Sample Mt Olive Life 2022

MOUNT OLIVE LIFE M t . O l i v e’s Ho m e t o w n Ne w s p a p e r

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Member of Mid-Atlantic Community Papers • Association of Community Publichers • Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce AUDITED BY CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL (CVC), ST. LOUIS, MO. Ja n u a r y

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By Richard Mabey Jr. he Christmas of 1962 showed me the kindness and appreciation of a dear and kind friend and classmate. I was nine years old and in Mrs. Jacobchick’s fourth grade class. I sat in the middle of the classroom, Pamela Rawlings sat next to me. In early December, Mrs. Jacobchick had all of us draw names from a shoebox. As if the odds were a million to one, I chose my old best friend, Stuart Steinhauser. Unbeknownst to me, Pamela Rawlings picked my name from the box of folded papers. I remember that I bought eight comic books for Stuart. I am positive that two of them were Batman and Superman titles. I’m pretty sure that two other comic books were Flash and Superboy. I’m not sure at all, about the other four comic book titles. I remember in early December, walking home from school, and I had a whole, paper

2022

A Christmas Story

dollar in my pants pocket. I went into Moe’s Sweet Shop, with the intent to buy comics for Stuart. I remember it being such a magical moment in time. I had never bought eight comic books, at one time, any other time in my entire life. It was just a monumental moment. I remember when I carried the stack of eight comic books to Moe’s cash register. It’s so funny, the things you remember. I remember Moe saying to me that it looked like I was going to read a lot of comic books that night. I confessed that I did read all of those eight comic books, before I wrapped them up in brightly colored Christmas wrapping paper for my old friend, Stuart. For the next few weeks in December, I wondered and wondered who could have picked my name from Mrs. Jacobchick’s shoe box of hand-written names. What I was about to find out, as to who picked my name

1962 was very much representative of the height of the era of the baby boomers. I remember that there were well over 35 children in Mrs. Jacobchick’s fourth grade class. Although this is not a photo of my fourth-grade class, it is amazingly close to how that classroom looked.

Local Churches Help Operation Christmas Child

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by Elsie Walker ne day about 20 years ago, Daryl Blewett, of Succasunna, was driving with her kids and a friend. As they drove, the radio station they were listening to shared something about Operation Christmas Child. A project of the Samaritan’s Purse organization, Operation Christmas Child spreads the word about Jesus to needy children around the world, including his love shared through gifts donated in a shoe box. Blewett’s friend said, “let’s do it” and that was the start of Blewett getting involved, first bringing it to the attention of her church, Ledgewood Baptist Church, and then growing in the project to where she and her husband, Ed, are now Area Coordinators, Northwestern NJ Operation Christmas Child Team. In November, Blewett’s church and others donated boxes during the yearly Operation Christmas Child collection week. However, although its name is Operation Christmas Child, the project brings the message of Christmas to needy children throughout the year. Blewett shared a brief history of Operation Christmas Child, which started with a forgotten promise. In 1993, Rev. Franklin Graham, President of Samartan’s Purse (an organization dedicated to do good works, like the Good Samaritan in the Bible), received a call from a man in England asking for help in filling shoeboxes with originally brought the idea before the congregation when gifts for children in war torn Bornia. Graham agreed to the church was looking for outreaches. First Zicherman, and help, but it was months before Christmas, and it went now Ackley, of Budd Lake, has coordinated the effort at the to the back of Graham’s mind. Suddenly, it was November and the man from England called back Grachurch. Ackley said, “You want to do it. You feel like this is ham about the boxes. Graham had forgotten all about

them. Working fast with help from a church in the U.S. and help from Canada, a miracle happened: they were able to come up with 28,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts for the children. Operation Christmas Child was born. Since 1993, 188 million children in 170 countries have received boxes. The boxes contain gifts such as colored pencils, gloves, socks, a pair of shoes, a toy, etc. Each box is labeled as to the sex and age group of the child who should receive it. Operation Christmas Child recipients are ages 2 - 14. Also, inside each box is a book in the child’s own language with the stories of Jesus. Many churches on the receiving end, which give out the boxes, invite children to come to a 12- week the Greatest Journey program to learn more about who Jesus is. Those children who choose to attend will tell others in their area about Jesus. Blewett has seen Operation Christmas Child from both sides: the giving and the receiving. Two years ago, she was invited to Tanzania to be there when boxes were distributed in June. (Due to travel distance, customs, etc. it can take a while for the boxes to get to their destination.) Blewett said she believes God helps the right child get the right box. She saw a child with very worn shoes open her box to find a pair of crocs in it! Blewett notes that for Ledgewood Baptist Church, Operation Christmas Child is a year-around project, gathering items for boxes and then having a box filling event before the shoebox collection week. Last year, her church contributed 800 boxes. Besides contributing boxes, her church is a drop-off point for others to

Mount Olive Middle School Select Chorus Hits Iconic NYC

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By Megan Roche or members of the Select Chorus at Mount Olive Middle School, the holiday spirit shines brightly through their music. The students in the program have much to celebrate, especially after their recent performance at Radio City Music Hall before a performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Joanna Scarangello, the middle school music teacher, couldn’t be prouder of her students. “I’m so proud of them and it’s all about creating opportunities for them. They rise to the occasion. In the world of choral music, I feel like a lot of people think it doesn’t count until you get to high school. My middle school students are so capable and they can do hard things and be professional too,” Scarangello said. The Mount Olive Middle School select chorus was chosen after Scarangello submitted an application and recording to Radio City of a recent performance. Radio much to celebrate, especially after their recent performance at Radio City Music Hall before a performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

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Joanna Scarangello, the middle school music teacher, couldn’t be prouder of her students. “I’m so proud of them and it’s all about creating opportunities for them. They rise to the occasion. In the world of choral music, I feel like a lot of people think it doesn’t count until you get to high school. My middle school students are so capable and they can do hard things and be professional too,” Scarangello said. The Mount Olive Middle School select chorus was chosen after Scarangello submitted an application and recording to Radio City of a recent performance. Radio much to celebrate, especially after their recent performance at Radio City Music Hall before a performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Joanna Scarangello, the middle school music teacher, couldn’t be prouder of her students. “I’m so proud of them and it’s all about creating opportunities for them. They rise to the occasion. In the world of choral music, I feel like a lot of people think it doesn’t count until you get to high school. My middle school students are so capable and they can do hard things and be

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Denville Seafood Celebrates 70 Years

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By Steve Sears n November 29, 1951, the late Anthony Aguanno decided to enter the seafood business. His son Joe, one of the current proprietors of Denville Seafood, tells the tale. “Legend has it that at one point, while working as a butcher for the A&P, somehow a box of fish got dropped off, and the head butcher told my dad to clean it. He did, and the head butcher said to him, ‘Hey, you have a knack for fish. You should open a fish store.’”

The elder Aguanno took that advice, and opened his business on Main Street, eventually moving to the current location at 61 Broadway. Denville Seafood became an innovator in the township. They were the first to offer outdoor dining for customers (during the yearly sidewalk sales), which eventually expanded to in season as well. Initially just a fish market, the business had counter seating and a few tables. In 1979, a fire caused Denville Seafood to close, and renovations unveiled an expanded fish market and

new restaurant. In 2001, the Aguannos bought the adjacent building (59 Broadway), and expanded the restaurant into half of that structure’s first floor. After Hurricane Irene hammered Denville in 2011, the family took over the rest of the first floor, and the restaurant grew even larger. It currently seats 65 indoors, 25 outdoors. Called Codmother’s Café, it is lovingly named for the late Ann Aguanno, wife of Anthony. “We’ve been here for a while,” Aguanno says. His sister, Mary, is on site full-

$1 Million in 5 Years for Denville’s Book and Bargain Barns

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By Steve Sears n November 29, 1951, the late Anthony Aguanno decided to enter the seafood business. His son Joe, one of the current proprietors of Denville Seafood, tells the tale. “Legend has it that at one point, while working as a butcher for the A&P, somehow a box of fish got dropped off, and the head butcher told my dad to clean it. He did, and the head butcher said to him, ‘Hey, you have a knack for fish. You should open a fish store.’” The elder Aguanno took that advice, and opened his business on Main

Street, eventually moving to the current location at 61 Broadway. Denville Seafood became an innovator in the township. They were the first to offer outdoor dining for customers (during the yearly sidewalk sales), which eventually expanded to in season as well. Initially just a fish market, the business had counter seating and a few tables. In 1979, a fire caused Denville Seafood to close, and renovations unveiled an expanded fish market and new restaurant. In 2001, the Aguannos bought the adjacent building (59 Broadway), and expanded the restaurant into half of that structure’s first floor.

After Hurricane Irene hammered Denville in 2011, the family took over the rest of the first floor, and the restaurant grew even larger. It currently seats 65 indoors, 25 outdoors. Called Codmother’s Café, it is lovingly named for the late Ann Aguanno, wife of Anthony. “We’ve been here for a while,” Aguanno says. His sister, Mary, is on site fullin season as well. Initially just a fish market, the business had counter seating and a few tables. In 1979, a fire caused Denville Seafood to close, an in season as well. Initially just a fish market, the business had counter seating and a

By Steve Sears n November 29, 1951, the late Anthony Aguanno decided to enter the seafood business. His son Joe, one of the current proprietors of Denville Seafood, tells the tale. “Legend has it that at one point, while working as a butcher for the A&P, somehow a box of fish got dropped off, and the head butcher told my dad to clean it. He did, and the head butcher said to him, ‘Hey, you have a knack for fish. You should open a fish store.’” The elder Aguanno took that advice, and opened his business on Main Street, eventually moving

to the current location at 61 Broadway. Denville Seafood became an innovator in the township. They were the first to offer outdoor dining for customers (during the yearly sidewalk sales), which eventually expanded to in season as well. Initially just a fish market, the business had counter seating and a few tables. In 1979, a fire caused Denville Seafood to close, and renovations unveiled an expanded fish market and new restaurant. In 2001, the Aguannos bought the adjacent building (59 Broadway), and expanded the restaurant into half of that structure’s first floor. After Hurricane Irene hammered Denville in 2011,

the family took over the rest of the first floor, and the restaurant grew even larger. It currently seats 65 indoors, 25 outdoors. Called Codmother’s Café, it is lovingly named for the late Ann Aguanno, wife of Anthony. “We’ve been here for a while,” Aguanno says. His sister, Mary, is on site fulltime as well, and another sister, Amy, a West Orange school teacher, also helps out when she can. “There’s definitely a lot of pride involved, knowing what’s here.” Aguanno, now 56, says Denville Seafood is a true family business. “We have a third generation that is working here. One thing

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his quirky mixture of mystery, philosophy and humor,” Sumner said. Sumner said that in her spare time, she likes to read a variety of different books, paints and also sells a variety of items on the website, etsy.com. All of her original contemporary artwork can be found on her website, susansumner.com. “It was kind of a funny story, but I had this woman who bought a painting from me on Etsy, that I actually described in the book. That is how she became interested in my artwork.” She has plans to write

additional novellas, including another one that takes place at the Golden Oaks. She also has aspirations to write a story on a painting trip she took to Florence, Italy, where Cate May will continue to use her detective skill to investigate more foul play. ‘Murder? A Memoir: A Cate May Mystery,’ can be purchased as an eBook or in paperback or hardcover from Amazon.com. his quirky mixture of mystery, philosophy and humor,” Sumner said. Sumner said that in her spare time, she likes to

read a variety of different books, paints and also sells a variety of items on the website, etsy.com. All of her original contemporary artwork can be found on her website, susansumner.com. “It was kind of a funny story, but I had this woman who bought a painting from me on Etsy, that I actually described in the book. That is how she became interested in my artwork.” She has plans to write additional novellas, including another one that takes place at the Golden Oaks. She also has aspirations to write a story on a painting

Grand Opening

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By Steve Sears n November 29, 1951, the late Anthony Aguanno decided to enter the seafood business. His son Joe, one of the current proprietors of Denville Seafood, tells the tale. “Legend has it that at one point, while working as a butcher for the A&P, somehow a box of fish got dropped off, and the head butcher told my dad to clean it. He did, and the head butcher said to him, ‘Hey, you have a knack for fish. You should open a fish store.’” The elder Aguanno took that advice, and opened

his business on Main Street, eventually moving to the current location at 61 Broadway. Denville Seafood became an innovator in the township. They were the first to offer outdoor dining for customers (during the yearly sidewalk sales), which eventually expanded to in season as well. Initially just a fish market, the business had counter seating and a few tables. In 1979, a fire caused Denville Seafood to close, and renovations unveiled an expanded fish market and new restaurant. In 2001, the Aguannos bought the adjacent building (59 Broadway), and expanded

the restaurant into half of that structure’s first floor. After Hurricane Irene hammered Denville in 2011, the family took over the rest of the first floor, and the restaurant grew even larger. It currently seats 65 indoors, 25 outdoors. Called Codmother’s Café, it is lovingly named for the late Ann Aguanno, wife of Anthony. “We’ve been here for a while,” Aguanno says. His sister, Mary, is on site full-his quirky mixture of mystery, philosophy and humor,” Sumner said. Sumner said that in her spare time, she likes to read a variety of different

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By Steve Sears n November 29, 1951, the late Anthony Aguanno decided to enter the seafood business. His son Joe, one of the current proprietors of Denville Seafood, tells the tale. “Legend has it that at one point, while working as a butcher for the A&P, somehow a box of fish got dropped off, and the head butcher told my dad to clean it. He did, and the head butcher said to him, ‘Hey, you have a knack for

mystery, philosophy and humor,” Sumner said. Sumner said that in her spare time, she likes to read a variety of different books, paints and also sells a variety of items on the website, etsy.com. All of her original contemporary artwork can be found on her website, susansumner.com. “It was kind of a funny story, but I had this woman who bought a painting from me on Etsy, that I actually described in the book. That is how she became interested in my artwork.” She has plans to write additional novellas, including another one that takes

place at the Golden Oaks. She also has aspirations to write a story on a painting trip she took to Florence, Italy, where Cate May will continue to use her detective skill to investigate more foul play. ‘Murder? A Memoir: A Cate May Mystery,’ can be She also has aspirations to write a story on a painting trip she took to Florence, Italy, where Cate May will continue to use her detective skill to investigate more foul play. ‘Murder? A Memoir: A Cate May Mystery,’ can be

Healthy Holiday Baking Swaps his quirky mixture of mystery, philosophy and humor,” Sumner said. Sumner said that in her spare time, she likes to read a variety of different books, paints and also sells a variety of items on the website, etsy.com. All of her original contemporary artwork can be found on her website, susansumner.com. “It was kind of a funny story, but I had this woman who bought a painting from me on Etsy, that I actually described in the book. That is how she became interested in my artwork.”

She has plans to write additional novellas, including another one that takes place at the Golden Oaks. She also has aspirations to write a story on a painting trip she took to Florence, Italy, where Cate May will continue to use her detective skill to investigate more foul play. ‘Murder? A Memoir: A Cate May Mystery,’ can be purchased as an eBook or in paperback or hardcover from Amazon.com. his quirky mixture of mystery, philosophy and humor,” Sumner said.

Sumner said that in her spare time, she likes to read a variety of different books, paints and also sells a variety of items on the website, etsy.com. All of her original contemporary artwork can be found on her website, susansumner.com. “It was kind of a funny story, but I had this woman who bought a painting from me on Etsy, that I actually described in the book. That is how she became interested in my artwork.” She has plans to write additional novellas, including another one that takes

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