Mount Olive March 2023

Mount Olive High School Air Force JROTC Cadets Compete at the Piscataway High School Drill Competition

MOUNT OLIVE - In their first competition of the season, the Mount Olive High School Air Force JROTC (Unit NJ-20172)

Drill Team demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with at the Piscataway High School JROTC Drill Competition. Under the watchful eyes of multiple judges, the drill team competed in a series of events all designed to test the discipline, synchronization, and poise of each cadet as they worked as a team performing various drill commands and movements.

The Marauders started the competition strong in the unarmed regulation drill category, led by senior Jason Wang. The team was composed of cadets from all grade and experience levels. Although many of the members came with drill experience, this was their first drill competition since 2020 and they captured a third-place finish out of eleven teams competing.

“After all the early morning practices (6:00am), it has been

an honor to represent NJ-20172 at this drill event,” said Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Jason Wang, the unit cadet commander.

The Drill Team consisted of Anthony Cluxton, Marco De Leon, Gabriella Drucks, Cyara Ferreira, Riahanna Ferriara, Anirudh Guruprasad, Cooper Henderson, Aidan Johnson, Talan Lleras, Noah Lopez, Connor Magidson, Jazhiel Ona, Lucas Rainha, Morgan Ryerson, Charles Stockley, and Jason Wang.

The unit’s Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Brian Dickenson said, “After 3 years, it was great to see a full drill team and color guard perform especially well. I think it was a great experience for all the cadets whose hard work and dedication came to fruition, I am exceptionally proud of everyone.”

The Color Guard performance, led by senior Lucas Rainha along with veterans Ethan Doyle and Connor Magidson with first time com-

Roots & Wings Hosts 10th Annual Authors’ Luncheon

AREA - On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Roots & Wings, a Denville-based non-profit supporting young people who have aged out of foster care, will host its annual Authors’ Lunch at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. This event is traditionally attended by over 125 professional and literary-minded people who understand the need to support aged-out foster youth in New Jersey.

This year, author Emi Nietfeld will discuss her memoir, Acceptance, a memoir of her journey through foster care and homelessness, interrogating the true meanings of resilience, ambition, and success.

After graduating from Harvard in 2015, Nietfeld worked as a software engineer, an experience she wrote about in her viral New York Times essay, “After Working At Google, I’ll Never Let Myself Love a Job Again.” Today she’s a mental health advocate, speaker, and journalist writing for publications like The Atlantic, Fortune, and Slate.

Nietfeld will be joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline who is continuing her longstanding relationship with Roots & Wings to lead a discussion and Q&A session with

Nietfeld. Kline is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, and the author and/or editor of five nonfiction books. She is published in more than 40 countries; her books are taught in universities, colleges, and high schools.

Hundreds of young adults age out of New Jersey’s foster care each year. Many are not reunited with their families or placed into a permanent home, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, poverty, unemployment, lack of education and incarceration. You can help. Join us for an afternoon of fine dining, stimulating conversation, and good company while supporting our mission of providing safe housing, emotional support, life skills, and educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care; empowering them to rise toward their greatest potential.

Roots & Wings is funded almost entirely by individual donations. We rely on the generous support of donors to help change the course of the lives of aged-out foster youth in New Jersey.

To learn more and register to attend please visit www.rootsandwingsnj.org

petitor Brandon Sanchez, masterfully impressing the judges with their synchronized routine. Their performance was so exquisite that they took home first place over nine other teams.

“Both teams have shown their hard work and dedication

in today’s events and the results from the competition show it,” said Cadet Major Rainha.

“I believe this event was helpful as it allowed our unit to grow together and it showed how if we work together that inevitably we will be stronger

as a whole,” said Cadet Second Lieutenant Magidson.

“Both teams performed amazingly and I am so proud of how they represented Mount Olive,” said Aerospace Science Instructor Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Robert Bedell.

Teams from twelve schools in three states participated in the competition. The competition had more than 250 cadets competing in multiple events, judged by volunteers from the active-duty military.

Mount Olive Communications Center Stays Calm Under Pressure

BY ELSIE WALKER STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - Mount Olive

Police Lieutenant Mike Cordileone knows how important it is to remain calm during an emergency. He has been with the department for 25 years and has seen everything from routine accidents to senseless fatalities.

Cordileone started as a patrol officer for Mount Olive in 1997. After close to a decade, he was promoted to Sergeant in 2011 and finally to Lieutenant in 2016. He currently oversees the Mount Olive Communications Center which is more commonly referred to as the 911 dispatch center. There is an incredible amount of responsibility involved for Cordileone and his staff, which currently consists of eight full-time communications officers. Together, they handle between 900-1000 calls a month for the town.

The most common calls involve domestic disturbances or car crashes. However, according to Cordileone, they must be ready for almost anything.

“We dispatch for emergency services as well as police services. We do medical dispatch too, so we’ll give medical instructions over the 911 system if somebody calls in and someone’s not breathing, and the person wants to help perform CPR. We can give those instructions.”

In addition, if there are hurricanes or other weather emergencies, they are ready to help. Cordileone says “we can and have operated an emergency operations center in the past. And we work in coordination with the county, local phone,

local electric companies like JCP&L (Jersey Central Power & Light) and gas companies to make sure people have the services they need.”

Cordileone refers to his dispatchers in the 911 center as Communications Officers. Though they are not police officers, they possess many of the same skills. These officers are responsible for working hand in hand not only with police officers, but with other emergency departments such as paramedics and the fire department. Cordileone realizes his unit must be prepared for almost anything any given day.

This position is not for everyone. According to Cordileone, “the officers must have the ability to work in a stressful environment, the ability to make decisions, the ability to listen

and most importantly understand what people are looking for and to get them the appropriate resources.”

The unit also must do this rapidly. Once the communications center receives a call, they can start dispatching it to the appropriate emergency team within about ten seconds.

However, Cordileone does foresee some changes occurring in the next few years. Both the federal and state government are working on expanding the 911 system to enable both texting and video functionality. This will help different populations such as people who are deaf. Also, if drivers see an emergency on the road, they can send video. Cordileone expects these expansions to be completed within about a year.

Lieutenant Cordileone not only hires and trains his staff but goes the extra mile for the unit by securing grants for all necessities. When New Jersey mandated body worn cameras for police officers in 2021, the lieutenant secured funding for this equipment as well as replacements too. This was also a savings for the residents of Mount Olive.

Most importantly, Cordileone says he “wants the public to know that we’re here for them 24/7 so if they need something, don’t hesitate to call.”

Budd Lake Gets Its Own Super Market

Dental Digest: The “Eternal”

General & Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental Implant

issues, and what can be done for a failing implant.

Health: Your health is a leading factor. Systemic diseases affect your whole body, and your mouth is not isolated from your body. Diabetes, thyroid activity, autoimmune diseases, and osteoporosis are examples of conditions that require discussions with your implantologist. Smoking is a social activity that can negatively affect not just your health, but also dental im-

AREA - Dental implants have improved the lives of countless individuals throughout the world. Within the U.S. alone, it is estimated that 5 million implants are placed each year. There are a lot of reasons why people seek out dental implants: increased chewing ability over dentures, improved esthetics, not having to cut down adjacent teeth for bridgework, and the fact you can’t get a cavity on a dental implant are some examples.

However, many people unfortunately believe that things can’t go wrong with dental implants: that they are indestructible and will last forever. This is a misconception. Dental implants do have very high success rates: they can extend over 95%. Unfortunately things can go wrong. This article addresses some of these

Medications: certain medications, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, and PPIs can affect bone metabolism and put dental implant patients at risk for complications.

Past History of Gum Disease: a past history of gum disease increases a person’s risk of having dental implant complications.

Bite Patterns / Occlusion: replacing one or more missing teeth without paying attention to the condition of your remaining teeth can be extremely destructive to dental implants. Your dentist is not trying to “oversell” you when they discuss this with you. We understand all you want is just one implant for the front tooth that broke “on a piece of soft bread.” However, the rest of the teeth in your mouth can affect that “one tooth.”

Complexity of the Presenting Problem: Not all situations are equal. Two people

presenting for a dental implant for the same tooth can have polar opposite presenting conditions. One person may have a large amount of available bone, while the next person may have very little bone and the location is near important anatomy, such as a sinus or nerve.

advised. Not removing a failing or infected implant can affect surrounding teeth or implants.

of gum disease, etc. So you may go through an entire rehabilitation process for the implant(s), and still have a negative outcome.

Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services include cleanings, dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term relationships they

New Patient Special

$149 Cleaning, Exam, Full Set of Films Regularly $362.00

So what do you do about an implant that is starting to lose bone, develop deep pockets, bleeds, or is tender? Or sometimes you’re not even aware of problems, and your dentist or hygienist is making you aware of concerns. There are two terms: “peri-implant mucositis” and “peri-implantitis” used often within dental implantology. The first identifies that there is no bone loss around your implant and the problem is limited to the gums, and the second indicates you are starting to see bone loss.

Cannot be combined with other discounts

Fees for implant rehabilitation vary greatly, depending upon the extent of the problem. However, these procedures can be expensive, and no guarantees can be provided. Insurance also does not usually cover the treatments.

Refer to New Patient Specials on our website for details

Coupon must be presented, & mentioned at time of scheduling

Treatments for peri-implant mucositis include maintenance: no surgery or advanced therapy is necessary. Improved homecare and more frequent professional cleanings are usually all that is necessary.

Peri-implantitis requires intervention. Depending upon the level of the problem, different modalities are available. Reshaping of bone, grafting, treatment with different medications or chemicals, or laser treatments are options. If the problem is advanced enough, implant removal is oftentimes

You should not necessarily expect the dentist who placed your implant to be capable of treating peri-implantitis. They may not have the proper equipment, supplies, or be aware of the techniques. By no means is this a negative reflection upon the practitioner: interception of an ailing or failing implant can be very difficult, and the knowledge base changes often.

Expires 2/28/22

Success rates of treating failing implants is not always very high: please remember the treatment is not being performed in a “bubble.” The factors mentioned above come into play: a person’s health, smoking history, past history

In summary, dental implants are a fantastic discovery in the world of dentistry and have turned around countless lives. However, problems can arise and need to be dealt with. Your best prevention is to go for your regularly scheduled checkups so that your dentist can help you keep an eye on your investment.

About the author: Dr. Ira

Goldberg has been performing implant procedures for 28 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He performs all phases of implant dentistry at his office in Succasunna, NJ. He lectures to dentists in the field of implantology. For a free consultation, including a free 3-D scan (if necessary), please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his website at www.MorrisCountyDentist. com Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist, and also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Goldberg is a leading expert on dental implants. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, which is a degree held by only 1% of dentists worldwide. Whether you require a single implant or complex full-mouth rehabilitation, a free consultation with Dr. Goldberg should be considered.

General & Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services include cleanings, check-ups, fillings, Invisalign, dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term relationships they build with their patients.

Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI

with Saint Clare’s

The Key Factors for a Successful Detox Program

BY DR. SARABJIT SINGH, CORPORATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

AREA - It is your fault...why don’t you just stop using….”

Sadly, this is heard by many community members who are struggling with substance use issues.

For over a decade now, we have been amidst a pandemic of opiate use, and it is continuing to grow. Unfortunately, many teens and adults in our community struggle with issues related to alcohol and other substances, such as Benzodiazepines as well. We recognize that substance use disorders are illnesses akin to any other medical issue and do not suggest a sign of moral weakness. Further, many are unable to recover and maintain a period of sobriety despite their best efforts. The illness affects not only the individual but their loved ones as well, as they try to grapple with how to access treatment.

The first step towards recovery is for patients to seek the proper detoxification process. Most importantly, choosing a high-quality program is key to long-term success. Saint Clare’s Health has served the community for many decades and is proud to offer the largest behavioral health program in northern New Jersey, including an array of in-patient and out-patient services.

The Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Unit (ACDU), which is an inpatient detoxification unit located in Boonton, New Jersey, offers medical detoxification services to individuals addicted to Opioids, Alcohol and Benzodiazepines in a very compassionate and caring environment. All patients are treated with the respect they deserve with individualized treatment plans.

Patients will have a multidisciplinary team of experts working collaboratively to assure that patients detox safely and experience long-term sobriety. Staffed with a psychiatry team, medical doctors, licensed substance abuse counselors and highly experienced nursing staff, the unit exemplifies a multidisciplinary intervention for all the patients. What stands

out is the availability of all doctors, including medical doctors as we recognize that active medical management is often needed with careful monitoring patients undergoing withdrawal.

Perhaps, one of the most significant hurdles to seeking services is navigating the complex healthcare system, which often leads to angst and frustration. To help ease the process, Saint Clare’s offers a “Walk-In Program.” As the name suggests, the program does not require any appointment on weekdays. (Appointments are needed on weekends). People seeking treatment can walkin and within minutes will be assessed. This enables a convenient, discreet, and comfortable access to treatment. Within minutes, the patient can get onto the detoxification unit!

Treatment consists of, but is not limited to, a medical detox with medications individualized the need of the patient, regular treatment team meetings, 12-Step program. WRAP: Wellness, Recovery and Action plan, Group Therapy and free of charge HIV and Hepatitis C testing. In addition, laundry facilities, cable TV and phone services are available to all patients.

Finally, upon successful completion of detoxification services, appropriate referrals are made for continued care with staff assisting in linkage of services and co-ordination of care.

Saint Clare’s Behavioral Health accepts, in addition to most commercial insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. A Morris County grant is also available for uninsured Morris County residents. Charity care is available for screening for those uninsured in other counties.

We are humbled by the compliments we receive, and they make us more committed to do it right for our patients!

Patient Testimonials

“Great staff (they) make you feel comfortable” January 2022

“I can’t think of a better caring environment” May 2022

“Every employee was so kind, compassionate & caring” October 2022

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact us. We are here to help.

Call us ANYTIME. 973316-1846 (Detox Walk-In Department) or 973-316-1889 (Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Detoxification unit). Visit saintclares.com/detox.

Dr. Sarabjit Singh

Don’t Let Allergies Get the Best of You this Season

MOUNT OLIVE - I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking spring cannot come soon enough… especially after the unexpected, late season, blizzards! Spring brings longer days, budding flowers, sunshine and warmer weather.

Along with the beautiful flowers, spring also brings pollen and allergens! For some, these

allergens can wreak havoc. If you’re someone who suffers from allergies, you might dread the spring season. Seasonal allergies can cause a multitude of nagging symptoms including: runny nose, itchy and/or red irritated eyes, stuffy nose/ congestion, sneezing, scratchy throat and itchiness. If you suffer from any of the above,

I’m here to tell you that there is a solution! Believe it or not, Acupuncture can help you to enjoy the spring again!

So, you might be asking how can Acupuncture help? Acupuncture relieves symptoms of allergies by diminishing the body’s inflammatory response, without the unwanted side effects. It helps to

open nasal passages, reduces sinus pressure, calms itching, decreases throat pain, coughing and sneezing. Here’s the catch… it’s always best to begin treatment before the season begins. It is better to prevent symptoms then try to tackle them when they are in full effect.

In addition to Acupuncture treatment, you can help yourself at home with these simple tips: Flush out allergens with a Neti pot, keep windows closed to prevent allergens from entering your home, try an air filter, vacuum and dust often to eliminate pollen in your home, eat local honey daily,

take an omega-3 supplement, boost immunity by eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies and eliminate processed foods. For more information on Acupuncture and Allergies call Mount Olive Acupuncture & Wellness 973-527-7978; www.mtoliveacupuncture. com.

Dr. Michael McCleaster

From left to right: Laura Gloshinski, Dental

Dr. Michael McCleaster, Toni Janaro, Office Administrator Clarice Lyon, Dental Hygienist

High School Hockey Team Honors Late Centenary University First Lady Jeanne Murphy

MOUNT OLIVE - The MoHoHa high school hockey team honored late Centenary University First Lady Jeanne Murphy at a home game on Feb. 10 at the William G. Mennen Sports Arena. Team members took a stand against hit and run driving in recognizing Mrs. Murphy, a retired U.S. Army colonel, who was killed in January by a hit and run driver near her Hackettstown home. Centenary University President Bruce Murphy, Ed.D., attended the game and shared his late wife’s remarkable life with the team. During her 30-year career in the military, Colonel Murphy served as a military nurse and was given oversight of the military’s program for world-class athletes, a task that placed her on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors and as chair of the USOC Multi-Sport Organizations Council for 10 years. A former competitive runner and swimmer, she was the first woman ever selected to the U.S. Modern Pentathlon Team in 1975, competing for the team until 1978.

Mount Olive Recreation Department Offers Fun Activities for All

BY MIKE TANCHEVSKI GUEST WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - The hardest job for any recreation department is developing innovative and engaging programs that kids and adults want to participate in year-in-year-out. Learning opportunities, fitness programs, and creative activities are designed around community preferences and need to be appealing. Mount Olive Recreation Department Supervisor, Jill Daggon and her staff have put together a variety of events and activities for kids and adults that attract a broad audience and span the seasons.

Programming highlights for this season include:

Jewelry Making. There are 2 sessions, one for students and one for teens - adults. Participants will learn the art of Lost Wax casting to make their own pieces of jewelry.

Bizzy Girls (Coming this Spring and Summer) is an entrepreneurship and empowerment program for girls 8 -12 years old. Students create their own product lines and start their own little companies. Girls create items such as jewelry, stationery, soaps, fashion, and more.

“In the program, the students learn business skills, branding, logo creation, signage, marketing, capital, cost, and profit. We build self-confidence and encourage a growth mindset through fun role-playing activities,” Daggon said.

Fitty Kiddies at Tinc Road School is an after-school program specializing in children’s physical development. The focus is to build long-lasting habits early on, that will springboard them into an active & healthy lifestyle. “Our goal is to build self-confidence, healthy

habits, develop a love for moving their bodies, inspire them to feel comfortable exercising & feel great about themselves,”

Daggon said.

Fit Kidz @ Sandshore School is a morning fitness program, Monday through Friday from 8:00-8:45 am. “The benefits of starting the day with exercise include increased energy, better focus at school, boosted metabolism, better mood, and better sleep, all key aspects of success at school,” Daggon said.

Each elementary school hosts Chess programs. “We started an Intermediate program in January which the children are enjoying,” Daggon said.

The Fashion Design class has been very popular - we have added sessions, many of which are at maximum capacity.

Mini-Movers is a dance/ movement program for children ages 2 1/2 to 6. It is an eightweek program that includes ballet, jazz, tumbling, and hip-hop.

The Spring Brochure will be available at the end of March, with Spring programming beginning the week of April 17th. Slime Week, Wet & Wild, Legos, Art, Movie Making, and Band are of few of the new summer programs according to Daggon.

Not all programming is new. Previous favorites remain on the calendar for 2023.

The outdoor season begins on April 22 with Hidden Treasures, a township-wide yard sale held at Turkey Brook Park. “Lots of great finds!”

May’s event is the Fairy & Pirate Festival on the 20th. The event includes vendor booths with activities for children, entertainment, inflatable rides,

pony rides, face painting, and a treasure map activity. “It’s so much fun to see everyone (including adults!) dressed up in great costumes. This will be our 13th Festival. It gets better every year,” Daggon said. June 17 is Touch-a-Truck at Turkey Brook Park. Visitors get close and personal with municipal trucks, police cars, fire & rescue vehicles, earth-moving equipment, and more! “This free event draws kids of all ages (including parents!) for a funfilled morning,” Daggon said.

Mount Olive Block Party on June 23 is a great start to

the summer season. The event features rides, food, and music with activities for all.

Mount Olive Week Carnival runs from July 12 to 16. The week offers music, food, rides and games, and fireworks on Friday, July 14. “It is probably everyone’s favorite 5-day event,” Daggon said. “Keep watching our Facebook page for information, including when we will have All Day Ride Wristbands available for pre-sale.”

August has three great events at Turkey Brook Park.

August 4 starts with a Concert, followed by a family mov-

ie with popcorn, cotton candy, and more!

August 18 is Salsa in the Park. Grab your friends and dance the night away with a great Salsa band - Rafi Castillo Band. Empanadas, tacos, texmex, and wonderful desserts.

Food Trucks and Fireworks Festival on Saturday, August 26 wraps up the month’s programs. The event will host at least 20 delicious food trucks, live music, activities for the whole family and amazing fireworks.

Country In the Park and BarkFest will be held on Saturday, September 23. This will

be an all-day event, expanded from the 2022 Country In the Park. “We found that many visitors brought their furry ones with them,” Daggon said This year we will include an area just for dogs (still on leash) with activities just for them. Great BBQ food trucks and two country bands will play the night away while everyone can enjoy dancing and hang out together.” October is all about Oktoberfest. Saturday the 10th at Turkey Brook Park, will be filled with music, food, beverages, games, PLEASE SEE MT. OLIVE REC, PAGE 8

Centenary University President Bruce Murphy, Ed.D., with players and coaches of the MoHoHa hockey team.

Mount Olive Library Digital Resources at People’s Fingertips 24/7

BY ELSIE WALKER STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - “The library away from the library” is how Mauro Magarelli, director of the Mount Olive Public Library describes its digital offerings. Accessible on a phone, tablet, iPad, or computer from the homepage of the library website (www.mopl. org), the digital offerings give library patrons 24/7 access to audio books and e-books for all ages, newspapers, consumer reports, research databases, enriching movies and tv shows, language lessons, genealogical research and more. A library card is needed to access the digital library resources and some require downloading an app. Recently, Magarelli talked about the different offerings available. Libby gives library patrons

access to 16,000 books and ebooks, 8,000 audio books, and 4,000 magazines. Now, instead of coming in and walking through shelves to find what they want to borrow, patrons can check it out where they are. A nice feature of Libby is that there’s no worry about forgetting to return an item and getting late fees. Each resource checks itself back in when the loan period is over. Also, digital items can be renewed.

Magarelli noted some of the pluses of ebooks and audio books. With the ebooks, there’s a bookmark which will hold your place when you have to stop reading, so you can automatically go back to it when you come back to the book. Also, there’s “a built

in dictionary for words you don’t know,” noted Magarelli. As for audio books, he shared his own experience that they’re “nice on a long ride”.

The library director listens to audio books on his way into work. Also, he shared that audio books these days are not just someone reading a book.

“Audio books are like theatrical productions,” he said. Many are read by popular actors who add a new dimension to it.

Another digital offering is Kanopy, which Magarelli noted has the catch phrase, “be entertained, be enriched”. It is a streaming service with a selection of commercial free Oscar winning films, international films, documentaries, instructional tv, and tv series.

Pressreader gives users access to 7,000 editions of newspapers, both American and international. Magarelli noted that a plus is that those with roots in other countries can keep up with the news of those countries through Pressreader.

For those who want to do some research before buying a product, there is Consumer Reports. Magarelli noted that it used to be that when people wanted to check the reviews for a product before buying it, they had to come into the library, check the Consumer Reports’ index, find the issue which had a report on the product and then look it up. Now with the digital library, users have access to reviews on 9,000 + products. Users just type in information like product, brands, price range, etc. and the app gives a report on the best products based on reviews. Magarelli noted that the reviews are done by verified experts on the products, unlike some online market-

places which have product reviews done by people hired by the seller of the product.

Jersey Clicks gives access to a variety of academic research and informational databases. Many of these can help students and businesses. Also, its Novelist and Novelist K-8 databases can help elementary and middle school teachers and book clubs. In addition, there is a database with sources giving multiple views on issues which can be useful when preparing for debates. Part of Jersey Clicks is Heritage Quest which helps with another type of research: genealogical. Magarelli noted that the library also has Ancestry for genealogical research, but that is only available by coming into the library.

For those interested in learning a language, there’s Mango. Access to that language learning website is also available through the digital library. Mango gives lessons in seventy + languages, in-

cluding ones like Latin and Gaelic.

Magarelli noted that there are a couple of other digital resources available through the library by clicking on the “Kids and Teens” button at the top of the library website’s homepage. One such resource is Tumblebooks. This gives access to ebooks and e-audio books for kids. Also, there are Driving Tests. These are sample tests which allows users to practice for the written New Jersey driving test.

Magarelli shared, “the majority of these digital resources are provided by Mount Olive and its partnership with the MAIN Library Alliance but the New Jersey State Library also provides us with Jersey Clicks.”

Now a Mount Olive resident’s library card is more powerful than ever. Using the digital library, people can have access to resources anywhere they go.

Pay

Librarians in the Adult Services Department, Ashley Gianni-Bradford and Lamiaa Khalifa, use an iPad to look at the resources available from the digital library.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing to thank Budd Lake-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is now sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.

Through shoeboxes— packed with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items— Budd Lake-area volunteers

brought joy to children in need around the world. Each giftfilled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received.

Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Samaritan’s Purse delivered its milestone 200 millionth shoebox, which was packed on a country-wide tour and then hand-delivered to a young girl in Ukraine.

Across NJ, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming

Mount Olive Rec...

FROM PAGE 6

a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 518-437-0690.

Although local dropoff locations for gifts are closed until Nov. 13 – 20, 2023, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/ buildonline

These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.

Sincerely,

Lizette Miller SAMARITAN’S PURSE

rides, entertainment, and more. November and December events are still in the planning stages.

In addition to special programs and annual events Mount Olive Recreation operates nine sports associations that provide excellent sports seasons for families. Volunteers, who are dedicated to making their sport fun, and educational and instilling a love of sport, and staying active, run the associations.

Coaches are trained by their association and must have a volunteer coaches training certificate - details are on the website in the Coaches Corner. There are other online videos/certifications that coaches need to be familiar with. “We appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm the parent volunteers bring to their sports association,” Daggon said.

Mount Olive Baseball & Soft-

ball Association Mount Olive Soccer Club

Mount Olive Athletic Club

(Track and Cross Country)

Mount Olive Basketball,

Mount Olive Jr Lacrosse Club

Mount Olive Volleyball

Mount Olive Jr Wrestling

Mount Olive Jr Marauder Football Association

Mount Olive Cheerleading Association

These programs also serve as feeder programs to the Mount Olive High School sports programs. “These programs are fun and exciting for the kids and help them understand more than a sport, but also being role models, good sportsmanship, commitment, skill building and teamwork, which are life skills needed for careers, families and fun,” Daggon said.

Keith Knudsen, Program Coordinator and Bianca Marinelli, Recreation Assistant. She also thanked the Mayor and Town Council for supporting and challenging the department to bring out the best in everything they do.

“Mount Olive Recreation strives to provide fun, active, community programs for all ages, and I am proud to be working with a great team in our office to make our programming and ideas (and wish lists!) come to pass,” Daggon said.

Business and community support, which is vital to the operation of all Mount Olive Recreation events and programs, doesn’t go unnoticed. “We want to thank all of the sponsors and donors that help us provide activities and events for all to enjoy,” Daggon said. “We could not do this without their support.”

Sending Centerfold

An undertaking of this magnitude requires a team effort and Daggon offered kudos to Liz Meininger, Marketing Director;

CCM President Iacono Named a New Jersey Influencer

AREA - County College of Morris (CCM) President Anthony J. Iacono has gained another recognition from ROI-NJ, a highly recognized business publication in the state, which has included him as one of the prominent officials on its Influencers: Power List 2023 – Higher Education

In its ranking, ROI-NJ credited Iacono for his “outof-the-box thinking” that has made CCM “better than almost everyone else.” Iacono was one of only two community college presidents included on this year’s list.

Higher Education Community Colleges (2021).

“It’s such a special honor to be recognized by ROI-NJ as a respected higher education leader in the state and to be included on this list that includes such talented and influential people who have contributed so significantly to the success of students,” said Iacono. “CCM is proud of and grateful for the support it receives and the partnerships it enjoys in fulfilling its mission of helping people to improve their lives. One of the things I enjoy most about leading a community college is working with others and establishing the relationships that make it possible for people to fulfill their dreams.”

nity College in New Jersey by Best Accredited Colleges and as Best for Transfer Students in the state by Intelligent. It also received a Good Neighbor Award from New Jersey Business Magazine for its Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center, confirming the college as a frontrunner in preparing students for successful careers.

In addition to offering degrees, CCM has become one of New Jersey’s economic engines by offering industry-recognized credentials to provide a highly educated and skilled workforce for regional employment.

Centerfold Separately

ROI-NJ previously has named Iacono to its list of Influencers: Higher Education Top 25 Most Influential Presidents (2022), Influencers: Manufacturing (2020), Influencers Power List Higher Education (2022, 2021, 2020) and Influencers

Among the other recent recognitions CCM has received are being ranked as Best Commu-

CCM’s Center for Workforce Development also operates a highly successful apprenticeship program in advanced manufacturing with a 92 percent employment rate.

Dr. Anthony J. Iacono (l), president of County College of Morris, with students and Professor Stephen Kaifa (center) at the college’s Spring 2023 Semester Welcome Bash.

Budd Lake Teen Named PATH Intl. Youth Equestrian of the Year

MOUNT OLIVE - When Vika Christian was 5, she and her mother were watching a horse show on television. The winner was introduced as “the greatest equestrian in the world,” prompting Vika to burst into tears. “But I’m the greatest equestrian!” declared the youngster, who had started therapeutic riding lessons to address physical and emotional challenges after her recent adoption from Mariupol, Ukraine.

A decade later, Vika’s proclamation has come true: PATH Intl. recently named her its Youth Equestrian of the Year. The international organization leads the advancement of professional equine-assisted services to support more than 53,000 special needs individuals, including nearly 6,000 veterans, through a variety of equine-assisted services.

The teen from Budd Lake, NJ, rides with Centenary University’s TRAC (Therapeutic Riding At Centenary) program at the University’s Equestrian Center in Washington Township, NJ. Centenary’s accredited adaptive riding program has provided children and adults with equestrian experiences that can result in physical, social-emotional, and cognitive benefits, while enhancing goals such as balance, strength, and sensory integration. Centenary is a higher education member of PATH Intl.

Karen Brittle, assistant professor of equine studies and director of TRAC, said, “Anyone who has ever asked how therapeutic riding benefits participants needs to watch Vika interact with horses and ride. Her joy, skill, and sense of accomplishment radiate. The connection, focus, discipline, goal-setting, and physical strength gained by working on riding skills have transferred to support broader life goals.”

Vika was born with septo-optic dysplasia, which has left her legally blind. She also

copes daily with reactive attachment disorder, a common condition in children institutionalized at a young age that makes it difficult to trust others. Recalling her first day at the barn, Vika said, “I was very little and very scared of everything. I just came to America and didn’t know how to talk well and couldn’t see well. There were people I didn’t know, and the horses were big.

When I get scared, I do things that people think are naughty, but they aren’t. I am just scared.

“My teacher, Octavia Brown, put me on a horse named Lucy. I was loud and yelled and pulled on the reins and wasn’t gentle at all. Lucy kept me safe, even though I wasn’t being nice to her. When I noticed this, I trusted her and she became my first best friend. I could talk to her and she listened to me. Now, I am proud to

win this award from PATH Intl., while people in Ukraine win the war.”

Slowly, Vika learned to trust her TRAC instructors, opening the door for her to interact with other riders, attend camps, and compete at horse shows. Eventually, she started to make friends at the barn and at school. When things became overwhelming, Vika would turn to her first friend, Lucy, pouring out her heart to the horse, who offered nonjudgmental support.

Kayla Thau, a TRAC instructor and 2021 Centenary University graduate, noted how deeply Vika cares about the well-being of the horses, as well as her progress in the ring: “It has been inspiring to observe her growth as an equestrian and related increase in self-confidence. Every goal that Vika has not only influences her riding and horse skills, but also her

life outside of the arena. It is an honor as an instructor to be able to help propel those goals into motion and watch the unbridled joy as she wins a blue ribbon in the show ring.”

Vika has set many ambitious goals for the future, including someday attending Centenary University to pursue a career working with horses. Vika’s mother, Nancy Christian, said her daughter still faces emo-

tional and academic challenges, but has an extremely competitive nature and is laser-focused on success: “Riding has been key to Vika’s success in everything she’s done. She has taken this recognition from PATH Intl. very seriously; with this award comes the responsibility that she is now a role model for others. I’m just completely overwhelmed with how far she’s come.”

For Vika, the years of training, blue ribbons at horse shows, and now an international award have resulted in the recognition that success comes down to trusting both yourself and others. In her acceptance speech, she said, “I am proud to accept this award, but PATH Intl. has given me more than an award. It has taught me trust— how to trust my horse, people, and myself.”

Brenda L. Rooney, DC

To Schedule Your

Optimal Family Chiropractic, LLC 22 Plaza Road, Flanders NJ, 07836

Brenda L. Rooney, DC

Sweet Creations By Devon Serves Cakes and Smiles

BY EVAN WECHMAN STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - Devon Blatt

of Budd Lake loves both her business and giving back to the community. She has been the owner of Sweet Creations by Devon for just two years now, but her sweet treats are becoming immensely popular in the area. She enjoys serving her customers, but relishes helping those in need. “It comes down to just seeing people’s reactions and all the smiles it brings,” says Blatt.

Though she is constantly doing tricky trays for local

schools, her big philanthropy event is referred to as “You’ve Been Caked.” This occasion, which occurs roughly twice a month has developed quite a following.

For this event, Blatt receives nominations from her customers of people who are going through a tough time. She takes the nominations and randomly picks a winner. She usually gets on the phone with the recipient and finds out their favorite flavors and any allergies. Then, she whips up and presents that person with a beautiful cake that

is sure to please.

For instance, Blatt recalls the time she created a cake for a child who just lost her grandmother. “She loved unicorns, so I made a rainbow cake and then I went to the store and got her a little unicorn plushie to go with it. And when I came to the door, she opened the little gift bag, saw the cake and her eyes lit up and gave me a big hug.”

The creation of this business happened accidentally. Blatt graduated Centenary University in 2021 with a degree in Criminal Justice and Forensics. Her career options were a bit limited since everyone was isolating due to COVID.

To help pass the time, she started making cupcakes and posting about them on various community pages. Blatt says “people would then ask me to make cakes and I’ve always been artsy in that aspect. I’ve

always loved to do things like drawing figures and painting, so the first order I got was for a Fortnite cake so I tried it and it went very well. I posted the Fortnite cake and then more people asked if I can do this cake or that cake. It then went from one to two tier cakes and it just kept going from there. Neighbors would recommend me and now here we are.”

Blatt, who works out of her home where she lives with her parents and grandmother would love to get a storefront locally within a few years. However, she does enjoy the comforts of home and is grateful for her family’s support.

The business is quickly growing which is unusual for an owner who has no formal training in cooking or baking. However, she recalls that as a child “I would always be in the kitchen with my grandmother when I

was maybe two years old and my mom was at work. We made cookies and they came right out of the oven and the pan was hot. My grandmother would say she’s going to the bathroom so don’t touch the cookies. But when she came back, I had taken all the cookies off the tray.”

This fortunate start in the kitchen at a young age has turned out to be a pleasant surprise for both Blatt and her customers. She adores the outpouring of support she has received from the residents in the area.

“It’s kind of surreal to me. I’ve done some children’s first birthday cakes and now I’m doing their third birthday cake. I feel like- Oh my God, he’s three already, and it feels great to see them grow up.”

For more information on Sweet Creations by Devon, find them on Facebook.

Devon Blatt

New Pastor Comes to United Presbyterian Church, Flanders

MOUNT OLIVE - United Presbyterian Church, Flanders (UPC) welcomed their new Pastor on January 8, after the

congregation affirmed the Reverend Cliff Acklam’s call, at a special congregational meeting held that day. The Church is

located at 58 Drakesdale Road, Flanders. UPC’s Pastor Nominating Committee reviewed the cre-

Morris County Appoints New Director of Communications

AREA - The Morris County Board of County Commissioners have announced the appointment of Vincent Vitale as the county’s new Director of Communications.

Mr. Vitale, who started Jan. 17, is filling a vacancy created earlier this month when former Director Brian T. Murray was officially appointed Assistant County Administrator. Mr. Murray filled a post vacated by Deena Leary, who formally took the helm as Morris County Administrator earlier this month after being name by the Commissioners this past summer as the successor to retiring Administrator John Bonanni.

Before joining Morris County, Mr. Vitale was Communications Officer for Randolph Township, where he facilitated

township communications by working closely with the Randolph Township Council, township departments and committees to promote local news and events. He also was Supervisor of Broadcasting and Communications for Sussex County Community College, leading coordination for the Communications program and managing the college’s radio and TV stations.

A resolution to hire Mr. Vitale was unanimously approved by the Morris County Board of Commissioners after the administration advertised the post and then interviewed and evaluated many applicants this past fall.

Mr. Vitale earned a Master of Business Administration degree from William Paterson University in 2011. He holds under-

dentials of more than 90 candidates, seeking the one that would best match the criteria that the members of the church felt were most important. The committee unanimously agreed that Pastor Cliff Acklam was that One!

Pastor Cliff Acklam was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He attended the University of St. Andrews for a Bachelor’s in Divinity and Edinburgh for his Master of Theology. Originally ordained in the Church of Scotland, he served in the British Army as a Chaplain and several churches in Scotland.

graduate degrees from Rutgers College in Communication and Psychology. He resides in Andover Township with his wife and two sons.

Media outlets who need information about Morris County programs or event may contact Mr. Vitale at: vvitale@co.morris.nj.us or by calling 973-2856015.

Grow It Green’s Annual Spring Fundraiser

AREA - Did you know that Morristown is home to an urban farm that has donated up to 30,000 pounds of annual fresh produce to those in need, educated thousands of local students and new farmers, and offers fresh produce throughout the year with a Winter Market and seasonal farm stand?

Grow It Green Morristown now in its 14th year, continues to promote health and strengthen our diverse community through urban agriculture, extensive education offerings, and equitable food access. Each year, the organization holds one major fundraiser to support its programs. This year’s Spring into Action fundraiser will be on Monday, May 1 at 5:30 pm at Glenbrook Brewery in Morristown.

Tickets are $85. Guests will enjoy a casual evening with light fare, including tastes from the Urban Farm and a custom ice cream flavor donated by Beenie’s; seasoned petite maize popcorn from Madison Park Foods, an exclusive Glenbrook beer; and an eco-friendly wine tasting, courtesy of Cambridge Wines. Also included - a swag bag, music from the team at DJ Chelli, and a collection of tricky tray baskets. The event will also include a virtual Silent Auction with fantastic getaways, golf outings, Mansion in May tickets, and more. You can even bid to name one of the famous Urban Farm

chickens! Sponsorships and ads are also available to help support our programs - email kathy@ growitgreenmorristown.org

“Growing and distributing sustainable, fresh food to thousands of local residents is a super power, one made possible by events like our Spring into Action fundraiser. With the state

of our world today, there’s never been a more important time to collectively join together in this mission,” said Lisa Alexander, Executive Director.

For ticket sales: growitgreenmorristown.org. Can’t make the event? Register for free to visit the Silent Auction and provide some support.

Pastor Cliff moved to the U.S. in 2018 and had been serving a church in New York state until recently. He transferred to the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey in early January.

Pastor Cliff is married to Maxine, and they have one daughter in college and three small children the aged 3, 5 and 6. After a few short weeks at UPC, Pastor Cliff is enjoying his new calling as he gets to know congregation members and seeks to become involved in the community. His passion for scripture enables him

to make it relatable to today’s world and the day-to-day life we lead. His sense of humor and outgoing, warm, caring personality are receiving praise from the welcoming and friendly, multi-generational congregation.

If you are looking for a church family, please consider coming to meet Pastor Cliff and the rest of the congregation. Join us at worship at 10 AM then join us for coffee hour afterwards. You can also find us on Facebook, where the service is livestreamed every Sunday.

BY RICHARD MABEY JR.

AREA - There are moments in our life, which leave a deep mark upon your heart, mind and soul, that they are simply not to be forgotten. Such a sacred moment came on a Saturday morning, in the middle of June of 1968. I was 14 years old and had just completed my freshman year at Boonton High School.

Dad and I were eating breakfast at the kitchen table at the old Mabey Homestead. Mom and my sister, Patti, had left earlier to visit Mom’s mother in Boonton. Dad and I sat at the kitchen table eating Wheaties cereal and

The Summer of 1968: The Sacred Sacrifice

sipping hot tea. I remember that we were talking about the big, week-long hike along the Appalachian Trail that was planned for Boy Scout Troop 170, for the next week.

Then, Dad did something a bit unusual. He took the inner bag of Wheaties, from the box and began cutting out the front and back cardboard. Then Dad did something even more unusual. He took one of the pieces of cardboard and laid it flat on the kitchen table, next to his bowl of Wheaties. Then Dad took one of his shoes and traced the bottom of his shoe onto the

cardboard with a pencil. Then repeated the process with the other piece of cardboard and his other shoe.

I remember simply asking my father, “Dad, watcha doing?”

Dad then answered me with me with a smile on his face, “I’m tracing my shoes on the cardboard. I got these holes in both my shoes!” Dad then showed me the small holes in his shoes. They were big enough so that Dad could put his forefinger through both of them.

“Dad, why don’t ya’ just go and buy new shoes?” I asked

my father.

Dad’s reply deeply moved my heart. “I’m a working man. I’ve got to save my money for you to be able to go to college.”

And, in so few words, Dad spoke volumes.

I remember being lost for words. I remember being all so deeply moved. “I see,” was all I could conjure up to say.

I never forgot that moment. Now at 69, it sometimes haunts me in my dreams. My father dropped out of high school to join the Army Air Corps during World War II. It was later in life that Dad earned his GED and attended classes at Drew University to become a Lay Leader in the Methodist Church. Despite having had dropped out of high school to serve in the Army Air Corps, my father had an immense respect and love for education. My father was one of the wisest men I have ever known.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail. com.

Preschool Advantage Now Accepting Applications from Local Families Needing Preschool Tuition Assistance

AREA - Preschool is critical to a child’s success in school and in life, but the high cost of tuition prevents many families from enrolling their children. Preschool Advantage funds tuition for three- and fouryear-olds at 27 high-quality preschools across Morris and Somerset counties, including Children on the Green, The Nursery School of the Presbyterian Church, The Frances & Herbert Brody Preschool of Temple B’Nai Or in Morristown, and Joyful Noise Preschool and Day Care Center

and Morris Plains Cooperative Play School in Morris Plains.

Families earning up to $80,000 or more depending on family size, may now apply to Preschool Advantage for funding for the school year beginning in September 2023.

Three-year olds will be offered half-day preschool funding.

Full-day funding is available for a limited number of fouryear-olds on a first come, first served basis. Children must be 3-or 4-years old by October 1, 2023 to be considered for the program. The application

deadline is March 1, 2023.

In 2022, 100 local children received assistance from Preschool Advantage. The Organization has provided over 1,200 families with financial assistance for high-quality preschool education since 1995. For the 2023 application and the list of participating preschools, visit www.preschooladvantage.org, call 973532-2501 or come to the office at 25 Lindsley Drive, Suite 307, Morristown.

GUEST WRITER Dad and I, on our way to attend a scout meeting of Boy Scout Troop 170.

Families share many Easter traditions. Easter in a home with people who trace their ancestry to Italy will likely feature “Pane di Pasqua,” which translates to “Easter Bread.”

Easter Bread is a ring of sweet bread that can be adorned with candy sprinkles.

Some people nestle colorful hardboiled eggs within the twisted dough as well. Traditionally, Pane di Pasqua is made on Good Friday to help break the Lenten fast for Easter. The following recipe for “Pane di Pasqua” from “Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn Italian’s Recipes Celebrating Food & Family” (Powerhouse Books) by Daniel Paterna makes enough dough to share the bread with friends and family.

Pane di Pasqua

Yields 7 to 8 loaves

Dough

5 packages of dry yeast (111⁄4 teaspoons proof yeast in a

St. Patrick’s Day is a time to pay homage to Ireland’s patron saint and celebrate Irish culture and cuisine. Even though corned beef and cabbage is ubiquitous on this holiday, that meal really isn’t the most authentic Irish cuisine. There are plenty of other foods to dress the St. Patrick’s table if a person wants to dabble in Irish cooking.

RESTAURANT GUIDE

Easter Bread is a Tradition in Many Homes

4-cup container)

5 pounds unbleached all-purpose flour (approximately 17 cups)

1 additional pound flour for adding to dough if needed, cleaning hands, and dusting boards and pans

31⁄2 cups sugar

Pinch of salt

1 pound salted butter, softened, plus a bit more for coating rising dough

24 medium to large eggs, beaten

2tablespoons anisette extract

Decorating

6 ounces rainbow-colored nonpareil

3 egg yolks

3 tablespoons water Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a 16-quart pot. Add the butter and mix by hand, squeezing and merging butter with the flour mixture. Add proofed yeast to the flour mixture; continue mixing ingredients.

Slowly stir in all the beaten

eggs and anisette using a fork. Continue to mix until ingredients are combined and loose until dough begins to form.

Knead the dough with floured hands for approximately 45 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add flour to the dough if needed, or to scrape the dough off your hands and the bottom of the pot.

Once the dough is fully kneaded, leave it in the pot, lightly spread some butter over the top to keep it moist, and cover with a cloth. Leave at room temperature to rise for 8 hours or overnight. The dough is ready when it rises about 5 times its size.

When the dough has fully risen, punch it down, turn it out onto a floured surface, and form it into a ball. Cut the dough into 7 or 8 smaller dough balls using a sharp knife. Then cut each ball in half. Roll each half into strands approximately 16-inch-

es long. To form a loaf, lay the strands side by side and cross them over at one end, offset by 3 inches.

Continue crossing one strand over the other while working the braid into a circle. The tie off can be challenging. Join the circle by tucking one end under the other, pinch the dough firmly together to seal, maintaining the twist and thickness of the loaf. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Butter and flour one 9-inch baking pan for each loaf. Place the braided loaves in individual pans and set aside, covered in a warm, draft-free place to rise for another hour until the dough rises about 30 percent more.

At this point, preheat the oven to 250 F.

When the dough has risen, place the pans into the oven for about 10 minutes, then raise the temperature to 325 F. Bake until the bread is a dark gold-

en brown and makes a hollow sound when lightly tapped on the bottom.

Prepare the egg wash for decorating. In a small bowl, beat the 3 egg yolks with 3 tablespoons of water and set aside.

When the breads are ful-

Potatoes Are the Star of This Irish Dish

Many cultures have a variation on the potato pancake, and the Irish are no different. Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake. Individuals who want to include boxty in their celebrations can try this recipe, courtesy of Chef Pádraic Óg Gallagher of Gallagher’s Boxty House in Dublin. Irish Boxty

Makes about 10 300 grams (approx. 101⁄2 ounces) raw potatoes, peeled 300 grams (approx. 101⁄2 ounces) cooked potatoes, mashed 300 grams (approx. 101⁄2 ounces) flour 10 grams (approx. 21⁄2 teaspoons) salt 850 ml (approx. 31⁄2 cups)

Lemon Pound Cake Brings Sunshine to the Table

“Lemon

Poppy Seed Pound Cake” is made from pantry staples.

Whether baking alone or with the family, try this recipe, courtesy of “The Pampered Chef® Stoneware Inspirations”

(The Pampered Chef®, Ltd).

Lemon Poppy Seed

Pound Cake

Makes 1 cake or 6 mini pound cakes

11⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

11⁄2 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons lemon zest

2tablespoons poppy seeds

1 teaspoon baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

3⁄4 cup (11⁄2 sticks) butter, softened (do not substitute margarine)

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

4 eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon Pantry Double

Strength Vanilla

Powdered sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.

Spray Stoneware Fluted Pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine flour, granulated sugar, lemon zest, poppy seeds, baking powder, and salt in a stainless, two-quart mixing bowl; mix well. In a stainless four-quart mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese on high speed of handheld mixer for 1 minute, or until blended (mixture will form a stiff paste).

2. In a small batter bowl, whisk eggs, milk and vanilla until blended. Add egg mixture to cream cheese mixture in four additions, beating 2 minutes after each addition. (Do not un-

dermix).

3. Pour batter into pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until cake tester inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Loosen cake from sides of pan; carefully invert onto a stackable cooking rack, keeping pan over cake. Cool completely.

4. Place cake on serving platter. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or prepare glaze, if desired. For glaze: Combine 11⁄2 cups powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to make a thick frosting. Spread glaze over top of cake.

milk

1. Grate the raw potatoes into a muslin cloth and squeeze as much liquid as possible into a bowl. Let liquid stand for 20 minutes.

2. Gently pour off the liquid and keep the starch that settled in the bottom of the bowl.

3. Add grated potatoes to mashed potatoes and flour. Add starch and salt to mix.

4. Slowly add 3⁄4 of the milk to form a batter of pouring consistency. Depending on the potato, you may not need to use all the milk. If the batter is too heavy, add more milk.

5. Leave batter resting for 30 minutes.

6. Drop a ladle full onto an oiled nonstick pan over medium heat

and cook on the first side for 2 minutes (this depends on how heavy the batter is and how much you use). Check color (it should be a nice golden color) on the bottom. Adjust heat if

ly baked, remove them from the oven and pan using oven mitts, then decorate immediately. Brush the egg wash onto the hot surface of each loaf and sprinkle with the colored confetti. Set the loaves to cool the racks. Slice a wedge and spread with butter.

necessary.

7. Turn and cook on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes more.

8. Boxty pancakes are best left overnight in a fridge and reheated in a pan in good butter.

When you are craving something sweet, sometimes you just can’t get it off your mind until you have just one bite. You need something small, delicious and something that will ease your cravings. This recipe for Chocolate Coated Strawberry Treats is not only fun to make, but will give you that perfect little snack you have been longing for.

The recipe begins with fresh strawberries and ends with a drizzle of mouthwatering peanut butter sauce. This is a great recipe for little ones looking to help out in the kitchen. These strawberries are fun to dip and even more enjoyable to devour.

This snack can also be perfect for date night, a romantic date or just a picnic in the park with friends. They are easy to transport from place to place

Adding salmon to your weekly menu can take dinnertime from drab to delicious. Combining it with bright, fresh veggies heightens the savory experience even more for a burst of seafood flavor.

Loaded with salmon and shrimp, this Salmon and Shrimp Coconut Curry is a perfect option for putting together a quick yet delicious meal. Fast becoming a leading

A Show-Stopping Strawberry Snack

and don’t leave a huge mess behind to clean up afterwards.

It’s also simple to just melt, whisk, dip and repeat. The red, ripe berries are bursting with color and the chocolate is glazed right across the top for the perfect bite.

The best part is you can be creative and dip these strawberries into a number of your favorite ingredients you already have in your pantry at home. This includes, sprinkles, small candies, white chocolate drizzle and different kinds of nuts. The possibilities are endless.

Next time you can’t get chocolate off your mind, enjoy something delightful, rich and a show-stopping snack.

Find more snack recipes at Culinary.net

If you made this recipe at home, use #MyCulinaryCon-

nection on your favorite social network to share your work.

Chocolate Coated

Strawberry Treats

Servings: 5

1 1/4 baking chocolate chips

1/2 baking peanut butter chips

3 tablespoons coconut oil, divided

1 pound fresh strawberries shredded coconut crushed almonds

In saucepan, add baking chocolate chips and two tablespoons of coconut oil. Melt on low to medium heat and whisk until smooth.

In a small bowl, add baking peanut butter chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. Whisk together until smooth.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Dip all strawberries into melted chocolate. Then, dip 1/3 in coconut, 1/3 in almonds and 1/3 just chocolate and lay

on tray. Drizzle the melted peanut butter over the plain chocolate strawberries.

Savor a New Way to Seafood

source of seafood worldwide, aquaculture is similar to typical agriculture but with fish, shellfish and seaweeds. Farmed seafood can be raised and harvested in either fresh or seawater, where natural conditions are recreated.

However, not all seafood you find in the grocery aisles is the same. Despite industry advances, aquaculture still faces challenges with fraud, misla-

beling and questionable conditions. That’s why it’s important to look for responsible seafood products that are labeled by a trusted certification process.

For example, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is a non-profit certification program that has created and enforced the world’s strictest and highest standards for seafood farming since 2010. Today, it is transforming the seafood industry with a new level of certification for farmed seafood.

This “new way to seafood” includes:

Seafood that can be traced all the way from the farm to the store, ensuring the seafood you buy is what it claims to be

The strictest combination of requirements to protect the environment, workers and communities on the farms where seafood is raised

Improving farmed seafood quality and safety Visit NewWaytoSeafood. com to find more information about the certification process.

Salmon and Shrimp

Coconut Curry

Recipe courtesy of MOWI on behalf of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council Servings: 2

2 pieces of MOWI Pure portions salmon

1 cup wild rice

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 clove garlic, sliced

1/4 cup red onion, diced

1 cup pumpkin or butternut squash, diced

1 tablespoon lemongrass, finely chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste

1/2 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1/4 cup tomatoes

4 shrimp

1 lime, quartered

2-3 cilantro leaves, for garnish

Cut salmon into 1/2-inch cubes. Cook rice according to package instructions.

In large skillet, heat coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion and pumpkin or squash; saute 5 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Mix in lemongrass and curry paste. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until fragrant. Add coconut milk, fish sauce and tomatoes; mix thoroughly. Add shrimp and salm-

Put in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until strawberry treats are chilled. (Culinary.net)

on; cook until done. Serve with rice and lime quarters. Sprinkle with cilantro. (Family Features)

Cheesecake Makes a Decadent Treat

A cheesecake recipe can be useful on any special occasion, and especially so on Valentine’s Day. For many people, cheesecake is not cheesecake without the addition of ricotta cheese. While ricotta is included in savory dishes like lasagna or manicotti, it is at home in desserts like cheesecake as well.

Ricotta means “recooked” in Italian, and its production involves reheating the whey left over from making other cheeses, like mozzarella. Its texture is like a creamy/grainy, thick sour cream. Ricotta is included in this recipe for “Ricotta Cheesecake With Coffee and Chocolate” from “Nick Stellino’s Family Kitchen” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) by Nick Stellino, but it is not the only flavorful ingredient in this decadent dish. Coffee liqueur, chocolate and lemon zest add to the complex profile — which

only get more pronounced if you prepare this cake a day in advance.

Ricotta Cheesecake With Coffee and Chocolate (Tortino al caffè e ciccolato)

Serves 8 to 10

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1⁄2 cup sugar

2 lbs. ricotta cheese, drained of excess liquid

8 eggs, separated

1/2 cup cream

1/4 cup espresso or extra strong coffee, cooled

1/4 cup coffee liqueur

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon

zest

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate

morsels

Preheat the oven to 325 F.

Make a graham cracker crust by mixing together the melted butter with the crumbs, and

sugar. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Mix together the ricotta, sugar, egg yolks, cream, espresso, coffee liqueur, lemon zest, and salt until creamy. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Carefully fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture. Stir in the chocolate morsels and pour onto the prepared crumb crust. Bake the cake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until just set in the middle. The cake will still seem wobbly, but will be lightly browned and cracked around the edges. Remove the cake from the oven and cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 6 hours or overnight before running a sharp knife along the edge of the cake and removing the pan. Cut into wedges to serve. Garnish with shaved chocolate and strawberries, if desired.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing to thank Budd

Lake-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is now sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.

Through shoeboxes— packed with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items— Budd Lake-area volunteers

Mount Olive Rec...

CCM President Iacono Named a New Jersey Influencer

brought joy to children in need around the world. Each giftfilled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received.

Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Samaritan’s Purse delivered its milestone 200 millionth shoebox which was packed on a country-wide tour and then hand-delivered to a young girl in Ukraine.

Across NJ shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming

a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 518-437-0690.

Although local dropoff locations for gifts are closed until Nov. 13 – 20, 2023, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/ buildonline

These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.

Sincerely,

Lizette Miller SAMARITAN’S PURSE

rides, entertainment, and more. November and December events are still in the planning stages.

In addition to special programs and annual events Mount Olive Recreation operates nine sports associations that provide excellent sports seasons for families. Volunteers, who are dedicated to making their sport fun, and educational and instilling a love of sport, and staying active, run the associations.

Coaches are trained by their association and must have a volunteer coaches training certificate details are on the website in the Coaches Corner. There are other online videos/certifications that coaches need to be familiar with. “We appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm the parent volunteers bring to their sports association,” Daggon said.

Mount Olive Baseball & Soft-

ball Association Mount Olive Soccer Club

Mount Olive Athletic Club

(Track and Cross Country)

Mount Olive Basketball, Mount Olive Jr Lacrosse Club

Mount Olive Volleyball

Mount Olive Jr Wrestling

Mount Olive Jr Marauder Football Association

Mount Olive Cheerleading Association

These programs also serve as feeder programs to the Mount Olive High School sports programs. “These programs are fun and exciting for the kids and help them understand more than a sport, but also being role models, good sportsmanship, commitment, skill building and teamwork, which are life skills needed for careers, families and fun,” Daggon said.

An undertaking of this magnitude requires a team effort and Daggon offered kudos to Liz Meininger, Marketing Director;

Keith Knudsen, Program Coordinator and Bianca Marinelli, Recreation Assistant. She also thanked the Mayor and Town Council for supporting and challenging the department to bring out the best in everything they do.

“Mount Olive Recreation strives to provide fun, active, community programs for all ages, and I am proud to be working with a great team in our office to make our programming and ideas (and wish lists!) come to pass,” Daggon said.

Business and community support, which is vital to the operation of all Mount Olive Recreation events and programs, doesn’t go unnoticed. “We want to thank all of the sponsors and donors that help us provide activities and events for all to enjoy,” Daggon said. “We could not do this without their support.”

AREA - County College of Morris (CCM) President Anthony J. Iacono has gained another recognition from ROI-NJ, a highly recognized business publication in the state, which has included him as one of the prominent officials on its Influencers: Power List 2023 – Higher Education In its ranking, ROI-NJ credited Iacono for his “outof-the-box thinking” that has made CCM “better than almost everyone else.” Iacono was one of only two community college presidents included on this year’s list. ROI-NJ previously has named Iacono to its list of Influencers: Higher Education Top 25 Most Influential Presidents (2022), Influencers: Manufacturing (2020), Influencers Power List Higher Education (2022, 2021, 2020) and Influencers

Higher Education Community Colleges (2021).

“It’s such a special honor to be recognized by ROI-NJ as a respected higher education leader in the state and to be included on this list that includes such talented and influential people who have contributed so significantly to the success of students,” said Iacono. “CCM is proud of and grateful for the support it receives and the partnerships it enjoys in fulfilling its mission of helping people to improve their lives. One of the things I enjoy most about leading a community college is working with others and establishing the relationships that make it possible for people to fulfill their dreams.”

Among the other recent recognitions CCM has received are being ranked as Best Commu-

nity College in New Jersey by Best Accredited Colleges and as Best for Transfer Students in the state by Intelligent. It also received a Good Neighbor Award from New Jersey Business Magazine for its Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center, confirming the college as a frontrunner in preparing students for successful careers.

In addition to offering degrees, CCM has become one of New Jersey’s economic engines by offering industry-recognized credentials to provide a highly educated and skilled workforce for regional employment.

CCM’s Center for Workforce Development also operates a highly successful apprenticeship program in advanced manufacturing with a 92 percent employment rate.

Dr. Anthony J. Iacono (l), president of County College of Morris, with students and Professor Stephen Kaifa (center) at the college’s Spring 2023 Semester Welcome Bash.

BY DANA JACKSON

Q: Is Tina Fey working on any new shows? Did the one about the mayor get canceled? I really loved “30 Rock,” and I’m hoping she’ll do a reboot of it someday. -- S.L.

A:It was recently announced that Fey and her former “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update co-anchor, Amy Poehler, will be going on a comedy tour together. Since they are very busy women, they only have time for four cities, at least for now. According to Deadline. com, they’ll kick it o with their rst performance on April 29 in Washington, D.C., then on to the improv capital of the world, Chicago, on May 29. From there, Fey and Poehler will appear at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway on June 9 and will cap o their tour in Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on June 10.

BY DEMI TAVERAS

“ e Peanut Butter Falcon” (PG-13) -- Although this lm released in theaters back in 2019, it was considered a “sleeper hit,” garnering more success in the years to come. Starring

Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, this heartwarming indie lm is now out on streaming platforms, which might help give it an even bigger reach. In the lm, a young man with Down syndrome named Zak has dreams of becoming a professional wrestler, so he escapes from his assisted living facility to go chase his dreams. On the way, he meets Tyler (LaBeouf), who supports his venture and they begin to travel by water to Zak’s dream wrestling school in North Carolina. But Zak’s caretaker, Eleanor (Johnson), is close behind them to nd Zak and return him back to the fa-

ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrity Extra

e Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless Leg Tour is calling itself a celebration of “thirty years of friendship with an evening of jokes, iconic stories and conversational entertainment.” Another pair of comedy legends, Steve Martin and Martin Short (who star in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”), did a similar stage tour last year. Incidentally, Fey had a recurring role on their series as well.

ere aren’t any plans for a “30 Rock” reunion, which would prove especially di cult given star Alec Baldwin’s recent legal troubles. Her most recent creation, “Mr. Mayor,” starring Ted Danson, was canceled a er two seasons. Despite recently striking out, I’m sure it won’t be long before Fey hits another creative home run.

***

Q:When does the new sea-

son of “ e Masked Singer” begin? I usually catch it midway through, and I want to watch it from the beginning this time.

-- L.A.

A: Season nine of the hit singing competition show began on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. Hopefully, you caught the commercials during the Super Bowl and don’t miss any episodes, but if you do, you can catch encore episodes via OnDemand, FOX NOW, Hulu and Tubi.

According to “Entertainment Weekly,” this season’s theme nights include Abba Night, DC Superhero Night and ‘80s Night. Returning panelists include Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Robin icke. Also, expect some star cameos. ***

Q:I read a rumor that Sheryl Lee Ralph didn’t really sing at

the Super Bowl -- that she lipsynced instead. Doesn’t she have a fantastic voice? -- U.J.

A:Yes, long before she won an Emmy for her comedy chops in the sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” Sheryl Lee Ralph was nominated for a Tony Award for her powerful vocals in Broadway’s “Dreamgirls.” A er she wowed ticketholders at the Super Bowl with her rendition of “Li Every Voice and Sing,” viewers at home wondered if she lipsynced the lyrics instead of singing live. e following day, Ralph neither con rmed nor denied, telling “ e Hollywood Reporter,” “Does it matter? ... No. ank you.”

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

Couch Theater

cility. (Paramount+) “Smile” (R) -- One of last year’s biggest horror successes releases on streaming Feb. 21! “Smile” stars Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist at a psych ward. In a meeting with student Laura Weaver, Laura informs Rose that she saw her professor die by suicide and, since then, has been terrorized by people smiling at her, telling her she will die soon. Laura then commits suicide in front of Rose, who later sees another patient smiling and telling her that she also will die soon. Rose assumes Laura’s curse has been passed onto her, and she takes any means necessary to gure out how to break the curse in time. Who would ever think that a movie about smiling would be so creepy? (Prime Video)

“We Have a Ghost” (PG-13) -- is comedy-horror movie, based on a short story by Geo Manaugh, premieres Feb. 24, and it’s a goofy, spooky watch for the whole family. David Harbour (“Stranger ings” and “Black Widow”) stars as a ghost named Ernest, who haunts a home called “ e House of Death.” A family of four moves into the home and the youngest son, Kevin, shortly therea er has his rst encounter with Ernest. But Ernest really isn’t as scary as all the town gossip claims and he can’t even speak. Kevin befriends him and begins a YouTube channel featuring Ernest, making them an internet sensation. Kevin’s friendship with Ernest prompts him to wonder how Ernest’s death truly came to be, so he dives deeper to uncover the

CeCe Teneal

A country girl blessed with a powerful voice that is filled with soul and resonance. Back by popular demand, CeCe is now captivating the globe by performing her own original music that aligns with a blues/soul/funk soundtrack.

Off the Map

by Christine Foster

March 23 thru April 2

Denny and Claire have retired to the wilds of Central America, where they discover things are not as expected. When a pair of archaeologists make a shattering discovery on their property, it challenges beliefs about what is real and what is imagined.

truth. (Net ix)

“Liaison” (NR) -- Eva Green (“Casino Royale”) and Vincent Cassel (“Black Swan” and the “Ocean’s” franchise) star in this new British-French series premiering Feb. 24. Green plays a secret agent tasked with nding

out who’s behind dangerous cyberattacks taking place in the U.K. Her team tracks the main suspect, who happens to be her ex-lover, Gabriel Delage (played by Cassel). Upon secretly meeting with him, Gabriel provides her with information about

the attack and agrees to work alongside her. eir past relationship is full of many secrets that inevitably crop up later and blur lines as she tries to complete her mission. (AppleTV+)

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Media Transfer

From left, David Harbour, Anthony Mackie and Jahi Winston star in “We

Vic Fiore—A ‘Remodel’ Citizen Who Brings Home Visions to Life

BY MARYANNE CHRISTIANO MISTRETTA STAFF WRITER

AREA - Many would agree with the old cliché, “There’s no place like home.” And many would also agree that most homes could use a bit of help. Whether it’s replacing siding, remodeling a kitchen, or finishing a basement, Vic Fiore and his team at Magnolia Home Remodeling are here to help.

Vic Fiore partnered with his brother-in-law Chris Fontana back in 1996, to get the ball rolling. Both gained valuable knowledge early in the game, as Fontana’s dad was an operations specialist at Con Edison; and Fiore has been around the family business since he was 13-years-old. Throughout high school and college he gained working experience in home remodeling and feels that nothing is better than “on the job experience.”

Fiore studied at Rutgers University and graduated with a BA in Economics. “Business interested me, and it led me to this,” he said. Well versed in many phases of construction, Fiore shared that remodeling homes was at the top of his list when it came to potential careers. “I’m very happy with the decision to be involved in this business,” he said.

Now, with over two decades in the industry, Fiore enjoys taking a project from concept from start to finish. In order to help a client create his/her vision, Fiore explains that it’s all about having a stellar team that makes the pro-

Celebrating

50 Years

cess successful.

He said, “We have consultants and project managers that understand our clients needs, goals, and budget…They work towards a proposal that can check all these boxes and bring the project to successful completion. Permits, working towards an approved design, selecting materials, several walk throughs…Everyone understands from the beginning what the goals are. We learn what people are looking for. We have the whole package and we’re looking to build relationships with people. A large portion of our base is repeat clients.”

Though sometimes clients prefer aggressive timelines, Fiore and his team presents realistic completion dates. “We explain from the beginning that each task requires a reasonable time frame, form each phase to be succesful. We can approach it from a standpoint. If there are delays or changes, we let them know. We’re good about finishing jobs on time, and even ahead of schedule. The feedback people give us is that they are impressed with how efficiantly we complete. Its difficult to speed up a project and maintain quality. We want to minimalize stress and work carefully so attempting to get something done in a shortened time frame is never a good recipe.” Nevertheless, Fiore prides himself in that his team often finishes ahead of schedule.

When it comes to home transformations, many homeowners might be concerned about budget, but Fiore feels that even a small tweak such as new siding or a new walkway can create a refreshing vibe. “It just makes you feel good every time you pull up to your driveway,” he said. Or remodeling your kitchen

could also amp up the atmosphere. “A new kitchen with an updated layout, beautiful cabinetry, that really brings a lot of value,” Fiore expressed. “Little things you can do to make the house look better without spending a fortune.”

However, if sacrificing quality for the final product, it may be better to wait until

budget meets expectations. If a potential client needs another six months to be able to spend more money, that’s

what Fiore’s team sometime encourages people to do.

Magnolia Remodeling also offers a finance program that allows people to do more work than they normally would and pay monthly. “That’s a nice feature not every contractor offers,” Fiore said.

Home Design Trends 2023

According to Fiore, multiple colors and tones is a trend that seems to be continuing. “We recently completed a project in Watchung with matte black and gold appliances against white wood and stained cabinetry,” he said. “People are taking risks and choosing exciting color combinations.”

Moving forward, Fiore’s vision for Magnolia Home Remodeling is to continue to grow organically. “We have a strong customer base,” he said. “We’re grateful to have the basis of customers we have and the opportunity we’re given.” For more information, visit Magnolia Home Remodeling at www.magnoliahomeremodeling.com

Chris Fontana on the left and Vic Fiore on the right, business partners of Magnolia Home Remodeling

Bucket List Travels: Discovering the Azores

Morristown resident Paul Partridge has been building a travel bucket list for years. Now he’s diving in – near and far – and shares his adventures in this column. The Azores is a nine-island archipelago located 900 miles west of mainland Portugal. Columbus stopped here in 1492 on his famous voyage.

BY PAUL PARTRIDGE WRITER

AREA - If Hawaii and Ireland had a love child, the Azores is what the baby might look like.

Imagine tropical forests… dramatic cliffs… green, green rolling hills… volcanic mountains… natural hot springs… and the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen – not only in the same vacation – but within a single day’s hike. And it’s only a short 4½-hour flight from Newark.

The Gulf Stream keeps the Azores temperature remarkably consistent – never too hot or cold. As a result, nature has a chance to shine. And she does.

One example is hydrangeas. Blue, white, purple . . . the distinctive hydrangea panicles are everywhere – decorating roads and miradouras (scenic viewpoints) along the highway. Driving feels like floating through an enchanted garden.

Over four days, my three travel companions and I visited the largest island, São Miguel. (I’ll write about other Azores adventures in future articles.)

Day 1 – Brigadoon’s Swimming Hole

Twenty minutes up the coast from our Airbnb in Candelaria is Ponta da Ferraria. A sign welcomes us to the beach. None of us speak Portuguese but we decide later it says, “Warning: Please be sure to pick your jaw off the ground before entering. It’s dangerous to swim in the ocean with your mouth open.”

Picture a black rock beach leading to a natural ocean pool. A rugged cliff flanks one side, glowing in the late afternoon sun. The far end is open to the ocean, and waves cascade in.

Giddy bathers hold onto ropes tied across the water every 20 yards or so.

The waters are heated by thermal springs. Enter the pool near the shoreline and the water is quite warm. Swim towards the sea and the water temperature drops.

People of all ages swim, float, bob, and tread water. Everyone is giggling. It’s almost impossible not to. If we didn’t have photographs to prove it was real, we might think it was a mirage.

Day 2 – Furnas Hot Springs

São Miguel is a hiker’s paradise. Today’s trail beside Furnas Hot Springs begins with a 90-minute trek up a mountain. Our reward is picture-postcard views of Furnas Crater Lake. From here, the path transitions into rolling meadows and the final leg winds through a tropical forest – three different worlds in one hike.

The trail ends at the Caldeiras das Furnas – steaming, boiling geothermal springs. The sights, sounds, and smells of boiling mud and gurgling gey-

sers feel like going back in time to when the earth was young. If a dinosaur had strolled out of the forest it wouldn’t have seemed out of place.

Next to the caldeiras sit a series of holes in the ground.

Early each morning, pots of Portuguese stew containing pork, chicken, sausage, beef, kale, potatoes, and other assorted vegetables are lowered into the holes and covered. Seven hours later the pots are removed and the feast is served in local restaurants. For $30, four of us eat the equivalent of Thanksgiving dinner, with enough left over for two subsequent meals.

After lunch we waddle over to the Poca Da Dona Beija spa – a series of pools whose waters are warmed by hot springs and are said to have healing qualities. Some bathers spread irontinged mud paste on their face and body and soak for hours. This is a place to earn a black belt in relaxation. Day 3 – Seta Ciades and Afternoon Fishing

The next morning we’re reminded how ever-changing

Save the Date - April 22! Shredding Event!

Knights of Columbus is hosting a shredding Event on Saturday, April 22 from 8:00am to 11:00am at 3 Schmidt Lane, Flanders.

Take advantage of this safe and secure method of destroying confidential documents and proper electronic recycling, while helping a local charitable organization. Shred is limited to sensitive and confiden-

tial documents, NO binders or magazines.

COST: $5.00 per bag (grocery size), $10.00 per box (copy paper size).

SPECIAL DEAL, For every 3 bags get 1 free, For every 3 boxes, get 1 free.

ELECTRONICS: $10.00 for each tower or laptop, including mouse, keyboard, speakers and wires, HARD DRIVES MUST

BE REMOVED. $10.00 for each hard drive and cell phone (lithium battery removed to be destroyed).

CDs will be destroyed at $.50 each

NO staples, paper clips, 3 ring binders or hanging folders.

For additional information contact Peter Terrafranca, 973647-4532

Save the Date - March 18! Fish & Chips Dinner

Knights of Columbus, Council 5410, Flanders, is hosting a Fish (or Chicken) and Chips Dinner on Saturday, March 18.

PICK UP TIME: 5:006:30pm.

PICK UP LOCATION: 3

Schmidt Lane, Flanders, NJ A Drive-Thru Fundraiser

Benefitting the Knights of Columbus, Council 5410 serving Flanders and Chester.

Cost: $22 per meal....which includes fish (or chicken), chips coleslaw, soda (or water)

and a sweet treat. Advanced orders required: Call (862) 432-2159 to purchase your tickets. Food is prepared in coordination with Tastefully British

island weather can be. While enjoying breakfast outside – in beautiful sunshine – it’s raining right next door.

Today’s trek is around Seta Ciades, São Miguel’s most popular vista. We’re here for the spectacular views of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde (Blue Lake and Green Lake).

Awaiting us at the first viewpoint is a San Francisco-grade fog obscuring the sights. Ah, but this is the Azores. In less than the time it takes to visit the restroom, the fog lifts and reveals Lagoa Azul. Bravo!

Over the next five hours we hike, climb, and race to the next lookout. Around each bend is another more amazing view, made even more picturesque by dramatic skies. A misty lagoon leads to a windswept meadow that reveals a dazzling lookout – with cows grazing at such a preposterous angle it looks like they’ve been stapled in place.

Next we drive to the harbor in Ponta Delgado. Pedro Rodrigues, a fishing boat captain with Trilhos da Natureza, is expecting us.

The Azores is a fisherman’s dream. Big game fish include marlin, swordfish, and tuna. But since only one member of our party is an avid fisherman, we stay close to the coast and troll for bluefish and barracuda.

Our afternoon haul is not impressive – four barracuda, one of which we keep – but we don’t feel gipped. Pedro entertains with stories of the sea, as well as island and family history. The sky and the sea are so brilliantly blue – and the air so clean – it feels like I’m wearing Polaroid sunglasses even though I’m not. And seeing the island from the water reveals beauty unnoticed on land. As we turn for port, dusk has snuck up on us. The rocky cliffs and small towns are aglow in golden, late-day light.

Day

Cha Gorreana Tea Plantation has been producing teas since 1883 and is the last working tea plantation in Europe. Even if you don’t like tea, the ocean views and trellised landscapes make this a memorable stop. We do a quick factory tour followed by a tea tasting. Then it’s off on a hiking tour of the property.

Another feast for the senses.

On the drive home, two miradouras demand attention. By now I’ve changed the name miradoura to meudeus, as in “My God!” because that’s our first reaction to the extreme beauty on display. Almost every viewpoint is a religious experience. I’m beginning to understand why the Azores is one of Europe’s fastest growing travel destinations.

To learn more about visiting the Azores or exploring your own travel bucket list, email partridge.p@gmail.com

Catching a barracuda with Captain Pedro Rodrigues.

Photo credit: Paul Partridge

4 – Traditions and Tea

Exploring the trellised grounds of Cha Gorreana Tea Plantation.

Raritan Headwaters Association Worked Wonders for Clean Water, and a Clean Environment, Since 1959

BY MARYANNE CHRISTIANO MISTRETTA STAFF WRITER

AREA - Cindy Ehrenclou was always a person who loved nature and the outdoors. It’s no surprise that coming on board with Raritan Headwaters Association during November 1994 was a good fit.

Since 1959, Raritan Headwaters Association has been focusing on clean water, with a vision that everyone within their reach has access to safe, clean water that is swimmable, fishable, and above all, drinkable.

During the time that Ehrenclou has worked with Raritan Headwaters, the most positive change she’s seen is the science they’ve been able to bring to their work. “We’ve been monitoring water quality for decades,” she said, “but to be able to collect data that can be translated into creating better policies for watershed protection is a big step forward.”

Stellar Education Programs

Raritan Headwaters offers several educational programs for kids, adults, family, and groups. They include nature day programs, field trips, service learning, scout programs, visiting their nature preserves,

and even birthday parties.

“Our education programs are stellar,” Ehrenclou said. “Our nature day camp and school programs are under such demand. The programs just keep growing. We have kids that first came to camp in 1998 that are now adults and volunteering or teaching for us. So, it’s exciting to see we’ve engrained conservation ethnicity into a few generations.”

Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve is home to Raritan Headwaters Association. A former dairy farm, the 170acre property now serves as a living classroom for the Land Preservation Program.

“Its open to the public seven days a week, from dusk to dawn,” Ehrenclou said. “It’s our headquarters, however there are five miles of trails, gardens, a small pond, a nature classroom, opportunities for photography…It’s a wonderful place to visit. It’s a hidden treasure. No bells and whistles. No snack bars. It’s very authentically a nature preserve. It’s a pretty neat place to visit.”

With 10 preserves, all open to the public, Raritan Headwaters Association has lots of volunteering opportunities.

“We really need the help of volunteers,” said Ehrenclou.

“Land storage-ship requires many hands and help. Maintaining trails, planting trees, removing invasive species… We work very hard to promote native plants that are indigenous to the region that support local wildlife. Invasive plants are a huge problem in New Jersey.”

Challenges and Solutions

When asked about the challenges Raritan Headwaters Association faces, Ehrenclou pointed out, “Overuse of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides…The challenge is getting people to change behaviors and understand everything they do on the land ends up in their drinking water supply.”

However, the message is that everybody can make a difference. Ehrenclou shared,

“The step is to connect people with nature. Give them experiences in the outdoors, in our streams…Get them to love the natural resources firsthand so they’re inclined to want to protect. If you learn to respect nature and precious natural resources, you are inclined to want to share the message and conduct yourself differently in

your homes, in your schools, at work…Recycling, reusing, cleaning up, planting trees— all our steps to a cleaner environment. We like to show people how they can make a difference.”

Other steps to take, suggested by Ehrenclou, include cleaning up trash along roadsides and streams. “Plastic and all the other debris is going to end up in your water supply,” she said. “And eventually in the ocean. It’s a threat to wildlife and human health all along the way. Any item that is not biodegradable, from gum to cigarettes, to plastic bottles… any kind of manmade debris is not healthy for the environment.”

Another enemy to the environment is plastic, according to Ehrenclou. “It’s ambiguous,” she said. “Plastics are breaking up and showing up in our food, in our bodies. It’s a scary situation when you think

about it.”

Another concern, of course, is water. Testing wells in the community region is another important issue according to Ehrenclou. “There are some scary contaminates showing up in drinking water,” she warned. “Contaminants like lead, arsenic, and PFAS. We help people test their water and find solutions.”

Saturday, April 15, 2023, Raritan Headwaters Association will have their Annual Stream Clean-Up, which is one of their most exciting events according to Ehrenclou.

“People, including kids and church groups, clean up tons and tons of trash,” she said. “It’s a huge event. It’s not just a ‘feel good event,’ it does make a difference.”

To volunteer for Annual Stream Clean-Up, visit raritanheadwaters.org and go to the “Get Involved” tab.

Did You Know?

A good joke can liven up any social engagement, but the value of humor goes well beyond breaking the ice at parties and other get-togethers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, laughter can activate the parasympathetic nervous

system, which helps to lower heart rate and help people breathe more easily. Given such benefits, it’s no surprise that laughter has been linked to a host of medical benefits, including stress relief and improved heart health.

Stream Cleanup Event 2022

Stream Cleanup Event 2022

All Sports Museum in Bridgeton Houses South Jersey Sports History

BY JEFF GARRETT STAFF WRITER

AREA - If not for the inviting gold and green sign saying, “Welcome to All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey,” passers-by might never know of how much local, regional, collegiate and professional sports memorabilia and artifacts lay inside a regular, modest building in Bridgeton. But there’s more than enough with more planned.

The building was originally part of Cumberland County Community College but changed hands. At some point, hopefully sooner than later, the clanging of hammers to nails and the sounds of buzzing drills to install more siding and roofing will take place adjacent to the six-room, 1500 square foot cozy museum. At least this is what museum chairman and chief curator Dom Valella hopes for, as the expansion is planned in the hopes of providing more indoor space to remember more athletes and contributors to southern New Jersey sports fame –for those from Trenton down to

Cape May actually. There’s an Eagles room, a Phillies room, a Sixers room, a Flyers room and even a Cumberland County room, for impressive athletes who have a connection to that area.

“Pioneers, contributors, athletes and coaches are in here,” says Valella. “We’ve had some who want to be paid to be in here but we just don’t do that. In many sports hall of fames like this, they say one needs to wait five years to enter after their contribution is made and they’ve essentially retired.”

Not the case in Bridgeton, where Valella is hoping he can add two NFL rookies he doesn’t want to name at this time, one of which plays for the AFC Champion, Kansas City Chiefs, to the collection this year.

If so, these rookies will occupy spots alongside greats remembered such as Phillies 2008 World Series coach, Charlie Manuel, a longtime Haddonfield, NJ resident; legendary title-holder, boxer Joe Frazier from Philadelphia who trained

in Vineland, NJ and was inducted posthumously. Gold glove phenom, Willie Mays who, while working for Resorts International in Atlantic City, donated a gold glove just over 25 years ago in exchange for a few buckets of peaches and plums. He added a “Say Hey Willie Mays” jersey too with the glove. Mays was a frequent visitor to the Bridgeton Invitational Baseball Tournament, an annual tournament Valella coached, showing his personal affinity for baseball.

“About five years ago, we were able to get a Jackie Robinson statue from the African-American Negro Hall of Fame in Newton,” said Valella.

“A lot of schools came with 15 to 20 students at a time. I’d give tours and the kids learned a lot,” he added, realizing Robinson’s importance in the equal rights movement in professional sports.

21-year-old local ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau from Pennsgrove High School, who

was a top scorer for the NHL’s Calgary Flames has a spot in the Hall, thanks to police chief of Bridgeton, Michael Gaimari, who knows Johnny’s family and recommended him to Valella. Dozens of plaques and trophies sit in the Hall at 8 Richie Kates Sr. Way in Bridgeton.

Right now, Valella is focused on the next induction ceremony to be held Saturday, March 11 at 11am at Ramblewood Country Club in Mount Laurel, where the Hall welcomes ESPN and NFL analyst, Sal Paolantonio to its membership. So yes, there’s a spot for sports commentators

with a significant tie to New Jersey, in the museum. Just ask Philadelphia sports commentator Michael Barkann and former Phillie and commentator for the team, Ricky Bottalico, who have been inducted already. Both have ties to the Garden State.

Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski will be the special guest speaker on the 11th while sports radio talk show host Joe DiCamara will be the guest master of ceremonies.

Later this year, Paolantonio wants to hold another fund-raiser for the expansion of the facil-

ity. “We run the museum now as a non-profit with donations,” Valella noted. The price of admission is free. “The expansion will be a large task for a small facility started 58 years ago in 1965. There’s plenty to be optimistic about for sports enthusiasts in New Jersey. Even a nonsports enthusiast can come here and learn about South Jersey history,” said Valella. For more information about All-Sports Museum of South Jersey, visit www.cumberlandcountynj.gov/allsportsmuseum

It Happened In NJ: The Day Baseball was Born; Potentially, Maybe…

BY PETER ZABLOCKI WRITER

AREA - Today, Maxwell Place in Hoboken is the epitome of luxurious living with condominiums and townhomes overlooking the New York skyline. Some may even remember it being the Maxwell House Coffee plant site throughout the twentieth century. Still, the location’s roots are even more profound than that. For buried well below the brick buildings is the Elysian Fields park – the site of the first-ever organized baseball game in the United States, played on June 19, 1846.

The myth that Abner Doubleday invented baseball and first played it in Cooperstown, New York, has long been discredited. It was a brainchild of a special commission established in 1903 to research the sport’s origins and based on a testimony of an older man – and friend of Abner’s – who claimed to have seen Doubleday make up the rules and play the game sixty years before. Ironically, the so-called founder never admitted to doing so. In fact, at the time of the said occurrence, Doubleday was present at West Point Academy and nowhere near Cooperstown.

It is still a major point of contention for baseball enthusiasts, considering that it makes the Baseball Hall of Fame’s location in New York State based solely on unproven hearsay. For a precise, albeit more controversial origin of America’s past, one should look no further than

Hoboken, New Jersey.

In the 1840s, thousands of New Yorkers rode the ferryboats to Hoboken each Sunday. Their destination was often the famed Elysian Fields, which provided a peaceful sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the nearby metropolis. The visitors enjoyed the five-acre paradise’s cafes, strolls through the flower-booming gardens, and cricket matches. It was also where a twenty-five-year-old New York volunteer fireman and banker, Alexander Cartwright, would spend his days playing “town ball” – an Americanized street version of the British game of rounders. More akin to dodgeball, the game would see players try not to get hit with the ball thrown directly at them to get them out on their way to secure bases (laid out in a square), all while the men on the field would fight to catch the ball off the bat (with the batter standing between home and first base) through a free-for-all melee.

In 1845, Cartwright decided to organize his buddies into a baseball club. Named the New York Knickerbockers after his firehouse and made up of other members of higher social standing, Cartwright’s club adopted new regulations to make the game more entertaining, safer, and quicker. Approved by club members on September 23, 1845, Alexander’s rules saw the square turned into a diamond, the batter staying at home, and

bases placed ninety feet apart. The game now also had three outfielders, foul and safe lines, and a new position of shortstop, all while deciding on three outs instead of letting the entire lineup bat before switching. The Knickerbockers liked to play with these rules so much that they would visit Hoboken’s Elysian Fields during the week instead of just Sundays. And while they always played intrasquad games, they soon began calling themselves world champions which did not sit well with other “town ball” baseball clubs.

On June 19, 1846, known as “the day baseball was born,” the Elysian field hosted the first prearranged baseball game between two organized clubs and playing by Cartwright’s rules, the Knickerbockers and the previously “town ball-playing” the New York Nines. No questioning of the umpire was allowed since the players considered themselves gentlemen. Proof of their social status, a historian would write, was that they could play baseball on Monday and Thursday afternoons at a time when Paterson mill workers were beginning the second half of their long day. With no real equipment apart from a bat (no baseball glove yet), the clubs agreed to play for honor and to test Cartwright’s rules. The winner would keep the ball as a trophy.

The New York Nines got the hang of the new rules rath-

er quickly, which made it a fun afternoon for the various onlookers who came to watch the game. In a twist of fate, the Nines pummeled the Knickerbockers 23 to 1 and went home with the baseball in hand. Still, the Knickerbockers would go on to dominate baseball until clubs began playing for mon-

ey in the 1870s, by then with Cartwright’s rules becoming the standard around the country and the world.

And so, although thought up by a New Yorker in New York, the game of baseball as we know was first played in an organized matter in our home state of New Jersey on June 19,

1846, thus making it the birthplace of the sport – well, potentially, maybe… it sure depends on how one looks at it. Peter Zablocki is the co-host of the History Teachers Talking Podcast. For more information, visit www.peterzablocki.com

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