Hometown Z12 October 2022

Montville Resident Wins Gold Medal at the Maccabiah Games

By Steve Sears

For

Gianna Duddy and the USA Women’s Field Hockey team, it had come down to a shootout against perhaps the toughest team in the world – a gold medal awaiting the winner.

And Duddy was in goal for the USA.

“It comes down to luck on the keeper’s part,” Duddy says, “and there is some skill, but you just kind of have to you know the way the field player has her stick on the ball, and where she’s looking will give you a good indication of where the shot is going.”

And the opponent was a formidable one. “Going into that (game), Argentina was the one of the strongest if not the strongest team next to us in this entire tournament,” Duddy claims. “It was impossible for people to score on them. And you know, it came down to one of the hardest things to do and field hockey and it was just crazy.”

After the regulation ended in a 2 – 2 tie, it was shootout time, and after making a fabulous stop on an Argentinian player, Duddy watched from the loneliness of her goalmouth, squatting down trying to catch her breath, as teammate Julia Freedman scored and notched a 6 – 5 gold medal victory for the USA in the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel.

The USA had defeated Australia, Israel, and the Netherlands to set up a rematch against Argentina, who had blanketed them, 5 – 0, in the preliminary round.

It was the first time ever the USA had won a field hockey gold. “I haven’t decided what I want to do with it,” Duddy says of her gold medal. “But I know I want to do something special.”

Duddy, who played high school field hockey for Somerville High School and currently is in her senior year at Pennsylvania’s DeSales University, attended tryouts for the Mac-

cabiah Games on July 10 and 11, 2021 in Maryland. “They had I want to say over 100 girls there,” she recalls. “We did a two-day trial where we did a lot of skills training. For the goalie, specifically, they did some endurance and mobility work to see where we stood with that. They tested us on a bunch of different skills, and then we got one day of just solid playing. And there was a pretty good competition continued on page 4

Gianna Duddy with her gold medal

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Wins Gold Medal...

continued from front page of just solid playing. And there was a pretty good competition amongst the girls there. There was some Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 players, so they had the full spectrum of people that you could possibly have, and there was a really great skill there.”

Duddy, who has also played for the MidJersey Knights, the Rutgers University high school club team, got the nod, however. And this for someone who didn’t start playing field hockey until her freshman year of high school. “It was definitely thrust upon me,” she says. “My best friend was on the high school team, and field hockey was a fall sport. So halfway through preseason, about the middle to end of August, I was asking her how field hockey was going, and she said, ‘Funny enough, we need a goalie. I told the coach you would do it.’ And I said, ‘Okay, great. When were you going to tell

me?! I’d played one year of rec when I was in second grade. I really just stood there because at that level, all you do is stand there, so I never really considered that as anything. So that was my first time playing in high school. I show up and they said, ‘We need a goalie and you’re it,’ and it just kind of went from there.”

That season, she led her team to the title.

When asked when in goal if she ever wishes she could be on the offense and maybe tally a score for her team, Duddy says, “There have been times where we’re really crushing a team and I don’t even see the ball, where I say to myself, ‘It must be fun to have those moments when it’s a really close game and you do that one game winning goal, or that one time tip into the goal that changes it all.’ Sometimes I think about that. But then on the reverse end, I think I have so much more fun in my

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Mountain Lakes Police Department Welcomes Borough’s First Latina Cop

By Jillian Risberg

MelanieAguilar is setting a precedent at the Mountain Lakes Police Department, where she was recently sworn in as a police officer.

“I am extremely proud to be the first Latina police officer within the borough,” Aguilar says. “There are not a lot of female officers

in law enforcement and I am happy that I cannot only boost the number of females, but also the number of minorities.”

The officer hopes to serve as a role model and motivation for other females who wish to choose this career path.

She wanted to work in Mountain Lakes because

it reminded her of her hometown, Pequannock Township.

“With an excellent police department that genuinely cares for its residents and tries to give them the best quality of service possible,” says Aguilar.

@mountainlakespolice posted on Instagram and Twitter (@Mtnlakespd) at

the time “Congratulations” to the department’s newest police officer Melanie Aguilar, who was sworn in at a Borough Council meeting.

According to the officer, one of the best things about being part of the Mountain Lakes community is that it’s a small town where strong relationships can be built with all its citizens.

“In the short time I have been with the department

I have not seen many negatives,” she says. “However, I am sure if and when they arise I will try my best to find a solution and overcome them.”

Her hope is to become an established member of the department that is able to not only keep the community safe, but also interact with all its citizens and be someone they can look up to.

Aguilar says she possesses various qualities

valuable to policing — such as being a hard worker, motivated, enthusiastic to continuously learn, humble and honest.

“What I love about this career is that I have the ability to positively impact the lives of many people and hopefully make a difference,” says the officer.

It’s a job that makes her proud.

She prepares for her beat by continually placing herself in hypothetical scenarios that would allow her to respond adequately once they actually present themselves.

And once she’s out there, continued on page 6

Officer Aguilar Swearing In Day

First Latina

she remains calm and cautious at all service calls, while thinking about appropriate solutions.

The same thing that has always motivated good citizens to become police officers: the ability to help their neighbors in times of trouble — to serve and protect. That is exactly what Aguilar plans to do.

“I think the most difficult obstacle to overcome in today’s current environment for policing is the distrust and dislike for officers,” says Aguilar. “The best way to overcome this is by continually interacting with the community and showing them just what kind of people serve them.”

People who foster goodwill and help citizens get the services they need in the course of their everyday lives. The officers bridge that divide.

It’s not too late to change the narrative, so you have the capacity to make more informed decisions and grasp how your work impacts the justice system, citizens you serve and society at large.

Being a cop was always in her blood.

Ever since Aguilar was a young girl she had a strong interest in becoming a law enforcement officer. During sophomore year of college she had the opportunity to

intern at the Pequannock Township Police Department.

“At the conclusion of my time there, I had no doubt what my career choice was going to be,” she says the experiences she gathered there provided a solid foundation of what to expect once she became an officer.

In five years Aguilar sees herself hopefully being a school resource officer, where she can start building bonds with the children of Mountain Lakes and guide them in a positive path.

In her down time the officer likes to connect with her loved ones, including her family and boyfriend, while also exploring new places to eat and travel.

She also enjoys reading and working out to stay physically and mentally fit.

To anyone that wishes to pursue a career in law enforcement, Aguilar says work hard and never give up.

“Volunteer within your community, make yourself better each day in any way possible,” she says. “And I recommend anyone attempting to get into this field participate in an internship with your local police to see the daily activities and functions within their department.”

Reduce Your Medical Expenses Tax Smarts That Make a Difference

Medical expenses are on the rise. According to the Milliman Medical Index, the average family of four on an employer-sponsored plan will spend $30,260 on healthcare in 2022 – a $4,699 increase from 2020. Below are some ways you can save tax dollars when paying those medical bills:

Contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA). If you have a high deductible health plan, you can open an HSA account to pay your medical bills. If your health insurance deductible is $1,400 ($2,800 for family) or more, you can make contributions to an HSA to reduce your taxable income. The HSA

contribution limit is $3,650 for 2022 ($7,300 for family).

Contribute to a Flexible Savings Account (FSA).

Unlike an HSA, an FSA has to be set up by your employer.

Like an HSA, you and your employer can make pre-tax payroll contributions to the account to cover qualified medical expenses. One

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Deduct your selfemployed health insurance premiums. If you are selfemployed, you can deduct amounts paid for health insurance premiums for you and your family. To be eligible to make the deduction, your selfemployed business needs to show a profit for the tax year. This is an above-theline deduction, so it can reduce your taxable income even if you are claiming the standard deduction.

Deduct medical expenses as an itemized deduction. For 2022, the IRS will allow you to include medical expenses that

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exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) as an itemized deduction.

For example, using the US Census Bureau’s average household income of $67,500, any medical expense above $5,063 may be deducted. If you are not taking the standard deduction, these medical expenses can be used to reduce your income.

If you would like to discuss how these options may work for you, please call.

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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.

New Jersey Ghost Hunters Share Some Paranormal Adventures

investigation about four years ago. A group on Facebook called Lady GhostBusters was looking for people who had had paranormal experiences. Taylor replied about living in a haunted house. (Her family lives in her husband’s childhood home and has had experiences showing that his parent’s spirits are there.) From that connection, Taylor got involved in her first paranormal investigation. In 2019, She went to Sterling Mines in Sussex County. In the temperature-controlled

environment, suddenly there was a mist that would come up to the camera. When the mist was gone, it would return, if beckoned. The members of the group would feel a chill. The chill would move around the circle of members as though it was someone moving around them.

Taylor describes herself as “old school”. While other investigators use a variety of technology, she uses a camera and audio playback. She recalled an investigation

continued on page 9

L’Aura Hladik Hoffman, founder of the New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society and the cameraman from a German TV crew that went on an investigation with her and a team in Carlstadt.

by Elsie Walker

Paranormal activity generally spikes in October according to Maryann Taylor of Hackettstown. Taylor, a paranormal investigator for four years, is administrator of the Facebook Group, Midlife Spirits and a member of the New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society (NJGHS).

That society, a non-profit paranormal investigation organization which meets in Hackettstown, was founded in 1998 by L’Aura Hladik Hoffman. Recently, Taylor, Hoffman and another NJGHS member, Linda Wielkotz, of Fair Lawn, shared some of their paranormal experiences.

Taylor got involved in paranormal

of a boy scout camp. During it, she and another investigator got separated from their group when they went back to get a camera that had been left behind. After getting it, as they walked to rejoin the group, they heard growling behind them.

Thinking a bear was close behind, they ran and got to the building where the rest of the group was. They told the others of being chased by a bear, but when the others looked outside, there was no bear. Someone mentioned that they were in an area where you don’t really see any bears. Later, they listened to the audio playback of the incident. The growl had some distinguishable words in it: “Don’t let them get away. I want that one.” Taylor hopes she wasn’t the one they wanted.

Unlike Taylor, Wielkotz has been interested in the paranormal since her teens, Wielkotz noted that her mother would feed that interest by buying her books by parapsychologist Hans Holzer. After her mother died in 1984, Wielkotz had experiences of her mom visiting her. That prompted Wielkotz to find an organization focused on the paranormal: she found NJGHS.

Wielkotz noted that one of her most

memorable experiences was with the NJGHS during one of two investigations done at Rose Hill Cemetery in Matawan in July 2006. Wielkotz could not make the first investigation but was very intrigued when an email about the second asked for “serious ghost hunters.” When she arrived at the location, it was explained to those present that during the first investigation, stones were thrown at investigators by unseen forces. The cemetery had been checked to see if anyone was there before Wielkotz and the others came. However, those assembled were told they could leave if they were too frightened. Wielkotz stayed. She shared her account of what happened that night;

“As the group walked up to the old crypt area where the attacks took place, we were there maybe two minutes when the same thing happened. Stones were being thrown from trees. Many people had experiences with Elementals (spirit ghosts) running around them feeling their energy. When we left to go back to the gate, we stopped at the crypts and a piece of metal was thrown from a bush and a rock was thrown from the top of the crypt hitting an investigator in the side of the head. Again, unseen forces. As we walked

down the path, stones were still being thrown at investigators, hitting backpacks until we reached the main path. The spirits in that area did not want us up there for some reason.”

As for Hoffman, according to the NJGHS website, she “has been officially ghost hunting since 1993 and founded the NJ Ghost Hunters Society in 1998, which to date is the largest paranormal investigating organization in New Jersey.”

Recently, Hoffman recalled an incident around 2006/2007 when she led a team, which included their “tech guru”, Brian Sandt, in investigating the happenings at a private family house, down the shore in Spring Lake. The residents of the home had experienced such terror that they could not sleep or live in the house and had moved into a local hotel. That investigation got off to a rather funny start.

“While we were investigating, in the dark of course, suddenly, bright lights were flashed upon Brian and I and a male voice shouted, ‘Hands in the air!’ Brian was holding his thermal scanner and to the police it appeared as a firearm, given the low light and shadows. Brian exclaimed, ‘Don’t shoot! Please! It’s a thermal scanner! Not a gun!’” said Hoffman. Hoffman noted that’s not usually the kind of response police expect to hear. The police turned on the room lights and checked their IDs. Hoffman and her team explained they were there checking out reported paranormal activity. Suspicious, the police contacted the homeowner who came to the home and verified who they were and their story.

After the homeowner and police left, Hoffman and her team started the investigation. They discovered a strong poltergeist energy in the house. Hoffman explained what happened next:

“We experienced golf balls being

thrown at us while coming down the stairs from the second floor. We tracked unusually high EMF within the center of the living room [though there were] absolutely no electric outlets, ceiling lamps, or power source available to supply such readings! And the ‘wow factor’ of this investigation: we were gathered around the center island counter in the kitchen. I had my digital audio recorder in the middle of the counter recording our discussion. It was positioned parallel to me on the counter. Suddenly, it made a 1/4 turn and was now perpendicular to me on the counter. We all saw it move by an unseen hand! Concurrent to this movement, Brian’s EMF Meter chimed out a spike in the EMF reading. We could ‘feel’ the energy pass right through us and then we heard a loud knock come from the living room. We went to inspect and found another golf ball still slightly rolling on the floor at the foot of the stairs. Apparently, the ghost was having fun showing off its ability to move the audio recorder and hurled another golf ball.”

Besides being the founder and director of NJGHS, Hoffman is also an author and does presentations on the paranormal. On October 17 at 6:00 PM, she’ll be presenting “Ghosthunting NJ & NYC: Updated!!” at Emmaus Public Library, 11 East Main St., Emmaus, PA. On October 27th at 7pm, she’ll be at the Old Bridge Public Library, Central Branch, One Old Bridge Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ, presenting “Ghosthunting NJ & NYC: Updated!!”. On October 29th at noon, she will be presenting “Mysteries of the Paranormal” at the Plumstead Branch of Ocean County Library, 119 Evergreen Rd., New Egypt, NJ.

For more information on the NJGHS, visit its website www.njghs.net/ njghshome.html.

Do Cats and Dogs Really Fight Like Cats and Dogs?

Cats and dogs have long been depicted as ardent foes, consistently getting into scrapes with one another. But are those claims exaggerated?Many cats and dogs peacefully coexist in their homes, where their divergent personalities combine to make homes more interesting. Cats and dogs tend to have different body language, but that should not be mistaken for opposition. Take, for example, a boisterous puppy that excitedly approaches visitors with its tail wagging to show friendliness. According to the animal experts at slimdoggy.com, a resource for dog food, fitness, and fun; cats interpret wagging tails as signs of anger or displeasure. Dogs like to sniff their “friends” and get to know them, and cats don’t favor this attention. When sniffed, cats may run off, unintentionally triggering dogs’ natural predator instincts.

Such an instance is a rough way for cats and dogs to begin a relationship, and it’s easy to see how such an introduction can lay a poor foundation for their relationship.

Cats and dogs also have different social styles. While a cat may be content to be alone and approach visitors cautiously, dogs tend to be sociable and rush into situations if they think there is fun to be had.

But cats and dogs can peacefully coexist. One way to foster a good relationship be-

tween cats and dogs is to control their initial introduction. If possible, separate the animals initially, giving cats a chance to warm up to their new situation. Upon introducing the two, it may be best to have the dog on a leash so that you can control its desire to lunge. Calmness is key; do not force the cat to come to the dog or vice versa. Reward calm behavior with treats and repeat these steps until the pets appear to be used to each other.

It’s important that pet owners recognize that while cats and dogs may peacefully coexist in a home most of the time, their natural instincts may kick in every so often. Just separate the pets if they have a tiff.

Rumors abound that cats and dogs can’t share a home, but that’s simply not true. With some early socialization, patience on the part of pet owners, and an understanding of cat and dog behaviors; pet parents can ensure both cats and dogs live together in harmony.

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 973-6160400.

Diamonds By Dawn Attends National Jewelry Buying Show

DawnKessaris from Diamonds By Dawn

recently attended the exclusive 2022 Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO) Summer Buying Show in Minneapolis, MN.

The 3-day event, themed Summer Speakeasy, provided jewelers from around the nation the opportunity to purchase new items at pre-negotiated prices, share business ideas, network with peers and check out the latest industry trends.

According to Dawn Kessaris of Diamonds By Dawn “the buying show is an incredibly impactful event for our store. It enables us to stay current with industry trends while highlighting the latest innovations happening. By attending, we are able to stay competitive but pass along savings and top-of-the-line products to our customers.” Purchasing

Dawn Kessaris from Diamonds By Dawn at the 2022 Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO) Summer Buying Show in Minneapolis, MN. jewelry at pre-negotiated prices at the RJO show is critical because we’re able to compete with the larger national retailers.

Hundreds of jewelers attended seminars covering a range of topics including digital marketing strategies, security implementation

and employee recruitment and retention.

For more information about Diamonds By Dawn or to view some of their new purchases, visit them at 44A Hamburg Turnpike in Riverdale, NJ. or online at www.diamondsbydawn. com

Glory Days: Pequannock High School 2014 Golf

By Steve Sears Anthony

Hanes remembers the day.

“It was one of the tougher rounds of golf I’ve ever played, I’ll say that,” Hanes says.

Travis Lubba, one of three Lubba triplets who starred for Pequannock High School golf in 2014, recalls, “I remember the course we were playing was really difficult that day. And when we got in afterwards and were getting scores and everything, we were not very happy. We didn’t really play that great, and we thought we had no chance.”

Gregg Slaff, 2014 Pequannock High School boy’s golf coach, walked away. He didn’t want to look at the scoreboard that warm, May afternoon at the Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club in Hopewell Township. He felt, as did his golfers, that they hadn’t played their best.

However, moments later, one of the other coaches came over and patted Slaff on the back and said, “Congratulations, Coach.” Startled, Slaff turned and he said, “What do you mean?” The other coach replied, “You just won Group 1.”

That afternoon, Pequannock High School won their program’s first NJSIAA Group I state golf championship in history when competing in the Tournament of Champions against powerhouses Cinnaminson, Pascack valley, and Hackettstown.

Pequannock that season featured the Lubbas, Brett, Griffin, and Travis, who were in their junior year. Slaff had coached Pequannock golf since 2010. “The season was one of those magical seasons, where we played against some really good teams on our schedule,” he says. “I had seven golfers who where the core of that team in 2014.” In addition to the triplets, Slaff had seniors Liam Kealy, Anthony Hanes, and Anthony

Law, and Brandon Davis was another junior.

Griffin recalls it all started in 2012 during he and his brothers’ freshman year, and blossomed in 2013, when the team made its first appearance in the TOC and finished third. “Sophomore year was really when we started to realize our potential and how good we could be as a team,” he says. “We went 13 -2 that year, and we beat some good teams”

Pequannock in 2014 had defeated Verona High School in the state sectionals to advance to the TOC for the second consecutive year, hoping this time for a title. However, the day wasn’t going well, the individual scores below “par.” That, and an issue that came on suddenly with Hanes, put the contest in definite peril for the Golden Panthers.

“I remember it was around the second or third hole,” Hanes says. “I was standing over the ball, and all of a sudden, I noticed that my vision started to get a little weird. By the next hole, I had the worst migraine I’d ever had in my entire life. And for the rest of that front nine, I would literally hit my shot, and fall back and sit down in between shots with my head in my hands. It was horrible.”

After teeing off for the ninth hole, he was supposed to hit the next shot since his ball was the farthest from the hole on the green, but he couldn’t…yet. “I said to the rest of the golfers in my group, ‘You guys go ahead. Give me a second here.’ And I went over to the woods and I just started vomiting.”

It was a key moment. Hanes had to finish in order for Pequannock to even qualify. Hanes was now better, and was able to continue.

Brett adds, “We needed him to finish. If he couldn’t finish the round, we would have been disqualified from the tournament. We

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Butler’s Gleaners Thrift Shop Offers Shoppers Good Deals While Helping Others

by Elsie Walker

Adisplay in its three paneled window welcomes fall and asks for prayers for the Ukraine and peace. The display reflects the creativity of the volunteers and the care given to the shop. This is the Gleaners Thrift Shop of the Butler United Methodist Church. Here shoppers can find a variety of items from clothing to small appliances at affordable prices while the monies received go on to help a number of good causes. “You can get some pretty good deals,” said Linda Meilan of Pompton Plains, director of the shop. Store hours are Monday from 7pm – 9pm, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am – 1pm. Donations of new or gently used items can be made during store hours. The thrift shop is located at the church at 5 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler.

The shop started in 1984. The church had an empty area in its lower level and members met to see how they could use it to serve the community better. The idea of a thrift shop was born. As for its name, Meilan explained what “gleaners” are. “Gleaners are people who gather small amounts of grains or other produce left behind by harvesters. There is a famous painting by Jean Francios Millet, painted in 1857, entitled ‘The Gleaners’. It depicts

three peasant women gleaning a field of stray stalks of wheat after the harvest,” she said. The name, Gleaners, applies to the thrift shop in that those new gentle and lightly used items donated/left behind are gathered and put up for sale by the shop.

“God is good to us; we’re never without stock,” said Meilan. The thrift shop sells clothing (for women, men, children, and babies), housewares, jewelry, pocketbooks, shoes, small items of furniture, book, small appliances, and more. Coming into the shop have been brand names such as Talbots, Justice, and Abercrombie. Also, with the holidays coming, it has seasonal items.

The shop has over 20 volunteers. They get to know customers and Meilan noted that the volunteers love seeing people leave with a good deal. Meilan also said the volunteers have a lot of fun and joke with customers. Some volunteers have noted benefiting from the interaction with the community, being busy and being creative.

The monies from the thrift shop go to the Butler United Methodist Church which uses it to help Red Bird Mission (a mission in Appalachia) and the church’s food pantry (Loaves and Fishes), plus has funded overseas mission trips to Honduras,

on page 16

Anthony Paterno

No Upfront

Gleaners offer clothing for men, women, children and babies.

The shop sells

from page 14

Mexico, and Costa Rica. The shop helps with the apportionments the church gives the great United Methodist Church organization, through which it supports African universities, the Black College Fund, World Service, crisis intervention (for natural disasters) and local missions. Also, the shop reaches out in another way: if it hears of local victims of a fire, it will donate

items from the shop to help them.

Nothing goes to waste at the shop. It re-donates what isn’t selling to other thrift shops or offers it for free to customers. Broken items which can’t be sold are recycled.

For more information about the Gleaners Thrift Shop, visit its webpage at www.bumcnj.org

continued from page 12

Glory Days... literally just needed him to physically get through the 18 holes just so we could post the team score. We certainly needed it, and we wouldn’t be here talking about that title win today if he wasn’t able to get through that.”

As team scores started to get posted, the Lubba triplets and Hanes believed they might have a chance at victory. “When it was over and we saw the final scores, I thought, ‘Oh my God, we won!’” Brett remembers happily. “We were almost like in shock and

really couldn’t believe it. But it was so happy a moment and rewarding when it finally kind of sunk in, and it’s something I’ll always remember.”

Griffin states perhaps what is most important, “That was just one small part of it, even though it was really important we won and the overall experience was particularly rewarding. But I think just the times going out there, playing golf with my brothers or playing golf with my best friends, I couldn’t ask for any more than that.”

SIMON STYLES

COSMETICS

A Chilly Day Dish with a Kick

in your mind a warm bowl cupped in your hands, defrosting your fingertips after you just walked inside from a chilly afternoon. The bowl is heavy, full of hearty vegetables and spicy peppers that in just a few short moments will overwhelm your palate.

You dive in with a spoon, savoring every flavorful bite as you dip down to the bottom of the bowl searching for more to slurp up with every spoonful. Onion, red bell pepper and even corn all blended into not only a vegetarian meal but a chili-lover’s paradise. It’s got the spices to make you say, “wow” but the smoothness that reminds you of something your mom once made when you were young.

You throw your sweater to the side of the couch as your body temperature begins to rise. You start to feel your energy return as you spoon a second helping into your bowl for round two.

Not only does this recipe for Chipotle Veggie Chili hit you with a wide array of balanced flavors, but there is a surprise hint of citrus added toward the end – lime juice.

Just to add a little more texture and vibrance to this dish, it can be topped with your favorite garnishes like guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno slices and cilantro.

This Chipotle Veggie Chili is simple to make, needing just one pot throughout the entire cooking process. It simmers for about 25 minutes while you unwind from a long day.

So next time you need a pick-me-up after a chilly day outside, give this one a try. The savory aromas and wholesome consistency make this chili a 10-out-of-10 and a crowd favorite.

Find more recipes perfect for cooler weather at Culinary. net

Chipotle Veggie Chili

Servings: 6-8

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

5/8 teaspoon sea salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 can (14 ounces) diced fire-roasted tomatoes

1 can (14 ounces) red beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (14 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup vegetable broth

1 can (7 ounces) chipotles in adobo sauce

2 cans (15 ounces each) sweet corn with liquid

2 limes, juiced guacamole (optional) sour cream (optional) jalapeno slices (optional) cilantro (optional)

In large dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Stir and cook 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add garlic and red pepper. Stir and cook 8 minutes until soft.

Add tomatoes, red beans, pinto beans, broth, chipotles in adobo sauce, corn, remaining salt and remaining pepper. Simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chili has thickened.

Squeeze lime juice into pot; stir. Serve with guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno slices and cilantro, if desired. (Culinary.net)

Celebrate the season and create longlasting memories this year by serving tasteful main courses centered around tender cuts of beef.

With hand-cut choices like a Bonein Frenched Prime Rib Roast, Butcher’s Cut Filet Mignons, a Beef Brisket Flat and Premium Ground Beef from Omaha Steaks, you can create elegant holiday centerpieces such as Steak Au Poivre or a unique generational recipe, the Simon Family Brisket. Each cut of beef is handcarved by expert butchers, flash-frozen to capture freshness and flavor at its peak and delivered directly to your door.

Find more inspiration to create a memorable holiday meal at OmahaSteaks.

com

Steak Au Poivre

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 2

2 Omaha Steaks Butcher’s Cut Filet Mignons (5-6 ounces each), thawed

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 tablespoons butter, divided

1/3 cup brandy or cognac

1 cup cream

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Season steak with salt and pepper. Press seasoning into meat to create even coating.

In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon butter until just smoking. Add steak and sear 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Once cooked to desired doneness, transfer steak to cutting board and tent with foil to rest.

Reduce heat to medium and add brandy to skillet. Allow to cook down about 1 minute while stirring to scrape off any browned bits from bottom of pan. Once brandy reduces by half, add cream, Dijon mustard and remaining butter; continue cooking until mixture begins to reduce and thicken, 5-7 minutes.

Slice steaks against grain and top with

sauce.

Simon Family Brisket

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 4 hours, plus 20 minutes resting

time

Servings: 4

1 Omaha Steaks Beef Brisket Flat (2 pounds), thawed

Savor These Holiday Centerpieces continued on next page 19

Savor These...

oven

baking

brisket

and chili sauce. Spoon over top of brisket. Pour ginger ale around edges of brisket.

Cover with foil and bake 4 hours.

Remove from oven and let rest 20 minutes. Remove brisket from baking dish and place on cutting board. Slice brisket against grain and place in serving dish. Top with sauce and serve. (Family Features)

Sister Cities: Butler, New Jersey, Meet Butler, Missouri

By Steve Sears

B

utler, Missouri was laid out in 1852, a plat was filed in 1853, and it was incorporated in 1881. Butler, New Jersey, incorporated in 1901, is home to about 7,500 people, while the population of the Bates County seat is at 4,200 residents. Butler, Missouri checks in at around 4 square miles, while its Garden State “sister” claims about two square miles of real estate. Both are home to a Butler High School, and both also have a convenient Walmart Supercenter nearby.

Corey Snead has been the Butler, Missouri City Clerk for nine years. “You would find the we have the Guinness world record for the world’s smallest tombstone here in our cemetery.” Located on Northeast State Route H is Oak Hill Cemetery, and inside its boundaries is the 4.25” long, 3” wide, and 2.5” thick marker dedicated to Linnie Crouch, who died in 1898 at age 14. The marker, set on top of a wooden base, is designed to appear like a tiny book, and is mounted on a metal rod, which allows the marker to be turned over. On one side appears the young girl’s name, and the other reads, “Died Apr. 25, 1898.”

Like Butler, New Jersey has Route 23 and Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, Missouri also has

its main roads. South Orange Street is the old Business Route 81, and West Fort Scott Street will get you from one end of the town to the other, driving in from the highway from Interstate 49 and all the way into the town square. Butler, Missouri is home also to Butler Municipal Park & Swimming Pool, and if nature is what you’re looking for, Snead recommends Poplar Heights Farm on North Delaware Street. A living history farm and nature conservancy, it has been restored to its 1890’s heyday and attracts many visitors.

Also, according to Snead, there are several worthy spots to have a bite to eat in town. “We have several different local little Mexican restaurants here,” he says.

“We have Tu Casa Mexican Bar & Grill (27 West Dakota Street) and then we have El Rojo Mexican & American Cocina (1104 West Fort Scott Street) here in town.” Also nearby is the Pennell Hotel & Restaurant, located in a historic 1906 building at 102 West Ohio Street. Lunch and dinner are served, and affordable rooms are available, and there is also lodging at the Days Inn by Wyndham Butler. “And then one of the other unique things that draws people here is that we have a quilt shop (Rocking Chair Quilts, 21 North Main Street) and we have

a tendency to have a flow of quilters that come to Butler and do their quilting and everything else like that.”

There is no shortage of special celebrations in Butler, Missouri. “We do have a Fall Fest every year called Huckster’s Day, and the whole square is totally blocked off,” Snead says. “We have vendors, there’s a car show, a pie contest

and a baby contest. It’s probably one of your typical small town fall festivals, but that is what we have every single year. We also have a barbecue contest, and that’s related to the American Royal World Series of Barbecue that’s really big up in Kansas City every year. You win that, and you can go on to that one in Kansas City. We also continued on page 21

Bucket List Travels

Morristown resident Paul Partridge has been building a travel bucket list for years. Now he’s diving in – near and far – and shares his adventures in this column.

by Paul Partridge

Swimming with Sea Lions

The Galápagos Islands were everything I expected – and even more that was unexpected.

Day 1: Salvador Dalí on Mars

A sunrise flight from Ecuador’s capitol city Quito brings us to Baltra Island and the waiting cruise ship La Pinta. With only 24 total cabins, La Pinta is an ideal size – big enough to have all the amenities you need/ want and small enough to provide lots of personal attention. The cabins are larger than typical cruise lines.

Within hours we’re into our first island expedition – exploring South Plaza Island. Ten eager passengers leap into a Zodiac boat a la Jacques Cousteau (the locals prefer the name panga boat). Approaching the island, I’m expecting to see exotic wildlife, and I’m not disappointed. Sea lions, iguanas, fieryred crabs, sea turtles, albatrosses – they’re all here in abundance. But what I’m not prepared for is the strange landscape they inhabit:

A cross between an Arizona desert, a Dali painting, and the surface of Mars –stunning . . . spectacular . . . otherworldly.

Seeing the Galapagos in person vs. in books is like seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert vs. reading the liner notes on his album. Day 2: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

I suspected it yesterday but now I’m convinced: there’s some sort of intergalactic transformation that happens in the panga ride from La Pinta to the island. Because once again, we’ve landed on another planet. This one is called Santa Fe Island. It looks nothing like South Plaza Island – or anything else on earth. More like something created by Dr. Seuss.

We’re greeted by a welcoming committee of sea lions and Santa Fe iguanas. Like my wife’s Italian aunts, these iguanas never leave their neighborhood throughout their life.

After the hike, it’s time for snorkeling. We’re swimming alongside so many fish and sea turtles that it makes breathing difficult. Not because our snorkels don’t work, but because we’re stopping to laugh out loud at the shear spectacle of the show.

Shrieks of, “Did you see that?!” echo across the bay.

Day 3: Swimming with Sea Lions

The La Pinta guides are impressive in

their knowledge of and respect for the Galapagos ecosystem. They’re happy to share as much information as we can absorb. The crew, likewise, is first-rate. They take care of everything from our wetsuits to our favorite cocktails.

Today our guide Dries takes us for a

rigorous morning hike on the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island. We’re negotiating boulders and climbing cliffs. The effort is worth it. San Cristobal evokes Utah, Nevada and Colorado crossed with Catalina Island. Around each corner is a more spectacular

continued on page 23

Saddleback tortoises looking for food. Photo by Paul Partridge.

After the hike we paddle kayaks for a bit, then go for a swim. What starts off as a cooling dip turns into frolicking fun with sea lions. Curious and puppy-like, they seem as fascinated with us as we are with them. Their favorite trick is to swim right up to your face and peel away at the last second.

As my wife is snorkeling, two sea lions swim alongside and a third one jumps clear over her as if performing at Sea World. I put on my mask for an underwater view. The jumping one comes at me so fast that I leap up, startled. He glides over and sticks his head above the water. Wait – is he laughing at me? Then he playfully nibbles my leg as if to say, “Hey, don’t worry – I’m just having fun.” I’ve swum with dolphins before, but nothing matches this experience.

In the afternoon we’re back in the panga for a coastal expedition of Cerro Brujo. Then some r&r on Cerro Brujo’s gorgeous white coral beach. I hear one woman – a very experienced world traveler – say this is the prettiest beach she’s ever seen. Difficult to disagree.

As La Pinta sets sail for Isla Espanola, it’s happy hour on deck. Look off the stern. There’s an orca whale breaching. Look west and there’s a jaw-dropping sunset over Sleeping Lion Rock. The sunset has 3 acts: Wow!... Glory be!!... and, Are you kidding me!!! as the colors intensify and burst across the sky like fireworks.

Day 4: The Blue-Footed Booby Dance

Today we explore Punta Suarez on Espanola, the southernmost of the Galapagos Islands. Its flat, lava/ boulder terrain is home to many bird colonies and iguana

– including the Christmas Iguana, named for its green and red coloring. So far we’ve seen mockingbirds, frigatebirds, albatrosses, red-billed Tropicbirds, three kinds of boobies (red-footed, blue-footed and Nazca), the Galapagos hawk, doves, gulls, and the legendary finches of Darwin fame. A blue-footed booby calling all the single boobies with a leftfoot-in, left-foot-out hokey pokey mating dance gives us a chuckle. Albatrosses doing beak-fencing is also a hoot.

Fatima, our guide, leads us to a cliff on the southern side of the island. “Wait for it!” she says. We watch in anticipation as a large wave rolls in. A loud whoosh, then a geyser of water blasts through a lava blowhole, spraying water 70 feet into the air.

More great snorkeling in the afternoon, and another chance to swim with happy-go-lucky sea lions. Schools of fish are everywhere, including yellow-tailed surgeon fish, king angelfish, sergeant majors, parrotfish, and sea turtles.

Day 5: Giant Tortoise

The last day is giant tortoise day. Weighing up to 550 lbs., their huge size led 16th century Spanish explorers to apply their Spanish name to the whole archipelago. We visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, the captive rearing grogram for giant tortoises, and see these impressive creatures up close. Young tortoises are protected here until they have grown large enough to be safely released into the wild.

When septuagenarians get together, they talk about their aches and pains. I wonder what tortoise groups talk about when they reach 90 and 100 years old.

Maybe their great-great-great grandchildren. Or how fast time goes by.

[Resources]

Quito hotel: www.casagangotena.com/ Galapagos cruise: www.metropolitan-touring.com

A Most Precious and Memorable Halloween

By Richard Mabey Jr.

Every

Halloween, at my church, the big Trunk or Treat Halloween celebration is held. It is a longstanding tradition, filled with all so much fun for children and adults alike. Every year, 20 to 30 cars fill the parking lot of my church, such that the trunk of the cars are facing the main thoroughfare. Children, with their parents and sometimes grandparents, come from far and wide to partake of the wholesome fun and heart-filled excitement of this grand and glorious event.

Each trunk station is hosted by a church member. My mom, Janet Kemmerer Mabey, simply loved this fun-filled event. Mom cherished interacting with the children. My mom had devoted well over 25 years serving as a Crossing Guard for the school children of Lincoln Park, safely crossing them across the street as they walked to and from school.

The Trunk or Treat of 2019 was a most cherished memory for me. For it would become Mom’s last time to partake of this wonderful church event. I think, deep in her heart, Mom knew that it was going to be her last time to enjoy the presence of the enchanting faces of all so many endearing little children.

A photo of Mom and I at the big Halloween Trunk or Treat of 2019, held at Grace Baptist Church in Belleview, Florida.

As each child came to our little station, Mom would smile at the child, with their parent or grandparent standing close by. Mom would make a big deal about the child’s Halloween costume. Then Mom would hand the child two or three little candy bars. Most people would simply throw the candy bars into the child’s trick or treat bag, but I remember that Mom made a point to hand each child his or her candy bars.

Then Mom would simply say to the child, “God loves you very much.” And the child would smile, and Mom would look into the child’s eyes and say, “be a good boy,” or “be a

good girl.” That evening Mom gave out candy bars to well over 200 children. This was a very special event that was well attended. People would come from Belleview and from neighboring towns to have their children partake of this wonderful Halloween event.

At the end of the evening, Mom only had about a half dozen candy bars left in her big basket, that was earlier filled to the brim with candy. I remember Mom looking down to the basket and tears flowed from her eyes. Mom took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Well, that’s over, kind of sad,” was all Mom said as she handed me a small Milky Way candy bar. Mom took a Reese’s peanut butter cup for herself. We both ate our little candy bars. Then handed in the basket and three or four left over candy bars to one of the church Deacons.

Less than two weeks after the big Trunk or Treat Halloween event, Mom had heart surgery to replace her Aortic Valve. Sadly, the surgery was not a full success and Mom went Home to be with the Lord, the next month, two days before Christmas Day.

In memory, I return to that very special evening of the big Trunk or Treat Halloween of 2019. Mom touched the hearts of well over 200 children that night. In all so many ways, it was Mom’s farewell to all the children to whom she had safely crossed across the street, on their way to and from school.

Life is short. There really isn’t time for strife and arguments. Love one another. None of us has a guarantee for tomorrow.

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

Selling

Utah Man Walks Across the United States and Enjoys the People and Places in NJ

By Steve Sears

Utah

resident, Isaiah

Glen Shields, has been

walking across the United States for the past 18 months, and recently arrived in New Jersey.

While passing through, he strolled the streets of some of the My Life Publications publication areas, and he met up with some very nice people and beautiful landscape.

According to his Facebook page, Shields passed through Phillipsburg, Hackettstown, Roxbury, Denville, Butler, Pompton Lakes, Riverdale, and Oakland. When contacted by phone, he was on a traffic heavy street in Norwalk, Connecticut, but he had not forgotten stepping through the upper portion of the Garden State.

Shields first entered New Jersey in September by crossing over the Route 22 bridge from Easton, Pennsylvania, and landed in historic Phillipsburg. “I think I had looked at New Jersey on the map to just sort of get the gist of what I was going to be expecting. I guess everybody has a little bit of an inkling of what places look like,” he says. “I’ve never been to India, but when I picture India, I picture the Taj Mahal and crowded streets. I don’t think I’ve ever spent much time in New Jersey, and I saw a picture with a lot of suburban build up. But what I wasn’t really expecting to find was so much nature, and I guess ‘The Garden State’ is a slogan that people haven’t really understood well outside of New Jersey. There’s a lot of really, really beautiful things here.”

Shields’ videos show him walking the industrial area of the city of Phillipsburg, but in contrast also strolling by serene farmlands right off of Route 57 in Washington Township prior to hitting

Hackettstown. “No matter where I go, the sunset is visible there if you’re there at sunset, and with the people I met, there’s a lot of value in their story no matter what area it happens to be in,” he says.

“There was no major source of inspiration,” Shields says regarding his reasons to walk across the country. “Everybody has ideas that cross their mind from time to time. Some people have the idea to join a high school football team or to open a popcorn stand, restore an old Corvette in their garage. I was sitting at work one day and I had the idea, got kind of passionate and couldn’t stop thinking about it, and eventually I just left. It was pretty uncomplicated, just really pretty random and arbitrary, and sounded like something I wanted to do.” Shields’ career is what you see. His walk has become a source of revenue on social media for him. “Hopefully I can just keep doing something like this. But prior to me departing, I worked as a corporate finance analyst.”

Shields also has created a You Tube channel titled “You Do You.” “I often tell people that in order to be happy, they need to radically change their lifestyle. My core thing I kind of believe is that ‘You Do You’ is supposed to embody is just to act on those things that speak to you most deeply. I just

bought a house, graduated college, had a mortgage, and was sort of on a good path for security. But I had this idea that just kept me up at night and really, really spoke to my soul in some way.”

Shields’ ultimate destination is Lubec, Maine, the eastern-most point of the United States, and will eventually commit his travels to a book project.

Shields also discovered that New Jerseyans can be pretty congenial folks, too. “People told me there might be some people who are less interested in my journey while I was in New Jersey, and I’ll just have a bit of an experience there,” he says.

“Really, there’s just as many people kind people in New Jersey as anywhere. I had people open their homes to me, I had people letting me stay on their property, and people inviting me in to show me their lives and their lifestyles.”

Shields met one couple who worked for M&M Mars in Hackettstown. “They met me on the streets of Hackettstown,” he explains. “They didn’t really know a lot about me at the time, but they looked me up later. Then, when I was in New York City, they drove out and gave me a tour of the M&M store there in Times Square. You never know what kind of opportunities are going to come when you do something like this.”

Isaiah Glen Shields at Donaldson’s farm in Hackettstown

Morris County Man Releases Book About Morristown

By Steve Sears

or Denville resident Peter Zablocki, it is always a whirlwind of activity, and if you’re a history fan – especially the local stuff – enjoy being swept up.

Zablocki’s latest offering, The 1788 Morristown Ghost Hoax: The Search for Lost Revolutionary War Treasure, was published by The History Press in July, and is available - appropriately - as the fall and Halloween seasons enter.

“I’m always full of ideas,” Zablocki says. “Once I start researching because I’m curious, the research always leads to ‘Well, I want to tell that story,’ so that leads to me writing. It’s been a lot.” And it leads to more for the ardent researcher. “I always want to write, I’m always asking questions, and especially the research. You find one thing while you’re researching something else, and that gets you going, and then you kind of put it to the side, and then you come back to it.”

His readers, no doubt, are grateful for it, but partner the above with his co-hosted “History Teachers Talking” podcast, his job teaching History and Advanced Placement Research at Kinnelon High School, and also being Vice-President of the Denville Historical Society, Museum, and Research Center, he’s happily immersed in his subject matter.

Minus giving too much away, The 1788 Morristown Hoax: The Search for Lost Revolutionary War Treasure, starts in Schooley’s Mountain, where a supposed treasure was buried. “I call this one of my ‘COVID Trilogy,” Zablocki says. “I wrote it the same time, believe it or not, as I wrote Denville 13: Murder, Redemption, & Forgiveness in Small Town New Jersey and Terror Over Elizabeth New Jersey: Three Airplane Crashes in 58 Days and the Fight for Newark Airport. I almost felt like a detective to be honest with you. I started doing this because the story of the Morristown Ghost has been told numerous times, perhaps not so much recently, but there are a lot of different books about stories of New Jersey and it’s always incorporated into those fables. It’s very much next to your New Jersey Devil. There’s a ghost, and then so on and so forth, and there had been a reenactment of the story that was done in Morristown years ago in the 1980’s. I started looking into it and asked myself, ‘How much of it is a fable?”

Here’s the gist of it. There was local

legend that British Loyalists had buried a Patriot treasure on Schooley’s Mountain prior to fleeing as George Washington and his troops were approaching. In 1788 Ransford Rogers, a former Connecticut school teacher, led prominent Morristown families to believe that a ghost was protecting the treasure, and that he, Rogers, alone could exorcize it. His goal?

Extortion of money from the families.

“Once you start really looking into the sources,” Zablocki says, “you realize that actually, it’s not really a fable at all. It was a real event that transpired in Morristown in the 1700’s. There are court records of it. I was trying to place this story, take it out of fiction, where it kind of has been dwelling for the past couple of hundred years, and put it back into history. How did this happen? So if this happened, and I was able to find out that it did, why did it happen? Why would a group of wealthy members of Morris County, Morristown society, believe there to be a ghost?”

Did Rogers succeed? Read the book.

Zablocki has been churning out books with regularity the past few years. In addition to Denville 13 and Terror Over Elizabeth, he has also had published Bullets That Changed America: Thirteen Historic Assassinations, Duels, Misfires, and Murders, Denville Goes to War: Denville’s Story of World War I, and the follow-up, Denville in World War II. And with The 1788 Morristown Ghost Hoax, he is quick to recognize those who, during the pandemic, were kind enough to help when needed. “The libraries were super awesome,” Zablocki says. “A lot of different local libraries, including the Denville Library in Denville, as well as the Morris County Library or Morristown Library, were able to get me the books that I needed. I would pull up and they’d put them in my trunk. Also, the Morris County Historical Society actually opened the doors for me during the lockdown with the primary documents and files that I needed with regards to this case. I’m very thankful to local historical societies and libraries for allowing me to do research regardless of the fact that most of the world was locked down.”

The 1788 Morristown Ghost Hoax: The Search for Lost Revolutionary War Treasure, is available at both www. Amazon.com and www.BN.com. For more information about Peter Zablocki and his work, visit www.peterzablocki.com.

Peter Zablocki (courtesy of Peter Zablocki)

No Puppy Left Behind- A Woman’s Mission to Bring Safety and Shelter to Dogs

By Megan Roche

talk to Jessica DonnellyKnissel, you can tell that her heart beats for any and all canines. Rescuing dogs of all shapes and sizes is one of the things that keeps her going back for more. She’s a proud canine advocate.

“When we saved the original six, I never anticipated falling in love with them the way that I did. I ended up with a beagle and she has provided me with so much joy. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and going through my own medical issues, I felt this finally gave me a reason to keep moving forward. As a human, I am able to advocate for myself and these dogs cannot. I’ve designated my whole entire being to advocating for these dogs and getting them the care they deserve,” Donnelly-Knissel shares proudly.

In February of 2022, No Puppy Left Behind was born.

“Our mission is to bring light to the public that puppy mills do exist. While we cannot save them all, we have saved 60 puppy mill survivors to date, but there are still so many more who need our help. The basic needs of the poor animals are not being met. They never know when they are going to have their food and water bowls filled, and some have serious medical concerns that need to

be treated. If we do not intervene, and get these dogs out, they will continue to suffer in silence,” Donnelly-Knissel says.

Donnelly-Knissel and her team continue to rally behind dogs, helping to bring them to safety as soon as possible.

“I have seen firsthand just how stressed out these dogs are because they are starving, or so thirsty that when I give them water, they drink the whole bucket in one sitting and get sick,” Donnelly-Knissel shares.

The No Puppy Left Behind team is actively rescuing dogs from puppy mills.

According to the humane society, puppy mills are inhumane high-volume dog breeding facilities that churn out puppies for a profit, ignoring the needs of puppies and their mothers. In most puppy mills, once a mother and father are no longer able to breed, they are often killed.

How can the public help No Puppy Left Behind? Continue to spread the word, donate toward the rescue, and even adopt one of their furry friends.

“We’ve had many people reach out and ask how they can help, and we’ve had so many people step up to accept these precious souls into their homes… but realistically speaking? Not everyone is

in a position to do so & we get that. The outpouring support of our friends, family and community has been so heartwarming! Without all of you, this would be way more difficult than it already is! We’re trying to get as many dogs out as possible before the winter. If you, or someone you know is looking for a new ‘furever’ friend please contact me directly. Please share our mission to spread awareness for puppy mills, as they are far more common than people realize,” Donnelly-Knissel says.

Donnelly-Knissel has set up a GoFundMe page, www.gofund.me/7c0cfb12, where donations are being accepted for the cost of transporting dogs, medical attention, and more. Many of the dogs who come through No Puppy Left Behind need to be treated for raging ear infections, open wounds, nails growing into paw pads, and some have even tested positive for heartworm.

“Their stories will literally bring tears to your eyes, as we see dogs who were once completely shut down that now open up and get to enjoy life like every dog should,” Donnelly-Knissel shares.

In the end, Donnelly-Knissel knows the dogs are grateful to be saved.

“If you can donate even $5 towards our mission, or share our fundraiser, we would

Jessica Donnelly-Knissel’s beloved beagle Violet, saved from a puppy mill

be forever grateful, as will these dogs. Even after all they’ve endured, they are the sweetest, kindest souls you will ever meet,” Donnelly-Knissel says.

To keep up with No Puppy Left Behind’s rescue efforts, follow them on TikTok at @ nopuppyleftbehind and Facebook at www. facebook.com/jessica.donnelly.54

Vernon $499,800

PRICE!

Vernon

Wanaque

Family History Increases Risk for Breast Cancer

Millions of people across the globe will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. In fact, only certain skin cancers affect more women than breast cancer within the United States and Canada.

The World Cancer Research Fund International says breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women across the globe. Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg had the highest number of breast cancer cases in 2020, while Barbados and Fiji had the greatest number of deaths attributed to the disease. Some of these high case numbers may be attributed to women with family histories of breast cancer — something that increases risk significantly.

BreastCancer.org indicates that women with close relatives who have had breast cancer, such as sisters, mothers or grandmothers, are at considerably higher risk of developing breast cancer themselves. Also, breast cancer may occur at a younger age in women with family histories of the disease.

Understanding breast cancer risk is vital for women’s health. The following breakdown, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can help

women from all backgrounds understand their risk for breast cancer.

• Average risk: No first- or seconddegree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer, or one second-degree female relative with breast cancer (in one breast only) diagnosed after age 50.

• Moderate risk: This is a somewhat higher risk that may not turn into breast cancer. It occurs when there is one or two first-degree or two second-degree female relatives with breast cancer (in one breast only), with both relatives diagnosed after age 50; otherwise, one or two first- or second-degree relatives with high grade prostate cancer.

• Strong: Women with strong risks have much higher chances of developing breast cancer than the general population. Conditions like having one or more first- or second-degree relatives with breast cancer diagnosed at age 45 or younger, triple negative breast cancer, primary cancer of both breasts, and both breast and ovarian cancer in the same relative are warning signs of increased risk.

It’s important for women with increased risk for breast cancer due to family history to discuss options with their doctors. More frequent mammograms and other screening

tests may be recommended, and screening at younger ages than the standard age also may be considered. Women who are at high risk may be urged to undergo genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer markers.

Breast cancer can be an especially scary prospect for women with family histories of the disease. By familiarizing themselves with their risks for breast cancer, women can take the necessary steps to protect their long-term health.