By Evan Wechman
RRosemarie D’Alessandro: Author and Advocate for Children
osemarie D’Alessandro does not believe in quitting. She didn’t believe in it as a child and still doesn’t believe in it today.
D’Alessandro has lived in New Jersy her entire adult life. She has stayed in the small town of Hillsdale, New Jersey through several decades of intense difficulty. As a mother, she has endured more pain and heartache than most people would be able to handle. But she is not like most people.
D’Alessandro, who is now in her senior years, gives thanks to her faith and her inner fortitude for her ability to thrive even in the darkest situations.
“I’ve always been a fighter even when I was little,” she said. “All my experiences have made me stronger.”
D’Alessandro has survived the worst thing that can happen to a mother. Her wonderful daughter Joan, whom she affectionately refers to as Joanie, was murdered when she was seven years old back in April of 1973.
Joanie was a girl scout and a loving, trustful child. On April 19, 1973, which was Holy Thursday, she said good-bye to her mother as she went to deliver some boxes of girl scout cookies to her neighbor, three houses down from where she lived. Everything should have gone well, especially since the gentleman she was dropping the cookies off to was a Tappan Zee High School chemistry teacher named Joseph McGowan who worked about ten miles away in Rockland County, New York.
McGowan was entrusted with mentoring and assisting young students almost every weekday. But Joanie was betrayed. She was sexually molested and murdered on that Holy Thursday. Her body was found three days later on Easter Sunday buried in a space between rocks in Harriman State Park, in nearby New York State.
This would have been too much for almost any mother to handle. But D’Alessandro, over 50 years later, has remained steadfast in making sure such atrocities don’t occur to other parents.
In her powerful book, The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness, which was published last year, D’Alessandro honestly recounts what transpired during the nearly five decades of pursuing justice for her daughter.
In this stunning account, D’Alessandro briefly details what occurred 20 years after the loss of her daughter. At that time, she fought back against the legal system, which was allowing the killer, McGowan to come before the parole board seeking reentry into the community.
D’Alessandro wanted to protect other children who may face McGowan upon release. She tirelessly collected over one hundred thousand signatures opposing his parole. Such efforts led to keeping her daughter’s killer behind bars and enacting laws in her home state and on the federal level allowing more rights for victims of such crimes.
One of her proudest moments was in April of 1997 when Joan’s Law was signed by Governor Whitman. This said that anyone in New Jersey who murdered a child under 14 years
of age in conjunction with committing a sexual crime will never be granted parole, nor see the light of day. A federal version was signed by President Clinton in1998.
She also rallied her supporters once again in 2000 to help pass a law in New Jersey eliminating the statute of limitations for wrongful death actions brought in murder, manslaughter, and aggravated manslaughter cases allowing victims to sue their perpetrators if they come into money after the crime. A New York version of the bill was signed by Governor Pataki in 2004 in Harriman State Park, the site where Joanie’s body was found.
Though these laws are noted in the book, the real pain and misery are detailed in the letters that D’Alessandro provides between McGowan and a pen pal he corresponded with for many years while in prison. She was given these letters by a family member of the woman who corresponded with McGowan, who eventually died in jail in 2021.
The book is unflinching as D’Alessandro not only reveals the horrifying letters but details her own emotional responses to reading the words of her daughter’s killer. Though she received these letters shortly before his death, she couldn’t bring herself to read them until after he died.
D’Alessandro explains that the letters were painful because it showed how little significance he gave towards the death of Joanie.
“When he died, I read the letters even though it was hard. I said these letters must get out there. When I read the first letter, it was so despicable. It was so hard to see what the attitude was going to be of these letters, and so I got sick”, she said.
According to her, he wrote about her daughter’s death in the same vein someone would write about the weather. He had absolutely no remorse for his actions.
Several months after the book was published, filmmaker Vanessa Martino transformed the book into a harrowing
documentary, Daughter of Mine, which has since won numerous awards. It won “Best Documentary in the New York Shorts International Film Festival”, and more recently won the “Audience Award for Best Short in the Teaneck International Film Festival of 2024.”
At most of these film festivals, D’Alessandro usually delivers a brief but strong speech which accompanies the film. Though many people may consider this constant reminder of her daughter’s death to be immensely difficult, D’Alessandro believes that it is all a “tale of victory.”
For D’Alessandro, it’s about helping victims of abuse and their families. In the last several years, she has organized a non-profit organization, called The Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation. Through this entity, D’Alessandro can not only push for more stringent laws for abusers, but even works with schools throughout the area to inform teachers of possible signs of abuse in their students.
More recently, D’Alessandro has been volunteering her time with parents who have gone through the tragedy of learning their child was subjected to abuse. She spends much of her free time counseling and mentoring parents who have lost their children due to such senseless violence. She connects with these mothers and fathers either inperson or virtually throughout the nation.
Though such work can be difficult, she credits all of it to her late daughter Joanie, who continues to inspire her.
“I have a relationship with her every day,” she said. “Her spirit is living and helping other people.”
Of course, D’Alessandro acknowledges she wishes she had a more typical relationship with Joanie where she could visit her every day and see her grow up, but there is still a strong bond.
“She (Joanie) inspired me. She wasn’t concerned about impressions and what people were going to think of her.
Rosemarie at Harriman State Park, the site of where her daughter was buried. Courtesy of Rosemarie D’Alessandro.
Rosemarie’s daughter as a child. Courtesy of Rosemarie D’Alessandro.
Rosemarie D’Alessandro...
she had a presence and that was beautiful. She would come into a room, and you would notice her. She would be all smiles and as happy as can be.”
D’Alessandro said her daughter’s spirit of love and willingness to stand up for other people during her short life helps her work for others even today.
She often thinks back on the significance of her daughter’s actions and how it touched others. For instance, she was reminded many years ago when she heard from one of her daughter’s childhood friends about how special a person her daughter genuinely was.
The friend told D’Allesandro about how when she was a child and excluded by other children during recess, Joanie stood up to her
By Tina Pappas
Tfriends and included her in all their activities.
“I didn’t know it happened at the time but she(the friend) called me 20 years ago and said Joanie would watch the children play and invite me to play with everyone too, and it didn’t matter what her friends thought because she made sure the girl played with them and her friends would say why are you doing that, and she would say oh no, she can come play with us. She was a leader,” D’Alessandro said. “She was the kind of person who would change the world without being fake,” she added.
According to D’Alessandro it would have been easy to give up after the tragedy she endured. She could have just stayed in bed all day, and not fought for herself and others.
But her attitude, her faith’s belief in serving others, and her wonderful daughter’s spirit have allowed her to help others.
Not only is she helping to change laws that give victims and their families more rights, but she is helping pass on this courage to other mother’s going through the grief process.
“A lot of people don’t come to me. They are afraid. They feel uncomfortable and I think you’re not going to have change if you do that. You have to go through the uncomfortable and that is why even this whole story is a victory because here is a story of a person going through all the uncomfortable things and going through all the terrible parts and taking all the risks and that is how
you change things, D’Alessandro said. She understands the pain these grieving mothers are going through and how hard it is to stand up for themselves. But that is exactly why she is coaching them forward.
“You’ve got to deal with the uncomfortable and that is how you are going to stand up for what is right. You’re going to stand up for yourself and you’re going to stand up for others and you are going to deal with grief because grief is something you have to deal with. But you have to get out of the uncomfortable and if people need help getting out of the uncomfortable, I can coach them.”
Donations to the Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation can be made directly at https://gofund.me/78d81653.
Little Falls Honors Two Championship Girls Softball Teams
wo Lady Hornets Travel Softball teams were honored at the recent Township Council meeting on Dec.16. Mayor James Damiano, along with the council members, recognized each team -12U and 10U - for clinching their level championships.
"We are here tonight to recognize two softball teams that had a tremendous year," Damiano said. He first spotlighted the 12U softball team, led by Coach Alby Vasquez,
that had an impressive season record this past season. Damiano also acknowledged the assistant coaches for the team as well.
Vasquez spoke during the ceremony and thanked the team and everyone town for giving him the opportunity to lead the team as far as it went.
"It wasn't about me or the coaches, it was about you," Vasquez said. "We know we were hard on you, but we know what you were capable of and you did it. But now we want more from you so it doesn't
just end there. We know what your ceiling is and keep shooting for that every single time."
Vasquez then called up his assistant coaches and each player on the team to receive a medal of achievement for bringing home the championship.
Damiano then praised the 10U championship team, saying he had the chance to watch all of their eight games to clinch their amazing 7-1 record this season. He called up Coach Jamie Macaluso who praised the team for their outstanding win.
"I can't say enough about this team and they are a tremendous group of girls," she said. "They're not only some of the best athletes I've seen, but incredible young
women. To watch them play and grow, and play together as a team has been something we have really just enjoyed watching. I can't wait to see what they have to bring to us in the future."
Macaluso also added that it had been a tough season because the 10U team moved up to new rules and higher levels. At times, the team had to play a hybrid level.
"You girls stepped up when you had to," Macaluso added. "We couldn't be prouder!"
Macaluso then called up her assistant coaches to be recognized. She then called up each player to receive a medal of achievement. Seniors Enjoy Annual Holiday Luncheon in Little Falls.
Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council honored two girls travel softball teams for winning their championships during the recent council meeting on Dec. 16.
Seniors Enjoy Annual Holiday Luncheon in Little Falls
By Tina Pappas
The holiday spirit echoed through the Little Falls Civic Center as local senior citizens enjoyed the annual Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon, held Dec. 18.
Holiday colors of red and green decorations filled the hall and with those who sported colorful clothing attire. The annual event brought out approximately 80 senior citizens who socialized and enjoyed a variety of delicious food, desserts, and beverages, while listening to classic holiday tunes. Santa himself made a special visit and so seniors could take their photos with him. The event was hosted by the Recreation Department.
Tyler Passero, Director of the Little Falls Recreation Department, warmly welcomed attendees. On-hand for the event and to help serve the buffet was Mayor James Damiano, Council President Anthony Sgobba, Councilman Chris Vancheri, Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, Councilwoman Jayna Patel and Cpl. Jon Vanak of the Little Falls Police Department. John Pace and Franco Iacovo of the Little Falls Recreation Department also assisted coordinating the event.
Passero thanked everyone for attending the event, including the senior citizen groups and other programs offered through the Recreation Department and Senior Citizens Advisory Board.
Damiano also welcomed attendees wishing everyone a joyous holiday season and new year.
"Enjoy the holiday season as much as you can," he said. He also invited everyone to attend the Township's Menorah Lighting at Memorial Park on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m.
After enjoying food donated by Shop Rite of Little Falls, seniors mingled with one another. Santa then arrived, spreading his warm message for the holidays as he took photos with attendees. Passero also said that the Recreation Department takes a lot of pride in putting together the Senior Holiday Luncheon every year for local seniors.
Pace commented afterwards saying that the event had a good turnout.
"We had about 80 seniors attend, with some who came last minute, so it was a very good turnout," he said.
Council President Anthony Sgobba echoed the sentiment and said the event was a huge success.
"We had 80 people attend, with a lot of good conversation and great food!" he added.
Local resident Arnie Korotkin said he also enjoyed the event. He thanked the Township for sponsoring such a wonderful time and doing so much for seniors each year.
"It's a great tradition to bring the community together to celebrate the end of the year, and look forward to a healthy and happy 2025!" he added.
Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls
The annual Little Falls Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon was held on Dec. 18. Pictured is Mayor James Damiano, along with members of the Township Council and Recreation Department during the event.
Mayor James Damiano, Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, Council President Anthony Sgobba and Assistant Recreation Director Franco Iacovo serve to attendees during the luncheon.
Local resident Selena Mazza-Pinckney and her mother Angela enjoy a photo op with Santa during the luncheon.
Tyler Passero, Director of the Little Falls Recreation Department, and John Pace of the Recreation Department, welcome attendees to the luncheon.
Local residents Arnie Korotkin and John Morano hang out with a group of friends during the annual Little Falls Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 18.
The annual Little Falls Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon was held at the Civic Center on Dec. 18. Local residents are pictured enjoying the event.
Local resident Zeny Garcia shows off her holiday spirit at the Holiday Luncheon.
Local P.B.A. Hosts Annual Holiday Toy Drive, Pancake Breakfast in Little Falls
By Tina Pappas
The spirit of the holiday season filled the Passaic Valley Regional High School (PVHS) cafeteria where the "Breakfast with Santa" Holiday Toy Drive/Pancake Breakfast was held on Dec. 14. The annual event is hosted by Little Falls PBA #346 and is free for Little Falls residents.
The breakfast was started 35 years ago and was combined with the toy drive to benefit St. Joseph's Children's Hospital for the past eight years, according to Cpl. Jon Vanak of the Little Falls Police Department (LFPD). The event brought out approximately over 75 families to enjoy the breakfast, have their picture taken with Santa Claus, and donate a toy as part of the PBA's annual drive. The collection ran from Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, with the drop-off location is at the LFPD's police headquarters lobby, located at 225 Main Street. Toys were also collected for the last time of
the season at the Holiday Toy Drive/Pancake Breakfast.
"The total amount of toys amassed are in the hundreds," said Vanak, adding that the collection has grown every year.
"Donations poured in and we've been dropping them off at police headquarters and the collection here inside the cafeteria today will be added to what we've collected already.
Residences and businesses help out and donate to the collection. We'll load them up this week and bring them over to St. Joe's."
PBA #346 President Kevin Sayad echoed the sentiment. Assisting with the eye-catching holiday decorations was local resident Jessica Myers, whose 3-year-old nephew Liam Marquez, of Haskell, was scheduled to become an official member of the Little Falls Police Department and Little Falls Fire Department, but succumbed to cancer in 2023.
"She's been a huge sup-
over-the-top with decorations. After everything the police and fire department did for Liam, there's nothing we wouldn't do for the town. Liam loved this town so much and that keeps us going and wanting to do more for the community."
Local resident Elvis Morillo brought his entire family to the event.
"This is actually an amazing event for the families of Little Falls," he said. "Every day, we as families all see each other at the schools picking up our kids, so this is a time for us to come together."
He also said he appreciates everyone who organizes the event each year.
porter of the PBA, along with Liam's uncle Corey Eopechino, and we've been supporting them during their difficult time," Sayad explained. "Jessica reached out offering to do the decorations and she takes holiday decorating to the next level, especially at her residence. We ended up coming by her house to borrow the Disney Mickey and Minnie animatronics, The Grinch and other decorations. We were here last night and this morning sprucing everything up. Everything came out really nice and we're so happy with the way things look."
Sayad added that the Myers family loves helping the community and is very involved in town. Myers commented after the event.
"I love helping out with the holiday parade too. We'll set-up hot chocolate and the fire department will come by and have some," she said. "I told Kevin that next year it's going to be even bigger and more
"I think Little Falls is an amazing town, and the fact that the cops organize this is really wonderful. Our kids are very happy," he added. "My daughter has been talking about
this event for the past two weeks. The Mayor and Council also assist with this event and they do an amazing job."
Footcare You Can Count On
Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls Members of the Little Falls PBA #346 pose at the annual Holiday Toy Drive/Pancake Breakfast at Passaic Valley High School on Dec. 14.
Mayor James Damiano, Councilman Chris Vancheri and Councilwoman Christine Hablitz pose with Santa during the annual Holiday Toy Drive/ Pancake Breakfast at PVHS.
Councilman Chris Vanceri poses with local residents Jessica Myers and Ivanna Mauriello who assisted the annual Holiday Toy Drive/Pancake Breakfast dressed as elves.
Woodland Park Recreation recently sponsored an exciting night of family fun with ISPW wrestling. A packed house at the WP Boys & Girls Club enjoyed an absolutely amazing show by the talented ISPW wrestlers. Fun was had by all, and the energy was incredible. If you missed the event, they’ll be back on Friday, Feb. 21 for another action-packed night. Follow Woodland Park Recreation on social media for more details.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOROUGH OF WOODLAND PARK
Holiday Lights Parade
Hundreds and hundreds of spectators lined the streets of Little Falls, Woodland Park, and Totowa to enjoy the 2024 Holiday Lights Parade, presented by the fire departments of the three towns.
This sixth annual event planned by the departments was the biggest one yet. The variety of vehicles involved was extensive. In addition to fire, EMS, police, and DPW vehicles from both towns, there were floats with entertainment,
motorcycles, military vehicles, trailers, personal vehicles, business vehicles, a Passaic Valley High School bus, and so much more. Before the event, attendees enjoyed a winter festival sponsored by Woodland Park Recreation that fea-
tured food and merchandise vendors, food trucks, and activities for children that included a live band playing holiday favorites, giant snow globe, trackless train, and horse and carriage rides.
Santa, Mrs. Claus, and friends took photos with kids and families before helping Woodland Park
Tracy Kallert and the Borough Council light the Christmas tree in the park before the parade kicked off. The Holiday Parade of Lights kicked off at Passaic Valley High School and traveled through the three towns ending in Totowa near Crews Street. This year, over 250 brightly decorated vehicles and floats delight-
ed the spectators.
The Holiday Parade Committee would like to send their thanks to all the vehicles and departments for taking part and making it the best one yet. The event committee would like to thank its sponsors as well, as the event would not have happened without their help.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BOROUGH OF WOODLAND PARK
Mayor
Beatrice Gilmore School and Memorial Middle School in Woodland Park both held canned food drives for Thanksgiving. The school communities collected well over 1,500 cans. Representatives from the St. Agnes Church food pantry picked up the donations and they will help families in need throughout the Passaic Valley region. Find out more about the pantry at https://www.stagneslf.org/food-pantry.html.
emorial Middle School in Woodland Park held its annual spelling bee, with 40 class champions competing. The competition got down to 10 contestants by round three and four by round five. The top four battled it out until round 12. Congratulations to all contestants and the top three: 1st place - Justin Zummo, 2nd place - Tasneem Begum, and 3rd place - Sebastian Gomez. Shout out to 4th place finisher Dante Barbieri for battling it out with the top three from rounds five to 12. Winner Justin Zummo now advances to the regional spelling
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
The
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WOODLAND PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
As part of the recent Little Falls, Woodland Park, and Totowa Holiday Lights Parade, participants and spectators were encouraged to bring toy donations to benefit local children in need and the St. Joseph Children's Hospital in Paterson. Fire department members, local police officers, Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special visit to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson bearing over 2,000 Christmas gifts. Doctors, nurses, staff, and the most amazing children
were also treated to a parade of beautifully decorated vehicles before receiving gifts from Santa. The parade committee would like to send many thanks to everyone who donated to the cause. Your kindness and generosity brought happiness and holiday cheer to hospitalized children, their parents, and hospital staff this Christmas.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WEST PATERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Proclamations for Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and Epilepsy
Awareness Month held in Little Falls
By Tina Pappas
Mayor James Damiano held proclamations for Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and Epilepsy Awareness Month during the Township Council meeting on Nov. 18.
Damiano first spoke about Alzheimer's Disease, a neuro-degenerative disease that affects approximately one in every two families in the U.S., with 5.7 millions Americans being diagnosed. He emphasized that National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month focuses on making the general public aware of the disease among the U.S. population.
"Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities, serious enough to interfere with daily life, and worsens over time, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases," he said. "Every 65 seconds, someone
in the United States develops Alzheimer's Disease. By 2050, an estimated 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer's."
Damiano added that the greatest known risk factor is an increase in age, with the majority of those with Alzheimer's being 65 and older.
"Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age because approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger onset of Alzheimer's Disease, also known as early-onset Alzheimer's Disease," he explained, adding that Alzheimer's is the fifth leading cause of death for adults age 65 and over, and the seventh leading cause of death for all adults.
He emphasized that although Alzheimer's has no current cure, treatment of Alzheimer's symptoms is available and research continues. Today, there is a worldwide effort to find better ways to treat the disease,
delay its onset and prevent it from developing.
Damiano then held a proclamation for Epilepsy Awareness Month and asked the Sarcona family, a local family in Little Falls who have a child with epilepsy, to join him during his reading. He emphasized that epilepsy, a neurological condition, characterized by unprovoked seizures, affects three million people across the United States, including many children and adults in the state of New Jersey diagnosed with recurring seizures.
He further stated that epilepsy can affect anyone no matter what their gender, race, age, religion, educational background or socioeconomic status.
"Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder among adults in the United States, behind Alzheimer's Disease and stroke," he stated, adding that ten percent of the American population will experience a seizure in their lifetime. "Three percent will develop epilepsy by age 75. While epilepsy cannot currently be cured, many who have been diagnosed with epilepsy can control their seizures with modern medicine and surgical techniques."
He also said that many people with epilepsy continue facing social stigmatism and discrimination.
He noted that National Epilepsy Awareness Month is designed to increase the awareness of the disorder, in an effort to encourage more Americans to understand the effects of it.
Damiano then proclaimed November 2024 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the Township. Valerie Sarcona thanked Damiano and the Township for bringing awareness and acknowledging Epilepsy Awareness
Month. She said she hopes people will make a donation to the Epilepsy Foundation and support continued research.
The municipal building will remain lit purple to spotlight both Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and Epilepsy Awareness Month during the month of November. The Sarcona family also placed awareness about epilepsy on telephone poles along Main Street.
Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and Epilepsy Awareness Month were recently spotlighted during the Township Council meeting on Nov. 18. Pictured is Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council, with the Sarcona Family during the proclamation reading.
By Tina Pappas
Little Falls Recognizes Outstanding Youth Soccer Accomplishments
The Township recognized outstanding accomplishments by its youth soccer athletes at the recent council meeting on Nov. 25.
Vinnie Martinello and Victoria Macaluso were both honored for their placements during the The Knights of Columbus Soccer Shootout Champions. Its "Soccer Challenge" provides an athletic outlet for kids through a penalty kick competition to demonstrate their skills. Mayor James Damiano praised both young athletes for their performance and standings.
"This year, Vinnie won the local district shootout and took first at the regional shootout," Damiano said. "And he went down to Trenton and competed with the entire state of New Jersey, taking second place in the shootout competition."
Damiano then recognized Macaluso.
"Victoria had a wildly successful year taking first place at the local district, first place at the regional shootout, and first place in the state of New Jersey," he added, as he handed medals to both. "Congratulations to both Vinnie and Victoria!"
Also, recognized was the West Essex Youth Soccer Association (WEYSA) Little Falls Boys 7th and 8th Grade Soccer Team.
Damiano also congratulated the team, including their coach and assistant coaches.
"This year in Little Falls, we had another championship soccer team here led by Coach Janis O'Neill," he said. "And behind every great coach there are tremendous assistant coaches."
O'Neill introduced her assistant coaching staff comprised of Kody Organisciak, her son Chase O'Neill, and Benjamin Irizarry. Organisciak thanked everyone for being there and thanked his team for the successful season.
"It was a really special time with you guys and I'm so proud with how much we've done," he said. "I'm very happy with the results that came with our season and how we worked through the issues that we had. But overall, I think we did a tremendous job and I'm so happy that I got to coach this team."
Irizarry also commented on how much fun the season was.
"I enjoyed it and we were winning a lot, so that was also fun, " he said. "So thanks!"
Damiano commended the team's 10-1-1 record on their way to a championship win. Coach O'Neill then called up every player as Damiano handed a medal to each of them.
Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls The West Essex Youth Soccer Association (WEYSA) Little Falls Boys 7th and 8th Grade Soccer Team were honored at the recent council meeting by Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council.
Pictured are Vinnie Martinello and Victoria Macaluso with their families who were honored for their placements during the The Knights of Columbus Soccer Shootout Champions by Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council.
Pictured is Janis O'Neill (far left) who coached the West Essex Youth Soccer Association (WEYSA) Little Falls Boys 7th and 8th Grade Soccer Team, along with her assistant coaches and Mayor James Damiano.
Mayor James Damiano recognized Vinnie Martinello and Victoria Macaluso who were honored for their placements during the The Knights of Columbus Soccer Shootout Champions during the recent council meeting.
The traffic light, an indispensable tool for regulating road traffic, has a history rooted in the 19th century. The concept was first introduced by J.P. Knight, a British railway engineer, who adapted railway signaling principles to roadways. In 1868, he installed the first known traffic signal outside the British Houses of Parliament in London. Knight’s system used semaphore arms during the day and red and green gas-lit lamps at night to indicate “stop” and “go.” However, this early traffic light design was short-lived. In 1869, the gas light exploded, injuring a police officer, which led to its abandonment.
The next major development in traffic lights came decades later in the United States, as the growing number of motor vehicles created new challenges for urban traffic management. In 1914, Cleveland, Ohio, introduced the first electric traffic signal, designed by James Hoge. This device, installed at the corner of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street, was a significant improvement over the earlier gas-powered system. It used red and green lights, controlled by a switch inside a nearby control booth. This traffic signal also had an audible buzzer to notify drivers when the
History of the Traffic Light
lights were about to change, which marked a crucial step toward modern traffic control.
While Hoge’s system laid the groundwork, it was Garrett Morgan, an African-American inventor, who revolutionized traffic signals in 1923. Morgan, concerned about the increasing number of accidents on the roadways, patented a three-position traffic light that included a “caution” signal, which became the modern yellow light. His invention was significant because it introduced a warning phase between “stop” and “go,” reducing the number of collisions caused by sudden light changes. Morgan’s version also allowed for a safer and more orderly flow of traffic by giving drivers time to prepare for the change in lights.
Although Morgan is often credited with pioneering the three-light system, several inventors and innovators have contributed to the development of traffic lights as we know them today. For example, the introduction of automated signals and synchronized systems in the mid-20th century transformed traffic management globally.
The traffic light has evolved from a simple semaphore system to a highly sophisticated network of automated signals that manage
3 Questions to Ask Before Beginning a New Fitness Regimen
EPasta Dishes • Homemade Dinners
xercise is widely recognized as a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. Despite that, a recent analysis of data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey found that more than two-thirds of individuals are not getting enough exercise. Though the survey was conducted amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which suggests the overall figures might be somewhat lower than they might have been had the data been collected in a more typical year, just 28 percent of respondents were meeting the physical activity guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Routine exercise is beneficial for people of all ages, and seniors are no exception. Aging adults who want to be more physically active but think they are among the 72 percent of individuals who aren’t meeting CDC exercise guidelines can speak with their physicians and ask these three questions to ensure the transition to a less sedentary lifestyle goes smoothly.
1. Should I get a heart checkup?
Doctors may already be monitoring aging individuals’ hearts even if they have not exhibited symptoms of heart problems in the past. However, it’s best to discuss heart health in greater detail prior to beginning a new fitness regimen. In an interview with Penn Medicine, Neel Chokshi, MD, MBA, medical director of Penn Sports Cardiology and Fitness Program, noted the risk of heart attack or cardiac complications slightly increases when individuals begin to participate in a moderate or intense activity. So a physician might want to conduct a heart checkup in order to determine if a patient has an underlying heart condition.
2. Which types of activities should I look to?
A physician also can recommend certain activities depending on a person’s age and medical background. Though exercise is beneficial for everyone, certain activities may not be. For example, AdventHealth notes that high-impact activities like jogging and jump rope may not be suited for individuals with arthritis. In addition, aging individuals with physical limitations that require them to use a wheelchair should not write off their ability to exercise, as physicians can recommend exercises for patients with mobility issues as well.
3. Should I take extra caution while on medication?
Prescription medication use is another variable that must be taken into consideration before beginning a new exercise regimen. The CDC notes that roughly 84 percent of adults between the ages of 60 and 79 use one or more prescription medications. Each medication produces different effects, and a 2016 study published in the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal noted that certain medications evoke an acute drop in blood pressure, which can disturb balance and increase fall risk, while others actually facilitate greater improvements in health outcomes. That means the dynamic between medications and exercise is unique to each medication, which underscores the importance of speaking with a physician whenever a fitness regimen is started or tweaked and/or a new medication is prescribed.
These are just three of the questions seniors can ask when discussing exercise with their physicians. Seniors are urged to ask any additional questions they might have during such discussions.
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FAQ about Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year sparks interest every year. Unlike New Year on the Gregorian calendar, which always falls on January 1, Chinese New Year does not begin on the same date each year. It’s important to note that this is only when Chinese New Year begins, which is another thing that distinguishes the celebration from New Year’s celebrations in the west, which tend to be limited to December 31 and January 1.
In 2024, Chinese New Year begins on February 10. Between now and then, individuals can look to this FAQ to learn more about this unique and meaningful celebration. What is the significance of Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival, and that offers some insight into its significance. According to Chinesenewyear.net, while wintry conditions are still present during the Spring Festival, the period when the celebration takes place marks the end of the coldest days. This also is why the Chinese New Year is symbolic of new beginnings.
Why is the date different each year?
Topchinatravel.com notes that Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, which is why the date of the celebration differs from year to year. The lunar calendar is based on the monthly cycles of the phases of the moon. China officially operates under the Gregorian calendar, but significant celebrations are still conducted in accordance with the lunar calendar.
Do people work during Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year is a public holiday in China, and that means people generally get seven days off for celebrating. In 2024, that seven-day period will begin on February 10 and end on February 17. Celebrations also can extend beyond seven days, and some celebrants will avoid working if they are able and choose to do so. The shutdowns lead to significant travel, and Statista reports that around 226 million people traveled in China by air, railway, road, and waterway during Chinese New Year 2023.
What is the significance of animals in relation to Chinese New Year?
Jade Emperor is an important deity in traditional Chinese religion, and the reason behind animals’ connection to Chinese New Year relates to a race organized by Jade
Emperor. All animals in the world were invited to partake in the race and help establish the Chinese Zodiac. But only 12 animals showed up on the day of the race, and how they finished would determine the years on the calendar named after them. Each animal in the Chinese Zodiac has its own unique characteristics, and some believe people take on the traits of the animal associated with the year they were born. So those born in 2024 may have the attributes associated with the Dragon, which is believed to bring good fortune.
Chinese New Year is a unique cultural tradition with a lengthy and interesting history.
ELF: Buddy Returns in a Raucous
By Robert M. Massimi.
Elf” at the Marquis Theatre is the best show on Broadway this season! Although the plot has varied a little from the movie, the laughs and thrills remain the same. What makes this show so great is the blend between the music, songs and the pace of the musical. “Elf” is never slow and the songs only enhance this raucous comedy. The musical entertains the adults and the children alike; it never favors one age group or the other.
Grey Henson as Buddy the elf has such a great presence on stage, his delivery and energy is very much a main attraction onstage; in fact, all of the characters in this two hour show are fantastic. This falls squarely on superb direction by Philip WM. McKinley and brilliant choreography by Liam Steel. The combination of the two keep the audience locked in tight throughout the evening, and makes the entire production fun to watch!
“Elf” is what a big musical should look like. With its massive staging (Tim Goodchild- he also did the costumes), great glam lighting by Patrick Woodroffe, resonating and booming sound by Gareth Owen/ Peter Fitzgerald and wonderful orchestration by Doug Besterman. Bob Martin for the most part did an excellent job with the book; Matthew Sklar’s music and lyrics by Chad Beguelin complemented this behemoth musical.
The only problem with “Elf” was the projection at times. In the many backdrops of the production, the projection was out of focus leaving us to try to focus in on the different parts of the north pole as well as various parts of New York City. The story too had some different spins from the movie, sometimes the changes were engrossing, and sometimes they didn’t
work so well. Even with these mild flaws, “Elf” is a must see for children of all ages.
As Buddy goes through his blissful life like Will Ferrell did in the movie, Henson too spreads his goodwill on his fellow man. Realizing he is not an elf, but a human, he seeks out for his natural father (his mother died after he was born). His innocence makes even the hardest of New Yorker’s soften their tone around him. From the comical store manager (Kalen Allen) to the no non-sense Mr. Greenway (Sean Astin), who owns Greenway publications, (Astin also plays Santa) they are all either put-off by Buddy at first sight, or they think he is mentally unfit. His father, Walter Hobbs (Michael Hayden) wants him out of his families life.
Whereas the movie focused more on Buddy and his half brother, the musical brought the many great actors here to the forefront. To me, this was brilliant because it opened the show up for more comedy options... the store manager, the hot dog vendor and the policemen. Henson had a great blend with all the characters, but I thought that he was at his best with Santa, his new found love, Tiara, the store manager, the saleswoman and the fake Santa.
By Richard Mabey Jr.
In the basement of the old Mabey Homestead, my father had a little three by five card stapled to the wall of his workbench. It simply read, “better to teach a boy the moral way, than to rehabilitate a wayward man.” My father believed in that philosophy, that purpose, with all of his heart, mind and soul. Dad took his role as Scoutmaster very seriously.
In September of 1971, I turned 18, began studying at County College of Morris and working part-time at the A&P Grocery Store in Whippany. My father asked me if I would stay on with Boy Scout Troop 170 and help him with the scouts. At that time, there was only two other Assistant Scoutmasters, Mr. Floyd and Mr. Talbot.
Be This Destiny, Guided By God’s Loving Hand
Mayor William Dixon was our Troop Committee Chairman. Deep in my heart, I knew my Dad really did need my help. I agreed to stay on with Troop 170. I think that scouts and church kept me on the straight and narrow. I had all so many of my friends, who were getting lost in drugs and alcohol and the wayward life. The saying, “there but by the grace of God, go I,” is no joke. Now at 71, I deeply realize that I could have easily fallen into the mud and mire of the wayward life. I lost all so many friends, during that era of coming of age.
My dad taught me the beauty and splendor, hidden in the forest trail.
To appreciate the beauty of the white-tailed deer. To respect the elm, the oak, the maple, the pine. To see the simple beauty that
abounded in God’s little creatures. To just see the poetry in a squirrel hopping from one tree branch to another. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think of some moment that Dad and I shared in being scout leaders of Boy Scout Troop 170.
Reverend Kenneth Baer was Troop 170’s Institutional Representative. Reverend Baer was the Minister of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, which sponsored Boy Scout Troop 170. Reverend Baer was a very positive influence upon my life, when I was in those painful years of leaving boyhood to become a young man. To fulfill the community service requirement of my earning Eagle Scout, I had mowed the lawn, raked leaves, and did odd jobs
for Saint Andrew’s Church, for one full calendar year. This included painting all of Thorpe Hall and all of the Sunday School classrooms. It was during that time period that I got to see
Reverend Baer on Saturday mornings. We would talk for only a few minutes, in each of our meetings. But in those few minutes, Reverend Baer would share insights with me, on the sacred teachings of the Holy Bible. A gift that to this very day, I deeply appreciate.
I was a painfully shy young man. I was blessed to have a wonderful girlfriend,cont.on page 31
Yours truly, during the beard stage, with some of the former scouts of the great Boy Scout Troop 170.
By Richard Mabey Jr.
This is a condensed chapter of the book that I am presently writing, about my journey to earn scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. This is a true story, however I changed people’s names.
In June of 1969, at the age of 15, I had just completed my sophomore year at Boonton High School. I began taking classes for the Swimming Merit Badge. I had had Rheumatic Fever when I was 12, and up till that time my Cardiologist, Dr. Martin Rosenthal, felt strongly that my heart was not yet strong enough for the strenuous challenge of the Swimming Merit Badge classes.
The classes were held at a docking station of the Rockaway River in Boonton Township. The beach area was owned by a Scout Commissioner, who loaned out the use of his large dock for the scouts to have an aquatic center. It was known as the Boonton District Aquatic Merit Badge Center.
I was not as strong and coordinated as the other boys were. My Swimming Merit Badge Counselor, Mr. Taylor, was quite a tough man. He was stern and strict. He had a continuous facial expression that seemed to convey that he was always upset about something. We met three evenings,
On Eagle’s Wings: The Swimming Lessons
every week, in the pursuit of earning the Swimming Merit Badge.
In mid July, the first class of that summer’s Swimming Merit Badge classes had completed. There were about 25 scouts in the class. I was the only scout who failed the course. But, there was good news, another class was going to begin the next week.
My biggest challenge was swimming upstream. You see, we would be required to swim quite a distance downstream, then turn around, and swim upstream to return to the large riverside dock. It was during the swim upstream that I fell woefully behind the other scouts. Sadly, Mr. Taylor once again failed me for the Swimming Merit Badge classes.
A fury burnt in my heart. Fire filled the marrow of bones. I was more determined than ever to earn the Swimming Merit Badge. I was not going to let Mr. Taylor defeat me. That night, after being told that I failed the Swimming Merit Badge classes for the second time, I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to help me earn this most coveted merit badge. The long and short of it was that the Swimming Merit Badge was one of the required merit badges to earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.
So, in mid August, I began taking the
Swimming Merit Badge classes for a third time. It was during these classes that Mr. Taylor’s anger toward me took on an even greater height. It was in early September, when I turned 16 and began my junior year at Boonton High School, that my third attempt at passing the Swimming Merit Badge classes concluded. Once again Mr. Taylor failed me.
But it wasn’t enough that Mr. Taylor failed me for the third time. With anger in his voice, he told me that I was wasting his time, taking the Swimming Merit Badge classes. Mr. Taylor’s last words to me, as I
walked away from the big riverside dock to the driveway, where my mom was waiting for me in her car, were these words. “Mabey, you’ll never make it to Eagle Scout!” As the tears flowed down my cheeks, I got into Mom’s car. Mom asked me what happened. I simply replied to my dear mother, “I failed again.”
To be continued.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.
cont. from page 28
Penny Last, who encouraged me to write for my college newspaper. I studied hard and made the Dean’s List all through my time at County College. I worked hard at the A&P and was honored to be Employee of the Month, a couple of times. I held true to the principles of the Scout Law and the Scout Oath. I did my very best to be a good Assistant Scoutmaster.
I served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170 for over 20 years. From time to time, I will receive an email letter from a former scout. Those scouts have no idea what their letters mean to me. Now at 71, in the midst of the fight of my life, in facing the painful and frequent chest pains of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I quite often read the letters that I have received from former scouts of Troop 170. I cherish each and every one of them. They bring hope and comfort to my heart, that I did something worthwhile in my life, in being a scout leader.
I know that scouting has gotten a bum rap in the past few years. I stand firmly against child abuse. But still, in light of it all, I do think that scouting does offer a boy the chance to gain a love and respect for nature.
Life is not always fair. We cannot always understand why we are put through certain tests in life. To fully understand it all, would be like explaining Einstein’s Theory of Relativity to an ant. Our human understanding of things in life, is just a drop in the vast ocean of God’s infinite wisdom. Here’s the bottom line though, God loves you more than you will ever know.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.
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Eleven Hour Rescue Virtual Auction
by Elsie Walker
It’s an auction for a great cause and you don’t even have to leave your home to participate. It’s the annual winter Eleventh Hour Rescue auction which features a variety of items being auctioned off to help animals. There’s no overhead to the auction; all auctioned items are donated so all the money will
go to the veterinary bills of the rescue, which in 2024 were $526, 000. Recently, Jeannie Patsarikas, of Long Valley, tricky tray/auction team lead, and Kathy Dolce of West Caldwell, sponsorships and grants, talked about the auction and the work of the rescue. Its adoptable pets can be seen on its website at www.ehrevents.org
The virtual auction opens on February 15th at 9am and runs to Friday, February 21st at 4pm. It is held via a Facebook Group. To join the Facebook group for the auction, people access it once the auction starts through a link on an Eleventh Hour Rescue webpage: https://www. ehrevents.org Once in the Facebook group, people will cont. on page 34
Mack and a friend, two long-time residents at Eleventh Hour waiting to find forever homes.
Penny, a dog Eleventh Hour rescued and cared for and who found a forever home.
Eleven Hour... cont. from page 32
see pictures of each item and a description of it plus the opening and incremental bid for it. In the comments area, a person puts their bid. Those who bid are notified if someone else puts in a higher bid. After the auction closes, items won can be picked up at the organization’s Roxbury Thrift Store and Adoption Center in the Roxbury Mall on either February 23rd from 12pm – 3pm or on February 26th from 6:30 – 7:30pm.
While items are still coming in, Patsarikas noted those that have come in so far. They include a Bradford Portrait and Overnight Stay at the Opus Westchester (a $5000 value), $1000 Gift Certificate towards a 10+ day Regent Seven Seas Cruise, $200 Gift Certificate towards a 7+ day Royal Caribbean Cruise, 60 Minute Treatment at any Massage Envy, four tickets to the Sterling Hill Underground Mine Tour, a Kindle, Amazon Gift Cards, Longhorn Restaurant Gift Card, Clinique Makeup and Skincare, appliances (Ninja Air Fryer, Blender, Coffee Maker, Chopper), four Zipline Course Passes ( includes over 30 ziplines). wine and liquor, one- year Black Card Membership to Planet Fitness (valued at $300), and family fun games and activities (e.g., Pickleball Set).
Also, donations of auction items are still being taken. Patsarikas shared, “folks who want to donate can email me at trickytray@ehrdogs.org. Then, I can work with them individually as to how they can get their donation to us. [Also,] here is our Amazon wish list link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2NE4B1CS1HB0T/ref=nav_wishlist_ lists_2. Their order will be mailed directly to me. “
Patsarikas noted the pictures of the items shown during the auction and shared, “David Warner [of David Warner Photography at www.davidwarnerphotos.com] donates his time and talent and photographs all our auction items. He does a beautiful job! “
Patsarikas notes that she enjoys “watching the bidding wars” during the auction while Dolce enjoys “participating in the bidding wars.” Patsarikas noted that she also enjoys seeing people bid higher than an item’s stated worth because they want to support the rescue and “working with the [auction] team”. She also noted that the auction is “ lots of work”.
Of course, the bottom line is that the auction will be helping the animals rescued by 11th hour rescue. In 2024, the organization found loving homes for 14 small animals, 655 cats and 755 dogs. The latter includes Penny, whose story Dolce shared.
“We discovered after she came to us that she had a heart condition called Pulmonary Valve Stenosis that caused her to pass out with even minimal activity. She required extremely costly surgery, so we turned to social media to get the word out and Penny found a life-saving benefactor. She has since been adopted and is living her best life,” Dolce shared.
Dolce noted there are some long-term residents of the rescue waiting years for a home, like Mack. “Mack has been with us six years-a volunteer favorite. The kennel has about 30 longer- term resident dogs who have a team of dedicated volunteers who do everything they can to shower them with love and make sure they get daily attention. We recently added two rooms in the kennel that are just like the room in a house to let them decompress and get ready to live in a real home,” she said.
Some animals come to the rescue from dire situations. One such situation Dolce says still haunts many of the rescuers at Eleventh Hour. It was the discovery of 90 living and dead dogs packed into a truck and left at a New Jersey shopping mall. The neglect and cruelty were some of the worst the rescue has ever seen. Eleventh Hour rescue and others in New Jersey mobilized and Eleventh Hour took as many is it could and fed, cleaned, veted, and socialized them before finding them forever homes. “We still get updates on the Hampton animals and we’re happy to report that they are thriving and loved,” Dolce said.
Eleventh Hour Rescue is made up of 275 active volunteers. Dolce noted that, “ 2024 was our 20th anniversary.
Reflecting on their work at the rescue and why they do it, Patsarikas, who has been a volunteer for eight and a half year and got her five cats from Eleventh Hour said, “I do it to save the animals’ lives.” She noted that it is heart-breaking to see the cruelty that some humans have done to animals. Dolce has been a volunteer for three years and has an Eleventh Hour dog and is a long-time foster of one. She noted that the rescue has very little overhead, and “donations go where people want them to go”
Patsarikas noted two other upcoming fundraisers that the rescue is holding: Murder Mystery at Vasa Park on March 29th and Barkfest at Horseshoe Lake on June 7th
2024 Homes Sold (#1 for the 34th consecutive year)