Passaic Valley January 2023

Author Creates Charming Children’s Book in Honor of Beloved Nanny

By Emily Pirrello

As the celebrated saying goes, “grandparents hold our hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.”

Robin C. Di Leo-Banta was very close with her Great Grandmother Maria “Nanny” Mollica, she treasured her time with her great-grandmother and decided during the COVID-19 Pandemic shutdown that she wanted to create a literary legacy dedicated to her dear Nanny. Robin’s award-winning debut children’s novel, “Giuseppe, My Mischievous Goat!” is a heartwarming homage to her Nanny, Maria.

This captivating tale follows the story of an Italian grandmother, Nanny Maria, who awakes one morning to discover that her beloved goat, Giuseppe has gone missing.

“When the mischievous goat Giuseppe goes astray, his Nanny, Maria, must leave her mountaintop village to find him. On her journey, she discovers a community of people who help her along the way. Unbeknownst to her, little Giuseppe has all his needs met by the generous people along the way who help him until he is reunited with his Nanny.”

When asked what she hopes her readers will take away from her story, Di Leo-Banta shared, “the importance of family.”

“These memories I’d like to share with my kids, and someday with their kids, all the times she spent teaching me skills I carried throughout my life. And of course, a warm homage to our Italian heritage.”

Like many during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Di Leo-Banta found herself reflecting on her life and what she valued most in the world, her family.

“During the shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, I sat daily listening to the news awaiting our fate as a nation. I started think-

ing about my Nanny Maria and what she meant to me as a child.”

Di Leo-Banta continued to share about her own childhood with her Nanny, Maria, “I would assist her in cooking family meals as she taught me at an early age to make meatballs. I could barely reach the table and would stand atop the highest step of her rickety old stool. She seasoned by hand without measure and always cooked with love.”

During the uncertainty of the shutdown, Di Leo-Banta felt her beloved great-grandmother encourage her to write.

“She guided me on this journey, she was my voice of reason in a time of chaos. ‘I envelop you with my love’ I would hear her say in the middle of the night. What a comfort knowing how loved I was by her. ‘Write,’ she said to me…. ‘Just write.’”

Di Leo-Banta went on to share that she didn’t know where to begin or how to start but she knew she wanted to create a story to pass on the wisdom of her cherished Nanny Maria.

“Her generosity as a human being and the time she devoted to me as a child is a standard which we all should live up to.”

As many would agree, family heritage and traditions are so very important.

Di Leo-Banta reminisced to some of her favorite childhood memories, “We’d gather every Sunday after church and eat together with our large family. I’d run to the local Italian store to pick up the fresh ricotta and Italian bread for our weekly gatherings. Now my kids’ favorite treats they request every Christmas Eve.”

While writing, Giuseppe, My Mischievous Goat!, she wasn’t quite sure where the story was headed— “As I struggled with an ending, my Nanny came to me again and said, “this

story ends where yours began, in church!”

She went on to share her initial wariness about this, “I was uncertain about keeping this part in the book. I didn’t want to exclude anyone, but again, this is who I am, and my fondest memories are of those we spent as a family every Sunday after church. These memories I’d like to share with my kids, and someday with their kids.”

Di Leo-Banta valued “all the times her Nanny Maria spent teaching her skills as a child,” and she has always “carried them throughout her life.”

Although this is Di Leo- Banta’s debut novel, she shared that she’s always enjoyed writing. “I used to write riddles or quick little

poems as teaching points for my kids when they were young.” Admirably this charming children’s book has already received an Honorable Mention award from Writer’s Digest.

Don’t worry young readers! This is not the last you’ve seen of Giuseppe. Robin shared that she’s currently working on her next Giuseppe adventure, “Giuseppe Chews My Shoes”. As Di Leo-Banta playfully shared, “My Nanny taught me about well-made shoes too.”

Giuseppe, My Mischievous Goat! is available on Amazon and online at Barnes and Noble. Don’t forget to also keep an eye out for Giuseppe’s upcoming journeys!

courtesy of the Woodland Park School District.

The school community at Charles Olbon School in Woodland Park held a giving tree initiative to support children living in foster care in Passaic County. Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) advocates for the best interests of vulnerable children in foster care. Each year, CASA gathers holiday wishes from the

children they work with throughout the county. The school had a giving tree set up in the lobby decorated with snowflakes. Each snowflake included the name, gender, age, and wishes of children involved with the CASA program. Students and staff were able to choose a snowflake to bring home to fulfill the child’s wish.

Photo

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Recycled Instruments

Mrs. LaSala’s class at School 1 in Woodland Park made instruments out of recycled items to conclude their music study. Photo courtesy of the Woodland Park School District.

For Many, Winter is the Season for Falls

further damage that can prolong recovery.

Matthew F. Wachtler DPM, FACFAS says the ankle joint is vulnerable to serious injury from hard falls on ice.

Courtesy Matthew F. Wachtler, DPM

cy conditions cause falls and broken ankles

With the hectic pace of the holidays, serious injuries from ice-related falls inevitably occur. Dr. Matthew Wachtler says falls on icy surfaces are a major cause of ankle sprains and fractures, and it’s critical to seek prompt treatment to prevent

Dr. Wachtler is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and practices in Cedar Grove NJ. In cases of less severe fractures and sprains, it’s possible to walk and mistakenly believe the injury doesn’t require medical treatment. Never assume the ability to walk means your ankle isn’t broken or badly sprained, putting weight on the injured joint can worsen the problem and lead to chronic instability, joint pain and arthritis later in

Occupational Therapy

life. It’s best to have an injured ankle evaluated as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment. If you can’t see a foot and ankle surgeon or visit the emergency room right away, follow the RICE technique – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation – until medical care is available.

For further information about ankle fractures and sprains or other foot and ankle problems, contact Dr. Matthew F. Wachtler, Cedar Grove Foot & Ankle Specialists, 973-857-1184, www.CedarGroveFoot.com

Cedar Grove Foot & Ankle Specialists, 882 Pompton Ave., Suite B1, Cedar Grove.

Speech Therapy Services for Pediatric Populations

Evaluation and Treatment for children birth to school aged

First grade students in Mrs. D’Amico and Mrs. Davidson’s first grade class at Charles Olbon School in Woodland Park have been very busy becoming word detectives in training. During Reading Workshop, students have been going on a special mission each day that focuses on

figuring out tricky words as they read. The first part of missions have been completed successfully. Students were awarded their official “Word Detective” badges with the pledge of knowing that even though the missions can get harder, they will never give up on reading.

Photo courtesy of the Woodland Park School District.

Courtesy Dr. Anant Joshi

Most people don’t realize that dry skin on the bottom of the feet could be a sign of Athlete’s Foot. Dry skin isn’t always just dry skin. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 20 years old or 80 years old, dry skin could mean you have Fungus in the skin.

Athlete’s Foot doesn’t always cause itching like we think it does. If dry skin goes untreated, it could lead to fungus in the nails. No one wants that! If dry skin doesn’t respond to the typical moisturizing creams or lotions you can get overthe-counter, then switching to an anti-fungal cream would be the best option. An inexpensive over-thecounter anti-fungal cream such as Clotrimazole is a good option. Apply it to the bottom of your feet twice

a day. If you have dryness between the toes, apply a small amount there as well.

If you have diabetes, it’s best to consult with our office before using a product like this. Some people are just genetically predisposed to the dry version of athlete’s foot.

If you have chronically dry skin, it’s a good idea to use an anti-fungal cream just in case fungus is present.

If you notice a yellow, white, or brown discoloration of a toenail, having it treated

by us immediately is the best option. A discolored toenail left untreated can become a very ugly and sometimes painful condition. Remember, dry skin isn’t always just dry skin. Attend to it with a moisturizing cream; if that doesn’t work, switch to an antifungal cream.

Please let us know how we can serve you best. Call Advanced Foot Care of NJ, 1031 McBride Ave., Suite D105 Woodland Park, 973256-0002.

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Office Hours: Mon. 10 am - 6 pm • Tues. Surgery • Wed. 10 am - 6 pm Thurs. 9 am - 5 pm • Fri. 9 am - 5 pm every other week

Anant P. Joshi DPM, DABPM

Holiday Lights Parade

Hundreds and hundreds of spectators lined the streets in both Totowa and Woodland Park to kick off the holiday season with the 2022 Holiday Lights Parade, presented by the Totowa & West Paterson Fire Departments.

This third-ever event planned by the departments (canceled in 2020 due to COVID) was the biggest one yet, with nearly double the amount of participants as last year. The variety of vehicles involved was extensive. In addition to fire, EMS, police, and DPW vehicles from both towns, there were floats with entertainment, 18-wheelers, ice cream trucks, lit-up lawnmowers, motorcycles, trailers, personal vehicles, business vehicles, a Passaic Valley High School bus, and even the Batmobile. At the beginning of the parade, there was a special tribute to veterans with military vehicles followed by a brightly lit tank which was temporarily removed from the front of Garret Mountain Reservation for the event.

Before the event, attendees enjoyed a winter festival sponsored by the fire departments and the Woodland Park Recreation Department on McBride Avenue that featured over two dozen vendors, food trucks, activities for children that included

a giant snow globe, strolling carolers, and horse and carriage rides.

Santa took a break from the North Pole to stop by the Christmas tree lighting in the park before the parade kicked off. Santa and his friends helped Mayor Kazmark and the Borough Council light up the tree. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and friends also took photos with kids and families in the festively decorated Dowling Gardens gazebo afterward.

The Holiday Parade of Lights kicked off at 515 Union Blvd. in Totowa and traveled through the two towns ending near Memorial Drive in town. This year, over 200 brightly decorated vehicles and floats delighted the spectators. Float performers included Biagio, the Passaic Valley High School marching band and chorus, Passaic County Pipe & Drums, the NJ Choral Society, Highland Voices, Aqua String Band, and the Jersey String Band.

As part of the holiday efforts of the two fire departments, parade participants and spectators were encouraged to bring toy donations to benefit local residents in need and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian.

The Holiday Parade Committee would

like to send their thanks to all the vehicles and departments for taking part this year 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.

Photo courtesy of the Borough of Woodland Park

You Can Still Have an Active Lifestyle with a Desk Job

Courtesy Dr. Raffaele Lagonigro, PT

Tips for Staying

Active Even with a Sedentary Job!

At our physical therapy practice, we see many patients who want to excel in their careers and provide for their families—but it’s hard to do that when dealing with pain, or if you are unsure how to begin exercising. Unfortunately, the truth is that many people eventually realize that it is the sedentary nature of their work that directly affects their health and job performance.

It is important to note that getting active can vastly improve your health, your comfort, mobility, and overall quality of life. That’s why it’s so important to stay active, even when you have a desk job.

It is important for everyone to get at least a little bit of exercise each day. If you’re sitting for most of your working day, it’s essential to find a way to move more frequently. Not only will regular movement help mitigate the risks associated with excessive sedentary behavior (such as back pain, obesity, and even heart disease), but research suggests that it can also increase productivity, mental focus, and job satisfaction.

Need some tips for staying on the move while also working a desk job? Check out the helpful tips below from our staff of licensed physical therapists!

Here are 5 tips to get you moving throughout the day! Take advantage of your

surroundings. Come up

with ways to move more on and around your work area. Can you park farther away from the building? Allocate 10 minutes of your lunch break to a brisk walk around the campus or neighborhood? Take the stairs instead of the elevator? Walk down the hall to chat with your colleague or employee instead of sending an email or text?

Remember to stay hydrated. Staying wellhydrated on the job offers

multiple benefits: it helps your tissues and joints stay healthy, it improves focus, it eases headaches, and yes—it will make you need to get up more frequently to use the bathroom!

Address any pain you may be experiencing. It’s hard to stay focused and comfortable at work if you’re in pain. And while we know that sitting for longer

than 7 to 8 hours per day is associated with health problems, sometimes the idea of increasing your physical activity can seem like a huge obstacle. By consulting with a physical therapist, you can get underlying health problems diagnosed and managed. Our therapists use noninvasive, evidence-based techniques that work with

your body’s natural healing power—it’s not just about masking the pain! Doctors of physical therapy can also prescribe expert guidance on ergonomic improvements around your office and can help you maximize your posture, core strength, and other elements of health so you can function better while on and off the clock. continued on page 15

Active Lifestyle...

continued from page 14

Track your steps with a pedometer. Research shows that wearing a simple pedometer (you can find super inexpensive options online and in sports retail stores) helps increase the number of steps you take per day. This kind of objective data can be inspiring and get you to move more frequently than you may otherwise. You may even consider getting some colleagues to join the “pedometer club” and create a little friendly competition to see who can get the most steps in throughout a typical work day or week!

Take short workout breaks during the day. At least once per hour, pause what you’re doing and take a few minutes to run through some simple exercises or stretches. These can be done in the privacy of your own office or even out in the open (hey—maybe you’ll inspire your co-workers!). Ask a physical therapist to provide you with an individualized program that can address your specific

needs and be tailored to your job duties.

An active lifestyle can also help you achieve better sleep at night

Not getting enough sleep can be detrimental to your health, and about a third of the population in the United States struggles with getting to sleep and/ or staying asleep.

An important aspect of an active lifestyle is that it can help you achieve better sleep, and in turn be more alert when you are awake. Exercise naturally tires out your body so when you lay your head down at night, you can know you’re getting better quality sleep.

Looking for more tips and tricks?

If you would like more assistance on getting active throughout the day, our physical therapists can help. Contact Aim Orthopedics & PT today to schedule a consultation!

AIM Orthopedics, 44 Main St., Little Falls, 973-860-0550

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Who Was Saint Valentine?

Valentine’s Day presents an opportunity to express feelings of love. Greeting cards and heartshaped chocolate boxes are traditional gifts, as are red roses. Most people know how and why Valentine’s Day is celebrated, but few may know the person behind the holiday’s name. The Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred individuals with the name Valentine, who each may hold ties to the Valentine’s Day celebration. The name Valentine comes from the Latin “Valentinus,” which means “worthy, strong or powerful.” The name was a common moniker at the time. It is not known just how many Valentines were around in that era, but historians believe there were many. According to the Catholic Education Resource Center, the following three Valentines share February 14th as their feast days. The historical records are sparse, but here’s what is known about these men.

1. One St. Valentine was a priest and physician in Rome. He comforted the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor

Claudius II. This Valentine was arrested and condemned to death by beheading for his faith.

2. Another St. Valentine was the Bishop of what is now Terni, located 60 miles from Rome. He also was arrested and beheaded under Emperor Claudius II.

3. The third St. Valentine suffered martyrdom in Africa, but not much else is known about him.

Historians are unsure which Valentine inspired Valentine’s Day or if the day is meant to commemorate each of them. Stories about Valentine and his actions helping the faithful are used interchangeably.

According to Britannica, although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognize St. Valentine, he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the lack of reliable information about him. In addition to being the namesake behind Valentine’s Day, he is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics and beekeepers.

Courtesy

Dr. Gabriel Hannawi, DC Chiropractic Physician

Dr. Sean Santagato PT, DPT, GTS, Director of Physical Therapy - Dr. Santagato is a Physical Therapist, licensed to practice in the state of New Jersey. He attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he graduated on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies. He went on to Touro College in Manhattan, NY, and received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. While at Touro, Dr. Santagato was honored with an academic award for being at the top of his graduating class, as well as a research award for balance testing to prevent falls in the elderly community. Dr. Santagato believes in being up to date with the latest research and techniques within the field of physical therapy to always offer his patients the latest therapeutic treatment available.

As a Physical Therapist, Dr. Santagato believes every patient deserves an individual treatment program designed specifically to meet the patient’s goals to regain the full functional ability. Dr. Santagato is Level 1 Certified in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) which is a diagnostic system that systematically finds the cause of the pain by logically breaking down dysfunctional movement patterns. He believes strongly that through the right program and attitude everyone can regain the optimal functional ability.

Meet our Team

In addition, Dr. Santagato is also a Graston Technique Specialist provider for northern New Jersey. Graston Technique is a specific type of soft tissue mobilization using specific Graston instruments that treat fascial restrictions and scar tissue. Graston Technique is specifically successful at treating a multitude of injuries including but not limited to tendinitis such as; rotator cuff, biceps, or Achilles tendinitis, epicondylitis such as golfers elbow or tennis elbow, trigger finger, plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, knee pain, muscle, and ligaments sprains and strains. Graston Technique has been clinically proven to eliminate pain, restore ROM and restore functional ability in a shorter treatment period. Dr. Santagato has completed both the M1 and M2 level training making him a Graston Technique Specialist, GTS.

Dr. Santagato is also certified in Pre & Post Natal Corrective Exercise to help improve the quality of life for all future and present moms. Dr. Santagato was inspired to help pregnant women when his wife was pregnant with their first child and experiencing terrible back pain. Through this course, he has become trained on the importance of breathing and corrective core strengthening for pregnant women or women who have recently given birth.

Dr. Santagato has gained much clinical experience over the past years in an outpatient, Orthopaedic setting and is

comfortable treating all Orthopaedic conditions from pre and post-operative, spinal disorders, and sports injuries through hands-on manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and modalities. He has over 10 years of clinical outpatient experience.

In his free time, Dr. Santagato enjoys spending time with his family and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and diet. This is what led him to pursue a career in physical therapy where he can help people who are in pain or injured adopt a new lifestyle to help them make a full recovery.

Elite Spine and Sports Care Of Totowa, 349-351 Union Boulevard, Totowa, 862-239-1768.

Dr. Gabriel Hannawi, DC Dr. Sean Santagato PT, DPT, GTS

Holiday Lights Parade Makes Another Round for Young Child Battling Cancer in Little Falls

By Tina Pappas

Acommunity recently came together, all in the effort to make one particular tiny tot very happy this holiday season.

Liam Marquez has the love and support of his family, and many friends behind him. This is as the 2-year-old from Haskell, battles a rare and aggressive form of cancer and undergoes regular chemotherapy.

His aunt Jessica Myers and his uncle Corey Eopechino, residents of Little Falls, watch Liam several times a week. Jessica said that Liam was supposed to go on the float with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the recent Holiday Lights Parade presented by the local fire departments, but was unable to do so because of the chilly weather that evening. However, the Passaic Valley community came together to literally brighten up the evening for him on Nov. 29.

“He was supposed to be on that float riding with Santa and Mrs. Claus, but the day before he has a blood platelet transfusion,” she explained, adding that Liam was diagnosed with

Rhabdomyosarcoma when he was 8 weeks old and has been battling it since.

“He rang his bell in May of 2021 and by September 2021 his cancer returned. He is now considered Stage 4 and is undergoing chemotherapy,” Jessica further explained.

“My sister Kimberly, who is Liam’s mother, was very concerned about the cold weather that evening and was afraid he might catch a cold. When Mrs. Claus found out that Liam couldn’t join the float she offered to arrange a couple of fire trucks to come by my home where Liam was staying in order to bring the parade to him.”

According to Jessica, Mrs. Claus was portrayed by Carolyn Fontanella. As soon as she heard Liam was not able to join her and Santa on the float she made calls, which Jessica says was like a “domino effect” with people who wanted to help make sure Liam had his own special parade. Jessica was then informed that the family needed to take Liam to Passaic Valley High School (PVHS) because of how big the parade was getting once word got out.

Mayor James Damiano spoke of the

Liam

evening saying that Liam’s family only expected one or two fire trucks to appear when Liam could not participate in the Holiday Lights Parade.

“Instead, an entire parade worth of

trucks appeared lighting up!” he explained. “When the Little Falls, Totowa, and West Paterson Fire Departments heard about that they decided to bring the parade to

on page 21

Marquez and his mother Kimberly are greeted by Santa. Photos courtesy of Jessica Myers

Holiday Lights Parade...

him a few days later. This is what it’s all about. Thank you to everyone who made tonight so special for Liam and his entire family!”

“The parade became bigger than anything anyone could’ve imagined!” Jessica added. “Everyone came down and to put together his own parade and it was bumper to bumper! So much so that traffic needed to be stopped on Main Street because of how many vehicles showed up on the front U driveway of the high school. Liam was so happy to see all the lit vehicles and got excited to see Santa and Mrs. Claus when they came over to greet him!”

There was an array of lit vehicles, which also included the Salomone vehicles, the Passaic County Sheriff ’s Department vehicles, local police and fire departments vehicles, and those from the Township of Wayne. The PVHS marching band also performed for Liam.

“It’s really amazing how many came out to help Liam feel special!” Jessica said. “The police and fire departments gave him a special police badge and fire chief hat!

He now tells everyone he’s a police officer!

Mayor James Damiano and the Township

Council were also very helpful! Everyone was amazing and it was great to see how many people came together without even a second thought! We were all completely speechless. It was really beautiful!”

Jessica explained that everyone in her family is hoping for the best and is asking for continued prayers.

“We want to try to give him as many memories as possible and we’re still hopeful,” she further added. “There still is always that miracle child and Christmas came early this year!”

She also added that the saying “It takes a village” to raise a child holds true in Little Falls because the town has helped the family in so many ways with Liam.

“This town has proved that because Liam’s illness has been hard on everyone. All of our friends help out whenever they can, and the community has also been a great help to us,” she noted.

Jessica said it was the most heartwarming parade ever.

“It brought tears to all of our eyes to see how many people stopped what they were doing,” she said. “They jumped right in to make sure they could help put a smile on Liam’s face with his own parade!”

Little Falls Lights It Up for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival

By Tina Pappas

Memorial Park on Wilmore Road was brightly lit to celebrate the holiday season during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival on Dec. 2. Those in attendance enjoyed a spectacle of festive police and fire vehicles, singing performances, food vendors, and a photo op with Santa.

Mayor James Damiano led the countdown to the lighting of the tree with Councilman Al Kahwaty ,Councilman Chris Vancheri, Councilwoman Tanya Seber, Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, and Council President Anthony Sgobba at his side. The park’s tall, pine tree was switched on revealing its bright, colorful lights to kick off the holiday season. The Passaic Valley High School Choir delighted those in attendance with renditions of Christmas Carol favorites.

Makeshift snow was funneled out from Santa’s fire truck to onlookers and onto the sidewalks resembling a snowfall. A special tank decorated with holiday lights paid homage to veterans. The Passaic Valley Water Commission also presented their “Tank You” vehicle. The Little Falls Police Department (LFPD) collected toy donations for the annual Holiday Toy Drive for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Boy Scouts Troop 14 gave out hot chocolate to those in attendance.

Added in to the event this year was the Peddlers Village Holiday Marketplace that took place during the Christmas Tree Lighting event, and on Sunday for the community to come down and shop. Vendors set up their exhibits and braved the cold weather to sell their items, which was well-received by attendees.

Attendees enjoyed a selection of food trucks, such as The Brownie Bar, Rosie’s Empanadas and Riso-To-Go. Delicious treats from food vendors such as Mo &

Jay’s Pastry, Doughboy On The Rise, and Artisanal Lulu’s Lemonade were also onhand. Non-food vendors were also on display, including PQ Momma of Two, Shark Stone Pottery and Clean Temple Body Essentials. Families also got the opportunity to take pictures with Santa at the Memorial Park gazebo, sponsored by the Little Falls Fire Department (LFFD).

“Friday Night’s Tree Lighting ceremony was spectacular,” said Recreation Director Tyler Passero. “The support that the Recreation Department gets from the community around the holiday season is unmatched. Working together with Mayor Damiano, the Township Council, the Department of Public Works, LFPD, LFFD, Little Falls Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Passaic Valley High School Choir, and all of the vendors for helping bring the holiday spirit to the Township of Little Falls this past weekend is always pleasure!”

Damiano touted the Little Falls Recreation Department and thanked all those who helped put together the evening.

“Tonight was an incredible success lighting the Little Falls Christmas Tree in Wilmore Park,” he said. “The park was packed with kids and adults of all ages and fun was had by all. Thank you to everyone who made the night such a success, including all of our Township departments.”

Passero reminded the community to look for other holiday events on the way in the Township.

“Please don’t forget that the Recreation Department continues to spread the holiday spirit throughout the rest of the winter,” he noted. “Santa’s Mailbox is open for children to drop off letter to Santa and get a personalized letter back from the Jolly Fellow himself, as well as the Holiday House Decorating Contest.”

All contestants must be pre-registered by Dec. 18.

Attendees enjoy a fun, festive evening through the Peddlers Village Holiday Marketplace at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival in Little Falls on Dec. 2. Photos courtesy of The Township of Little Falls

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Little Falls Holds Annual Holiday Toy Drive, P.B.A. Pancake Breakfast

By Tina Pappas

The season of giving was in the air, where the annual Holiday Toy Drive/Little Falls PBA #346 Pancake Breakfast was held on Dec. 10 at Passaic Valley High School.

Approximately 75 families had the chance to have their picture taken with Santa after enjoying the breakfast, with each family donating a gift as part of the PBA’s annual drive. Donations poured in as a large collection of toys was amassed inside the high school’s cafeteria.

According to Cpl. Jon Vanak of the Little Falls Police Department (LFPD), the breakfast was started 35 years ago, and for the past six years the toy drive was rolled into the breakfast.

“We ask families to bring a toy to the breakfast for the toy drive and that adds to our collection,” Vanak explained. “It’s a great event for all our residents and their children.”

Vanak also said that the event is very successful each year with the help of PVHS, the Little Falls School District, including other businesses in town that have assisted with the toy drive.

Kevin Sayed, President of Little Falls PBA #346, added that it’s a great way for the local police department to help donate to

the toy drive where the collection is then brought to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson.

“Last year, St. Joe’s Hospital told us that we were their biggest contributor to their toy drive,” Sayed said, adding that the PBA was invited by the hospital to hand-deliver the toys to the kids. “We get a great turnout at this breakfast each year. We hope to continue to make it bigger and more successful, with more ideas brought to the table every year.”

Deputy Chief Bryan Prall also commented on the event.

“The Pancake Breakfast with Santa predates any toy drive initiative from the department,” he noted. “It’s a great way for the police department and the PBA to do something not only for our immediate community but our expanded community like St Joe’s Hospital, with Santa visiting for 5 hours with kids from the oncology department. It’s very rewarding.”

Local resident Courtney Palmieri said she and her family look forward to the breakfast with Santa each year.

“This is a really nice event for the town to do,” she said. “My girls enjoy coming every year!”

Local resident Chris Gulla said it was his first year of attending the event with his

family.

“I like it. It’s a fun time and it’s our first time here,” he said. “I brought my sons and they’re really enjoying it.”

Also highlighted during the breakfast was a special raffle offering several holiday gift cards to children in attendance. Those who took part in the Officer Playing Card Program in the LFPD, were given a free raffle prize ticket after they collected an entire card set, like 11-year-old Damon Mcglynn

who won of one of the raffle prizes.

“I wanted to collect them just because I actually want to become a police officer when I grow up,” he said, as he was called up to collect his prize.

Prall added that programs like the Officer Playing Card Program are important because they help foster positive interactions between today’s youth and police.

Members of Little Falls PBA #346 take a photo at the annual Holiday Toy Drive/Little Falls PBA #346 Pancake Breakfast inside the PVHS cafeteria. Photos courtesy of The Township of Little Falls

courtesy of the Borough of Woodland Park.

Woodland Park Police Chief John Uzzalino was sworn in by Mayor Keith Kazmark as President of the Passaic County Police Chief’s Association. Chief Uzzalino assumed the acting chief position on March 20, 2020, just one day before the state’s COVID-19 initial pandemic shutdown, and was sworn in as chief officially on Dec. 1, 2021. Chief Uzzalino was hired in March 1995 after attending

the New Jersey State Police Academy. Throughout his tenure, he has served the patrol division, as a school resource officer, juvenile officer, detective, tactical team leader, and firearms instructor. He has held the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and acting chief. A lifelong resident of the Borough, Uzzalino attended the local school system and graduated from Passaic Valley High School in 1989.

Photo

By Jillian Risberg

Since 1989, Community Options has encouraged the freedom and selfdetermination of all people with disabilities by always advocating for them.

And 2023 will mark the 15th anniversary of Cupid’s Chase. It originated in Princeton, and this is the 10th year being held in Morristown — on Saturday, February 11 from 11am to 6pm.

There are also races in Bridgewater, Burlington, Glen Rock, Princeton, Seaside Heights, Spring Lake, Westfield; and occurring simultaneously in 40 additional cities across 10 states.

“We raise the funds to improve our residences and accessibility supports,” says Northern NJ State Director, Tracy Mendola. “Funding for these are not provided by the

continued on page 32

Madison Resident and Golf Historian Pens New Book on History of the Game in Garden State

By Alexander Rivero

As far back as he can recall, Madison resident and Louisiana native Kevin Casey, 69, has been in love with the game of golf. As a child he played it with his parents and older brother, and by 8 he won his first trophy. By his own estimation, he was a “pretty good” junior player in the state of Louisiana, and went on to the University of Georgia, where he played on the school team. He followed with a five-year stint in the army, during which time he, naturally, continued playing.

Now retired and hungry to remain within the game he loves, Casey wrote a book tracing New Jersey’s historical place within the history of golf in the United States. The book— Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the

Garden State—is published by Legendary Publishing & Media Group, and dives into local golf history by way of its greatest stories.

The book is of the coffee table variety, 11 by 14 inches in length, rich in description and photographs, and is a fine addition to the library of anyone that appreciates not only the beauty of the game, but the extent to which New Jersey helped determine its development in the United States up through the 19th and 20th century.

Like anyone who had taken a head-first plunge into a deep subject, Casey’s main problem in putting the book together was in determining what information to keep and what information to discard.

“There was easily enough material here for another book,” he says. “The history is so rich, it was a struggle to

determine the scope of what I’d focus on.”

Casey knew that there was always a great deal of interest in the subject of golf in New Jersey, both from the practical perspective of gamesmanship and the historical element of it. He took a careful inventory of the books published on the subject of local golf, and found an opportunity to add a volume of material that no one had ever delved into beyond a peripheral point.

“New Jersey didn’t have any place that pulled together the history of the game in the state,” Casey says, “and the more I dove into it, the more amazing it all got.”

Two of the most interesting stories that caught his eye during his early research phase were the very first golf club ever managed completely by

women, and the first golf club ever managed wholly by African-Americans.

The first story centers on the Morris County Golf Club, which started in 1894. From the beginning, it was an all-female operated club, and the course itself was designed for women as well.

“The men would be able to come and play on Saturdays, during the afternoons, after 3 o’clock,” Casey says. “But before long, the men, who controlled the pursestrings at the time,

Front cover of the book, available for order from http://www. njgolfstories.com.

ended up deciding it was something they had to take over, and they did.”

The options were to either pull out their funds entirely, or keep the club with the men as the board

of governors. The women’s board disintegrated and Morris County Golf Club was born.

The golf course set the stage for female

continued on page 32

The author, Kevin Casey.

state,

The 5K became a yearly tradition for people to stay fit while raising money for a worthwhile cause.

There are currently about 55 runners registered in this year’s race and they expect to have about 300.

According to Mendola, the course runs throughout the town suburbs, beginning and ending at their Daily Plan It location, 150-152 Speedwell Avenue in Morristown.

This location provides rental space for businesses and employment training for individuals with disabilities who provide concierge services for those tenants.

For the State Director, the most rewarding part of this journey is being able to include the local community in raising awareness for individuals with disabilities and their housing and employment needs — and the substantive lives they are living with the support of Community Options staff.

The most challenging part is the unpredictability of February weather.

“Last year we had a beautiful 50-degree day, but negative temperatures and snowstorms make logistics of the race a bit more complicated,” Mendola says. “Thankfully we have a wonderful team and group of volunteers that ensure the race goes off without any issues.”

The State Director has organized the Morristown race for 10 years. Although she has not attended other races, they all often share information regarding what works and what

doesn’t.

“It is truly a team effort with the National office and the race directors to ensure each race is successful,” Mendola says this year’s goal is $30,000; currently they have amassed about $5K. “Last year we raised over $26K, so we are hopeful.”

All proceeds from each Cupid’s Chase race go directly to benefit the region that hosts the race. So anything raised for Morristown benefits the residences and services in Morris, Sussex, and Essex Counties.

“In the past we have utilized the funds for updating wheelchair ramps, creating accessible bathrooms and many more improvements for residences,” says the State Director.

Her greatest hope for this year’s Cupid’s Chase is that everyone has a great race, and they exceed their fundraising goal.

According to Mendola, the race has a little catch.

She says on the runner’s registration one is asked if they are “available” or “unavailable,” which translates to the color of the Under Armor shirt they are provided in their competition goody bag.

“This year single runners looking to make a connection at the race will be wearing a white shirt with ‘available’ on the back,” says the State Director. “Those who are ‘unavailable’ will be wearing a red shirt with ‘unavailable’ printed on the back. This makes it easy for Cupid.”

They also have sweatshirts (available in pink and red) for sale with the CC logo and “Morristown” on the back.

With previous races sidelined because of COVID-19 everyone couldn’t be happier to be back.

“Community Options is grateful for all the local participation and support,” Mendola says, adding they hope for a lovely day.

For more information, www.comop.org/cupidschase

Golf Historian...

continued from page 30

participation in the sport, and it had a lasting impact on golf’s attraction to female participants for years to come.

The second story centers on the Shady Rest Golf Club of Scotch Plains (now the public Scotch Hills Country Club), which ran from 1920 to 1963. In 1921, Shady Rest became the first ever African-American owned and operated golf club, a first for both New Jersey and the United States.

Throughout most of its history under African-American ownership, all the way up through 1964, the club went beyond the simple standards of a golf club. Shady Rest was a community center, a place for African-Americans to congregate and relax, as well as a venue for some of the greatest singers and musicians of its day. Some of the talent that stopped by Shady Rest include none other than Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway.

Shady Rest ultimately closed in 1964, and in the process transferred over to public ownership.

For more information on Kevin Casey’s book—Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—please visit his website at www.njgolfstories. com. Click on the “order now” link on the upper right hand corner of the page to purchase a copy.

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program Returns to Deliver Message to High Schoolers

By Steve Sears

For the first time in two years, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program, courtesy of the Partnership for a DrugFree New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (HBCBS), in collaboration with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), has returned to deliver a powerful message to high school students in the area.

And late in August, current Harrison High School football coach, former Rutgers Scarlet Knight quarterback, and New York Jets/New England Patriots/Miami Dolphins player, Ray Lucas, delivered a key address. Lucas suffered numerous injuries and underwent more than a dozen operations while and after he was a player. After becoming dependent on prescribed opioids, Lucas sometimes took up to 1,400 pills monthly.

Recognizing the concern that teen athletes who get injured can also suffer the same type of addiction, PDFNJ, HBCBS, and the NJSIAA wants to stop the spread before it gets out of hand.

“The Partnership has developed a multi-pronged approach to educating young people in the state of New Jersey on the opioid epidemic,” Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director, says. “That approach includes events such as what we’re doing with Ray which we’ve just completed at Clifton High School: talking to student athletes who are very vulnerable, unfortunately, because they experience injuries, and as a result, may be in a

position where they may be prescribed an opioid. We’re also delivering messages through various media outlets, including but not limited to signs on buses and trains and billboards, and messages on our social media platforms.”

Another part of the process, per Valente, is engaging young people in many of the PDFNJ’s school-based programs, allowing them to become more knowledgeable about the issue. “That’s also another part of the approach,” Valente adds. He also feels that, in addition to Lucas being representative of an esteemed group that had risen to the top ranks of professional sports and had fallen on hard times in addiction, Lucas’s presence is also emblematic of someone who, if he knew back then what he knows now, he would not have become dependent on opioids. “That is one of the reasons his presentation is so important. As a person who has gone through athletics on the high school, college, and professional levels, by speaking to athletes, he can easily relate to what they are experiencing on a day-today basis. When he delivers his message about looking at ways to deal with pain other than through opioids, speaking to your trainers, doctors, and coaches about alternative to using opioids to address any sports injuries, I think that’s most important.”

Lucas played for seven seasons in the National Football League, primarily as a quarterback. Two years after he left the NFL, he had major back surgery, and five years after that started to experience serious neck issues. He started to take pills regularly, and his addiction had begun. “I was

in a very dark place,” Lucas says. “I don’t know if I’m a role model, but a survivor definitely. Again, I was in a very dark place.” He had also dropped from his playing weight of 215 pounds down to 164 pounds, and he was approached about telling his story. “That night I went home and prayed, and I heard a voice that asked, ‘How many others are suffering in silence like you?’ I didn’t know, but made the decision that, if I could tell my story, then maybe they (others) could get some kind of hope.”

For more information about the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey and its programs, visit www.drugfreenj.org.

New Jersey native Ray Lucas and Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo Valente at an event

Bucket List Travels: Surprising Cape May

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.

By Paul Partridge

Even after 12 years of family retreats, Cape May offers new surprises and adventures

The Bread Lady

Down towards the Nature Conservancy on Sunset Boulevard sits an inconspicuous roadside stand that’s open one or two days a week, and the days change randomly. Enfin Farms operates like Vatican City does when choosing a new pope. Thousands breathlessly wait for the signal, only in this case the signal comes via Facebook and Instagram: One hour ‘til fresh bread!

Signal given, the race is on. Men, women, children, and dogs dash to the stand on foot, bike, car, golf cart and jogging strollers to secure a place line in hopes of getting one or two loaves of the best (still warm) homemade wood-fired bread you’ve ever tasted.

The Bread Lady makes 15 or so different varieties, but those waiting in line don’t know what today’s offerings will be. But we don’t care. Because whether it’s beet and dill or rosemary or pumpernickel, we know it’s going to be amazing. We also know that her 100 or so loaves will sell out within minutes, so we pray she doesn’t run out before it’s our turn.

Tiki Cruise

The phrase ‘tiki cruise’ conjures up images of loud, drunken revelers cruising the harbor in a floating Mexican hat. Nevertheless, I agree to go when I learn that we have the boat to ourselves, and our dog Billie is welcome.

Our 2-hour sunset cruise gives us a chance to explore Cape May from the water. As a bonus we have Captain Rob, a fountain of knowledge. By day, Rob is a tugboat captain.

Today he’s sitting in for the boat owner, who’s taking part in the MidAtlantic fishing tournament. Some fun facts we learn from Rob:

80% of the world’s squid production comes from Cape May. Also, a very high proportion of bunker, which is used for cosmetics and other fish oil products.

The tournament purse for this year’s MidAtlantic competition was $5.23 million. 1st prize in the white marlin category paid $871,404. Second prize went to Michael Jordan’s boat (yes, that Michael Jordan), paying $693,615.

One angler tried to cheat by pumping his catch with seawater to add weight. One of the judges was a taxidermist who deduced that the fish was waterlogged. The competitor was disqualified.

The Marvelous Mrs. Mallard

One afternoon my daughter Emma and I are taking a walk. Suddenly, a mallard duck lands at our feet and starts to follow us. Her little duck feet struggle to maintain our pace. So she flies ahead and waits by the side of the road for us to catch up.

The same pattern repeats a few more times. Finally, she takes flight high into the sky. We wave au revoir.

A minute later she’s back, this time landing across the street. She waddles through traffic straight to us and settles at our ankles. Maybe it’s a relative reincarnated, Emma suggests. The duck accompanies us for another half mile, finally breaking off to swim in a backyard pool.

Later that evening, we learn that Carol, my mother’s best friend for 70 years, passed away earlier in the day. Mom wonders if the Marvelous Mrs. Mallard was Carol saying

Billie after her rescue at sea. goodbye.

Pontoon Swoon

My wife’s brother Marco is an avid fisherman. The rest of us are the gang that couldn’t cast straight. Our specialty is hooking everything that’s not a fish. Fingers and thumbs? Check. A baseball cap? No problem. The boat’s canopy? continued on page 35

Morristown

Bucket List Travels...

from page 34

Snagged it. A PBS tote bag? Reel it in.

For years we rented the same ragtag pontoon boat. To picture it, imagine a 1967 VW Bus – not well maintained. Duct tape holding the seat cushions together. Shag carpeting. Cigarette burns in the dashboard. More than a little rust.

On our first fishing trip, we said to the marine owner, “We’d like to rent this pontoon boat.”

“You would?” he said, totally surprised.

Even worse than the relic’s shabby condition is the engine – a 4 horsepower lawnmower engine. It’s the only craft that can go full throttle through a no-wake zone without creating even a ripple. Each year we putt-putt along, embarrassed, passed by kayakers, row boats, floating sea gulls, turtles. Last year, when a woman doing an open ocean swim zipped lapped us, waving, we decided it was time for an upgrade.

We found a new marina with an updated pontoon boat and – best of all – a 60 HP engine! So we set out with great expectations and the wind in our hair (for once).

The fish start biting right away. First a small shark. Then several dogfish. Marco tries to kiss a dogfish for good luck, but it jumps out of his hand. Uh-oh, is this bad luck?

As we wonder, the engine makes a

grinding noise and abruptly conks out. The mooring line is wrapped around the propellor. We cut the line free, restart the engine, and breathe a sigh of relief. Then… “Dog overboard!” Billie is in the water –and getting pulled away from the boat by the current. Emma leaps in and manages to wrestle her aboard after a few nervous minutes.

We decide it best to take Billie ashore. My daughter Grace, Billie and I offload at The Crab House at Two Mile Landing. The rest of the crew ventures back out, catches more dogfish, several black sea bass and a 19” flounder, which becomes dinner.

Other Fun Surprises

Elaine’s Porch – an ideal summer hangout with a neat outdoor bar. One of the regulars is Chunk the bulldog, a spitting image of Winston Churchill. Only thing missing is a cigar.

The Washington Inn restaurant – at some point during dinner, you will say Wow! Especially if you try the crab & corn chowder or the lamb cavatelli.

Cape May Point Beach – never crowded, a daily dolphin show right offshore, good fishing off the rocks, and delightful sunsets.

Music – free concerts all over town. Enjoyed the Sensational Soul Cruisers and Hunka Junk at the Cape May ferry, and The Big House Band in Rio Grande.

Ever Hiked in Northern NJ? Thank the NY-NJ Trail Conference

By Chip M. O’Brien

Howie Liebmann still remembers the moment that changed his view of hiking trails forever.

He was hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a demanding trek in the best conditions, and springtime snowmelt had swallowed many stream crossings. In order to cross, he had to remove his socks and boots, wade through the frigid water, and dry off on the other side before continuing. It was arduous and exhausting.

“And then you come to a spot where there was a bridge built,” Liebmann says. “And you go: wow. Thank God for this bridge. I don’t know who built this bridge, but God bless ‘em.”

It’s a familiar sentiment for the 24 staff members and 2,500 volunteers who power the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. “They know bridges don’t happen on their own,” says Liebmann, who now leads volunteers in maintaining 75 miles of trails as the NYNJTC’s Northwest New Jersey Trail Chair. “And they want to pay it forward.”

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a nonprofit organization that builds, maintains, and protects about 2,175 total miles of hiking trails from the Delaware Water Gap in northern New Jersey to just north of the Catskills in New York. About 760 of those miles fall within New Jersey, almost all north of Interstate 80.

“Basically, we do work to make sure that the natural areas and trails in our region are accessible and sustainable for another century, for generations to come,” says Ashley Nester, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Trail

Conference.

The Trail Conference knows something about sustaining wilderness trails for generations: in 1923, after changing its name from the Palisades Interstate Trail Conference, the organization built the first completed mile of the Appalachian Trail near Bear Mountain, NY.

While the Trail Conference remains focused on building and maintaining hiking trails, as well as publishing famously authoritative trail maps by Sussex County, NJ cartographer Jeremy Apgar, it has also expanded to include conservation and stewardship work that ties to its mission. “It’s great if we have someone building a trail, but what about the natural areas around those trails?” Nester says. “You can’t really have a healthy trail system without a healthy forest for it to thrive in.”

On the local level, the Trail Conference’s work in NJ focuses primarily on three tasks: erosion mitigation, management of invasive plants, and trail upkeep and signage. All three have increased in importance as more people have turned to local trails for recreation and relaxation since COVID: Nester notes that the Conference’s most popular trailheads each saw about 20,000 users in 2022 alone.

The battle against erosion has become increasingly challenging thanks to changing conditions: more intense summertime heat, followed by intense storms with heavy, eroding rain. “It has forced the Conference, particularly our trail builders, to think a lot more creatively about what a sustainable trail looks like,” says Zachary Cole, Long Distance Trail Coordinator for the Conference. Trail crews

Bob Jonas and Estelle Anderson, Trail Conference Co-Supervisors at Morristown National Historical Park continued on page 37

NY-NJ Trail Conference...

can deploy an arsenal of tools to control water flow and erosion: water bars, check dams, puncheon (a low plank bridge), and puncheon’s big brother: the much-beloved bridge.

Though erosion presents a constant challenge, many parks suffer from an even more aggressive enemy. “The biggest problem here is probably the proliferation of invasive botanical species,” says Bob Jonas, currently Co-Supervisor of Morristown National Historical Park alongside his wife, Estelle Anderson. Invasives choked the trails when they first arrived as Co-Chairs of the Central North Jersey Committee in 2008. A three-year concerted effort helped fight back the worst of it, ensuring wider trails and reduced regrowth. “They’re very prolific,” he says. “So it’s a constant job, really.”

The Conference focuses on about a dozen particularly aggressive invasive species in NJ, including barberry, Japanese stiltgrass, and multiflora rose.

Training is also a major component of the Conference’s work: they offer rigorous apprenticeship programs for their certified sawyers as well as practical training and experience for their Conservation Corps members. “We’re really training the next generation of environmental conservationists and leaders,” Nester, the Community Outreach Coordinator, says.

All of this work is accomplished in partnership with federal, state, local, and private entities, as the Trail Conference doesn’t own any land itself and must seek permission from land managers in order to service the trails.

In the case of long distance trails, this might require conversation with literally dozens of land owners. The Conference serves three long-distance trails: the NY-NJ section of the Appalachian Trail, which it maintains alongside the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and two trails that it designs and leads: the 358-mile Long Path and the 180-mile Highlands Trail.

The Highlands Trail is of particular importance to NJ because it passes through the federally recognized Highlands Region, which occupies less than 15% of the state while providing over 70% of its population with drinking water. By connecting separately owned pieces of the Highlands Region into one landscape, says Cole, the Long Distance Trail Coordinator, the Highlands Trail helps preserve NJ’s water and air quality while offering opportunities for recreation, as well as justification for preserving individual parcels of natural land.

If certain land is considered historically significant, several entities must approve major maintenance projects before the Conference can proceed. Anderson, Co-Supervisor of Morristown National Historical Park, notes the historical importance of the land she maintains: over 7,000 of George Washington’s troops were stationed at Jockey Hollow throughout the terrible winter of 1779-80 during the Revolutionary War. Every pile of rocks “could have been an encampment,” she says. “It could have been a fireplace, it could have been a foundation.”

The result: digging and moving rocks is not permitted in the park without approval from the State Historic Preservation Office, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and the Northeast Region Archeology Program. But Anderson and Jonas are undeterred. They’ve made a list of twenty trail signposts that they’d like to replace or service, as soon as approval and warmer weather arrive.

The Trail Conference enjoys a harmonious relationship with land managers and park staff. As a volunteer-run organization, the conference can perform necessary trail work that parks don’t have the time, personnel, or resources to do themselves.

Liebmann, the Northwest NJ Trail Chair, recalls asking one park superintendent for her input about a tricky trail maintenance challenge. Her response: “Why are you asking me? You know the trails better than I do. What do you think?”

“And she’s right,” Liebmann says. “We’re on the trails all the time.”

This speaks to the especially vital role that the NY-NJ Trail Conference fills in NJ: our state allocates insufficient funds to its parks, leading to a lack of resources and park staff that many fear is unsustainable.

In April 2022, ecologist Michael Van Clef, Ph.D. released the New Jersey State Lands Management Report assessing NJ’s public lands and resources. Clef depicts a dire picture of NJ’s state parks: the state’s operating budget for parks is one third of Pennsylvania’s and one sixth of New York’s, even as NJ state lands face more environmental pressures due to greater population density. Park staffing has been slashed to bare bone, with only fifteen Park Superintendents assigned to supervise fifty parks, and “invasive species control is virtually absent on park lands” due to a lack of personnel to tackle the job.

In short, NJ parks don’t have enough staff to do the work required to keep trails usable– and without the Trail Conference’s legion of volunteers, there would be no one to do the work at all. “They probably would

NY-NJ Trail Conference...

just say, okay, close the trail,” Anderson says. “And not just our park… all through the state, if they’re not taken care of. They don’t have the staff to do it.”

Even the Trail Conference’s work is hamstrung in NJ due to a lack of partner funding. Though volunteerrun, the conference’s work depends on lumber and other equipment and materials that must be regularly replaced. Many programs run by the New York side of the Trail Conference, specifically those that hire Americorps volunteers, naturalists, conservation workers, and other professional contractors, rely on state grants that are unavailable in NJ.

One solution presented itself to Anderson and Jonas at Morristown National Historical Park. In April, the Friends of Jockey Hollow formed under its first Executive Director, Leslie Bensley. Its purpose: to help fund maintenance, restoration, and other upgrades for the park’s Jockey Hollow and New Jersey Brigade Areas, including historical structures and trails. With the nation’s 250th anniversary approaching, the task is particularly timely for this heritage site.

“We want to promote the park. We want to protect the environmental... and cultural resources,” says Bensley. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have Bob and Estelle as our leaders because they are some of the most qualified and passionate trail leaders… How lucky are we that this is their park and we get to work with them?”

In his State Lands Management Report, Van Clef

recommends creating a similar organization at the statewide level: a nonprofit friends group that could fund public lands projects across NJ. Such a proposal is already in motion. Bill A-594 proposes the creation of the NJ State Parks and Open Space Foundation, an organization that would fulfill this exact purpose. “[NJ parks] are precious jewels in the most densely populated state in the nation, and they must be maintained and protected at all costs,” writes Assemblywoman Shama Haider of District 37, who sponsored the bill. “The entity created with the passing of A-594 would make it easier for private citizens to support our public spaces, something that we should have done a long time ago.”

Assemblyman Alex Sauickie of District 12, a co-sponsor of the bill, agrees. “Parks play a critical role in quality of life and getting people outdoors, especially post-pandemic,” he says. He looks forward to lobbying for the bill and getting more cosponsors, mentioning the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial as well: “There’s no better time than now, in my opinion, to be really focused on this.”

Bill A-594 currently awaits approval by committee before it can be referred to the state assembly. If the bill passes, the new organization would tie in well with the work of the Trail Conference. “What I think this bill speaks to is that the ones that are getting it done really well, right now, tend to be volunteers,” Sauickie says. The organization’s support would allow the Trail Conference to fund more ambitious projects throughout northern NJ.

In the meantime, as they have for the past hundred years,

the volunteers of the Trail Conference continue caring for New Jersey’s trails, their presence largely invisible. “Before I started at the Trail Conference, I truly thought that the parks were the ones that were maintaining trails,” Nester, the Community Outreach Coordinator, says. “And that’s where I get chills because I think it’s so cool that we’re doing that work, and that there’s people out there who are willing to dedicate their time to keeping our public spaces accessible for us to use.”

“It’s the community looking after community assets,” says Cole, the Long Distance Trail Coordinator. “They have a vision and a creative ability that is just unparalleled… it’s impressive, and it’s incredible.”

“If you saw these guys work…” says Liebmann, the Northwest New Jersey Trail Chair. “These people love doing what they’re doing.”

He remembers one particular project: building a 40-foot pedestrian bridge in Stokes Forest. He watched a crew of volunteer trail maintainers move Class 1 poles, essentially treated telephone poles, into the forest and set them up to form the bridge. “I was utterly in marvel,” he says. “We had thirty people standing on that bridge. You didn’t see that bridge drop an inch. They put a 40-foot bridge up in a day and a half.”

The next day, hikers enjoying Stokes Forest did not need to hop a precarious path across wet stones or wade across a swollen, muddy creek. Someone had built a bridge.