Mt Olive Life December 2022

Mount Olive High School Key Club Lives to Give Back

BY JILLIAN RISBERG STAFF WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - They are a student-led service organization that builds character and develops leadership skills.

Mount Olive High School Key Club (dates back to 1998) has 230 members active within the Mount Olive community.

“The motivation of being involved in this club is to inspire and help others,” says co-advisor, Kelly Livingston. “We’re extremely grateful for the resources we have access to and want to put our time and effort into helping those who may need it.”

According to the physical education teacher, the group just finished one of their biggest events; Safe Trick-orTreat.

They are also working closely with some local people and charities as the Mount Olive Recreation Department, Mount Olive Food Pantry, Mount Olive Senior Center, Kiwanis, Unified, Best Buddies, and any other Mount Olive organization that can use volunteers. Look forward to the Easter Egg Hunt and Senior Citizen Prom in the spring.

When it comes to long-term projects; from addiction to hunger, the working poor and more... the group chooses to become involved in a variety of ways.

“We attempt to battle hunger in our community by working with the Mount Olive Police Department annually to

collect food and other items for the Mount Olive Food Pantry,” Livingston says they have also tried to mend environmental issues within the community.

“By having Key Club members participate in a clean-up along the sides of a few local Mount Olive roads.”

The group’s officers (President- Isabella Lartey; VP- Sara Schwarick; Treasurer- Hailey Tiu; Secretary- Alicia Huynh; Webmaster- Kaitlyn Colleran; Kiwanis Liaison- Simran D’Souza) spend much of their time helping the advisors coordinate and plan for future events, and members exhibit great devotion to Key Club.

They routinely attend meetings (2x month), eagerly sign up to assist at events and often reach out to officers with any questions.

Most projects are completed quickly, since many events are one day activities, while other projects take time.

“(For) our annual Easter Egg Hunt, we arrange at least two work parties in advance. This way, the eggs are already filled for the children,” the co-advisor says.

In these trying times, giving back is everything.

“We hope people gain a sense of hope,” the members say. “Even though we are a student-led organization, we are beginning to make a change at such a young age. We hope this sets the stage for the change

our generation can make.”

Some additional service projects they have worked on are helping local senior citizens, cleaning up hiking trails, and raising money for hospitals. Outside of Key Club, members also volunteer at the library, local EMS, churches and more.

People who are in need and may not have the best resources inspire the students every day.

Their goal is to not only raise money for and help others at MOHS but also those in the community that are in need.

With such altruistic spirits, there are many different careers that Key Club members would like to pursue, including the medical field, STEM, humanities.

The group is sponsored by Kiwanis of Mount Olive.

“Key Club helps us strive towards our goals,” say the students, of the opportunities to make a difference.

The organization hopes to get further involved and aid as many people and organizations as possible.

“In particular, we are looking to start projects where we can help our peers who don’t have enough resources, senior citizens in our town, the homeless and more,” they say.

MOHS Key Club means a lot to all of them. Being a part of this club has made each and every member even better.

Livingston and Kori Pruden

Fratelli Beretta USA Donates Trailer to Budd Lake Fire Department

are happy to be at the helm of this organization.

They have been Key Club advisors for the last six to seven years now and they could not be more thankful to be part of such a hard working, dedicated, helpful, selfless group of

students each and every year.

“They are the best kids, always willing to go above and beyond to help anyone out — whether it is in our own school building, district or community,” says Livingston and Pruden. “We are so proud of the

kids, their commitment to the club and their ideas that help make the club so successful.”

For more information, follow the MOHS Key Club Instagram/Twitter @mohskeyclub22

Remembering Two Mount Olive Civil War Veterans

MOUNT OLIVE - Mt. Olive Township has a Civil War Veteran who died during his service buried in Fredericksburg National Cemetery. John D. Salmon and his older brother Andrew F. Salmon were both serving In Company F, 15th NJ Vols. They were the sons of Daniel L Salmon 1815-1851 and Eleanor Flock Salmon 1819-1859. They were both young when their father died and were 17 and 14 years of age when their mother died.

John D. Salmon was born 1845 in Mt Olive Township. He enlisted in Company F, 15th NJ Vol on August 29, 1862. He was 17 years old and prior to enlisting he was living and working as a farm hand on Philip G. Stephens Farm. His brother Andrew was living at the same farm listed as a student and working as a farm hand. John served as a private and died of fever and illness on March 27, 1863, at the White Oak Church which was serving as a hospital during the battles at Fredericksburg VA. He was

John D. Salmon’s interment card from Fredericksburg National Cemetery

eighteen years old and served 7 months before he died. He was first buried in Mrs. Nancy Greens Farm in Stafford County, Virginia and later reinterred in Fredericksburg National Cemetery in B-D-25 plot marker 4755.

Andrew F. Salmon was born 1843. He enlisted on August 8, 1862 in Company F, 15th NJ Vol. He was serving as a Sergeant. He was wounded at Spotsylvania Virginia on May 12, 1864 and died 8 days later on May 21, 1864 at Fredericksburg VA. He was 21 years old and served 22 months. His

body was returned to Mt Olive and he is buried in the Baptist Church Cemetery. There was a third Salmon son Daniel Elmer Salmon that was taken in by Salmon relatives after the parents had died and the brothers were working and enlisting to serve. Daniel went on to attend Cornell University and received a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science in 1872 and 1876 received his doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. He was credited for isolating the Salmonella bacteria which was named after him.

The Indelible Artistic Journey of Mount Olive Artist Chris Buonomo

BY JILLIAN ROSBERG STAFF WRITER

“I

the craftsman.

It’s not only about the fin-

ished product, especially with carving, it is also in Buonomo’s mind the journey to find the sculpture that resides inside of the material.

“It’s there; I have to find and release it from that stone or piece of wood,” he says.

“It becomes collaborative, we have to work together — the material and I.”

The artist may see a piece of stone or wood and know what’s there. Other times it’s a longer process to reveal itself. He has

so much stone and wood stockpiled even when he’s not working on a particular piece they are part of his space.

“We feed off each other,” he says.

According to the craftsman, stone exists for millions of years whether he touches it or not. He feels more protective with wood because it’s an organic material that will decay and die on its own. This is his

win a $25.00 gift card.

MOUNT OLIVE - The winners from November’s “Find Moe Life Mascot” are Debra Krzywicki; Netcong,

It is easy to enter. 4 Winners will be selected each month. Look through the paper and read the ads and look for Mr. Life in the ad. He will be located throughout

Patti Forsythe; Hackettstown, Larissa Popel; Flanders and Maya Salerno, Budd Lake. Mr. Moe was hiding in the

the paper in 6 random ads. Then go to www.mtolivelife.com scroll down and fill out the form to be entered. Winners will be notified and printed in the next issue.

following ads: Amish Mike, Remax Linda Smith, Remax Tara, American Sons, Panther Valley and Rainbow Travel.

Thanks to everyone who enter and congratulations to our winners!

Working with Mount Olive Kiwanis President, Heidi Caruso, to unload food donations at the Mount Olive Food Pantry

MOUNT OLIVE - The Budd Lake Fire Department recently received a donation from Fratelli Beretta USA of a 7x14 enclosed trailer to the department replacing an older trailer. The new trailer will be used for housing our Hazmat, dewatering pumps and generators and

other related equipment.

Tuesda, November 22nd the Fire Chief Joe Compano, Assistant Chief Mike Dorlon, Assistant Chief Kevin Maloney, Lt. Will Engle and Lt. Arthur Herring took the opportunity to show members from Fratelli Beretta USA, Giuseppe

Beretta, Alberto Beretta and Simone Bocchini along with Mayor Rob Greenbaum and Council President Joe Nicastro the new trailer. The department is grateful for a close working relationship with our community partners.

MOUNT OLIVE - For Chris Buonomo, being an artist is an obsession.

have to make — it’s so intrinsic into the fabric of who I am that if I’m not creating I’m miserable,” says

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way to give the trees a second life.

Buonomo lets the artistry do the speaking. It’s about finding balance between what he wants to make and what he knows people want.

He dreams vividly and often remembers the dreams enough to write them down. Many of his paintings come out of interpretations of those dreams.

“Despite how physical carving can be and banging on rock or wood all day,” the artist says for him painting is more emotionally charged (and draining) than sculpture.

In this day and age he says the challenge is carving out a life financially as an artist, while raising a family and still finding time to create.

“Whenever I had periods of reluctance to keep working and got artistically depressed, my wife Amanda is my number one supporter,” says the craftsman. “Having that rock behind me has been the most fortunate thing.”

So he keeps pushing himself to create harder and harder carvings, more difficult paintings, more fragile stonework — and is rewarded with those moments (whether he’s doing a festival/ gallery opening/or showing at the house) when someone loses themselves in one of his pieces.

“The greatest honor is they want something you created to be a part of their life and home; it becomes part of their family,” Buonomo says people work hard for their money and are willing to spend it on (his)

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FROM FRONT PAGE sculpted.”

fine art. “I never take that for granted.”

He tries to price his work where he can put it in as many homes as possible.

“I’d rather sell 10 pieces more economically than one piece for huge money,” says the artist.

Social media has helped Buonomo sell himself, which didn’t exist 20 years ago.

“It has allowed me to form relationships with people,” he says. “They love being part of the process of commission.”

Looking back, the craftsman had the opportunity to apprentice with a master stone carver in Prague. Since he’s been home in Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania (somewhat rural part of Philly) for 20 years after working traditionally/figuratively — he’s become more abstract in his thinking.

“Art is my release but also my job and you’re not giving yourself any credit if you create work you can’t sell,” says Buonomo. “Abstract these days is much easier to market and sell than figurative work.”

If money was no object, he would carve figurative like Victorian funerary sculptural mourning figures because they are powerful and emotional.

“Sculpture for me is about line, form, movement and space,” the artist says he uses heavy, stagnant materials like wood and stone and tries to give them weightlessness. “I want them to look like they’re dancing.”

In essence, everything he makes is a self-portrait, a glimpse into his psyche. And

he says one is tender when people look at your work for the first time.

As a kid he always drew. In school if Buonomo drew the bulletin board for the teacher he might not have to complete an assignment other students were doing. He used drawing for kids for their projects and trade work.

And the craftsman spent a lot of time in the woods growing up in Mount Olive. That’s where he developed his love of trees and solitude.

“I paint lots of trees. Especially winter trees with no leaves; they’re naked, exposed, nothing to hide,” says the artist. “That probably goes back to my vulnerabilities expressed through painting. By the time I was in high school, I jumped on the train to spend time in New York City. Mount Olive was the best of both worlds for me.”

Art was going to be part of Buonomo’s life one way or another, he just didn’t know how. After high school (Mount Olive had a great photography department and still does) he was set on being a photographer.

He had painted a little but was so enamored with photography he went to University Arts in Philly.

“As soon as I took that three dimensional class and had an opportunity to make with my hands, I knew it was my primary focus going forward and photography was over,” says the craftsman. “(There were) stretches where I didn’t paint… but I always

Society without art is dead, according to Buonomo. People might not think art is important but it is all around them.

“I felt I was given a gift and to not use it and share it would be sad,” he says.

He would like to take on a couple more students. Everything he creates is in a private collection — so the artist would love to do a large stone public piece.

And he has stepped up as managing director of the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show in Philadelphia.

The 52-year-old knows people who are starting to talk retirement but that’s the last thing on the craftsman’s mind.

“I don’t have anything to retire from,” Buonomo says he will create as long as he is physically able. “Maybe down the road I open a gallery storefront somewhere. Disappear

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into the woods and have all the time to create is a pretty good sounding idea.”

For more information, vis-

it www.13degreestudios.com or www.instagram.com/cabuonomo

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Chris Buonomo

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Treatments for Healthier Lungs

MARK J. BONAMO STAFF WRITER

AREA - Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. This translates to 1 in 16 people you know will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime.

Lung cancer kills almost three times as many women as breast cancer and three times as many men as prostate cancer.

According to Dr. Bassel Noumi, an interventional pulmonary specialist at Saint Clare’s Health, the two major risk factors for lung cancer are smoking and radon gas exposure. “Take the first step to protect your lungs by stopping smoking, checking the radon level in your house, and if you are a smoker or smoked in the past, talk to your physician about lung cancer screening,” he stated.

“The health of the lungs became the center of public attention, particularly after COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Noumi said. “If a patient has issues with their breathing or their lungs, a primary care physician refers the patient to a pulmonologist, who specializes in the diseases of the lungs. If further evaluation and biopsies are needed, the patient can then be referred to an interventional pulmonologist who can perform delicate procedures on the lung to help identifying the causes for a lung tumor, nodule, shortness of breath, or wheezing.”

Saint Clare’s Health takes pride in being a place that is both around the corner for patients seeking exceptional care close to home, and ahead of the curve offering state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Noumi noted the services available at Saint Clare’s for pulmonary medicine delivers on both.

“We, at Saint Clare’s Health, have advanced bronchoscopic equipment with the latest techniques in obtaining biopsies of the lung nodules, tumors, and mediastinal masses, such as navigational bronchoscopy and the endobronchial ultrasound. We also have a very advanced pulmonary function laboratory, where we can perform breathing tests that will compare the function of the lungs between

the patient and healthy subjects. This will help guide the pulmonologist in knowing exactly what is the reason for the patient’s complaint,” Dr. Noumi said. “We also have a fast pulmonary rehabilitation program where we can rehabilitate our patients with pulmonary diseases and get them moving and feeling better and try to get better control over their health as soon as possible.”

Dr. Noumi also points out that the low-dose CT scan program at Saint Clare’s Health provides a valuable tool for early detection of lung cancer.

“A low-dose CT scan is a modified CT scan of the lungs that exposes the patient to the lowest possible radiation dose.” Dr. Noumi said. “The scan functions as a screening test where the physician can identify lung nodules, then track them overtime to see whether they progress into a malignancy. In other words, it’s a way toward early detection of lung cancer, which saves lives.”

Dr. Noumi also highlighted the use of the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), a minimally

invasive, but highly effective procedure used to diagnose lung cancer, infections, and other diseases causing enlarged lymph nodes in the chest.

“An endobronchial ultrasound is a modified bronchoscopy that has an ultrasonic probe at the tip of the bronchoscope. It is especially effective because the probe can go through the tumor itself and collect a sample from the exact intended location,” Dr. Noumi said. “A navigational bronchoscopy is another advanced technique where we extract a map from the CT scan of the individual patient, then are able to target any lesions. Both endobronchial ultrasound and navigational bronchoscopy are minimally invasive for the patient.”

At Saint Clare’s Health patients have come to know and trust the compassionate care they will receive by clinically advanced physicians using advanced technology, all close to home.

Sleep apnea is another significant health issue that pulmonologists, such as Dr. Noumi

can address. Sleep apnea is a type of sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by abnormal breathing patterns during sleep.

Dr. Noumi highlighted

how the medical team at Saint Clare’s Health addresses this health issue in a private sleep lab, which is in many ways the gold standard in making a sleep apnea diagnosis.

The patient arrives at the hospital and undergoes a polysomnogram. During a polysomnogram, the patient rests in a high-tech sleep lab that looks

Dr. Bassel Noumi, an interventional pulmonary specialist at Saint Clare’s Health

Not All Headaches are Created Equal

OLIVE - Almost everyone has experienced a headache, at some point in their life, to varying degrees. In fact, roughly 45 million Americans suffer from Headaches each year. In today’s world, most people reach into the medicine cabinet for one of the various pain relievers to alleviate their head pain. But what happens when that doesn’t work? Or, the headaches become more frequent and more painful? Some get headaches so often and so painful, they even take prescription drugs with side effects and no avail. But have you ever stopped to think, “What is causing my headache?” Headaches and more severe headaches, known as Migraines,

can be caused by various triggers including foods, chemicals or preservatives in foods, allergens in the environment, chemicals in cleaning products or herbicides/pesticides, sinus congestion, tension in the neck or jaw, lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, and the list goes on… Sometimes the cause is completely unknown and with no relief the patient can be left hopeless, debilitated and in pain. An assessment by an Acupuncturist can often identify and treat imbalances (that are causing the headaches) that are unknown to the patient previously.

In Chinese Medicine not all headaches are created equally. Rather, during an assessment,

we evaluate the individual patient on many levels to determine their exact symptoms (i.e Is the headache frontal? One sided? Behind the eyes? Is there nausea? Frequency and intensity of pain?....) and if there are any triggers. We take a whole body approach and assess the patient’s physical condition as well as their constitution, emotional health, diet and lifestyle. Unlike the blanket treatment western medicine offers which is typically some type of pain reliever, Chinese Medicine finds a specific treatment for each patient based on their individual symptoms.

Five patients suffering “headaches” may receive five completely different treatments.

By addressing the root cause, Acupuncture can be a safe way to prevent and treat various types of headaches, without the unwanted side effects of medications.

Based on the individual assessment and diagnosis, tiny needles are inserted into various points on the body. Depending on the case, small electrodes can be attached to specific needles that elicit a small electrical current. The feeling of the electric stimulation on the needles is a comfortable sensation that generally elicits a feeling of tingling, tapping or heaviness. The electric stimu-

lation enhances the release of specific neurochemicals which aids in the treatment of headaches. The needles are typically retained for 20-30 minutes, during which the patient is left to relax and take a nap.

Acupuncture is known to be effective and can offer long standing results, but it is not always a quick fix. Especially if the headaches are chronic, several treatments may be required to achieve the full result. Again, this is because it is addressing the root cause and not just covering up symptoms like other treatments.

If you suffer from headaches

Healthier Lungs...

continued from page 4

like a comfortable hotel room. A technician in a nearby room records brain activity and selected information from the patient’s body. Together, this data reveals a detailed picture of unique sleep patterns - including how much time is spent in light and deep stages, whether the patient is receiving enough oxygen, how often the patient awakens (even slightly), and whether sleep is disrupted by factors such as arm and leg

movements.

“In lab sleep studies are preferred for patients who are above the age of 65 or who have chronic heart or lung disease,” Dr. Noumi said. “Younger patients who do not have any chronic medical problems or who can’t really take a day off from their work can start with the home sleep study.”

Once the patient has their diagnosis, the pulmonologist may then recommend a reha-

or migraines start getting relief today! Use the following tips to achieve long- lasting results for a healthy life: Be aware, track food and environmental triggers to see if there are any patterns, get adequate sleep, eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits (limiting sugars and processed foods), drink plenty of water, manage stress with things like meditation and try Acupuncture!

For more information about Acupuncture and Headaches contact Mount Olive Acupuncture & Wellness 973-527-7978.

bilitation program.

“At Saint Clare’s Health pulmonary rehab center, there is a special gym with an exercise program tailored specifically to the patients with chronic lung diseases. The exercise program focuses on certain muscle groups that we know will improve the patient’s respiratory function, and that has proven to be a very effective method in preventing readmission to the hospital,” Dr. Noumi said.

“At Saint Clare’s Health, a patient will undergo the most advanced testing offered anywhere to properly diagnosis the health issue. State-of- theart treatments, including surgical ones, can be offered by the best-in-class pulmonology team to prolong and improve life for their patients,” states Dr. Noumi.

For more information, please visit saintclares.com/ lungs or call 973-989-3550.

Turkey Brook Park Hosts Holiday Spectacle

MOUNT OLIVE - Holiday Spectacle, the extravagant 1-mile-long walk-through light show will take place now through December 31st in Mount Olive Township. Run by the owners of the award-winning 13th Hour Haunted House, the family-friendly event will feature a slew of holiday performances and activities. Including plenty of food, vendors, photos with Santa, and firepits to keep warm, there is sure to be something all ages can enjoy.

“We are definitely doing some balloon twisting and face painting opening night, as well as starting the big fire pit,” Fernando Coelho, event coordinator said.

The event will take place along the paved walking trail between the baseball and football fields, and end by the firepits, where food trucks and vendor stands will be set up under a large pavilion. It will

take about forty-five minutes to walk through, but there will be plenty to do until the park closes at 10 pm.

“We have 12 generators powering just under 200 sculptures with scenes like Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and 12 Days of Christmas,” Coelho says.

The park itself is a beautiful place to see in the winter, so be sure to visit it under all its glory on your way through the Holiday Spectacle. Get into the holiday spirit with a 30 ft tall tree that has LED lights syncing to music! There will also be stages of music performances and other special experiences throughout the trail. With so many dazzling lights, the Holiday Spectacle is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

This light show is hosted by Steve Bailey and Coelho to celebrate the winter season. Both live in the local area and

run the successful haunted house 13th Hour each year.

“People have been frightened enough with all that’s been happening, it’s time to create an experience that rids us of fear and puts us in much brighter spirits,” Coelho says. Their haunted house has won many awards for its unique, interactive experience, and they are now bringing this expertise to the Holiday Spectacle. The pair were looking to recreate an event that could help bring families together for the holidays. Turkey Brook Park was looking to host an event, so they got to work.

The proposal was approved in June of this year and extended through 2023.

While the past two years have been full of uncertainty and concern, Coelho and Bailey wanted to encourage people to get out and enjoy their community and the people in it. Exercise is also important

to them, so they wanted to create a fun event where families could get out and go on a nice walk together. Getting people back out in nature can be an important part of the healing process, and they hope this show helps bring people together while they enjoy the

beauty of the holiday season.

Whether a local or just visiting for the holidays, come down and enjoy this spectacular event. Tickets are $25 per person, with kids four and under free. Ticket prices are expected to rise once the event begins, so make sure to pre-or-

To Make the Darkness Glow

light throughout the world.

The unique power of the Chanukah lights is linked to the nature of the miracle they commemorate. The miracle of Chanukah took place in a time of darkness, when the Greeks, who had conquered the Land of Israel, sought to impose their culture upon its inhabitants. The Maccabees were able to instill in the Jewish people a spirit of self-sacrifice and return to G-d. This inspired them to defeat them, and rededicate the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Since the Jewish victory involved the transformation of darkness into light, the Chanukah lights which commemorate it also have this power.

And they teach us that when confronted with darkness, we must not resign ourselves to it. Nor may we remain content with lighting up our own homes. Instead, we must reach out and spread light as far as we possibly can, until the public domain too is illuminated.

Adding a new Chanukah candle every night teaches us that every day we must increase our endeavors to spread

Though we lit up our environment on the previous night, we cannot rest content. As our Sages explain, lighting the Chanukah candles exemplifies the principle, “Always advance higher in holy matters.”

Beginning with the second night of Chanukah (the first time we add a candle), we express this principle for an entire week, increasing the number of candles every night. A week is a complete time cycle which contains in potential

form all the possible situations a person might encounter.

Adding a new light on every night of Chanukah demonstrates — and reinforces — a commitment to progress continuously, come what may.

The lessons we learn from

the Chanukah lights should be applied in every aspect of our lives. Every day should lead us to further growth and create new opportunities for spreading light in our homes and in the world.

Please visit our website at

der to lock in the discounted price. The show plans to go on in rain or snow and will only be closed due to severe weather.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. holidayspectacle.com

mychabadcenter.com for information regarding Public Menorah lightings in the area or call Rabbi Shusterman at 973-933-6011.

Happy Chanukah!

Yaacov Shusterman, director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Mt. Olive

and Lawrence J. Brown, originally from Brooklyn, NY, were married at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Brooklyn, NY on November 28, 1957, and are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. Joyce and Lawrence moved to the Flanders section of Mount Olive in 1969 with their 3 children. Lawrence and Joyce quickly became active members of the community, where Lawrence was appointed to the Mt. Olive Planning Board and served as a volunteer on the town’s Civil Defense team,

Couple Celebrate 65th Wedding Anniversary

and Joyce volunteered with the League of Women Voters and local social services’ committees. Both Joyce and Lawrence were active in local politics and were representatives of the Republican County Committee for over 20 years. Lawrence was elected to the Mt. Olive Township Council, where he served for many years during the 70’s and 80’s as a member, as well in the role of Council President and Vice-President. Larry was active politically at local, county, and state levels and served as a legislative aide and Assembly

Sgt. at Arms in Trenton. Lawrence worked to establish Mt. Olive Senior Housing on Bartley Road in Flanders, and served as president of their board. Both Joyce and Larry worked alongside other township officials and the Lutheran Board of Social Ministries to establish Mount Olive Manor Senior Housing, with Lawrence later serving as President of their Board of Trustees.

After raising her 3 children, Joyce worked as an Office Manager and an Executive Secretary and later worked as a Sensory

Specialist

aide to the Morris County Clerk for 8 years, retiring in 2014 at age 82. Lawrence is a veteran, who served as a medic in the US Air Force from 1950-54.

Lawrence retired from Allied Signal Corporation after 32 years in data processing as a Systems Analyst and later became a fulltime confidential

Joyce and Lawrence love to travel, especially cruising to Europe and the islands. Recently, they cruised to the Caribbean to celebrate their anniversary.

dedicated their lives to their family and their community and remain proud residents of Flanders. They are young at heart, and stay active with their 3 grown children and spouses, Stephen and Lisa, Stacy and Bob, and Stephanie and Todd, and their 4 grandchildren, Alexandra, Chelsea, Anthony, and Owen.

for M&M Mars in the early 2000’s for several years before her retirement. Joyce continues as a volunteer Eucharistic Minister at St. Elizabeth Church in Flanders.

There’s a Caring Family Atmosphere at Flanders Animal Care Center

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

Chris Hallihan, there

a fondness and love for a few things when he was younger that landed him where he is today.

Hallihan recalls, “I just loved animals and loved medicine, so it was the combination of the two that really drove me in this direction.”

That “direction” is Flanders Animal Care Center, which is located at 96 Bartley Flanders Road in Mount Olive, and is the main facility. The Landing Animal Care Center satellite facility at 112 Kings Highway in Landing also has a full-service hospital for pet care.

Hallihan and his wife, fellow veterinarian Kristen Casulli, both general practitioners, majored in Biology respectively at Princeton and North Carolina State universities, and both met and received their veterinary degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation in 1995, they started working for a veterinarian, and in 1999 purchased his practice and named it Flanders Animal

Care Center. Casulli, in fact, grew up in Mount Olive and went through the school system, and her dad had a dental practice in town which predated the building of Mount Olive High School.

Flanders Animal Care Center offers complete care for your pet and accepts all insurances. Included in that care are all vaccinations, standard, critical and emergency medical care, a variety of surgical services, and much more, all using the top technology. And, if there is something better taken care of by a specialist, they’ll refer you to a trusted colleague.

Hallihan says, “We always give people options. If there’s a very involved case that we feel might be best served with a specialist, we certainly offer that.” Flanders Animal Care Center, courtesy of Crown Veterinary Specialists of Lebanon, also has orthopedic specialists who visit on a scheduled basis to their location to perform specialized orthopedic surgeries.

In addition to Drs. Hallihan and Casulli, Flanders Animal

Care Center has other topnotch veterinarians on staff.

Victor Villari, a Livingston High School and Michigan State University grad, has been a vet for over 40 years, and worked for the former owner; a Jersey guy who attended Rutgers University and then went to Kansas State for veterinarian school, Kevin Hargadon has been with Flanders Animal Care Center for eight years; and Cindy Weagley is a part-time associate and 1994 University of Georgia graduate who has been practicing for over 20 years. Hallihan adds, “We’re looking right now for another associate to come on

board, and we know if nothing else, hopefully my daughter, Devon, will be with us. She’ll be attending veterinary school next year.”

Hallihan, who grew up in Hackensack, speaks about the family atmosphere at Flanders Animal Care Center, and the feeling of Mount Olive as a home base. “Our three kids have also gone through the school system, from Tinc Road to the middle school, and then to the high school. Our oldest is a second-year medical student and University of Pittsburgh, our daughter is entering veterinary school, and our youngest is a sophomore at Villanova.

We’ve been very happy with Mount Olive, and we love it here. I do stress the fact that I really feel like we’re a family practice. Not only are we a family who runs Flanders Animal Care Center – me, my wife, and my kids have always helped out - but we try to make our staff family. And with my wife growing up in this town, we have a lot of connections. We have so many people that she’s known since she was a kid, it really gives you that family feeling that I always want our practice to be.”

Flanders Animal Care Center also gives back to the township of Mount Olive by

supporting the police department and their golf outings which fund the needy. Also, in addition to working with the local schools when their children attended, Flanders Animal Care Center - as hopefully COVID-19 becomes less of a concern - would again like to offer tours of their facilities to the local scouting groups. Finally, Hallihan himself is a Board member of the Morris County 4-H Club. For more information about the complete pet care that Flanders Animal Care Center and Landing Animal Care Center offer, visit www.animalcarectrs.com

Local Lutheran Church Recognized for Public Welcoming Statement

AREA - Abiding Peace Lutheran Church has been recognized by Reconciling Works (formerly Lutherans Concerned/North America) as the most recent Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation in Morris County, NJ. This recognition comes after the congregation voted to officially adopt a public statement of welcome for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and a commitment to racial equity. The statement reads in part,

“We extend a loving welcome to those who are single, married, divorced or widowed; those of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions… We welcome those of all ethnicities, races, immigration status, and primary languages and we affirm our commitment to racial equity.”

The Rev. Serena Rice (she/ her), Pastor of Abiding Peace sees this statement as “An important public affirmation of the church’s long-standing commitment to embody the love and grace of God that is open to all God’s children in the fullness of their God-cre-

ated identities. Although this welcome is nothing new for our community, we have been intentional about reflecting on all that this public step means for our witness and our ministry, and we are committed to continuing to learn how to be a truly welcoming space where all are seen and celebrated.”

Heather Nilsen (she/her), a member of the church Council and also of the core team that led the congregation in the RIC process, explained the reason this step is so important. “When someone who is LGBTQIA+ walks into our church for the first time, they are asking the question, “Is this a space I can be my whole self, or do I need to hide and misdirect?” Our answer to that question, both overt and implied, will make a tremendous difference in determining if they can truly connect to God and be nourished in faith as a part of our community.”

Aubrey Thonvold, Executive Director of Reconciling Works, said “We welcome Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, Budd Lake to the Reconciling in Christ family. It is with love we are called to wel-

come all God’s children into our congregations, communities, and our world. We thank Abiding Peace for being an active member working for reconciliation and growth within the church so all of God’s Beloveds can share a lived experience of love, welcome, and family.”

Since 1983, the RIC Program has been a public way for faith communities to see, name, celebrate, and advocate for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in the Lutheran Church. More recently, the mission of the program has expanded to include a commitment to work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work. The RIC Program is made up of congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, outdoor ministries, and other Lutheran organizations. Every ministry setting begins this journey from their own unique context and Reconciling Works is a resource to help diverse communities create an authentic welcome journey.

Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, Budd Lake has been an active congregation of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly Lutheran Church in America) in the Budd Lake area for 51 years.

Its mission is to “make Christ known by welcoming all people to a supportive and accepting place to grow in faith

and community, and to serve the Lord as people created by God, saved by Christ, and nurtured by the Holy Spirit.”

Morris County Launches Interactive Story Map to Celebrate 20 Years of Historic Preservation Trust Fund

AREA - Morris County is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund by launching an interactive, online story map of all historic sites found in the county, specifically offering background information, photos, video and geographic data on all sites that benefited from county historic preservation grants.

“We hope this story map can make the public more aware of the many historic treasures that are in our midst, and also acknowledge the strong support the Commissioners have shown toward historic preservation that contribute to the high quality of life here in Morris County,” said Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation.

The story map was created by the Office of Planning and Preservation to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the grant program.

The Historic Preservation Trust Fund was established by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners after voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum on Nov. 5, 2002, to allow a portion of the Morris County Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to be used for historic preservation.

“This has been an exceptionally successful and well received program, with nearly

$46 million being committed to assist in the preservation, protection and restoration of 122 historic properties since the first grant was issued in 2003,” said Commissioner Stephen Shaw, the board liaison to the county Office of Planning and Preservation.

“Almost everywhere you go in Morris County, you can point to a place, a building or a monument that represents a specific era in our history, from the days Native Americans lived here and Europeans began to settle in, to the American Revolution, the industrial revolution and beyond. Morris County has a wealth of sites and structures embodying the American story, and our trust fund has helped to preserve that,” he added.

The story map is based in part on digital mapping data provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Geographic Information System, as well as data on historical properties compiled by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. A legend is provided identifying various levels of historical determinations afforded different sites.

However, the story map dives deepest into Morris County historic sites, specifically the 122 sites afforded grants through the Historic Preservation Trust Fund over the past 20 years. Using the GIS mapping, visitors may

navigate to all 122 Morris County sites easily and view photos, background information and, where available, videos and audio presentations that provide a fuller understanding the sites’ significance.

The videos can be watched on YouTube with captions for better accessibility.

The Historic Preservation Trust Fund considers grants for the acquisition, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration or preservation of historic resources by municipalities, qualified non-profits and the county. Many sites have received multiple grants over the years for various stages of preservation, from planning to actual construction.

Applications are reviewed by the volunteer members of the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board, and the board ultimately recommends each year to the County Commissioners what projects should be provided grants and the amount of each grant.

The new story map introduces visitors to the 11-member review board.

Historic resources must be listed or certified as eligible for listing on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, to be eligible for the program.

The map is available to view at www.storymaps.arcgis.com/ stories/e6da96eb190a4c8e94bab06dcd1b8e7e

MOUNT OLIVE - Each year the Mt. Olive Clergy holds an Interfaith gathering before Thanksgiving. This was the first year back after not holding the event for the past couple of years. It is a time for all people of all religions to come together and be thankful for all we have.

In the photo from left to right: Rev Wayne Sherrer; St. James Episcopal Hackettstown, Rev. Matthew; Jones Mountaintop Church, Rev . Serena Rice; Abiding Peace Lutheran, Rev. Meekyung

Choi Kim; Flanders Methodist Church, Rev. Sharon Sheridan Hausman; Episcopal priest, NJ state prison chaplain in Trenton, Rev. Lorna Woodham; Christ Episcopal Church Budd Lake, Rabbi Dan Zucker; Associate Rabbi White Meadow Temple in Rockaway, Fr. Stan Barron; St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton RC Church Flanders, Joe Nicastro; Mt. Olive Council President and Corinne Kilkeary; Youth Minister at St Elizabeth Ann Seaton RC Parish.

Stanhope Musician Discusses his Journey in Music, Hard Work, and Faith in Christ

BY ALEXANDER RIVERO STAFF WRITER

AREA - Musician David Torok was born and raised in Brockport, NY, a town in the western end of Upstate New York, about twenty minutes outside of Rochester, and an hour out of Buffalo. After getting married and moving out with his new bride, he is living in Stanhope, which he describes in sighs and whispers as calm, scenic, and very lively.

The same cannot be said, however, of his own journey through music, which has been at times euphoric, at times turbulent, and at other times downright personally hurtful. The experiences, he says, with the help of his faith in Jesus Christ, have converged into something good for Torok, a confidence in the present and hope for the future.

Raised on a steady diet of Metallica, Slayer, and Bad Religion, Torok first picked up an electric guitar at the age of 13. He says that what got him motivated to do so was seeing online videos of kids his age singing songs from some of his favorite classic rock bands, such as ACDC and Aerosmith. His attitude was one of “if they can do it, so can I,” and when his father bought him the guitar he had wanted, he dove into practice sessions with gusto, hungry for proficiency,

eager to be great.

“There were moments where it was so hard that I put the guitar away for a bit,” he says, “but I quickly picked it back up, especially as I started picking up on other 90s rock bands like the Offspring, Pennywise, and Rancid.”

One specific Offspring song—“All I Want”, off the band’s fourth studio album Ixnay on the Hombre—hit home for Torok, and he felt he had to master it. Taking an in-depth look at that song, and learning to play it, was for him a springboard into new artistic territory.

“I went from there,” he recalls. “From 90s punk, I explored heavy metal, which led me to Slayer, which to this day is my all-time favorite band.”

It was not only Slayer’s sound, but the complexity in the composition of their lyrics that hooked Torok and seemed to push him to a higher personal aesthetic from then on.

“They were a big inspiration to me,” says Torok, “because they found a way to incorporate such raw talent into their songwriting without it coming across as showy. It wasn’t just showmanship. The talent was there to express the song to its full extent. It is an existential struggle that every artist of a

certain caliber must face. The question of how much talent can we incorporate into our art without alienating people or being pretentious.”

What followed for Torok was another exploratory plunge, this time into the world of heavy metal. Dirt poor and, once again, eager to master the field, he played his guitar riffs out of an amplifier his father had given him and a cheap microphone, recording it all on his computer and posting it on heavy metal message boards. The reactions shocked him. He knew he had a long way to go, but the online heavy metal community made sure he knew that he should never touch the genre again.

“They told me to pack it up, that I was horrible,” Torok recalls. “That I was a colossal failure. And, yeah, that discouraged me for a while. Listening back home to all those demos, I regret most of the music I made. It simply wasn’t up to par. I was just trying to make the most extreme and violent music I could make.”

Ever the explorer of genre, from heavy metal Torok went to—yes—the ukulele to take off the steam of defeat, to refresh his skill set by throwing in something new and spunky. The idea seemed to work, be-

cause within a short time he had once again picked up his acoustic guitar for another go.

What he found in his second go-around on the acoustic guitar was not necessarily a new world, but a new take on an old one. He experimented with heavier sounds, trying to transfer the weight of heavy metal onto the acoustic.

“This is what I was trying to achieve in my music,” says Torok, referring to the attempt at fusing heavy with airy and light. “And it was only by exploring these other genres that I was able to arrive at a con-

crete place of what I wanted to accomplish musically, which is music that expresses the wild and carefree nature of my personality, but also the love of Christ without having to necessarily mention Jesus’s name.”

This brings us to the present: David Torok is a man of God. And when it comes to his musical proficiency, the work he puts in, he assures us, holds a minority portion of the credit.

“I don’t believe that I developed all of my musical talent on my own,” he says. “As

we all must do as aspiring musicians, I put the work in, but the Lord brought on the rest.

HE has blessed me and I am forever grateful for that. Practice and dedication are absolutely essential to the process, but I would also tell aspiring musicians to put Jesus Christ first.”

David Torok’s music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. He is also available on Facebook and Instagram @dr_musicman93.

Big Red Santa Brings Happiness to All Ages

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA - For Bob Smith, it may have started in 2009, but you can tell during discussion with him that he’s had the Santa Claus goodness within him all along.

Just ask Emily.

Although in his words he was terrified when he first dressed up as the Big Red Santa and the event was a success, it was best defined by little Emily, who the next day visited the event organizer and thanked them for bringing a real Santa Claus. “And it was because I was nice and I had a real beard,” Smith says. It mattered not to Emily that the red Santa suit Smith wore was older, that his beard was short, or whether it was sprinkled with baby powder. What mattered was Smith’s kindness to her, which Emily returned the following year, she showing up with a gift for the Big Red Santa.

“I think 90% of Santas find their way into the role by someone asking them to fill in for somebody that can’t make

it,” Smith says. “I think 100% of the people who get that question are kind of reluctant to do that because they’ve never done it before.”

Smith wasn’t reluctant when first asked thirteen years ago. He filled the role, but was concerned his voice wouldn’t be correct or he’d say something wrong. The request came from a group called Rainbows for All Children, a nationwide

group which meets with and supports children who had a parent pass away during the year and are grieving. Smith recalls the instructions he received at that time. ‘They said, ‘We’ve got all the toys, we’ve got the bag. Just show up, everything’s tagged, call up the kids, take the picture, and off you go.’” The group had available a Santa Claus suit from K-Mart, and Smith took care

of the rest. “I

David Torok and his acoustic guitar.

The Big Red Santa and Mrs. Claus (courtesy of Bob Smith)

had this very short George Clooney beard,” he says. “It really wasn’t quite right, and I peppered it with some baby powder, because I

was not going to wear a previously used polyester beard. Then I threw on a white turtleneck to cover the lack of beard.”

After his first appearance, Smith returned the suit and thought nothing more about dressing up as Santa Claus –

Former Marauder Soccer Standout Ryan Peterson Feeling at Home in Charlotte, North Carolina

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

that former Mount Olive High School soccer standout

current Charlotte Independence winger, Ryan Peterson, will forever keep his

phone fully charged and turned on. He says, “You never know what can happen on a given day.”

True. In September, Peterson was sitting outside Dino’s Pizzeria in the Village Green Shopping Center in Budd Lake, on break from both making and delivering pizzas. Then his phone rang. “I’m sitting outside with the owner and I get a call from one of the Independence assistants, asking if I wanted to come down and see if I could make the team.” It was a Thursday afternoon, and Peterson packed, loaded his car, and drove down nine hours. Three days later, Peterson arrived in Charlotte for a Monday morning, 9 a.m. tryout. He was soon wearing

Charlotte Independence blue. “From getting down here and making the team, making my first roster and getting my first minute, it’s something unreal,” he says. “You don’t think it’s going to happen until it happens. And it happened quickly for me.”

Peterson played soccer all four years at Mount Olive High School, and he also in his senior season played soccer with the Players Development Academy (PDA). “My friend was on the younger PDA team,” Peterson says, “and at the time, his father said to me,’ Hey, you should come and try out for the older team. They’re looking for kids.” I jokingly told him to set me up with a tryout and I’d go.”

Peterson got his tryout, and also a national championship. Peterson entered the title game against Bethesda-Olney of Maryland and scored his team’s second goal, cementing

a 2 – 0 title win.

When Peterson entered Mount Olive High School as a freshman, the soccer team hadn’t yet won a title. “The soccer team was never really a top tier,” he says. “When it came to Mount Olive sports, you heard about football, wrestling, and basketball. All the banners around the school reflected their conference championships, divisional championships, and state championships. Soccer was the only one without one.” Peterson and his teammates did all they could to change that, and finally topped the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference in 2013 with a 16 – 5 – 1 record during Peterson’s senior campaign. “We won that first title over our rivals at the

rival school. We played Pope John (Sparta) and we needed to beat them to win the conference. And we won, 3 – 2, and I had a hat trick that game.” Peterson finished his high school career with 61 goals and 40 assists, and had multiple three and four goal games. He was named first team all-state, First Team All-Morris County and First Team NJAC All-Conference as a senior.

Peterson, along with some PDA teammates, originally committed to North Carolina State. After two years and no NCAA Tournament appearances, he and five others transferred, Peterson returning to New Jersey and to Rutgers University, who had recruited him while he was a Mount Olive Marauder. He was a Scarlet Knight his junior and senior seasons, and during his senior

Santa...

until the following September, when he was asked by Rainbows for All Children to do it again. This time, not only was the child called up, but Smith also asked the parent who had lost a spouse to head forward as well. Smith explains. “I would say, ‘What would you like for Christmas?’ and ‘How have you been?’ I realized it’s about the family.”

During his first eight years as Santa Claus, Smith would do just a gig or two per year. In addition to the Rainbows event, he would get calls to do Breakfast with Santa get-togethers. As he started to get more requests for appearances, he then began to buttress

year, he played every position on the field and led the team in total points.

After college, Peterson played with the National Premiere Soccer League’s FC Motown for a season, where his team ended up winning the league and making it to the regional playoffs. After that, he signed with Detroit City FC, played for them for three seasons, and ended up winning the NPSL Member’s Cup and, in 2019, re-signed with Detroit City FC, and won both the Member’s Cup and NISA Fall Championship in the first season of the National Independent Soccer Association.

Peterson headed back to North Carolina in 2020 and played during the NISA spring season for Charlotte’s Stumptown AC, who folded that same year. He then flew out to San

Diego and played six games for 1904 FC. He returned to the NPSL’s FC Motown in 2022, and during the summer won with his club the NPSL championship. Peterson, who tallied the opening goal in the championship against Seattle’s Crossfire Redmond, thus far in his career has scored in every title match he’s played in.

Peterson, who turns 27 the day after Christmas, explains what it means to be a teammate on the soccer field. “As a teammate, you have to figure out that this is a team game. It’s not an individual game. At any given moment, you have to put your own ego in check and realize that there’s 11 guys out on the field at one time, not one versus 11. You have to know that honestly, and going into any given game you have to be able to sacrifice.”

his Santa skills. “For the first eight years, I had no idea that there were Santa Claus organizations,” Smith says. “There are Santa Claus groups that will help you hone your skills in terms that if you’re going to see 200 kids in a day, one or two of them are going to be on the autism spectrum. How do you handle that? How do you deal with sensitivity in terms of questions? If somebody asks, ‘Can you bring grandma back?’ There’s that part of it, the part in the chair, which we call ‘Chair Time.’ And then there’s also the business side of it.”

For the record, Smith now dons a custom-made Santa Claus suit, and his appear-

ances aren’t limited just to the Christmas season. During this past summer, he had three Christmas in July gigs. Also, it took about six or seven years to convince Mrs. Claus (Smith’s wife, Pam) to make appearances with him. “The Knights of Columbus, every time they saw her, they said, ‘You’re coming to the Breakfast with Santa, too?’ and she would say, ‘No, no, no.’ I just bought her the dress, and once she had the dress, she was okay with it, and said it was a lot of fun. And Mrs. Claus is an integral part of the Santa experience.”

For more information about the Big Red Santa, visit www. bigredsanta.com.

Ryan Peterson (second from right) with two Mount Olive Soccer Coaches, Dan Grzywacz and Matt Cialone, and friends after winning the 2022 NPSL National Championship (credit: Mount Olive Soccer)

Ryan Peterson of the Charlotte Independence (credit: Charlotte Independence)

A Remembrance of the Real Santa of Main Street

BY RICHARD MABEY JR. GUEST WRITER

Real Santa Claus of Main Street.

It was a long standing tradition, of the Mabey clan, to spend Christmas Day at the old Mabey Homestead. From the day I was born till I was six years old, my parents and I lived in Clifton. Every Christmas Day, we would sojourn westward on Route 46 to the little hamlet of Lincoln Park, where my great grandmother, Dora Mabey lived.

I remember we would arrive at the old Mabey Homestead, early in the morning. I was a shy and sensitive child, so the abounding number of relatives that would congregate at the old farmhouse, would seem all so overwhelming to me.

I don’t know at what age I had any degree of conscious remembrance of the dear, kind, elderly man who was the Real Santa of Main Street. I remember him fondly as a very kind man with a gentle spirit. He would knock on the door of the old Mabey Homestead, sometime during the late morning on Christmas Day, all dressed in his Santa Claus gear.

My dad was the fifth of nine children, so on Christmas Day the Mabey Homestead abounded with children, my many cousins. Santa would arrive with a big burlap bag strung over his shoulder, with a gift for each and every one of my cousins, my sister and myself.

I remember the gifts were not expensive at all. Some were actually handmade toys. While some had a clue of having been passed down from another child, who had outgrown the little toy car or doll.

My mom and dad, my sister Patti and I moved into the old Mabey Homestead in the early Autumn of 1959, shortly after Great Grandma Mabey went Home to be with the Lord. I was six years old that Christmas. I remember wondering if the real Santa would still be knocking on the door on Christmas Day.

To my happy surprise, the real Santa did come by to visit us, with presents for my sister and I.

I never learned the name of the Real Santa of Main Street. My grandfather, Watson Mabey, one time told me that he thought that he lived in this little house at the end of Clo-

ver Lane. When I was about 10 years old, I walked down Clover Lane, stood at the front yard of that little home and wanted to knock on the front door and see if that was in fact, the home of the real Santa. Sadly and regretfully, I didn’t get the courage to knock on the door. That little home was torn down many years ago, to make room for a larger, modern home.

My Aunt Vi once told me that she thought that the Real Santa of Main Street lived in a little home in Towaco, just past the Lincoln Park border. I don’t think anybody really knew who this kind hearted soul was. It’s

one of the greatest mysteries of my childhood.

The Christmas of 1961, when I was eight years old and in the third grade, was the last time that the Real Santa of Main Street ever came to visit us on Christmas Day. I once asked my father if he knew who this gentleman was. He endorsed Grandpa Mabey’s theory.

In deep fondness, I remember the Real Santa of Main Street. I think about him from time to time. My intuition tells me that he was not a wealthy man at all. I think he was actually quite poor. Somehow and someway, he accumulated toys

for children in the neighborhood. Most of the toys he gave to us, were handmade. He was truly the real Santa Claus of my childhood.

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

NJ Mayors Hall of Fame Inductee

MT. OLIVE - Congratulations to Mayor Greenbaum for being inducted into the NJ Mayors

Hall of Fame at the League of Municipality meeting November 16th

From 1953, a photo of the Real Santa Claus of Main Street. Yours truly sitting upon the lap of Santa, with my mom and dad.

Another Successful Thanksgiving Dinner Thanks to So Many Volunteers

MT. OLIVE - Another suc cessful Thanksgiving Dinner!

Mary Lalama, and her husband Joe Nicastro, who for the past 6 years, have organized a din ner on Thanksgiving Day at the Mt. Olive Senior Center for those in need or anyone who is alone. Each year it has grown and this year was no excep tion. Between deliveries and sit down dinners on Thanksgiving there were over 230 meals, the largest to date.

There is so much that goes into the preparation. Just orga nizing the deliveries, and buy ing the food is a big undertak ing.

On Thanksgiving Day, the attendees start with an antipas to then salad, pasta, the main course is turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, string beans, stuffing, corn, dinner rolls and ends with a choice of pumpkin or apple pie, pound cake and vanilla ice cream.

This cannot be done with out the help and support of the many volunteers and local

businesses and this year was no different.

The local businesses who supported this event: Long Horn, Brandas, Budd Lake Bagels, Weis, Tronex, Jeffrey Kalafut of The Kalafut Group, Ashley Farms, and Philly Pret zels.

A very special thank you to Flanders Fire and Rescue which volunteered to make de liveries along with many others residents.

The volunteers who helped prepare and work on Thanks giving Day serving others were invaluable. They sacrificed their time at home with family to help out others and we thank them.

Thank you to Meewan and Jessica Rivera and Cathy Ches sen for all the time they put in prior to and on Thanksgiving Day.

Thanks to the local residents that donated turkeys: John Ma nia, Kelly Hyde & Rob Green baum, Fred Semrau, Jeffrey Kalafut and Pat Robinson.

Rachel and her son, Cathy, Manny, Grace, Mary

19 Turkeys over 300lbs!

A great crowd on hand eating some old friends and making new ones too

Laurel Manager of Longhorn in Mt Olive donated some great food

Weis Donating Turkeys

Ashley Farms donated pies

Cathy adding the instructions on how to heat up the dinners

Flanders

Colette, Janice & Carol, some of our volunteers

Flanders Fire and Rescue

Carl & Erica Boos

Owners of Philly Pretzels donated turkey shapedpretzels

Flanders Fire and Rescue

Flanders Fire and Rescue

Flanders Fire and Rescue

AREA - An unlikely pair travel cross-country in Rob Asaro’s new play Lost Again, inspired by the playwright and Parsippany native’s own adventures on the road as a stand up comic. Most recently it had its limited run at The Tank in New York City.

Lost Again is about two mismatched strangers paired up by a mutual friend: Ilona Young, a type-A, knowit-all travel blogger on a cross-country assignment and Casey Calvino, a jaded comedian on a tour of the US. Their story is one of identity, pain, adventure, friendship, moving on and moving forward. Each act takes place in a city or town, en-route from New York to Los Angeles. The story is part misadventure, part self-discovery and part buddy dramedy.

Viewers are sure to take something away from Asaro’s wild comic adventure.

“They feel a little understood — it’s very specific feelings,” the funny man says this project deals a lot with regret, also what matters and the meaning of things. “I hope people walk away like, ‘I feel that way too, it feels good that someone expressed some of these ideas,’ but also if they’re laughing and having a good time. I’m a comedian so… I want people to enjoy themselves.”

Asaro hopes Lost Again, which he wrote after adapting it from his 10-episode series — can have life beyond the play.

“You live it; like when you’re doing this,” he says that’s all there is. “I’m obsessed with it.”

The script was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival pitch competition in 2021.

“I write these projects and fall in love — some you’re with for a long time, go back or adapt in a certain way,” says the comedian. “You become invested. Not just write it and hope somebody says yes,” Asaro says he wants it to live in some capacity.

Hence his desire to produce, act and write his own work: whether it be a web series, play or pilot, and get it to Netflix or HBO.

“I never just wanted to act and never just wanted to write. It was about being able to do both,“ Asaro says it’s tough to navigate when you’re a hyphenated sort of talent. “Many show business folks only want to see you one way: just an actor, a comedian, a writer.”

So the funny man keeps going — hoping to grow and get better to surprise his friends and colleagues who know him.

“If I can surprise them that means I am (evolving) because they know my style,” he

says it takes tons of devotion. “It’s hard to have a normal life when you do this sort of thing.”

He shared that show business can be tricky and there can be attitudes, egos and a sinister undercurrent in certain ways. His advice to young people starting out: stay away from the element that doesn’t make you feel good or you don’t trust. Instead, surround yourself with plenty of good, talented people.

And patience is important.

“Be where you are,” says Asaro. “You can’t rush the process. It takes a while to develop not only your comedic voice but what interests you to write about.”

According to the comedian, he wasn’t a sophisticated child but had a keen understanding of comedy. He says one can learn to be funny if you immerse yourself in it and find your voice.

At three or four his mom took him to the mall, where he pretended to be a dancing mannequin and that connected him with his first agent — who sent him on a cereal casting call.

“Mom brought snacks for me and they told her there were no snacks in the office. After that she wouldn’t bring me in because of the snack policy,” Asaro says. “The joke growing up was always, ‘I didn’t get to be a messed up child actor because my mother wasn’t allowed to bring in a baggie of Chex Mix.’”

Seinfeld was an early influence, he adored Norm McDonald… and the early Simpsons were amazing.

At 14-years-old, Asaro asked his dad to use vacation

money to take a standup class. And the rest is history.

“He took me into the city once a week for the class,” the funny man says when it concluded he went to Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side.

“Did my set there; I was 14 performing when everybody else was in their late 20s,” says the comedian. “It was an interesting experience.”

Asaro has toured the country performing and is the founder of the nationally known Emerson College comedy troupe: Chocolate Cake City that’s still there 20 years later. He relocated to Los Angeles right out of college, studied with Second City, and returned to NYC in 2006.

The funny man grew up in Parsippany.

“It’s a different mentality, different energy, different speed, a different sense of humor,” Asaro says of the area and NYC, that shaped him significantly.

From there for years he tried to make short films; do standup, sketch comedy and improv, web series, one-man shows.

While sets involving topical humor are not the comedian’s thing, “I like comedy that comes from within” — he admits the 24-hour (in your face) news cycle was hard to ignore.

And he says it feels nice to be out there again in the city, working through and living the creative and rehearsal process.

“Being in those spaces… with people who are jazzed to be there and excited about the work,” says the funny man, adding that Zoom never felt real.

His dream is to make Lost

Again as a series and constantly produce work. He adapted another piece, Light at the Diner (various vignettes), to perhaps do on stage — about a bunch of people who enter a diner on a weekday night and their different experiences.

“I would love to have a production company one day and be able to produce this work, employ all my friends, collaborators and people I find funny who should be working all the time,” Asaro says. “I would like to be successful where I could give people that I feel

BY RICHARD MABEY JR. GUEST WRITER

MOUNT OLIVE - Can love be limited? Is it possible that God’s blessings can reach beyond our limited human understanding of time and space?

Are the flames of sibling love, between two sisters, able to transition to a world beyond this world that we humanly know? Is it possible, that love is the greatest force in the universe?

On November 11, 2019, my mom, Janet Kemmerer Mabey, had heart surgery to replace her Aortic Valve. After the surgery, my sister Patti and I were elated that Mom still had a few years left upon this earth, before it would be her time to be called Home to be with the Lord. But

Mt. Olive Senior Club Celebrated a Milestone of 50 years!

A New Year’s Day Story

by the first of December, it became painfully obvious that Mom’s time upon this earth, was coming to a close.

It was in early December of 2019 that Mom’s general practitioner, told my sister and I that it was time to set up for Hospice home visitations. It was a deeply sad time.

My mother was great stickler for cleanliness. But, I confess that with the influx of nurses and home care professionals, it was tough to keep Mom’s bedroom as neat as a pin. In December, when there were no Hospice personnel at our home, I would read Mom excerpts from the Holy Bible. Mom would then gently

fall asleep. But even as Mom would sleep, ever so peacefully, I would continue to read the Bible to Mom.

I remember that it was in the second week of December, that I was reading Mom her Bible, Mom fell asleep. I continued to read the Bible to her. Mom suddenly awoke and begin talking about her plans to have a New Year’s Day party. It was a long standing tradition of the old Mabey Homestead, as far back as I can remember, that New Year’s Day was a time of open house and home-cooked food for the old family farmhouse.

When Mom awoke, she spoke as if we were still living at the old Mabey Homestead,

rather than the reality of now living in our Florida home. And, one of the things Mom spoke about that afternoon, was that she was looking forward to seeing her sister Alice on New Year’s Day. Mom began telling me what needed to be done to prepare for the big New Year’s Party.

As Mom would tell me that I needed to clean all the baseboards, vacuum the rugs, Mom would look me in the eyes and say, “oh Richard, I can’t wait to see my sister Alice again.” I remember this went on for a good half-hour, then Mom drifted off to peaceful sleep.

I stayed at Mom’s side. Even though Mom was sleeping, I read her some passages from the Book of John. About an hour later, Mom woke up again and told me immense details of the New Year’s Day Party that we had just had. Mom recalled the memory of the dream that she just had, complete with the most tiny details of the splendid party that she had just been a part of.

Then, Mom looked at me and simply said, “Richard, it was so good to see my sister Alice again. It was all just so good.” Then Mom closed her eyes and once again drifted off to sleep.

On the night of the twenty-third of December of 2019, my beloved mother went Home to be with the Lord. It was a sad moment in time. Looking back now, three years later, I still remember how real Mom’s dream was to her.

Could it be that on some

level it was all so very real? That on some Heavenly plain, Mom did see her sister Alice Kemmerer Knothe in spirit, that was as real as anything on this physical plain.

I am not a theologian by profession. I do know this though.

God is a source of immense love and compassion. The rest is left to the beliefs of my dear readers.

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

Mom and Aunt Alice, in 1996.

Pat Romano and Council President, Joe Nicastro.

Isabella and Lenard Tridente with Council President, Joe Nicastro.

Sandy Masky Senior Club President and members of the Mt Olive high School Key Club.

Seniors enjoying the 50th celebration.

Maynor Lopez Castro

Yessica Ramos Arevalo

ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrity Extra

BY DANA JACKSON

Q: Who is the actress playing Princess Diana in the current season of “The Crown”? I know she’s different than the actor who played her the last two seasons. Both have done a fantastic job. -- L.L.

A: Elizabeth Debicki, who is Australian, began playing Princess Diana in season five of the Netflix series “The Crown,” opposite Dominic West as Prince Charles. Debicki is a statuesque 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and with her big blue eyes, she physically inhabits the tragic character of the Princess of Wales.

Debicki’s first big role was a supporting one in Baz Lurhmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In 2016, she starred alongside Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie in the British miniseries “The Night Manager,” and before landing “The Crown,” she starred in acclaimed director Christopher Nolan’s twisty thriller “Tenet.”

Emma Corrin, who is British and whose pronouns are they/them, portrayed Diana in season four of “The Crown” and was nominated for an Emmy. They’re only 26, but their career has taken off quickly. Corrin played Esme in the first season of the HBO Max series “Pennyworth,” which is the origin story of Batman’s butler, and they can also be seen in “My Policeman,” a recent film starring Harry Styles.

***

Q: Is the new movie directed by Steven Spielberg about his own life? Also, how many Oscars has he won as director? -- S.P.

A:Steven Spielberg, one of America’s greatest directors, recently told Lesley Stahl on “60 Minutes” that every one of his movies is a personal movie. However, he admits that his new film, “The Fabelmans,” is semi-autobiographical. It’s about a boy, like him, who was

obsessed with making movies and whose mismatched parents divorce when he’s a teenager.

Paul Dano plays the engineer dad in the movie and Michelle Williams his free-spirit mom, and their respective personalities mirror Spielberg’s own parents.

Spielberg has two Academy Awards as director for “Saving Private Ryan” and “Schindler’s List,” both released in the 1990s. He has a slew of nominations, however, the most recent of which was “West Side Story” earlier this year, but he lost to Jane Campion for “Power of the Dog.”

***

Q: When is the Elizabeth Holmes film coming out starring Jennifer Lawrence? I know she had a baby recently. Did she finish filming already? -- P.N.

A: Jennifer Lawrence’s career has slowed down the past few years, but for good reason. She fell in love and married

Cooke Maroney, an art gallery owner, and gave birth to their son, Cy, earlier this year. Professionally, she was working on perfecting the deep voice necessary to play fallen tech tycoon Elizabeth Holmes in an upcoming film “Bad Blood,” directed by Adam McKay.

However, Lawrence recently announced she’s exited the project after seeing how well Amanda Seyfried did in the same role for “The Dropout,” a limited series on Hulu. Seyfried won an Emmy for her portrayal as well, and Lawrence felt “we don’t need to redo that.” It’s uncertain whether the role will be recast or if the project has been scrapped.

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

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Couch Theater

BY DEMI TAVERAS

“Don’t Worry Darling” (R) -- Olivia Wilde’s second directorial project was a hot topic during its premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September, as social media swarmed with memes about the project’s messy inception. The film, starring Harry Styles (“Dunkirk”) and Florence Pugh (“Midsommar”), follows a couple, Jack and Alice, who seemingly have the perfect marriage in the utopian company town of Victory. Every day follows the same formula, with Alice sending her husband off to work and taking care of all the household duties until their romantic reunions in the evening. But when Alice begins to experience jarring interruptions in her schedule, she has a growing hunch that nothing in Victory is what it seems. Out now. (HBO Max)

“Drink Masters” (TV-MA) -- Who doesn’t love foodbased reality competitions?

From “Cake Wars” to “The American Barbecue Showdown,” there’s something out there for everyone’s food

palette. But did everyone just forget about the drinks? Well, for those who like to end their days with a fun cocktail or enjoy an adult beverage to pair their meal with, Netflix presents “Drink Masters,” out now. In this series, an array of bartenders from around the world face off in exciting challenges to earn the grand prize of $100,000 and become “The Ultimate Drink Master.” So, pour yourself a drink, sit back and relax as you watch these mixologists put their skills to the test. (Netflix)

“Nope” (R) -- One of the most promising film releases of this year is now available to stream. Directed by Jordan Peele (“Get Out” and “Us”), this sci-fi horror film takes place on the Haywood family ranch, where siblings OJ (“Daniel Kaluuya”) and Em (“Keke Palmer”) raise horses that are used in film and TV.

Shortly after their father’s death, OJ and Em start experiencing power outages, with their horses reacting wildly to a mysterious object floating through the night sky. Once

Farinacci

January 14 - 8 PM

Farinacci was named the very first Global Ambassador to Jazz at Lincoln Center, working to further integrate music into communities around the world in culturally collaborative ways. He has performed in more than 120 cities in 14 countries around the world, featured guest on ABC’s Good Morning America, and a TED Speaker.

January 21 8 PM

In their early days, this Brooklyn-based group didn’t rehearse – they busked. Now, whether live or on record, the band still radiates the energy of a ragtag crew of music students playing bluegrass on the streets. Their varied influences stretch beyond bluegrass, even beyond American roots music altogether.

Chuchito Valdés Jr. T r i o

January 28 - 8 PM

Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, pianist, composer and arranger Jesus “Chuchito” Valdés, Jr. is the third-generation manifestation of a Cuban jazz piano dynasty that includes his father, Chucho, and grandfather, Bebo Valdés.

able and memorable resume of films. You don’t want to skip this one; it’ll really stick with you. (Peacock)

“Marry Me” (PG-13) -- Released earlier this year, this rom-com starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson is a movie that I had honestly dreaded watching. Produced by Lopez’s own production company, it follows a caricature of who Lopez is in real life, a superstar singer and dancer named Kat Valdez. Kat plans to marry her male coun-

terpart in the industry, Bastian (Maluma), on stage during a concert, until she sees a leaked video of Bastian’s infidelity right before. In what can be described only as the most emotional reaction ever, she picks an audience member out from the crowd and decides to marry him instead. If you can brush past the lack of believability, the heart of this movie isn’t half-bad. (Prime Video)

2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

(c)

they realize that this object has the power to vacuum up anything in sight, the Haywoods deem it a UFO and hatch a

plan to document proof -- if they can out-maneuver it to survive, that is. Peele is quickly building himself a respect-

Kate Gerwin competes under the watchful eye of judge Frankie Solarik in “Drink Masters.” Photo Credit: Netflix

Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown” and “Tenet”) Photo Credit: Depositphotos

Robert Wood Johnson, the son and nephew

co-founders of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), built J&J into a global, diversified healthcare company. Born in 1893 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Johnson served as J&J’s chairman of the board from 1938-1963.

Under Johnson’s direction, J&J opened new sales and manufacturing plants in Brazil, Argentina, India, and other locations worldwide. He expanded the company’s product lines beyond first aid kits and baby powder and, under his leadership, J&J entered the pharmaceutical industry, becoming one of the world’s largest drug manufacturers.

Johnson’s corporate philosophy, embodied in the J&J Credo, which outlined the company’s values, emerged as a new model for other companies to follow. The Credo emphasized J&J’s corporate social responsibility: first to its customers, followed by its workers, management, community, and lastly its stockholders.

Robert Wood Johnson believed strongly in public service. He had earned the title of “the General” during World War II when he served as a brigadier general in charge of the New York Ordnance District. He resigned that post when President Roosevelt appointed him vice chairman of the War Production Board and chairman of the Smaller War Plants Corporation.

A prolific writer, he authored four books and numerous articles on a range of subjects such as military preparedness and business-labor relations.

Johnson contended that full industrial production, combined with engaged, satisfied employees, safeguarded capitalism against potential Communists threats at-home and abroad. Unlike other business leaders of the time, he believed in

the rights of the worker. He advocated for higher wages, improved working conditions, and job training skills for working-class Americans.

Johnson also promoted health care issues such as patient care in the hospital setting. He pushed for improved nursing education as one means to enhance the quality of care, and believed that hospital administrators needed specialized training. His work with Malcolm Thomas MacEachern, MD, then president of the American College of Surgeons, led to the founding, at Northwestern University, of one of the first schools of hospital administration.

Throughout his lifetime, Johnson demonstrated compassion and concern for the poor and indigent. In December 1936, he founded the Johnson New Brunswick Foundation. The philanthropy’s first grant involved a donation of 130 acres of land in Highland Park to the County of Middlesex for use as a public park. In 1952, his foundation – newly named the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) – expanded its domain beyond New Brunswick to include all of New Jersey.

Johnson died on January 30, 1968, and bequeathed his company stock to RWJF. It took three years to probate his estate. By that point the foundation had a net worth of more than $1.2 billion, making it the second largest foundation in the country. Today, RWJF, worth more than $10 billion, is the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted solely to the public’s health. Its grantmaking serves as a living tribute to the General.

The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, both New Jersey-based institutions, also testify to Johnson’s lasting impact on health care in New Jersey.

Mary Gindhart Herbert Roebling (July 29, 1905 – October 25, 1994) was an American banker, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She was the first woman

of a major US

serve

Mary Gindhart was born in West Collingswood, New Jersey on July 29, 1905. Mary’s parents were Isaac Dare Gindhart Jr. and Mary (Simon) Gindhart, and was the eldest of four children. Mary’s father Isaac was the president of the Keystone & Eastern Telephone Company, and mother was a singer and pianist. She attended public schools in Moorestown and Haddonfield. She married musician Arthur Herbert in her teens (15), in 1920, and had a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1921 . Arthur died in 1922. She then worked in Philadelphia at an investment house while taking night classes in business administration and merchandising at the University of Pennsylvania. Her second husband, was Hugh Graham. They married in 1923. She divorced Graham and married Siegfried Roebling in 1932 (a son of John A. Roebling II. Siegfried died in 1936 and left her Trenton Trust stock. She took his seat on a Trenton Trust Company board. She was elected president of the board on January 21, 1937, and became the first woman to serve as president of a major American commercial bank. She served as either president or chair of

Over the years Mary was requested to serve in various public service capacities including Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Armed Forces Installations, Atlantic Congress for NATO, White House Congress on Refugee Programs, International Chamber of Commerce’s 17th Congress, and Citizens Advisory Council to the Committee on the Status of Women. Through several administrations, Roebling served as a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. She was made president of the new Army War College Foundation in 1978. That year she also founded Women’s Bank N.A. in Denver, the nation’s first chartered bank established by women, and chaired its board until 1983. From 1958 to 1962, she was governor of the American Stock Exchange. She was their first woman governor.

In a 1965 speech, Mrs. Roebling said: “As a woman who for years has competed in the business world, I would be the first to agree that the American woman has almost unbelievable economic power, but American women, like women of all civilized nations, do not use the influence their economic power gives them.”

She died on October 25, 1994, of renal failure at her home in Trenton, NJ.

of the

Born and bred in New Jersey, he is a legendary jazz guitarist who has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians, including Les Paul, Stephane Grappelli, and Benny Goodman.

to

as president

bank.

the board until 1972 when the bank merged with National State. She then chaired the combined banks until 1984.

Mary Roebling

Gen. Robert Wood Johnson II

Enterprise | New Brunswick | Highland Park | Raritan (1893 – 1968)

John ‘Bucky’ Pizzarelli

An Appetizer Worth the (Short) Wait

seconds.

1 scallion, sliced thin, green and white parts separated

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Heat oven to 350 F.

Spray muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Press wonton wrappers into muffin cups. Lightly spray wrappers with nonstick cooking spray and bake until lightly browned,

6-9 minutes. Let cool slightly.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Combine with crabmeat, scallion whites, ginger and soy sauce. Fill each wonton wrapper with filling. Bake until filling is heated through, 6-8 minutes.

Sprinkle with scallion greens. Serve warm. (Culinary. net)

Appetizers are many people’s favorite part of a meal. From dips and finger foods to little treats and fried pieces of perfection, there is a wide array of considerations for a premeal snack.

Some appetizers are much more appropriate at certain events. For example, buffalo chicken wings are best enjoyed on game days, salads are normally served at showers and vegetable trays are a typical Thanksgiving Day classic.

However, there are recipes that are too easy to make and too satisfying not to serve at

almost every festivity you and your family attend. This Easy Crab Rangoon shines above the rest for many reasons, but the main point of this heavenly sample is it’s easy to make and bake.

This appetizer is placed in the oven until it’s golden brown, topped with little green scallions with a creamy filling all packaged in a crispy outer layer.

Plus, the cream cheese is mixed with luscious amounts of crab meat. This is a seafood lover’s dream. Actually, it’s any appetizer lover’s dream.

To make this mouthwatering recipe, you only need a handful of ingredients and a few kitchen tools.

The little bites of perfection come out of the oven steaming hot, waiting to be topped with more crunchy, fresh scallions. Once they have cooled for a few moments, they are ready to be devoured.

This bite-size, savory snack will be all the rage at family dinners and parties with the kids alike. They fit perfectly in the palms of hands and within a few bites, they are gone and your loved ones are asking for

Celebrate the Holidays with Special Centerpieces

Few things bring family and friends together quite like the holidays, and serving up an elegant, seasonal meal centered around a mouthwatering main dish is a recipe for creating lasting memories with the ones you love.

Forging a fabulous holiday experience for the special people in your life starts with choosing a flavorful, tender cut of meat to serve as the centerpiece of the meal. Hand-cut by

expert butchers, an option like Spiral-Sliced Ham from Omaha Steaks can serve as the focal point of a memorable holiday dinner. Flash frozen to capture freshness and flavor, you can select a standout cut of meat from the comfort of your home and have it delivered directly to your door in time to put together a tender, juicy main course. Find more holiday recipe inspiration at OmahaSteaks.com/ blog/recipes

Rum and Cola Holiday Ham Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 80 minutes

Servings: 10-12 Ham:

1 Omaha Steaks Spiral-Sliced Ham (8 pounds)

Glaze:

1 cup cherry fruit spread 3/4 cup dark spiced rum

continued on next page

RESTAURANT GUIDE

continued from previous page Special Centerpieces...

Remove

Servings: 4 Avocado Ranch Sauce:

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon well-shaken buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

3 green onions, thinly sliced

2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced

Ranch Spice Crusted Burger:

1 1/2 tsps Hidden Valley Ranch

Seasoning

1 teaspoon paprika kosher salt freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80% lean)

2 tablespoons canola oil

8 slices American cheese

1/4cup water

4 brioche buns, split in half Avocado Ranch Sauce

To make avocado ranch sauce: In bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, ranch seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth. Fold in green onions and diced avocados; set aside.

To make burgers: In small bowl, whisk ranch seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper.

Heat large cast-iron pan or griddle over high heat. Divide meat into four 6-ounce patties and make deep depression in centers with thumb. Season each with spice rub on one side.

Add canola oil to pan and

heat until shimmering. Place on burgers in pan, spice side down, and cook until golden brown and lightly charred, 4 minutes. Turn burgers over and cook 4 minutes, or until they reach desired doneness.

Top each burger with two slices cheese. Add water to pan and cover tightly with lid 10 seconds, or until the cheese is melted.

Place burgers on bottom buns and top each with avocado ranch sauce and top buns.

Find more information, including series episodes and additional recipes, at hiddenvalley.com/ranch-night

Prevention is Key Helps Educate Public on Substance Abuse Relief

AREA - Substance abuse doesn’t have one face. An abuser could be an elderly individual, a youth, or an adult struggling with life who found “relief” in a drug or alcohol. For those who want to move from abuse to recovery, there’s help: the non-profit organization Prevention is Key (PIK). Located in several counties, its Development Director, Laura Jennings Pitt of Pompton Lakes, explained, “Our bottom-line goal is to create a stigma free community. …we offer programs that will help individuals at all stages of recovery to find their way back to a meaningful life, and so, we don’t require abstinence of our participants but… we strive to meet them where they are.” But, PIK is not just for those with an addiction; it offers help to family and friends who are trying to support them in recovery. Also, it has prevention education programs.

PIK offers its free services through its brick-and-mortar CARES (Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success) centers, its mobile units, and its 24-hour hot line. Recently, Pitt talked a little about her role and gave an overview of PIK’s services.

Pitt is the organization’s first Development Director. Prior to her, everyone in the organization seemed to take some part in handling fundraising and it’s just become too big of a task for it to be managed in that way. “They needed to implement a centralized strategy led by someone who’s got the skills and the vision to

deliver on the promises of the development department and that’s what brought me here to this organization,” explained Pitt.

In addressing PIK’s offerings, Pitt noted that there are five physical CARES locations: one in Essex County (Newark), two in Morris County (Dover and Rockaway), and two in Burlington County (Burlington County and Burlington City). “They’re a place where you can come and be part of a community that makes you feel welcomed. They’re really helpful for individuals who are just getting started in their recovery journey because they give them a place to go [where they] can be away from substances and around people who are encouraging and supportive and positive and just want to be there for them [when they need us],” shared Pitt. There’s peer support for both those in recovery and the people supporting them, where someone coming to the center is matched with someone with a similar background who’s gone through recovery or has supported someone going through recovery. The centers offer a variety of meetings (NA, AA, etc.) plus various educational offerings which include Narcan training in recognizing an overdose and administering Narcan. Administering Narcan to someone who is overdosing can reverse the effects of an overdose and save their life.

Pitt shared that there’s a monthly recovery recognition breakfast at the Rockaway lo-

cation where individuals who are in or exploring the idea of recovery can meet with each other as well as network with some of the providers PIK works with. The breakfast includes speakers who talk about the different services that are available and then there’s a story of recovery. The breakfast takes place the second Monday of every month.

PIK also has mobile recovery units such as HOPE 1 for Morris County plus mobile units in Essex and Passaic counties. Through these units, connection is made with those homeless individuals struggling with substance abuse. “The way that we get the word out about where the mobile recovery units are going to be is in partnership with the sheriff’s offices, and those locations are publicized so we strive to make those units accessible to the communities,” shared Pitt. Building trust is the first step. Those struggling with addiction may not immediately ask to see a social worker or mental health professional or seek treatment for recovery. The mobile units give out homeless care packages, which are assembled at PIK’s general locations. What’s in the packages may vary but they contain things like food, personal hygiene items, toiletries and clean underwear. The unit will give rides to a place a homeless person might want to go to get a meal or shower or take the person to an appointment and then return the person to where they feel safe. It is

through interactions like this that the trust is built so that the connection is there when the individual is ready to take the first step to recovery.

Jennings noted that in Passaic County, part of a care package is fentanyl test strips. Using these strips, a person can check for the presence of fentanyl in other substances such as heroin. This is part of “harm reduction”. Fentanyl is deadlier than other substances and Pitt noted that it can kill a person on the spot. PIK realizes people receiving its packages can still be abusing. Checking for fentanyl’s presence could keep a person from killing themselves by taking something laced with it. The idea is that the abuser will live longer with a chance of recovery in their future.

Besides the mobile unit and CARE centers, PIK has a 24hour telephone recovery support line. “…if you don’t find our mobile recovery unit and you can’t come to our physi-

cal center. you can call us anytime,” said Pitt. She noted that it is not only for people who are struggling with substance use but also anyone who’s affected by it. The hotline number is 973-625-1143.

PIK offers events during the year addressing education, recovery, and fundraising. Its website lists what’s upcoming, ways to volunteer, and also includes a “shop” area where people can buy items to encourage those in recovery or as a way to support PIK by buying a gift for someone.

While, as its website notes, PIK ”relies on many trusted relationships with private foundations and government agencies to sustain and advance its mission”, fundraising is needed. According to its website, “There are over 27,000 individuals with a diagnosed SUD in the communities served by Prevention is Key, plus many others who struggle with problematic and chaotic use without any of-

ficial diagnosis.” The funds PIK raises helps it to provide its services. An example of a fundraiser was the online #PIKYourWhy on social media for Giving Tuesday in November. The organization encouraged supporters, friends, peers, and loved ones to post why PIK is important to them with a button for people to click to donate. Also, people can donate at any time to the organization by going to a tab on its website: preventioniskey.org/donate

Pitt shared about a special fundraiser in the upcoming year. Looking ahead, on May 24, 2023, there will be a Road to Recovery event at the Windlass in Lake Hopatcong. There will be a sunset cruise, a tricky tray, and a speaker who has used PIK’s services and is in long term recovery.

For more information on PIK, people can call 973-6251143 or visit it online at preventioniskey.org

Adventure Aquarium Celebrates 30 Years of “Edutainment”

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA - Melissa Patterson, Guest Experience and Events Manager for New Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium, coins what goes on at the facility perfectly.

“I like “edutainment”: entertainment that is educational. The entertainment and education really go hand in hand,” Patterson says. “Our main goal is always going to be to educate our visitors about the animals here and about the ocean, and why it’s important to care about these animals, care about the ocean, and to care about waterways and conservation, and caring for species, like our sea turtles and our sharks and our penguins. But, by adding that entertainment side of things into the mix, that’s how we really create those unforgettable experiences for the visitors, and that’s what keeps them engaged and keeps them excited.”

Patterson provides a brief history. “Adventure Aquarium was opened by the state as part of a plan to revitalize the Camden waterfront and draw-

ing revenue to the city and to the area, and really revitalize western New Jersey and the Delaware River waterfront, especially on the New Jersey side. We opened officially as the New Jersey State Aquarium on February 29, 1992.” In September of 2004, the State Aquarium closed for expansion, and by the time it reopened in May 2005, it had almost doubled in size, and was renamed Adventure Aquarium. Current parent company, Herschend Family Entertainment, acquired Adventure Aquarium in November of 2007.

Since its opening, Adventure Aquarium has not only been a huge cornerstone of both Camden County and the city of Camden, but even the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas as well. “We really have the support from Camden and from the community to thank for that,” Patterson says. “We would be nothing without our community, and we really pride ourselves on supporting

the community and being out in Camden and trying to make a difference, and trying to have a positive impact on the residents. Because without them, what would we be?”

More than 700,000 visitors enter the doors every year. A large majority of those visitors are families with children, many of them living within 50 miles of Camden or residing in the Philadelphia area. “We really are definitely open to all ages; I think there’s really something for everyone to find here,” Patterson says. “We like to say that ‘We bring families closer together,’ and that’s whatever family means to you. Of course, there’s the traditional definition of family, but our school groups can be families, or groups of friends can be families. We have couples that have started their relationship here by going on a first date, then getting engaged here and getting married here, and then they bring their kids. It’s really, really rewarding to see our

Those in the mobile unites reach out to substances abusers by building trust and creating a stigma free environment.

guests who come here because they’re all so different from each other. But they can all find something, for sure.” In-

cluding business and corporate professionals, who utilize Adventure Aquarium for a unique team building experience. “Our

Group Sales office is very, very busy,” says Patterson. “We love our groups here; they make up

Adventure Aquarium (credit: Adventure Aquarium Marketing Department) continued on next

Bucket List Travels: 3 Days of Wonder in the Rainforest

BY PAUL PARTRIDGE GUEST WRITER

Mashpi is a nature-lover’s hideaway deep in Ecuador’s Choco Forest. If you’ve ever thought about visiting a rainforest, but a two-week trek into the Amazon perhaps seems overly ambitious, Mashpi might be the ticket – especially if you favor comfort over camping… enjoy great food… like to avoid crowds (this private resort houses only 47 total guests)… and appreciate making a gentler impact on the environment.

Looking back, I’m still not

sure if it was real or a mirage. Our group of four was motoring along for hours, deeper and deeper into the wilderness, and then – suddenly, there it was, like some sort of plush Brigadoon. My first thoughts: “What the…? How in the world…?”

Given the location and geographical challenges, its existence seems utterly impossible. But alas, here it is. And waiting for us at the entrance, smiling broadly, is Santiago, our naturalist guide during our three-day stay. Having the same guide is a treat, because he gets to know your group, your pace, your interests, etc., and then tailors activities accordingly.

Santiago is a rainforest encyclopedia. He can spot, identify, name and wax poetic about

any plant animal, insect, tree, fungus, bird, reptile, stream, or river we encounter.

A call echoes through the forest. “What kind of bird is that?” I ask.

“Actually, it’s a frog,” says Santiago.

Ok, I may be from Jersey, but to be fair, that was no ‘ribbit’ or ‘croak.’ That frog could win the national bird calling contest. Just the first of many surprises.

Staying at Mashpi feels like living in a large, fancy tree house. Floor-to-ceiling windows make you feel totally immersed in your surroundings. Right outside your window are 400 species of birds, trees, frogs, monkeys, and endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

Day 1: The Incredible Glass Frog

A quick lunch and we’re off into the forest, spotting Toucans, tayras, a tarantula, a giant snail, and hundreds of beautiful, exotic butterflies. Santiago informs us that the tayra is one of only three creatures on earth that thinks ahead, the other two being octopi and humans (females, mostly).

After sunset Santiago takes us on an unforgettable night walk using flashlights and headlamps. We’re stalking the rare transparent glass frog.

Within 10 minutes Santiago has found one. It’s a great find, especially since glass frogs are the size of a thumbnail and blend into their environment. Santiago also points out assorted spiders, crickets, bats, and a formidable praying mantis.

A female praying mantis eats the male after mating – especially the head because they desire the brain protein. We’re told of one jungle species where the male has evolved a

second brain in his chest. This way he can procreate and survive the beheading. I imagine this must confuse females on praying mantis dating sites. “Wait, didn’t I just eat you last week?”

Day 2: Cooling off in a Waterfall

The trail drops steeply from the lodge to the Laguna River below. At times we walk alongside the river, other times we wade right in (rubber boots are provided by the lodge). Down and down we go. Our reward is Magnolia Waterfall, and we’re invited to swim in its pool. This is one of those pinch-yourself moments. The staggering beauty and serenity leave a mark.

Eventually we must hike back. Note to self: walking down is easier than walking up. As we huff and puff, Santiago mentions that there’s a lunar eclipse tonight. It feels like we’re hiking up to it to see it in person.

Mashpi is home to over 30 species of hummingbirds, and in the afternoon, we see many of them at the Hummingbird Garden. Colorful, playful, and mesmerizing to watch, the hummingbirds dart and flitter all around us.

One might not expect to eat well in the middle of the rainforest. At Mashpi, every entre and appetizer is meticulously prepared. And the natural fruit juice concoctions alone are worth the trip (you had me at passion fruit lemonade).

Day 3: A Birds-eye View of the Forest

The highlight of the morning is a ride on the Sky Bike.

Sky Bike is a two-person gondola that stretches 655 feet across the jungle canopy. Think of it as your average, everyday bicycle built for two – if you happen to grow up a member of the Flying Wallendas. The Sky Bike sits on a tight rope. The front person enjoys the view; the back person is the engine. Once you reach the other side, switch positions and pedal back.

At home I won’t even go on a step ladder due to severe height aversion. Somehow, this seems doable. As we pedal and backpedal over the treetops, my adrenaline is flowing and I’m shouting, “Isn’t this amazing?” My wife wants to know, “Who are you and what have you done with my husband?”

Mashpi offers another way to float in the clouds called the DragonFly. This is a one-hour ride in an open-air gondola that holds four persons and rises more than 200 feet above the ground. Jaw-dropping views, no pedaling required.

In the afternoon, a transfer returns us to Quito and to pass the time I make up some rainforest awards.

Best Insect Name: Jesus Spider (because it walks on water).

Amazing Flower Fact: There are 4,000 different varieties of orchids in the cloud forest.

Most Interesting Tree: Walking Palm. Its roots grow above ground and serve as “legs.” When the tree doesn’t get enough sunlight, it grows new roots in the direction of the sun and moves in that direction, thus “walking.” Walking palms can supposedly move up to 20 meters in one year. I found this hard to believe until I saw a walking palm wearing a Fitbit.

[Resources]

Quito hotel: www.casagangotena.com/ Mashpi Lodge: www.mashpilodge.com

Transportation and Transfers: www.metropolitan-touring.com.

Adventure Aquarium...

continued from previosu page

a big chunk of our visitor population. It really is very varied on who comes in the door. I think a lot of people think just of children and families and schools, but we really do welcome everyone.”

One reason Adventure Aquarium is so popular is what Patterson calls “marquee” animals. “We love our sharks here,” she says. “We have the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, and some of those sharks have been here

from when we first opened. But our hippos, especially; we’re the only aquarium in the world that exhibits hippos. And something that’s really special about that exhibit is you see them underwater. When you go to zoos or safaris, you can see them in the water, but it’s not very often that you get that underwater view of them. We have two green sea turtles and a loggerhead sea turtle, and then our penguins are our next most popular exhibit. We have two different species of warm weather penguins; you can see our African penguins, and then we have our Australian little blue penguins which are the smallest species of penguins in the world.”

Adventure Aquarium is always looking to present different things, including live mermaids that have made appearances the past few years. They will return again by popular demand in 2023, and a special, still-being-discussed pumpkin themed series is planned for next autumn.

Adventure Aquarium is located at 1 Riverside Drive in Camden. Visit www.adventureaquarium.com for more information.

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 famous glass frog. Photos by Paul Partridge

Adventure Aquarium’s very popular underwater hippos (credit: Adventure Aquarium Marketing Department)

my life. I feel very fortu nate.”

Marcasiano, a fashion and costume designer, grew up in East Hanover, New Jersey and attended Cobblestone (now Central) Elementary School, East Hanover Middle School, and finally Hanover Park High School. “Back then East Ha nover was still pretty rural,” Marcasiano says. “We used to actually walk on what became Route 10, and River Road was quite quiet. And where I grew up, across the street was a dairy farm; our neighbors were from one of the farming families. It had very much more of a coun try kind of a feeling to it, and we wound up doing a lot of those kinds of activities.” Her parents, Anna and Frank, were both born and raised in Jersey City. “They met in Jersey City, and then they moved to East Hanover and bought a very old farmhouse on River Road, and kind of lived their dream of renovating the house on their own.”

Marcasiano graduated from Hanover Park High School a year early, attended Mont clair State University for two years, and then moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design. After grad uating from Parsons in 1977, she founded her own design company. “I started making my own collection,” she says, “and I immediately got a big order from Bloomingdale’s. I was 22 going on 23. Bloomingdale’s was really the hotspot for fash ion. They were very famous for all the designers they promoted and their window designs, and when I had my first window display at Bloomingdale’s, it was really, really something.”

Marcasiano was part of a hand ful of young designers at that time who decided to do their own thing rather than work for a big company. For her it worked out. She says, “A lot of us were based in SoHo, and as a group, we got a lot of atten tion, a lot of press, and that put us on the map at the very early stages of our careers.”

Marcasiano herself started getting coverage in major mag azines like Vogue, and won a number of fashion awards in quick succession. She credits her parents for their help and support in those early days.

“I grew up in a very nurturing household, and my parents were very nurturing of my tal ent,” Marcasiano says. “When I did decide after graduating from Parsons that I wanted to start producing my own col lection, my parents helped me. My mom came to work with me, and she was a huge part of the success of my business, as was my dad before he passed. We were really a family busi ness with a young designer at the helm.”

Marcasiano was introduced to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. by New York Fashion Week founder, Ellen Lambert. “She was the grand lady of New York fashion,” Marcasiano says. “I remember she discovered me when I was just starting out and would include me in fashion shows and different things.”

One day Lambert called and told Marcasiano about the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which was quite small but included some huge players on the fashion gridiron: Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Bill Blass, Donna Karen among them. Lambert told Marcasiano she wanted her to be a mem ber, and encouraged her to also come to the group’s luncheon.

“I remember this luncheon at a very fancy restaurant uptown, and I felt like the little kid that had somehow snuck into the room. But I was very taken and influenced by listening to these designers and what the organi zation was doing. I was very happy to be a part of that for many years.”

Marcasiano looks back at her career as a fashion design er and her focus on her current work with costume design, and explains the benefit of both.

“Fashion is not a collaborative art,” she says. “It’s a pretty pic torial art that’s got its upsides and the downsides. You have to be the one to come up with it all, and then you take either all the applause or the rejection of the sales. It’s all on you, but of course your team is helping you. But working in costume, it’s much more collaborative because you’re talking to the director, you’re talking to the actors, you’re talking to the lighting designer. There’s a lot more people involved in the decision making. Sometimes I miss that autonomy, but on the other hand, there’s a lot of fun to working as a group.”

In 2007, Marcasiano found ed the “Made with Love Proj ect.” She explains its genesis

“They were all incredible craftspeople and they were do ing beautiful things, and I no ticed that they had a very local look to them. And I was think ing, ‘How can I help them sell their crafts internationally?’

And then I thought that I could bring some of my design ideas to them and they can produce them, and then I could sell them and use the proceeds to support local charities. That’s how the “Made with Love Project” was born, and then I expanded it to West Africa and Haiti, and right now it’s mostly involved with projects in West Africa.” Also, Marcasiano is involved in other organizations, too. She also produces and curates films in New York City for a num ber of organizations, including Cinema Tropical, for who she serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships, and also works with the youth theater group IMPACT Repertory Theater Performance Company in Har lem as a Director of Develop ment.

In Spring of 2019 Marca siano received her Masters Degree from the New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study. “I gradu ated from Parsons in ‘77 and I studied art. I’ve always been a good student, but I was focused on the creative side of things.

When I started getting involved with nonprofit work, I wanted to learn more about the field and I wanted to be able to bring more to what I was doing.”

She applied to NYU and her thesis was based on the type

of nonprofit projects that she was involved with. And head ing back to school itself? “It was incredibly hard to go back into an academic situation. And because it was so hard, it was unbelievably rewarding, and in some ways it was one of the most rewarding things that I’ve done in my life.”

Marcasiano and her hus band, photographer and artist, Ralph Gibson, have been to gether for over 40 years. “We both travel a lot for our work,”

Mary Jane Marcasiano and her husband, Ralph Gibson (credit: Patrick McMullan)

Marcasiano says, “and we try to travel together to the same places when we can. Working side by side together has been it’s great, to have both of us working creatively but in dif ferent fields.”

Marcasiano occasionally takes a step away from her ca reer and indulges in cooking. “Like a lot of people during the pandemic, I got into cook ing,” she says. “I come from a long line of good Italian cooks, hanging out in the kitchen with my grandmother and my moth er, although I didn’t do much cooking myself.” When she and Gibson were in Paris for her September birthday, both decided that she would attend the Le Cordon Bleu Cooking

School in Paris for a couple of days and take classes. “It was unbelievable,” Marcasia no states excitedly. “Almost as much fun as getting my Mas ter’s Degree. We were working in a professional kitchen as a team, and it’s really like it is in the movies, where you have to say, ‘Yes, Chef” and be on time, get your dish, keep it going, and I realized that I really loved it. Other than cooking at home, I don’t know what I want to do with that, but I want to go back and take more classes, and it’s something that might be part of my future.”

To learn more about Mary Jane Marcasiano and her work, visit www.maryjanemarcasia no.com.

BY

and purpose. “I went to Bra zil to do costumes for a dance company, and then while I was there, I met a lot of the com munity where the people lived, and I met a lot of the people’s mothers,” Marcasiano says.

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