Livingston_December 2024 by My Life Publications..Maljon LLC

Livingston Runner Participates in Second New York City Marathon, Places in Top 2% of Women

By Megan Roche

Alex Granata grew up on the soccer and lacrosse fields at Livingston High School. Always athletic, Granata knew that she had strong legs but never gave competing in marathons a thought. After randomly signing up to run a half marathon, Granata got bit by the running bug and never looked back.

“I didn’t train for that first half marathon, I was basically going off muscle memory. I didn’t really prepare for it. I would run in college for stress relief and it led me to where I am today,” Granata said. “I signed up for that half and I did really well. I think I ran it in an hour and 42 minutes. I had maintained a good pace and I was happy I did it. But then, one of my friends had suggested running a full marathon.”

To run the New York City Marathon, potential runners can go about earning a spot in various ways. There is a time qualification route, where times must be submitted and match up to or be better than a record. There is a charity run where you can run to raise money for a specific charity. Granata chose the third route, running nine races and volunteering at a race hosted by the New York Road Runners.

“My first four mile run with the New York Road Runners, I ended up winning first place. I was the first woman in my age group to finish and I saw a message from someone on my Instagram telling me that I actually won an award for that. From that first race, it kind of kept on happening. I did a 5K and I got an age group award and I just decided that running was going to unravel to be whatever it was going to be,” Granata said.

Granata’s first major marathon was Boston, something that a lot of people doubted she’d even qualify for.

“So many people kept telling me how hard it would be to qualify to Boston. When I was running the Martha’s Vineyard Marathon, not only did I qualify to Boston, I beat the qualifying time by 15 minutes,” Granata recalled.

When she recently ran the New York City Marathon, her mind was in marathon mode about 16 weeks prior. She had to train at various paces and allow her body the opportunity to build up to running 20 miles every weekend leading up to the race.

On race day for this year’s New York City Marathon, Granata went into the race with a time goal, but that was it.

“I tried as hard as I could to relieve any pressure on myself. I gave myself a time range so there wasn’t much room for crazy disappointment. I had goals of having fun, locking in, and hitting my time,” Granata said.

After crossing the finish line in Central Park and celebrating with friends and family, Granata went about her day and back to her day to day life. It wasn’t until a friend noticed that her finishing time was among the top that she became aware of how well she truly did.

“I sent my friend my official results and he started rattling off these percentages and I realized how insane my times actually were. There are over 55,000 people running and I’m not running thinking that I’m going to be in the top two percent. It’s so wild to see, it’s so cool. You are not thinking about doing something like that in the moment,” Granata said.

Running for Granata may be a stress reliever, but it’s also allowed her to push herself beyond her physical limits.

“I’m more competitive with myself than anyone else. I always want to set the bar high for myself. I just want to maintain my best times. I still get butterflies before every

race and that’s how I know that I care. If I wasn’t a little bit nervous, even with everything I did through my training, what am I standing there for?” Granata said.

Now having participated in all three World Major marathons (Boston, Chicago, and New York) in the United States, Granata has her eyes set on the three international World Major marathons (London, Berlin, and Tokyo).

Alex Granata runs in the New York City Half Marathon

By Steve Sears

WPresbyterian Church of Livingston Hosts Events for Mental Health Betterment

hen it comes to Pastor Dan Martian and Presbyterian Church of Livingston (https:// presbyterianchurchoflivingston.org/), care of the individual starts at the pulpit, and then extends beyond.

Martian said, “What we’ve been striving to do at the Presbyterian Church Livingston is basically highlighting mental wellness; mental wellness through Laughter Yoga, and mental wellness through the culinary arts with Chef Jesse Jones.”

Certified Laughter Yoga Leader (CLYL) and Teacher (CLYT), Joan Castellano, was at Presbyterian Church of Livingston on Sunday, October 22 to hold a Laughter Yoga (https://laughteryoganj.com) event, and Chef Jesse Jones (https://www. chefjessejones.com) visited the church on Sunday, October 27 to prepare foods for the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays.

“Therapy happens in many different ways,” Martian continued. “It was a way for us to bring people together that have never really been inside our church. To connect people together, help people just to be around each other.”

30 people attended the Laughter Yoga event held by Castellano.

She said, “The event at the church was so well received. Everyone engaged, fully laughed, fully participated, fully enjoyed themselves. I remember just having like that dopamine high that you get throughout the whole event. My cheeks were hurting because I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.”

Martian at the end also did a Circle Laugh – almost like a Meditation Laugh –where he himself laughed much.

Castellano said, “He started losing it in a good way, and then so did everybody else, of course, because it is contagious. There was energy in the room.”

The Chef Jesse Jones-hosted event, the theme leftovers after the Thanksgiving holiday, was attended by 22 people, and they got to sample what he calls his “deconstructed Turkey pot pie.”

Jones said, “I kind of did my famous biscuits, and kind of made like a little turkey pot pie type demo, and put it over the biscuits, and it was delicious.”

Attendees also enjoyed some of Chef Jesse’s late mom’s turkey salad.

Jones said, “I lost my mom last year, and Pastor Dan has been helpful with that. She was just such an amazing woman.” He then paused, and said, “Once I saw them take that first bite, and then the room get quiet, and even Pastor Dan was quiet, and everybody’s loving it - I just appreciated what I do, and I’m thankful for being here.”

Martian said, “I think in a society

like we have right now of isolation and lonliness, that’s why we wanted to do these two events. And we will have many more opportunities for people to gather at the church, to connect with others. In the future, we’re going to have art therapy and music therapy, and we might have circle drum therapy. All these deal with the mental wellness of people.”

Pastor Dan Martian with Chef Jesse Jones and some of the attendees at the October 27th Presbyterian Church of Livingston event (courtesy of Chef Jesse Jones)

By Henry M. Holden

TMorris County Celebrates Two Significant Milestones

he Morris County Vocational School District office, (MCVSD) is where career and technical education programs that inspire and prepare students to succeed are found.

Programs range from auto service and construction trades to healthcare sciences, global commerce, performing arts, and cyber security. In addition to collaboration with the local school districts and the County College Morris (CCM) there are full-time academies and Share-Time programs established at offsite satellite locations.

This year, 2024, marks two significant milestones for the Morris County Vocational School District. It is the 25th anniversary of its Dance Program, and the 55th anniversary of the district’s inception in 1969.

The Academy for Performing Arts, which includes the Dance Program, offers students opportunities to work with master teachers and professional choreographers. The program has produced alumni who are performers, choreographers, and dance educators, among other professions. The annual dance performance has become a showcase event, highlighting students’ talents and growth as artists.

In honor of the Dance Program’s 25th Anniversary, the program will host a special performance on January 18, 2025, at the County College of Morris. This celebratory event will feature a unique blend of current students, alumni, educational partners, and industry professionals. Lisa Peluso, Teacher of Dance, will choreograph a piece for alumni, and current students will perform pieces choreographed by professional alumni.

With the County College of Morris as a supportive partner, the celebration will also feature alumni who will present their own work at the concert. Professional dance compa-

nies, each employing alumni, will highlight MCVSD’s impact on the dance community. Additionally, County College of Morris’s Coordinator of Dance, Professor Terence Duncan, will collaborate with the Academy of Dance seniors to create a work as part of their Choreography I Course taken at County College of Morris.

“I am thrilled to celebrate 25 years of the dance program! I had the privilege of being a guest instructor in the program’s early years, and for the past decade, I’ve had the honor of leading it as the director. Watching our students grow,

find their voice, and pursue remarkable careers, in the arts or other fields they’re passionate about, has been inspiring and shows the impact of an arts education,” said Lisa Peluso, Teacher of Dance.

The 25th Anniversary Dance Performance will bring together the program’s past and present. When tickets are available for the January 18th performance they will be sold on the school website.

From its origins as a traditional vocational school, MCVSD has evolved through the years into a leading district providing career and technical education across a broad range of fields. “These two milestones highlight the district’s ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence, and expanding opportunities for students in Morris County,” said Shari Castelli, Acting Superintendent of the MCVSD.

“We have a new district building on the campus of the County College of Morris (CCM)” said Gina DiDomenico, the Student Recruitment and Community Relations person. “We are offering four Pathways, and ten Share-Time programs. Applicants apply to one pathway and will choose a specific program in year two.

Share-Time programs or half-day programs are for 11th and 12th grade half-day and full-time nine through 12th grade.

The Morris County Vocational School District continues to educate students, nurturing their passions, and equipping them with valuable career readiness skills in preparation for college and careers,” said DiDomenico.

An academy program of the MCVS provides students in grade nine through twelve in-depth instructions in a specific career pathway. Students attend the academy programs instead of their local high school unless the academy program continued on page 5

This year marks the 25 years of artistic excellence through the Dance Program. (MCVSD)

Two Milestones...

continued from page 4

is housed in their local high school. Students take their academy classes each year following the NJ State Department of Education’s academic requirements. All academy students receive a high school diploma from the Morris County Vocational School District, regardless of their academy location. Each academy has a unique academy course sequence and opportunities for internships and earning college credit.

“With 55 years dedicated to career and technical education, and 25 years of artistic excellence through the Dance Program, with a new building on the campus of the CCM we can offer four Share-Time Program Pathways and. skills in preparation for college and careers,” said DiDomenico.

The MCVSD recently announced a new full-time academy for aviation and partnership with Roxbury high school. This new Academy is designed to meet the increasing need of the aviation industry for airline pilots, drone operators, and aircraft maintenance.

With the aviation industry experiencing rapid growth, the academy for aviation aims to provide students with tools and education they need to pursue these in-demand careers.

The program will begin in the fall of 2025, and offers a specialized curriculum to meet the industry needs. Through the school’s evolution, many new full-time and share-

time programs have been added through the years.

The Academy for Aviation will include hours of aviation experience, and a senior year option for flight training.

Each year, for the past five years the Morris County School of Technology prepares for a fresh academic year by gearing up for the new term, teachers and guidance counselors attend the district’s Summer Institute, an annual teacher-lead initiative. This workshop is designed to highlight innovative teaching techniques and lay the groundwork for the upcoming year, with this year ‘s theme centered on “cultivating joy in the educational environment”.

Spearheaded by Samantha Shane, and the departments chairs this three-day session delves into pertinent topics, such as an establishing a productive learning culture, championing equity and inclusion and crafting authentic learning experiences, integrating gaming in education and much more.

Contemporary lesson plans strengthen staff connections, with renewed emphasis on learning techniques, are aimed at propelling students to a higher. Level. The teacher behind the Fundamentals of Food Service course reflected, “The Summer Institute stage as an invaluable platform for collaboration and brainstorming, highlighting, incredible initiatives, undertaken across MCST. This is a gathering of career, technical education in general subject, educators to sharpen

their skills collectively.

“Our full-time programs and our parttime programs are both very strong. We are not doing away with any courses. We have two significant milestones and have a lot of different programs.” said DiDomenico.

National Merit Finalists are selected based on their exceptional abilities, skills and accomplishments. They are highly recruited by several colleges, nationwide, and have some colleges and universities offering significant scholarships.

Dhruva Chitneed and Mahi Gupta, are seniors at Morris County School of Technology, in Denville have been named National. Merit Finalist. They are a reminder of academically talented high school seniors from across the country who compete in some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded in the spring.

Mahi Gupta is in the school’s Academy for Health Care Sciences. This Academy is a rigorous highly focused program with studies in human sciences, health information technology, emergency care, humanities, computer technology, and health care dynamics. Students in this program can earn up to 15 credits through the Rutgers School of Health-related Professions.

Dhruva Chitneedl is in the Academy for Computer and information Science. This Academy provides students with a comprehensive overview of computer programing, internet technology, computer architecture,

the history of computers, mathematics for programing, network security and software engineering.

“The continued support through this grant, is part of Morris County Vocational School District and 140 high schools nation-wide selected to receive a $5,000 Grant from the Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Redds Restaurant, Association, educational foundation to enhance their ProStride, culinary arts and restaurant management program with no equipment, curriculum and experiential learning opportunities.

“The continued support through this Grant, which we have been given fortunately, for the past, has allowed our school to enhance our school-based events, as well as our student enterprise”, said Miguel Alfonso, a teacher at the Academy for Culinary Arts.

In June Morris County School of Technology students competed at SkillsUSA National Conference with an Auto Body & Collision Repair student ranking 1st in the Nation for Automotive Refinishing.

Morris County School of Technology’s STEM Club’s Technology Student Association (TSA) Chapter participated in the New Jersey TSA’s State Conference, placing in nine competitions, including a 1st place win in Biotechnology Design for a third year in a row.

For more information visit www.mcvts. org

Morris County’s Holiday Events for 2024: A Festive Family Guide

With the winter season just around the corner, Morris County is gearing up for a series of holiday events that promise to dazzle and delight. Whether you’re searching for light displays, meeting Santa, or looking to experience winter wonderlands, here’s a list of holiday happenings that locals won’t want to miss!

1. Morristown’s Christmas Festival on the Green

• When: Weekends, December 1 - December 22, noon to 8 p.m.

• Where: Morristown Green, Morristown

• Highlights: This 100-year tradition transforms Morristown’s Green into a sparkling winter wonderland with family activities and entertainment featuring holiday lights and wreaths adorning streetlights; Santa’s house to visit and photos; holiday crafts like gingerbread house and ornament making; miniature train rides around the Green; and live performances by local choirs and entertainers. Visitors can enjoy holiday treats, storytelling and even ice sculpting demonstrations. Perfect for young families, the festive spirit is contagious, making it a holiday tradition for many!

2. Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show & Village

• When: Through December 30 (check

specific dates)

• Where: Skylands Stadium, Augusta

• Highlights: Featuring a mile-long drivethrough light show with over two million twinkling lights, Skylands Stadium also boasts a Christmas Village where you can meet Santa, adults can enjoy a Winter Beer Garden and explore local vendors. The display is set to music, creating a magical experience as you drive through. Roast s’more on a fire pit, sip hot coca and indulge holiday treats.

3. Festival of Trees at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum

• When: Through December 31

• Where: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morris Township

• Highlights: Celebrate the season on Dec. 7 and Dec. 7 by decorating the Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Mansion in this annual Festival of Trees. Calling all scouts, families, floral designers and garden clubs in this festive family outing. This indoor display features beautifully decorated trees by local businesses, artists, and community groups. Wander the arboretum’s halls for creative tree displays that showcase themes from traditional to quirky. The venue is family-friendly and makes for a lovely afternoon holiday activity, especially for those interest-

ed in nature and crafts.

4. Family Gingerbread House Decorating

• When: Friday, Dec.13

• Where: Roxbury Public Library, Roxbury

• Highlights: Decorate a preassembled gingerbread house with your family. Registration required. Visit attend.roxburylibrary. org/events

5. Christmas in Chester: Holiday Craft Fair and Market

• When: Through December 22

• Where: Downtown Chester

• Highlights: Browse local handmade crafts, jewelry, and holiday decor from more than 100 artisans. You’ll also find plenty of food vendors, drinks, gifts, jewelry, Christ-

mas decorations and clothing. Chester’s picturesque downtown decorated in lights makes this an ideal outing for a family shopping trip.

6. Hackettstown Hometown Holiday

• When: Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7

• Where: Various locations, Hackettstown

• Highlights: The Hackettstown BID will host the Annual Hometown Holiday celebration! Final Schedule will be announced. Look for all your favorite activities and events! Eat, drink and shop all weekend; Holiday Bazaar Shopping and Dining Tent; businesses continued on page 7

continued from page 6

Holiday Events for 2024... Wishing Everyone A Happy, Healthy Holiday Season!

• When: Monda,y Dec. 30, at 6:30 p.m.

open late with specials; Centenary University Grand Illumination and Holiday Celebration; Santa Parade, Tree Lighting, Santa Selfies; Santa Winter Wonderland; Deck the House: tour Hackettstown’s historic homes, all decked out for the holiday season. This self-guided event lets families take in festive decorations while learning about the town’s architectural history.

7. Mistletoe Market

• When: Friday through Sunday, Dec. 6-Dec. 8; Dec. 13-15.; 5 p.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Where: Turkey Brook Park, Budd Lake

• Highlights: Mt. Olive Recreation will organize a cozy outdoor market where holiday shoppers can find unique gifts, enjoy food and drinks and gather by the fire. Expect pictures with Santa, food trucks and hot chocolate, carolers and performances, bonfire, gift and food donation and tons of shopping!

8. Winter Wonderland

• When: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Where: Ort Farms, Long Valley

• Highlights: Enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, Christmas crafts, photo ops and more.

9. Hanukka Celebration

• Where: Chabad Jewish Center of Mt. Olive, Flanders

• Highlights: Light Up Mt. Olive at a Chanukah Celebration featuring a giant menorah lighting, latkes and donuts, Jewish music and local dignitaries.

Tips for Visiting with Little Ones

1. Arrive Early: Holiday events are always popular! Early arrivals ensure a good spot for parades and less waiting time for activities.

2. Dress Warmly and Layer Up: Winter in Morris County can be chilly. Dressing in layers helps kids stay comfortable outdoors and indoors.

3. Pack Snacks and Water: Small snacks and drinks can help keep little ones happy during the event (and avoid food lines).

4. Stroller-Friendly Gear: Many events, especially outdoor festivals, may involve walking, so a comfortable stroller or carrier can be a big help.

5. Plan for Breaks: Keep an eye out for benches or seating areas where kids can take a rest, especially at longer events. This season, celebrate the magic of the holidays in Morris County. From dazzling lights to festive parades, these events are sure to bring joy and warmth to all!

By Steve Sears

TRemembering Singer\songwriter Bobby Caldwell

he late singer\songwriter Bobby Caldwell, the writer of the 1978 smash single “What You Won’t Do For Love,” would have been 73 this past August 15.

And even though is no longer with us, his spirit was very much felt that late summer day when his wife of 19 years, Mary, held a birthday celebration for him at their Great Meadows home.

Caldwell said, “A lot of folks who loved him were here. A lot of musicians. And, you know, it was a full-blown concert, with all songs written by Bobby.”

Bobby Caldwell died in March 2023 after suffering long-term side-effects from a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which was an FDA black box warning labeled drug. Preparing to head to Japan, he sought medical advice for a runny nose and head cold, and a week later could not get out of bed.

His wife added, “It ruptured both of his Achilles tendons, literally while he slept. But worst of all, it caused peripheral neuropathy, which meant endless nagging, nonstop pain. It just really wore him down for six years and two months, and he died here at home in my arms. And that was on

March 14, 2023.”

Caldwell met her future husband in Las Vegas.

She said, “David Cassidy and a producer by the name of Don Reo launched a show called “The Rat Pack is Back!” It was at the Desert Inn (in Las Vegas), and David called Bobby and asked him to play Frank Sinatra because Bobby had released a few big band albums - kind of just for fun, really. He loved that genre, and so Bobby was playing Frank in in Vegas, and I just happened to go to that show as a Sinatra fan, and he blew me away. He was fantastic.”

Bobby Caldwell’s initial album that bore his name went Double Platinum in the United States, and Platinum in Japan – and in 2024, “What You Won’t Do For Love” revisited Billboard in a huge way, going #1 on the Billboard TikTok charts.

Caldwell explained. “In the beginning of this year, some young lady, I do not know where she is from, had a bowl of fresh strawberries with chocolate drizzles on it, and it was sitting on what looked like her bed spread, and she used the song and filmed the bowl of strawberries. Well, it went viral, and it got something like half a billion views and millions of likes. It spun this whole food thing where people all

over the place were filming food to the song, the same way it was with the horn riff in the beginning.”

Caldwell also wrote many songs for other artists, including a co-writing credit for the 1986 #1 smash single, “The Next Time I Fall”, by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant. Mary Caldwell said, “I sure wish he were still here. And he ought to be. I could not have dreamt him up in my wildest dreams. He was just so right, and we had a great, wonderful marriage, and I am grateful. But it should have been longer.”

Bobby Caldwell (credit: Mary Caldwell)

By Richard Mabey Jr.

TA Fond Remembrance of the Christmas of 1963

he Christmas of 1963 holds a most endearing place in my heart. For it was a time when I took on a very special project and completed it all by myself. I was 10 years old at the time and in the fifth grade. I was now in the Webelos Cub Scouts. It was now mid November, and I was about to face a most challenging pursuit.

Dad had bought me a full-sized piece of plywood at the Circle Lumber on Route 23. The reason Dad bought me this wonderful gift, is that I wanted to create a little village for under the Christmas Tree. Using Dad’s old Plasticville stores and houses, I was going to create my masterpiece by painting roads and sidewalks and green grass onto this big piece of plywood. It was a project that was going to fulfill one of the requirements for community living for my Arrow of Light Award, the highest rank that a Cub Scout can earn.

In mid November, Dad would leave for Maine or New Hampshire to bring New York City its Christmas Tree. Dad made this annual journey for well over 25 years. It would mean that my father would be away from us, for a good week or so. As a child, I knew how much it meant to Dad to have such an honorable responsibility. But then, on the other hand, after a day or two, I would find myself missing his presence.

I was determined to create my little village from the large sheet of plywood, a few little cans of paint, and the array of Plasticville stores and homes, that Dad had from his days as a teenager. I set up Dad’s workbench, in the basement of the old Mabey Homestead, as my very own Central Command. I attacked this project with a certain amount of confidence, mixed with a pinch of self doubts and anxieties.

I worked alone, while Dad was working all so hard, to bring New York City’s its tall and towering Christmas Tree.

It was a Saturday morning and I turned on Dad’s radio, that he had on his workbench, and listened to my father’s favorite radio station, WOR-710. I found a certain comfort in listening to “Rambling With Gambling,” with the show’s host John Gambling.

I remember that it took me the greater part of that Saturday, to complete the fun-filled project. I was immensely proud of myself. I had set up the finished product on two saw horses. It was a sight to see, the little Plasticville homes and stores, neatly arranged on the big piece of plywood, with all the painted roads and painted grass abounding. I had completed the entire project, all by myself, from soup to nuts.

I remember the Christmas of 1963 with great fondness. My little village brought a certain joy and festive feeling to our Christmas Tree that year. I was all so proud of that little under-the-tree village.

There is a time for synergy, and working together with people, and holding to the old, one for all and all for one outlook. However, there is something to be said for working alone to paint a landscape, to write a poem, to compose a song, to plan out a marketing strategy, or to build a little village from a big piece of plywood, a few little cans of paint and some Plasticville buildings.

Sometimes, we underestimate a child’s ability to reach new heights and accomplish wonderful things. As a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, a teacher, or another adult role in a child’s life, there is a tendency to want to jump in, to help the child with a project that they are working on.

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts that we could ever give a child, is the trust and encouragement to take on a project, completely on his or her own.

Love is the single most powerful force in the universe. And, sometimes a great love we can give to someone, is to step back and allow them to accomplish a tough task, all by themselves.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

Yours truly at 10 years old, during the Christmas of 1963, kneeing before my little Plasticville Village.

God’s Gentle, Whispering Call To Home

By Richard Mabey Jr.

As most of you now, I have a heart disease known as Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. It is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in the MY-H7 Gene. In Apical HCM, the smooth muscles in the walls of the heart ventricles become thick and hard. It causes early death, because the heart can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. Please know that this is a most basic and simplified explanation of Apical HCM.

I can feel myself going downhill. A year ago, I could walk a mile around my neighborhood, without too much difficulty. Now, when I just walk around the block (about a quarter of a mile in length) I get very winded. Sometimes I feel chest pains and get very dizzy, even after just walking around the block. Please do not feel sorry for me, I know I am saved by Christ’s love. I know I am going to Heaven. In the past couple of weeks, I have felt the presence of my late Shetland Sheepdog, Foxy, lying at my feet, as a I prepare for sleep. Sometimes, I awaken in the middle of night, I can feel Foxy’s paw hitting my legs. When she was alive, she would often sleep at the foot of my bed. When she needed to go out, she would awaken me by hitting my

Yours truly with my dear, late Foxy.

legs with her paws. Lately, I have been having a most realistic dream of Dad and I hiking the Appalachian Trail, with the scouts of Boy Scout Troop 170. Dad and I walked week-long portions of the AT, over the course of eight different summers. While we are hiking, in my realistic dream, Dad talks to me about Heaven. In these dreams, Dad has told me many times that death is nothing to fear. That Heaven is a most beautiful place. Friends, to those of you who are faced with a terminal illness, and to those of you who are elderly, I share these words most sincerely and earnestly with you. God loves you more than you will ever know. Heaven is a real place. It is as real as the living room in your home. Death is not to be feared. Angels and departed loved ones, will

guide you Home to Heaven’s Gate. This is no joke. This is very serious.

If you are terminally ill or elderly, do not fear death for even one millisecond. Pray to God to bring comfort to your heart. Read the Holy Scriptures of your given faith. Love one another. Tell your loved ones that you love them. Forgive those whom have done you wrong. Love God with all your heart, mind and soul.

Know that this universe was created by an Infinite Intelligence, that is far beyond our comprehension. God loves you more than you will ever know.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ gmail.com.

Play Review: Macbeth

By Stephanie Sears

It is that time of year again. Stormy weather, cackling witches, and ghostly figures all rear their spooky heads.

Yes, Halloween has now passed, but William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is also now playing at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison from October 16 through November 17.

The play, directed by STNJ’s own Artistic Director Brian B. Crowe, pushes the envelop a little bit more in terms of how dark this production is willing to approach the story, the likes of which should not be revealed here for fear (no pun intended) of spoilers. These aspects of the show should be freshly seen without any preconceived notions.

“With Macbeth, Shakespeare takes a deep dive into the psychology of a man who ‘chooses evil as his good,’” says Crowe. “At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is referred to as ‘worthy’ and ‘noble.’ The superlatives abound and he is established as a man to look up to, but even then the character speaks of unsettling thoughts such as ‘my murder which is yet fantastical.’ Even the most noble can have dark thoughts, and I think it’s important to explore these darker recesses. Shakespeare shows us what can happen when we choose self-advancement over our connection with our fellow humans. Shakespeare does not shy away from it in his text, and we didn’t either in the production.”

The story is already one of Shakespeare’s darkest well known tragedies. It follows a man named Macbeth, played by Ray Fisher (who actually played the character before with the theatre’s touring company Shakespeare LIVE! back in 2009 as well), the Thane of Glamis who begins the play

hailed as a battle hero. But when Three Witches merely suggest that he has the potential to achieve even greater power, he, along with encouragement and influence from his ambitious wife and co-conspirator Lady Macbeth, played beautifully by Erin Partin (who later, through Lady Macbeth, portrays another character - something that is not commonly done and is one of the coolest moments and highlights of the show), goes through great lengths to make the Witches’ premonitions realities. Their consciences eventually suffer, leading to mental anguish and the lack of ability to decipher what is real and what is not.

The Three Witches, played by Ellie Gossage, Aurea Tomeski, and Felix Mayes, who all double as other characters as well throughout the performance, are clearly the best parts of the show. Yes, both Fisher and Partin have a central presence, arguably even more presence than other Macbeths and Lady Macbeths before them, but the Witches carry the show. The production’s creativity, especially with them, deserves much recognition. Before the play even begins as audience members enter the house and take their seats, thunder and lightning fills upstage. This is the Witches’ domain. Their creepy figures and tones then remain lurking in the shadows, particularly when the characters are faced with decisions, or worse, the consequences of their actions.

Concluding The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s 62nd Season following Macbeth is Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, directed by Paul Mullins and playing December 4 through 29. Another seasonal supernatural tale, if it is anything like this year’s Macbeth, it will be interesting to see what it will deliver.

Kidz World Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

By Henry. M Holden

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847

– October 18, 1931) was born in Milan, Ohio. He grew up in Port Huron, Michigan, when his family moved there in 1854.

He was an American businessman and inventor who developed many devices including mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions were a life-long driving force also include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and an early version of the electric light bulb.

Edison struggled in traditional schooling and was labeled a troublemaker. Modern speculation is that Edison could have suffered from ADHD which coupled with hearing loss would have made traditional schooling challenging.

His mother, a former schoolteacher, taught Ed-

The Wizard of Menlo Park Lights Up the World

ison reading, writing, and arithmetic. He attended school but for only a few months in 1859. As a child, he became fascinated with technology and spent hours working on his experiments at home.

With 1,093 US patents in his name or jointly, (many with assistance of a dedicated staff) as well as patents in other countries, Edison is regarded as the most prolific inventor in American history. He also filed about 550600 applications which were unsuccessful.

He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of organized science and teamwork to the process of invention and collaborated with other researchers.

Early in his career he worked as a telegraph operator, which inspired some of his first inventions. In 1876, he established his first industrial laboratory

in Menlo Park, where many of his early inventions were developed. He later established a botanical laboratory in Fort Myers, Florida, in collaboration with several businessmen, and a laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey, that featured the world’s first film studio. Called the Black Maria was used by Edison for more than 40 years.

He was the last of seven children born to Samuel Edison, Jr. and Nancy Edison.

In 1871, at the age of 24, Edison married 16-year-old Mary Stilwell. Mary died in February 1886. The marriage had produced three children. In February 1888 at the age of 39, Edson married 20-year-old Mina Miller. This union produced three children. Mina outlived Edison, passing on August 24, 1947.

Edison suffered from lifelong hearing loss, probably due to an inflammation of the mastoid bone, according

to doctors of the time. However, Edison reported that he had sustained a head injury during his work on the railroad.

His deafness was due to a bout of scarlet fever and recurring untreated middle-ear infections. He later created sophisticated stories about the cause of his deafness. He was completely deaf in one ear and barely hearing in the other. As he got older, Edison believed his hearing loss allowed him to avoid distraction and concentrate more easily on his work.

Edison began his career selling newspapers, candy, and vegetables on trains running from Port Huron to Detroit. He made a $50-a-week profit by age 13, most of which went to buying equipment for electrical and chemical experiments. At age 15, he saved 3-yearold Jimmie MacKenzie from being struck by a runaway

train. Jimmie’s father, station agent J. U. MacKenzie was so grateful that he trained Edison as a telegraph operator. Edison’s first telegraphy job away from Port Huron was at Stratford Junction, Ontario, on the Grand Trunk Railway. He also conducted chemical experiments until he resigned rather than be fired after being held responsible for a near collision of two trains.

Edison obtained the exclusive right to sell newspapers on the road, and, with the aid of several as-

sistants, he set type and printed the Grand Trunk Herald, which he sold with his other papers. This began Edison’s long streak of entrepreneurial ventures, as he discovered his talents as a businessman. Eventually, his entrepreneurship created some 14 companies, including General Electric, formerly one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world at the time.

In 1866, Edison moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where, as an employee of Western continued on page 13

Edison listening to an early sound recording.

Gerard T. Freda, DMD

Wizard of Menlo...

continued from page 12

Union, he worked the Associated Press bureau news wire. Edison requested the night shift, which allowed him time to spend tine at his two favorite pastimes—reading and experimenting. Eventually, experimenting cost him his job. One night, in 1867, he was working with a lead–acid battery when he accidently spilt it onto the floor. It ran between the floorboards and onto his boss’s desk below. The next morning Edison was fired.

His first patent was for the electric vote recorder, which was granted on June 1, 1869. Finding little demand for the machine, Edison moved to New York City. One of his mentors during those early years was a fellow telegrapher and inventor named Franklin Leonard Pope. Pope who allowed the impoverished youth to live in the basement of his Elizabeth, New Jersey, home, while Edison worked for Samuel Laws at the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company. The company paid Edison $40,000 for the rights to the Universal Stock Printer. Edison quit his job.

Soon Pope and Edison founded their own company in October 1869, working as electrical engineers and inventors. Edison began developing a multiplex telegraphic system, which could send two messages simultaneously, in 1874.

contributions to the Edison Laboratory was to expand Edison’s mathematical methods. Despite the common belief that Edison did not use mathematics, analysis of his notebooks reveal that he was a perceptive user of mathematical analysis conducted by his assistants, for example, determining the critical parameters of his electric lighting system including lamp resistance by an analysis of Ohm’s Law, Joule’s Law and economics.

Nearly all of Edison’s patents were utility patents, which were protected for 17 years and included inventions or processes that are electrical, mechanical, or chemical in nature. About a dozen were design patents, which protect an ornamental design for up to 14 years. As in most patents, the inventions he described were improvements over prior versions. The phonograph patent, in contrast, was unprecedented in describing the first device to record and reproduce sounds.

In 1878, Edison began working on a system of electrical illumination, something he hoped could compete with gas and oil-based lighting. He began by tackling the problem of creating a long-lasting incandescent lamp, something that would be necessary for indoor use. However, Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb.

After his demonstration of the telegraph, Edison was not sure that his original plan to sell it for $4,000 to $5,000 was right, so he asked Western Union to make a bid. He was astonished to hear them offer $10,000 which he gratefully accepted. The quadruplex telegraph was Edison’s first big financial success, and Menlo Park became the first institution set up with the specific purpose of producing constant technological innovation and improvement. Edison was legally credited with most of the inventions produced there, though many employees carried out research and development under his direction.

William Hammer, a consulting electrical engineer, started working for Edison as a laboratory assistant in December 1879. He assisted in experiments on the telephone, phonograph, electric railway, iron ore separator, electric lighting, and other developing inventions. However, Hammer worked primarily on the incandescent electric lamp and was put in charge of tests and records on that device.

In 1880, he was appointed chief engineer of the Edison Lamp Works. In his first year, the plant, under general manager Francis Robbins Upton produced 50,000 lamps. According to Edison, Hammer was “a pioneer of incandescent electric lighting.

Frank J. Sprague, a competent mathematician and former naval officer, joined the Edison organization in 1883. One of Sprague’s

In 1840, British scientist Warren de la Rue developed an efficient light bulb using a coiled platinum filament, but the prohibitive cost of platinum kept the bulb from becoming a commercial success.

These early bulbs were short-lived and required a high electric current to operate which made them difficult to apply on a large scale commercially. In his first attempts to solve these problems, Edison tried using a filament made of cardboard, carbonized with compressed lampblack. This burnt out too quickly to provide lasting light. He then experimented with different grasses and canes such as hemp, and palmetto, before settling on bamboo as the best filament. Edison continued trying to improve this design and on January 27, 1880, he was granted a patent for an electric lamp using “a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected to platina contact wires”

The patent described several ways of creating the carbon filament including “cotton and linen thread, wood splints, and paper coiled in various ways”. It was not until several months after the patent was granted that Edison and his team discovered that a carbonized bamboo filament could last over 1,200 hours. In 1911, all of Edison’s businesses were incorporated into Thomas Edison, Inc.

Edison then began spending more time a home with his family and his good friend Henry Ford. He passed away October 18. 1931. He was 84.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Its origins lie in the events surrounding the Maccabean Revolt (167–160 BCE) and the Jewish fight for religious freedom. Celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah holds significant historical and cultural meaning for Jews worldwide.

The Historical Context

In the 2nd century BCE, the region of Judea was under the control of the Seleucid Empire, led by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus sought to unify his empire by imposing Hellenistic culture and religion upon the diverse peoples he ruled. For the Jews of Judea, this meant prohibitions against practicing Judaism, desecration of the holy Temple, and forced participation in pagan rituals.

In 167 BCE, Antiochus ordered the erection of a statue of Zeus in the Jewish Temple and the sacrifice of pigs on its altar. These actions profoundly violated Jewish religious laws and provoked widespread outrage. This led to the Maccabean Revolt, spearheaded by the Hasmonean family, particularly Judah Maccabee and his

The History of Hanukkah

brothers.

The Maccabean Revolt

The Maccabees, a small band of Jewish rebels, waged a guerrilla war against the Seleucid forces. Despite being vastly outnumbered and outmatched in weaponry, their determination and tactical ingenuity led to a series of victories. By 164 BCE, the Maccabees successfully recaptured Jerusalem and reclaimed the desecrated Temple.

Upon entering the Temple, they found it in ruins, with the sacred menorah extinguished and the oil supplies contaminated. They sought to rededicate the Temple and relight the menorah, which symbolized God’s presence. However, only a small jar of pure oil was found—enough to keep the menorah burning for just one day.

The Miracle of the Oil

According to Jewish tradition, the small amount of oil miraculously lasted for eight days, giving the Maccabees enough time to prepare more consecrated oil. This event was seen as a divine sign of support for their struggle and became central to the Hanukkah story.

The Evolution of Hanukkah

The celebration of Hanukkah was

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established to commemorate both the military victory and the miracle of the oil. Unlike major Jewish holidays rooted in the Torah, Hanukkah’s origins are recorded in later texts, such as the Books of Maccabees and the Talmud.

Over the centuries, Hanukkah has evolved into a joyous festival marked by specific traditions. Lighting the hanukkiah, a nine-branched candelabrum, is the holiday’s most iconic ritual, symbolizing the miracle of the oil. Other customs include playing dreidel, eating foods fried in oil (like latkes and sufganiyot), and

Cgiving gifts. Hanukkah’s Modern Significance Hanukkah represents themes of religious freedom, perseverance, and hope. While it is a relatively minor holiday in terms of religious observance, its proximity to Christmas in Western cultures has amplified its cultural visibility. Today, Hanukkah serves as a time for Jewish families to come together, celebrate their heritage, and reflect on the enduring struggle for faith and identity in the face of adversity.

The History of Christmas

hristmas, celebrated annually on December 25, is one of the most widely observed holidays in the world, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. While its origins lie in Christian theology, the holiday’s history is a blend of religious tradition, pagan customs, and cultural evolution.

Early Christian Roots

The celebration of Christmas as a Christian holiday began in the 4th century CE. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament describe the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, heralded by angels and marked by the visit of shepherds and wise men. However, the Bible does not specify a date for Jesus’ birth, and early Christians did not celebrate it.

December 25 was chosen for Christmas in 336 CE during the reign of Emperor Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Scholars believe this date was selected to coincide with existing pagan festivals, particularly the Roman Saturnalia and the celebration of Sol Invictus (“The Unconquered Sun”), which marked the winter solstice. By aligning Christmas with these festivities, the Church sought to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity within the Roman Empire.

Pagan Influences

Many Christmas traditions have roots in pre-

Christian winter festivals. Saturnalia, celebrated from December 17 to 23, was a time of feasting, gift-giving, and social reversal. Similarly, Yule, a Germanic pagan festival, honored the winter solstice with bonfires, feasts, and the use of evergreens, which symbolized life during the darkest days of the year. The Yule log, later adapted into Christmas customs, originates from this tradition.

The incorporation of these pagan elements helped Christmas evolve into a more inclusive holiday. Practices such as decorating trees, exchanging gifts, and caroling all have links to preChristian customs.

The Medieval Celebration of Christmas

During the Middle Ages, Christmas became a major feast day in Europe, combining religious observance with festive merriment. Churches held nativity plays and midnight masses, while communities celebrated with feasts, music, and dancing. The season of Christmastide, which lasted from December 25 to January 6 (Epiphany), was marked by various festivities, including “The Lord of Misrule,” where societal roles were temporarily inverted.

However, Christmas was not universally celebrated. In Puritan England and colonial America, it was banned in the 17th century for being too indulgent and pagan. It

wasn’t until the 19th century that Christmas began to take on its modern form.

The Modern Christmas

The Victorian era redefined Christmas, emphasizing family, generosity, and goodwill.

Writers like Charles Dickens, whose novella A Christmas Carol (1843) popularized themes of compassion and redemption, played a key role in this transformation.

The introduction of Christmas trees, inspired by German traditions, became widespread after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized them in the 1840s. Gift-giving, once associated with St. Nicholas, also became central to Christmas.

Santa Claus, derived from St. Nicholas, evolved into a cheerful, red-suited figure through 19th and 20thcentury advertising and literature. His modern image was cemented by companies like Coca-Cola in the 1930s.

Christmas Today

Today, Christmas is celebrated worldwide, blending religious and secular traditions. For Christians, it remains a sacred holiday honoring the birth of Jesus. For others, it is a cultural event centered on family, generosity, and joy.

The history of Christmas reflects a dynamic interplay of faith, culture, and adaptation, making it a uniquely universal celebration.

NJ Starz: Jacqueline Dubrovich Hometown: Riverdale

By Steve Sears

Jacqueline Dubrovich has her gold medal.

When in July she left the day after her 30th birthday for the Paris Summer Olympic Games, she knew it would be her last competition, and the hoped for goal was a gold medal.

Dubrovich said, “It is in its case right now. It has made its rounds, and it is now safely in its box, and hopefully will be in there for a little while longer.”

For Dubrovich, it is her lone Olympics gold medal, and it is also the first gold for USA Team Fencing since it first started competing in the sport in 1904.

First up was the individual competition, and Dubrovich lost a close bout to Hungary’s Flora Pasztor. She said, “There were feeling of just like immense sadness, knowing that was the last time that I would fence as an individual in the Olympics. And it took time - not too much time, because I had three days in between the individual and team events - so I kind of had to pick myself up and know that this was going to truly be my last competition. To give it my absolute all, and to leave it all out there.”

When Dubrovich and teammates Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, and Maia Weintraub had clinched their semifinal final match against Canada, they did just that. There was joy, but also immense focus as Italy stood between them and history.

“We knew that we could do it,” Dubrovich said, and they did, defeating Italy, 45 – 39.

“When we scored the final touch,” Dubrovich recalled, “I just remember just indescribable joy and relief that I was able to share with my teammates, our national coach, and then also my coach, Brian Kaneshige, who is also my fiancé. It was just amazing.”

New Jersey Ballet School Introduces New Programs for Dancers of All Skill Levels

By Megan Roche

After revitalizing the New Jersey Ballet Company, Maria Kowroski and Martin Harvey are now restructuring the New Jersey Ballet School.

The new structured programs offer opportunities for dancers who are working towards a professional career (Student Division) and those dancers who participate in dance for fun (Open Division).

The Student Division has been crafted to prepare dancers from ages 9-18 to realize their potential and graduate into the Pre-Professional Program. Both programs have a rigorous structure, reflecting the level of dedication required to make the leap from beginner to student and from student to professional.

“The students in our Student Division will have a regular ballet technique class, they have pointe class, a pas de deux class, they have pilates, they have contemporary, they have jazz, stagecraft class. There are also some new faculty teachers, so they are getting exposed to some really wonderful teachers that will help keep them on that professional track. Ballet is like any sport where there are so few that actually make it to the professional level, we want to give them the opportunity to do whatever they can to achieve their dreams,” Kowroski said. However, the School’s commitment to

fostering a welcoming environment remains strong, with accessible programs for younger students and recreational dancers still at the forefront. The Children’s Division will introduce young dancers, ages 4-10, to the joy of ballet, while the Open Division, ages 10 and older, offers flexible schedules and diverse classes in addition to ballet, such as Pilates, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Ballroom.

“We have some classes offered to the younger students that are kind of set up like prep classes. They have the ability to see if ballet is something they want to do. The classes aren’t as demanding and offer more flexibility,” Kowroski said.

Harvey, who trained with the Royal Ballet in London and Kowroski, who trained with the School of American Ballet in New York City, are working in tandem to change the culture of the school.

“Today’s students face a culture filled with infinite options and external pressures,” Harvey said. “While strong training, discipline, and a healthy work ethic are critical, students also need authentic inspiration and genuine encouragement.”

When Kowroski took over the company in November 2021, she had a vision for what the organization would look like.

“It’s hard to reshape a company that’s existed for 65 years but I think Carolyn Clark, who founded the company, she wasn’t well

the last years of her life and she wasn’t in the studio and there was no director. Coming in and having a direction and a vision for the company has helped reshape it and get it back on the map,” Kowroski said.

Ultimately, Kowroski hopes to continue to add more opportunities for youth to be exposed to the world of ballet.

“We would love to see a lot more students attending classes here. I’d like to see all the student division classes really full and thriving. The younger the students that come in, the more ability we have to nurture

them and take them on this journey. We really want to be the leading ballet school in New Jersey. I love New York City, I spent 26 years of my life there and I love the city so much, but I think a lot of people have left the city and are now living in New Jersey, and I want the community to know that they have a school that is an elite program just like you would get in New York City right here in New Jersey,” Kowroski said.

For more information on the New Jersey Ballet Company and School, visit www.njballet.org

Martin Harvey, New Jersey Ballet School Director, instructs students of all levels

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