10 minute read
“1774 Sandwich Initiative” at Newark Academy Gives Back to the Homeless
By Jackie Schatell
Freshman Leon Sarkissian has started the 1774 Sandwich Initiative at Newark Academy, in Livingston, where each month, Upper School students are making sandwiches for St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark, which feeds the homeless.
“I heard someone at my church say they needed more sandwiches at St. John’s,” says Leon. “It seemed like something I could take on that would make a big difference in fighting food insecurity one sandwich at a time.”
Leon says, “This is truly an important cause which is unfolding in our own backyard. We need at our level to make a difference and help each other.”
Those in need go to St. John’s for hot meals, and then get a paper bag with the sandwiches to take with them for the two other meals of the day, and for the elderly or children in their households who could not come.
Leon’s family has been involved in assisting the homeless in NYC and then in NJ since coming to the US in 2003. “Our parents always made sure to that we participated actively in one way or another,” he says. “We have made beds, cooked, cleaned, organized toiletries, played games with children and done many sleepovers as the welcoming centers require two organizers to be present.”
Leon says he joined the homeless cause in 2012. “Our parents taught us that we could not imagine living a full spiritual life without first thinking of others,” he says. “Nowadays because of Covid-19, we bring food, gift cards and warmth to the homeless who are fortunately housed in hotels, motels, and temporary housing.”
“Aside from a profound sense of humility, one lesson my older siblings and I learned is that the homeless line in America is a very very fine one,” he says. The launch of the 1774 Sandwich Initiative was on MLK Day where the school officials and Leon coordinated a Zoom call where the Newark Academy students realized the first 967 sandwiches. They have since organized two more sandwichdrives, which resulted in 2,200 sandwiches in total. This has surpassed Leon’s expectation by 24 percent.
The project is ongoing, and the next target date is set for April 30, which is Newark Academy’s Annual Day of Giving.
Leon, who says he has many plans for the future of the drive, has started asking for the help of everyone around him, even from some celebrities. He has also set a new and more ambitious target of 17,740 sandwiches to be made by the end of his Senior year.
—Leon Sarkissian
Leon Sarkissian
Whippany Railway Excursions
At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, a lovely young woman clad all in white, extolled the virtues of riding the clean trains of the Lackawanna Railroad. This fictional character, named ‘Phoebe Snow’ was renowned as much for her beauty, as well as for the advertising jingles that accompanied the adverts she appeared in.
Today, Phoebe invites you to step aboard the Whippany Railway Museum’s excursion trains and take a ride into the past. Their trains feature a unique collection of restored, vintage rail cars from historic railroads that once served New Jersey and the Metropolitan area. Passengers can board a caboose and experience an old-fashioned, relaxing way of spending a Sunday afternoon with the family. Children love swaying to the motion of the old cars while they listen to the nostalgic “clickety-clack” sounds the wheels make as they clatter over the rail joints.
Passengers upgrade their excursion experience by choosing to ride in our awardwinning Lackawanna Railroad Subscription Club Car No. 2454, which radiated elegance on a train once known as ‘The Millionaire’s Express’. The Central Railroad of New Jersey club car ‘Jersey Coast’ is a beautiful conveyance that features all the amenities offered by the CNJ’s deluxe Blue Comet passenger train of the 1930s.
During the 45-minute ride, the train travels the route of the historic “Whippanong Trail” through Whippany, East Hanover, Livingston and Roseland in Morris and Essex Counties. The train will pass through the remnants of pre-historic Glacial Lake Passaic, a natural swamp which supports abundant wildlife, such as deer, turtles, wild turkeys, hawks and rabbits. The ride also features the thrill of crossing high above the Passaic River over a steel bridge.
Sunday, May 15, 2022 (Rain or Shin), Departures: 1, 2, 3 & 4 pm Whippany Railway Museum, 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany (intersection of Rt 10Wt & Whippany Road) 973-887-8177 | www.WhippanyRailwayMuseum.net
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Greenwood Gardens Re-Opens
Amidst a stunning display of spring blossoms, Greenwood Gardens will open its gates to the public on May 1. A former private estate owned by the Day and Blanchard families, today Greenwood is a non-profit 28-acre public garden and historic site, and a peaceful haven graced with terraced gardens, stately fountains, woodlands, grottoes, Arts and Crafts follies, and winding paths.
In honor of National Public Gardens Day and in appreciation of its constituents, Greenwood is holding a Community Day on May 6. The gates will be open to all members of the community to tour the gardens admission-free.
Music will once again fill the Main Terrace and spill into the garden during five live concerts. Three evenings of Jazz in the Garden, sponsored by Stone Mountain Properties, are scheduled for May 20, June 24 and July 22. Lyrica Chamber Music and The Discovery Orchestra performances round out the lineup for this year’s concert series.
A variety of specialized tours, workshops and lectures will take place throughout the season. Visitors can tour the garden on a bird walk with a New Jersey Audubon naturalist, discover their creative sides in a journaling workshop focused on sensing and recording their emotional reactions to the natural world, or learn about the life and legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted, America’s first “Landscape Architect” in a lecture by celebrated author, Marta McDowell.
Greenwood Gardens
274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills 973-258-4026 www.greenwoodgardens.org
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Mother’s Day Hikes
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a guided hike through our woodlands and learn about some of the wildflowers that grow in the spring. There will be iced tea and sweet treats after the hike. The entire event will take place outside. Hike will start at the top of the driveway. This event will take place rain or shine.
Sunday, May 8 Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary 324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills Hikes start at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
Celebrate Mother’s Day with NJ Festival Orchestra
Great moms deserve great music! Celebrate Mother’s Day in style as David Wroe leads the New Jersey Festival Orchestra in a special tribute to moms everywhere. ‘Roses from the South’ concert will feature much loved masterpieces from J Strauss and Debussy as well as Mother’s Day serenades by renowned tenor Anthony Kearns.
Saturday, May 7, 7pm Pre-concert lecture at 6pm by Yifei Xu First United Methodist Church 1 E. Broad St, Westfield
Sunday, May 8, 3pm Pre-concert lecture at 2pm by Yifei Xu The Concert Hall, Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison
www.njfestivalorchestra.org/concerts
Support Your Local Merchant. Shop Local.
Find the perfect Mother’s Day gift at nearby independently owned businesses in our community. Celebrate Mother’s Day with NJ Festival Orchestra
Great moms deserve great music! Celebrate Mother’s Day in style as David Wroe leads the New Jersey Festival Orchestra in a special tribute to moms everywhere. ‘Roses from the South’ concert will feature much loved masterpieces from J Strauss and Debussy as well as Mother’s Day serenades by renowned tenor Anthony Kearns.
Saturday, May 7, 7pm Pre-concert lecture at 6pm by Yifei Xu First United Methodist Church 1 E. Broad St, Westfield
Sunday, May 8, 3pm Pre-concert lecture at 2pm by Yifei Xu The Concert Hall, Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison
www.njfestivalorchestra.org/concerts
Get Mom a custom, waterproof, clear pouch for Mother’s Day. Perfect for a day at the beach or pool! Personalization options available. Pink Jewels
1110 Town Center Way, Livingston (in the Livingston Town Center) 973-994-0975 | www.pink-jewels.com
The Chloe and Lyla Bra and Leggings makes a great gift for Mom! Gives great support for any workout with high quality fabric that fits well. Sweat-wicking material will help you stay cool and buttery soft with extra stretch. Browse and order on our website.
The perfect gift for your Mother! Give the gift to better health and well-being for all in a convenient, peaceful and modern location. Modern Acupuncture
176 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park 973-765-9500 modacu.com/nj001
Schaad
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is Taking Place this July in Ireland
Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life (ASLFL) will be hosting, The 12th Annual International Youth Leadership Conference, from Sunday, July 24 to Sunday, July 31, 2022 at Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland. ASLFL is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that actively promotes educational opportunities for young adults all across the globe. ASLFL’s efforts meet the educational mission of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce – USA (ICCUSA).
ASLFL is committed to developing and presenting meaningful, state-of-the-art youth leadership and mentorship programs to 15-18 year-olds of good character with demonstrated leadership skills and an interest in community service around the globe. The conference is a wonderful opportunity for students with different race, ethnicity and religions to work together and learn about each other’s different cultures.
Participants will learn how to communicate with their peers from all over the world and be a part of making the world a better place by protecting the global environment with no compromise to the needs, wants and expectations of those who inhabit the globe. In addition, guests will gain important skills and take part in exercises that will help them become strong confident leaders, so they can be prepared for any challenges that come their way. Lessons will include taking personal responsibility for exercising leadership, developing an awareness of social needs and issues, improving interpersonal and group communication skills, creating selfesteem, exercising leadership abilities in the community, having a passion for community service and understanding the importance of daily healthy living, diet and nutrition.
Photos courtesy of ASLFL
As Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”
Please visit www.aschweitzer.org to register. For more information, contact nancy@iccusa.org, victoria@iccusa.org, or 908-286-1300 ext. 2.
