BE CAREFUL AND OTHER SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS By Ihor Andruch As the daughter of a police officer, Donna Fantacone’s youth was unlike the other neighborhood children. So unique, she wrote a book based on the safety tips learned from her father including how to avoid and spot danger before it occurs. “Officer Tony Says, “Be Careful” was an idea of mine that dates back over two decades. My father Anthony Fantacone (inset) was a policeman in Bellville from the late 1950’s through the early 1980’s. Sometimes our vacation plans were sidetracked by accidents on the side of the road, where he’d always pull over to help out.” Officer Fantacone’s teachings in life are her inspiration. Almost every page in the book is based on real life stories including being approached by a predator as a child. Her father taught her the importance of getting a license plate number to help to catch those criminals. “The pages about the children watching their backs is dedicated to my husband who was hit by a drunk driver 45 years ago while playing on the sidewalk. He was DOA at University Hospital but they were able to revive him and spent his entire second grade year in the hospital recovering — he was lucky to have survived.” It’s eye-opening considering how many people are hit by drivers due to distractions caused by cell phones. Fantacone left no stone unturned and included a page on drain entrapments. Drowning is the number one cause of accidental deaths among children between 80 May 2016 • Clifton Merchant
Donna Fantacone at her book signing at the Clifton Memorial Library on April 14. That is her dad Anthony at left, the book’s inspiration.
the ages of one and four. The book also includes the Consumer Product Safely Commission website where parents can sign up for emails on “recalls” and “pool safety.” Each page holds critical life-lessons for children that will help parents start the “Safety Conversations” that need to take place. Books can be purchased online at ArchwayPublishing.com, at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Donna Fantacone had aspirations of working in early childhood education. While the dream didn’t come true, she landed a job at Medco. While there, she attended William Paterson University part time to obtain a degree in English and Elementary Education. She worked full time while raising her son, Raymond Romanski. He is an Eagle Scout with Troop 40 based out of Assumption of the Holy Virgin Church in the Athenia section of Clifton and is illustrated as an Eagle Scout in the book. While in school, Fantacone did her field experience in the 1st grade classroom of School 3 on Washington Ave. She is currently a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener and volunteers at City Green teaching preschool children farming.