Cedar Grove June 2025

A YUM Publication

No. 7 Vol. 6

JUNE 2025

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Honoring Our Cedar Grove Veterans

roud Residents and Friends, I wish to personally acknowledge The Girl Scouts for their initiative to Honor our Cedar Grove Veterans and our Council members for their support in making the Banner initiative, a reality.

The first phase is now on display on 17 utility poles in town which were placed today on the North and South portions of Pompton Ave. It's a meaningful moment for residents and visitors to our town to honor our Heros and their family members for their sacrifices to preserve freedom in this great country of ours.

Happy Father’s Day

Page 2 • June 2025

Little Falls Issues Recent Proclamations for May

By Tina Pappas hree proclamations were issued by Mayor James Damiano during the recent council meeting.

Damiano's first proclamation was for Mental Health Awareness Month, which he referred to as "always something that should be at the forefront of all of our minds."

"Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being, which can affect how we think, feel and act," he said. "1 in 5 adults experiences mental health problems in any given year and such problems can contribute to the onset of mental illness."

He also gave a statistic of 1 in 25 individuals live with mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Approximately one-half of chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14, and three-quarters by age 24. He also added that long delays, sometimes decades long, often occur between the time symptoms first appear and when individuals get help. He also emphasized that early identification and treatment can make a profound difference in successful management of mental illness and recovery.

"It is important to maintain mental health and learn the symptoms of mental illness to get help when it is needed," he explained. "Every citizen and community can make a difference in helping to silence the stigma that for too long has surrounded mental illness and discouraged people from getting help. Public education and civic activities can encourage mental health and help improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental health."

He also proclaimed the month of May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the Township in order to increase public understanding of the importance of mental health and to promote identification and treatment of mental illness. The Township also has the Mental Health Awareness Month flag flying at Town Hall and the municipal building is lit green during May. Green is the color associated with mental health awareness events and observances.

Damiano then issued a proclamation for Lyme Disease Awareness Month stating that May is a time to help bring awareness of Lyme disease and tick-born diseases.

"Lyme disease is a bacterial infection brought on mostly by an infected deer tick with

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Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in Little Falls, a green flag flies high at Town Hall.

Also pictured is the municipal building lit green for the month of May.

symptoms that may include headache, fatigue, skin rashes and fever," he said, adding that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 476,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. each year. He then proclaimed Lyme Disease Awareness Month for the month of May in the Township of Little Falls.

Recognizing Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month was the final proclamation, which was established by Congress in 1992.

"Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is the celebration of Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States," Damiano stated.

He then explained that the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigracont. on page7

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Little Falls Issues... cont. from page 2 anniversary of the completion of The Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, because the majority of workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Damiano also emphasized that despite generations of living and contributing to the fabric of American Society, many Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders continue to be treated as not belonging and face persistent racism and stereotyping. He added that since 9/11, especially those who are Muslim, Hindu or Sikh, individuals often face senseless violence and harassment due to the color of their skin or the beliefs of their faith. He further added that more recently since the COVID-19 pandemic, Asians in general, particularly women and the elderly, have faced anti-Asian violence.

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Damiano then proclaimed the month of May as Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the Township.

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Little Falls Lights Up Red to Honor Fallen Firefighters

he National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend was recently held on May 3 and 4, and served as an opportunity to honor 226 fallen fire service heroes. Town Hall was lit up in red as part of the Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters during the month of May.

Photo provided by The Township of Little Falls

Page 8 • June 2025

By Tina Pappas he Little Falls Public Library hosted an art exhibit on May 2. The Montclair Art Museum displayed an eclectic array of artwork with works by local artists at the library, which included some of the artists who were present to discuss their creations during the evening.

The exhibit brought out many of the museum's art instructors who also displayed their works with the library, according to Jeffrey Machno, Liaison of Adult Programming & Community Engagement for the Little Falls Public Library.

"We are delighted to partner with the Montclair Art Museum this month and our library is excited to contribute to the cultural landscape by showcasing this incredible exhibition!" he said.

Among the artists on-

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Little Falls Library Hosts Montclair Art Museum Exhibit hand was Miriam Jacobs, who teaches at the Montclair Art Museum. She is also a textile designer and wore a dress she color designed by the ice cube dye method, which consists of using ice cubes to transport dyes instead of water. She said she also works on paper with dyes and crayons, called disperse dye, which is used for coloring synthetic fibers.

"I do the crayon art portion first by either drawing or rubbing to make some kind of texture and then putting the dye on top," she explained. "When the dye is dry I take the paper on the fabric and put it in a hot press, close the hot press and then the heat lifts the color off the paper and onto the fabric, so it's a monoprint. Each one of these shapes is from a different piece of paper I cut out."

Jacobs also said she loves

to find new and innovative ways to to work on fabrics.

"I was always trying to find a method on working on synthetic fabric," she said, adding that some dyes only work on certain kinds of fabrics.

Her artwork displayed on the wall of the library is called "Circular Kinetics," which is a disperse dye monoprint.

Jacobs previously lived in Montclair for almost 30 years and now resides in Little Falls.

"I've been in Little Falls for almost two years and love it, but I still work in Montclair," she noted.

Monica Hill, who works at the Montclair Art Museum as a supply and gallery coordinator, recently attended one of Jacob's classes.

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Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls Artwork from the Montclair Art Museum was on display at the Little Falls Public Library on May 2.

classes so I took Miriam's class with dispersive dyes where you're actually dying fabric with different colors through a whole process of layering with collage materials, including papers and textures," Hill said. "It's really an interesting class and very enjoyable."

Stopping by to check out the exhibit was Councilman Chris Vancheri, Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, Councilman Michael Murphy, and Council President Anthony Sgobba.

Library Board Trustee Nancy Friedrich said the library is thrilled to be able to showcase the local artists and art teachers from the Montclair Art Museum.

"Even though it's close to us here in Little Falls, people don't always think to make the journey to the Montclair Art Museum," she added.

"So it's a great collaboration because it brings an offering so close to us and to the front of people's minds."

Library Board President Anne Kahwaty said the library is always seeking ways to bring artistic, cultural, and educational experiences to patrons.

"With that in mind, we were thrilled when the Montclair Art Museum asked us if we would display the work of some of their instructors," she noted. "The result is not only a

Monica Hill, supply and gallery coordinator for the Montclair Art Museum, is pictured next to one of her art creations.

Pictured is Miriam Jacobs, who teaches at the Montclair Art Museum, with one of her art designs mounted on the wall, including wearing a dress she color designed.

display that we are all proud of, but hopefully a partnership that will benefit the library, the museum, and the residents of Little Falls for a very long time."

Jacobs will be teaching the print making with disperse dye at the museum on June 1 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. She will also be running an adult workshop this summer teaching stich re-

sist indigo and ice cube dye at the Visual Arts Center in Summit on Aug 2 through Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The art exhibit will be featured at the library for the entire month of May. For more information, visit montclairartmuseum.org, or contact the Montclair Art Museum at (973) 746-5555.

Local Seniors Enjoy Annual 'Spring Fling' Dance in Little Falls

Photos provided by the Township of Little Falls Little Falls held its annual Spring Fling Dance at the Little Falls Civic Center on May 2. Those who helped put this year's event on are pictured.

By Tina Pappas pring was definitely in the air during the Spring Fling Dance on May 2. Sponsored by the the Little Falls Senior Citizens Advisory Board, the annual event was a hit with seniors in attendance, which included great food, refreshments, and D.J. music that got everyone kicking up their heels.

The event was held at

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the Little Falls Civic Center, located at 19 Warren Street, and was free for Little Falls residents. Coordinating the event was Council President Anthony Sgobba, who chairs the Little Falls Senior Citizens Advisory Board.

Also on-hand was Councilman Chris Vancheri, Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, Councilman Mike Murphy, and Cpl. Jon Vanak of the Little Falls Police Depart-

ment. Also assisting with the event was John Pace and Franco Iacovo of the Little Falls Recreation Department.

Sgobba welcomed attendees and thanked members of the Township Council and the Little Falls Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, including everyone else involved in helping make this year's event a huge success.

"It's a lot of work that goes into planning this but it's enjoyable putting these events on," he said. "Seniors had an enjoyable time eating, dancing and conversing with each other."

Local senior Angela Mazza commented after the event.

"I love attending the Spring Fling...from the beautiful decorations, to the lively music, to the delicious food. We always have a great time and are grateful to the town for a fun night out!" she said. "They're terrific!"

Sgobba added that the Little Falls Senior Citizens Advisory Committee is taking a hiatus for the summer but will be back again this fall for the Harvest Party Dance event.

June 2025 • Page 9

Seniors enjoyed mingling during the annual Spring Fling Dance in Little Falls.

Councilwoman Christine Hablitz, Assistant Recreation Director Franco Iacovo, Councilman Chris Vancheri and Cpl. Jon Vanak help serve food and refreshments to seniors.

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Two Little Falls High School Seniors Pitch No-Hitters On Same Day

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By Tina Pappas t's a double no-hitter day when it comes to two teens from Little Falls making history last month.

Ava LoConte, a senior at Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI), pitched a no-hitter during a softball game between PCTI and Eastside High School of Paterson on April 21, at PCTI's Triple A Field. She finished the game with a score of 12-0.

Simultaneously, over at Passaic Valley High School's (PVHS) baseball field, Jake Delaney, also a senior, pitched his no-hitter against Fair Lawn High School, finalizing a score of 9-0.

What Ava and Jake both agree on is why they love their positions in their respective sports so much.

"What I love most about about pitching in softball is being in control of the game," she said. "I really enjoy it and this team got along well these past four years."

Jake echoed the sentiment about pitching in baseball.

"I feel like I'm in control of the game," he explained. "The game's at my pace and when something happens I can just bounce back to the next pitch. It's not like when you're hitting because you're not waiting for nine batters to go in front of you until you can get into the game."

Ava and Jake both grew up playing in the recreation league in town. Ava played for the Lady Hornets Softball League prior to high school. Jake played for the Recreation Department's Little League early on and then eventually got into travel leagues before high school.

Ava's mother Deneen LoConte said she showed pitching skills early on.

"One of Ava's coaches during the time she played for the Lady Hornets suggested she try pitching and she got some lessons," she said. "She really showed promise at an early age."

Deneen added she is very proud of Ava and was glad someone saw she had talent from a young age in the sport. According to Deneen, athleticism runs in the family as Ava's twin brother Zakk plays football and her younger sister Sofia also plays softball and pitches for the Lady Hornets.

"Her dad and I are so proud of Ava and all the obstacles she has overcome, from travel teams to club sports and high school," she added. "She has never let anything stand in the way of her passion for the game. While we're uncertain if she will play in college, her excitement for the next chapter is inspiring, and we are just as thrilled for what lies cont. on page 11 ahead!"

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Two LFHS Seniors.. cont. from page 10 Ava is very excited for her team this year and said things are going really well. They are currently at an 8-1 standing.

"I wasn't really expecting to do that but as the innings went by, I just held them off," she explained. "I've done no-hitters before during high school and in travel softball. Softball is a game that allows you to keep improving and come back from your mistakes. You also make lifelong friends you meet along the way."

Ava will be attending Eastwick College this fall and will major in Cardiovascular Stenography.

Jake said his recent no-hitter game is the best he's pitched all year. They are currently at a 10-5 standing.

"We just played as a team and my fielders were doing their job," he said. "At the end of the day, we came out as winners."

Jake said he's enjoyed pitching all four years at PVHS. "I did have a few no-hitters during the travel league and one for PV last year," he added. "I've loved baseball since I was little and my parents would always sign me up.

It's the only sport I play. When I'm out there having fun, they're always rooting for me."

Jake will be attending Pace University in Westchester County, N.Y. this fall. He'll be playing college baseball as it's a Division II school. He also plans to major in Sports Marketing.

"I plan to continue playing baseball if everything works out good," he noted. "I see myself being a competitive college baseball player and just being the best teammate that I can be to everyone around me."

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Arbor Day Celebrated with Shade Tree Planting, Dedication by Little Falls Girl Scouts

Arbor Day is dedicated annually to public tree planting in the U.S. and other countries.

It's usually observed in late April or early May. The ceremony is part of a larger effort by Girl Scouts USA called the Girl Scout Tree Promise, a national protection initiative to plant 5 million trees across the country by 2026.

Troop Leader Colleen Larionoff said Janine Barone of the Shade Tree Commission arranged for the purchase of the tree.

"Councilwoman Christine Hablitz liaised with the DPW to get the hole dug," she said.

"All the girls planted the tree."

Girl Scout Rebecca Figura welcomed everyone to the ceremony and gave a land acknowledgement, followed by the Daisy Scouts leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Girl Scout Madelyn Larionoff then sang the National Anthem.

Girl Scouts Ella Larionoff and Gwen Farah provided information on why trees are important, emphasizing that they are an integral part of local and global ecosystems, as they remove pollution by cleaning the air and drinking water, and providing food, shelter and shade for humans and other animals. They also help protect the soil from the effects of heavy rain and erosion. They help address climate change by taking carbon out of the air and use it, along with water and energy from the sun to make food.

Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls "When forests are cut down, not as much carbon is taken out of the atmosphere," they The Township of Little Falls celebrated Arbor Day recently with the planting of a shade tree in Memorial said, adding the importance of better environmental stewardship, especially by planting Park by the local Girl Scouts on April 25. trees can help.

By Tina Pappas Girl Scout Alice Brundage read the Girl Scout Tree Promise. n celebration of Arbor Day, the Little Falls Cadette Girls Scouts Troop 97322 held their "Girl Scouts of all ages have planted, protected and honored trees for the Girl Scout shade tree planting ceremony in Memorial Park on Wilmore Road on April 25.

Tree Promise," she said. "Together, we pledge to take 5 million actions to address climate Mayor James Damiano, Council President Anthony Sgobba, Councilman Chris Vancheri change." and Councilwoman Christine Hablitz were on hand for the annual ceremony. Members of Damiano held a poignant tribute to Phil Simone with Simone's family by his side prior to the Little Falls Police Department were also present. the tree being planted. He highlighted his service to the Township for over 30 years, many This year's ceremony held special meaning as it was dedicated to Phil Simone, the for- of them as DPW Superintendent. He also spotlighted his wife Marlene and son Charles, mer Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent who passed in 2020. Simone was who joined the ceremony, as having done more than dedicate their time to the Township. a longtime resident of the Township, who began working for the DPW in 1976 and became "The entire Simone Family has long roots here in Little Falls," he explained. "Every fiber DPW Superintendent in 1989. of Phil's body was dedicated to this Township. On nights, weekends and on his days off, cont. on page 14

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Arbor Day... cont. from page 12

which he never really took, Phil was always dedicated to this town."

Damiano also spoke of how Simone oversaw the planting of hundreds of trees, particularly along the Passaic River during the years when the FEMA lots were bought out.

"It is more than appropriate to be planting this tree in Phil's honor and dedicating it to him because he has been responsible for the planting of hundreds of trees," he added.

"And now we have the trees helping us in this municipality by providing us with all the benefits that the Girl Scouts just explained to all of us here in Little Falls."

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Annual Spring Shred Event Held in Little Falls

Photos provided by The Township of Little Falls Little Falls held the annual Spring Shred Event on April 26. Mayor James Damiano, Councilman Chris Vancheri, Recreation Director Tyler Passero, and Assistant Recreation Director Franco Iacovo are pictured in front of the Gaeta Recycling Truck.

By Tina Pappas he Township of Little Falls flexed its recycling muscle once again by running its annual Spring Shred Event on April 26 at the Little Falls Municipal Parking Lot, located at 225 Main Street.

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Mayor James Damiano (right) assists a resident with dropping off unwanted materials for shredding.

Councilman Chris Vancheri and Recreation Director Tyler Passero take part in a light-hearted moment.

Residents came by to drop off their unwanted documents, canceled checks, stationary, and utility bills for secure shredding and paper recycling. The event was free for Little Falls residents only. Residents were also able to watch their documents on camera as they were securely shredded. The event coincides each year with the celebration of Earth Day in Little Falls.

Gaeta Recycling provided a mobile shredding and recycling machine truck.

Documents were placed in paper bags or cardboard boxes, with no plastics permitted. The Township also accepted electronics for recycling, including televisions, cell phones, computers, monitors, iPads, fax machines, gaming consoles, microwaves, VCRs, DVDs, including other appropriate items.

Mayor James Damiano, Councilman Chris Vancheri and Councilwoman Christine Hablitz assisted residents with their shredding and recycling needs. Also assisting with the cont. on page 16

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Recreation Director Tyler Passero and Councilman Chris Vancheri help out a local resident with shredding.

event was Recreation Director Tyler Passero and Assistant Recreation Director Franco Iacovo.

Damiano commented on the shredding event afterwards.

"What an incredible turnout for our Township's shredding event! It was great to be able to assist so many residents with their spring cleaning and help them securely dispose of their sensitive documents," he said. "Events like these help keep the residents in our community safe while giving them peace of mind knowing their personal information remains safe."

Passero echoed the sentiment saying it was a successful event with a large turnout of residents.

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In New Jersey Talent Flourishes

By Henry M. Holden o state has been so frequently mocked, maligned or misunderstood as New Jersey. And the state is filled with amazing people born in New Jersey and ready to receive the honors they deserve.

New Jersey has an astounding variety of talents.

There are wetlands, mountains, coastal plains, and Pine Barrens. There are over 2,600 species of Flora more than many of the largest states. A high proportion of New Jersey is covered by forest, 40-percent more than many other states, The same diversity characterizes New Jersey people.

How many readers know of John Stevens(1749-1838)?

He built and ran the first steam locomotive and the first steamboat.

Or what about the design of the Stars and Stripes?

Legend has it that Betsy Ross was to have sewn the first flag, but historians believe designing it should be attributed to Francis Hopkinson (1737 – 1791) a singer of the Declaration of Independence and designer the first flag, on June 14,1777, later to be designated Flag Day. Bruce Springsteen was born and raised in Freehold. The New Jersey state of mind is sometimes hard to understand.

When Springsteen was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, in 2008, in a video audience he described the “Garden State Benediction,” expressed the essence of Jersey Proud “New Jersey is for me, he said. “It is a music repository of my time on earth. The memory, the music I’ve made, my friendships in my life… it’s all buried here in a box somewhere in the sand down along the Central

N

Jersey coast. I can’t imagine having it any other way which strikingly reflects the long-standing low brow, image of our state, and a sarcastic, but affectionate kind of pride in New Jersey in that image.”’

Buzz Aldren (born in 1931 in Glen Ridge) Aldren graduated third in the class from the US military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering.

He was commissioned into the United States Air Force and served as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions and shot down two Mig 15 enemy aircraft. He went on to earn a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Aldrin was selected as a member of NASA’s Astronaut Group 3, making him the first astronaut with a doctoral degree.

His first space flight was in 1966, on Gemini 12, during which he spent over five hours on extravehicular activity.

Three years later, on Apollo 11, Aldrin became the second man to walk on the Moon (Neil Armstrong was the first and Michael Collins was the Ap0110 capsule commander. on July 21, 1969.) A Presbyterian elder, Aldrin became the first person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon, when he privately took communion.

William James Count” Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984 Red Bank ) an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer William Basie. By 2011, four recordings of Count Basie had been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old, and that have “qualitative or historical significance.”

The Moon legacy involved Buzz Aldren (Right, on Apollo 11, Aldrin became the second man to walk on the Moon (Neil Armstrong Left was the first and Michael Collins was the Ap011o capsule commander.) (Photo credit NASA)

James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851 Burlington) James Fenimore Cooper introduced the themes of the frontier, white/ Indian conflict, and America’s westward expansion as proper subjects for literary works. Perhaps even more importantly, he began to shape the romantic idea of the American West.

Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. (Born April 1, 1950 Trenton) cont. on page 19

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In NJ Talent cont. from page 18 is an American jurist who serves as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He graduated from Princeton University and Yale Law School. Alito is the second Italian American justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Alito has written majority opinions in the landmark cases McDonald v. Chicago (2010) on firearm rights, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014) on insurance coverage, Janus v. AFSCME (2018) on public-sector union security agreements, and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) on abortion.

Antonin Gregory Scalia (March 11, 1936 – February 13, 2016 Trenton) was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the t Court of the United States from 1986 until his death in 2016. He was described as the intellectual anchor for he originalist and textualist position in the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative wing.

For catalyzing an originalist and textualist movement in American law, he has been described as one of the most influential jurists of the twentieth century, and one of the most important justices in the history of the Supreme Court Scalia played an important role as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. Not only was he regarded as one of the most important justices in the history of the court, but he was also considered one of the most influential jurists of the 20th century. He was posthumously honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Judith Blume (born February 12, 1938 Elizabeth) is an American writer of children›s, young adult, and adult fiction.[1] Blume began writing in 1959 and has published

more than 26 novels. Among her best-known work is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (born March 2, 1962, Perth Amboy) known professionally as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He is best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, which was formed in 1983. He has released 16 studio albums with his band. He attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, during two solo albums.

Bon Jovi was his freshman and sophomore year. He later transferred to Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.

William Joseph Brennan Jr. · (April 25, 1906 - July 24, 1997, Newark) American lawyer and jurist who served as a Supreme Court justice from 1956 to 1990. The firstgeneration American who served as an Army Colonel in World War II, became a reform-minded New Jersey judge, and was a consensus builder on the Supreme Court. He served 34 terms with the Court under three Chief Justices.

He published over 1,250 opinions, including 450 majority opinions and 400 dissents. During Earl Warren’s tenure as Chief Justice, Brennan voted with the liberal majority for nearly 98 percent of the time and even went a full year without writing a dissent.

David Copperfield David Seth Kotkin (September 16, 1956, Metuchen) is an American stage magician and illusionist described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician.

Known professionally as David Copperfield’s television specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards, winning 21. Known for his combination of storytelling and illusion, his performance, in a career spanning more

than 40 years, have earned 11 Guinness World Records, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a knighthood by the French government. He has been named a Living Legend by the US Library of Congress.

Daniel (Danny) Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944 Neptune) is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi (1978–1983), which won him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. He plays Frank Reynolds on the FXX sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2006–present).

Shaquille O’Neal (March 6, 1972 - Newark) is an American former basketball player who currently works as a sports analyst. Considered one of the greatest basket ballers ever, O›Neal was also one of the heaviest and tallest players of all time. One of the most important players in the history of LA Lakers, O’Neal helped the team win three consecutive NBA championships between 2000 and 2002.

Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – Feb 11, 2012 Newark) Among the best-selling recording artists of all time and an inspiration to millions of budding artists, Whitney Houston achieved stardom with her eponymous debut album. The success of her later albums consolidated her position and earned her a spot in the Guinness World Records as the most awarded female artist of all time.

She struggled with drug abuse and troubled marriage and died of drowning in her hotel’s bathtub.

Frank Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14 Hoboken) “Old Blue Eyes “is no longer with us but the legacy he left behind will keep him never longing for fans. cont. on page 21

Page 20 • June 2025

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In NJ Talent cont. from page 19

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Among the most popular singers of the 20th century and one of the bestselling artists of all time, Frank Sinatra began his musical career singing with bands and later established his successful solo career with albums like The Voice of Frank Sinatra. Also, an award-winning actor, he featured in movies like From Here to Eternity and The Manchurian Candidate.

Dennis Rodman (May 13, 1961 Trenton)Former professional basketball player, Dennis Rodman, came to prominence in the 1980s as a power forward known for his defensive and rebounding abilities. Hailed as “arguably the best rebounding forward in NBA history,” he earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors seven times. He has a media presence as well and has appeared in many TV shows.

Stewart (August 3, 1941, Jersey City) The founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Martha Stewart has found success with several business ventures. She is also the publisher of a magazine called Martha Stewart Living and has written many bestselling books. Although she was convicted of charges pertaining to the ImClone stock trading case, she made a comeback and became chairwoman of her company.

Dionne Warwick( December 12, 1940 East Orange) is an American singer, TV host, actress, and former FAO Goodwill Ambassador. Warwick was one of the most successful singers between 1955 and 1999, ranking among the 40 biggest hitmakers according to the Billboard Hot 100. Eighty of her singles have been featured on Billboard’s

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Ray Liotta (Dec 18, 1954, May 26- Feb-2022 Newark ) was an American actor who voiced the central character, Tommy Vercetti, in one of the most popular video games of all time, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Liotta’s incredible journey from being an abandoned child, who was adopted from an orphanage, to becoming a popular actor is a ray of hope for many people.

James Gandolfini (Sept 18, 1961- June 19, 2013 Eastw00d) was an American actor who achieved the rare feat of being identified more as the character he performed rather than as himself. Years of performing the role of a powerful crime boss for the TV series, The Sopranos, defined Gandolfini’s legacy forever as a character actor, a legacy he gracefully carried over to the big screen.

Jerry Lewis (March 16, 1926, - Aug 20,2017 Newark) One half of the popular American comedy duo Martin & Lewis, Jerry Lewis was nicknamed The King of Comedy for his comedic skills. Also, a filmmaker, Jerry Lewis helped develop video assist and went on to popularize the system, which is widely used today. Also, a humanitarian, Lewis worked closely with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, raising awareness about muscular dystrophy.

Nancy Sinatra (June 8, 1949, Jersey City) The oldest daughter of Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra established herself as a popular singer and actress during the 1960s and 1970s. At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy magazine,

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A Warrior’s Story: The Life and Legacy of Jamie Smith

By Megan Roche In A Warrior’s Story, you’ll meet and learn about all the sides of Jamie Smith. Smith was a West Morris Central (WMC) High School graduate who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving as a US Army Ranger during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. You’ll hear from Jamie’s former teachers, his Army Ranger battle buddies, and how his legacy still lives on to this day in the halls of WMC. This series will be an on-going feature in the months ahead.

Somalia, 1993.

Jamie Smith was deployed to Somalia as part of a U.S. humanitarian effort in 1993. The U.S. Army Ranger worked tirelessly to help distribute food and supplies to the Somali people as war lords took over the country.

What nobody expected

was for the humanitarian effort to turn into one of the bloodiest battles in American military history.

Smith and the Army Rangers set out to capture Mohammed Farrah Aidid, one of the war lords who began attacking UN peacekeepers and disrupting humanitarian efforts. The US then began to shift their focus to capturing Aidid and his lieutenants on October 3. When two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down during that operation, the mission turned into a large firefight and rescue mission.

Lieutenant Larry Perino, a young grad of West Point, was alongside Corporal Smith during the battle.

“From the very beginning, Corporal Smith was one of my leaders in my helicopter. He would go into one of the blocking

positions on the chopper,” Perino recalls.

According to a site dedicated to the history of Black Hawk Down, Smith was a part of Ranger Chalk One during the Battle of Mogadishu, who’s mission was to cover the south-east corner of the target building while the Delta assault force arrested the targets of the operation. Smith was also labeled the “best shot” of the chalk. After Black Hawk Super-Six-One was hit by a RPG (RocketPropelled Grenade) and crashed into the city, Chalk One, along with the Delta assault force and Ranger Chalk Three, were ordered to fight their way to the crash site and establish a defense perimeter until the rescue convoy arrived.

While moving up to the crash alongside Lieutenant Perino and several other Rangers, Smith was shot in

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First Lieutenant Larry Perino, left, Sergeant Aaron Williamson, center, and Corporal Jamie Smith, right, stand by a helicopter while in Somalia in 1993.

the femoral artery.

“Jamie was right up front. When we made that left hand turn onto that street, it was like a giant wall of lead and he was the lead element. He kept pushing all the way through. We had guys falling left and right and he didn’t stop,” Perino said.

The site continues to explain that with Perino by his side, Delta medic Kurt Schmid got Smith into a nearby building where they attempted to save his life. Schmid realized that the only way to stop the bleeding was to find the severed femoral artery and clamp it. When told this, Smith asked for a morphine drip before Schmid attempted it, but because morphine would lower his heart rate too far (which could kill Smith)

Schmid denied the request.

Unfortunately, Schmid’s attempts to clamp the femoral artery ended in failure.

“It was really, really emotional. You could tell that Jamie was in a little bit of pain and that he was starting to go into shock. It was pretty hard and pretty gruesome. We knew it was a bleeder and we knew it was arterial. I was scared the entire time and that was the first time that I thought he may not make it,” Perino recalls.

After this, Perino and Ranger Captain Mike Steele pushed for JOC (the battle’s command center) to send a medevac for Smith and Ranger Carlo Rodriguez, who was also mortally wounded. Because of four black hawks being hit with RPGs, JOC relayed that

Smith would have to hang on until the rescue convoy arrived. Sadly, Smith would bleed out before the convoy could make it.

The battle ultimately lasted 18 hours and Perino remembers it almost vividly.

“He was what I would call the quintessential Ranger. I knew he was an athlete, I knew he was a big team player, he got along with everybody in the platoon. He died doing what he loved to do,” Perino said.

A Warrior’s Story: The Life and Legacy of Jamie Smith will continue in the July 2025 issue, where you’ll learn how news of Smith’s passing was felt at home and in the hallways of West Morris Central.

What’s happening in your school or organization?

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Email us at jeff@mylifepublications.com

June 2025 • Page 23

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Gifts for Dad He’s Certain to Enjoy

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ather’s Day celebrations began on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that a day honoring fathers became a national holiday. Since then, children have been trying to figure out how they can show their dads and other father figures in their lives just how much they are appreciated. Plenty of hugs and high fives are customary on Father’s Day, but gifts also get the spotlight on this holiday, which is held on the third Sunday in June each year.

Each year families ponder what to get the man who seemingly has everything. These Father’s Day gifts are certain to please Dad this year.

Gaming gifts The joy of gaming may not wane as Dad gets older. Once a gamer, always a gamer, and gifts that cater to Dad’s love of play can be winners. Pay attention to the release dates of games that Dad wants to play, and then make sure to grab them before they sell out.

Peripherals that can enhance gaming also can be ideal gifts. These include Bluetooth headphones with microphone, controller charging stations, light-up keyboards, or a comfortable gaming chair.

Sports tickets Experiential gifts continue to win rave reviews, as people increasingly are finding that adding more “stuff” to their lives does not equate to happiness. Rather, gifts that focus on experiences instead of material things can produce lasting memories. Father’s Day is a good time to grab tickets to an upcoming sports game, whether it’s a high-profile Major League Baseball game at the stadium, a local event or overseas affair. June and July feature Formula 1 racing, the Worldwide International Cricket Matches, the MLB All Star Game, the Tour de France, Wimbledon, and more.

Cookout supplies If Dad is the resident outdoor chef, adding to his assortment of cooking gear can be the perfect way to show love and affection on Father’s Day. While grills and smokers may get

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une marks the official start of summer in the northern hemisphere, and it’s the month when summer vacation begins for millions of schoolchildren. Those two things make the month of June especially popular in many households. But June is about more than summer and the end of the school year. The following are five fun facts about the beloved month of June that anyone can use as a great ice breaker at backyard barbecues this summer.

1. June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of childbirth and fertility.

2. The day with the potentially longest hours of sunlight of any day all year is in June.

When the sun is out on the summer solstice, which marks the official start of summer and in 2023 is celebrated on Wednesday, June 21, people in the northern hemisphere can anticipate more hours of sunlight than any other day during the calendar year.

3. According to the American Gem Society, June is one of only two months that is associated with three birthstones: alexandrite, moonstone and pearl. Pearls are especially unique among gemstones, as they are the only ones made by living creatures.

4. In both common and leap years, no other month begins on the same day of the week as June.

5. New York Yankee Lou Gehrig began his streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive games on June 1, 1925. The streak ended on April 20, 1939. Gehrig held the record for consecutive games played until Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken, Jr., surpassed the man known as “The Iron Horse” on September 6, 1995.

June 2025 • Page 25

Woman Drives Coast to Coast in an Automobile

By Henry M. Holden New Jersey woman who deserves to be remembered for her famous “first” call back in the summer of 1909. Alice Hurley Ramsey became the first woman to drive coast to coast.

Alice Ramsey was born on Nov. 11, 1886, in New Barbados Township., On January 10, 1906, in Hackensack, Ramsey married Congressman John Ramsey (1862–1933), with whom she had two children.

At the age of 22 she was the first woman to drive an automobile coast to coast.

The wife of a Hackensack attorney and Congressman could have lived a life of ease, but she had a taste for danger. She was appealing, self-possessed, and selfconfident. To keep her from riding horses, which

A

her husband considered too dangerous, he ordered a new automobile. This was just before the age of the Ford mass-produced model- T, and cars were just considered exotic and expensive toys.

Ramsey attended Vassar College from 1903 to 1905. In 1908 her husband bought her a new Maxwell runabout.

That summer she drove over 6,000 miles around and near their Hackensack home.

Ramsey proved to be an excellent driver, and ace mechanic. In rallies, and in long-distance trips, she established a reputation as one of the best drivers in the Northeast.

A sales manager from the Maxwell Company had a public relations inspiration: Why not have a woman drive from New York City to San Francisco? When

Ramsey heard him out she said, “I was embarrassed: My face was like a fireball, and I would like to crawl under the table.”

The more she thought about it the more challenging it became. “So, I decided to take the challenge. I had three sisters-in laws and an unmarried female friend from Hackensack to be my chaperones. It was 1909 and Ramsey still had to get her husband’s permission to make the trip.

Her vehicle was a Maxwell 1909 four-cylinder with the potential for 30-horsepower or 40mph.

By today’s standards the vehicle was primitive. A wooden yard stick was inserted into a special 20-gallon gas tank to measure the remaining gas.

To start the car there was a front-mounted crank. There were no treads on the tires, which made it more cont. on page 27

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Woman Drives... cont. from page 25 dangerous on muddy roads. A canvas top was the only protection from rain or snow. The headlights were “lit” by dropping a pellet in water to generate gas which was then ignited with a match. The first leg of the trip, from New York to Chicago took 14 days.

In September 1908, she drove one of the three Maxwells which were entered in that year’s American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Montauk Point Endurance Race. She was one of only two women entered. She won a bronze medal by getting a perfect score in the race.

One of the other Maxwell drivers was Carl Kelsey, who did publicity for MaxwellBriscoe. It was during this event that Kelsey proposed that she attempt a transcontinental journey, with Maxwell-Briscoe›s company’s backing. The company would supply a 1909 touring car for the journey and would also provide assistance and parts as needed. Hotel arrangements were also provided. The drive was originally meant as a publicity stunt for Maxwell-Briscoe, and would also prove to be part of Maxwell›s ongoing strategy of specifically marketing to women. At that time, women were not encouraged to drive cars.

On June 9, 1909, the 22-year-old began a 3,800-mile journey from New York City to San Francisco in a green, four-cylinder, 30-horsepower Maxwell DA. On her trip she was accompanied by her older sisters-in-law and 19-year-old female friend Hermine Jahns.

They were chaperons and none of whom could drive the car.

The women used maps from the American Automobile Association to make the journey.

Only 152 of the 3,600 miles, that the group traveled were paved. Over the course of the drive, Ramsey changed 11 tires, cleaned the spark plugs, repaired a broken brake pedal and had to sleep in the car when it was stuck in mud.

Ramsey mostly navigated by following the telephone poles with more wires in hopes that they would lead to a town.

Along the way, they crossed the trail of a manhunt for a killer in Nebraska. Ramsey received a case of bedbugs from a hotel. In Nevada, they were surrounded by a Native American hunting party with bows and arrows drawn. Sitting Bull, one of the more notorious Native Americans had passed away and the tribes were at peace with the white settlers.

But it was still a perilous undertaking. Outside of one or two big cities, there were virtually no paved roads in the towns and no road maps to help. Friends advised Ramsay to take a gun because it was such a dangerous undertaking, but she refused to carry a firearm.

“I had good days driving 130 miles to Chicago on the bumpy first 14-day leg,” she said.

There was no storage space, so the luggage, spare tires, water, and tools had to be stowed in the back, and on the running boards.

Conditions deteriorated after they passed over the Mississippi River. In places there were no signs that a road ever existed. If they were careful and vigilant they could “sense” the vestiges of a roadway by the wagon wheels that left ruts in the ground or by some crushed sagebrush. Ramsey became an expert on chuck holes, prairie dogs holes, mud holes, and arroyos. “Sometimes I got too far ahead of myself and had to be towed back to safety. I had to be towed out with my horse three times and actually it took 13 days of hard driving to make it to just Iowa. Iowa’s weather posed challenges. There was “no gumbo too thick” for the Maxwell, said its manufacturers, but some potholed, muddy roads proved practically impassable for the tread-less tires. From time to time, as conditions worsen her fellow travelers would hop a train, if available.

Ramsey persevered, taking 13 days to conquer 360 miles (and relying on horses for towing at times!). The maximum speed for the car was 40 miles per hour.

San Francisco, crowds awaited them at the St. James Hotel. In later years, she lived in West Covina, California, where in 1961 she wrote and published the story of her journey, Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron, between 1909 and 1975.

After her husband’s death in 1933, Ramsey lived with sister-in-law Anna Graham Harris in New Jersey, and then later in West Covina, California, until Anna’s death in 1953, and eventually with Elizabeth Elliott from 1968 until Ramsey’s death on September 10, 1983, in Covina, California.

Ramsey completed the trip on August 7, 1909, covering 3,800 miles in 59 days, although about three weeks later than originally planned. Ramsey was an American and the first woman to drive an automobile across the United States coast to coast.

After her brief bout with fame, Ramsey returned to New Jersey by train, where she resumed a relatively low-key profile raising two children. She continued her cross-country drives, losing count after her thirtieth. In 1960, the Automobile Manufacturers Association named her their “First Lady of Automotive Travel” for her trek across a “trackless land.”

Ramsey was named the “Woman Motorist of the Century” by AAA in 1960. She also set an example set by not having a problem with the authorities: throughout her entire driving career, she received just one ticket. She had made an illegal U-turn—though not, of course, on her famed cross-country trip.

Ramsey passed away on September 10, 1983. October 17, 2000, Ramsey was the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

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Page 28 • June 2025

Shelter’s Eviction Notice Threatens Safe Haven for Abused Women

By Cheryl Conway fter decades of providing a safe haven to abused women and their children, one of the five houses operated by a shelter program in Passaic County is in jeopardy.

On May 13 the tenants—quite ironic to the 13 current women who live at the Fay House shelter on Old Route 23 in New Foundland—found an eviction notice on their front door by the Township of West Milford.

The red note read: “This building is declared unsafe for human occupancy! No individual is to occupy this building until the structure is rendered safe and secure.”

The notice left Strengthen Our Sisters shelter program and its Founder/Executive Director Sandra Ramos in a difficult situation for the tenants

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who live there. It is in desperate need of support, financially and perhaps petitions and letters to officials as a call for help and suggest alternative solutions to remedy the problem.

“The town of West Milford is looking to close our home for senior women in Newfoundland leaving those women with nowhere to go,” shares Ramos. “We have an architect and lawyer on board to comply with their wishes and filed an appeal.”

Attorney Joel Bacher of Wayne placed an application to the Construction Board of Appeals on May 19 stating the position of SOS and explaining the nature of its relief sought.

SOS runs two daycare programs, a thrift store, five shelters and a food pantry

in Wanque, he writes.

“This is an entirely volunteer organization,” writes Bacher. “No one is paid for their efforts or time. This organization always needs funds and relies on donations to pay the bills.

“At present 13 people are living at Old Route 23,” he continues. “If they are forced out, they will have no place to go and will be homeless. SOS is more than willing to do whatever is necessary to bring the house into compliance and will do so if given sufficient time. SOS is in touch with an architect and builders who will volunteer their time and materials to accomplish what needs to be done.”

Bacher then requested a “stay of the order to vacate the premises.”

SOS is grassroots, community based,

nonprofit, shelter program serving battered/homeless women and children.

The mission of SOS is dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence, poverty and abuse by restoring balance and harmony through individual empowerment.

The program has been guided by Ramos since 1970 when she founded the first shelter for battered women in North America.

Serving hundreds of women each year, SOS programs and services include emergency shelter, short-term shelter, longer term shelter housing, comprehensive housing solutions and other integrated services. A team of dedicated, non-paid volunteers help provide supportive compassionate services.

In addition to residential services, SOS runs a thrift

Sandra Ramos

store providing gently-used clothing, household items and furniture to families directly or sold at its thrift store to raise money for its

programs.

Ramos didn’t just start the first domestic violence shelter in America, she cont. on page 29

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Shelter Eviction... cont. from page 28 empowered them to change their lives, start their own nonprofit organizations and carry on the principles to achieve the mission of healing, and breaking the cycle of domestic violence, poverty and abuse.

The success stories are many, as she and her colleagues have created a safe haven to prevent women and children from falling deeper between the cracks of a system or society that has failed them.

“I was temporarily disabled after working my whole life. I was hurt and unable to work, displaced and ended up living in my car,” writes one victim. “I couldn’t get help anywhere.

A lawyer at legal aid called Strengthen Our Sisters (SOS), and they didn’t have an opening. Then, at the office of Human Services, they called SOS, and they were able to take me in. It was like it came from heaven, and I felt welcomed from that moment on. I didn’t feel like a throwaway anymore, and my healing began at their home for senior women. I was told that I could stay as long as I needed, but I got up every day and sat there making calls until I made a breakthrough. A family friend, not knowing of my situation, was able to find me an apartment.

It took a month and after three months I was able to move.”

As a resident who sought refuge at SOS around 2012, Cheryl Bullock explains,

“Many of the women at Strengthen Our Sisters have fallen through the cracks in the system, and have no safe alternative, nowhere else to go. I came because I was in need and ended up volunteering my time as staff.”

Bullock— who serves as volunteer assistant to Ramos, acted as house mother and thrift store manager—knows firsthand the need women seek when in a tough situation. A victim herself, she has also been there to support the other women and children over the years and realizes how SOS has made a huge impact in so many lives.

The Fay House shelter is just one of Ramos’ safe havens for women faced with abuse.

Without this house, they face homelessness.

It was owned by Monika Phillippe who ran a bed and breakfast, explains Bullock. She began to house senior women and would end up selling it to SOS that continued to house their senior women who were victims of domestic violence and eventually homeless. SOS has operated there as a shelter for more than 25 years.

SOS has been faced with challenges before and it has overcome, hanging on a limb to survive.

Explains Ramos, “In addition to providing a clean and safe environment for single women and women with children fleeing domestic violence, we were able to have needed

repairs done and pay for them to remain housed as they strived toward selfsufficiency. We were able to do these things without funding from the State of New Jersey. However, to continue providing services to this underserved population, and keep single women and women with children safe from their abusers, we need assistance to bring the additional residences up to code according to State Standards for shelters.

“Strengthen Our Sisters has survived the fear of foreclosure and battled very tough obstacles to continue serving those in need,” says Ramos. “Rising costs are just one of the challenges that many face in this world.”

With support from the media and the community, SOS has survived foreclosure over the years, adds Ramos. It has “been able to keep the lights on by raising $100K.” SOS needs greater help, now more than ever, with the recent eviction notice.

“We need financial support and even possibly a sprinkler system,” says Bullock.

Visit https:// strengthenoursisters. org/ to help! Readers can also write to Construction Board of Appeals Office, 401 Grand Street, Paterson, N.J., 07505, to appeal for the support and understanding to keep these women sheltered and safe.

What’s happening in your school or organization?

Have a human interest story or something you would like to share?

Email us at jeff@mylifepublications.com

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Page 30 • June 2025

New Jersey’s Extraordinary Inventors and their Legacies

By Henry M. Holden New Jersey, often referred to as the Garden State, has been a fertile ground for cultivating a remarkable collection of talent across various fields.

From groundbreaking inventors and powerful politicians to iconic performers and sports legends, these lists not only made significant contributions to their respective provinces but has also left an indelible mark on the international stage. Here is a sample list of famous people from New Jersey showcasing their extraordinary accomplishments and influence in different areas of life.

Every day we use dozens of inventions, rarely thinking about who invented them.

Inventors create solutions to problems to share with the world making life a little bit easier. Did you know that New Jersey ranks 5th in the

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the IBM 1401 computer during shipment. Fielding and Chavannes were inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 1993. Sealed Air celebrated Bubble Wrap›s 50th birthday in January 2010.

George Franklin Grant (September 15, 1846 – August 21, 1910) was the first African American professor at Harvard. He was also a Boston dentist, and an inventor of an early composite golf tee made from wood and natural rubber (specifically, guttapercha) tubing.

Norman Joseph Woodland - and Bernard Silver Born in Atlantic City, Woodland (and Silver) invented the barcode by figuring out a way to encode information using simple lines. They patented it in the US in 1952. The invention was based on Morse code

that was extended to thin and thick bars. However, it took over twenty years before this invention became commercially successful.

A l e x a n d e r Cartwright While Abner Doubleday is often mistakenly credited with inventing baseball, the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) states that the real inventor is Alexander Cartwright. Cartwright is credited with developing the modern rules of baseball in 1845, forming the basis for the game we know today.

Thomas Edison – Is America’s greatest and most influential inventor. While Edison was born in Ohio and grew up in Michigan, he began his career in Newark, New Jersey. Some of his most famous inventions include the phonograph, the light bulb, motion picture, electrographic vote recorder and the magnetic iron ore

separator. In total, Edison had 1,093 inventions.

Les Paul - Inventor of the harmonica holder, electric guitar and multi-track tape recorders. He moved to Mahwah in 1951, the same year he and his future wife Mary Ford topped the charts with “How High the Moon.”

The song stood at #1 on the Billboard Magazine chart for nine weeks. Les Paul is the only person ever inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame.

Irwin Gerszberg aka “Mr. DSL” - As you may expect by his nickname, Gerszberg was a leader in Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology. In other words, he gave us the ability to obtain vast amounts of digital data from the Internet at high speeds.

He lived in Kendall Park, New Jersey.

Anthony E. Winston The

The candlestick phone was popular from thre late 1880 to about the 1930s although it remained. In until the end of WWII Photo author’s collection

man from East Brunswick who has surely helped you smile bigger and brighter.

Winston received thirteen patents for using baking soda to create toothpaste, gels and tartar-control agents.

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number of patents granted in the United States? Here are just a few inventors most from the ingenious Garden State.

Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes Bubble wrap was invented in 1957 by engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes in Hawthorne, New Jersey.

Fielding and Chavannes sealed two shower curtains together, creating a smattering of air bubbles, which they originally tried to sell as wallpaper.

When the product turned out to be unsuccessful as wallpaper, the team sold it as greenhouse insulation.

Although Bubble Wrap was branded by Sealed Air Corporation in 1960, it was not until a year later (1961) that its usefulness in protective usage was discovered. As a packaging material, Bubble Wrap’s first client was IBM, which used the product to protect

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June 2025 • Page 31

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Page 32 • June 2025

NJ Extraordinary... cont. from page 30 removal aid and laundry detergents are also among his inventions. In addition to assisting with your personal hygiene, Winston also created products to help farmers kill harmful fungi on plants.

Arthur Nobile – (May 6, 1920 -Jan. 6, 2004) invented Prednisone in the early 1950s.

Prednisone is a synthetic drug for autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, kidney diseases, and to prevent and treat rejection in organ transplantation.

Nobile was inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007.

Forrest E. Mars, Sr (March 21 - 1904 -July -211999) is the son of the candy giant, Frank C. Mars, the creator of the Milky Way and 3 Musketeers candy bars. After a riff in their father and son relationship, Forrest left his father’s company to start his own.

After traveling overseas to

Europe and working under another food giant Nestle, he learned more about the candy and food business to aid in his quest to start his own. It›s said that during his travels, he came across soldiers during the Spanish Civil War eating small pellets of candy-covered chocolate and that›s what gave him the idea to start his own candy business featuring M&Ms candies.

Sidney Pestka - Dr. Pestka was born in Poland on May 26,1936 and died on December 22, 2016. He moved to Trenton at age eight. Called “The Father of Interferon,” Pestka’s work has led to cures for cancers and viral diseases. He has paved the way for the possibilities of prevention, diagnosis and cures for many fatal diseases. Dr. Pestka, a resident of North Caldwell, died in December 2016.

Hoffmann-La Roche, where Dr. Pestka worked, was one of the first companies to receive an FDA license in 1986 for the use of a

drug to treat a rare form of leukemia.

Alfred Lewis Vail Alfred Vail was born on January 9, 1807, in Morristown, to Betsey Youngs and Stephen Vail. He passed on January 18, 1859. His father was a notable businessperson who founded the Speedwell Ironworks, where Alfred and Samuel Morse would later demonstrate their first electric telegraph. Vail attended public school and later worked as an iron molder in his father›s ironworks. In 1832, he enrolled at New York University, where he studied theology and became an active member of the Euclidian Society.

Vail’s encounter with Samuel Morse’s telegraph experiments in 1837 sparked his interest in the technology.

He proposed to Morse to refine the device at his father’s factory in exchange for a 25-percent share of any future commercial profits.

However, Morse later brought in Francis Smith as a

partner, reducing Vail’s share to one-eighth.

Along with Samuel Morse, Vail was central in developing and commercializing American electrical telegraphy between 1837 and 1844.

Vail and Morse were the first two telegraph operators on Morse’s first experimental line between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and Vail took charge of building and managing several early telegraph lines between 1845 and 1848.

Nikola Tesla (July 10, 1856 – January 7, 1943) was a Serbian-American engineer, futurist, and inventor. He is known for his knowledge and contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Alexander Graham Bell In the 1870s, Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically. Both men rushed their respective designs for these prototype

telephones to the patent office within hours of each other. Bell patented his telephone first and later emerged the victor in a legal dispute with Gray.

Today, Bell’s name is synonymous with the history of the telephone, while Gray is largely forgotten.

Bill Gates and his Windows software opened home computers to the world.

The usability of his software provided an intuitive interface that proved a catalyst for the adoption of PCs and the worlds digital transformation.

When Charles Babbage debuted his “mechanical calculating machine” in 1833 (that he continued to refine until his death in 1871), it’s unlikely he realized how important his concept would become over the next 177 years.

Interestingly, Babbage also invented the printer (that was likely more reliable than the average modern one!), as his “mechanical calculator” printed its answers on paper. Presumably because

he hadn’t gotten around to inventing the monitor yet!

Richard M. Hollingshead the world’s first drive-in movie was built on a 10-acre plot in Camden County in 1933. It opened on June 6, 1933, on Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken Township, NJ, near Central Airport. The theater was the inspiration of Richard M. Hollingshead, a Camden businessman living in Riverton, NJ, who received a patent for the idea. With a few investors, Park-In Theatres, Inc. was formed, and construction of the theatre began on May 16, 1933. The first drive-in operated for only a few seasons before the difficulty of obtaining current, quality films to show led Hollingshead to focus his efforts on licensing the drive-in theatre concept to other operators. Today, parking lots and Zinman Furs occupy most of the location of the original drive-in.

June 2025 • Page 33

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Page 34 • June 2025

NJStarz NJ Starz: Chef Anton Testino Hometown: Butler

By Evan Wechman hef Anton Testino who currently owns and operates Axton’s restaurant in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, never imagined as a child he would become a major chef in the area. As a child who grew up poor, watching his family work hard to take care of him, he loved the chaos of the restaurant business, even though the idea of running major kitchens in the tri-state area seemed far away.

When Testino was a child, his mother sometimes had to bring him to work since there was a lack of childcare options.

It was here that Testino fell in love with the idea of working in a kitchen.

“When I was a kid, my mother had to bring me to work, and when I went to work, I was only probably about 11 or 12 years old, give or take, something like that. And I used to go into the kitchen sometimes, and I watched all the chaos, and everything was just out of control, with all these orders coming in and people trying to control the uncontrollable, and that’s having so much put into you at one time, trying to perfect it, and the flames and the yelling and screaming, and I just fell in love with it when I was a little kid”, Testino said.

Several years later in 1991, Testino went to Morris County Vocational Tech in Denville for culinary arts and graduated at the top of his class while winning many amateur cooking competitions. Then, in 1992 he was accepted into the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He studied there until 1994 when he made plans to open his first restaurant in Edgewater, New Jersey; António’s Pizza, Pasta and More.

Though Testino studied at some great culinary institutes, for him there was no greater education than working in the field. “”Being in the field has probably taught me more about how to be creative than going to school itself,” he said.

Testino did just that as he worked at many of the finest restaurants in New York City and New Jersey where he built a big following.

However, his big break where he reached national acclaim came in 2010 when the television show “Chopped “was aired featuring Testino. The chef initially didn’t know much about the program, and it was never his intention to be on the show. “”It was an accident. It wasn’t something that was supposed to happen. I worked at this one restaurant, my cousin’s place for about 15 years, and I did all the menu creation and helped them boost that business up. And a lot of the customers would come up to me at the time and they would be like, oh, you should really try out for this TV show “Chopped.”

And you know, back then, I was like, I don’t even know what “Chopped” is. The internet wasn’t like it was today, and I was just kind of like, you know what, I’ve had about 20 people say this, so maybe I should just watch the show and see what it’s all about right? So I did, and I said I can do this. I create something all the time, so I decided, why not? I made a video and sent it in and got myself an interview, which is crazy, from what I understood at the time. A lot of people tried out

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for the show 10, or 15 times before they get something. but I got on the first shot,” Testino said.

Testino, still a small restaurant worker, loved competing against chefs from multimillion-dollar restaurants while on the show and was praised by the judges for his wonderful octopus creation. Unfortunately, he was eliminated from the show, but it helped him grow his following. “ It was actually the best thing that ever happened to me ,because it made people see me completely differently, and that was exciting, and that’s that was actually the reason I got on “Hell’s Kitchen,” Testino said.

In 2012, Testino auditioned for the popular television show “Hell’s Kitchen” which was hosted by legendary chef Gordon Ramsay.

Testino rose again to the level of the competition and thrived. He impressed viewers, but most importantly, Testino received great praise from one of his idols, Wolfgang Puck.

The internationally acclaimed chef loved the Italian food Testino made, and said it reminded him of Italy.

“That was probably the greatest culinary moment of my entire life.” My family gained their living making pizza in this country. That’s how they survived. That’s how they became who they are today. And the fact that I took my family’s name and impressed the best pizza man in the world, Wolfgang Puck, was great,” Testino said.

Despite all the attention and praise Testino received because of his television appearances, it was never about becoming famous for him. Rather for Testino it’s all about giving back to others and the surrounding communities.

Throughout his career, Testino has always donated money to local high school scholarships and other causes that benefit people.

“I’m always giving back to the community. I lived a very poor life, and it was rough, and the fact that I didn’t have much in life growing up, now that I’m able to give back. Why not? Why not help kids?” he said.

Testino believes that since so many people helped him along his road to success, it makes sense to give back to others. For instance, he helped raise millions of dollars for the patients and families of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital through their fundraiser “Cooking for Kids.”

According to Testino, the hospital cared for one of his best friend’s children who was born premature and did everything in their power to make sure she fully recovered. St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital shortly thereafter asked Testino if he would help with their fundraiser and the chef couldn’t have been more excited to help.

“They saved her life. Wow. And she’s 17 or 18 years old today. And because of that, and after doing TV shows, they asked me if I would do a charity event for them. And I was like, absolutely. Like, you saved my friend’s daughter, I’m all about helping out. So I ended up doing” Cooking for Kids” for 10 years.”

Testino’s voluntary endeavors don’t stop just at raising money. One of his most endearing accomplishments is his

mentoring of a young man named Nick. Testino has been guiding Nick in the culinary arts since he was 15 years old. He is now 24 and an executive chef at a top restaurant in New York City.

“He’s one of my biggest accomplishments to me. He’s a huge success and I feel I’m important in it because I helped him get there to open up the doors,” Testino said.

For Testino, who has owned and operated “Axton’s” in Pompton Lakes since 2016, finding time to help the community and run a successful restaurant is a delicate balancing act. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. He gives fully of himself to both areas. He is now in his early 50’s but doesn’t foresee slowing down anytime soon.

“It’s kind of crazy that at 52 years old, I still have the love and passion after doing this for 37 years and doing what I do and competing with the young generation, which I actually enjoy, because when I see a new young chef coming into the picture, and I do research and read about them, that motivates me. I love the challenge” This passion inspires Testino to keep creating new dishes at Axton’s so people not just in the Pompton Lakes area, but from New York come to his restaurant to savor his wonderful Italian dishes.

But for Testino, spending time running a successful restaurant and helping others in need go hand in hand. “ I’m donating my time every week to build my name up and to give back and show people who I really am. I’m not just a chef. I’m here to give to the communities which is what a restaurant is supposed to do. It’s supposed to give back,” he said.

Testino believes being a chef is his calling, and he does everything he can to bring honor to his name and the profession. He fondly remembers his grandparent’s preparing dinner for major holidays in their home at 4am so that the whole family would have a great evening. He is using those great memories to pay it forward.

“At the end of the day, there’s not a situation in the world I can think of where the chef’s not there for you. We are there for everybody on the planet. We sacrifice ourselves for you. That’s part of our job. Like you go on a first date, there’s a chef there for you. Funerals, bar mitzvahs, weddings, everything, there is always a chef there, because food is always involved in one way or another.”

June 2025 • Page 35

Rutgers Gymnastics ‘Team 50’ Celebrates 50 Years of Scarlet Knight Gymnastics

By Megan Roche he Rutgers University Gymnastics Team had one of its best seasons in 2025 which helped celebrate 50 years since the creation of the program.

“One of our biggest assets was the freshman class that came in,” head coach Anastasia Candia said. “We had a really strong group of women and they were ready to go. They really pushed our upperclassmen. It really gave us that nice, fresh group to join us. Once the season started, the entire team was just ready.”

During the 2025 regular season, on Jan. 11, Rutgers clinched a narrow victory at the Rutgers January Quad Meet, edging out UPenn with a final floor routine by Gabrielle Dildy. On Feb. 15, In a tri-meet celebrating the program’s 50th anniversary, Rutgers posted a season-high score of 195.350, defeating Kent State but falling to Michigan.

On March 16, The Scarlet Knights achieved their highest team score of the season, 196.550, in a victory over the University of New Hampshire.

Heading into the BIG10 Championships, Candia knew that the team needed a certain score to potentially earn a berth to the NCAA tournament.

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“I was really hoping that the girls weren’t putting that pressure on themselves to earn that score. Up to that point, they had been really doing a good job of just staying within our bubble. Once we started the meet, I could tell that they were locked in. Going into our last event, I wasn’t really looking at placement or the scores, but it was really a storybook ending as we all waited for that last score to come in,” Candia said.

With a final score of 196.225, the team earned its first berth to the NCAA tournament since 2014.

Rutgers qualified for the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional but was eliminated in the first round after a close contest against Clemson. Leading by 0.325 points after three rotations, the Scarlet Knights were overtaken in the final floor exercise, concluding with a score of 193.875 to Clemson’s 195.400.

“The girls really just enjoyed every moment. The pressure got to us a little bit at the end which is just one of those things.

This really was the first scenario for us where we had to beat the other team to advance so it added a little bit of extra pressure. They got a taste of it and they really want more of that going forward,” Candia said.

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Following the conclusion of the season, Candia was appointed as the full-time head coach after serving as the interim head coach during the year. Candia, who competed for Rutgers University as a gymnast, is looking forward to her first full year as the official head coach of the program.

“It’s just an honor to be in this position, to have that full trust and belief not just from the team but also the athletics department

and the university. It’s been somewhere I’ve called home for 11 years now as an athlete and as a coach so I’m very proud to represent this program and to continue to show how special it really is,” Candia said.

With the 2025 season in the books, Candia has already begun recruiting the next generation of Scarlet Knight gymnasts.

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Livingston Television Host discusses how Athletes Endure Pain with Renowned Neurosurgeon Toby Bizub, Manager, NJ Lic. No. 3917

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By Evan Wechman any competitive athletes, when feeling pain, seek the help of various physicians. Sometimes all they need is a touch of traditional medicine and they feel much better, and ready to compete the next day. However, as witnessed on national television almost every weekend, some athletes feel the pain and rise above it without seeking any medical support.

Livingston Entrepreneur and television host Barry Farber has always been fascinated with how top athletes endure pain to attain their desired goal. Farber is also an avid martial arts fan and has learned the art of Jiu Jitsu.

It was while practicing this form of martial arts with his sensei where he realized sometimes pain can be beneficial in athletic competition.

“But he(sensei) literally showed the rolling technique and taught me that when you’re thrown down, and you fall, if you do it, well, it becomes a strike, like you come back up and strike. But I started getting fascinated with falling,” Farber said.

“So, what I found was, at first, I’d have certain shoulder pain, and it would be red because I rolled on concrete a certain way, and really, made damage. But then after a while, I didn’t feel anything. So that’s when I became fascinated with embracing the pain at first, because later it became something that was a benefit,” Farber added.

Farber’s quest to find out more about enduring pain in competition led him to interview Dr. Mark McLaughlin on his television show “Diamond Minds.”

Dr. Mark McLaughlin, a renowned neurosurgeon and founder of Princeton Brain and Spine Care is also an expert on maintaining superior performance under stress for almost all professions, from neurosurgeons to top athletes.

Dr. McLaughlin who is used to working under stressful conditions in his own practice, is also not a stranger to competitive athletics.

A former NCAA Division I wrestler, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall cont. on page 37

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June 2025 • Page 37

Livingston Television.. cont. from page 36 of Fame in 2016. He remains active in the wrestling world and is in his seventeenth-year coaching with the Princeton Wrestling Club and in his fifth year of the Trenton Youth Wrestling organization.

According to McLaughlin, there are alternatives for both athletes and everyday people in how they can deal with pain. Not every situation requires a shot or a needle.

“So, number one, we know that exercise is a more effective antidepressant and a more effective pain reliever than any medicine, any pharmacological substance that you have in any drugstore. Exercise clearly, when compared to antidepressants, is more protective than antidepressants to combat depression and exercise we know causes the release of endorphins, which are powerful pain relievers.

So, it is one of the best prescriptions I give to my patients, particularly ones with chronic pain,” Dr. McLaughlin said.

He also added that “Number two, you have to understand that pain is the resistance to sensation. The moment you allow the sensation, it’s no longer pain, it’s just a strong sensation. You can train your mind with that mantra, and you cannot be afraid to feel what you’re going to feel. If you’re not afraid of feeling what you can feel, it’s no longer pain.”

As far as how this is practical on the football field or wrestling arena, McLaughlin believes many high-caliber athletes have adopted the mindset he has prescribed that allows them to not fear these sensations.

I think their mind is telling their telling their, body.

Hey, look, you can say whatever you want, but I›m just not going to pay attention to you. You can fire those impulses,

but you›re not going to stop me from doing what I need to do today,” he said.

However, like any practical and well-educated doctor, McLaughlin knows sometimes people need to seek out treatment when they are experiencing pain. Not everyone in our society can push through discomfort like professional athletes.

“I don’t want people who are having chest pain, to say, oh, you’re just being a wimp, and it’s not serious, and don’t get attention to it.,” Dr. McLaughlin said.

“There’s, a certain balance that we need to have if you’re experiencing pain in a non-extreme situation., it needs to get checked out. You could have cancer; you could have coronary artery disease. You could be experiencing the early signs and symptoms of something very serious. But if you’re testing yourself in a physical activity, understand, number one, that your body is so much more capable than what you think it is. You know the mind limits our physical abilities in so many ways. And then secondly, I would say that the more you cannot be afraid of feeling what you’re going to feel, to the extent that you’re going to feel it, the less fear you’ll have, and the more love you’ll have of what you’re doing.”

Dr. Mark McLaughlin

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Goodbye Dear Old 438

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The old 438 marker in my front yard. To the left hand side is the very window that I look out from, as I once wrote all so many stories and articles.

By Richard Mabey Jr. s I write this article, it is night time, Thursday, the first of May. On Saturday, the tenth of May, I will say farewell to my Florida home in The Villages. My sister and I are moving to Northern Ocala. It’s a long story, but it’s just time to move. Having purchased this home in June of 2008, I’ve lived in this home for nearly 17 years now. That’s a bit of a long time.

My desk, in my bedroom, looks out to my front yard. I conservatively estimate that I have written well over 3,00 articles and true-life stories at this desk. I’ve seen all so many people walk by house. No doubt, a few hundred people, over the years walked by my front yard. Some I became good friends with, some I barely knew and some I knew not at all. It’s just the way it is in The Villages.

It’s all bittersweet. In some ways, I’m looking forward to moving on.

In some ways, I’m very sad. From 2009 till 2016, I wrote and published a little monthly neighborhood newsletter. Then from 2010

A

till 2025, I had the honor to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of a twice weekly newsletter that was published by The Villages Diabetic Support Group. I wrote stories and articles for my church newsletter. And wrote some public relations articles for my church, that were published in local newspapers. And, for a few years, I wrote a regular column for a weekly newspaper in Belleview, Florida.

Plus writing many articles and true-life stories for several New Jersey based newspapers. And, I wrote two books from this desk and self-published both of them.

I love to write. It is a gift that the dear Lord has given to me. It truly is just that, a gift from God. I give all the credit to God. I’m very serious about that.

Life is all so strange at times. My life has been filled with all so many twists and turns. Although I never married, I was blessed to know the love of a few very fine women.

I never met any of them at the alter. Sometimes their Daddy didn’t like me and put a wedge between myself and my beloved. Other

times, religious differences brought a degree of strife.

At one point in my life, I dated a very wonderful woman who was a devout Catholic. At the time, I was earnestly serving as an Elder, School School Teacher and Youth Minister at the First Reformed Church of Lincoln Park. I just felt all so strongly that God wanted me to stay at FRC. My beloved, at the time, became more and more upset with me for not wanting to convert to be Catholic. I look back now, with a tinge of sorrow.

Now at 71, tonight I wonder what view awaits me when I sit at my new home, looking out the window and writing my heart out, a symphony of truelife stories. There are many stories alive within my heart that I long to write.

I hope and pray that the dear Lord gives me the time to write them all down.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published.

He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

June 2025 • Page 39

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