Randolph Library 60 Years of Connecting – Discovering -and Enriching
By Henry M. Holden
Many people have a preconceived notion that libraries are musty dusty places and does not have anything new.
For over 60 years, thanks to the hard work of many people and with the support of the residents of Randolph, the Randolph Township Free Public Library has a plethora of books, and technology. It has gone from a small corner of a stone house to the first-rate library that it is today. It evolved into one of the premier providers of library services in Morris County.
Since opening its doors in 1964, the library has grown and expanded in ways the founders could not possibly imagined, with technological and innovative advances. Looking back, we can only marvel at the many changes that have taken place over the 60 years, and the people and events that have led us to the extraordinary library residents enjoy today.
It all began one June evening in 1962, when the local PTA decided to investigate the possibility of opening a public library in Randolph. After six months of investigation, the committee had made little progress. But, around this time, the Morris County Library came on the scene and the possibility of opening an Association Library with their cooperation became a reality. As Roxbury had just opened a library using this model, there was “political pressure” on Randolph to
examine the example to follow.
In May 1963, the Randolph Township Public Library Association was incorporated as a non-profit organization. At that time, Randolph had roughly 8,000 residents, who would be served by a new library. The Association, under its nine-member board, purchased a small stone and concrete house on Millbrook Avenue (the current location of Artworks Studio) right behind the Randolph Police Department building). The library would occupy the 600 square foot garage, while the rest of the building would be rented out to generate income to support the library.
The library officially opened to the public on June 20, 1964. On that day, the library’s first patrons were registered. The library’s opening-day collection consisted of around 6,700 items, over 4,200 of which were on long-term loan from the Morris County Library. Even today, you can find some of these items on the shelves. Just look for any book that has the “Morris County Library” stamp on it. If you find one, that book was part of Randolph Library’s original collection!
Anita Freeman was hired as the library director on January 26, 198., She recalls, “It was like a different planet.” She described the early years at the library.
“We had bats, snakes and wild kittens [in the basement], and animal control would not come to get them,” she remembered. “The mother cat was on the roof of the
library howling!”
Freeman remained in that position for 36-years, retiring on January 31, 2017, Freeman, commenting on the progress during her decades of service to the library.
“I started here on January 26, 1981, so, 36 years later I decided to retire and enjoy my new granddaughter.”
Freeman was not gone for long: She continued to lead book clubs at the library
as a volunteer.
With the hiring of its first paid professional librarian in 1969, the library growth mirrored the growth of the Township.
By 1970, the population served by the library had increased to over 13,000 people, and by 1979, that number had gone up to more than 19,000! The library
The Teen Zone is one of the library’s gathering spot for teens to commucate. Photo Henry M. Holden continued on page 4
How To Achieve An Immediate Smile Makeover
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Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term
such as coffee, tea, wine, etc. The appliance comes with a cleaning kit, which does a great job for maintenance.
asking a builder to make you a house without a proper foundation.
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So who isn’t a candidate for Snap On Smile? The biggest disqualifications are periodontal (gum) disease and decay. If you have gum disease or multiple cavities, these issues need to be addressed first. Also, teeth that stick out too far or have severe tilts to them can be problematic.
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To learn more about the appliance, visit Dr. Goldberg’s website. You can find photos of actual patients and additional information. If you’d like to see if you’re a candidate for the appliance, please call the office and set up a consultation.
Cost is also a question Dr. Goldberg and his staff hear often. Believe it or not, the appliance is slightly more than a single crown or veneer!
Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI
your smile, but don’t have the time or money to deal with it at the moment? Dr. Goldberg has been providing the community with a service known as Snap-On-Smile for years. They are removable plastic teeth customized to your mouth, and when in place, you can’t tell they aren’t real!
One question people ask regularly is if the Snap On Smile with affect speech, since it fits over your own teeth. It can, but not usually. Some people require a short adjustment period to get used to having something new in their mouth. Within 2 weeks, most people adjust without a problem.
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People also ask how long will the appliance last. This is very difficult to answer, but we have seen them last between 3 and 5 years.
3/5/6
Dental Implants
Another common question revolves around staining. The Snap On Smile is quite stain resistant, but over time, it can darken from certain foods and beverages
If you have not had a complete examination including a set of dental films, as well as a recent dental cleaning, please don’t expect a dentist to make this appliance for you without attending to these basic needs. This would be like
Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist located in the Roxbury Mall in Succasunna, NJ. He has been providing dental services to the community for 28 years, including: cleanings, check-ups, whitening, veneers, crowns, root canals, dentures, periodontal (gum) services, dental implants, and much more. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Implantology/Implant Dentistry, holds multiple degrees and is recognized as an expert in dental implants. You can find additional information on his website: www.morriscountydentist.com
Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist with credentials in multiple organizations. Please visit his website
The office can be reached at: (973) 3281225 or via email: frontdesk@mcda1.com
Dr. Goldberg is a leading expert on dental implants. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, which is a degree held by only 1% of dentists worldwide. Whether you require a single implant or complex full-mouth rehabilitation, a free consultation with Dr. Goldberg should be considered.
General
Dr. Goldberg treats entire families, from toddlers to seniors. Services include cleanings, check-ups, fillings, Invisalign, dentures, cosmetics, and more! He and his staff enjoy the long-term relationships they build with their patients.
Ira Goldberg, DDS, FAGD, DICOI
Randolph Library...
was renovated and expanded to occupy all its original 2,500 square foot building. The library’s staff expanded to meet the needs of the township’s residents.
In 1977, the people of Randolph voted in a referendum and chose to make the library a municipal department. The Association Library was no more, and in 1979 the Randolph Township Free Public Library was officially born!
The library soon outgrew the stone building on Millbrook Avenue and the Township officials began looking for a place to relocate.
Due to the rapid growth of both the township and the library, in 1981 another referendum was held. It was time to decide whether to build a new building, and a stateof-the-art library. When the referendum was defeated, the Town Council directed the Library Board to investigate existing buildings that remained after the decline of the resort business. All that remained was a dilapidated structure that could be converted into the new library. The building was the old Ackerman Hotel site, which at that time was dilapidated and crumbling. However, it was chosen to be the new location of Randolph’s public library.
Work on the new library began in November 1984. The building was renovated, interior spaces were planned, furniture purchased, and after a year of construction, the library opened to the public in October 1985.
2009, and has proven very popular with library patrons. The library’s front entrance and large meeting room were added in 2011, and the old meeting room became a comfortable study space with tables and an attractive water feature.
As the township continued to grow, the library grew along with it. As technology changed the library continued to evolve into a community hub. As the library expanded its offerings, so the residents of Randolph will always be up-to-date and able to take advantage of the resources that they so generously support.
“The library had saved a lot of money for the time, hoping for a new facility, and it went through a lot of searching for abandoned buildings,” Freeman said. “This building (Ackerman’s hotel) had a lot of promise, and the town said we could renovate it.”
In 1985, the library moved into the former restaurant at Ackerman’s Hotel where the township had been using it as a garage to store snowplows and other equipment. The Community Center, next-door to the library had been the hotel’s casino but was not updated until 2011.
“The lobby didn’t exist; it was just a field with an electrical pole in the middle of it.” “The big oak bar was still in this room [the children’s section], and the dining room was a Mediterranean style with archways; that are still there, too.”
almost doubled with 25,734 residents, according to the 2010 census.
“We have the ability to give the people the materials they’re looking for; we were one of the first libraries to have a circulating movie collection,” Freeman stated. “We were one of the first libraries to have foreign films.”
Freeman added that the community values education and provides the library with a budget able to meet the demands of the people who live here, as well as maintain programs such as summer concerts, knitting clubs, and book clubs.
“I just wish more people would avail themselves of what we have,” Freeman concluded. I would like to encourage people to see where their tax dollars are being spent.
Soon after Freeman retired Lore Reinhart became the new Director. She manages 25 employees, seven of whom are permanent full time employees.
Randolph residents had something new and exciting to enjoy following the opening of the new StoryWalk® on the path between Veterans Community Park and Doby Road.
Over the years, the library has expanded several times to meet the ever-growing population (26,000 residents on the 2020 Census: The Children’s Room doubled in size in 1999. The newly renovated, stylish Teen Zone opened in
Freeman believes one of her greatest accomplishments was helping the library grow with the population. She commented that there were 13,000 residents in Randolph when she became the director, and the population has
This project to bring books to the great outdoors is a collaborative effort between the Randolph Township Library and the Randolph Township Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. StoryWalk® is an innovative approach to encourage people of all ages to get out and walk while reading a wonderful children’s picture book. Pages of the book are displayed along the path inviting families, children and open others to read
continued from front page continued on page 6
the pages as they walk along.
Our StoryWalk® begins in Veterans Community Park located on Calais Road and can be accessed from the path near the community garden or the path that goes past the pickleball courts. The display continues along the path to Doby Road.
“The library has 25 Internet-connected computers available for public use. Internet Searching Public computers in the Adult Reading Room, Children’s Room, and Teen Zone provide access to the Internet. Browse the Internet, check your email, or search the library’s catalog and reference databases.
“The library offers a high-speed Wi-Fi network with access points throughout the building. You may use your laptop computer, tablet, smartphone, or other Internet-capable device that supports Wi-Fi. No password is necessary and library staff are available to provide assistance, if you have any difficulty connecting to the network. Wi-Fi printing is not available; printing is available from the library’s computers only. Business Software Microsoft Office Professional 2013, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher, is available on designated computers located near the public printer
and in the Teen Zone.
Game Computers There are several AWE Learning© Early Literacy Station™ and After School Edge™ computers located in the Children’s Room, with software and games suitable for kids of different age levels.
“The library loans out for a seven-day loan period Apple iPad Mini 5 loaded with appropriate Apps. One of our most exciting offerings is Our latest offering to library patrons is Kanopy a streaming platform for movies, and top documentaries and all you need is your library card, and the App.
“Storywalk was a Library project which I spearheaded with a lot of cooperation from the Township,” said Reinhart. “I had heard of StoryWalks and we had done temporary ones here outside the library several times. It was popular so I suggested that the Library establish a permanent one with the full support of the Library Board.” “The StoryWalk was established in 2021. It was a Library project I spearheaded with a lot of cooperation from the Township,” said Reinhart. “I had heard of StoryWalks and we had done temporary ones here outside the library several times. It was popular so I suggested that the Library establish a permanent one with the full support of the Library Board.”
Building a Culture of Creativity, Inspiration and Collaboration
Lisa and Marc Salzman found Bach to Rock online about seven years ago in their quest for a music-oriented birthday party for their son. At the time, Bach to Rock had not expanded to New Jersey. However, the philosophy and approach to music education that Bach to Rock represented deeply resonated with them, so they moved full speed ahead, opening New Jersey’s first Bach to Rock location in Denville in 2018.
Lisa and Marc each bring a wealth of experience to the endeavor. Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and international studies and pursued a successful and rewarding career in leadership, marketing, and communications in New York. Lisa’s strengths in building and cultivating strong teams and work cultures has been a key factor in Bach to Rock Denville’s success. Marc was always a fan of music, playing trumpet, piano, and guitar. While staying close to music, Marc earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and later earned his MBA at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Marc’s enthusiasm for music was a motivating factor. Growing up, music lessons were not as exciting or fun. “Bach to Rock has been instrumental in shaping the evolution of music education programs. The Bach to Rock curriculum gets students playing the music they love from day one while also ensuring kids have a solid foundation in music theory.”
The Salzmans live by the credo, “do well to do good,” inspired by Lisa’s father, Dr. George Toth. As a devoted educator, he influenced the lives of many college students he taught and mentored over his 30+ year career in higher education. George was a respected figure in his community and enjoyed volunteering for several causes and organizations. “Bach to Rock Denville is owned and operated by Grandpa George’s Opus, Inc., in memory of my dad,” said
Lisa. “We wanted to continue his legacy, and Bach to Rock was the perfect avenue for us because it combines community, education, business, technology, and the opportunity to ‘do well to do good.’”
The following are insights from Lisa & Marc along with perspectives from their assistant director, Brittany and drum instructor, Wayne.
What have been the keys to success?
Hiring the right people and treating the people you work with as if they’re your family. We genuinely care about our team, our teachers, our students, and our members. At the core, music education is a people business and the key to success comes down to building strong relationships.
We are a tight team at Bach to Rock Denville and as a team, being able to make a difference and feel valued is predicated on having deep mutual respect and a shared passion for what we’re doing together every day. We recognize we work together to change people’s lives through music. Our core admin team is an all-star team—Brittany, our multi-talented assistant director, Joni, our resident rockstar ‘den mom’, and Katie, our creative force who also shines in the classroom. They are so in tune with us and the school’s mission, students and members, they make a difference every single day.
(Brittany) Our school is successful because we have a dedicated team of managers and instructors. We treat our staff and customers like family. Our keys to success are our flexibility, with both our instructors and customers; the high quality of our programs; and the variety of the programs we offer.
(Wayne) Leadership begins at the top and drives the success of our school. Never have I been in a professional setting so open to innovation, so willing to both invite and try
new concepts, and so supportive of the staff, their endeavors and overall well-being.
(Lisa) We also find fun and unique ways to broaden our students’ musical knowledge and experiences. For example, we started hosting ‘Master Classes’ with successful musicians such as Brendan Buckley (Shakira) and Mike Tichy (Jim Breuer’s Loud & Rowdy). Having musicians—and great individuals– like Mike and Brendan visit the school to meet students, talk about their experiences and what it takes to be successful musicians, and make some impromptu music together – provides another angle for our students’ overall music education.
What do you enjoy most about Bach to Rock Denville?
The most gratifying part of Bach to Rock is watching
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Lisa & Marc Salzman (owners). Photo credit - Vivienne
Building a Culture...
continued from page 7
lives change before your eyes. We’ve had students come into our programs very shy and just beginners in their instrument and we’ve seen them emerge as stars– to not only play their instrument well, but face and conquer their fear of performing in front of people and enjoy it. They make new friends and mentors and have an environment to freely be themselves. Diversity and inclusion are a given.
(Brittany) I love the welcoming and supportive atmosphere of our school. Marc and Lisa have always been so supportive of me. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to grow with the school which is very rare. I love being able to see our students grow and develop into not only wonderful musicians, but also individuals.
(Wayne) I love being able to work with people who love what they are doing. It’s a joy to innovate, to try things, propose innovative ideas, challenge myself and my students to greater heights of achievement. Our leaders have created a beautiful little nook here where students of every facet can come in and discover their creative voice and how to share it with the world.
When you meet prospective families/ students or are talking about Bach to Rock in the community, what are the 3 key ideas that come to mind?
We believe music should be fun, engaging, and inspiring. Students need to enjoy what they’re doing and feel that they’re learning. Lessons and classes must also be effective, and we get students reading music and learning to play songs in a matter of weeks. We believe the best experience for students learning music, regardless of starting level, is one that balances music education and performance. This is the Bach to Rock approach.
Within the music education component, we believe in a well-balanced approach that includes repertoire, technique, development of skills on a particular instrument, music theory and performance. Students are not just learning theory or how to play songs, but rather a mix of all these elements together that provide a well-balanced education and experience.
Music is a team sport, and our band program provides students with an opportunity to perform and apply what they learn in private lessons. There are many benefits of the band program that are not immediately obvious – students gain confidence, learn how to work on teams with other students (group dynamics, empathy, collaboration), and how to be creative and even write some original music!
What do you think keeps students coming back? What makes your school unique?
The culture at Bach to Rock Denville makes us unique. It all starts with heart, kindness, and authenticity– you should want your school to be a special place, for people to walk in and say, “I want to be a part of this”. Building a strong culture takes effort and time—you must put your heart into it, create a space for employees and students
to be their authentic self.
Bach to Rock Denville is a hip, modern school; a cool and fun place to be with a warm and welcoming vibe. That is only possible due to our incredible teachers and staff. We are all driven by a purpose greater than ourselves and as such we can inspire our students, their families, and each other. The teachers really connect with their students, parents tell us, “This is the one activity we don’t need to force my child to attend every week – he absolutely loves coming here!” We have had customers tell us that Bach to Rock Denville is their child’s home away from home. What more can you ask for?
To learn more about programs offered by Bach to Rock Denville, visit us at www. bachtorock.com/denville, call 973-3435270, or even better, stop in for a tour and meet our team!
Joni, Brittany & Katie (admin team)
The Bacon Donuts (student band)
Interesting Facts Related to Independence Day
Americans celebrate Independence Day every July 4.
The holiday has become synonymous with summer fun, as grand fireworks displays and backyard barbecues are integral components of many people’s July 4 celebrations.
As Americans and residents of the United States prepare for some festive Fourth of July celebrations, they can keep these interesting facts related to Independence Day in mind.
• There have been many iterations of the American flag. The American flag has become an iconic symbol of freedom recognized across the globe since the United States declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776. But few July 4 celebrants may know that the current version is the 27th iteration of the American flag. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the current version of the flag officially became the flag on July 4, 1960.
• More than half of all Americans own an American
flag. A 2023 poll from WalletHub found that 57 percent of Americans own an American flag. And that’s not the only way Americans show their national pride, as the same poll found that roughly one in three Americans intended to purchase patriotic merchandise for July 4.
• The United States is not the only place to celebrate American independence. Such celebrations occur in various countries, including Australia, Denmark, Ireland, and Norway. The festivities in Rebild National Park in Denmark is believed to be the largest celebration of American independence outside the United States.
• The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that 150 million hot dogs are consumed on July 4. Though there’s no corresponding estimate related to how many hamburgers Americans eat on July 4, various reports suggest Americans eat roughly 50 billion burgers annually, so it’s fair to conclude many a burger will be consumed this
Independence Day.
• July is a popular month for nations to celebrate their independence. In addition to the United States, various countries, including Algeria (July 5), Argentina (July 9), The Bahamas (July 10), Belarus (July 3), Burundi (July 1), Canada (July 1), Cape Verde (July 1), Colombia (July 20), Kiribati (July 12), and Liberia (July 26), celebrate their Independence Day in July.
• John Adams, a Founding Father of the United States and the second president in the country’s history, felt Americans should celebrate their independence from Great Britain on July 2. That’s because the Continential Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776. However, the Declaration of Independence was not approved for two more days, thus making July 4 the day to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain.
Dr. Frank Plateroti Announces the Release of His Second Book in Historical Fiction Trilogy New Jersey Author’s New Book Now Available on Amazon
Dr. Frank Plateroti released the second book in the East Clifton Avenue book series, “La Prossima Generazione – The Next Generation.” Simultaneously, he launched an expanded 2024 edition of the first book in the series, “East Clifton Avenue, Origins – from Sicily to America,” which features deeper characterization and an enhanced storyline.
The “East Clifton Avenue” series, a fictional saga inspired by true events, traces the journey of the Buonoforte family who immigrated from Sicily to American in the early 20th century. Like many Italian immigrants, family patriarch Enzo Buonoforte, and his wife, Anna,
sought a better life and a brighter future for their eight children. This series follows the Buonofortes as they settle in Clifton, New Jersey, capturing their sacrifices, heartbreaks, and the complex familial dynamics that will shape the family for generations to come.
has been a distinguished professor in the communication department at William Paterson University, teaching courses in television production, media studies, and intrapersonal and interpersonal communication.
“’East Clifton Avenue’ is a timeless story for all families and all seasons of life,” said Dr. Frank Plateroti. “It reflects the early chapters of my life growing up with my mother’s family. Interwoven throughout the story are a family’s struggles to adapt to a new country while desperately trying to preserve their cultural traditions – a narrative that will evoke every emotion. I am excited to share the second book of the trilogy with the world – a story so near and dear to my heart.”
Dr. Frank Plateroti, a New Jersey native, holds a Doctorate Degree in Education Research with a concentration in psychology and a Master’s Degree in Communication with a concentration in television and film production. For the past two decades, he
Before his teaching career, Dr. Plateroti worked in public relations and television production, forming his own international production company. Additionally, Dr. Plateroti is the author of “Speak No Evil: In Search of Out Self-Esteem, Self-Identity, and Self-Worth,” a culmination of his twenty years of teaching experience. An updated second edition of this book is slated for release later this year. “Speak No Evil” addresses all forms of communication, with a special focus on personal, familial, and romantic relationships.
Beyond his literary achievement, Dr. Plateroti is active in award-winning home renovations, maintains real estate and financial investments, and is a recording vocalist. For more information, visit www. drfjpesteem.com.
Goodwill Opens Store and Donation Center in Ledgewood
Goodwill Industries® of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (GoodwillNYNJ) held today a grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony with local dignitaries to celebrate the official opening of its Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Morris County, NJ. Address is1234 US-46, Ledgewood, NJ 07852. This Goodwill location is open every day 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
This 13,700 sq.-ft. traditional Goodwill location takes all donations of clothes, handbags, shoes and household items, and offers a selection of pre-loved donated goods that local donors generously donated including women’s, men’s, and kids’ clothing, home décor, books, glassware, and other household wares. Most importantly, this Goodwill site is a sustainability resource for NJ residents to re-use and re-purpose the clothing and goods they no longer need while supporting Goodwill’s employment programs for individuals with disabilities and homeless US veterans living in Northern NJ. Because Goodwill is a nonprofit organization, donors may request a tax receipt for their donations.
In 2023, Goodwill NYNJ re-purposed more than 37 million pounds of pre-loved clothing and home goods, successfully diverting the weight of usable goods equivalent to 83 Statues of Liberty from the landfills. In addition saving nearly 55 thousand metric tons of CO2 from polluting the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing 12 thousand cars from the road. Over 933 thousand donors dropped goods at Goodwill.
Second-hand shopping is gaining traction in several countries around the world.
Data from the Statista Consumer Insights
survey reveals that in the United States, now as many as 60 percent of respondents say they have made at least one secondhand purchase in the past year, up from 49 percent in 2019.
“We launched this our 10th Goodwill location in NJ in response to community needs. We are bringing an easy and convenient sustainability resource to help residents achieve a double impact. When they donate their pre-loved clothing and goods, they support our mission services in their community,” said Katy GaulStigge, Goodwill NYNJ President and CEO.
“The opening of a Goodwill facility sparks economic activity. We are committed to playing a vital role in the community, and look forward to collaborating with elected officials, residential buildings, schools, and other organizations to help residents achieve their reuse goals.”
In addition to treasure hunting at Goodwill stores, customers may shop online from the comfort of their homes at our ShopGoodwill page About Goodwill NYNJ:
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (Goodwill NYNJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates retail stores throughout the region powered by donations of clothing and household items. Goodwill NYNJ translates those donations into workforce development services for people with disabilities and the unemployed, and job training leading to employment. Goodwill NYNJ’s services build better lives for thousands of New York City Metropolitan Area residents and their families. For more
than 108 years, the agency’s mission has been to empower individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to gain independence through the power of work.
Learn more about Goodwill NYNJ at http:// www.goodwillnynj.org; follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillNYNJ; and find us on Facebook or Instagram @GoodwillNYNJ.
Cook with Heart Health in Mind
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be difficult or require you to take favorite meals off your family’s menu. In fact, making smart choices when cooking at home can give you more control over the types of tasty, hearthealthy dishes you put on the table.
High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease and stroke, with about 38% of American adults diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. These cooking tips can help you prepare heart-healthy meals that could help improve cholesterol levels by reducing excess saturated fat and trans fat.
Cook
Fresh Vegetables the Heart-Healthy Way
Roasting, steaming, grilling or baking can help bring out the natural flavors of vegetables. Adding herbs and spices can also help make veggies tastier, including combinations like basil with tomatoes, oregano with zucchini, dill with green beans or rosemary with peas and cauliflower. Reduce Saturated Fat in Meat and Poultry
The amount of saturated fat in meats can vary widely, depending on the cut and how it’s prepared. Opt for poultry and fish over red meat and look for lean cuts of meat with minimal visible fat, which should be trimmed away before cooking. Also limit processed meats such as sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs, which are often high in calories, saturated fat and sodium.
Use Liquid Vegetable Oils in Place of Solid Fats
Some fats are better for you than others. Liquid vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower, soybean and olive oil can often be used instead of solid fats, such as butter, lard or shortening. If you must use margarine, try the soft or liquid kind.
Find more heart-healthy recipes and tips for lowering cholesterol at heart.org/cholesterol.
Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken with Grilled Asparagus
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4
1/4 cup tequila or white vinegar
2 teaspoons lime zest
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chipotle pepper canned in adobo sauce, minced, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, fat discarded nonstick cooking spray
3 bunches asparagus spears, trimmed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 tablespoons canola oil or corn oil
In small bowl, stir tequila, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, chipotle pepper and adobo sauce. Pour into large resealable
plastic bag. Add chicken and seal bag tightly; turn bag to coat. Refrigerate 2-12 hours.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly spray grates with nonstick cooking spray.
In large dish, sprinkle asparagus with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with oil. Turn asparagus over to coat.
Remove chicken from marinade. Discard marinade and wipe most of it off chicken. Sprinkle chicken with remaining pepper.
Grill 8-12 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Transfer to plate and cover with aluminum foil. Place asparagus on grill, facing opposite direction of grates. Grill 7 minutes, or until tender crisp.
Serve asparagus with chicken.
By Richard Mabey Jr.
EHold Dear Your Purpose to Serve God
ach and every one of us, holds a unique person. A calling to serve God in our own way, with our own talents, our own abilities. All service to God is sacred. The man who cleans the church is just as important as the famous television evangelist. Each job, in service to God, is of immense importance.
Often times we are held back by the unkind words spoken to us by someone to whom we looked up to and greatly admired. When I was 14 and in my freshman year at Boonton High School, I had an English teacher to whom I greatly admired. I had written a story about the bond of brotherhood that flowed between my paternal grandfather, Watson Mabey, and his brother, Earl Mabey. I wrote about how devastated Grandpa was, when he got the news that his brother was killed in action, during the First World War.
Well, Mrs. Adams, gave me a C- on my essay. Then she wrote at the end of my story, “emotionally sloppy!” For a long time, the C- grade and those two words that Mrs. Adams wrote at the end of my story, devastated me. I am immensely grateful to my father and to Mr. Marino, Editor-in-
Chief of the old Lincoln Park Herald, who convinced me that Mrs. Adams didn’t know what she was talking about, that I was, in fact, a good writer.
Maybe you’ve had a Mrs. Adams in your life. Someone to whom you greatly admired, respected and thought highly of, who shot you down with unkind words. You must erase that memory from your heart and mind. You must come to know that you are on this earth for a purpose. And, you can never afford to allow anyone to ambush you.
If you’re not sure about what your true purpose in life is. Pray about it. Pray, pray and pray for God to show you what your true purpose in this life is.
When you do find your true purpose, your calling unto Heaven, pour forth all your heart, mind and soul into fulfilling that purpose. See yourself as a soldier going into battle. Hold that high degree of focus, energy, mental stamina, and willingness to roll up your sleeves, to fulfill your true purpose to serve God.
Do not swerve from your true calling. Do not allow other people to distract you. Let your true purpose to serve God, burn brightly in your heart. See yourself as a
AL’S
Yours truly, from the glory days at the old ad agency.
lion walking the jungle, being fearless, courageous and bold. Be willing to work hard. Then work even harder to fulfill your purpose to God.
Never, never, never ever give up. Never surrender. Place these words on your desk, on your bathroom mirror, at your place at your kitchen table, “FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!” Never give up! Never, ever
give up! Never, never, never give up your dreams!
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.
African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey Inspires, Educates in Museums and Throughout NJ
By Jeff Garrett
If you’re venturing to the Jersey shore this summer, happen to be around Atlantic City and have a hankering to take in some African-American Culture, then you may want to visit the Noyes Arts Garage at 200 Fairmount Ave.
To celebrate Juneteenth, a night filled with poetry readings from some of the state’s most well-known African-American poets occurred on Wednesday, June 19. 10 well-known poets including Belinda Manning from Atlantic County, Cole Eubanks from Vineland, NJ and from Turiya Abdul-Raheem from Galloway, NJ recited poetry and discussed topics relevant to Juneteeth’s historical significance celebrating when slavery ended in America. Juneteenth was made a federal holiday to be celebrated on June 19 by President Biden in 2021.
While the poetry event on June 19 was memorable there’s a lot more to see and learn about at the Center.
Only 15 years old, the idea for the Center came when Buena Vista resident, Ralph Hunter, decided to showcase his collection of African-American inspired collectibles from all over in a formal capacity to share with others. The mayor of Buena Vista offered Hunter space where he could showcase his cultural treasures in the mid-2000’s. Hunter, a retired retail worker always had a knack for observing his surroundings and collected things which people left on the card or discarded by any means. He saw significance in these items and just kept collecting.
There are now two locations of African American History – one in Atlantic City and one in Newtonville, located at 661 Jackson Street. In each location, stories which may be looked upon as flattering or the opposite, unflattering, are told at the museums. The museums hope to shed light on black Americans hard road to freedom, the struggles black American have endured since the Emancipation Proclamation and the continued debate about race relations in modern-day America.
On permanent display at Noyes is an exhibit titled, “Stereotypes: From Little Black Sambo to Aunt Jemima and Beyond.” It recognizes cinematic The Gold Dust Twins, Amos & Andy, Buckwheat — images used widely in advertising and print media to represent black Americans by proxy which influenced the perception of an entire race.
This is critical to today’s youth which did not experience such Media directly. By recognizing it, the museum hopes to ensure that young learners become aware of what their parents, grandparents and those before them had to endure. Its point is to show how negative and wrong such mass marketing was in the hopes that it never occurs again.
Another meaningful exhibit in Atlantic City is titled, “The Northside: The Way We Were,” highlighting the buoyancy of privileged African-American who found success as entertainers in the “Boardwalk Empire” era. The original “Club Harlem” door and sign is displayed too. Two other permanent exhibits titled, “Portraits of a People,” all found pictures of noteworthy African-American found in a crawlspace no less and one display of family furniture from earlier times owned by AfricanAmericans are there for museum-goers to see.
A traveling exhibit sponsored by AAHMSNJ allows communities and schools to learn about African- American history in New Jersey and the rest of America. Exhibits showcasing the protests of organized black American outside Atlantic City’s Convention Hall at the 1964 Democratic National Convention as well as one highlighting the story of baseball-great Jackie Robinson are apart of the traveling exhibit which visits dozens of schools in New Jersey each school year. Admission to the museums are free but donations are strongly suggested. The Museum in Atlantic City is open from Wednesday through Sunday. Several limited-time exhibits and gatherings such as talks and discussions are ongoing and can be found by logging onto www.AAMHSNJ.org.
Theatre Review.....“Just Another Day” at Theater 555
Just Another Day” at Theater 555 was written by Dan Lauria and directed by off Broadway guru, Eric Krebs. The play begins with projections of old stars of yesteryear to the song “No Strings Attached”. When the two actors take the stage, Dan Lauria and Patty McCormack seem confused... at-least Dan (Man) does. McCormack (Woman) seems refined in her salmon colored sun dress. Often appalled at Lauria’s language, she seems distant to his behavior.
In this one hour and forty-five minute play, the two have several things in common... they both share a love for old movies, the New York Times Sunday cross word puzzle. Later we would find out that their love of art is due to McCormack being a writer and Lauria being a painter (he is not sure if he was a house painter or a canvass painter).
In Eric Krebs direction, the audience gets good banter, in Lauria’s writing we get jokes that for the most part land pretty well. Although his body of work is fair, the way the play is laid out is fun, comfortable and easy to watch as these two really good actors talk about things that are relevant as
well as insane. The insanity part comes to the forefront as in time we realize that they are both in a sanatorium. As time goes on the audience accepts their dementia and Lauria is deft in how the characters put forth the dialogue all throughout the play; insanity brought to sanity.
The costumes are regal on McCormack (Bettina Bierly); her salmon outfit is beautiful, even though it is subdued, In the second act he off white knit suit is classy, like her. In Lauria, he is dressed like a mans-man; a guy who was from Brooklyn, N.Y., a former Marine. In Andy Evan Cohen’s sound, the bell that regulates the behavior of the two is front and center. The subtle echo effects too add to this play in that he gives it a bit of mystery in these two actors. It is the lighting that falters a bit here; Joan Racho-Jansen does not hit the characters the way it should have. The audience often cannot pick up the entire body of the characters , especially at the head level. This has the audience having difficulty seeing the actors up close and therefore we never get the personal feeling of the two when they are at their most deep in their feelings about life. The characters
are older and they have a lot to say; even if it is silly what they talk about, the two are still interesting to listen to. Not being able to see them weakened the dialogue.
In this unique play, “Just Another Day” stay’s focused on the characters life. It gently gives us the inner thoughts of the two, it also shows us how corky they have become in a very playful way. Are past movies escapism? Where the movies that big a part of their lives. Is their “hit list”
something that they thought about when they were sane? The play skillfully omits a lot of questions that the audience may have. This is the type of play that can keep you thinking about it for a long time. We also have to ask... what were these people really like in their younger years?
In the one set, a comfortable parktype setting, the show glides through the dialogue by two actors who wow the audience with their style and verve.
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By Henry M. Holden
TNew Jersey’s Great Swamp War
he Great Swamp of New Jersey is nestled within a 55-square mile natural basin and is the remnant of the bottom of the once-mighty Glacial Lake Passaic that around 15,000 to 11,000 years ago stretched into what is in Morris County, in northern New Jersey. The lake was formed by the melting waters of the retreating Wisconsin Glacier at the end of the last Ice Age.
The glacier had pushed a moraine ahead of its advance, a combination of soil and rocks that blocked the existing outlet for the waters that drained into the area. As the retreating glacier melted, the waters rose to create the lake before a new outlet had began to allow the water to drain at a much higher elevation.
Millions of years ago, the continent of Africa collided violently with North America, pushing up great mountains to the north and west. Erosion has since worn them down to size. When Africa broke away, hot molten rock flowed up from the earth’s interior, creating the Watchung Mountains to the south and east. Again, erosion has taken its toll.
About 18,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Glacier began to cease its southerly motion and melt, leaving behind a great pile of rock and soil along a line from Chatham to Morristown.
The retreating Wisconsin Glacier left the New Jersey wetlands in its wake some 11,000 years ago. As the last parts of the glacier receded, it formed the basin of the Great Swamp. Blocked by the Watchung Mountains, the glacier left behind another great pile of earth and rocks
to the west of the Great Swamp basin. Today, that pile is known as Basking Ridge.
Today, the wilderness area accounts for the eastern half of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which serves as a resting and nesting area for over 250 migratory birds. With miscellaneous flora, including cattail marshes, wet grasslands and forests, the area is home to a number of species outside of migratory birds, including rare bog turtles. Wood turtles, blue-spotted salamanders, mice, skunks, raccoons, coyotes and deer also call the Great Swamp home.
It is a natural oasis in an area that is mostly suburban, making the refuge an outstanding area for migrating waterfowl to stop, rest and feed on their migration.
Morris County, among the fastest growing counties in the New Jersey, is nestled amid rolling hills, broad valleys and glittering lakes. It is also approximately 30 miles northwest of New York City, and that made it vulnerable to plunder by land/airport developers.
The swamp war began in 1959, when the powerful Port of New York and New Jersey Authority announced plans to construct a huge 10,000 acre “jetport” 26 miles west of New York City in a little-known place called the Great Swamp. In the name of progress, entire towns would be obliterated, the aquifer and wildlife destroyed, and a way-of-life was threatened for thousands of people if this happened.
he Jersey Jetport Site Association,(JJSA) was the first to organize in opposition. Their efforts to prevent the development of an airport in the swamp became
public knowledge on December 3, 1959, when four of its members (Kafi Benz, Joan Kelly, Esty Weiss, and Betty White) were expelled from a meeting at the Essex House in Newark that had been organized to generate support for its construction.
The events that followed became one of the more defining environmental confrontations of its time - a grassroots movement that started in a local high school and a decade later required the actions of a President and an Act of Congress to stop the project. It also led to the creation of a national treasure, a wildlife refuge, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The historic battle of the Morris County residents against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ended on Sept. 30, 1968, with the designation of the Great Swamp as a National Wilderness Area. It was one of the first sieges to pit a grass-roots effort
continued on page 19
Great Swamp War...
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against a powerful government agency — and have victory go to the local residents.
“We applaud the disciplined, toughminded action by many voluntary citizens’ groups,” Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior, said in 1969, midway through the fray. “They were determined that a unique outdoor place did not have to be sacrificed to the demands of development.”
During the siege that lasted nine years, more than 14,600 individuals contributed time or money to the battle, conservationists spent $1,500,000 and 462 organizations from 29 states pledged support to the anti-jetport forces.
The land that would become the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established by an Act of Congress on November 3, 1969, after a multi-year legal battle that pitted local residents against Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials attemped to turn the Great Swamp into a major regional airport to supplement Newark Airport’s ability to accommodate large jet aircraft.
The JJSA activity was followed closely by an influential sister organization) the North American Wildlife Foundation established its specially designated, Great Swamp
Committee, in 1960. Between the two organizations and, in less than a year, enough property in the core of the swamp was quickly purchased, assembled, and donated to the federal government to qualify for perpetual protection as a National Wildlife Refuge.
As the Congressional Representative from Arizona, Stewart Udall immediately championed the efforts of these residents, whom he described as having mounted the greatest effort ever made by residents in America to protect a natural habitat, and later, on May 29, 1964, as the Secretary of the Interior, he oversaw its dedication as a refuge. The initial donation was 2,600 acres which assured its protection as a refuge and the acquisition of additional lands continued. In 1960, Congressional Representative Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr., whose estate was in the area targeted for development also joined the effort.
Over the years, more land has been added. Its eastern half (3,660 acres) was designated as a wilderness area by Congress in 1968, making it the first wilderness area within the Fish and Wilderness system by Congress.
NJ Starz: Bonnie J. Monte Hometown: Madison
By Steve Sears
When asked what is being missed by those who, by choice, don’t attend or favor theatre arts performances, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Artistic Director Emerita, Bonnie J. Monte, said, “They’re missing an experience that is not replicable by any other experience. You’re missing a kind of in the moment, live chemistry that exists between you and the people on stage that changes from moment to moment. They’re missing out on something that actually, what science tells us, keeps people both mentally and physically healthy.”
Wisdom noted.
When Monte early in 2023 announced that she would be stepping away from her Artistic Director job of 33 years, those associated in any way with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey knew it might be just a tip-toe. In fact, Monte, who has directed over 90 plays during her three decades plus with the much-loved organization on the Drew University campus in Madison, is this month back in the director’s chair for The Book of Will, which runs from July 7 – 28 (www. shakespearenj.org/events/detail/book-of-will).
Monte, who currently lives in Morris County but is originally from Stamford, Connecticut, was exposed at a young age to literature and the arts, particularly dance, opera, and theatre, by her parents, Eugene and Marjorie. “It was a fairly idyllic child,” Monte said. “And the question never was raised as to, whether by being a woman or a female, I would be able or not be able to do whatever I wanted. It was always just the assumption I would decide what I wanted to do in life, I would pursue it, and I would be happy doing it. There was never any limitations or censorship on how or what I should be thinking. My parents were pretty incredible.”
The seed for staging performances was sown early on. Monte said, “I guess it’s in my blood. I don’t know where I got it from, but I started directing plays. I started putting on shows in the neighborhood. I started grabbing all the kids together and organizing them, and I put on a circus every summer.” She even turned publisher for a period. “I published a family newspaper,” she said fondly. “I was just very much into all of that stuff, even as a little, tiny kid.”
Monte attended and received a B.A. degree in Theatre from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, and while there, she as part of her thesis production directed popular actress, Frances McDormand, in Tennessee William’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
“I had an extraordinary group of people in the theater program at that time,” Monte said. “I had a wonderful teacher, Dr. David Judy, who was very encouraging, and I directed well over 10 productions just as an undergraduate. I was given a tremendous amount of opportunity to just start cutting my teeth on by actually directing. That was a really good program for me at that time in my life.”
Monte’s next stop was for her graduate degree at The Hartman Conservatory, a two- year conservatory program
affiliated with a new regional theater in her hometown. She said, “I was able to live at home, and also managed to get a full scholarship, so that was a very affordable experience for me. And the great thing about it was all of my teachers were from the Yale Drama School program. I basically got the Yale Drama School education from the same teachers at no cost, and in half the time.”
A big key as well was the proximity to New York City. Monte said, “I had a great two years of my conservatory training, and then given all the contacts that I made there, I was able to segue right into New York with a theater job right away. So, I was the assistant to the director of a very big off-Broadway production in New York City, right out of graduate school.”
Once that production was out of rehearsals, Monte remained on as a wardrobe mistress. She said, “I didn’t know anything about wardrobe, but I wanted a job. Obviously, I was a young kid in New York just starting out in theater. I learned really quick how to be a wardrobe mistress, and that has forged a lifelong appreciation and more for wardrobe mistresses.”
After toiling at odd jobs like bartending and waitressing, and serving as a play reader for a producer and working at an off-Broadway cabaret, a big break came in 1981. Monte started to work at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts as the assistant to the Artistic Director and festival co-founder, Nikos Psacharopoulos. While there, she had the opportunity to work with the legendary Tennessee Williams.
As previously mentioned, Monte had done her thesis production in college with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but she had also seen a beautiful production of the same play while in high school. “I became a Tennessee Williams freak,” Monte said regarding the aftermath of that teenage experience, and at the Williamstown Theater Festival, she was the liaison between Williams and a team of writers, herself one of them. “We were putting together an eight-and-a-half-hour production that was an homage to his entire canon of work, and after that I went to the Manhattan Theatre Club.”
Monte spent just a year as a casting director at the Manhattan Theater Club when she was approached about a theatre needing an Artistic Director. She was interested, and began the interview process for the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, which at that time was known as the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival.
Monte was hired in October of 1990, but was faced with a daunting set of challenges, one being taking over an organization that was almost $300,000 in debt and had less than $500 in the bank.
“I remember the night before I started. I said to myself, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’” Monte said. “But I was pretty excited. I was kind of anxious to ‘fix’ it. I must have some kind of inner mechanism that makes me want to fix things. The institution was in trouble, and everywhere I looked, I saw solutions to fixing things that had not happened or
that needed to happen. It was very challenging, but I had a great partner at the time, Mike Stotts. He was my Managing Director, and he is now the Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse. He and I, along with a couple of other people, truly kind of reinvented and reinvigorated the institution within a year. For the most part, we just dove in and started fixing things.”
One of those things was the organization’s suffering financial state, where a capital campaign was begun and raised almost eight million dollars. Using the funding, from 1996 to 1998 there was the renovation and expansion of the F.M Kirby Theater, one of two locations where Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey productions are staged (the other is the Outdoor Stage, a summer performance venue at nearby Saint Elizabeth University), and a second component was expanding the mission of the institution, so that there would be an equal focus on education. The Florham Park-located Kean Theatre Factory, which functions as a major support facility for the entire organization with created education spaces, was built and eventually unveiled in 2012.
For Monte, who has an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from both Drew University and Saint Elizabeth University, 2024 has been a transition year as she hands the reins over to current Artistic Director, Brian Crowe. However, her eyes are indeed on the future while she reflects on her tenure.
Monte said of the on-stage product and education, “We brought classics to life that nobody had ever heard of - they were buried treasures, and we trained generation after generation after generation, and continue to do so. I think the thing I’m most proud of is that we had and we very quickly became one of the best teaching theaters in America, and one of the best classical theaters in America, and that the quality of work was always world class.”
Bonnie J. Monte (credit: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey)
5 Athletes to Keep an Eye on at this Summer’s Olympic Games
Sports fans across the globe will be glued to their televisions this summer, when the historic city of Paris hosts the Olympic Games. Beginning with the Opening Ceremony on July 26, the 2024 Olympic Games is sure to feature aweinspiring athletic accomplishments that mark the culmination of years of hard work on the part of competitors.
Once the games commence, fans can keep an eye out for these five notable athletes who figure to put their stamp on this summer’s competitions.
1. Simone Biles: Few athletes at this summer’s Games are as recognizable as American gymnast Simone Biles. Biles’s accomplishments are already too numerous to mention, but the 27-year-old can pad her legacy even further by earning just one more medal this summer in Paris. Should she accomplish that feat, Biles will have earned more Olympic medals than any American gymnast in the history of the Games.
2. Daiki Hashimoto: A two-time gold medal winner at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Hashimoto, who will turn 23 during this summer’s games, will be seen as the athlete to beat in men’s gymnastics. Hashimoto is a four-time world champion, and NBC Sports notes three of those titles were earned in 2023.
3. LeBron James: The National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer is no stranger to the Olympic Games, but the 39-year-old James has not played on the Olympic stage since 2012. Over the last several years, James made no secret of his desire to return to Olympic competition, suggesting this summer’s games will be the last time to see arguably the greatest player of all time compete at this level.
4. Léon Marchand: Born in Toulouse, France, in 2002, Marchand figures to be the center of attention this summer. Some suggest Marchand could put on a performance not unlike his fellow swimmer
Michael Phelps’ efforts in the pool years ago, as the Frenchman is coached by Bob Bowman at Arizona State University. Bowman famously coached Phelps during his time at the University of Michigan and beyond, and swimming fans will be curious to see how the hometown hero Marchand performs in the pools of Paris this summer.
5. Summer McIntosh: The pride of Canada made a name for herself at the tender age of 14 during the 2020 Games,
where she was the youngest athlete named to the Canadian team. McIntosh finished fourth in the 400-meter freestyle in Tokyo, narrowly missing a medal in that event but still breaking the Canadian national record. Now a seasoned 17-year-old, McIntosh returns to the Olympic stage this summer. The Summer Olympics return this summer in Paris, and many talented, exciting athletes figure to make this year’s competitions as exciting as ever.
By Richard Mabey Jr.
SForgiveness Is The Key To Heaven’s Door
ince September of last year, I have been on a most interesting and enduring path, in search of some degree of healing for my heart condition. It was only last month, when I began going to the University of Florida Medical Center (Shands) that I was definitively diagnosed, very specifically, with a heart disease known as Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Many Cardiologists call it “the silent killer” because it is so very difficult to pinpoint into a defined diagnosis.
Basically one in 500 people get Apical HCM. It’s a relatively rare heart disease. In the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking more and more about my relationship with God, getting right with God and also what I need to do to become a more righteous person. One single, solitary word, has kept popping up onto the inner screen of my mind. And, that word is FORGIVE.
Not to just give superficial forgiveness to those people who did me wrong. But rather, to deeply forgive them, from the deepest fibers of my heart and the innermost sinew of the marrow of my bones. To simply burn out any ill feelings that I may have been holding onto, on a conscious or even subconscious level, toward people who have hurt me.
I thought of three or four teachers, from grade school and high school, who mocked my last name. Their sneers, the pathetic joy that they seemed to swim in, by ridiculing
a sensitive child. I thought of my gym teacher, from the eighth grade who mocked me for not being able to climb the rope all the way to the top. I thought of cruel supervisors and gossiping coworkers. And on and on the list unrolled.
And then, about a week ago, I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to burn out the grievances that I was harboring against these people. As I prayed at my desk, with my eyes closed, I felt the presence of Jesus, standing over my right shoulder. I felt the hand of Christ, gently touch my right shoulder. I felt a huge burden being lift from my heart center. A calm, serene, peaceful feeling then filled the chambers of my heart.
Here’s the whole thing in nutshell. God loves you more than you will ever know. It is a love that is deeper than the beautiful blue sea and wider than the Atlantic Ocean. God’s love knows no limitations. It is boundless.
God’s immense love will forgive us for anything and everything that we have done, consciously or unconsciously, that have hurt another person. But there’s one caveat. In turn, we need to forgive those who have done us wrong. Forgiveness is the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is deadly serious. This is not a joke. Pray for God to help you burn out the bad feelings that you may be holding toward someone who has hurt you in the past. In prayer, ask God to burn out those grievances to a charcoal
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at home, sitting at the very couch upon which I have written dozens of stories and articles, while watching Gunsmoke and Bonanza.
crisp and let the wind of the Divine Spirit blow away the charred fibers.
To truly forgive someone, may well be the hardest thing you will ever do. But it will give you the peace that passeth all understanding. Truly, forgiveness is the sacred key to Heaven’s Gate.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@ hotmail.com.
Yours truly,
100 Years Ago This Month
The month of July has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in July 1924.
• Full-time airmail service begins on July 1. A fleet of airplanes are used to transport mail day and night, and the time to send mail between New York and San Francisco is 35 hours, a reduction of 50 percent.
• The Caesar salad is created in Mexico on July 4. Italian-born restaurateur Caesar Cardini is inspired to create the dish by Americans crossing the border into Tijuana to legally purchase alcohol from his eatery during the holiday weekend.
• The opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics are conducted at Colombes Stadium in Paris on July 5. The Organizing Committee decides against inviting Germany for the second straight Olympics.
• English Jew Harold Abrahams wins the 100 meter sprint at the Summer Olympics in Paris on July 7. Abrahams, who was the target of antisemitic prejudice during the Games, is later profiled the 1981 film, “Chariots of Fire.”
• Panama receives diplomatic recognition from Colombia on July 9, more than 20 years after the country seceded from Colombia at the urging of the United States.
• The Kimberly-Clark Corporation files the
original trademark application for Kleenex on July 12.
• The legend of “Bigfoot” begins on July 16 when The Oregonian publishes the first nationwide news story about a tall and hair-covered “apeman.” The creature is not described as “Bigfoot” until 1958.
• The United States Vice Consul to Iran, Robert Imbrie, is beaten to death by an angry mob in Tehran on July 18. Imbrie photographed a well in the city’s bazaar where a miracle was believed to have occurred, and some who assaulted him believed he poisoned the well. Imbrie survives the initial beating and is taken to a hospital, but the mob follows him there and beats him again, leading to his death.
• Herman “Hi” Bell of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches all 18 innings of the St. Louis Cardinals’ doubleheader on July 19. Bell earns the victory in both contests, and remains the last Major League pitcher to pitch all 18 innings of a twinbill on the same day.
• American League umpires are ordered to cut short arguments about balls and strikes in an effort to speed up the pace of play on July 25. The directive, issued by league president Ban Johnson, also prevents players from taking too much time inspecting baseballs for signs of tampering.
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