetness and crisp texture of Envy apples. Named America’s No. 1 apple for taste, crispness, aroma and appearance, according to an independent sensory test by Forward Agency, the apples are a delightful way to enhance your favorite dishes. This recipe calls for firing up the grill to cook chicken to juicy perfection, mixing your own homemade macaroni salad and dicing up a beautiful apple, making it an ideal dinner option for summer evenings at home. Visit EnvyApple.com to find apples at a grocer near you. Apple and Mandarin Macaroni Salad 2 thinly sliced chicken breasts 1/2 package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot 1 lemon, zest only 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 can (10.7 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained, juice reserved 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional, to taste, divided 20 turns fresh cracked pepper, plus additional, to taste, divided water 1/2 pound macaroni 1 Envy apple, diced Allow chicken breasts to sit at room temperature 20 minutes. Mash softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, chopped shallot, lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons reserved mandarin juice, chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Set aside. Preheat grill or saute pan to high heat. Season chicken breasts with drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste. Grill chicken breasts until internal temperature reaches 165 F. If using saute

pan, cook 2 minutes on each side then finish in 400 F oven 5-10 minutes. Allow chicken to cool then dice into small chunks. Bring medium or large pot of salted water to boil. Add macaroni and cook until tender. Drain and pour hot noodles into large mixing bowl.

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A Simply Sweet Dessert Bar

pan and spread out smooth. Then add remaining unrolled crescent rolls on top before spreading with melted butter. Mix together sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle over the top of the bars. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool to room temperature and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight. These bars are also the perfect sweet treat for kids. They will love the sugar-coated top and you will love they are expanding their palates by trying something new. Whether it’s a birthday party, a barbecue or any celebration, this dessert is the way to go. It’s sweet, it’s got texture and it’s a home run when it comes to a simple sweet. Find more dessert recipes at Culinary. net. If you made this recipe at home, use #MyCulinaryConnection on your favorite social network to share your work. Sopapilla Bars Servings: 15 Nonstick cooking spray 2 packages (8 ounces each) crescent rolls

inding a unique dessert to impress others can be a tall task. Cakes, brownies and cookies are classics but can be boring and repetitive. When you want something easy, delicious and made to impress, think outside the sweet treat box. Next time you’re in a pinch for something sweet, try these Sopapilla Bars. They have a sugary, crunchy exterior, but on the inside, they are creamy and delicious. Great for gatherings of all kinds, they’re cut into perfect portions and rare enough to give partygoers something to talk about. The prep is simple and they can be made in advance then stored in the fridge overnight so there is no last-minute rushing around the kitchen. To start, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add sugar and cornstarch then combine. Add vanilla extract and one egg then beat until combined. Place one can of unrolled crescent rolls in the bottom of a lightly greased pan and pinch together the seams. Add cream cheese mixture to the

24 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 teaspoons cinnamon Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place one package unrolled crescent rolls in bottom of dish. Pinch seams together. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add 1 cup sugar and cornstarch. Beat mixture until combined. Add vanilla extract and egg. Beat until combined. Pour batter onto crescent roll dough. Smooth with spatula. On floured surface, unroll second package crescent roll dough. Pinch seams and roll dough to 1/2 inch longer and wider. Place rolled sheet on top of cheesecake layer. Spread melted butter over top. In small bowl, whisk remaining sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over top of bars.

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Attract More Birds to Your Backyard

ith all the constraints people lived through in 2020, many turned to their own backyards - nature, in particular - for hope, solace, wonder and even entertainment. Despite the worldwide crisis, nature’s normalcy remained intact; flowers continued to bloom, bees continued to pollinate and birds continued to fly and forage food. Feeding birds can be enjoyable for any age group and provide stress relief for all who partake. A University of Exeter study, focused on nature’s impact on humans in suburban and urban areas, found lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress were associated with the number of birds people saw during afternoons at home. The benefits of birdwatching come from seeing lots of birds - quantity not “quality” - the study found. People “felt relaxed and connected to nature when they watched birds in their gardens,” researchers said. These feelings increased with the level of bird feeding in the yard. For millions working and schooling from home, this stress reduction was an unintended bonus. Data from 2020 shows sales of bird feed, feeders, nesting boxes and bird houses spiked as interest in backyard birds soared while people spent more time at home. Interest in birding isn’t slowing down. If you haven’t tried attracting birds to your backyard, now is a perfect opportunity to start. The experts at Cole’s Wild Bird Products Co. offer these bird feed and feeder basics to attract more birds to your backyard. Feeders A variety of bird feeder types placed at different heights attract more birds than one feeder featuring one seed type. Start with two feeder types that accommodate most feed options. Bowl feeders serve not only seeds but also dried mealworms, fruit and suet. An option like Cole’s Bountiful Bowl Feeder comes with an adjustable dome cover you can raise or lower to prevent larger birds and squirrels from getting to food and protect it from rain. Traditional tube feeders are all-purpose options for bird feeding, especially for small birds that cling. For example, the Terrific Tube Feeder is made with state-ofthe-art materials to prevent warping and discoloration and includes a quick-clean, removable base to make cleaning fast and easy. Just push a button and the bottom of the feeder pops off for easy access to the inside. Rinse the feeder with soapy water, dunk it into a water-bleach solution at a concentration of 9-to-1, rinse, dry and reattach the bottom. Regular cleaning of feeders is essential for preventing mold, germs and disease.

Popular Foods Birdseed: Not all birdseed is created equal. Look for quality blends without cheap filler like red millet and oats. All-natural seed containing no chemicals or mineral oil is safe and more appealing to birds. Top seed picks include all-natural black oil sunflower and Cole’s “Hot Meats” (sunflower meats infused with habanero chili peppers that birds love and squirrels dislike). Or an option like Special Feeder blend, packed with favorites including black oil sunflower, sunflower meats and pecans, attracts the greatest number of wild birds. Offering a wide variety, Cole’s feed is researched and specifically formulated to attract certain bird species, the largest number of birds and the greatest variety of birds. Insects and Worms: A healthy, lush lawn is one of the best ways to feed birds that prefer insects and worms. You can supplement birds’ diets by serving dried mealworms in a packaged variety that’s easier to feed and less messy than live mealworms. Mealworms are packed with energy and contain essential nutrients, fat and protein. Fresh Fruit: Apples, orange halves and bananas are favored fruits. Suet: Perfect for insect-eating birds, suet is a high-fat food that provides abundant calories, rich nutrition and is a high-energy treat. Using the right feeders and high-quality feed can enhance your backyard and entice more birds, bringing stress relief and enjoyment. For more information on attracting birds to your backyard, visit coleswildbird.com. (Family Features)

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 21

Santa’s Workshop Qualiﬁes for Small Business Grant

ven Santa qualified for a Morris County Small Business Grant, which was personally delivered to him and Mrs. Claus at their Kinnelon workshop as the Morris County Board of County Commissioners continued to promote a program open to small businesses and nonprofits. Grants Still Available. Apply Now! Bob and Pamela Smith – honestly, those are not aliases – were at their “Big Red Santa” workshop to greet Commissioner Stephen Shaw as he delivered the check. Santa said the gesture would win the Commissioner a temporary reprieve from the “Naughty List.” “We consider this to be more than a grant. It is an investment, really, in our community and our small businesses … It’s my pleasure on behalf of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, and really all the residents of Morris County to present you with this letter and this small business check. We appreciate what you do here in Morris County,” said Commissioner Shaw. Watch Santa Stump a Commissioner on Toys From his Childhood “Big Red Santa,” which opened in 2009, was hit hard by the pandemic. “The grant program is instrumental to making this a more successful year,”said

Bob Smith. “This has allowed us to invest in our business and grow it, rather than fold it up,” Pamela Smith added. The couple had to adapt an in-person performance business to a virtual operation overnight. “We do tree-lightings, parades, children hospital visits and many charity events. But the majority of our business, naturally, is in December,” said Bob Smith, explaining how the pandemic shut him down overnight. “We had even begun expanding, doing country club visits. But COVID forced us to go virtual, and we of course had the expense of the studio set up, and the office set up and the backdrops, the cameras, the mics, the lighting, the monitors and classes on how to do it,” said Pamela Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Claus have since begun to return “Big Red Santa” to largely an in-person business, but are still building back the business and continue some virtual activity. The Smiths regularly attend training classes to update skills they have honed in dealing with children. Portraying Santa and Mrs. Santa is much more involved than donning costumes, they said. Children who may be going through personal

Santa and Mrs. Claus (Bob and Pamela Smith) chat with Commissioner Stephen Shaw, who delivered a Morris County Small Business Grant to their Kinnelon workshop on a hot summer day.

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Boonton’s St. Thérèse Shrine Attracts the Faith-Filled

By Jillian Risberg t. Thérèse Shrine in Boonton draws vast numbers of people, especially in these trying times. According to Carol Bsarany — it is a peaceful place of miracles. “Many believers have had their prayers answered,” says the Saint Mary’s Denville parishioner. “There are dozens and dozens of roses laid on her altar. St. Thérèse, ‘The Little Flower’ is known for her roses. This is their way of giving thanks.” St. Thérèse Feast Day is October 1. “My mission –- to make God loved -- will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses,” St. Thérèse once said. Countless lives have been touched by her intercession, and millions imitated her ‘Little Way.’ She has been acclaimed the “Greatest saint of modern times.” Everywhere in the world her roses continue to fall. Bsarany’s devotion to her is unceasing. The parishioner has been dedicated for more than 30 years. It all started when she was stricken with cancer in 2007 and going through chemo. A visit from her friend, Pat Anderson, changed everything. “She took me to the Shrine. Since then, I never left. St. Thérèse helped me through my cancer journey.” And she is not the only one. “A man who was terminally ill/medically could not be cured — his faith brought him to his knees asking for a favor, and he was miraculously cured,” says Bsarany. “Never

worry about a medical report, as God has the last say.” The Shrine is open daily from 8 to 6 p.m., with reduced hours in the winter. Pastor, Reverend Michael Parisi, of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes (a mile away from the Shrine) allowed the ministry to move inside the church for a weekly rosary during November and December. During this time of great division in America, Bsarany wishes that people take ‘faith, hope, love and kindness’ away from their visits. “We need to show each other mercy, no matter what our religious or political beliefs are,” she says, adding that there is great fellowship amongst the saintly visitors, especially on Tuesday. “Many come to pray for their family who are very ill or are concerned about the direction America is heading. They are concerned about their children and grandchildren,” she says. “2 Chronicles 7:14 — ‘If my people, called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’” Bsarany says there are many stories from those who attend. There’s a woman whose son is afflicted with a brain tumor, another diagnosed with cancer; and a mother whose son has an enlarged heart. Most visitors are from different parishes in Morris County, as an ad has been placed in five neighboring church bulletins.

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Bsarany says she and her husband Raymond are very active in their ministry “that has brought awareness to this litcontinued on page 23

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St. Thérèse Shrine... continued from page 22 tle Shrine, and now our visitors are bringing others to pray. I could not have done this without him.” The Shrine can only fit about 15 people inside. That’s why they pray outside by the cross for refuge from their everyday lives. The history of St. Thérèse represents the gratitude of its founder, Achille Arci and a promise he made and kept back in the 1920s. When Arci fell ill and was told by physicians that he was incurable, he didn’t want to accept that prognosis, so he prayed fervently to St. Thérèse for help. He promised that if he was cured, he would build a shrine in her honor and visit her home in France to pay his respects. Apparently, St. Thérèse liked that idea, because after a five-year battle with his illness Arci was suddenly and miraculously cured. Keeping his promise required the help of friends so he formed a small society of devout Catholics to build a modest shrine to St. Thérèse. The group solicited donations and volunteered labor to make it a reality and in 1933 was erected on what was then Arci’s property. In October 1952, Arci traveled to Lisieux, France to visit St. Thérèse’s home. When he returned, he continued tending to the shrine until his death in 1957. This was his second promise to St. Thérèse . “I am a fervent believer in this beautiful saint and continue to visit her Shrine daily,” says Bsarany. “While being there, I felt strongly in my spirit the question, ‘Why are

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 23

you here praying alone,’ so I contacted Lori Testa, administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (OLMC), in Boonton, who is responsible for the beautiful renovations of the Shrine, if she would object to a weekly Rosary prayed outside by the cross.” Testa loved the idea. “In June 2021, we had seven people on the first day. Our last prayer service (December 2021) we had over 100 people praying together,” Bsarany says. According to the parishioner, after Mr. Arci’s two daughters died, OLMC assumed property ownership of The Shrine and thanks to a very generous donation, it received a lot of love and attention while closed for the winter of 2022. New improvements, which will protect the Shrine — include security cameras, heating and cooling system, exterior gutters with rain barrel collection. The ministry begins with the Novena to St. Thérèse , then a prayer for our nation (‘the Memorare’) and ends with the Rosary. They meet every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at 54 Rock Lane, Boonton. On Tuesday, November 1, they will (again) move to St. Catherine of Siena Church in Mountain Lakes. The last prayer service is Tuesday, December 21 and resumes at the Shrine in May 2023. The everlasting impact of The Shrine has inspired Bsarany and others for years. “Once again — FAITH,” she says. “People realize when all else fails, it’s time for divine intervention.” For more information, call Carol Bsarany, 973-271-9252.

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New Jersey Artist Moving Mountains with His “XO World Project” Sculptures

By Steve Sears or Montclair resident and artist, Daniel Anderson, the work has many times brought tears to his eyes. And perhaps the most powerful moment in his life came when he visited the site at 4 a.m. the day after the installation of his most monumental artwork at One World Trade Center on the West Plaza at 285 Fulton Street. “I had just a powerful moment of the tranquility and the stillness,” Anderson says. “Until you’re at the World Trade Center and specifically next to the Memorial, you don’t really realize the heaviness of that site at night. I got to see passersby that normally commuted, people you could tell were regular bikers or joggers on a certain path, and they always kind of stop and say, ‘Whoa - what’s here?!’ It was just very touching to absorb that moment by myself.” What those passersby and Anderson had their eyes on was Anderson’s stainless steel, 12’ H x 24’ L “XO World” work of art, which was unveiled along with a companion sculpture, “XO Play” (which was installed inside the World Trade Center Memorial Oculus) on the 40th anniversary of

Daniel Anderson

World Peace Day on September 21, 2021. Both sculptures are part of the “XO World Project”, which promotes equality, unity, peace, and love. “You have the lucky timing of catching me at probably the busiest time of my life,” Anderson says quite happily. “This is the biggest thing I’ve done scale-wise. The one thing that comes to my mind is that I truly and simply am the messenger. To have that opportunity with my partners, The Port Authority and The Durst organization,

“XO Play” sculpture. Photos courtesy of Daniel Anderson

and to be given the opportunity to be the messenger - if this does not create positive impact via change, via philanthropic scope and implementation into that change, in some ways it’s only an art piece.” The ‘X’ of the “XO World” sculpture represents a Jack, its arms crossed, a universal symbol of love, and the ‘O’ is represented by a globe which unites the human race.

“XO Play” is four children of different races playing a game of Jacks, symbolizing humanity and togetherness. The XO World Project is just as important now in our COVID-19 world. Anderson with his work sought to unite people and heal division, and the fact that his “XO World” is installed at the World Trade Center Memorial site is continued on page 26

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 25

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Page 26 • August 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

XO World Project Sculptures... continued from page 24 apropos as well. In the days following the 9/11 attacks, Americans united like never before. “That’s exactly it,” Anderson says. “It just felt like the right time to do it. There was a lot that was put into it, and you can only imagine how intense it was. It just felt very timely.” Anderson, 42, a contemporary abstract sculptor and painter, was born and raised initially in Pompton Plains, then moved to Wayne with his family and attended Wayne Valley High School. He got recruited to the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Syracuse University, studied in Florence, Italy, and was the sole New York City based artist selected for an annual residency in Melbourne, Australia. Anderson is grateful for the response his work has received. Many photos have been taken of people crossing their arms in front of their chests, and thereafter were posted online on various social media sites. “We’re developing and expand-

ing the philanthropic outreach of the project and its scope,” Anderson says. “But through communication channels and eventually more of these social media apps and websites, you can just imagine how many legs it has to expand. A lot of people are responsible for it, and I’m very lucky to be surrounded by very talented people as well.” Anderson’s work is not done by a long shot. “I was driven by the mission to make the statement to the world, and I’m very grateful how many people that it really gets to connect with. We still want to do a lot more. The whole mission is to connect to the XO Project Foundation, and to connect to other partnership foundations in different cities and regions, and really start up a massive philanthropic outreach and statement to bring people together, further progress, and impact lives.” For more information about Daniel Anderson and the “XO World Project”, visit www.xoworldproject.com.

What’s happening in your school or organization? Celebrating a special birthday, anniversary, graduation? Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • August 2022 • Page 27

Blast from the Past: Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center – A Legacy of Education

By Henry M. Holden he Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center opened in 1998, and is home to a permanent collection of photographs and artifacts that document the inspirational life of the winningest player in baseball history, Lorenzo (Lawrence) Pietro Berra, but known to everyone as “Yogi” Berra. “Yogi Berra cared so much about education,” said Eve Schaenen, Executive Director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. “We built a site that would honor Yogi and his emphasis and caring about education.” “Yogi, and his wife Carmen, had this idea to educate kids using baseball as a vehicle for learning,” said Schaenen. “If I had to distill the work that we’re doing now it would be to make sure that we are saving his legacy by promoting the values that he stood for. The values are written all over the museum’s walls, as part of the permanent collection. They are teamwork, respect, determination, and humility.

These were the qualities that defined Yogi as a human being, not just on the ballfield but throughout the course of his life and they really inform all the education that we do.” The museum is home to various objects, including the mitt Yogi used to catch the only perfect game in World Series history. “We are using Yogi and all that goodness in those values to teach kids everything from language arts to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, (STEM)”. There are four topics listed on the website, Race, Immigration, Women in Sports and Financial Literacy. These are virtual field trips. The program on race grew out of an exhibit from the Negro leagues in Kansas City. “It’s the story of the Negro Baseball leagues, and the players” said Schaenen. “It’s also about taking aspects of their lives and using it as a way to talk about structural racism. The program talks about continued on page 28

Above: A bronze statue of Yogi greets visitors outside the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. (Credit: Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center) Left:This 1953 photo of Yogi Berra as a player. He later went on to be a coach, and a manager. (Credit: Public Domain)

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Blast from the Past...

continued from page 27 the Negro leagues in such a way that allows us to get into the social justice issues.” ‘The program has seen a lot of success locally. Every seventh grader in the school district has seen it. It’s very gratifying to see the success of this program, and the fact that we’re reaching as many students as possible.” The museum just opened an exhibit on Women in Sports, featuring Billie Jean King, the tennis great. “We want to honor and inform people that her efforts were crucial in eventually bringing equality to women in sports. We also want to recognize her commitment to support the LGBT+ community as an activist in a time when it was not fashionable to take such a position.” There is a one-week summer baseball camp where kids learn the fundamentals of baseball on a ball field and is located on the campus of Montclair State University. “For the rest of the year, we have both in-person and remote field trips.” Yogi was a son of Italian immigrants who grew up in an immigrant neighborhood on “The Hill,” in St. Louis. He had a typical mid-20th century immigration story, where the family was important. “It’s very rewarding to see the response from schools about immigration as well,” said Schaenen. During World War II, Berra served in the US Navy as a gunner’s mate on the attack transport USS Bayfield during the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. He received several

commendations for his bravery. During an interview on the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, Berra confirmed that he was also sent to Utah Beach during the D-Day invasion. Berra earned a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Unit Citation, two battle stars and a European Theatre of Operations ribbon. “He came back, to play baseball and raise a family,” said Schaenen. “We use that as a way of accessing other immigrant stories. That unit really addresses the immigrant experience, and everybody has an immigration story.” While playing in American Legion baseball team, Berra received the nickname “Yogi” from his friend Jack Maguire. After seeing a newsreel about India, Maguire said that Berra resembled a yogi from India whenever he sat around with arms and legs crossed waiting to bat or while looking sad after a losing game. “The Financial Literacy subject came out of feedback from educators. We found that some young people have very limited exposure to ideas of financial literacy. This course is a way of getting into that. We created a board game that kids can play that allows them to map out what it would feel like to be a rookie ball player making a certain salary. It allows them to think about how they would spend money. We try to create these topics in such a way that they would be appealing to young people.” Women in sports is now front-page news. “The women’s soccer team is now earning equal pay as men.

That is progress,” said Schaenen. “And women are on the front page of every newspaper lately regarding the gender issues around competitive swimming. It’s addressing some of the inequalities in sports. Billie Jean King’s advocacy is one reason why women are getting paid in sports. We try to make sure that we are not just talking about an isolated moment in history. By using Yogi’s full story, we are able to shed light on all sorts of topical issues today.” Yogi is also famous for his “Yogi-isms” aka malapropisms. “You can observe a lot by just watching,” “We made too many wrong mistakes,” “The future ain’t what it used to be,” and perhaps his most famous one, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” “In 1972, Berra was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Schaenen. “But the legacy of Yogi Berra extends beyond the playing field. We encourage people to come to the museum and that view Yogi not only as a Hall of Fame great but as a Hall of Fame human being.” Berra was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and has his picture on a US postage stamp on July 1, 2021. Berra passed away in his sleep, at the age of 90, on September 22, 2015. For more information, visit yogiberramuseum.org/ visit. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 12-5pm, Closed to the public Mondays & Tuesdays.

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More Precious Than Gold, Be The Gift of Mentoring A Young Person

By Richard Mabey Jr. n September of 1966, I began the eighth grade at Chapel Hill School in Lincoln Park. It was a most magical and enchanting time for me. Once again, I was able to walk to school in the early morning. There was the chirping of the song birds, the scurrying of squirrels climbing up and down the trees that adorned Main Street. There was a certain joy and happiness of once again walking to school with the old gang. For just a few months ago, I had been recovering from a full-year battle with dreaded Rheumatic Fever. And, all through seventh grade, I had tutors. For that entire year, my feet never touched the ground. But in that year, something very special happened in my life. From both, my hospital bed at times and my bed at home, I began to write feature stories for the old Lincoln Park Herald. Mr. Nicholas Marino, the Editor-in-Chief of the old Lincoln Park Herald, took an interest in my writings. While I was battling Rheumatic Fever, I would write stories about Boy Scout Troop 170. My mom would type them up and hand deliver them to Mr. Marino at his little newspaper office, located close to my home. During my year-long fight with Rheumatic Fever, I wrote dozens of little news and feature articles for Mr. Marino. And, he graciously printed them all. But if it wasn’t for my

mom, typing them up for me, I would have never had my start in life as a writer. I do not think that I ever chose to be a writer. I think God called me to be a writer. There were way yonder too many coincidences in my journey to find success in the writing arena. I was to write news articles and feature stories for the Lincoln Park Herald, for many years. Mr. Marino was a tough editor, but he also had a heart of gold. He was an old school editor, all the way. Now at 68, I look back at the people who helped me in life. For the most part, most of them have gone on to be with the Lord. It’s too late to tell them thank you. I guess that’s one of the side effects of growing old. If there’s someone who has reached out a helping hand to you, please do consider letting them know just how much you appreciate their kindness. The sands of the hourglass are forever flowing, the clock is always ticking, the pages of the calendar get torn away far too quickly, and the years pass in a seemingly blink of an eye. Appreciation and thankfulness are virtues that are more precious than gold. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com. Please put on the subject line: More Precious Than Gold.

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