Hometown Life Z12 October 2021

Zone 12

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No. 17 Vol. 8

My Life Publications • 1-800-691-7549

October 2021

Holy Spirit Parish Welcomes a New Pastor

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By Henry M. Holden orn and raised in Clifton, Father (Fr.) Stephen Prisk grew up in the Sacred Heart Parish, where he attended elementary school. He later went on to graduate from Seton Hall Preparatory High School. While attending Franciscan University, in Steubenville, Ohio, he began his vocation journey.

“I started college with the idea of becoming a doctor or at least something in the medical field,” said Fr. Stephen. “Initially I thought my calling was to serve in that way, but I discerned otherwise during my time in college.”

Fr. Stephen graduated college in 2010, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology but by then he was discerning in a different direction.

“I started asking God what he wanted me to do, not what I wanted to do.

It was then that I felt a call to a vocation.”

The calling he received was really a desire to serve but in the specific way of being a priest.

“I received a calling through prayer and praying before the Blessed Sacrament. The calling involves bringing our Lord to the people specifically through the Sacraments and the Eucharist.”

Having begun his discernment to the priesthood Fr. Stephen attended

Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. A year later, he transferred to the North American College in Rome for his studies in theology.

According to Fr. Stephen, this clarity to be a priest came about through prayer and formation in the seminary.

“In the seminary you work with the staff to see if God is calling you to be a priest or not.”

In Rome he earned a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Institute of St. John Paul II for Studies on Marriage and the Family.

“I experience pastoral work which is in a way a sort of internship,” said Fr. Stephen. “It seemed to come together and helped me to realize this is what God was calling me to do.”

“I would say a part of it was just praying for peace and joy throughout the process and seeing some clear signs that I was following the direction God wanted me to be in. I knew I was on the right path because I kept feeling joy and peace during my discernment.”

Fr. Stephen was ordained a transitional deacon on October 2, 2014, in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. His ordination to the priesthood came on May 23, 2015, at St. Philip Church, in

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As parochial vicar of St. Joseph, he gave several talks on vocations and discernment. He described a vocation as a “call from God that requires our response. We are called to holiness, to become saints, and to live out that call in a particular vocation.”

In 2019 he was appointed Vice Chancellor and Priest Secretary to the Bishop.

Some of the Vice Chancellor’s work involves counseling a Catholic marrycontinued on page 6

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5 Ways Payroll Services Boost a Business

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s a payroll provider right for you and your business? While it is an added expense, there are good reasons to add a partner to help with this service. Here are five things to consider: Allows full attention on growing the business. If a portion of employees is focused on managing and processing payroll, business growth opportunity may be stifled. This is especially true if a key employee or owner is the one processing payroll. By outsourcing payroll responsibilities, the full workforce

can concentrate on growing the business.

Improves accuracy and compliance. Most entrepreneurs didn’t go into business to tabulate hourly time cards, calculate tax withholdings, or stay current with the constantly changing government filing requirements. Thankfully there are those who specialize in monitoring labor regulations, compliance updates and the number-crunching that payroll requires. This will invariably improve the payroll accuracy a business needs.

Lowers audit risk and

increases peace of mind.

Federal taxes, state taxes, local taxes, Social Security, Medicare, unemployment taxes and overtime requirements are long (and growing). Payroll services reduce audit risk on the front end and provide audit assistance on the back end.

Enhances internal controls. Separation of duties is an important internal control for all businesses. This is tough to do in a small company. Businesses with one or two-person payroll departments are susceptible to fraud or embezzlement. Adding an

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Save money. One of the key methods of reducing business costs is adding efficiency. Outsourcing payroll increases efficiencies because payroll professionals need fewer hours to get the job done. These time improvements, coupled with potential savings in penalties and interest, can have a positive effect on net income.

When laying out and understanding all aspects of using a payroll service, it

may be time to review your situation.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.

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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.

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Two Hometown Residents Take Part in New Jersey COVID-19 Service Corps

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By Steve Sears ometown area residents, Amar Helwani of Pequannock and Cori Taylor of Pompton Plains, took part this past year as members of the New Jersey COVID-19 Service Corps.

The New Jersey COVID-19 Service Corps is an arm of the AmeriCorps COVID-19 New Jersey efforts, and was established

by Montclair State University’s Center for Community Engagement, working with the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service.

“New Jersey COVID-19 Service Corps is a new initiative that came out of the need of the pandemic,” says Jessica Pichardo, Project Specialist, Center for Community Engagement at Montclair State, where Helwani and Taylor attended college.

“It went from concept to reality pretty expeditiously. Back in March and April 2020, when the state was closing and shutting down, they were looking for a lot of support, and wanting to provide opportunities to really get the public to rally around helping different organizations, and really getting more boots on the ground to support different agencies that maybe didn’t have the capacity. Food pantries quadrupled if not more in their needs.

So, it was really important to be able to work with the state and participate in a solution to facilitate that planning. That’s how New Jersey COVID-19 Service Corps came about from the Center of Community Engagement.”

From the time the CCE put in their application, the New Jersey State Commission on Volunteerism was able to provide them with grant funding in October 2020. Then between January and June of 2021, 49 people joined as co-service corps members. “A pretty heavy lift and a monumental task for an AmeriCorps program,” says Pichardo.

Helwani and Taylor were completing their internships with the Department of Social Work, and that was also something that was formulated into the COVID-19 Service Corps program, to aid students to complete their internships and also provide them with AmeriCorps benefits and opportunity. “They were already working in the middle of a pandemic,” says Pichardo. “They were able to complete their internship requirements to graduate and simultaneously serve within the AmeriCorps program and earn a living allowance stipend and receive an education award.”

The AmeriCorps program is open to anyone able to participate. “We do accept AmeriCorps members that are 18 and over,” says Pichardo, who also mentions that MSU has partnerships with other higher education institutions, including William Paterson University, Drew University, The College of New Jersey, and Rutgers-Camden, and elsewhere across the Garden State. She also adds, “We do have nursing students, we’re working in providing vaccines through vaccination centers, and we’ve had AmeriCorps members, too, helping in

serving along with FEMA at the mega sites.

We’ve had, like I said, AmeriCorps members all across the state, so it’s pretty much an all hands on deck mentality. And it continues to grow, because there’s still a high level of need. A lot of our organizations are still working with parents and families and children that are still trying to get on their feet, to refocus to a new environment and new challenges.”

For more information, please visit www. montclair.edu/center-for-communityengagement.

New Pastor... continued from front page involves counseling a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic, or a non-baptized person.

There is a lot of paperwork to fill out for the dispensation, or permission to enter the marriage, or anyone who is outside the diocese to prepare for marriage.

There are 109 parishes in the Diocese of Paterson. “I know that is a lot of work, but I have an administrative assistant so that lightens the load a little bit.”

On June 29, 2021, Bishop Sweeney appointed Fr. Stephen as pastor of Holy Spirit Church, while remaining Vice

Chancellor.

“A theme I often reflect on in my homilies is evangelization and conversion.

Evangelization is to preach the Gospel, and it is also missionary outreach. Who is not here with us? Who is the Lord calling us to bring the Gospel to? Jesus exhorts the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. This is what it means to be a Catholic. This is what it means to follow Christ. We are called to be prophets. Sometimes that entails telling the Good News to those who have not heard it before, but probably more regularly it is about helping those who have fallen away.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 7

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The 200 Club of Morris County Awards Committee Announces 50th Golden Celebration Plans

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By Janet R. Rapisardi he 200 Club of Morris County has listened to your concerns, and the Board has rescheduled our 50th Awards Event to better suit your requests!

The Awards Committee has recently met to plan a spectacular evening event to honor our 50 years in support of Morris County first responders from Fire, local Police, New Jersey State Police departments and Emergency Medical Technician services on Thursday, May 5th, 2022 on Route 23 in Pompton Plains at the grand Legacy Castle, President Jim Rizzo presiding. Valor and Meritorious awards will be presented to our heroic First Responders.

President Rizzo facilitated the first of many meetings by generously providing the hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, pizzas, and assorted platters at The Godfather of Morristown, while Cambridge Wines graciously donated beverages.

The 200 Club is a not-for-profit founded in 1971. Its Mission helps to provide financial support for spouses and dependents of Morris County heroes who have lost their lives in the line of duty while valiantly responding and protecting Morris County

citizenry. To date, the Club has disbursed over $5 million dollars for this worthy cause. Scholarships are also awarded to qualified dependents of our Morris County first responders on a merit basis and are anonymously assigned a number for the selection process.

Our first responder family has met the challenges of recent tougher times, more so than ever before, and their stakes are more real than ever. We’ve recently seen firefighters evacuate residents from homes and overturned cars due to unexpected flood waters, State and local police working in tandem to ensure our safety, and EMS working tirelessly overtime to swiftly address any medical necessity.

Join us in acknowledging these First Responders and their daily risks in knowing they may not make it back home. Your ticket purchase, sponsorship and donation will make a world of difference to the spouses and dependent children of Morris County’s finest! And your membership is a commitment to our family of like-minded members while supporting Morris County’s heroes! Be our 200MC+1 today!

50th Golden Celebration Co-chairs Janet

L to R: Awards Event Committee: Alan Florin, Chairman of the Board and Awards Co-Chair Bill Lockwood, Awards Co-Chair Janet Rapisardi, President Jim Rizzo, Sr. VP and Sponsorship Chair Rob D’Emidio, Chuck Aaron, John Corigliano, Awards Co-Chair Ron Barnett, Damien Paumi and John Mania.

Rapisardi, Ron Barnett and Chairman of the Board Bill Lockwood will be unveiling more details in the months to come. Hint: Our first responder services will also be involved in an active way! Stay posted! Contact Sponsorship Chair, Sr. VP Rob D’Emidio for impressive media advertising opportunities,

and contact our Awards Co-Chairs Janet Rapisardi, Ron Barnett and Chairman of the Board Bill Lockwood at 200clubofmorris@ concast.net or call: 973-630-7933 for questions or membership (mention LC200), today.

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Montville Educational Foundation Announces Upcoming Fundraiser

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he Montville Education Foundation is a non-profit organization established for the purpose of promoting excellence in education for all Towaco, Montville and Pine Brook Schools. The Foundation provides grant money to teachers with innovative ideas for enhancing a child’s educational experience. The challenge for educators is often the inability to obtain district funding due to budgetary constraints. Through MEF grants, teachers are able to obtain funding and have their creative ideas come to fruition. The MEf has funded over $400,000 in educational grants. The most recent grants include: Creating a Broadcast News Room for Lazar Middle School Donating a Book Vending Machine for Cedar Hill School Developing Kinetic Learning

Environments for Valley View and Cedar Hill Elementary Schools Purchasing a 3-dimensional pottery printer for the Montville High School Supporting the School of Rock with sound equipment The MEF is having its annual Calendar Raffle Fundraiser where by $1,000 will be given away. Every Friday in November, December and January $50 will be given away to the lucky winning ticket. Two special $200 drawings will be held on Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Eve. Each ticket has 14 chances to win!! Tickets cost $10 for 1 and $20 for 3. They can be purchased online at MEFMontvillenNJ@gmail.com or by calling Daria at 973-391-4531. Winners will be posted on MEFgrant.com website and contacted by phone/email. Thank you!

What’s happening in your school or organization?

Celebrating a special birthday, anniversary, graduation?

Have a human interest story or something you would like to share?

Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

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For Lincoln Park Performer, the Stage is Home

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By Jillian Risberg he has a storied history in Broadway musicals, cabarets and rock concerts. For trained professional dancer, singer, actress Carrie Nagy, often dubbed a ‘one-woman show’ — performing is life.

But the pandemic changed everything. As days turned into weeks, then months, seeing her friends and colleagues in the music and theater business getting shut down with little hope of reopening was disheartening.

It left Nagy feeling isolated and sad… that something had to give.

“My husband’s job was affected as well. We needed to stay afloat as two performing artists raising a two child family,” she says. “I had to get creative, and quickly, (to) make this work.”

Nagy began offering early education music classes to structured studio style dance (ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop/jazz funk) classes and even theatre arts, acting voice and movement classes from babies to adults outdoors, socially distanced options — so people could comfortably attend a class and let loose for a bit after being locked down.

“I love to bring a sense of normalcy and hope to kids being affected negatively due to lack of socialization,” she says. “The arts are so important, especially now.”

Nagy has choreographed all levels of performance from Professional, Off-Broadway to Regional and Community Theatre, including opportunities with Theatre Works Professional Theatre in NYC. “I am excited to be teaching at least 10 classes a week now,” says the artist, of her Mommy and Me Music and Dance classes in Lincoln Park, as well as privately in homes and studios around New Jersey.

She spent seven years as a stay-at-home mom prior to COVID raising daughters Lily Jean, 8, and four-year-old Nina, and had started teaching again.

“Once the kids were going to be in school (Sept 2020), I was going to make my return to the stage as a performer, as well as teaching full-time… or so I thought,” the artist says. “Instead I would become a full-time homeschooler. Now my girls come to work with me, as I teach. I also travel on location teaching at homeschooling co-ops and learning pods.”

This inspired Nagy to become a homeschooling mom herself, she says of seeing the kid’s social interaction, learning subjects through enrichment.

No stranger to giving back, she is always finding ways to create new programs and bring the arts to children, big and small.

“I taught at schools such as Bach to Rock Music, Gymboree Music and Play, Ellis Dance Studio, Action Theatre Conservatory and New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts. I ran early education classes, children’s conservatory programs and summer intensive workshops,” says Nagy, adding that she had a residency in West Orange Public Schools theater arts and enrichment programs, and worked at most of the elementary schools, both middle schools and the district high school between 2004-2016.

She started her career as a professional dancer, working with a celebrity special events dance company, which is how she got to know many people in the performing arts and entertainment industry and found herself on an exciting journey.

“I’ve had amazing experiences, such as dancing and singing solo ‘All That Jazz’ in front of millions in the center of Times Square, promoting Broadway’s ‘Chicago’ the Musical. I have been on stage with many musicians and bands as a backup dancer at live shows and concerts. I was even a featured dancer in Beyonce’s MOCAP 3D video game animation for ‘Single Ladies,’ Nagy says.

So there couldn’t be better news for the artist than the opening of the Great White Way. “I am happy to see Broadway returning and concerts happening again,” says Nagy.

“The show must go on.” To learn more about Carrie, email: carrielinkdance@gmail.com.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 11

The Friends of the Pequannock Township Library Will Host Scarecrow Festival

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utumn days are finally here! The Friends of the Pequannock Township Library cordially invite you to our 2nd Scarecrow Festival beginning October 1831, 2021. Please mark your calendars!

The community’s invited to follow the “Scarecrow Patch” and stroll through the outdoor gardens and meet our amusing “Scarecrow Guests.” Take a selfie with your favorite “Scarecrow Guest” and share it with us on social media. Take home, while supplies last, a “Scarecrow Guest”

children’s craft. This craft will be available in the library’s lobby. A generous 2020 monetary donation from the Pequannock Township Rotary provided the craft supplies for this theme related craft.

This will be a family-friendly event and will work within the New Jersey guidelines for COVID-19.

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The Road to Recovery Continues After Cancer Treatment Ends

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he American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined that were diagnosed between 2009 and 2015 was 67 percent. That’s a noteworthy and encouraging statistic, though global figures compiled by Ourworldindata.org indicate that five-year survival rates following diagnosis are significantly lower in poorer countries. In addition, the road to recovery for cancer patients typically does not end when treatments are completed.

The National Cancer Institute notes that many cancer survivors have indicated that information and support was abundant during their treatment. However, once treatment stopped, a new wave of questions and uncertainty soon emerged.

For example, the NCI points out that many cancer survivors recognize that life after treatment is less about “getting back to normal” than it is about discovering the new normal. In fact, the Memorial Sloan Ketting Cancer Center reports that most people indicate it takes between six and 12 months after they complete chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.

Follow-up care also is a vital part of recovering from cancer. The NCI notes that

cancer survivors typically return to the doctor every three to four months during the first two to three years after treatment.

After that, survivors may see their doctors once or twice a year. Follow-up care is vital for cancer survivors, as it provides their doctors an opportunity to determine if patients are experiencing any side effects from treatment. These appointments also allow doctors to determine if the cancer has returned or spread to other parts of the body. In addition, follow-up visits provide an opportunity for cancer survivors to bring up any symptoms or questions they might have. Patients can ask about ways to reduce their risk of cancer recurrence and seek advice on getting back to normal, including how quickly they can begin exercising and how to approach new fitness regimens if they were inactive prior to diagnosis.

The road to recovery from cancer may be filled with uncertainty. But cancer survivors should recognize that millions before them have survived the disease and gone on to live full, happy lives. A patient approach to recovery can help cancer survivors overcome any obstacles they may encounter along the way.

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

Tips On Caring For Disabled Dogs

D

sick compared to dogs that stay within og disabilities could be a result of illtheir ideal weight. Exercise and a balness, physical injury or accidents. Just anced diet are the only things you really because your dog is disabled, it should need to worry about when it comes to not stop you from enjoying its company. As a your dog’s weight. Make sure it gets the dog owner, it is your responsibility to help the right amount of exercise by taking it out dog live a normal life and cope with the situfor walks or jogs. You can also let it run ation. Below are a few tips to keep your dog around in an open area like your backhappy and healthy, even with its disability. yard, front lawn or park. Never overfeed Assist their movements. Dogs who suffer or underfeed your dog. Use a good dog from mobility problems, such as hip dysplafood mix or you can feed them meat that sia, arthritis, spinal disorders, DM in dogs you prepared. Check with your vet about (degenerative myelopathy) or other medical your dog’s ideal weight and the best type problems that affects their hind legs will need of diet you can give it. plenty of help moving around. To make things Regular visits to the doctor. Visiting easier for you and the dog, you can buy a the vet regularly helps you and your dog’s special leash that supports its torso and back doctor track the dog’s condition and see if legs. There are also other tools that assist in it’s improving or not. By going to the vet, mobility problems, such as dog wheelchairs that can be strapped to its back. If you are going to take the dog out to the vet, you will you can detect any problems and stop them before they develop even further. The vet need to carry it into the car since it might have a hard time getting in. You can also use a can also advise you on medical procedures and other remedies that can help or cure your dog. They can also offer medical screening for some genetic illnesses like DM in dogs. small and improvised ramp that will help it walk into the car.

Watch their weight. Like humans, overweight dogs have a higher chance of getting continued on page 13

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Beware of Skimmers and Shimmers

Disabled Dogs... continued from page 12 Talk to your dog. Talking to your dog is actually a form of therapy for the both of you. Massage and gently rub its fur and spend some time with it. Sometimes, human touch works better and is more calming and relaxing compared to any other type of medication.

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ersonal safety refers to physical and mental well-being, but individuals also must take steps to safeguard their financial well-being.

Thieves have various ways to steal individuals’ personal data — everything from hacking into banking or shopping accounts to stealing physical mail. But thieves also have more sophisticated, often hidden ways to steal private financial data.

Consumer Reports says the public should be aware of skimmers and shimmers, which are sophisticated devices that steal data when people use public credit and debit card readers at ATMs, gas pumps and other locations.

A card skimmer is placed on top of the point-of-sale terminal. When a person swipes his or her credit or debit card, the device collects data from it. That data can be used to make fraudulent purchases and to produce counterfeit cards. Among the newest tools scammers use are shimmers, which are tiny types of skimmers that are capable of reading data from new chipbased cards, according to the ATM Industry Association, a nonprofit trade organization.

Criminals can even retrofit hidden cameras at ATMs and other locations with card skimmers. Skimmers and shimmers are often Bluetooth-based circuit boards that

can transmit stolen card data wirelessly. A thief can drive by a terminal to download card data remotely from a mobile device or laptop.

Devices are getting harder and harder to spot and are turning up in some unlikely places. According to Matt Hayes, a special agent for the United States Secret Service, “You’re never going to know the skimmer is installed on the point-of-sale terminal [of a store].” Recent surveillance video from inside an Aldi grocery store in Pennsylvania showed someone installing a skimming device right in front of a clerk who was unaware of what was happening.

The ATM Industry Association says about half of the skimmers currently in use are relatively invisible. The credit scoring company FICO indicates the latest data showed there was a 70 percent increase in the number of debit cards that were compromised in 2016 at ATMs and other card readers used by merchants, and the numbers continue to grow.

Monitoring credit card and banking statements as well as credit reports is the best way to keep on top of scams. Quickly report any unauthorized withdrawals, payments or purchases; otherwise, you may be responsible for charges and face longterm financial repercussions.

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I Remember Dad: The Beloved Scoutmaster

S

By Richard Mabey Jr. erving as a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170, was one of my beloved father’s cherished ministry. Dad firmly believed in the saying, “it is better to teach a boy morals, than to rehabilitate a wayward man.” My dad unselfishly served as Scoutmaster for 28 years.

Ten thousand memories, of Dad’s years as Scoutmaster, haunt the fibers of the weave and tapestry of the chambers of my heart. Dad had this old coffee can, that he kept hidden on a shelf of his basement workbench. Dad would put his spare change in that old coffee can, every Saturday morning, after breakfast. He would cash in the coffee can of change, once a year to pay for one or two scouts to attend summer camp.

Dad called it the Campership. If a scout’s family was having a tough time, Dad would tell them about the Campership.

All these years later, I can tell you that the Council Campership really didn’t exist.

Dad’s accumulated spare change was the financial source of the Campership.

The only ranks that Dad ever gave to scouts was that of Tenderfoot and Eagle Scout. Mr. Jack Floyd, Troop 170’s Assistant

Scoutmaster, pinned the Eagle Scout medal on my scout uniform, because Dad wanted to stand beside me as my father and not my Scoutmaster. But I remember how Dad used to say to a new Tenderfoot scout, “in a few years, I hope I’ll be presenting you with the Eagle Scout award.

When I look back at it all, I amazed at how many young lives my dad touched.

Dad loved scouting. He believed in the Scout Law and the Scout Oath. He took every word of those sacred promises of scouting, very seriously. I never once heard my dad say a bad word. I remember sitting in church one Sunday morning and the minister made a comment, disparagingly of truck drivers. The minister said, “oh, that fella swore like a truck driver.” I remember looking over to my father and seeing the hurt look on his face.

My father never took a chemistry class in his life. Yet, he taught hundreds of boys a most basic chemistry lesson, that we breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide oxide, and a tree absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Dad used this lesson for a two-fold purpose. First, to show evidence of a Supreme Being and secondly to teach the scouts to respect

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nature.

My father taught hundreds of scouts how to tie knots, tie lashings, how to use a map and compass, to apply basic first-aid skills, and to deeply respect all of nature.

He taught the scouts to respect one another. To be good citizens. To find their God given talents. To be leaders.

One of the most cherished memories of my father’s service as Scoutmaster, are centered upon the religious services that he and Mr. Donald Talbot, Assistant Scoutmaster, would lead on Sunday morning campouts. They would show the boys examples in nature, that showed the evidence of a Supreme Being. Boys of all faiths, would sit on fallen trees, boulders, and the hard earthen floor, and listen to the gentle and kind words of these two fine scout leaders.

My father received many awards in scouting, including the coveted Silver Beaver, the highest award a volunteer scout leader can receive. But Dad’s most cherished award was a slice of a maple log, wherein the boys used a woodburning tool to carve in Dad’s name and title him “The Beloved Scoutmaster.”

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer.

My beloved father in his scout uniform, from 1974.

He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ hotmail.com. Please put on the subject line: My Life Publications.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 15

What to Know Before Installing Built-ins

A

fter purchasing a new home, buyers often want to put their own fingerprint on the property.

Homeowners anticipate the day when their homes are transformed into spaces that reflect their style and not the preferences of previous owners.

When deciding how to renovate interior spaces, homeowners will make some relatively temporary changes, but they also

may consider some permanent adjustments.

Built-ins fall into the category of permanent adjustments, and while realty professionals note that built-ins tend to provide a good return on investment, homeowners can learn more about built-ins before deciding if they want to install them in their homes.

What are built-ins?

Realtor.com defines built-ins as any feature that is built into the interior of a

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home. The term “built-ins” may immediately conjure up images of bookshelves, but builtins also include benches and entertainment centers.

Why install built-ins?

Built-ins can be both utilitarian and aesthetically appealing. Built-ins are functional because they provide storage space that homeowners may otherwise find hard to create. Built-ins are embedded in walls that may otherwise be useful only to hang artwork. This can provide muchneeded storage space in homes with limited square footage. Professionally installed builtins also can transform rooms, making them appear more organized. Customized builtins also can give homes their own unique character, though it’s important to note that prospective buyers may or may not appreciate that uniqueness.

Are there disadvantages to built-ins?

The permanence of built-ins may not appeal to some buyers. If buyers don’t like built-ins at all or are not fond of the look of customized built-ins, that may be enough

to convince them to walk away from a property. However, Realtor.com notes that functional built-ins, like built-in bench seats with storage capacity, appeal to modern buyers and their preference for as much storage space as possible.

Permanent built-ins also can be costly.

The home remodeling resource Fixr.com notes that built-in entertainment center installations can cost between $8,000 and $9,500. Built-in seating and bookshelves are not as costly, but such projects still cost more than simply buying premade furniture.

Some buyers also may see built-ins as limiting what they can do with a space.

That can be a major disadvantage as more professionals work from home and seek multi-functional spaces in their homes.

Built-ins can dramatically change the look of a room and provide some much-needed storage space. But it’s imperative that homeowners give ample thought to builtins before deciding to install them in their homes.

What’s happening in your school or organization?

Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

Page 16 • October 2021 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

6 Special Ways to Celebrate Grandparents country store and plan to open the package together virtually on a phone call or video chat.

Relax in a rocker. Settling into a comfy seat and rocking your cares away only gets better when you share the moment with someone dear to your heart. Gather your kids to sit back, relax and enjoy a thoughtful conversation with their grandparents while soaking up the time and simply unwinding together.

Engage in a little friendly contest. Tap into your children’s playful side and competitive

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sk anyone to recall their most treasured childhood memories, and you’re likely to hear tales about time spent with loved ones, grandparents in particular. As an adult, you may find yourself wondering how to help your kids create those magical moments with their grandparents. However, strengthening their bond with a beloved grandparent may be easier than you think.

Take a trip back in time. Asking your grandparents about the good ol’ days may seem cliche, but it’s a wonderful way to discover new reasons to appreciate your elders as unique individuals with intriguing perspectives. Encourage your kids to ask their grandparents what life was like during their youth or how they imagined life in the 2020s would be. They can compare notes on their bucket lists; they might even find something to cross off the list together. If you share a love of history, talk through the family tree and capture all the stories that define your family through the years.

Share a meal or dessert. It may seem like a small gesture but making a point to share a meal or dessert with a grandparent, especially one who lives alone, can have

a marked impact. In a comfortable, family setting like Cracker Barrel, you can gather together over authentic homestyle cooking while using the time for your kids to catch up with their grandparents and share stories.

End the night with a classic, kid-friendly favorite like a Dirt Cup Dessert. Spar with spoons and hunt for all the gummy worms hiding in the delicious cup of cookie crumble “dirt.”

Hit the road together. It’s often said that there’s no better way to get to know a person than to travel together. Pick a new place and make it an adventure to remember for your kids and their grandparents. Map out the route together as a family, choosing the landmarks, activities and pitstops you want to make along the way. Be sure to document the journey as a precious keepsake for yourself and your kids, and package those memories in a photobook or scrapbook as a gift for the next birthday or holiday.

Create a care package. If distance keeps you apart, you can still find creative ways for your children to spend time with their grandparents. Assemble a package with some of their favorite treats, mementos, activities or games from your local old

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spirit with some good-natured game time.

Help them choose an easy but engaging game, like the beloved peg game found on tables at Cracker Barrel, to share with their grandparents. Play best of five or create a tournament and play rounds against other family members, too.

Find more ideas for celebrating warm memories of the past and encouraging your kids to spend wholesome quality time with their grandparents at crackerbarrel.com.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 17

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N

By Richard Mabey Jr. one of us have a written guarantee of tomorrow. When the sun sets tonight, it will be the last sunset for many, many people who share this planet with us.

None of us know when the time will come when our Divine Soul will depart our body. It is the very serious responsibility of each and every one of us to find the diamond of truth, that is sometimes hidden within the lump of coal.

I am not a theologian by trade. For the most part, I have earned my weekly paychecks in the arena of being a wordsmith, a writer, at times a proofreader and editor. I find myself torn at times, between maintaining a certain sensitivity toward all paths to the Divine One and sharing the golden truth granted unto me by all so many good people. This is a true-life story of one of the last endearing opportunities that my beloved mother had to share the love of Christ with the children living in the neighborhood of my church.

At my church of Grace Baptist Church, it is a tradition to hold the infamous “Trunk or Treat” event for both, the children of my church and the children of the neighborhood.

This Halloween event is usually held on Halloween night or the night before Halloween. It is generally well attended by both parents and children. It is such a fun evening. The children come dressed as

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their favorite super-hero, a monster of some kind, an astronaut, or some other television character.

There are usually a good two dozen cars parked in the big parking lot, parked so that the car trunks are facing the path that the costumed children and parents walk to collect their goodies. Each open car trunk is decorated with a unique theme. It is such a fun time and everyone has such a wonderful time.

At the time of the Trunk or Treat event of 2019, Mom had been enduring severe chest pains from her damaged Aortic Valve.

Mom was scheduled for heart surgery in early November. My sister, Patti, and I were concerned that the Trunk or Treat event might have been too much of a strain on our dear mom. But Mom insisting on going to the Trunk or Treat event.

I was amazed by Mom’s devotion to the children who came to our Trunk or Treat car site. Sitting in her wheelchair, Mom had a basket of little candy bars on her lap. Mom chose not to simply throw the little candy bar into the child’s Halloween bag, but rather hand a candy bar to each child. As Mom would hand the little candy bar to a child, she would simply smile and say to the child, in a loving voice, “Jesus loves you.” Mom would hold the child’s hand for a moment or two as she shared these three words with

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the little boy or girl.

It is important to note that the “Trunk or Treat” event was clearly marketed and advertised as a Christian event, sponsored by a Christian church. So, there was no problem of Mom’s words being in conflict with a family’s belief system. It was made clear as the crack in the Liberty Bell, that Grace Baptist Church was sponsoring a Christian event. Parents were clearly told this when they registered a child for the Trunk or Treat event.

For a few hours, that night, Mom forgot about her intense pain. It would be the last time that my dear, sweet mother would have the chance to share such an endearing moment with all so many children. I know it meant a lot to my beloved mother.

Mom did have her heart surgery in November. Sadly, she had a stroke in the latter part of the middle of December. My heart broke when my mom went Home to be with the Lord, just two days before Christmas Day of 2019.

In the last days of her life, before Mom had her stroke, she would often talk about the wonderful time she had at the Trunk or Treat event. In looking back, I am very grateful to my beloved Minister, Pastor Rocky Culpepper, for spearheading the wonderful Trunk or Treat event.

None of us have any guarantee that we

A photo of my mom, Janet Mabey, just a few months before her last Halloween.

will be here, in this physical body on this earth, when tomorrow comes. Each and every one of us have to find the golden truth of the existence of a Divine One. I have read the Holy Bible, cover to cover, several times.

However, I am far from being an academician of the Bible. But I do know for sure, each and every one of us needs to sincerely seek the golden truth of the existence of a loving Divine Being. For truly, tomorrow knows no guarantee.

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

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 19

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Keep the Focus on Fun During Family Baking Sessions

aking is a beloved tradition in many families. Though family baking sessions tend to be especially popular during the holiday season, there’s nothing stopping families from breaking out the flour and having some fun in the kitchen at any time of year.

Fun is the focus when families bake together, and the following are some ways to make such sessions enjoyable for everyone.

• Encourage input. The designated family baker may have a host of go-to recipes up his or her sleeve, and baking such specialties might be a necessity on birthdays or during the holiday season. But all baking sessions need not be beholden to family favorites. Encourage all family members to recommend recipes prior to family baking sessions, even allowing a different person to choose the recipe each time. This can make the whole family enthusiastic about baking together and may even help families discover some new foods.

• Remember that patience is a virtue.

Family baking sessions require patience, especially when young children are involved. Kids’ attention spans may wane or they may grow upset if they spill some

ingredients. Remain patient at such times and let kids know making a mess is part of the fun of baking together.

• Simplify sessions as necessary. Baking with toddlers and school-aged youngsters is going to be different than doing so alongside preteens and adolescents. In addition, consider kids’ maturity levels when planning family baking sessions, as some youngsters might be more than capable of following more challenging recipes. Making sure kids are given age-appropriate tasks or jobs on par with their maturity levels is a great way to keep sessions fun and prevent frustration.

• Share the baking bounty. Let everyone indulge a little during the baking session. If you plan on making cookies, don’t hesitate to let everyone snack on a few chocolate chips while preparing the cookies. And once the bounty is done baking and it’s ready to eat, share it with family, friends and neighbors. Kids will be proud of their creations and want to share them, and that will ensure they’re excited about the next family baking session.

When baking with the family, keep the focus on fun so everyone has a great time while baking some tasty treats.

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D

Quick, Nutritious Dishes to Enjoy Dairy Without the Discomfort

innertime dishes loaded with nutrients help keep loved ones connected while refueling after busy days spent at work and school. Dairy foods – key ingredients in many at-home meals – provide nutrients for people of all ages to grow and maintain stronger bodies and minds.

However, some bodies are unable to break down the sugar found in milk, known as lactose, which causes an upset stomach and a heavy, bloated feeling.

Rather than avoiding dairy and missing out on beneficial nutrients, people with lactose intolerance can enjoy real dairy products that are naturally low in or don’t contain lactose without the stomachache with foods like: Lactose-free milk, which is real milk with the same 13 essential nutrients as regular milk Hard and aged cheeses, such as cheddar, colby, Monterey Jack, Parmesan and Swiss Yogurt with live and active cultures,

which help break down lactose, making it easier to digest These easy-to-make meals offer lactose intolerance-friendly options for families seeking to keep milk on the menu. Because they all require an hour or less in the kitchen, they provide quick solutions for those hectic schedules without sacrificing taste or nutrition.

Visit MilkMeansMore.org to find more delicious dishes that fit a lactose intolerant meal plan.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Kebabs Recipe courtesy of Rachel Gurk of “Rachel Cooks” on behalf of Milk Means More Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 3 Skewers: Nonstick cooking spray 2 chicken breasts (6 ounces each), cubed 1 ham steak (6 ounces), cubed 6 bamboo skewers (8 inches) 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil Sauce: 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 21

Celebrating our 8th Anniversary

o y a M e Cinco D

Dairy Without the Discomfort... continued from page 20 To make skewers: Preheat broiler to 500 F. Line broiler pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Thread cubed chicken pieces and cubed ham pieces onto skewers.

In small bowl, combine Dijon mustard, maple syrup, black pepper, paprika and oil.

Brush mustard mixture on skewers.

Broil about 5 minutes, flip and cook 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

To make sauce: In small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.

Gradually add milk, whisking constantly.

Add Dijon mustard. Continue cooking 5 minutes, or until thick. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheese, whisking until melted.

Add salt and pepper, to taste, if desired.

Serve chicken and ham kebabs with sauce.

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In large bowl, combine spinach, eggs, cottage cheese, chicken, feta cheese, flour, butter, onion, oregano, salt and pepper.

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Page 22 • October 2021 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Teach Kids How to Protect the Earth

Source: Propane Education & Resource Council

T

eaching kids about the environment from an early age starts lifelong habits and creates awareness about the way humans affect the Earth. Connecting those lessons to school is an easy way to reinforce how the whole family can make everyday changes that make a difference.

Lower lunchtime impact. Between brown bags, baggies and other packaging waste, school lunches generate a heap of trash.

Instead, encourage kids to pick colorful reusable lunchboxes they can use again and again. Bento-style boxes add kid-friendly fun while keeping food separated so you can skip plastic baggies. Another earth-friendly suggestion for school lunch: instead of singleserve products, buy larger bulk packages you can use to fill reusable containers.

Manage transportation. Getting kids to and from school affects the environment in multiple ways, from energy consumption to pollution. You can reduce your family’s impact by having kids ride the bus or carpooling with others in your neighborhood.

Avoid idling while at school pickup and drop off and advocate for your school district to use clean energy options, like propane, for its transportation fleet.

According to the Propane Education & Research Council, propane school buses offer multiple benefits for school districts and students alike. Not only do propane buses save school districts’ money, but they also reduce harmful emissions, giving students a healthier ride to school.

Find more information at BetterOurBuses. com.

Stop water waste. Over the past year, access to water fountains has been significantly limited to prevent the spread of germs. That means many school districts

are more receptive to having kids bring water bottles from home. Sending your little learners off with reusable bottles offers a win-win that reduces reliance on plastic bottles and other single-serve beverage containers, while also encouraging kids to practice healthy habits by staying hydrated throughout the day.

Skip the supply splurge. While there’s something exciting about breaking open a brand new box of crayons or markers, it’s not really necessary to buy all new supplies year after year. Reusing what gets sent home at the end of the year saves money and prevents waste of still-functional supplies that would otherwise take up space in landfills.

Encourage resourceful recycling. Get kids excited about recycling by designing and decorating recycling bins using leftover materials around the house. When it’s fun and they’ve had a hand in creating the tools, kids are more likely to remember to put recycling in its place.

Include the whole family. Family time can be a precious commodity while school is in session, so make it meaningful when you can by bringing everyone together for a cause.

Take the family to a local recycling center for an afternoon of volunteering or gather everyone for a pick-up day at a nearby park.

School is often the center of kids’ worlds, so bringing lessons about protecting the environment into the education setting is a natural way to introduce them to ideas for protecting the Earth and its resources.

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Protect the Earth... continued from page 22 Switching to propane buses is one of the main ways school districts are updating their transportation plans to ensure every child has a safe, clean, healthy ride to school.

Energy Mix Electric vehicles make sense for several uses, including the passenger cars parents use to drive their students to school, but propane has a fuel range and performance better suited for school transportation vehicles that travel long distances at a time.

Energy Equity Generally, the more affordable energy is, the more equitable its distribution will be. The cost of a propane school bus and its refueling infrastructure is one of the most affordable options for school districts.

Propane buses are nearly four times less expensive than electric buses.

Plus, school districts save money throughout the lifetime of propane buses.

Propane school buses cost 30-50% less per mile to operate than diesel, according to the Propane Education & Research Council, and some districts are saving more than $1 per gallon, which can add up to thousands of dollars over a single school year. That’s money that can go back into classrooms.

Carbon Footprint In most of the United States, propane school buses are a lower carbon option than electric school buses charged using the electric grid. New innovations in the industry have also led to a renewable propane option for school buses, which ensures low-carbon options well into the future. Because it’s produced from renewable raw materials, renewable propane is a lower carbon option than conventional propane and is cleaner than other energy sources.

Harmful Emissions While diesel exhaust is classified by the World Health Organization as a carcinogen, propane buses don’t expose students to the same harmful emissions. Propane school bus engines lower greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions to near-zero levels, which improves air quality and eliminates concerns about breathing-related issues.

In fact, propane school buses significantly reduce the harmful emissions that are federally regulated due to their negative impact on human health and are a known trigger for issues like asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. (Family Features)

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Sister Cities: Lincoln Park, New Jersey, Meet Lincoln Park, Michigan

A

By Steve Sears ccording to Lincoln Park, Michigan Mayor Thomas Karnes, the city he has spent his whole life in has a lot of history. “We came into existence in 1921 as a village, so we’re celebrating 100 years this year, and we became a city in 1925.”

Initially a farming community, deeds to French farmers were given by local Indian tribes. “The date of that signing is interesting because it was 1776, and I think it was July 4 that it was signed over,” says Karnes. “So that’s basically when the English and Europeans started settling in this area.”

Routes 75 and 85 split the five square miles of Lincoln Park, Michigan in half, both roadways running north and south. It’s New Jersey sister, which has about 10,500 residents, is bisected by Route 202, and is roughly 7 square miles. The Michigan Lincoln Park has 30 parks in the town, the primary one being Council Point Park, dating back to almost the mid 1700s when Chief Pontiac and Indians met to plan a Detroit attack. “It was their last stand, trying to get what was their land back again,” says Karnes. “That’s where they had the council, and there is a state marker there. It’s a great walking trail along the Ecorse Creek or Ecorse River,

depending on who calls it, and then to the point where you have the Council Point.

So, you can walk through where the Native Americans were hundreds of years ago, and there’s soccer fields there and there’s some baseball fields. It’s just a nice place to walk.”

When the auto industry really started taking off, specifically with Henry Ford and the Model T, Lincoln Park became, in Karnes’ words, “a bedroom community for Detroit.

They were expanding, relatively close and still are relatively close to downtown, and we were a convenient place to live. So, we’re still primarily residential. We’re over 40,000 people according to the last census.”

Lincoln Park, Michigan has a very diverse population, which is reflected in its eateries “If you’re visiting here,” says Karnes, who has served as mayor for 8 years, “you have a great opportunity to find varieties of Mexican food. We have at least 8 Mexican restaurants with a couple of new ones opening up. Not only for the Mexican food, though; we also have a Mexican candy store, and then we have Los Arcos, which is a Spanish market and restaurant. If you are of the Hispanic culture and you’re looking for specific things, you can find it here.”

Jeff Day, curator of the Lincoln Park Historical Museum, adds, “We do have

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Lincoln Park Post Office building, shown here when it opened in 1939, is today home to the Lincoln Park Historical Museum. Photos courtesy of the Lincoln Park Historical Museum.

some of the old-time restaurants. Actually, our A&W drive thru restaurant and White Castle, those have been around since the 50s.” As for lodging in town, a Sleep Inn in the city is currently under reconstruction, but the neighboring communities of Allen Park and Southgate have many a hotel or motel to rest in while visiting Lincoln Park.

The Lincoln Park Historical Museum opened in 1972, and is located in the original post office building which opened in 1939, which was bought by the historical society

in the 1990s. The museum currently has an exhibit on the 1921 incorporation. “We’ve also had our downtown development authority here in Lincoln Park install about 150 street banners on light poles, which celebrates the 100th anniversary as well, with names of various civic organizations and local businesses,” adds Day. Karnes is proud of the city’s bandshell, which is located near the city’s War Memorial and Kennedy Memorial Building continued on page 25

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 25

Sister Cities...

The State historical marker for Council Point and Pontiac War Council of April 27,1763, held at the convergence of the main branches of the Ecorse River; located in Lincoln Park, Michigan.

continued from page 24 at Memorial Park on Route 85 (Fort Street). “The bandshell is just like a mini version of the Hollywood Bowl. It’s been there since 1964 and various groups have played there. We do a concert series every Thursday night during the summer, so that would be a good time to come. It’s a free concert.

You can bring your lawn chairs and just enjoy the music.”

He then adds, “Come December, right after Thanksgiving, that same location at the Kennedy Memorial Building turns into Christmas Fantasy Land.” The annual, month-long celebration started in 1964. “People are coming from all around because they grew up there, but they want their kids to see and to take part in what they took part in as a child. It’s a labor of love for a lot of people, but it runs from the end of November right up to Christmas Eve.”

Notable people from Lincoln Park, Michigan include automobile entrepreneur Preston Tucker, creator of the Tucker Sedan, and punk rock band MC5. “Some people say that the MC5 gave a big boost to punk rock. The MC5 band was from Lincoln Park,” says Day, “and they formed in 1965.

About six years ago, we had a 50th anniversary celebration for the band. Dennis Thompson the drummer of the band was here for that celebration. We had a big exhibit, and we had a couple concerts. That was a lot of fun, it was a great time.”

More information about Lincoln Park, Michigan can be found at www.citylp.com, and additional information about the Lincoln Hark Historical Society and Museum is located at www.lphistorical.org.

Page 26 • October 2021 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Are There Different Types of Breast Cancer?

M

illions of women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, more than 2.3 million women across the globe were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. The BCRF also notes that breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in 140 of 184 countries worldwide.

Breast cancer statistics can give the impression that each of the millions of women diagnosed with the disease is fighting the same battle, but breast cancer is something of an umbrella term. In fact, there are various types of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer.

Learning about each type of breast cancer can help women and their families gain a greater understanding of this disease.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) DCIS is a non-invasive cancer that is diagnosed when abnormal cells have been found in the lining of the breast milk duct.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation notes that DCIS is a highly treatable cancer.

That’s because it hasn’t spread beyond the milk duct into any surrounding breast

tissue. The American Cancer Society notes that roughly 20 percent of new breast cancer cases are instances of DCIS. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) IDC is the most common type of breast cancer. The NBCF reports that between 70 and 80 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses are instances of IDC. An IDC diagnosis means that cancer began growing in the milk ducts but has since spread into other parts of the breast tissue. This is why IDC is characterized as “invasive.” Though IDC can affect people, including men, of any age, the ACS notes that the majority of IDC cases are in women age 55 and older.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) The NBCF describes IBC as an “aggressive and fast growing breast cancer.”

Breastcancer.org notes that IBC is rare, as data from the ACS indicates that only about 1 percent of all breast cancers in the United States are inflammatory breast cancers. Many breast cancers begin with the formation of a lump, but Breastcancer. org reports that IBC usually begins with reddening and swelling of the breast, and symptoms can worsen considerably within days or even hours. That underscores the importance of seeking prompt treatment

Women diagnosed with breast cancer may each face a different battle, as there are many different types of the disease.

should any symptoms present themselves.

Metastatic breast cancer Metastatic breast cancer may be referred to as stage IV breast cancer. When a woman is diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, that means the cancer has spread, or metastasized, into other parts of the body.

The NBCF indicates that metastatic breast cancer usually spreads to the lungs, liver, bones, or brain. Symptoms of metastatic

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breast cancer vary depending on where the cancer has spread. For example, if the cancer has spread to the lungs, women may experience a chronic cough or be unable to get a full breath.

These are not the only types of breast cancer. A more extensive breakdown of the various types of breast cancer can be found at https://www.breastcancer.org/ symptoms/types.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 27

A

The Role of Staging When Diagnosing Breast Cancer

cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and people who receive such news may be flooded with a wide range of emotions. When delivering such a diagnosis, doctors share vital information about their patients’ disease.

Those details can go a long way toward easing patients’ concerns.

Staging is an important component of cancer treatment.

The National Cancer Institute notes that stage refers to the extent of the cancer, including how large the tumor is and whether or not it has spread, or metastasized. Learning the stage of the cancer, which is typically expressed on a scale of 0 through IV, helps doctors understand how serious the cancer is and the patient’s chances of survival. Staging also is used to plan treatments and potentially identify clinical trials that may serve as treatment options.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer oversees the breast cancer staging system and utilizes the TNM system. Breastcancer.org notes that three clinical characteristics, referred to as “T, N, and M,” are used to calculate the stage of the cancer: • the size of the tumor and whether or not is has grown into nearby tissue (T) • whether the cancer is in the lymph nodes (N)

• whether the cancer has spread, or metastasized, into other parts of the body beyond the breast (M) Additional characteristics were added to the AJCC’s TNM breast cancer staging system in 2018. Though this has made determining the stage of breast cancer more complex, Breastcancer.org notes that it’s also made staging more accurate. That improved accuracy increases the likelihood that doctors will choose the most effective treatment plan for their patients, which should ease those patients’ concerns as they begin treatment.

Staging is complex, and patients should know that staging alone does not dictate prognosis.

The following breakdown, courtesy of the NCI, is a brief description of the five stages of cancer (stages O through IV). A more detailed description of breast cancer stages can be found at https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/ diagnosis/staging.

• Stage 0: This is diagnosed when abnormal cells are present but have not spread to nearby tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ, or CIS. CIS is not cancer, but it may become cancer.

• Stages I through III: Cancer is present in these stages. The higher the number, the larger the tumor is and the more it has spread into nearby tissues.

• Stage IV: The cancer has spread into distant parts of the body.

Staging plays an important role in treating cancer. Recognizing the role of staging can help patients better understand their disease and the direction of their treatments. More information about staging is available at www.cancer.gov.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 29

How Physical Activity Can Help in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

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reast cancer is a complex disease that affects millions of women across the globe each year. Though the American Cancer Society reports that only about 4 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States are under age 40, women of all ages can take steps to protect themselves against this deadly disease.

Exercise benefits women in myriad ways, and that includes lowering their risk for breast cancer. The ACS notes that researchers are increasingly linking exercise to a reduced risk for breast cancer. Though the reasons behind that link remain unclear, some theorize that the positive effects of exercise on body weight, inflammation, hormones, and energy balance could be why regular physical activity helps women reduce their risk for breast cancer.

Body weight and breast cancer The National Cancer Institute reports that being obese after menopause can significantly increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. In addition, the ACS attributes the rise in hormone receptor-positive breast cancers to an increased prevalence of excessive body weight. Routine exercise is a highly effective way to lose weight and keep weight off, which in turn could lower women’s risk for breast cancer.

Being sedentary and breast cancer

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Exercise is a not a sedentary activity, and that could be another reason why women who are physically active have a lower risk for breast cancer. The ACS notes that more than one study has linked sitting time to a higher risk of various diseases, including breast cancer. Researchers with the ACS analyzed data from 77,462 women, who they followed for an average of 15.8 years. None of the participants had cancer when the study started, but researchers found that women who sat for six or more hours per day during their free time had a 10 percent greater risk for invasive breast cancer than women who sat for less than three hours per day during free time.

Does physical activity really reduce breast cancer risk?

The human body is complex, and a host of factors, including those like age that women have no control over, can affect cancer risk. However, engaging in routine physical activity seems to be an effective way for women to reduce their risk for breast cancer. In fact, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation estimates that one-third of all breast cancer cases could be prevented with positive lifestyle choices that help women maintain a healthy weight, including exercise.

Routine physical activity can be a significant weapon in women’s arsenal as they continue their efforts to prevent and overcome breast cancer.

Page 30 • October 2021 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

J

Tips to Carve the Perfect Jack-O’-Lantern

ack-o’-lanterns are one of many indelible symbols of Halloween. It’s hard to pinpoint the precise origins of jack-o’-lanterns, but many historians trace the tradition to 19th century Ireland. In fact, this instantly recognizable staple of Halloween decor actually gets its name from an Irish folktale character named “Stingy Jack.”

Jack-o’-lanterns are ubiquitous in October, but a refresher course on carving one can help those who haven’t dusted off their carving skills since last fall.

• Don’t carve too early. Though it can be tempting and fun to carve a jack-o’-lantern once the calendar turns to October, it’s unlikely the finished product will make it all the way to October 31. Horticulturists indicate that jack-o’-lanterns have a shelf life of roughly five to 10 days, though an especially cold October could shorten that life expectancy even further. If you want your jack-o’-lantern to greet trick-ortreaters on Halloween, wait to carve it until a few days before the big day.

• Use a dry-erase marker to outline the design. It’s easy to make mistakes when carving a jack-o’-lantern, especially if this

is your first time using a carving knife since last year. Use a dry-erase marker to trace the design onto the pumpkin before you make a cut.

• Avoid severing the stem. When many people envision jack-o’-lanterns, the image in their minds is one in which the top of the pumpkin is removed so candles or lights can be effortlessly placed inside. However, the custom pumpkin carving experts at New York-based Maniac Pumpkin Carvers note that removing the top cuts off the vine, which supplies the pumpkin with nutrients and moisture, even after it’s been cut.

A whole in the back of the pumpkin can provide easy access when placing candles or lights inside, and cutting here won’t cut off the nutrient and moisture supply a pumpkin needs to avoid drying out.

• Scoop everything out. The interior of a pumpkin will be loaded with seeds, which can be removed and later roasted to make a savory snack. In addition to removing the seeds, be sure to get all of the pulp out. Pulp left in the pumpkin will soon get moldy and that can shorten the lifespan of the jacko’-lantern. In addition, when removing the interior, try scraping the front inner wall of

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the pumpkin thin, which may make it easier to carve.

• Avoid candles when lighting the interior of the jack-o’-lantern. Candles might seem like the most authentic and even spooky way to light the interior of the pumpkin, but the heat produced by a burning candle

can shorten the life expectancy of the jacko’-lantern. An LED light won’t give off much heat and will provide ample illumination.

A few simple tips can help Halloween celebrants ensure their jack-o’-lanterns make it all the way to the big day at the end of October.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 31

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Top Tips to Stay Safe This Halloween Season

uch like Christmas, Halloween is no longer relegated to a single day. A number of Halloween enthusiasts now begin decorating at the start of October. Hijinks and autumn revelry fill the air as individuals eagerly count down to the end of the month.

Though the lightheartedness of Halloween festivities, such as costumes and candy, garner the bulk of celebrants’ attention, it’s important to take safety into consideration as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as other nights of the year. Cuts and burns also are more common on October 31.

A good Halloween scare should come from costumes, not accidents or injuries.

This Halloween, consider these safety measures, courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide, the Mayo Clinic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Make sure you’re visible when trickor-treating. Reflective tape, glow sticks, flashlights, or camping lanterns can make pedestrians more visible to motorists.

• Pedestrians should walk on sidewalks if

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they are available. When sidewalks are not available, walk facing traffic and do so as far off to the side of the road as you can get.

• Drivers should be especially alert to pedestrians on Halloween. Drive slowly, as many kids scurry from house to house in search of Halloween candy.

• Pedestrians and drivers should follow the rules of the road, stopping at intersections and crossing in crosswalks.

• Consider alternatives to carving pumpkins, since the risk of being cut while carving is high. If you want to carve, leave the carving to adults. Utilize batteryoperated flameless candles or glow sticks to illuminate jack-o’-lanterns.

• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant. Make sure that costumes do not impede your ability to walk or see.

• Test makeup to check for skin irritation before application. Remove it promptly after returning home.

• Set up a buddy system so that no one is going it alone. Agree on a specific time children should return home. Adults should chaperone young children.

• While incidences of candy tampering

W

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W E NERIC P

NE

$399,900

3 BR, 2 BA Colonial! Tons of space in every room! Wood floors, CA, all public utilities and updates inside and out!

First level living room, dining room, EIK, den/office, FBA and laundry area. BRs on 2 nd level along with FBA and pulldown attic. Plenty of closets. Fin basement.

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Fairfield

$699,000 CURB APPEAL!

4 BR, 3 BA Split Level on corner lot! Spacious rooms, hardwood flooring, finished basement with laundry room, sliding door access to backyard, patio, and deck through from both Family and Dining Rms. Outdoor lighting, sprinkler system and built-in alarm system. Two, 2 car garages..

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NE

$349,900 Pompton Plains NEWLY LISTED!

2 BR, 1 BA Cape Cod! Renovate within or easy expansion.

Wood floors, 75 x 100 lot, 2 BRs on first level, Living Rm, Kitchen and Full Bath. Staircase to 2nd level with 2 unfinished areas. Walk-out basement. 1 car gar. Sold “AS IS.”

Kinnelon

NEWLY LISTED!

$659,900

4 BR, 3 BA Custom Home! Custom woodwork throughout, cathedral cedar ceiling, wood floor, Roof 2019, CA, Anderson casement windows, new gutters, guards & more! Over 2,400 sq ft of living on private grounds on double cul-desac. Open floor plan, Lower level WO with Family Rm, gas FP, FBA & laundry. 2 car gar.

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NE

Pompton Plains NEWLY LISTED!

so no one overindulges and feels ill later on.

Halloween season is a fun time of year, but safety should go hand in hand with all the celebrating on this special day.

If you’re ready to move, we’re ready to work for you!

Call us today! 973-686-1500

NE

Bloomingdale NEWLY LISTED!

may be minimal, no one should snack on candy until it has been inspected.

Inspections also protect against food allergies.

• The candy bounty should be rationed

2 BR, 2 BA First Floor Unit in The Glens! Updated and Private! Wood flooring in LR & DR, KIT w/granite, tile backsplash, garbage disposal, ss appls, extended breakfast bar and WI pantry. Laminate flooring in both BRs. Master BR w/private bath. Clubhouse, 2 pools, tennis & playgrounds.

Riverdale

Lincoln Park

$225,000 PRICE REDUCED!

2 BR, 1 BA Ranch offers country living with city convenience! Located near the end of a quiet wooded street and close to NJ Transit train. Kitchen, Formal Dining Rm, Living Rm, Laundry Rm, Storage Rm and Sunroom. Vinyl siding, deck and fenced yard.

$540,000 Oakland

Mahwah PADDINGTON SQUARE!

3 BR, 2.1 BA End Unit Townhome! Bonus loft! 2nd floor with attached garage. Main level MBR Suite w/ WI Closet and Master BA. Open concept Living/Dining Rm, Family Rm open to EIK with deck and laundry rm. 2 nd level offers 2 BRs and loft. Clubhouse, playground and outdoor pool.

NEWLY LISTED!

$699,800

3 BR, 1 BA! Spacious Living Rm, KIT w/sep. dining area, Family Rm, WP stove and dual access to yard. Full lower level w/Rec Rm, laundry, workshop area, storage and walk up to oversized 2 car gar. Wood floors. Patio.

NE

NE

5 BR, 3 BA Colonial on a corner lot! Zoned residential/professional. Wrap around porch, LR, FDR, and NEWER KIT with center island, plenty of cabinet/counter space & SS appls.

Family Rm with access to Trex deck overlooking yard & AG Pool. Basement w/laundry (1 of 2), utility & storage. 1 car det gar.

$415,000 BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY!

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NE

$315,000

W E NERIC P

$349,800 Wanaque

West Milford NEWLY LISTED!

3 BR, 1 BA Ranch! Butler boarder. Move in ready & recently painted. EIK, LR/DR combo, 3 good sized bedrooms, full fin basement with laundry and extra storage. Wood floors, NEW above ground oil tank, newer roof, newer HWH (2016), CA, propane gas for cooking, public water and 1 car gar.

$339,800 Wanaque WELL-MAINTAINED!

3 BR, 1 BA Cape Cod on quiet street! Kitchen w/pantry, LR, DR with sliders that lead to screened in porch overlooking fully fenced yard. 1 st Floor offers MBR, updated BA & laundry. 2 BRs on 2nd floor. New oversized shed and jungle gym. Patio. Newly paved driveway for up to 5 cars.

$339,000 NEWLY LISTED!

2 BR, 2.1 BA Townhome in Kenwood Commons! Updated KIT w/granite, ss appliances & tiled backsplash. LR has wood floors and flows into FDR with SGD to large deck. Private and spacious primary BR w/WI closet. Updated full bath, loft area and fin basement with Family Rm, bonus office/ dressing room and laundry. 1car gar, CA & guest parking..

©2021 CENTURY 21 REAL ESTATE LLC. CENTURY 21® is a trademark licensed to Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. | Equal Housing Opportunity.

Each office is independently owned and operated. All information deemed relible but not guaranteed. Prices subject to change. If your poperty is currently listed with a real estate broker please disregard this offer.

Page 32 • October 2021 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

NJStarz NJ Starz: Martino Cartier Hometown: Sewell, NJ

N

By Steve Sears one of it was easy for Martino Cartier.

Nor is it still, but when asked to pick a word or phrase that aptly describes him, Cartier says, “A Jewish word, ‘bashert,’ which in Yiddish means, ‘It’s meant to be.” He then pauses, then says, “There’s two things I remember when I’m up against a challenge. These days, I still lose my temper, I still panic, and then I pray. I’ve come to the realization that when you’re on the cliff, he’s either going to keep you from falling or, when you fall, he’s going to give you wings. So that’s really pretty much what it comes down to.”

Cartier has a formidable wingspan, and amid all the pain in the early part of his 46 years, all the challenges that he battled with, a higher power kept him aloft.

Cartier, who owns Martino Cartier Salon in Sewell (Washington Township), New Jersey, is also the founder of Wigs & Wishes, a wonderful annual event that provides women who lose their hair during cancer battles with a wig at no cost, and also grants wishes to children suffering with childhood cancers.

The next Wigs & Wishes event will be held on October 23, 2021 at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia. “It’s going to be quite a spectacular event, because we kind of got robbed of our 10th anniversary last year, so this year we’re doing it big,” says Cartier. “We’re going to have an 18-minute firework show right on the Delaware (River), right in front of the event center, and the Coast Guard is going to block off the Delaware and they’re bringing in a barge - it’s going to be pretty cool.” Popular singer Paula Abdul, whose support Cartier has wholeheartedly, will attend. “She comes every year,” says Cartier, who was born, adopted, and lived in the Garden State prior to his family moving to the Florida Keys when he was five.

There’s a special adoption story here as well. When little, Cartier’s adoptive mom, Joann Maguire, would always call him “Marty Special.” “She instilled in me that I was special because they chose me and they got to pick me,” says Cartier fondly. “Being just as tenacious then as I am now, I said to her at that young age, ‘What if my birth mother is looking for me?’ And she said, ‘Well, one day when you grow up, I’ll help you find her.’”

The fortunes of he and his family turned when he was age 6 and they lost everything, and his adoptive father became mentally, physically, and verbally abusive. In 1986, the movie American Tale was released, it about a tiny mouse who loses his family and tries to find them. James Ingram’s “Somewhere Out There” served as the movie’s theme.

“At that time in my life,” explains Cartier, “I suffered from depression at the age of 11. My mother felt so bad, and she said, ‘I promise you when you turn 18, I will help you find your birth mother.’ Because at that time, being young and confused, and feeling unwanted and not worthy, I thought that if I found my birth family that I would be complete. At that time, being adopted was what defined me.” While in Florida in elementary school he got bullied, and when his

family moved back to New Jersey and Williamstown when he was 13, he was targeted again.

Seeking safer pastures for their son, during his freshman year in high school the Maguires moved to Glassboro. The move was significant, with leadership at the school and the school system ensuring his well being, and encouraging him to attend a local vocational school for half the day. His VicePrincipal suggested he study cosmetology, Cartier being the only male of 34 students. “I went,” he recalls, “and I realized that it was all about being creative, and about making people feel good, so I started learning quickly as these senior citizens would come in and get curls and rollers. You made them feel so good and, in return, you felt good. That’s when things started to kind of change a little bit.”

At age 18, the same Vice-Principal and his guidance counselor promised to take Cartier to get his birth records, and the latter drove him to Journal Square in Jersey City to do just that. “We walk in, and the same man who signed my birth certificate was still there. I couldn’t believe it. And he gets out this old book - a big old book. We just gave him my name, date of birth, and my social security number, and he thumbs through the book, he sticks his finger down, and he says, ‘You didn’t tell me you were adopted? Those records are sealed,’ and he closed the book. It was just like a bomb went off because, again, my brain kept telling me, ‘When you find out where you came from, you will be complete and you’ll be able to move on with life.’”

“It was horrible,” he says, “and my relationship with my father was just getting more and more toxic.”

He had reached bottom – almost. Shortly thereafter, he drove his mother’s car into the woods, put a hose in the muffler, and attempted suicide. However, a park ranger found the car, broke the window, called 911, and Cartier woke up in the hospital, his mom crying over his bed. He was a survivor for the first time, but it wouldn’t be the last. He started working at salons, but none were suited to him, and he still couldn’t kick his depression. Finally, while working at a salon in Cherry Hill, he gave up again. “I remember one day, it was a Friday, and I just said, ‘I can’t do this,’ and I left, and Cherry Hill is near Camden, and I drove around Camden, until somebody came up to my window and said, ‘What are you looking for?’ I had just cashed my paycheck, it was $33, so I bought 33 dime bags of cocaine.” He drove north on the New Jersey Turnpike to New York state, opened every bag of cocaine, emptied the contents into a Tupperware dish, and, in his words, “did the entire thing. Three days later, I woke up in the hospital, bruises on my chest, burn marks - the whole nine - and the paramedic that brought me there came to check on me, and he said, ‘You’re lucky to be alive.’”

Realizing that he had a bigger purpose in life and that someone or something else was in control, Cartier opened his own tiny hair salon in Pitman in 1998. A woman one day entered his salon with her son, and he did her hair. Six months later, the woman returned, she telling Cartier her son was suffering with a rare form of brain cancer and had

a year to live. He asked how he could help, and the woman said she’d just like not to work, but spend all of her life with her terminally ill son.

Cartier’s wheels turned: he planned a cut-a-thon to help her. “The day came,” he recalls, “I did the cut-a-thon, and then a couple of other hairdressers in the area heard about it, and they came and helped a little bit. The goal was $5,000. It wound up going on for two days, and I remember the second day my hands hurt so bad, but we were getting close to $20,000.” The cut-a-thon raised over $22,000, and it paid for the woman’s mortgage for exactly 24 months, and her son lived another 24 months. “I mean, I’ve told this story 1,000 times,” he says, “and I still get chills when I share it.

But that was just another validation, like, ‘Okay, this is your purpose. Understand that I gave you a gift. You have to use this gift the right way. Quit saying, ‘Woe is me.’ What defines you is not your adoption; what defines you is what you do with your time, your talent and your treasure. This is a final warning.”

He let go of the notion to try and find his birth family, but the universe wouldn’t release its grip. It was 2005, he had a nice salon and great clientele, and he also one night had a dream. Cartier explains. “On June 5, 2005, I have a dream that I’m in Egypt. There was a woman in the dream that was not at all how I pictured her. I could smell where I was, I could continued on page 34

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 33

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Page 34 • October 2021 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

NJ Starz... continued from page 32 see it, I knew that this was my birth mother. So, I went up to her and I said, ‘Were you in America in 1975?’ And she said, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘Is your name Miriam?’ And she said, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘Baby boy Ayad.’ And she cried, she screamed, and she said, ‘I named you Ayad because it’s my last name. Put it together and you’ll find me!’”

Cartier woke up in a pool of sweat. He went to work, canceled all his clients that day, and called Trenton, and after giving his information, got a call back on a Friday at 5 p.m.

The woman on the other end asked him to go somewhere quiet. Cartier starts crying at the recollection of the rest of the conversation. “I thought she was calling to tell me that she had passed away,” he says of his birth mom, “but she was calling to tell me that, ‘Your mom has been looking for you since 1998.” He also learned that she was still alive, her name was Miriam Ayad, and she lived in Jersey City.

Cartier headed to Trenton, where a letter from his birth mom had previously sat in a sealed file. Cartier tried to read it. “The letter started, ‘My son…’ and I just couldn’t do it,” Cartier said, handing the letter back to the woman, who had read the letter from Miriam Ayad explaining everything a few times. It closed with the words, “I will wait for you…“ He drove to Jersey City with his mom, knocked on the door of his birth mom, and at 6’ 1”, was looking at nothing when the door opened. “And I looked down (at my birth mom), and I started to laugh and said, ‘There’s no way I came out of you.’ It just broke the ice.” Miriam Ayad had diphtheria as a baby, which stunted her growth. The fever that she developed as a toddler caused all her health problems, so she was very sick and almost died many times before Cartier

found her. “In fact, she was having heart surgery the next day, so they postponed it a few days in case something went wrong so we could spend time together.” Cartier’s mom took care of his birth mom for the last 16 years of her life, and they spent every holiday together. ‘My mother and her were inseparable.”

Cartier’s non-profit foundation, initially called FriendsAreByYourSide is now known as Wigs & Wishes. It is entering its second decade. Says Cartier (whose motto is, “You don’t know how to live if you don’t know how to give”), “We are a true nonprofit. We don’t have any paid employees, we are run by nearly 200 volunteers, and we never turn anyone away, and there’s zero red tape.”

Always thinking of others, Cartier has new projects as well, one a nifty petting zoo. Zoo Hoo is located on a farm on

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his property in Sewell on Salina Road. “At the petting zoo,” says Cartier, “we can have a safe haven for kids that have lost their hair.” He’s also planning on having his own reality show on a network like Lifetime or A&E or Hallmark. “I want something that people can be inspired by, can see the lives that are being changed everyday across the country through our efforts.”

Cartier is also planning a book project.

Martino Cartier Salon is located at 304 Hurffville Crosskeys Road in Sewell. For more information about Wigs & Wishes, visit www.wigsandwishes.org.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2021 • Page 35

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