West Orange Native Changes the Game at Division III Colleges for Students

On December 6th, Bobbi received the Sustainability Award from the Caldwell Environmental Commission, and six days later, on December 12th, she was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation by the United States Department of Agriculture. On December 20th, Bobbi and her sister Hayden, 13, who stood up for Bobbi with a powerful speech at their Town Hall meeting, received Certificates of Excellence from NJIT, which also presented both girls with full scholarships to the summer 2023 Center for PreCollege Programs at NJIT.

Next, Montclair’s Minority Police Officer Association presented Bobbi with the Community Care Taking Award on January 13th, and Attorney General Matt Platkin was there to honor Bobbi as well. In addition, the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey awarded Bobbi for “her passion for science and environmental stewardship” and thanked her for her important efforts to help the community. The award was presented to Bobbi by Congresswoman Mickie Sherrill. She was also invited for private tours of Princeton University and The American Museum of Natural History.

When Yale University heard about the incident, the school invited Bobbi there to tour the Peabody Museum with other black female scientists. While there, Yale invited Bobbi to donate the spotted lanternfly into their database. Bobbi sent 27 spotted lanternflies to Yale, and on January 20th, Bobbi went back to Yale University’s Peabody Museum Entomology Division for a ceremony to accept Bobbi’s donation of her spotted lanternfly collection into Yale University’s research collection. She is now the first contributor of spotted lanternflies to Yale University. The collection is named after Bobbi Wilson, and anyone that uses the spotted lanternflies from that collection must credit Bobbi.

And there are still many more accolades to come for the little scientist who is striving to protect the environment from the spotted lanternfly. Bobbi says she feels “proud” of the recognition that her work has received. Her mom Monique says she too is “proud of Bobbi,” and is “looking forward to Bobbi’s bright future.”

If you know someone that goes above and beyond, send an email to jackie.subessex@gmail.com

By Jackie Schatell

West Orange native, Sebastian DeSimone’s desire to join the cross country and track teams at Gwynedd Mercy University in PA, as an Integrated Studies student not working toward a degree, has changed the NCAA playing field for all students following in Sebastian’s footsteps. In the past, only full-time students working toward a degree were allowed to join college D3 teams. This all changed this past August, when Sebastian received a waiver from the NCAA allowing him to run for his school. The NCAA has now made the waiver available to all D3 college students.

“We are super excited because we were uncertain if this would happen for months,” says mom Joanne DeSimone. “We didn’t anticipate that this would affect all students in D3 schools nationwide. That was a wonderful surprise. This waiver allows schools to offer wider inclusivity. Now there is no barrier to sports on campus.”

Joanne says that she hopes other D3 colleges become familiar with the NCAA waiver and that they let their students know about it.

Sebastian, who is in a special program within the school for people with intellectual disabilities, is working toward a certificate in Integrated Studies. He hopes to become an assistant teacher.

The college freshman was on the Varsity cross country and track teams at West Orange High School and has a love of running. When he was accepted into college, he was disappointed to learn that he could not compete. Now, with this waiver in hand, the distance runner plans to participate on the cross country and indoor/outdoor track teams at Gwynedd.

He says he originally joined the high school track team to make friends. He likes that the sport keeps him active and that he has something in common with his teammates. He says that his teammates at Gwynedd have been very welcoming to him and that he loves being part of the team.

Joanne says that “running has helped Sebastian learn that he can do hard things on and off the field. Now, it’s taught him strive for equality.”

If you know someone that goes above and beyond, send an email to jackie.subessex@gmail.com

Through Her Eyes: Women of the Near East through the Ages

Mosaic Dance Theater Company (MDTC), based in Glen Ridge, in a co-production with the Shea Center for Performing Arts of William Paterson University, Wayne, celebrates Women’s History Month and women’s contributions to world culture by taking you on a journey through the ages, in Through Her Eyes: Women of the Near East Through the Ages, a joyous multimedia dance experience.

MDTC is dedicated to the dance and folkloric traditions of the Mediterranean—North Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe—creating dance, theater, and educational programs which celebrate the rich diversity of cultures of this region.

Thursday, March 23, 7pm

Shea Center for Performing Arts

William Paterson University 300 Pompton Road, Wayne

Ninth Annual Elizabeth Michael Boyle Poetry Celebration

Award-winning author Leah Naomi Green will be the guest speaker at the ninth Annual Elizabeth Michael Boyle Poetry Celebration from noon to 1pm on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in the Alumni Theatre on Caldwell University’s campus. A book signing will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Green is the author of The More Extravagant Feast (Graywolf Press, 2020), selected by Li-Young Lee for the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets. She is the recipient of a 2021 Treehouse Climate Action Poetry Prize from the Academy of American Poets and the 2021 Lucille Clifton Legacy Award. Her work has appeared in or is forthcoming from The Paris Review, Tin House, Poem-a-Day, The Virginia Quarterly Review, The Southern Review, Orion, Shenandoah, Ecotone, and Pleiades. She has been supported by fellowships and grants from Civitella Ranieri Foundation and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. Green teaches environmental studies and English at Washington and Lee University. Green resides in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where she and her family homestead and grow or find much of their food.

The Elizabeth Michael Boyle Poetry series is named in honor of the late Sister Elizabeth Michael Boyle, O.P., a Sister of St. Dominic of Caldwell, Professor Emerita of English, published author and poet.

Tuesday, March 28, noon

Alumni Theatre, 120 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell www.caldwell.edu

Ride the Easter Bunny Express!

For over 30 years the Museum has been welcoming the thousands of families who come to Whippany to celebrate the return of Spring with this fun-themed train ride through Morris County! The Easter Bunny and helpers will be on board the train greeting everyone during the 45-minute round-trip ride along the historic Whippanong Trail.

Your train ride experience departs from and returns to the Whippany Railway Museum site in Whippany. Guests enjoy the comfort of heated passenger coaches as the Bunny makes his way through the cars to visit with you and your children.

Kids are sure to be delighted when they receive a special gift from the Easter Bunny while riding aboard this memorable train. Guest will ride on one of the Easter Bunny premium club cars:

Subscription Club Car: “Lackawanna No. 2454”—Surround yourself with the grandeur of another era onboard the award-winning Lackawanna Subscription Club Car No. 2454, which radiated elegance on a train once known as ‘The Millionaire’s Express’ that operated between Hoboken Terminal and Gladstone.

Club Car: “Jersey Coast”—The Central Railroad of New Jersey club car ‘Jersey Coast’ is a beautifully-restored car that features all the amenities offered by the CNJ’s deluxe ‘Blue Comet’ passenger train of the 1930s. ‘The Blue Comet’ ran between Jersey City and Atlantic City, and the striking paint scheme of cream and blue reminds one of a comet streaking through space.

Coach Car: Our standard “Dieseliner” coaches may look modern, but they are historic in their own right. Still in service at Whippany over a half-century since they were constructed, you can enjoy a relaxing ride onboard these cars that once conveyed commuters to Hoboken Terminal from 1970 through the early2000s.

Sensory Celebration

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, this event invites all to explore the Van Vleck Gardens using your senses as your guide. Activity stations throughout the gardesn are self-paced, optional and focus on using your senses to discover nature through art, movement, literature, planting, and exploration walks.

This is a limited-time event, and the rides usually sell out early, so advance online reservations are strongly recommended!

Sunday, March 26; Saturday, April 1; Sunday, April 2; Saturday, April 8 1, 2, 3 & 4pm Whippany Railway Museum, Railraod Plaza, Whippany 973-887-8177 www.WhippanyRailwayMuseum.net

This outdoor family program is an inclusive event, open to people of all ages and abilities and will be held entirely outdoors. Registration is required.

Saturday, April 1, 1-4pm Van Vleck House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair www.montclairfoundation.org/event/sensory-celebration-2023

M-F: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sun: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

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