Health & Wellness Directory

142 batters in the process. She also had a fine year at the plate, collecting 34 hits and 26 RBI. She returns as one of the players to watch in all of northern New Jersey in 2022.

The same can be said for Nutley junior Fallyn Stoeckel, who struck out 174 batters in 154 innings, allowing just 25 earned runs. Stoeckel is also a terror at the plate, registering 33 hits and 29 RBI. No question, Todzuman and Stoeckel are among the top softball players in New Jersey. Stoeckel has already signed her national letter of intent to attend Rider University come fall of 2022. Before then, the area should embrace the fact that two superstars are right here for us to enjoy for one more season.

8-Belleville’s Zach Perez breaks the transgender barrier

In a past life, Zach Perez had a different gender that he was born with. But the Belleville High School junior was never really comfortable being a girl (in fact, Perez’s birth name isn’t even discussed any longer).

Perez is growing more and more comfortable every day, competing in cross country in the fall and now indoor track and field. In the spring, Perez will go back to her role as a member of the Belleville softball squad. She’s a trailblazing athlete who shared her brave story with The Observer back in June. She really had an impact on a lot of people, both in the field of athletics and beyond. She’s an incredible young lady who we only hope is accepted freely by students and non-students equally.

Photo by Jim Hague Former North Arlington High School standout football player Michael Cammett, known in local wrestling “The Golden Boy” because of his long flowing blond hair, drowned in an accident on the Delaware River in July.

9-Lyndhurst’s Mutsoli leads all of New Jersey in soccer scoring

The Lyndhurst boys’ soccer team enjoyed a highly successful season in 2021, thanks in part to the brilliance of senior forward Enrique (pronounced N-REEK) Mutsoli, who had his name butchered in voice and printed word more than any other high school athlete in northern New Jersey. Mutsoli scored an astounding 39 goals, which represented the top goal scoring total in all of New Jersey. Yet, Mutsoli was left off of practically every single postseason All-State list. In any case, it’s not an achievement that has been overlooked in local circles. Mutsoli had a season to remember.

10-Passing of IWF wrestling champion Cammett of North Arlington

In July, the local sports community suffered a tremendous loss when Michael Cammett, the former North Arlington High School football player, drowned in a innertube rafting accident on the Delaware River. Cammett was just 25 years old.

In recent years, Cammett had spent a lot of his time crafting his skills as a

See TOP TEN, Page 12

HEALTH&WELLNESS&WELLNESS

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS! DIRECTORY

EYE CARE

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TOP TEN

Continued from Page 11

professional wrestler in the organization the International Wrestling Federation, headed by Nutley native Kevin Knight. Cammett was fulfilling his dream to become a pro wrestler and had become a very popular competitor as his nickname proudly proclaimed, “The Golden Boy.” Cammett was popular with the local kids’ shows that Knight and the IWF would put on, but he was also widely familiar with the oldschool wrestling fans that just loved Cammett’s flair and personality in and out of the ring.

Whenever someone dies so young, it’s a tragedy, but when it came to Cammett’s passing, it left a void in local circles that won’t soon be filled. He’s so sorely missed.

Just missed list

Just thinking of a few stories that jumped off the sports pages, but didn’t make the top 10 stories.

In September, Ray Lucas decided to return to his high school alma mater, namely Harrison High, and become the head coach of the Blue Tide. Lucas, probably the greatest athlete in the history of Harrison, decided to take over the program when the former coach resigned with less than one month before the season was set to start. Lucas won his first game of the season.

Throughout the high school football season, the name of Jacob Rodriguez became a household word, thanks to his All-State exploits at Hudson Catholic High School. But Rodriguez is a native of Kearny and still resides in Kearny. His prowess does not get lost locally.

In November, Kearny lost a dear friend and soccer stalwart in Tommy Briscoe, who was a soccer coach and was also a fine soccer official. Briscoe was a true Scottish and Irish gentleman who was so truly admired and loved.

Reach your new year’s resolutions on a budget

(StatePoint) Whether your New Year’s Resolutions include eating healthier, exercising more, or devoting more time to self-care, having a plan can help you reach your goals on a budget.

This new year, consider the following tips from the experts at Dollar General:

Healthier Eating

Preparing food that is healthier, tasty and affordable is easier when sticking to recipes and a budget. To help customers make healthier decisions, Dollar General partnered with a registered dietician and nutritionist to create “Better For You” recipes from ingredients available at every Dollar General store. The complete collection can be found at dollargeneral.com, and includes simple, budgetfriendly recipes, such as loaded egg muffins, roasted broccoli almondine and secret ingredient brownies, making it easy to whip up something delicious and nutritious at each meal.

Self-Care

A healthy dose of self-care can make you happier and healthier. Self-care may include adopting a new hair care routine, experimenting with skin care products, or learning a new recipe. It may also mean taking time to meditate, read new books or spend less time on electronics and more time with friends and family. Be sure to dedicate time on the calendar every day to self-care.

Smart Saver

To begin 2022 with a fresh perspective on finances, make a budget that includes household essentials. While food is one budget line item that can fluctuate, you can be sure to save by taking advantage of retailers’ apps that help you shop savvy. For example, the Dollar General app includes digital coupons, a Shopping List feature so you can take note of needed items and calculate the estimated total before going to the store, and a Cart Calculator feature, which keeps a running total of purchases while you’re in the store. Understanding budgets, sale items and available digital coupons before shopping can help keep you from overspending and hopefully support your financial stability goals.

Regardless of your plans for the new year, adopting a few smart strategies can help ensure you meet your goals affordably.

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