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Pequannock Township High School Joins in on Mission Honor Wall Project

By Alexander Rivero e hear it over and over again in interviews with soldiers. We see it in their biographies, in the footage of their ﬁrst comments upon returning home from long overseas deployments. We can almost feel it on their expressions as they disembark ships and planes, putting boot to native soil for the ﬁrst time in months: “If you only knew what it meant to us”, say our veterans, “to have your support, to know that you think of us and remember us when we’re out there.” Pequannock hears them too. The township has planned its Mission Honor Wall just outside Pequannock Township High School (PTHS) for the express purpose of honoring members of the high school across the generations who have gone on to serve in

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our armed forces, many of which never returned home. Mission Honor—the idea for the project of a commemorative monument for our veterans— originated at Butler High School, and it is spreading to other schools in the area. The end goal in all of this is to increase the na-

tional appreciation for the sacriﬁces the members of the armed forces oﬀer every day by identifying our heroes on monuments or displays in schools. The Honor Wall at Pequannock follows the model of placing photographs of service members past and present in uniform with his/ her name and other rele-

vant details. For inclusion into the monument, the veteran does not need to have completed graduation from PTHS, but need only to have attended. Richard Hayzler, principal of PTHS, is proud of the work his students have put into the monument. “This is just a great opcontinued on page 4

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Mission Honor Wall Project... continued from front page portunity for PTHS and everyone involved to honor all those men and women who served that came through our school,” he says by phone. Hayzler and his staff, who in October of 2021 coordinated with the West Point jump team to parachute into the 50-yard line at half time with the game ball during a Pequannock High football game, put the township’s STEM academy to work on creating a design for the monument. The design completed, the teams of students and supervising staffers sent it over to school architects and engineers, while giving the green light to fund raising efforts to finance it. When it comes to the major steps needed to finalize and sustain the Honor Wall, however, Principal Hayzler is clear. “The food truck fundraisers and donations are crucial and necessary, and we depend on them, and the Board of Education will help hopefully, but in the end of all of this I want the students to take full ownership of this important legacy project. I want them to have that recognition, but to have earned it, and to consider the military as a possible next

step in their own lives, as well as in the lives of the students that come up after them.” The principal admits the challenge of locating all the local veterans that at one point or another were students at the high school. The willingness to help, however, has never been on the short end. Volunteers have abounded from day one, many of whom, like Sharon Austin (PTHS Class of ’67), have gone the extra distance to make sure every eligible veteran is accounted for in the monument. “We had just had our 50th high school reunion, and I noticed on Facebook that they were going to build one of those walls for our school too,” says Austin. “I had plenty of information on our veterans, and put together a PowerPoint presentation of as many names as I could find of veterans that came through our school.” Austin recounts receiving photograph after photograph of servicemen from across the branches, and running each of them into the PowerPoint slides. Her own class of 1967 graduated about 200 students and produced a whopping 26 veterans. This was during the days approaching America’s

peak involvement in the Vietnam War. As for the models for the Honor Wall, they are, says Austin, “so impressive that they should do what is intended, which is to honor the veterans and inspire future generations. That was my reaction to them when I saw them.” As for expectations for alumni who come back to see the monument, Principal Hayzler says he wishes for all Pequannock alums to feel welcomed back at the school.

“We want them all to come back at some point and in some capacity, whether they are active or former military members or not. There’s a great deal they can offer our students in terms of life perspective and advice, and as long as they’re interested, we’d be very happy to have them.” If you know of anyone who should be included on the Mission Honor Wall, please have them send a digital uniformed photograph to smulligan333@icloud.com.

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William Paterson University to Participate in New Jersey’s Garden State Guarantee Program

illiam Paterson University in Wayne is joining other New Jersey public colleges and universities in participating in the Garden State Guarantee, New Jersey’s new state financial aid program launching in fall 2022 with the aim of making college more accessible and affordable. The Garden State Guarantee program is designed for New Jersey residents who attend an in-state, public, four-year

institution. Under this program, students whose family has an annual adjusted gross income (AGI) up to $65,000 will not have to pay anything for tuition and fees during their third and fourth years of study. Students whose families have an annual AGI between $65,001 and $80,000 will pay a discounted net price of no more than $7,500 for tuition and fees during their third and fourth years of study. “At William Paterson University, we

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are committed to serving our low-income students, as evidenced by our pioneering Pledge 4 Success program, which previously supported students through graduation and now will shift focus to support first-year and sophomore students with significant financial need,” says Reginald Ross, vice president for enrollment management. “Now, through the Garden State Guarantee, these students in their third and fourth years can continue on the pathway to a William Paterson University degree at little or no cost to them and their families.” William Paterson’s Pledge 4 Success program will now provide eligible firstyear and sophomore students with the opportunity to earn a degree without having to worry about the cost of tuition and fees. The program makes up the difference between what a student will receive if eligible for New Jersey TAG and federal Pell grants, and what they would owe in tuition and fees. This means that a student who is eligible for New Jersey TAG and federal grant support would not need to pay any additional costs toward tuition. Housing, books, and other expenses are not covered. The Garden State Guarantee will support

third- and fourth-year students and will provide up to four semesters of free tuition. To be eligible, students will need to be enrolled full-time, taking at least 12 credits per semester and working toward completing their first bachelor’s degree, and have completed a FASFA application. The program is a last dollar aid program, funded by the State of New Jersey, that will cover the cost of tuition and fees that are not already covered by federal and state financial aid or other scholarships. Students in their third or fourth year at William Paterson, defined as having earned 60-89 credits for third year and 90-126 earned credits for fourth year, will be eligible for the program. Credits include those a student has earned from a different institution and/or while in high school through dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test credits. Continuing students and incoming transfer students are eligible. For additional information, please visit wpunj.edu/garden-stateguarantee, email finaid@wpunj.edu or call the William Paterson University Office of Financial Aid at 973.720.3945.

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Easy-to-Overlook Tax Documents: This Year is a Little More Challenging

ont Miss These Tax Documents imageWith tax season now officially underway, here are several tax documents that may be easy to miss in your mailbox or inbox: Child tax credit letter. From July through December 2021, the IRS paid out 50% of projected child tax credit payments to qualified households. The IRS is sending out a recap of these advance payments in Letter 6419 that you can use to correctly account for these payments on your tax return. This letter should have arrived in your mailbox by late January. The IRS is alerting taxpayers, however, that Letter 6419 may have incorrect dollar amounts if you moved or changed bank accounts in December. The IRS is urging taxpayers to use the information in their online taxpayer accounts for the most upto-date figures on the amount of the advance Child Tax Credit to include on their tax returns, instead of the numbers included in Letter 6419. Click here to find out more about your online account with the IRS. Stimulus payment letter. The IRS issued millions of economic impact payments in 2021. The IRS is mailing

a summary of these payments you received in Letter 6475. As with the child tax credit letter, you can use this letter to accurately report your economic impact payments on your tax return. This letter also should have arrived in your mailbox by late January. Identification PIN. The IRS may have assigned you an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to help protect your identity. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. This IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS. If you are a confirmed victim of tax-related identity theft and the IRS has resolved your tax account issues, the IRS will mail you a CP01A Notice with your new IP PIN each year. Corrected tax forms. If an error is discovered on a tax form you’ve already received, a corrected version will be created, then mailed to both you and the IRS. You can also request a corrected tax form if you believe you found an error. Here are some of the forms you might see with corrections: Form W-2 from your employer that shows corrected wages, salary and taxes withheld

Form 1099-INT or Form 1099DIV from your investment broker that shows a revision in interest and dividend income Form 1099-NEC from a client to whom you provide services Form 1098 that shows how much mortgage or student loan interest you’ve paid You may not be aware you were issued a corrected tax form until it shows up in your mailbox (or inbox). If you do receive a corrected form, don’t throw the old version away! Save both the original version and corrected version in case either are needed for future reference. Often the ease of filing your tax return is dependent on having the correct information, so remember to look for everything, including these often overlooked forms. Shah & Sokoloff , CPA’s, is a year round full service CPA firm providing a wide range of Accounting and Tax services to both Small Business and Individual Clients. We are QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisors and provide new business set up, training and support. Our office is located at 166 Main St. Lincoln Park, NJ 07035. Our website is

www.cpanewjersey.com and email is rps@cpanewjersey. com. To contact us by phone please call 973-633-1001.

Douglas Tallamy To Speak at Laurelwood Arboretum

riends of Laurelwood Arboretum will welcome renowned writer and educator Douglas Tallamy as guest speaker on Sunday, April 24 at 2:30 pm. The program, “Bringing Nature Home: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard,” will be held at the Knippenberg Center for Education at Laurelwood Arboretum, 725 Pines Lake Drive, Wayne. Tickets will be on sale starting March 1 at www. laurelwoodarboretum.org. Tickets are $30 for members of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum and $55 for non-members (includes a 1-year membership). Space is limited, and early purchase of tickets is recommended. Tallamy is Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and the author of the best-selling books Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope and The Nature of Oaks. In his writings and lectures, he advocates for a grassroots, homegrown approach to conservation by turning backyards into conservation corridors that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves, which are essential for the wellbeing of wildlife and, ultimately, humankind. Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum is the non-profit organization that helps preserve and manage the 30acre arboretum in partnership with Wayne Township. For additional information about the program or other upcoming events, go to www.laurelwoodarboretum.org, or send an email to info@laurelwoodarboretum.org.

Robert P Sokoloﬀ Associates Merges With Manish Shah CPA

e are delighted to announce that Robert P Sokoloff Associates P.C. of Lincoln Park has merged with Manish Shah CPA of Roseland, NJ. With constant changes of tax regulations, software requirements and so on, both firms felt it was necessary to merge to continue to produce quality work and services. Manish Shah CPA, MST is a licensed CPA in NJ & NY with over 15 years of experience. He has previously worked in the regional CPA firm and has extensive experience in multi-state taxation and international taxation as well. His clients base ranges from small to mid-size businesses and individuals requiring accounting and tax services in various industries. He is a member of NJSCPA and AICPA. Robert Sokoloff is a licensed CPA in NJ, with over 35 years of experience. He has extensive experience in Corporate and Individual tax returns, as well as Estates, Trusts and Non-Profit organizations. His client base ranges from small to large businesses and individuals requiring

accounting and tax services. He is a member of the NJSCPA, and has served as Past President of the Morris County Chapter. The merger will significantly benefit both firms current and future clients in many ways and provide a wider range of professional services, and a wealth of professional talent all under one firm. We are grateful to our clients for not only giving us the opportunity to provide accounting and tax services, but also for your loyalty and friendship which has enriched our relationship. We are confident that our new combined firm will serve us all well. The combined firm will be operating under the name of Shah and Sokoloff LLC. The new firm will be operated from 166 Main Street, Suite 2, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035. Robert P. Sokoloff, CPA, CGMA Partner Manish Shah, CPA, MST Partner

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Love of Outdoors Inspires Butler Photographer

By Steve Sears Nothing stands in the way of Butler’s Robert Bortolot getting a great bird photo. Not even a snowstorm. “I was just out looking at my backyard birds,” Bortolot says on a recent Saturday morning. “I did get a couple of pictures of the White Throated Sparrow on my deck railing in the snow.” Bortolot, 49, who uses a Canon 5D Mark IV camera with a Sigma 150 – 600mm lens, has taken a plethora of bird photos, but also occasionally snaps a picture of a bear or mammal. “I love the reptiles. There’s nothing like a great reptile shot,” he says. And he got a great one in December while on a hike. “I saw a salamander. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain and all I had was my cell phone, so I took a picture with that. And I tell people you don’t have to buy top of the line, fancy cameras to take pictures of stuff. It does help in certain instances. But sometimes, cell phone cameras work just as well.” Bortolot was introduced to the love of the outdoors and birding at a young age. “My grandfather got me started years ago,” he says. “He was a big outdoors person, and I kind of followed in his footsteps. I enjoy the outdoors; I like hunting, fishing, photography, hiking. It’s just fun being outside.” A co-worker’s wildlife photos in 2004 impressed Bortolot so much that he went

to a camera shop and bought a Canon Rebel TI – an actual film camera - with a Phoenix 100 – 400mm lens. “I started playing around, getting used to my camera, how it worked, different aspects of the photography, and basically just really learning the camera,” he recalls. As he became better as a photographer, he added lenses and eventually switched to a 7D camera before his current 5D Mark IV. Bortolot’s favorite shot has been of a Red Tail Hawk and family. He explains. “I found a nest, I think it was last year. They were nice enough to accommodate me to photograph them from when just born right up until the day they fledged the nest. I got pictures of them bringing food into the babies and feeding, and then I actually got to watch them practice their hunting skills, too, which was kind of fun.” Bortolot as well does landscape shots, and he has a partner in his photography love: his girlfriend, Anne Fardo. “She likes to do cell phone photography, like landscapes and people,” Bortolot says. “That seems to be her forte. And you know, I embrace it, too, just like she embraces my stuff.” Fardo, who lives in New York, accompanied Bortolot when he ventured over state lines to get a shot of the new Tappan Zee (now known as the Mario M. Cuomo) Bridge. “At sunset, just as it was getting lit up,” he says.

Photos courtesy of Robert Bortolot.

Red Fox and Kit and Juv.

Bortolot’s work will be on display from April 29 – May 1, 2022, at the 21st Annual Festival of Arts at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Haskell. “It’s a fun one,” he says of the festival, which is open to children up to adults. “They put you in with amateurs as well as professional photographers, and it’s a judged competition. And it’s not only photography, but they do art, all forms of art sculptures, oil paintings, pastels, and watercolors.” Bortolot, a 1991 Butler High School graduate, feels beauty is there to be seen (and photographed of course, if one

chooses). “A lot of people, when they go for their walks, life is just so busy that they don’t really take the time to look and enjoy what is in and around at a particular time. I’ve seen Baltimore Orioles up here at Silas Condict Park, actually the best ones (photos) I’ve ever gotten, I think. At Goffle Brook Park (Hawthorne), I’ve gotten really great shots of the Orioles over there, too. I just really enjoy it, and always enjoy adding new species to my collection.” Bortolot’s work can be viewed at www.viewbug.com and the “Kinnelon Kodachrome” Facebook page.

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Debunking Myths About Spaying and Neutering

ompanion animal overpopulation poses a considerable problem. The Humane Society of the United States says about 2.4 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in American animal shelters each year - about one every 13 seconds. Many of these animals are the offspring of beloved pets or stray cats and dogs who reproduce unchecked. One of the easiest solutions to the pet overpopulation problem is to have pets spayed or neutered. Another solution is for prospective pet owners to adopt pets from a nearby animal shelter - one that handles spaying and neutering for their adoptable animals. Many pet owners are hesitant to have their animals spayed or neutered. That hesitation may stem from some prevailing myths surrounding spaying or neutering. Myth: You can use neutering or

spaying interchangeably to describe the sterilization process. Fact: Neutering is associated with male pets and the removal of the testicles. Spaying is for female pets and involves the removal of both the ovaries and uterus. Myth: Recovery from spaying and neutering takes a long time. Fact: Many veterinarians and animal clinics allow pet owners to bring their pets home on the same day the animal is spayed or neutered. Pets are usually fully recovered within a week of having the surgery. Myth: Removing reproductive organs will make my pet get fat and lazy. Fact: Weight gain is not a byproduct of spaying and neutering. Pet weight gain is typically linked to an unhealthy diet and inadequate exercise. Myth: My pet’s personality will change continued on page 11

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Debunking Myths... continued from page 10 for the worse. Fact: Pet behavior may improve after the animal is spayed or neutered. Males tend to be less aggressive, and females won’t howl, cry or pace when they’re in heat. Also, your pet actually may stick closer to home because the desire to find a mate has been reduced. Myth: It’s advisable to spay a female pet after she has at least one litter. Fact: Many veterinarians stand by medical evidence that suggests females spayed. Fact: Many veterinarians stand by medical evidence that suggests females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier than those who aren’t. Myth: It is expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered. Fact: Subsidized voucher programs as well as low-cost spay/neuter clinics can help make the procedure affordable. Myth: The sterilization procedure is painful for my pet. Fact: The surgery is done under general anesthesia, and the pet will not feel

anything. Discomfort after the surgery is usually mild, and a vet can prescribe a post-operative pain medication if your pet seems to have any lingering discomfort. Myth: If I keep my pet intact, I can have a puppy or a kitten just like him or her one day. Fact: The offspring of a pet is not guaranteed to be a duplicate in looks or personality to your existing pet. In addition, at a later point in life, you may find your schedule or ability to care for a young pet has changed. Pet overpopulation is a considerable problem with wide-ranging consequences. Pet owners should speak with their pets’ veterinarians about spaying and neutering. 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.

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5 Cooking Swaps to Help Manage Cholesterol

hen cooking, keep in mind small changes that can make a big impact on heart health. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease and stroke, with about 38% of American adults diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. It can be managed by getting levels regularly tested and making lifestyle changes like eating a heart-healthy diet. Reduce saturated fat – Select lean cuts of meat or opt for plant protein, limit processed meats, broil or bake rather than pan-fry meats and remove skin from poultry before cooking. Eat more fish – Fish can be fatty or lean, but it’s still low in saturated fat. Choose oily fish like salmon or trout, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Use liquid oils in place of solid fats – For roasting, sauteing and more, use nontropical liquid vegetable oils like canola, safflower, soybean or olive instead of butter, lard or shortening. Lower dairy fats – Low-fat, fat-free or

non-dairy milk can be used in many recipes instead of whole milk or half-and-half. Increase fiber and whole grains – Add high-fiber vegetables to meals, serve fruit instead of juice and try brown rice instead of white. These simple tips and better-for-you recipes like Chicken Tortilla Soup and Air Fryer Crispy (Un) Fried Chicken can help you eat healthy without sacrificing taste. Find tips for managing cholesterol and other risk factors at heart.org/cholesterol. Chicken Tortilla Soup This recipe is reprinted with permission from “Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook, 2nd Edition.” Copyright 2018 by the American Heart Association. Published by Harmony Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Servings: 4 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, visible fat discarded, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 cups frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed 2 cups fat-free, no-salt-added chicken broth 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) no-salt-added, diced continued on page 13

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5 Cooking Swaps... continued from page 12 tomatoes, undrained 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon ancho powder 2 medium garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 corn tortillas (6 inches each), cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips 1 corn tortilla (6 inches), torn into pieces 2-4 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro 1/4 cup finely chopped avocado 1/4 medium red bell pepper, cut into matchstick-size strips In slow cooker, stir chicken, corn, broth, tomatoes, onion, sugar, ancho powder, garlic and salt. Cook, covered, on low, 6-8 hours, or on high, 3-4 hours. Preheat oven to 350 F. On baking sheet, arrange tortilla strips in single layer. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until crisp. Transfer baking sheet to cooling rack. Let strips stand 15 minutes, or until cool. Transfer to airtight container and set aside. When soup is ready, transfer 1 cup to food processor or blender. Stir in tortilla pieces. Let mixture stand 1 minute. Process

until smooth. Stir mixture into soup. Stir in cilantro. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with avocado, bell pepper and reserved tortilla strips. Air Fryer Crispy (Un) Fried Chicken Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association Servings: 4 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1/2-1 cup low-fat buttermilk 1/2 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (optional) 1/3 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs 1/3 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 ounces each), visible fat discarded, flattened to 1/4-inch thickness, patted dry with paper towels nonstick cooking spray Preheat air fryer to 390 F. In shallow dish or pie pan, whisk flour, parsley, oregano, pepper and cayenne.

In separate shallow dish or pie pan, whisk buttermilk and hot sauce. In third shallow dish or pie pan, stir panko and Parmesan. Place dishes and large plate in row. Dip chicken in flour mixture then buttermilk mixture then panko mixture, turning to coat at each step and gently shaking off excess. Using fingertips, gently press panko mixture so it adheres. Place chicken on plate. Cover

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Bloomingdale Author’s New Meditation Book for Children Envelops Them in Loving Light

“Change the world by loving ourselves first, then others,” the author says when we focus on gratitude it shifts our energy to send us more. She cherishes children’s light of love — to talk to them, listen to what they have to say, and answer questions they may have, guide them to remember the love. Lacina says the children seem to love those exchanges and they leave hugging. “My nephew and other children I’ve cared for have opened up to me,” she says. “Wisdom is a great word I didn’t understand years ago. If we are compassionate, kind, caring and loving — we have it made, right.” The author finds inspiration… in child-ren

By Jillian Risberg t’s her personal gift to children — Love & Light Meditation is Carol Ann Lacina’s young reader meditation, a simple means to center on the loving light all around them and share that healing love with the world. “I want to help them understand how strong and powerful they are, stand up for themselves in a loving way,” the author says of being a conduit of this light and love. Ignore the negativity and distance yourself from drama. Ensure you have a supportive system. She also recommends the curative effect of nature, taking a dip in the ocean, and hugging a tree. In these trying times, she hopes readers are enveloped with loving kindness.

when she sees them run in the ocean laughing, delighted they can be happy and free. Her own children; Danielle, Cassie and son Jay inspire her with who they’ve become and their abundant happiness, after everything they’ve been through. “And the love, compassion and caring they have in their hearts,” says Lacina. She’s inspired when connecting with teenagers and parents about her book, (‘I forget I am an author’) and they say they love it. “This inspires me to know I am hopefully in some way making a difference to even one child, one person,” she says. Serving inspires her because many are suffering and struggling. Lacina says we serve each day with a

kind word or saying hello to a stranger on the street. And she reaches for the works of: Author Anthony William, James Van Praugh, “Invisible Acts of Power” (Caroline Myss); “The Hidden Messages in Water” (Dr. Masaru Emoto); “Sara” Series (Esther and Jerry Hicks). The author calls herself an empath. “I love to make the road easier for anyone I

can, especially family.” We all crave connection… more than ever before. And Lacina is a Reiki practitioner, who instills chi and prana into the body for healing. “We are all energy, and

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2022 • Page 15

The Magpie Bakery Opens in Bloomingdale

elcome to Bloomingdale The Magpie Bakery! Mayor John D’Amato officially welcomes owner Melanie Stripeikis accompanied by Council Members Dawn Hudson, Dominic

Catalano, Evelyn Schubert and John Graziano, family members, friends, staff and the Bloomingdale Economic Development Commission. The Magpie Bakery is located at 2-14 Riverside Square in Bloomingdale.

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continued from page 14 too. The author can relate, she says meditation balanced her when she was young. She sat solo in her room to get away from the craziness at home — light candles, breathe, pray… and got more into meditation and yoga 15 years ago. “Deep breathing calms your mind and nervous system,” says Lacina. “If we familiarize children with the information in my book, it reminds them of the love around them and if they need more.” They can tap into her meditation for solace. The author says when children learn this at a young age they are equipped anytime they feel sad, hurt, unloved or stressed. “It will stay with them as they grow through life,” she says it will also teach compassion, empathy, to care about one another. According to Lacina, it’s a spiritual experience when she writes. The author found a real release, penning her first journal at seven-years-old; then, again in college and dating her future husband — as well as poems (some about love, some about being hurt). She has more books in the pike, including divine spirits (Lacina loves and believes in

them.) “I wrote a book about an angel that visits a little girl afraid to go to sleep because of the dark; the angel comforts her of course,” the author says she would love to write more children’s (including a series of animal) books — to educate them to respect creatures, and never kill or poach them. She would also love to reach high school kids (many are in emotional pain) through motivational speaking in schools — starting with the basis of her book. One out of seven teenagers have thought of suicide, according to Lacina. The CDC saw an alarming spike among 12–17 aged girls from February to March 2021; and social media is problematic. “This concerns me, and makes me realize they need help and connection too. I would love to help in any way I can,” the author says. The process of writing her first book: “Love and Light Meditation” was thrilling. “I had no idea what to expect. This focused on something happy and positive, so it was a joy to create,” says Lacina, who always dreamed of being an author. “Keeping in that place, in that space, no matter what was going on was a happy time for me.” For more information on Lacina, visit www.carolannlacina.com.

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Scott Allen Relives His Time as a Bronze Medal-Winning Olympian

By Steve Sears cott Allen still has “an absolutely beautiful bronze medal,” as well as one of the blades from a boot he wore when, at age 14, he was the youngest person ever to win a Winter Olympics medal. Allen was fourth going into the final skate during the final figure skating competition at the 1964 Winter Olympic Games at Innsbruck, Austria, but then pulled up in to third. “And obviously elated to do so,” Allen says. He was also very close to the silver medal winner, Alain Calmat of France. “I was very close to him as well, and he had a difficult time of it, he fell several times. I came very close to getting the silver that year. It was a wonderful experience.” Allen, who is a descendent of Revolutionary War hero, Ethan Allen, and son of Swedish national figure skating champion, Sonja Fuhrman, started skating competitively at age 6. By the age of 9, he had competed in the Novice division of the U.S. Championships and garnered a silver medal. In 1961, after moving up to the Junior division, he at age 12 repeated that silver medal performance again at the national competition. Allen also was a 1964 and 1966 U.S. national champion, and a 1965 World Championship silver medalist. It should be noted that Allen almost missed winning his bronze medal, and enjoying the whole Olympic experience itself. Wanting his young skater to experience the 1961 World Championships, Allen’s Skating Club of New York

coach, Fritz Dietl, secured tickets for he and his young skater to board a plane on February 15, 1961 and fly with the United States Figure Skating World Team to Brussels. At the last moment, a malfunction at an ice rink that Dietl founded and ran (the Fritz Dietl Ice Skating Rink) forced him to give up his and Allen’s tickets. “It was a thriving rink,” Allen recalls. “He had just started it. He was a one man show; he designed the rink, managed it, and he had a serious engineering background. We had tickets for that flight, and we were prepared to go, but the compressors at Hillsdale, they broke and malfunctioned, and his whole livelihood was really invested in that rink financially.” Dietl planned on delaying the trip by a week, and in a tragic event, the Sabena Flight 548 carrying the U.S. team members crashed outside of Brussels, Belgium, killing everyone on board. “There were so many skaters from the New York area and Boston on that flight, and judges and officials and friends, and so it was a very personal and tragic time for all of us who were in the skating community and knew all those skaters well,” Allen says sadly. Two years later, Allen was on the podium in Innsbruck, a bronze medal around his neck. “The most exciting time I’ve ever had, frankly. All the competitors had skated and I was back in the dressing room waiting for the results,” Allen says. A few minutes later, Allen was delivered the great news when his happy coach came running down the hallway underneath the stands and burst in the dressing continued on page 25

14-year-old bronze medal winner Scott Allen (r) on the podium. Photo courtesy of Scott Allen.

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

Do You Struggle with Missing or Failing Teeth? Dental Implants May Help! An Investment in Yourself • Improved Quality of Life Enhanced Appearance Lead to Better Health and Greater Self Confidence

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2022 • Page 19

REAL ESTATE

Terrie O’Connor Realtors Recognizes Outstanding Accomplishments

errie O’Connor Realtors, Kinnelon is pleased to announce our 2021 Award Recipients. “What a great professional and successful group of the finest agents in the area. Well deserved recognition for so many! During this very difficult year they excelled once again to meet the needs of all their clients!” said Terrie O’Connor, President/Owner Terrie O’Connor Realtors. Barbara Pagella is the recipient of the Gold level NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Award which requires a minimum of $12 million and 25 units in production. She was also awarded the Terrie O’Connor Realtors prestigious President’s Circle, Kinnelon Office Top Agent and the Above 10 Million Dollar Production Award. Barbara was also named a 5 Star Agent and recognized as a Best of Morris County agent. Debra Zyskowski is the recipient of the Bronze level NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Award which requires a minimum of $2.5 million and 15 units in production. She is also the recipient of the Terrie O’Connor Realtors 2.5-5 Million Dollar Production

Award and recognized as a Best of Morris County agent.. Karen Hoffman and Robert “Rob” Nieto are the recipients of the Terrie O’Connor Realtors Above 5 Million Dollar Production Award. The recipients of the Terrie O’Connor Realtors 2.5-5 Million Dollar Production Award are Beth Califano, Jane DeVincentis, Allison Kirchdoerffer, Arlette Scialla and Mavourneen Slufik. “A huge Congratulations to all our award recipients and I would like to recognize each and every one of our affiliated agents in our Kinnelon Group–thrilled to work with all of you! This year we are celebrating our TENTH year and could only do it with our Loyal Clients and our Outstanding Agents!” Founded in 1991, Terrie O’Connor Realtors, still Independently owned and operated, has nine locations that service Northern New Jersey and Southern New York. providing top-of-the-line support, tools and systems, and is a regional leader with a reputation for excellence and customer commitment. As a member of Leading Real

Estate Companies of the World--Local and Luxury Portfolio our over 460 affiliated associates can assist you locally and globally. For more information regarding Our Sig-

nature Real Estate Services please contact us at the office 973-838-0100 or stop in at 1483 NJ Route 23 South, Kinnelon, NJ 07405 located in the Meadtown Shopping Center.

3 Tips for Selecting the Perfect Home

or those beginning the process of home buying, there are many factors to consider. Keep these ideas in mind as you conduct your search – whether it’s online or at a series of open houses. Consider future needs Because life is always evolving, it’s important to move into a home that has enough space for your family’s anticipated changes. While features and space are always prime considerations, don’t forget to, look into the area schools, day care options,

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parks and other kid-friendly amenities if you plan to

grow your family in your continued on page 21

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

REAL ESTATE

Danielle Fiorina Ranks 6th in All of New Jersey and in the Top 1% Nationwide for Century 21

atricia Wojtyszyn, broker/owner of CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is pleased to announce that in recognition of her outstanding sales production and commitment to quality service, CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC recently honored Danielle Fiorina, sales associate with CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc., the DOUBLE CENTURION® award for CENTURY 21 System sales affiliates that earn a minimum of $576,000 in gross commission sales or 130 closed transactions sides within the calendar year. Danielle has achieved the DOUBLE CENTURION® award for two consecutive years. Danielle Fiorina is ranked 6th for CENTURY 21 agents in New Jersey and is ranked in the top 1% nationwide, is a NJ REALTOR® Circle of Excellence Sales Award winner for the past 16 consecutive years and a member of the CENTURION® HONOR SOCIETY. Danielle has also been awarded with the CENTURY 21® President’s Producer Award for the tenth consecutive year and is the recipient of the Quality Service Pinnacle

Producer Award, as well as titled the Top Office Producer for 2021. “We are thrilled to recognize Danielle’s work for this momentous achievement,” says Mike Miedler, president and chief executive officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “This is an outstanding honor since only a small percentage of affiliated agents in the United States receive this award for sales.” Fiorina has been a professional realtor and top producer in the industry since 2006 and provides one-on-one personal expertise to each and every client from start to finish. When you choose Danielle, you work directly with, and only with Danielle. Danielle Fiorina has built her reputation on professionalism and honesty. As a former business owner and accountant/ controller, she is very innovative and promotes her client’s needs to successfully reach their goal. She is a full-time realtor and has been a top producer in the industry for 16 years and provides individual and personalized expertise. Call Danielle to put

her experience to work for you and for all your real estate needs. “My clients always come first. Understanding their personal goals and needs is the heart of my real estate business, and I believe it is the foundation for an effective client/realtor relationship. I am very grateful to my clients for putting their trust in me and thrilled to be acknowledged by CENTURY 21 with this

prestigious award.” says Fiorina. “It is evident that Danielle is a true real estate professional who shows a dedication to her clients on a daily basis. I am very pleased to have her market knowledge and business skills in my office,” says CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate’s Wojtyszyn. Make your first choice, the right choice, call Danielle at 973-460-4352.

3 Tips... continued from page 19 next home. Look for ﬂexible spaces Seek homes that offer rooms with multiple functions. For example, an office area may be suitable for a small child’s room, or a sunroom may be converted to a laundry area down the road. Unfinished basements are also blank canvases that can be customized to meet your family’s wants and needs. Get to know the area

The purchase of a home goes well beyond the property line. Be sure to examine the neighborhood in which the house is situated. From the condition of the neighbors’ houses to highway access and the proximity of necessities like grocery stores and gas stations, be sure to take every factor into account to help ensure you’re selecting the right location. Find more tips to aid you in your home search at eLivingtoday.com. (Family Features)

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Page 22 • March 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

REAL ESTATE

Century 21 Crest Real Estate Names Its NJ Realtors® 2021 Circle Of Excellence Award® Winners

1® Crest Real Estate is pleased to announce that 11 of its agents have achieved the NJ Realtors® 2021 Circle of Excellence Award®. These awards recognize the top producing agents in New Jersey. To earn the award, recipients must achieve designated sales levels and be in good standing. Danielle Fiorina, ranked 6th in the top CENTURY 21 Real Estate Agents in New Jersey, has been named a New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence 2021 (COE) Platinum Level achiever and is also a CENTURY 21 DOUBLE CENTURION® Producer with sales volume in excess of $29,000,000.00, as well as a President’s Producer and Quality Service Pinnacle Award winner. Colleen A. McMahon has earned the New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence 2021 (COE) Gold Level Award and is also a 2021 CENTURY 21 CENTURION® Producer with sales volume in excess of $15,000,000.00, President’s Producer and Quality Service Pinnacle Producer award winner. The Silver Level COE Award designation for 2021 was earned by Regina Petry with sales volume in excess of $9,500,000.00. Regina is also a CENTURY 21 Masters Emerald and Quality Service Producer award winner. Bronze Level COE recognition has been awarded to Anthony Cheff, Marie Episale, Tere Episale, Maria Fazliu,

Cathy Lawton, Suzanne Parisi, Nicole Ruggiero and John Tierney. Cheff, M. Episale, T. Episale, Ruggiero and Tierney have also been named CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle award winners. Fazliu and Parisi have been named as CENTURY 21 Quality Service Producers. Lawton is honored this year as a CENTURY 21 Distinguished Sales recipient. “At CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate, we are pleased to commend our agents who were named NJ Realtors® 2021 Circle of Excellence Award® winners. I am so very proud of our agents not only for their production, but most of all, for their dedication to superior customer service,” says Patricia R. Wojtyszyn, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate Broker/Owner, adding, “I applaud their efforts in 2021, and look forward to helping them achieve their sales goals in 2022.” Servicing the Northern New Jersey area since 1981, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. enjoys a fine reputation specializing in residential, commercial and rental properties. CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is an award-winning, full service real estate agency located at 142 Professional Center on Route 23 North in Pompton Plains. Achievements for 2021 include the CENTURY 21 CENTURION Award, President’s Award and Quality Service

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Pinnacle Award. Members of CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate’s awardwinning sales team can be reached at (973) 686-1500. Our office is proud to have achieved the CENTURY 21 CENTURION, President’s Award and Quality Service Pinnacle Awards for 2021 CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of CENTURY 21 Real Estate, the iconic brand and franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, comprised of approximately 6,800 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 78 countries and territories worldwide with more than 100,000 independent sales professionals. The CENTURY 21® System provides brand marks, marketing, communications and innovative technology solutions that help enable its franchisees and their independent agents to attract and engage prospects, nurture customers, and deliver a positive real estate transaction experience. ©2022 CENTURY 21 All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

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Scott Allen... continued from page 16 room. “He was elated, and I was elated.” When Allen returned home to Kinnelon, a “Scott Allen Day” was held with a small parade. “My local support was fantastic,” Allen fondly remembers. “I went to Stonybrook (Elementary) School and then Kinnelon High School, and so I had a lot of friends in Kinnelon that had followed me. I had a very superb relationship with Kinnelon and everybody who lives in the surrounding communities, and that was really one of the highlights of growing up there.”

Allen, who afterwards graduated from both Harvard University and Columbia Business School, reflects on the enormous scope of the Olympics. “The actual reach of the Olympics doesn’t take hold of you until you get back home, and you see the amount of people that were watching and following it, and the amount of mail that you get from all over the country,” he says. “It was really astonishing. It was at least tenfold of anything I had ever received in terms of fan mail. Once you get home, you see the enormity and the reach of the Olympics and how much effect it had.”

Kinnelon Resident, Denville Student Collecting for Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter

Did You KNow?

ccording to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, between 10 and 15 percent of the worldwide population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, making IBS the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder across the globe. The IFFGD notes that about 40 percent of individuals with IBS have a mild form of the condition, which is

marked by abdominal pain that is typically accompanied by diarrhea, constipation or alternating episodes of both. Though men and women suffer from IBS, it’s considered a major women’s health issue. The IFFGD reports that hysterectomy or ovarian surgery has been performed more often among IBS patients than in comparison groups.

Have a human interest story or something you would like to share? Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

Julia Ackerman is a 15 year old Kinnelon resident that attends Morris County School of Technology in Denville. She has started a drive for the Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter. Dropoﬀ locations for donations include the Kiel School and Stonybrook School. Ackerman will continue collecting with no end date. Items needed include food, baby products, and toiletries.

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The Junkin’ Irishman: Providing For All Your Junk Needs

By Megan Roche hile renovating his home in 2004, Jim McKinney purchased a 6-yard trailer to tow with his pick-up truck, to assist in disposing of construction debris. While Jim was busy with a full-time career in IT and a young family at home, he decided that there was extra money to be made in part-time junk removal services. And so, with a pick-up truck, a 6-yard trailer and a very clever name, Jim launched Junkin’ Irishman. The name, which has since been trademarked, would prove to be the real MVP. “While much of my business would come from repeat customers and referrals from those customers who were so pleased with their service, it was the memorable company name that had so many calling Junkin’ Irishman in the first place,” McKinney says. From a small trailer and pick-up truck, to a 20 yard box truck which he would offload by hand, his part-time business, providing house clean-outs, light demolition, and rubbish removal, was booming. Continuing to work full-time in his IT career and part-time in the evenings and on weekends, Jim continued to grow Junkin’ Irishman, adding a full-time crew

and eventually a new dump truck. It wasn’t until 2018 that Jim decided to step away from his long-time career in IT, and take on his now thriving side business, full-time. “Several trucks later and now with my son Dylan working by my side, myself and the rest of the Junkin’ Irishman team, as an essential business, continued to work throughout the pandemic, providing all of our usual services, in addition to electrostatic cleaning disinfecting services, to kill and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Electrostatic cleaning disinfecting with a hospital grade disinfectant is the safest and most effective way to disinfect large areas, killing mold, mildew, flu, Covid-19 and more,” McKinney shared. Junkin’ Irishman prides themselves on fast, friendly, and reliable service. Services include entire estate clean-outs, furniture and appliance removal, attic and basement cleanouts, construction debris removal, and demolition of pools, decks, sheds, bathrooms and more. To book Junkin’ Irishman, contact Jim at the Junkin’ Irishman at 800-939JUNK(5865) or (973) 879-7071 or email: Junk@junkinirishman.com. Their website is www.junkinirishman.com.

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Passaic County Technical-Vocational School Grad is Living His Broadway Dream

by Steve Sears 018 Passaic County Technical-Vocational School grad, Malcolm Young, states, “I’m right where I want to be right now.” He’s in a pretty good spot. Young on Thursday, February 10, was on stage for the first time as a cast member dancer in Broadway’s The Lion King at the Minskoff Theater. He was among a group of 40 who auditioned this past August, and he was one of three selected for his role. “Sometimes I tell people I’m still processing my debut,” Young says. “It was amazing. It completely exceeded my expectations. It was just a beautiful day, and it doesn’t feel real. It’s so surreal, just stepping onto the stage and “Circle of Life” coming on as the first number.” Things have come full circle for the 22-year-old Young, whose parents took him to see the play in 2010, at the same theater where the legendary play is still performed. Young started taking dance lessons at age 8 at Clifton and Passaic’s Dance World Academy, and through the years studied ballet, jazz, and tap, and has competed both regionally and nationally. His early training, as well as his attending PCTVS and the Passaic County Technical Institute School of the Performing Arts, helped him grow as a performer. “I definitely knew that dance was what I was going to pursue as my career, so I knew that I needed to go to a high school that would take me to the next place, grow me as a dancer, but also give me more opportunities learning dance history and the business of dance. PCTI was really the only option

for that. And then, when I went there, it was everything that I expected it to be. I tell people sometimes it felt like I was in High School Musical. It was really fun there.” Young, who lives in Clifton, and also graduated from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology, credits three things in attaining his Broadway role. “One, I had a little bit of experience. Most of the people in the audition had auditioned for them before, but I did an audition three years before my freshman year of college. I remembered a little bit of the process and what it was like, and I was able to manage my expectations in that way. Also, I remember that I got through all the rounds during the first audition, but I was just too young. I heard them say, ‘He’s just not ready yet,’ but I held on to the ‘yet.’ Two, I think I was just able to - and it’s important - execute everything that they were asking for right there on the spot, as soon as they asked for it. That shows that you’re on top of it, that shows quickly that you can thrive in a Broadway setting where things are just thrown at you. And three, my passion for the show most definitely shows. This is my dream since I was 10 years old, and I feel like they definitely saw that in my dancing. Aside from trying to get the job obviously, just my passion for the show and being on the stage that they perform at every night, I think I just took it to another level.” Young has future goals which he’d like to attain. “I always knew that eventually when the time comes, when the

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time is right, I want to go back to school. I did minor at NYU during undergrad, so I definitely want to go back and get my master’s. I want to get more into choreographing and maybe a little bit of producing for theater.” And while certainly carrying these worthwhile aspirations within him, Young lives the dream as a cast member of The Lion King. “I’m really just open to see where this journey takes me.”

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New Jersey School Professional Earns National Accolades for Work During Pandemic

isa Bell, RN, BA, CSN, has been recognized by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC) for her pioneering work in school nursing throughout the pandemic. Bell, a certified school nurse with more than 45 years of experience, is the school nurse at Chapel Hill Academy in Lincoln Park, NJ, a state-approved private special education school. She was recognized by NAPSEC for her work organizing school nurses to develop policy and protocols to support students with complex disabilities as they returned to school during the pandemic. In the winter of 2020, Bell organized a small group of school nurses working at state approved private special education schools to start planning how to get students with disabilities back into schools safely. There were special considerations based on the needs of the student population, from medically-fragile students, to those with autism and psychiatric disabilities. “At that point, no one thought it would be months, let alone years, before we found a new ‘normal.’ We just knew our students needed to get back to school as soon as possible, not just for the academics, but for the social and therapeutic components as well,” said Bell. Throughout the pandemic, school nurses became policy leaders and interpreters of ever changing local, state and federal guidance. Through frequent Zoom meetings – sometimes three times a week – the school nurses group grew to more than 100 nurses. Together,

they shared challenges, solved problems, helped create policies, processes, and re-entry plans, and coordinated efforts to secure PPE, which was often in short supply in the early days of the pandemic. “We supported each other every step of the way,” concluded Bell. Chapel Hill Academy and a small handful of other state-approved private special educations schools were approved by the State to open for educational services in July, making them the first schools in New Jersey to reopen. NAPSEC honored Bell with its “Related Services Provider of the Year” Award for 2021. A resident of Lincoln Park, Bell studied nursing at Caldwell College (now Caldwell University) and Mountainside School of Nursing. She is certified as a nephrology nurse and a certified Operating Room Nurse. She is a member of the National Association of School Nurses and the New Jersey State School Nurses Association. “I am honored and humbled to be recognized by NAPSEC for this national award,” said Bell. “I was just doing what needed to be done.” Chapel Hill Academy, a member of ASAH, is a New Jersey approved private school for students with learning, social, emotional, and behavioral disabilities in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students are placed by the local school district and attend at no cost to parents. To learn more, go to https://chapelhillacademy.net/

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An Irish Story

By Richard Mabey Jr. hat force of nature could possibly bring a proud Protestant Dutchman and a shy Irish Catholic girl together, especially being that the lass from the Emerald Isle was 18 years younger than the gentleman from the land of windmills and wooden shoes? That magical and mystical force, of course, is love. In 1883, Catherine Cavanaugh, my great grandmother, came to America with her parents when she was only five years old. They first took up residence in Clifton. A few months later, the Cavanaugh family moved to Paterson. At the age of 16, Catherine worked in a silk mill in Paterson. Both of her parents also worked in the same silk mill. It was tough labor, requiring hard work for long hours. Somehow and someway, Catherine Cavanaugh met a Dutchman named Wesley Storms, who lived in a small farming town known as Beavertown. Wesley was a very shy, lonely widower, who lived alone in a very small home at the foothills of Hook Mountain. Wesley, my great grandfather, was 18 years older than Catherine, my great grandmother. Now at 68, I deeply regret that I did not ask my grandmother, Bertha Storms Mabey, more about her mom and dad. However, I am ever so appreciative for the information that Grandma did share with me about her parents. Wesley Storms never did know his father. Wesley was born in 1860. Shortly after he was born, his father, William Storms, signed up with the Union Army. My great-great grandfather served in the 15th New Jersey Regiment. Sadly, he was killed in the Battle of Salem Church in May of 1863. It was a scar that was left upon Wesley’s

The signs, “Irish need not apply,” were not uncommon to be seen in factories and stores during the nineteenth century.

heart, never to be healed for his entire lifetime. For Catherine Cavanaugh, working in a silk mill was very hard work. The men and women who worked in the silk mills in Paterson worked long hours for little pay. It was a tough life. Most of the people who worked in Paterson’s silk mills were immigrants. The Irish immigrants did not have it easy in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The prejudice against the Irish was very real in America. It’s painful to admit, but none-theless, there was very real prejudice against the Irish. In factories, stores, and other places of business, during the nineteenth century, it was not uncommon to see signs reading, “Irish need not apply.” Wesley Storms had a little farm in Beavertown. The greatest mystery is how it came to be that my great grandmother met my great grandfather. I remember my grandmother, Bertha Storms, told me that her father had close friends, who were also friends with her mother’s parents. In light of their age difference, and the fact that Wesley Storms was Protestant and Catherine Cavanaugh was a devoted Catholic, it is truly a miracle that they fell in love and married. As a boy, growing up in Lincoln Park (formerly

known as Beavertown) one of my best friends lived in the very home that my great grandmother and great grandfather once lived in. The very home that my paternal grandmother grew up in. I was only in the home one time. It was a hot summer day and my friend, Robert, invited me in to have a glass of lemonade. I was about 10 years old at the time. I had only been in the kitchen of that dear old home, for about 20 minutes. But in that short time, I could feel the presence of my great grandparents. I was a very sensitive child, with a vivid imagination. As I sat at Robert’s kitchen table, as his mom poured cold lemonade in glasses for us, I could imagine my grandmother sitting in that very same kitchen as a little girl, eating supper with her mom and dad. I live in Central Florida now. I don’t travel up to New Jersey that often any more. But when I do visit Lincoln Park, I always take time to take a walk by the home that my grandmother, Bertha Storms Mabey, grew up in. From the sidewalk, I look up to that modest home, atop a hill, and feel the presence of the ghosts of my great grandparents. All in all, I deeply regret that I didn’t ask my grandmother more about her childhood days. I regret

The silk mills of Paterson hired a lot of Irish immigrants. It was hard labor, requiring long hours in a working day.

that I didn’t ask her more questions about her parents, specifically the details of how they met and fell in love. Sadly, those questions will never be answered. If you are blessed to have even one of your grandparents, alive on this side of Heaven’s Gate, please do consider talking

to them about their childhood, their history, their legacy, their heritage. Truly, it will be time well spent. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail. com. Please put on the subject line: An Irish Story.

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The History and Mythology of St. Patrick’s Day

By Henry M. Holden here is one day a year when people of all ethnic groups can claim to be Irish. Saint Patrick’s Day, (or from Gaelic: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “Day of the Feastday of Patrick”), is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the assumed death date of Saint Patrick (385 – 461). The original reason for the celebration was the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. More countries celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day than any other national festival. It is a public holiday in seven countries and is widely celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. The Potato Famine that struck Ireland (1845-52) led to the immigration of over one-million Irish to the United States, in one decade, although it continued to a lesser extent into the early 20th century. When Irish immigrants brought St. Patrick’s Day traditions to the United States, the day evolved into a secular celebration of Irish heritage and culture. Saint Patrick’s Day became an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century.

Celebrations involve parades, céilís, a social event at which there is Irish folk music, traditional dancing, shared folklore, leprechauns, and all things Irish. Pubs served green beer and the folks in Chicago dye the river green (a tradition dating back to 1962). Modern celebrations are still influenced by the Irish diaspora, the ethnic Irish and their descendants who live outside the island of Ireland and influenced by those that developed in North America. What we know about Patrick is he wrote his own autobiography in the form of a Declaration. He was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family, and became a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. The shamrock, a three-leafed clover is not only a feature of Celtic mythology, but it was also especially important in Irish legend in the spread of Christianity. The shamrock, aka the “seamroy” was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland. It symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish

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nationalism. Saint Patrick tried to inform the Celts on the Holy Trinity, but they could not understand what he was saying. Patrick saw a clover and decided to use it to explain the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit as one. The Celts realized what he meant, and that’s how the shamrock became so important in Irish history and social tradition. Spirited music is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day—and Irish culture in general. From earliest days of the Celts, music has been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs. The English began to seize land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism. The first British Law specifically banned the use of the Irish language was Article III of The Statute of Kilkenny in 1367. As a result, Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage, and their anger with English rule. After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember notable events and retain their heritage and history, as it often stirred emotion and helped to galvanize the people. One of the most lasting folklore stories is the legend that during his mission in Ireland, Patrick once stood on a hilltop (which is now called Croagh Patrick), and with only a shepard’s staff, banished all the snakes from Ireland. The “banishing of the snakes” was a metaphor for the suppression of pagan ideologies from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within two hundred years of Patrick’s arrival, most of Ireland was converted. Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St. Patrick’s Day to share a “traditional” meal of corned beef and cabbage. Cabbage has long been in the Irish diet, but it was at the turn of the 20th century that corned beef became popular. Irish immigrants living on New York City’s Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money. They learned about this inexpensive alternative from their Jewish neighbors. One icon of St. Patrick’s Day is the Leprechaun. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” They have appeared for centuries in Irish folklore.

Leprechauns stem from the Celtic belief in fairies, tiny people who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. (Public Domain)

Belief in leprechauns stem from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny people who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns mended the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their mythical pot of gold. According to Irish mythology, butterflies move between worlds and bring messages and warnings. They are souls, waiting to be reborn on earth. Leprechauns are the cultural symbol of Ireland, with their names translated from ‘shoemaker’. They were said to roam Ireland before humans, with a unique hat and red hair. In oral folklore, you can find their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, so if you visit Ireland, be sure to look for a rainbow. The harp became cemented in the folk music tradition, everyday life, and popular culture of Ireland. The Harp of Daghda is a national icon in Ireland. Folklore says that evil gods stole the first harp from the Daghda, a king in Irish/Celtic mythology. Daghda’s music made people feel transformed. The absence of music caused sadness to pass over the country. Eventually the evil gods gave it back to them, and joy returned to the land. Now that you know some of the myths and legends from Irish folklore, you are safe to wander through the most rural parts of Ireland. And if you visit, don’t forget to visit, and kiss the Blarney Stone. According to this author’s mother who was born in County Cork, if you hang upside down by your knees and kiss the Blarney Stone you will be given the “gift of gab” or a talkative streak.

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Glory Days: DePaul Catholic 1982 Field Hockey

By Steve Sears oes “Miracle on Ice” sound familiar? It should. It became the statement that defined the 1980 Gold medal winning United States ice hockey team at the Lake Placid-held Winter Olympics. Does “Miracle on Turf” ring a bell? It may in Wayne, and perhaps within the halls of DePaul Catholic High School. Parents of the members of the 1982 DePaul Catholic girl’s field hockey team used the term to describe the Spartans upset 2 -1 victory over Absecon’s Holy Spirit High School in the Parochial A State title game. “I’m really proud of these kids,” says head coach, Paula Lasalandra, regarding the 1982 squad. “They went down there (to Lawrenceville, where the title game was held) with the attitude that they were going to win, and they did.” Holy Spirit had scored first for an early advantage, but then the Spartans in the second half tallied twice, that last goal coming with less than two minutes left on the clock. DePaul Catholic was a good mix of upper and underclassmen, and some of the players were new to the sport of field hockey, while powerful Holy Spirit was one of the state’s top ranked teams heading into the championship game. No one gave the Spartans a chance, no one believed they could win. “I don’t think anybody gave us a chance down there, to be honest with you,” Lasalandra remembers. “We were playing a team that was, I think, undefeated, and they had a great record. I remember it said in the the paper before the game that it was great respect for our team just to show up and play.” “And then when we won, and everybody was shocked including Holy Spirit.” There was no Parochial A Sectional final game because no other teams qualified. Therefore, the Spartans had to defeat a tough West Milford team that had defeated them earlier in the season, just to qualify with a .500 record and be able to face Holy Spirit in the state final. They won that conference game against West Milford, sat at .500, and were declared North Sectional State Champions. Holy Spirit was next. Michele Merlino was a sophomore on the 1982 team. She after high school went to Ball State University on a field hockey scholarship. “We beat West Milford,” she says, “and then we traveled to Lawrenceville and beat Holy Spirit of Absecon. In that game, I know that me and Tracy Narwid scored goals. She was a freshman that year.” “Michele was such a talented player,” Lasalandra says, “and Tracy was just an unbelievable athlete.” DePaul Catholic, the underdog, was loaded with players that hungered to win. Charissa Murray was a junior that season, and senior Jessica Biamonte was captain, as was goalie, Maggie Tarpey. Kim Ryan was a captain as well, and she and another senior, Laura Groppo, were steady performers along with sophomores Giselle Chapman, and twins Margie and Mia Faust. “Tarpey was incredible that game,” Lasalandra recalls of the Holy Spirit contest. “That was 40 years ago, and I don’t remember how many saves she had, but she made some of the most unbelievable saves that game.” “It was the first time we had ever won the states,” Merlino says. “I remember we had great camaraderie with our teammates, and we all worked really hard. I think it was one of the best field hockey teams that had ever come out of DePaul. I remember that we won the states and were ecstatic, because that’s your goal for any season, to go as

The DePaul Catholic Spartans celebrate their 1982 Parochial A State Title. Photo credit: 1983 DePaul Catholic High School yearbook.

far as you can.” “They just cared for each other so much,” adds Lasalandra. “And that was such a big deal.” She also credits having assistant coach, Sue Liddy, around with her infectious spirit.

“She was wonderful.” ‘They just weren’t such great kids,” Lasalandra says. “They had a great attitude. They just refused to lose that day.”

Morris County Mom’s Genius Idea is a Convenient Germ-Fighter

By Jillian Risberg hildren’s car seats can harbor some of the nastiest bacteria buildup you don’t want anywhere near your child. Cleaning it yourself is not only a time consuming hassle; traces may be left behind. A Madison mom knows this all too well and was inspired to do something about it. “Studies show toddler car seats have more germs than a toilet seat, which is disgusting,” says mom of two, Lauren Siclare, who started BuckleBath to help parents tackle the common germ-filled problem. It started when the entrepreneur was in the preschool drop-off car line with her daughter. A teacher took her daughter out of her car seat and a crumby mess came out with her. “I was so embarrassed,

‘how does this happen?’” Siclare wondered. “My daughter is really clean and so is my car.” She then had her ah-hah moment and realized it was leftover snack crumbs from days prior. She promptly searched online for a cleaning service specific to children’s car seats, she even checked the Apple app store, but couldn’t find a mobile business solely dedicated to

cleaning gear in driveways. This was the genesis of the business. “‘I needed to start in a market where there’s a densely populated community with a lot of young children,’ The entrepreneur researched and wrote her business plan while working at Google, she then left corporate America to see her mobile car seat cleaning and sanitizing company to fruition.

Her venture became significantly more relevant during the pandemic as a result of hyper awareness around sanitizing, disinfecting and removing germs. “The adoption of our service and the excitement around it was very organic and spread very quickly in the beginning,” says Siclare, of witnessing it firsthand. A month into the continued on page 34

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Mom’s Genius Idea...

continued from page 32 launch, she and her husband were in a restaurant when seated behind them they heard a woman and her friend talking about BuckleBath. The friend responded incredulously. “I was not shortsighted in knowing this potentially could be a nationwide brand but wanted to be strategic in proving out the concept locally,” says the entrepreneur. Siclare is incredibly grateful for her cleaning associates. She says the team’s dedication to quality has a huge impact. “If I didn’t have them out there executing and doing the cleaning themselves, I could never do this,” she praises their phenomenal effort. And the entrepreneur follows car seat manufacturer guidelines, using natural products because car seats have to be cleaned in a specific way. “That’s really important to note,” says Siclare. “We are strict about the protocols. I am a licensed CPS tech -- and sat through a four-day long, intense course to understand the rules and regulations behind car seats, then trained all my team members to do so.” After a stint on Good Morning America, there is a huge interest in BuckleBath franchises.

“We’re still a newer business and don’t spend huge amounts of money on advertising so it’s not like you’re going to walk into a Starbucks and see something about BuckleBath unless it’s a flier a mom left behind,” the entrepreneur says, ‘word of mom’ has definitely helped. As of September BuckleBath is legally a franchise. It was a lot of work, according to Siclare — but as founder of the company her hope is to be able to provide jobs, through bringing on new franchisees who want to be business owners and are passionate about introducing BuckleBath to their community. “Our strategy is to grow and meet the demands of the requests we get every single day from multiple states and towns,” says the entrepreneur. “Because no one else does exactly what we do.” As we move into the warmer spring months, a new franchisee will be running New York City. “We are looking for individuals who are interested in opening a franchise.” We have always been careful to ensure the quality of the service is strong.” Next: Add North Jersey and New York franchisees to help BuckleBath grow and service some of the high demand areas they are not able to frequent on a regular basis. BuckleBath is interested in partnering

with more of the right people to keep kids healthy in the car. “There’s complete chaos in the summer months,” says the entrepreneur. “We’re in conversations with someone in Florida to open a franchise there. They don’t have concerns about weather so we’re excited to see what BuckleBath in a different climate will do.” The branded vehicles are mainly used for in-driveway service and partnering with daycare centers to clean on site. Standard cleaning is $59. A more involved cleaning (child was carsick) $110. Your own franchise: $32,000 (plus business expenses) $61,000. Siclare has a showcase of before and after pictures. Each appointment it’s the cleaning associate’s responsibility to pick up the gear, snap a picture — and prior to returning, take another photo to display the difference. The reactions are priceless, according to the entrepreneur. “Moms are blown away,” Siclare says. “They made this look brand new; it was so convenient, you saved me from buying another car seat,” are some of the comments she’s received about BuckleBath. And it’s why she started the business in the first place — being available for moms,

dads, nannies (or whoever it may be) during a stressful time and removing the heavy burden; it’s cumbersome to clean a car seat. “If we can take it off their hands, they’re really happy about it,” says the entrepreneur. She knows her business will stand the test of time. “There’s always going to be babies born, busy parents, caretakers and BuckleBath will always be relevant,” Siclare says. To book an appointment or for more information, visit www.bucklebath.com.

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