Vol. 2 • No. 10 • October 2019
FREE, Please Take One
Family d n a e e Desir
Dana
Danie
lle a nd F amily
and F amily
An Inside Look at Breast Cancer and Survivorship
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Pink Witches Night Out sponsored by Saint Clare’s.
October 17th • 6-9pm Proceeds to benefit Cancer Hope Network. For more information and to buy tickets visit: https://secure.givelively.org/event/downtown-denville-b-i-d/pinkwitches-night-out-benefiting-cancer-hope-network/pink-witches-night-out
Cancer has affected us all in one way or another, so please join us in supporting the continuous battle that many of our friends, neighbors and family are fighting daily. This Halloween inspired event in Downtown Denville is sponsored by Saint Clare’s Hospital and benefits Cancer Hope Network. Enjoy light refreshments, group photo booth, prizes and music as you shop the night away for a good cause. So dig out those witch hats, tie a pink ribbon around them and wear your pink proudly as we honor survivors, those still in the fight and their friends and family members.
Registration begins at 5:30 at Pure Barre. Subscribe $35 / year / $60 for 2 Call 800-691-7549 Editorial editor@ mylifepublications. com 5 Vista Drive, Flanders, NJ 07836 800-691-7549 • joe@mylifepublications.com turn our pages at www.denvillelife.com © 2018 MalJon, LLC.
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Next Issue November 2019, Deadline October 15
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 5
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An Inside Look at Breast Cancer and Survivorship
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By: Danielle Incognito or many in October, the pink ribbons come out. That theory rings true for Danielle Incognito, a writer for New View Media Group, who is a breast cancer survivor. Danielle approached the editorial staff about writing a personal story about her battle to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She shares her story below. My name is Danielle Incognito. I am a mother, a wife, an Auntie, a daughter, a teacher, and a breast cancer survivor amongst many other things. I never allowed breast cancer to define me as a person, and much of that lesson I learned from my younger sister, Desiree, who was only 34 years old when she was diagnosed. May 2012, just around my 37th birthday, was when I entered that “pink club” that younger women are now being called to join at a growing rate. US News reported that 11% of new breast cancers happen in women age 44 and younger. Under 40, the odds are lower at 7%. My sister and I couldn’t have hit the lottery with those odds? What is more surprising is that we didn’t carry the gene mutations most commonly associated with young breast cancer, mainly BRCAI, BRCA2, or TP53. The reason I know this is because I recently had a meeting with a geneticist at Sloan Kettering in Montville. I, my sister, and my
father (who had prostate cancer last year) did not ever share any mutated gene. We are still one of those “scientific mysteries” that will continue to be studied. Desiree saved my life. She was a 34 year old woman who was just beginning her new life as a widow with two small children (Mark had died of a massive heart attack at age 38). After a long year of mourning, she picked herself up and decided to make a great life for her new family without Mark. She enrolled in a masters program for School Psychology, and she filled her days with school work while she immersed herself into her children’s activities with the help of our mother, father, brother, and me. We all took a turn and a role in her “new normal.” The dreadful day came, when on Thanksgiving weekend at my parent’s cabin, Desiree felt a lump in her breast. She asked our mom to look at it. She and our mother were both in denial, so Desiree marched on to New Jersey and back to school the next day. She was so “bummed” that she had to lug her books into the local breast center “just to be safe.” She would have the lump looked at, and then she would get on with her day. That day changed our lives forever. She had breast cancer. Later, we would find out that she had stage IV metastatic breast cancer that has spread all through her lymph nodes and to a spot on her liver. Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Currently,
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it cannot be cured, but it can be managed for many years depending on many factors. At her initial appointment with her oncologist, she was given a 25% chance of living 5 years. She defied those odds as we knew she would. With determination and faith, Desiree picked herself up once more and faced her second major battle in life. She immediately transferred to Sloan Kettering in New York City where she would battle with a team of doctors for the next seven years during which time she finished her degree and even worked in NJ schools. She began her medicinal journey on a least aggressive course of treatment where she could keep her hair and still remain active. One
of those treatments, Herceptin, targeted the HER2 component of her disease (a protein that divides breast tissue at a normal rate in a healthy woman). According to Sloan Kettering, one in five women have extra copies of Her2/neu gene, and they produce an oversupply of the protein. She was treated for hormone, HER2 positive breast cancer over seven years. Most of the drugs gave her several months of stable disease. She eventually started Taxol and lost all of her hair. A close friend from high school came and shaved it off for her as her daughter, Reese, watched. She was honest with her children from the beginning in terms they could understand.
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Close to her fourth year mark of her cancer diagnosis, she started having pressure headaches which turned out to be spots on her brain that had metastasized. The brain doctor explained to us that her cancer had spread in a way that would copy a spray effect of water. Spot radiation helped for a short time, and full brain radiation did the same. It was the only treatment offered because as women battling will tell you, chemotherapy cannot pass the brain barrier. By year six, Desiree had a massive seizure in front of her two children. She recovered like the “rock star” she was. She couldn’t drive anymore, and little tasks became difficult, but she never wavered from telling me, “We got this.” I believed that we had. She truly believed it too. It was not until December of this past year that our family believed differently. Her oncologist told us that the cancer had spread to her spine and spinal fluid, and it would only be a matter of weeks. She would go to sleep. She fell asleep on January 8th, 2019 with all of her family and close friends in hospice care. Desiree survived seven years of an aggressive type of breast cancer. What is a survivor? I am considered a survivor. It has been seven years since my diagnosis. After my sister’s diagnosis at age 34, I was advised to have an MRI. After suspicious films and 12 needle biopsies followed by a core biopsy, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37. I was the lucky one. Mine had not spread to my lymph nodes, but I opted for a double mastectomy and several
months of chemotherapy because they had found invasive cells in the lymphatic system of my breast tissue after the 6 hour operation. I can honestly say that I handled the whole experience “like a champ,” and I believe it is because I actually felt “lucky” after my sister’s diagnosis. Mind you, I also had a great family, amazing kids, a mother that doted on me while I slept, and a mother in law that was willing to help with anything and everything. Most importantly, I had a very loving husband with a great sense of humor. I remember Luke walking in my hospital room after my mastectomy with a big grin and a very trendy New York shopping bag shouting, “I bought you boobs!” They were actually foam pieces that I would use until my skin expanded and I had enough room for implants. He also emptied my surgical drains after each operation, and still, he would make some kind of joke. He would walk into our bathroom with his medical kit and call me “his own Barbie.” My therapist actually asked me if he could steal that line to help other breast cancer patients. Like Barbie, I have now two, flesh mounds with “missing parts”. I never chose to get them made or tattooed. I guess I am ok with being like Barbie! I can tell you first hand that having that support and having someone still make you feel beautiful is key to being a young breast cancer survivor. I am not going to lie and say it was easy having chemotherapy from nurses with hazmat suits, or giving myself shots for infection prevention the day after chemo, or watching
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half my hair fall out, or digesting Tamoxifen that aged me for three years as an estrogen blocker, or not being able to get out of bed to spend time with my three babies after chemo (they weren’t really babies, but I still call them that at ages 21, 19, and 15 currently), but I knew I was the lucky one “relatively speaking.” I took a page from my sister’s book, and I carry it with me always. I know she struggled with the fact that she did not look sick for a long time, and so people assumed that her cancer was gone. She was so strong, beautiful, and smart, and we her family, especially, refused to see her as “sick.” But, that is not how metastatic cancer works. If you turn on any tv commercial you can see women described as, “living a new normal.” She wanted to be as normal as she possibly could. If she had a “pity party,” it would be for ten minutes, and then she would decide that “faith came before fear.” I was sick for a short time, but I knew there would, God willing, be an end for me. She knew that she would eventually die of breast cancer, even though she wasn’t willing to succumb to it. She talked about her grandchildren. She talked about tomorrows. She called herself blessed and inspired so many people to fight and survive their own personal battles, sometimes so much, that friends and family often found themselves complaining to her! I remember being on the beach with her after her diagnosis. She turned to me and said, “Getting breast cancer was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I was feeling sorry for myself after losing Mark, but now I want to
live.” After that, she celebrated every moment and cherished every milestone. She may have not survived the second half of her life, but her legacy and impact will. I had the pleasure of teaching a young boy whose mom was diagnosed with cancer last year. I asked her about her journey, and she reflected on her milestones as a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer. Dana McGill, a wife and mother of two from Hasbrouck Heights, was gracious enough to share her journey with me: “As we get older, we tend to dread another birthday. This year was no different for me, but I was dreading my birthday because it was the day I had to go for a biopsy of a lump I found myself in my right breast. My life was forever changed on my 43rd birthday. I was told I had breast cancer. I was thrown into an unknown world on Nov. 1, 2018. I began meeting with doctors and was told I had a lump about 5 cm in size and was considered ER/PR positive and HER 2 negative. The plan to treat and beat this cancer was Chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and possibly radiation in the end. I began chemo in November 2018, I had 4 rounds of AC and 4 rounds of Taxol. I finished my treatments in March 2019. I was able to tolerate all the dreaded side effects fairly well. Of course, losing my hair was the hardest to cope with. But with the support and help of my family I shaved it off and eventually got used to my new “look”. After I finished chemo, I prepared myself for surgery. I had a double mastectomy in April 2019. An 8-hour surgery
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that was quite painful to recover from, but I got there. After healing from surgery, I was told that radiation was recommended. In June 2019, I began 28 radiation treatments. I was not a fan of going each day but continued to put one foot in front of the other and kept showing up. At one of my appointments with my oncologist after surgery I was told that my tumor was actually HER 2 positive. My heart sunk. I knew this meant more treatment, more infusions, another YEAR of treatment every 3 weeks. But once again I just said, “it is what it is” and I continue to show up every 3 weeks. This past year has been by far the hardest year of my life. With a breast cancer diagnosis comes, yes, a lot of tough treatment, surgeries, and recoveries. But it also comes with a huge mental game and lots of fear. I continue to push myself to keep going, to be positive, and to embrace every day. I believe you are forever changed after being diagnosed and you will have some good days, and some bad days and that’s OK. We go through and continue to go through so much. And although the scars may fade, and our hair grows back, there is still so much happening in our bodies because we had breast cancer. But despite all of that, I am looking forward to my birthday this year because I am here to celebrate it!” I, like Dana, am changed forever. My hair grew back, and my scars (after three surgeries) are beginning to fade. I look in the mirror, and I do see “battle scars”, but I try to see “Barbie” in-
stead of cancer. I will always remember that cancer grew inside my body, and a small piece of me will always worry about the future and the future of the young girls in my life. Maybe, one day, I will be one of those women who get painted as a piece of art to celebrate my win! I admire those women. I, personally, can look forward to more birthdays, now with only one check up a year at Sloan. It will be there that I reflect on the past seven years. It will be there that I miss my sister beside me. It will be there that I see women of all ages waiting for their chemo treatments, some as beautiful as my sister when she was diagnosed, and some so sick they need a wheelchair and oxygen. But most of all, I will thank God that I am a survivor, that I know many survivors, and that my sister survived seven birthdays. I will most definitely bow my head and pray that my daughters (Victoria age 21, and Julia age 19) along with my niece (Reese age 12) will never have to call themselves survivors (as my husband holds my hand tight and tries to make me laugh.) I will sit there knowing that I am a mom, a wife, and now a full time Auntie to my sister’s two, beautiful children, Collin and Reese. (My husband, my children, my parents, my brother, and I will now work together to raise her children.) I will also plan to write that memoir that I always promised her I’d write. And, for different reasons now, I will hear my sister whisper into my heart, “Danielle, you got this.”
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NOV. 5
FREEHOLDER
FREEHOLDER
H Douglas Cabana H
H Tom Mastrangelo H
Freeholder Director 2000-2001,2017-current Attorney in Private Practice Past President, NJ Assoc of Counties Former Mayor and Committeeman, Boonton Township Former President, Morris County League of Municipalities Resident of Boonton Township
Freeholder Freeholder Director, 2013-2015 Liaison NJ Association of Counties Working to make government more efficient 25+ year experience in information technology JD.Seton Hall School of Law; MBA, FDU Resident of Montville
FREEHOLDER
H Kathy DeFillippo H Former Mayor and Councilwoman of Roxbury Past President, Roxbury Chamer of Commerce Former Brd Member, Nat MS Society, NJ Metro Founder of the Roxbury MS Walk Retired Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Resident of Roxbury with husband Robert & 3 children
VOTEVOTE NOVEMBER 5TH JUNE 4TH TEAM 2019 TEAMMORRIS MORRIS 2019
Page 18 • October 2019 • Denville Life
The Fisher Group Has Your Back for Home Buying and Selling
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By: Melissa A. Kay our driven and dynamic women make up Mountain Lakes’ Coldwell Banker’s The Fisher Group. These women – Anne Fisher, Anna-Jane De Grossi, Kathy Henning, and Marsi Richter have each been in the real estate business for 15+ years, calling Morris County their hub while they also extend into the West Essex and Bergen areas. Fisher and De Grossi teamed up in 2013 and The Fisher Group was formed with the addition of Henning and Richter who had been at the Coldwell Banker office in Mountain Lakes for years prior. The Fisher Group belongs to two of the largest MLS’ – Garden State and New Jersey. As a team, The Fisher Group has been ranked 16 out of 25 large teams of Coldwell Banker as of June 2019. The all-female foursome is dedicated to their clients, seeing that their expectations are surpassed and everyone walks away with a smile. As per Fisher, “We strive to be (our clients’) best advocates, whether they are buyers or sellers, first-time buyers or empty nesters who want to downsize, new to the area or just moving within their town. We also work with relocation companies - we fully assist in introducing out-of-state buyers to the new
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lifestyle, and make the seller’s transition as smooth as possible. Our clients become our friends and we work with them far after they have bought or sold, helping them become familiar with their new town.” Before getting into the real estate business, Fisher owned a direct mail marketing company as well as two women’s gyms in Denville and Rockaway Township. This experience gave her the know-how to embark on a new career in real estate using the tools and skills she obtained during that time. De Grossi became interested in real estate when she and her family were relocated from Europe to New Jersey. The agent she met when her family moved
to their new home impressed her with his professionalism, knowledge, and guidance, and she decided that she’d embark on this exciting career. Henning and her husband have been involved in a number of renovation and building projects over the years and this led her to help others find their new residences. As for Richter, her background in real estate lending and marketing made for a smooth transition into selling residential real estate. Their combined backgrounds formed the perfect team as they rely on one another’s strengths to achieve anything they set their minds to. The Fisher Group enjoys forming relationships with
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Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 21
their clients as they make this incredible adjustment in their lives by selling or moving into a new home. Fisher says, “We love becoming a fundamental part of their lives when making such an important decision. It is a privilege to assist them.” Seeing happy clients settle and thrive in their new community is what makes their jobs so fulfilling. While the overall experience is exceptional, lots of hours and hard work go into making The Fisher Group so fantastic. That said, challenges along the way are par for the course. As Fisher explains, “Tension and stress are often part of the process - it’s human nature. This is when we have to remind all parties that this is teamwork. Dealing with inspection issues, appraisals, financing, etc. all add to the pressure and can create challenging situations.” But the team pulls together and tackles these tedious to-dos with confidence and clarity. In the end, everyone achieves and clients are ultimately impressed. All four women live in Morris County and have raised their children there, so they are familiar with the schools, shopping, restaurants, parks, attractions, and so on. This firsthand knowledge makes them well-educated as they advise their clients about the community. Fisher loves the area and comments, “Morris County is very attractive from many points of view. There is something for everyone - convenient for commuters, well ranked school systems, art and culture at your fingertips, outdoor life galore, easy access to professional sports, plus great transportation, shopping and medical care. It has it all!” This makes for some eye-catching photography the team shares with their social media followers. The go-getting group continues to work together to help people make their real estate dreams a reality. As Fisher puts it, “A home is just that...a home. The best types of homes to sell are the ones that show well and are priced right! The best type of home to buy is the one that speaks to the buyer from the minute they walk in the door.” Simple, straightforward, and smart. It’s no wonder these women are real estate experts. To reach The Fisher Group, call (973) 263-0400 (office) or (201) 602-1304 (cell). You can email Anne Fisher at anne.fisher@ coldwellbankermoves.com.
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2019 Township of Denville Elections Spotlight
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ere at Denville Life, we try to give the residents of Denville the best coverage of outstanding people, places, and things. In doing so, we wanted to give you an unbiased look at the candidates up for election in 2019. Denville Life recently asked each candidate running in the 2019 municipal race to answer the same 10 questions. Each candidate was contacted and had the opportunity to be interviewed. pointed, then elected and re-elected to Mayor Tom Andes the Town Council for a total of 12 years. I Denville Mayor Candidate / Republican 1. What is your educational and volun- graduated William Paterson College with a degree in Business Administration. I teer background? I learned the value of volunteerism as a earned a Municipal Elected Official CertifScout while I was working my way towards icate from Rutgers University and a Manearning Eagle Scout. My volunteerism to agement Labor Relations Certificate from our community started with Saint Clare's NJ Department of Labor / Rutgers UniverHarvest Festival, then coaching ball for my sity. 5 children, 12 years as a Cub Scout lead- 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/ er and the Knights of Columbus. When council? Mayor Dyer appointed me to the Recre- As the overall Chairman of the Gardner ation Committee, little did I know what Field Playground in 1996, the committee lay ahead for me. Before I knew it, I was raised $150,000 for a new playground. I the Chairman of the new playground at saw the many acts of kindness and goodGardner Field, Project Playground 96. The ness in the people of our community. The following 2 years, I led the construction more I did on the Recreation Committee, of Riverview School and the Denbrook the more I wanted to do. In 2000 there community built playground projects. I was an opening on the Town Council, I was the Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 17 was appointed and my goals were modfor 9 years, and during that time I was ap- est; to leave Denville better off than when
it was entrusted to me. Since then every time I ran I had more insight and direction but the same goal. I ran for Mayor in 2011 because Denville need a change in direction, over the years, with the help of many people, I had developed a vision of what our community could be. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today?
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Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 23
It is sad to say, but most of our most difficult issues are caused by the State of New Jersey. The time and money towns in New Jersey spend to protect themselves from the state is staggering. Affordable Housing, The Department of Transportation's unilateral desire to shut down the Lackawanna crossing, NJ Transit failure to fix the Franklin Ave Bridge, Franklin Rd Trestle, Route 53 sidewalk wall and their own train station are just some of the issues that the State is imposing on our community. The Township has been very responsible in providing Affordable Housing and because of that the Courts have upheld our immunity from the Builders Remedy. At one time, we were defending ourselves from 6 builders in court and the Fair Share Housing Council was asking the Court to put over 1,700 units in Denville. We are fighting it and have not lost our immunity. We will have to settle at some point but as long as we are negotiating we have the hopes of a more reasonable number. We have elevated the Lackawanna Crossing Closing issue and all the NJ Transit issues to Senator Bucco, Assembly Bucco and Gov. Murphy staff. These issues are
diverting a tremendous amount of time, and energy from where the work is needed to improve our community and money spent on other projects 4. Why did you decide to run now? There was a process I went through when I decided to run for another term as Mayor. First, there is much more that I can and the town needs to accomplish: The entire Downtown should have the same streetscape project as Broadway, we were able to get the Army Corps of Engineers to spend $1.2 Million Dollars to study the Flood Mitigation Plan our Engineer Consultant designed, we expect to hear next year whether Denville will receive a $10 Million Dollar pre-approved grant through the Army Corp and the State of NJ. We will continue paying down our debt and working towards a AAA bond Rating. The second decision was, am I still enjoying being in office? YES, I enjoy the challenge, the team work the sense of accomplishment and the bad day are always forgotten by the opportunity to help someone which happens every day. My wife and family needed to be behind me because there are sacrifices and they are. Finally I needed to have the Town Council support
which I do, 100%. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/re-elected? I have always had very good organizational and people skills. My background might be somewhat unique but it keeps me grounded and gives me many different perspectives. One set of my grandparents were immigrants and I had family in the military and some with disabilities. I grew up in the congestion of Hudson County, was a blue collar craftsman, and a union Representative, Executive Board & Pension Board Trustee, earned a college education and took my skills into sales. I have a large family, have been unemployed and I know what it is like to worry about paying bills. I also have the experience, shown the vision and commitment and the proven track record of actually being the Mayor, leading the staff, crafting a budget, negotiating contracts and working with the Town Council. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? We need to continue the things we already started like the Downtown Streetscape Improvements, Flood Mitiga-
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tion, Reducing Debt, Keeping our Schools Safe with SRO & Class 3 Officers and keeping up with our roads all while doing it fiscally responsibly. Then we can start implementing our new programs. The trail system is really at just beginning, we installed a path around the pond at Muriel Hepner Park and received a grant for the new bridge that was recently installed. We received a grant for a Trail Master Plan and will be continuing to apply for grants on an annual basis. After records amounts of rain over the last year and a half, I asked the Council for funding for a Drainage Master Plan. The way Denville developed; some neighborhoods have sufficient storm drains, while some have inadequate storm drains, some have private storm drains, some have no storm drains and some have failing storm drain systems. There are drainage issues that can cause motor vehicle safety concerns that have been there for decades that need to be addressed. The Administrative Staff has reviewed the sites looking at several criteria and rated the sites in order of priority of safety, complexity and cost. We have already started on the highest priority action items, the ones we could fix with the limited funding in place. Finally most all of our ballfields are in the floodplain. We are approaching the halflife of the Turf Field at Veterans Field. This would be the perfect time to add an additional turf field. This way when replacement time come they would not be on top
of each other. 7. What are you passionate about? Years ago I would have told you my passion was capital projects in parks and playgrounds because of the great satisfaction of watching our citizens utilizing and enjoying our recreation facilities. As my responsibilities increased so has my passion. I have come to realize it is for our people. Keeping them safe, their homes dry, property values high, tax rate even keeled and as low as possible and their community, beautiful and a place we can all be proud to live in. It is also essential that I maintain, support and encourage the special spirit of our community. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? We are a beautiful community, 35 miles from Manhattan, great lakes, a hospital, parks, playgrounds, a quaint Downtown, wonderful restaurants and shops but none of those are the best thing. The single best thing about Denville is the heart and spirit of our people. The people of Denville have a heart of gold. Time and time again, I have seen the many acts of generosity and kindness. I saw it when Joey Bella was sick, when we built the Gardner Field Playground in 1996, when Hurricane Irene destroyed the heart of our town and I see on an almost daily basis when people come walking in the Town Hall with Food, Coats, School Supplies and Holiday presents. I feel blessed to have raised my family here and to see my mom live here and some of my children living in Denville
Angie Cote
Women’s Network. We recently had an event to make dog and cat toys for St Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center. 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/ council? I love living here. It was an amazing environment for my children to grow up in and I want to make sure Denville stays this way and gets even better. I want to do my part and get more involved to keep our community moving on the positive trajectory that we are on. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? a. Flooding – As an engineer, I’m very interested in the study being performed by the Army Corp of Engineers and their recommendations. I look forward to being a part of the flood mitigation process. b. Affordable Housing– We need to raise awareness about the state requirements on Affordable Housing. It is a very com-
Denville Council Candidate / Republican 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? a. Education After earning a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology, I earned a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. b. Volunteer Work Since my children are grown and my career is established, I have been gradually able to volunteer more of my time to our community on the Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC), the Denville Beautification Committee and the Denville Recreation Committee, helping on the Senior Socials, Project Playground 2.0, and KIDS Try-Harder -Athlon. At work, I also do volunteer work with our
raising my grandchildren here. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? I have not had a lot of time for hobbies my family, my wife, Sharon and I have 3 sons, 2 daughters and 8 grandchildren. I love to volunteer, I make it a point to volunteer for the Knights of Columbus Can Drive and Joey Bella every year. I am a Scout at heart, I love going to Scouts with my grandsons and watching all the grand children play ball. I enjoy relaxing at the side of our lake and rooting for my beloved NY Mets. 10. What is your professional background? I worked for the largest printing company in New Jersey and while going to college. I rose through the ranks in the company and was also very active in the New York City Lithographers Local as not only a Representative but a member of the Executive Board and Pension Fund Trustee. I once had the opportunity to be on the New York City Area Contract Negotiating Team. I eventually severed ties with the union and for the last 24 years have been the Technical Sales Representative for a major press roller manufacturer. My blue collar background enables me to understand the positions of our workers, my union background enables me to have insight on contract negotiations and my sales background enables me to talk and get along with people but most importantly makes me a good problem solver.
plicated and misunderstood state requirement. As I’ve gone door to door I know that Affordable Housing is on the top of people’s minds. We need to come up with creative solutions that enable us to meet the state requirements while pro-
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Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 27
tecting Denville’s interests. 4. Why did you decide to run now? The more I volunteer for the town the more rewarding I find it. I now have the time and would like to share my talents and expertise with the community that has given my family so much. I’ve seen what a positive influence all the volunteers have had on this town throughout the years and I want to do more. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/ re-elected? I’m a problem solver. Not sure if it’s from my training as an engineer or from my job as a Project manager or maybe it’s just my nature. I’m good at breaking problems down into pieces. This helps to get to the root of the issue we are trying to solve and makes the problem solving a little easier. At work, I’m used to dealing with complex technical solutions and explaining them to non-technical people. This gives me a hand up in being able to communicate complex issues in an understandable way. As a project manager, I’m also experienced in managing large financial budgets and projects. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? Increase communications with the community. There are so many great things going on in Denville that the greater community is not aware of. Being in IT, I know that people consume information in different ways. I would like to explore how the Township can make the information available in different formats. 7. What are you passionate about? Community connections. Living over by Rt 10 it’s easy to feel disconnected from the center of town. I am so excited about the initiation of the new trails. I’ve been to some new housing developments in Texas, where my brother lives, and they all have interconnecting paths all over their town. The kids are safer because they can ride their bikes to their friend’s house and stay off the roads. I’m looking forward to the day I can ride my bike to Denville Dairy on paths off the highway. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? The people. We all care about this town. I see it in all the volunteers at the committee meetings and at every door I knock on. So many people volunteer to make sure we are taking care of the whole community, from the playgrounds for the children, to the planters and public gardens that make downtown beautiful and the senior socials and yoga classes. The list goes on and on. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? a. Gardening - My backyard has a lot of shade, not to mention ground hogs and deer, so I get my satisfaction from working on the Beautification Committee. b. Fixing things – My daughter jokes that I’m not happy unless I’m working on a project to improve something. c. Travel – Experiencing new cultures and FOOD. 10. What is your professional background? Technology Program and Project Manager in the Pharmaceutical industry. I work in a very matrix managed environment. What this means is that I lead a team of people who don’t directly report to me. We work together to achieve the company’s objectives. Since none of them report directly to me, I must use networking, negotiation and influence to get things done.
Harry Fahrer
Denville Council Candidate / Republican 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? I went to Morris County Vo-Tech to train as an auto mechanic but ended up starting a te l e co m m u n i ca tions career at the age of 17 while attending County College of Morris. Both of my parents were Scout and sports volunteers in Denville. I guess this was always in the back of my mind as I started to raise my family. Coming from a Scouting family, I was naturally drawn to the Boy Scouts. I was a WEBELOS Leader that became the Scoutmaster of Troop 118 in Denville. Working with a great leadership team, we watched the Troop grow from a dozen Scouts to around 50 over a few years. As they started to play sports I realized how much I was enjoying volunteer activity. I loved coaching their soccer and baseball teams along with being on the soccer board. Both of my children attended St. Mary’s and Morris Catholic in Denville. This caused me to get involved in the church and community as a volunteer. I manage the St. Mary’s Outreach program working with those in need in our community as well as Coastal Habitat in south Jersey and West Virginia. Around town I was involved with repairing houses for those impacted by hurricanes, multiple Boy Scout Eagle projects, river clean-up, POWWW, Joey Bella, Hussa Place Habitat for Humanity, and park renovations. I earned the Vivere Christus award from Bishop Serratelli along with my wife and family, Denville Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Award, Denville Good Scout Award, and most recently the Denville Rotary Outstanding Volunteer Award. 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/council? I have lived in Denville for over 50 years. After retiring I was elected to be a member of the Denville Board of Adjustment (BOA). I discovered I enjoyed learning more about the town while helping neighbors improve their homes and local businesses enhance their property. There are so many good things happening in Denville that I felt I did not know enough about how it happened. Becoming a council member seemed like the next logical step to keep the good things happening in Denville. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? Maintaining and growing on what we already have accomplished while ensuring the safety of our residents. Affordable housing concept is a worthy cause but not to the extent
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it has morphed into. Government always seems to take good intentions and add way too much government control without thinking of the ramifications associated with their actions. We need to provide housing for those in need but ensure it does not impact the majority of our community financially or our quality of life. We also need to continue working with the police to ensure the safety of our residents. They have done a wonderful job of getting involved with schools and keeping residents informed. 4. Why did you decide to run now? Both of my children have purchased homes in Denville within the last couple of years. When they speak of Denville they become excited and proud. I want to help ensure the efforts of Mayor Tom Andes and his team continue to make them and other residents feel this way. I believe is a perfect time for me to get more involved with the decisions that will benefit both our young and older residents. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/ re-elected? Working with Outreach Appalachia, Community Outreach, Project Management, and System Development has taught me the only way to improve or deliver on a task is by actively listening. People have a tendency to push their ideas and agendas without gathering all of the facts. I have learned that it is better to be attentive to the input of others and avoid quick impulsive decisions. It is imperative that we not only listen to the opinions of other but be sure we have all of the facts before making a decision that impacts the lives of our citizens. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? Denville has a great sense of volunteerism especially when there is a specific task to accomplish. I would like to work with the local organizations to improve the way we ask and utilize volunteers. I believe we can work together to continue to help with the safety of our residents, assist those in need, and enhance the township. Other areas are to continue to focus on improving parking for residents and businesses, work on open space to help reduce traffic and help the environment, and work to keep our finances balanced so that residents of all ages can always afford to live in town. 7. What are you passionate about? I am extremely passionate about my family, faith, and community. Each day I wake up thankful for what I have. I try to look for the positive in all circumstances. If there is little to be positive about, I enjoy diving in to change the situation. I am confident that I will also be passionate about being a Denville Councilman if elected. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? There are so many things to choose from it is difficult to narrow it down to one area. I could mention the great geographic location, outstanding police, fire, and municipal workers, beautiful downtown, assortment of stores and eateries, multiple lakes, etc. However, what always stands out above all physical attractions is the feeling of a very close community. The vast majority of our residents and business owners are extremely friendly
and courteous. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? My interests are helping those in need and being available for others when they need assistance. I enjoy motorcycling, fishing, cars, trucks, hiking, camping, and spending time with family and friends. 10. What is your professional background? Although I trained to be an auto mechanic, I started as a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell in 1974 as a telephone operator during the start of AAP/EEO. I became a supervisor then moved into management where I worked with hundreds of operators to improve their work performance. After the divestiture I was promoted into the technical field and moved to the AT&T headquarters in Basking Ridge where I partnered with AT&T labs to launch new services. During that time I was fortunate enough to earn 5 patents with my team. I then had the pleasure to manage all ship telecommunications for Navy and Marines when they were deployed. My final years at AT&T were spent on launching new prepaid mobile services. I retired over 5 years ago after nearly 40 years with AT&T. I am now work in Building Management/Maintenance for St. Mary’s in Denville and a Funeral Attendant for Norman Dean Home for Services. I thoroughly enjoy the daily interface I have with parishioners and clients that brings me even closer to our community.
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 29
Nathan Gould Denville Council Candidate / Democrat
1. What is your educational and volunteer background? a. I have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and have worked in the information technology industry for about 14 years. b. I have been an avid volunteer since my high school days. I have been a member of Bands, Choirs, University Student Activity Board, University Student Advisory Board for the School of Science Technology and Engineering. Since moving to Denville I have volunteered locally within Riverview, where my son attends first grade,.I was a leader withinProject Playground, and I am a member of the local Kiwanis organization. 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/council?
Technology is changing rapidly and there is nobody on the council that has been able to take advantage of the opportunity that modern technology offers to a town like Denville. Since I have a strong technical and computer background, felt it was important to offer my services on Town Council. Technology is changing at an incredibly rapid pace. We need leaders that keep up and use modern solutions to address modern problems. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? Our infrastructure is strained and the current administration has not made wise investments to our infrastructure in the face of the predicted growth over the next several years. 4. Why did you decide to run now? There needs to be Democratic voices
at all levels of government. If needed we must stand up to be that voice. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/re-elected? My technical knowledge is an incredibly important skill to bring to this race. My ability to think critically and solve tough problems will keep Denville on the right path through
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Page 30 • October 2019 • Denville Life
times of growth and change.I will also bring my listening skill so that the residents of Denville will be heard and their needs acted on. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? Increase the use of the town website and social media to make it easier for people to get information and stay informed. 7. What are you passionate about? I am passionate about education and using technology to facilitate it. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? Denville has maintained such a close relationship with its surrounding nature. I find that admirable and something that I will
Linda Humphries Denville Council Candidate / Democrat 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? AA degree Thomas Edison University Previous Chair of the Denville Democratic Committee Volunteer Jersey Battered Women Service, 18+ years Member American Legion Auxiliary 390, 50+ years 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/ council? I am running for Township Council because I believe citizens should have a choice. For many years we have had only one party dominating local politics, I think it is time for a new fresh voice that better represents the town. I also believe new voices will bring new fresh ideas to propel Denville into the future. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? Infrastructure and providing options of affordable housing for our residents are very big issues facing Denville. We need to prepare for it as we cannot avoid it. I believe we should pursue smart development that considers our infrastructure and environment. We must be mindful that affordable units will help families already living in Denville and provide an opportunity for others. 4. Why did you decide to run now? I have been involved in local government for many years and I would like to serve my town in an official capacity. With years of experience and know how I feel I could bring my knowledge to Town Council. I feel that it is the right time for us as a ticket to step up and help Denville move forward. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/ re-elected? I have lived in Denville since 1964. I was raised here, my family
strive to protect. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? I am a technology lover, through and through. I enjoy working on computers, machine learning, games and game theory. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my wife, Katie and our first grade son, T. We are an adventurous family and like to travel and see new things. 10. What is your professional background? For the past 14 years, I have been working in the IT industry delivering enterprise level data solutions for Fortune 500 companies. My experience includes working with and building various data systems over a variety of different clients including government, pharmaceutical, financial, utility, and package delivery. has been here since Denville was Rockaway. I understand the traditions the citizens hold dear as I value our small town as well. However, I also understand we need to move forward, in order to prepare for the future. Time’s are changing and we need leadership to help guide us through. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/ re-elected? I would like to see proactive affordable housing solutions. I believe it is inappropriate for us to have a wait-and-see attitude towards the affordable housing litigation:we can and should create our own narrative, which means we must think and act strategically. 7. What are you passionate about? I am passionate about people, about equal opportunity, about my hometown. We are such an amazing community of civic minded people and I truly believe in this town. I know that when we help each other in our community we raise everyone up. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? Our citizens. We are a family here in Denville. We are all in it together. This is a kind, caring community that I love. We look out for each other and take care of each other. That is why I want to serve our community in an official capacity. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? I am a big football fan, specifically the NY Giants. I enjoy listening to all different types of music, and I have been known to sing along. 10. What is your professional background? I am a kitchen designer - I love helping families realize their vision of a dream home. It’s an attitude that I will bring with me to Town Hall, as we work to keep Denville a dream town for our residents
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John Murphy Denville Council Candidate/ Republican 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? B.S. Business/Accounting Degree from the College of New Jersey, A.A. Business from CCM, as a volunteer, over 10 years on Denville Board of Adjustment, Four year term as Councilman-at-large for Denville, Founding member of Downtown Denville Business Improvement District, Denville Green Sustainability Silver Certificate Committee, Rock-Den Renegades Board Member, Treasurer, and Coach, Rockaway River Clean-up Member, Hurricane Irene & Superstorm Sandy volunteer, St. Clare’s and St. Francis Fall Festival Volunteer, Denville Soccer & Softball Coach 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/council? Mayor Andes asked me to bring my Board of Adjustment skills combined with my career finance/accounting/business skills to the council, I saw it as a natural extension of my giving back to Denville. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? I believe there are two major issues, 1) maintaining a tight control on our portion of the budget to help keep taxes low and help make Denville affordable, and 2) being very proactive in resolving the Affordable Housing court mandate, we as a Council have been very proactive in seeking the courts approval our Affordable Housing plan, and maintaining our Builders Remedy protection. If the courts were to take away our builder’s remedy prevention, the damage to our infrastructure (schools, roads, open space, traffic, etc.) could be very significant. 4. Why did you decide to run now? I have had what I believe a very successful first term, I feel there is more to do. I have enjoyed bringing Downtown Denville BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT to life, working to solve the Affordable Housing issue, and reviewing our budgets. I feel that I have more to offer. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/ re-elected? Certainly, I believe that I now bring a lot more knowledge and experience about the inner workings of how to get things done than I had in my first term. Ideas and plans for continued improvements of our downtown. Good relationships with all the committees and partnerships we need to create to move Denville forward. Also, I’ve applied my knowledge of budgeting and business planning to help keep our costs down and save the taxpayers money. I consider myself very approachable and listen to all sides and parties and to my fellow citizens and
business owners prior to making any decisions. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? I would like to see some long-term relief from flooding especially in our downtown area, getting the Army Corp. to complete their study and implement the recommendations would help. I would also like to take another stab at a downtown parking relief. I am in favor of open space and would like to see the town develop another all-weather turf field. I will continue to do my due diligence on our portion of the budget to help to continue to provide tax stabilization. Additionally I would work to reduce the townships long term debt. I believe in safe schools and support the Class 3 officers in our schools, and will continue to work with our BOE. 7. What are you passionate about? Public Safety, I believe it is the first job of every elected person in Denville is, to provide the community with the peace of mind that our town is safe. We have a very professional Police Department, and excellent volunteer base within our Fire Department, First Aid and OEM services, our unsung heroes also include the often-forgotten Department of Public Works along with our first responders are also on call 24/7 we can’t thank all of them enough. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? Our sense of community spirit, we pull together in times of need, and enjoy ourselves in times of pleasure. You see your neighbors at Downtown events, Fourth of July, individual lake celebrations. Volunteers participate in the many varied interest available. Our town has something for everyone, I would urge my fellow citizens to find their passion and volunteer, from my experience your get more back than you give, and get to meet new people. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? Now that I am retired, I find myself more involved in different organizations, I am a liaison to Downtown Denville BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT and find that both time consuming and rewarding. I also enjoy my family, travel and golf. 10. What is your professional background? Upon graduation from college, I went to work in industry specializing in the finance and accounting field, I enjoyed a long career with increasing responsibilities. I finished my career with working 23 years for a Fortune 400 major medical device manufacturer in the areas of financial reporting and statement consolidation, and even found time to volunteer there at the Credit Union.
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James Putnam
Denville Council Candidate / Democrat 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? Education - BFA in Fine Arts from Miami University MBA in Marketing from Rutgers Volunteer - Morris County Courts, American Red Cross, Pal Soccer and Baseball, Little League Baseball, Denville Fox Hill Road Playground, Gardner Field Playground, Rockaway River Cleanup, NJ Art Association 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/ council? After living in Denville for over 37 years, I would like to give back to the community and help plan for the future. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? As a long-time resident I see the rising costs of living in New Jersey, which are forcing people from Denville as a very imperative issue facing Denville residents. The affordable housing requirement which will affect our community immensely is also an issue. We need to stay ahead of the issue and plan for the future. 4. Why did you decide to run now? When I moved into Denville in 1972, there were many more Republicans than Democrats. Truth be told I was one of them. However, I see now that we need bi-partisanship on every level of government in order to have appropriate discourse and for everyone to be represented. The current administrators do not represent the population, I am running to be a voice of many residents who don’t feel heard. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/ re-elected? I worked for many years with AT&T and Xerox running projects, solving problems and researching solutions. My experience and expertise in project management and marketing will help the council build consensus and tackle the big challenges ahead of
Ellen Sandman
Denville Mayor Candidate / Independent 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? I have a Master of Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a certificate of Municipal Finance Officer from Rutgers University. I am also an Adjunct Professor Public Administration / Fairleigh Dickinson University - Hudson County Community College. A member of the Board of Trustees at Assumption College for Sisters, Morris County Improvement Authority as Secretary and Commissioner. I also co-
us, while making sure we meet our cost and schedule goals. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/ re-elected? I would love to provide further opportunities for neighborhood gatherings where the local residents can meet and voice their concerns and discuss solutions. Weekend town halls and providing the information directly to the public are important initiatives that I would like to see enacted if elected. I would like to see more evidenced based programs here in town. We should be budgeting so that all departments/entities receive appropriate funds for their needs and there should be more transparency on how our tax dollars are spent. 7. What are you passionate about? As a resident, as a parent, as a good neighbor, I am passionate about keeping our streets and sidewalks clean and safe for kids. We should be planning for our children and grandchildren futures, by increasing the walkability in our community. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? We are incredibly blessed to live in Denville where there are so many things to choose from; the schools, recreational areas, parks, the nice downtown area. I am constantly blown away by the volunteerism exhibited by the community. It really is a wonderful place to live. 9. What are your hobbies/interests? I am an avid gardener, I have played piano for many years so I make sure to practice daily. I also paint landscapes and portraits, I find it cathartic and enjoy recreating beautiful scenes. 10. What is your professional background? I am semi-retired. I work part time at a school in Randolph. Previously I have 35 years experience in high tech marketing positions with AT&T, Xerox, ADP, and Perkin-Elmer. Midway through my career I decided that I wanted to give back to our children and worked for thirteen years in local schools. chaired the St. Francis Fall Festival for 7 yrs. I was the State of New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commissioner (2000-2004), a past president of the Morris County League of Municipalities, a past president of the New Jersey Municipal Managers Association. I was the Commissioner of the Morris County Joint Insurance Fund for 27 years. I have also been an honorary member of the Denville Fire Department Association and an honorary member of the Sunrise Rotary. I volunteer with Denville Beautification and am a founding member and
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Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 33
former chair of the Rockaway River Watershed Cabinet. I served as the lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and was the Master of Ceremonies for the Joey Bella Memorial Fund from 2001 to 2005. I also served on the Morris 2000/Tomorrow Executive Committee. 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/council? I believe these two questions are very much tied together in my case due to the unique circumstances I find myself. Having been a Town Administrator for over 44 years, 21 of which were as Township Administrator in Denville, it became quite clear to me that there was a need to step up and run for the position of Mayor of the town I fell in love with some 33 years ago. After much encouragement and discussion with friends, family and the residents of Denville, I decided to run for this most important office. Recognizing that Denville is at a crossroads between maintaining the beautiful small hometown setting coupled with the need for growth and modernizing our policies and procedures. Why now, … I could have decided to run for Mayor in 2011, as I was the Business Administrator in Mendham Borough and there is no prohibition to be the BA in one jurisdiction and the Mayor in another. Morally, I felt that one cannot serve two Communities in these roles simultaneously as the need to be there for your Town in the case of emergencies or serious issues such as Mount Laurel, Environmental, the ever increasing concern of the tax burden and Public Safety...where would your loyalties lie? I worked in the field of Municipal Government for another 8 years, honing my skills and the enhancement of my experiences in both Mendham Borough and Parsippany, retiring in December of 2018. Now that I am retired, I can address full time the issues facing Denville in 2020, giving my all, bringing my experience, vision, commitment and passion to sustain and expand on this wonderful family-friendly environment called Denville. We need more than ever before to recognize that the vibrancy of a community rest not with those that govern but with the enthusiasm of its citizens. Mayor James F. Dyer, who I had the privilege to work with, instilled this most important belief in my day to day dealings with the public....To be a successful Mayor one needs to build upon that concept, it is volunteerism and involvement (Communications) by all members of the Community that will assure a vibrant place to call home. The best way to achieve this is through example, I believe I have lived a life of volunteerism and wish to continue that role, through the office of Mayor. Although being Mayor is a part time position, I will give it a full time effort and I will be donating my salary to non-profits such as Joey Bella, the Denville Food Pantry, SPARK. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville today? The cost of providing services is ever present and one needs to call upon every possible idea to meet that ever increasing demand, be it Public Safety, Open Space, Affordable Housing, Recreation, State Mandates, Health Care, the Environment, Water and Sewer to name a few. The Economic Vibrancy of our Downtown due to an ever increasing need for parking and the flow of traffic, with the many business, professional and shops requiring more and more access for
the client, customer, and shopper. Addressing the needs of the other Commercial and Business Districts like Rt.46, 53, and 10. Our Lake Communities, status of the dams, the quality of the water...to name a few. 4. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/ re-elected? My leadership skills have been honed by my role as both Business Administrator and volunteer project manager. Having the ability to work side by side with others to achieve open space (POWWW Property)projects, field improvements (Gardner Field, Knuth Fields, Pocono Fields), the quality of life and safety issues (SRO/Class 3, Norton Project), Communication skills ...and yes I do have a tendency to talk a bit, but I really have the proven ability to listen as well. Negotiation skills for acquiring land and contracts be it PILOT’s or Union/Associations, development, acquisition of fields. A financial acumen that has provided for cost savings, more with less, improved projects and enhanced outcomes (upgrades by Moody’s/S&P, Open Space Acquisitions, the Building of Cook’s Pond Senior Housing/Municipal Building.) 5. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? Open Door Fridays, in order to communicate and answer questions as they relate to the many things that involve the Denville Administration/Township. Denville Seniors First, Be it Cook’s Pond, the Oaks, the Senior Socials, Senior Clubs or any Senior seeking assistance, information, or wanting to address an issue and provide input. Lake Community Forum, where everything from Water Quality, Dam restoration, assistance in collaborating with the Township to pursue State, County, Foundations and Shared Resources to insure the continued vibrancy of this most precious resource. Increased Communications regarding the Council on Affordable Housing and embrace the Community’s input. Sport Groups /Recreation/Open Space how they interrelate and what innovative use of existing funds can be maximized to assist in establishing an even better program for all residents. Branding Denville as a Bike/Pathway Community...we are moving in that direction presently, but we need to focus more on how we can establish a program/project second to none. Downtown Denville can be enhanced by looking into an Authority/Utility to provide not only parking but additional commerce. Funding is provided outside of the taxes and we can celebrate an improved town center (already the envy of the surrounding communities) by taking it into the 21st Century. Communications and celebrating the Volunteer Spirit that is Deville has been my watchwords as I have walked the Township and believe some of what once was is now missing. My election is centered on this concern. Denville and her people first and foremost, I would like to serve as the Mayor (Steward) in that regard. 6. What are you passionate about? Family and Friends...Being involved in the Community, from selling 50/50 for Rotary, planting the Cannas for Beautification, performing Mystery Plays for the Denville Library, collecting
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the Ducks for the Sunrise Rotary, MC for Joey Bella, active in St. Mary’s. 7. What is the best thing about Denville? Her volunteers, the people , its location, Downtown Center, Beautiful Lakes, woods, shops. 8. What are your hobbies/interests? Volunteering, reading, travel, family events, the occasional visit to a casino, Broadway and music. 9. What is your professional background? City of Jersey City 1973-1986 Capital Construction Coordinator/ Management Analysis/Assistant Business Administrator, Denville Township 1986-2007 Business Administrator/Public Safety Director/Acting Finance Director/Acting Mayor/Insurance Com-
missioner, Mendham Borough 2008-2014 Business Administrator/Insurance Commissioner, Parsippany-Troy Hills 2014-2018 Business Administrator/Self-Insurance Commissioner/Acting Clerk/Acting Finance Director Awards and Recognitions Outstanding Service Recognition-New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, Rotary Centennial Service Award for Professional Excellence, Paul Harris Fellow, Morris County Chamber of Commerce William P. Huber Award for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership, Lakeland Hills YMCA Outstanding Community Leader, Morris-Sussex Area Council Boy Scout Outstanding Citizen Award, Joseph Maher Jr. Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Public Works Association
Andrea Zeydelis
County Chamber of Commerce member and Morris County Democratic Committee and Women’s caucus member. 2. Why did you choose to run for mayor/council? Part of who I am is looking critically at a situation and evaluating performance, so much so that I pursued a Masters in it. When I moved to Denville I began to look at my new hometown. What I saw was a wonderful foundation, a strong community and a changing demographic that wants to move forward. I feel that with a few small changes Denville could be even better than what it is today. We need to evaluate the trends and address them head on. 3. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Denville
Denville Mayor Candidate / Democrat 1. What is your educational and volunteer background? Bachelors in Psychology, St. John’s University Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Public and Non-Profit Performance Measurement, Rutgers State University of New Jersey Volunteer experience Seton Foundation, Children and Families with Developmental Disabilities, Amnesty International, Jersey Cares Project Coordinator, previous volunteer with Dress for Success. Project Playground volunteer and proud Denville Sunrise Rotary member. Chair of Denville Democratic Committee, Morris
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Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 35
today? I think Denville needs to be forward facing and be strategic in its planning. With four new developments approved by the current administration, we need to develop Denville for a successful future. That includes building sustainable infrastructure, planning for an increase in population, particularly families with school-age children, and remaining nimble to address changes as they come. Whether we have lived here for years or are just moving in we want to keep our small town values alive. With that said, there is room for efficiency and modernization. Small changes that will make a big difference in how our town is run. Furthermore, I think Denville residents deserve accountability from local officials, transparency in how decisions are made and communication to the public. We have amazing residents but I want to make sure that everyone feels heard and issues are related in a timely manner so that problems can be addressed. 4. Why did you decide to run now? Now seemed like a good a time as any! As
a parent, as an observer of trends I exhibit a sense of urgency that has propelled me into this position. There is no time like the present to get involved in my local community to keep our town so wonderful. 5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected/re-elected? I am a grant writer by trade. I am aware and honed into where we can be looking for in terms of grants and assistance for what the town needs. I am also knowledgeable regarding social service resources. I make it my business to know where you can get help. I have always been a problem solver and I want to bring that to Town hall. I am invested in this town and I understand the plight of many residents in town who feel the tightening belt. This campaign is about everyone and I am excited to utilize my experience and expertise to help guide Denville forward. 6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected/re-elected? I have spoken to many residents and have heard their concerns. I am very concerned
about our lakes, rivers and streams. I want to provide education regarding keeping our water clean and our sewers clear. I am also interested in revitalizing the Denville Chamber of Commerce into an Office for Economic Development. By providing residents and businesses the support they need to succeed we are helping the entire town prosper. I would love to see more art and culture right here in Denville. I
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have met so many talented artists and performers who just need an avenue to display their talent. There are so many ways that we can come together as a community, physically and in a communal sense and I want to be that conductor of progress. 7. What are you passionate about? Not many people will say they are passionate about efficiency, accountability and transparency in government, but I am! I believe in civility and the power of the people. I also believe in civic education and keeping people of every generation engaged. As Grant coordinator at the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey I am lucky in that I can create programs and proposals to address gaps in services for our seniors and individuals with disabilities but I would like to bring that experience to my hometown. I am passionate about solving problems and thinking outside the box to create solutions. 8. What is the best thing about Denville? The residents are the best thing about Denville. Every time I meet another neighbor their story and experience inspires me. So many small business owners pursuing their dreams, so many passionate parents hustling and striving to provide their kids with the very best, so many seniors with years of history and experience to teach the rest of us and our avid volunteers and organizers who are passionate about making Denville beautiful and succeeding daily. I am inspired by the people of this town. 9. What are your hobbies/interests?
I consider myself the creative type. I can craft with the best of them. For the past few years I have volunteered with the Lakeview talent show, I write the script and work with the 5th graders who emcee the show. Being involved seeing those brave, talented kids is my favorite event that I have been involved in here in Denville. I’m currently taking on a new challenge - coaching my son’s soccer team. I enjoy writing, traveling, and spending time with my family. 10. What is your professional background? I have worked for a variety of Nonprofit and government agencies throughout my career. I began my professional career at the Department of Justice as an intern for the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA), it was an education in policy and how it affects relationships within the community. It also helped me form my perspective on criminal justice and society. From there I worked for Seamen’s Society for Children and Families working with families experiencing substance abuse, child neglect and the foster care system in NYC. In 2008, I pursued a position in research with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) within the Institute for Basic Research were I worked on a Health Initiative curriculum developed for adults with developmental disabilities. In 2011, I began my work with the VIsiting Nurse Association of Staten Island. I worked as a Program Manager for the Traumat-
MCST Student Graces Cover of DECA Guide
M
orris County Vocational School District is proud to share their student Gauri Kshirsagar was chosen to be featured on the cover of the 2019-2020 DECA Guide! This is the manual that all DECA Advisors, around the world, use to prepare their students for DECA competitions, papers and online events. Gauri is a student in the Academy for Finance and International Busi-
ness at the Morris County School of Technology (MCST) in Denville. She was the only student from NJ to win a first-place trophy at DECA Nationals last April. Her competitive event area was Retail Merchandising. She is currently a senior at MCST, attending Fairleigh Dickinson University. Gauri Kshirsagar on the cover of the 2019-2020 DECA Guide.
ic Brain Injury/Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver program in NYC overseeing a city wide initiative with the New York State Department of Health. While working in NYC I pursued my Masters in Public Administration and was blessed with my two children. Currently, I wear multiple hats. I am Grant Coordinator for the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey and the CEO of my own online platform, Better Together. As a grant coordinator I work with federal, state and county and private corporations requesting, appropriating and accounting for funds. I am also responsible for creating programs to address gaps in services, an aspect of my position that I thoroughly enjoy. I created Better Together after seeing the call from the community requesting information on where they could donate used or new goods. Better Together is geared towards nonprofits, charities and townships as an online calendar of events that the public can access. I believe that when you give the public the information they will show up for the events to support their local communities. It was inspired by this community and I hope to launch it nationwide. I feel that my experience and expertise working with various organizations throughout my career makes me an excellent candidate for Mayor. I am thrilled to bring my knowledge to Denville and serve the residents of this amazing town.
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 37
Grassroots Natural Market is Good Health, Knowledge, and Friendliness
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By: Steve Sears ou can speak to Paul Kralyevich about your bad day. If you do, the owner of Denville’s soonto-be 15-year-old Grassroots Natural Market, who has many inspirational sayings hanging on his office wall, will happily lend you some wisdom to inspire or raise your spirits beyond any gloom. You see, Paul wants the atmosphere at his popular Denville location to always be happy and positive – and it is. “Let me show you something,” he says to a visitor. “When one of my employees is having a bad day – and that doesn’t happen often – I show them this.” He points to a 2011 photo of Grassroots Natural Market following Hurricane Irene, then jabs at it with his finger. “We had 6 inches of water in the store. Now, that’s a bad day. Everything got fried – computers, registers – everything. The produce case? Fried. The deli case? Fried. We reopened in 5 days. My crew came here, sanitized the entire place, and we reopened with a $200 cash register. The store was still a mess, but people were happy because they had regularity (again) in their lives. They had someplace to go. We were the first food store to reopen in Denville.” Thankfully so for, yes, the locals, but also for those who frequent the store from outside the area. When the Astoria, Queens (New York) native Paul was seeking a “challenged” healthy food store to purchase, he scoured trade journals seeking the perfect place and location. He knew of Denville, had an affection for it. “I call it a ‘very sophisticated Mayberry’,” he claims with a huge grin. “The people are very friendly. My New York friends come out here and say, ‘People say hello to me on the street.’ I say, ‘Say hello back.’ It’s not a big town, it’s the right size town where people are very friendly. They really support their downtown and the downtown is very vibrant.” He elaborates on his business search. “I was looking to buy a business for sale that was semi-distressed,” he recalls. “Let’s put it that way. It was 2005 when the economy was very good, sales should’ve been going up, but they weren’t here. They were flat,
if not down.” Paul, whose mother at the time lived in neighboring Parsippany, would visit the town when he visited her. He also that time was part owner of a Manhattan business that elbowed him out as a partner, although his percentage of ownership was still intact. He eventually sold his interest in that location and turned his eyes towards sole ownership of a similar store that he could encourage upward. “I looked at several stores, all the way up to Martha’s Vineyard, and settled on Denville.” I’ve been in this industry since college, which was a long time ago, “he says with a chuckle. “I knew my suppliers, I knew my product lines, I knew how to manage. So, you stick to your own back yard, just like a good writer will stick to what he knows. (Ernest) Hemingway wrote about Cuba because he lived in Cuba. He didn’t write about Morocco. So, I looked for natural food stores that were for sale.” Prior to purchase, he took to the triangular-shaped store and did some shopping. “I saw the problems right away when I walked around as a customer on several occasions. I even brought my sister Jerelyn out here to do the same thing.” “This is going to be my livelihood; this is going to be my life,” he states emphatically. “I couldn’t make a mistake.” Paul purchased the store on April 15, 2005, the name was changed, and Grassroots Natural Market was in business the next day, slowly evolving over time. What didn’t fit in was eliminated, the product mix was changed, the store started to specialize (and still specializes) in organic food, vitamins, and beauty aids and an all-natural deli, Paul started to advertise and take part in the popular Denville street fairs, brought on some new staff, “and it took off,” he says. Walker Jackson, owner of nearby Jackson Education, is just one of the Grassroots Natural Market very loyal customer base. “We know all their names,” says Paul, “and they know us. It’s just a very pleasant work environment, which makes our jobs that much easier.” Jackson is a breakfast or lunchtime visitor three days per week. “It’s threefold,” he says regarding the market’s popularity
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and success. “First, every ingredient they use is all natural. Second, they cook every morning, so it’s always fresh. Third, the people who work here are super nice. All three (reasons) are pretty equal, but the people aspect, absolutely.” He is feasting on breakfast. “The prices are so good. This breakfast is going to cost me $4.00. $4.00 for Organic quiche! Where can you get that?!” Therese, Paul’s assistant and bookkeeper, says “Denville is a hustling town.” She echoes Jackson’s compliment on employee friendliness, then alludes to another key Grassroots Natural Market “ingredient”: knowledge. “I think the big draw here is our employees. The vitamin department, they know their products inside and out. The cashiers, they can just talk to customers and just make them feel like, ‘Okay, they know what they’re talking about.’ It’s not like any other place where they just give them the product and that’s that. They talk to you about why you should take this, the background of it – you know, CBD is really big right now – so just having the knowledge of all of our products is really a big draw.” Paul agrees. “And a lot of knowledge. I mean, Therese has been with us for 12 years, Dee, the vitamin specialist has been here 12 years, Valaya, the chef has been cooking for us for 11 years, Eric V. the grocery manager has been here for 10 years, Justin, our produce buyer has been here for 6 years and Eric M, the refrigeration and frozen manager has been here 6 years. We have a very knowledgeable staff, and we search out small companies that are under the radar screen, that people can’t find anywhere - except here. And that’s what brings them here.” Paul, who resides now in Boonton, proudly adds that “Grassroots Natural Market may be small, but it is mighty.” Grassroots Natural Market has been recognized by many local publications as a top store in the area, and Paul acknowledges the plaques and certificates adoring his office wall. However, it’s not what’s most important. On a recent Tuesday, Dee scaled a ladder, a customer needing a hard to find vitamins that only Grassroots Natural Market has in stock, and the cashiers were not only ringing up customer orders but offering engaging conversation and suggestions for the current and future visits. Therese adds, “All of our buyers scrutinize every product they bring in here to make sure it’s clean, to make sure it’s organic. They won’t just put anything on the shelf. Anybody who goes into the vitamin department knows that Dee has the cleanest products and stands behind them.” “And everyone who goes into the produce department,” interjects Paul, “it’s all organic.” Paul gets his best Grassroots Natural Market improvement ideas from two groups of people: his customers and employees. “Not from my head,” he states. And what has he learned from both?
“Have more vegetarian and vegan dishes in the deli, which we now do – that’s a customer thing and an employee thing, but mostly a customer thing. An employee thing? Learning to be more patient and think before you talk.” If one thing is lacking at Grassroots Natural Market, it’s space. “The kitchen would love a little (more) space,” says Therese. “They work in close quarters back there and they do a good job. There’s a deli staff in the front and the two chefs in the back that cook for the case, and we do catering, and then there’s the front end, the juice bar, and there’s sandwiches being made. The chefs are here early, and they cook until 2 or 3:00, and then we have a pastry chef that’s totally gluten free. It’s a busy place.” Speaking of “busy,” the true busy season for Paul and his team is from mid-September until Memorial Day. October is a big prep month for the day Grassroots Natural Market loves the most: the day before Thanksgiving. “That day is the single busiest day of the year. We do it right; we prepare, everything runs nice and smoothly. We rent a refrigerated truck and park in the Denville Hardware lot because we need more refrigeration space that week. Our busiest month, every year for fourteen years, has been March. It sounds counterintuitive. November is great, December is great, January is great, but by March, it’s getting a little warmer, the roads are clearer because there’s usually much less snow, and (after all the holiday eating) everyone wants to start eating healthy. So, March is our best month.” Paul, who says something real special will be planned for birthday #15, claims ownership of Grassroots Natural Market has made him more patient. “I forgive mistakes and forget – just don’t make them three times,” he says while chuckling. “I’ve also learned a lot about people, and to listen to your gut more than the resume sometimes. Intuition – that comes with age, too. I’ve been a manager my whole life, and partner since I was 36. It’s been a good run. It’s been a lot of fun.” He then closes with an interesting story which bellows the atmosphere of care of Grassroots Natural Market. “My cashier of 3 ½ years was pregnant. She was very happy but also a little bit sad because she was leaving. They (the employees) threw her a baby shower, in the store, on Sunday morning, when nobody worked on a Sunday morning. People came from far and wide on their day off to say goodbye to Karli and give her gifts.” “That says something about this store. We’re like a very functional family.” Grassroots Natural Market, open seven days a week, is located at 20 First Avenue in Denville. Visit www.grassrootsnaturalmarket. com or call 973-627-5440.
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 39
Hauntings Around the Area for Halloween
H By Elsie Walker
alloween will soon be here. Many times on Halloween, or around camp fires, stories of ghosts; strange, creepy or haunted places; and recollections of strange occurrences are shared. Some people pass stories on from generation to generation until they become legend. However, others, like members of the New Jersey Ghost Hunters Society (NJGHS), investigate strange occurrences to see if there is a paranormal presence involved. Recently, people from around the coverage area shared stories and sightings of local ghosts, rumors of haunted locations, and experiences with the paranormal. Members of the online, “You Know You’re From Roxbury Township….” group recalled ghost tales and scary sights. One popular ghost story was the Hooker Man. It is about a ghost seen by the Succasunna railroad tracks. “The Hooker Man lost his hand in some freak train accident, and now searches for it with a lantern,” shared Mike Stark, Roxbury. However, it appears the Hooker Man has not only been seen in Roxbury, but Netcong, Flanders, Chester, and Long Valley also lay claim to the legend. Cheryl McClung, a former area resident, who now lives in Georgia, shared, “At night, people see his [the Hooker Man’s] lantern bouncing along the tracks in Flanders on the west side of [Route} 206. Dawn Traetta Hair, of Florida, another former Roxbury resident, remembers the stories of the former location of the Church of the Mystic Light in Flanders. The building is closed, but there had been claims that witches had hung chickens and have had seances there. People still stop by it, out of curiosity, if not scared away. Kim Howell Candore shared that there have been ghost sightings at her childhood home, “I was raised at 11 Meeker Street [in] Succasunna, next to the cemetery. There has been many spottings of two men in Civil War uniforms smoking, sitting on a tree stump in front of our old house,” said Candore, who now lives in Tennessee. Candore remembers that the two churches on Main Street, adjacent to the cemetery, used to be a military hospital. Also shared, was that Roxbury has its very own “haunted house” in the form of the Halloween House, a tremendous display put on by the Heard family in Roxbury. Hackettstown is the meeting site of the NJ Ghost Hunters Society. The society’s mission statement is “To search out definitive proof of life beyond the grave. To provide paranormal investigations to those who request them, free of charge. To train those individuals, who so desire and become members of the NJGHS, in the protocols of professional, ethical and scientific paranormal investigating..” L’aura Hladik Hoffman is the society’s founder and director. She is the author of Ghosthunting New Jersey, Ghosthunting New York City, and Ghosts of the Poconos and has a variety of presentations on the paranormal which will be given at area libraries this month (listed on the
bottom of www.njghs.net/presentations.html). Recently, Hoffman recalled stories she was told of two ghosts who are said to haunt Bea McNally’s (formerly Charlie Brown Restaurant). In 1878, the place was the Clarendon House (hotel) and from 1926-1947 it was the Hackettstown Inn. “The ghost girl appeared to a young girl who was living at the hotel when her family owned it. She snuck down to the kitchen in the middle of the night for some ice cream. When she was headed out of the kitchen and into the dining room to sneak back upstairs, she was met with this bright, sparkling light and out of the light stepped a young girl – about the same age of the girl sneaking the ice cream – and the ghost girl was dressed from a different time period and clutching her teddy bear. The ice cream girl screamed, dropped the ice cream and ran up to her room. The next day when her parents confronted her about the mess in the dining room, they did not believe her about the ghost girl she saw. However, a couple weeks later, the father saw the ghost girl, too.” As for the other ghost, Hoffman said there are various origin stories as to who he is. Most have to do with drowning. Two versions have him as a child who was staying upstairs and died while unattended in the bathtub. Hoffman shared that in another version of the story, “A Lady of the Evening was distraught over unrequited love of one of her clients and
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she took a bath and drank a bottle of gin and passed out and drowned.” However, most seem to think the ghost is a child as they have got the sensation of someone wanting to ride on their shoulders or putting a small hand into theirs. Over the years there have been other stories of ghostly presence at the location, such as unexplained footsteps and, when there was a pool hall at the location, how when it was unlocked for business one day, instead of the cleaned pool hall, cues, etc. were strung all over. In Pompton Lakes, Laura Jennings, a member of the historic commission there, shared about some caring spirits at the Schuyler Colfax house ( Hamburg turnpike, Wayne) “Dr. Jane Colfax Young grew up in the house with her father (Dr. Richard S. Colfax) and Aunt (also Dr. Jane Colfax). Katherine Young, daughter to Jane Colfax Young, shared that she spent a lot of time in the home until he was ten years old. Both her and her father felt and saw things in the house that they are sure were the spirits of their ancestors watching over them. The Colfax family is one of the founding families in the area.” Jennings also shared that she had heard reports of ghost sightings at the Lenox School in Pompton Plains. Morristown has had its own dealing with the paranormal. Pat Goodfriend, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator for the Morris County Historical Society shared a short 2016 article by Y. McGreevy on Ford Mansion. The mansion at the Morristown National Historical Park is over 200
years old. Once the home of George Washington (briefly during 1780), the mansion drew the interest of Gordon Thomas Ward, a paranormal investigator, who in 2016, did a presentation on the Mansion and his two-year study of it, including the noises said to be coming from inside its walls. An article by B. LaMuraglia the same year shows that during the time of his investigation, Ward heard the voices of three male and two female spirits. None were Washington; Ward felt at least one could have been a kitchen servant. Bells Mansion, near the Netcong-Stanhope border has also been the subject of a paranormal study. That was shared by Tom Lupo of Hopatcong, a producer who followed the NJ Ghost Hunters Society when it investigated the restaurant six years ago. The segment includes a worker recalling seeing the spirit of a woman. He was cleaning up after the restaurant had closed. There are windows between the rooms. He looked up and saw a woman, seated in the next room, looking out at the road. He watched her for about 10 seconds and then went to approach her. When he walked into that room, she was gone. This Halloween, will the Hooker Man or the little girl ghost at Bea McNally’s be seen? Will voices whisper through Ford Mansion or the Lenox School? Perhaps, this year, a new spirit will be seen and its legend begun.
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 41
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Lakeland Hills Y: One Big Healthy Family
By: Michele DiPasquale verybody knows the Y, officially called the YMCA, which stands for Young Men's Christian Association. But how did such a well-known fitness and community gathering institution begin back when it was called by its full moniker? Way back during the heyday of the Industrial Revolution (about 1750-1850) in London, the explosive growth of railroads and unification of business and industry drew many young men from rural, pastoral backgrounds who needed jobs. They worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week, working in cities far away from their original homes. Often, these young workers lived at their workplace. Many slept in crowded rooms above company shops and other businesses, which was believed to be safer than the dangerous tenements and streets. During this time, crime was at a high: open sewers, pickpockets, thugs, drunks, and more dangers were everywhere. During these early days, a young farmer named George Williams became a sales assistant in a draper's shop (an early version of a department store). He and a group of fellow workers organized the first YMCA as a place to live safely and to substitute Bible study and prayer for life on the streets. George Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for his YMCA work. By 1851 the YMCA arrived in North America in Boston. The new idea of the YMCA, which crossed and blurred cultural lines by bringing together working men no matter their background, church, or social class, was a growing institution and popped up nearly everywhere. This idea of openness would eventually include all men, women, and children, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, to be welcome at the YMCA. And at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA on Fanny Road in Mountain Lakes, it is agreed by all that the contemporary reason for the Y is to give greater access to opportunities that promote health and wellness for everyone. Infinitely more extensive than a place to swim at or use a complete gym, the Y is a community wellness center that offers fitness activities, health screenings, enrichment programs, and much more to members of the community at minimal cost or even free of charge. “As a non-profit organization, the Y believes in serving the needs of everyone in the community, regardless of their ability to pay the full cost of membership and programs. The Y also offers financial assistance,” shared Beverly Cooper, Communications & Financial Development Director at the Lakeland Hills Family Y.
The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA is a non-profit community organization which serves municipalities throughout Morris County. The Lakeland Hills Y is recognized as the leading not-for-profit community service organization in the area, and engages children, adults, and families to strive for healthier lifestyles while it promotes social responsibility through excellent programs and services. Since 1972 the Lakeland Hills Y benefits thousands of families in the communities of Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Denville, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Pequannock, and Riverdale. The Lakeland Hills Y is a complete health, fitness, and recreational facility that includes not only a six-lane heated swimming pool and a massive, regulation-size gym, with locker rooms including those for adults only with saunas and steam rooms, but also offers a health & fitness training center, a Kids Zone, playground, an Early Childhood Learning Center, summer day camp, an outdoor pavilion and picnic area with restrooms, and after school programs called “Kid’s Club” which operates off-site throughout the area it serves. Of course, swimming at the Lakeland Hills Y is one of its biggest draws. “In addition to having one of the best youth competitive swim teams in the state, our progressive swim lesson program at the Y is what most parents choose for their children, since learning to swim is a fantastic and necessary life skill,” said Ms. Cooper. The Lakeland Hills Y also offers backyard pool swimming lessons, which brings the Y’s professional swim instructors to the convenience of your own backyard pool. As a community institution, the Lakeland Hills Y is a charity with a mission based on the Christian principles that George Williams and others brought to the first Y in London. These principles encourage members and families to grow in body
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but also in mind and spirit through programs and services that promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility for all. The Y further strives to meet the necessities of the community by providing services to those in need regardless of their ability to pay the full cost of membership and/or programs. A large part of providing those services comes from the Annual Giving Campaign, Give a Kid the Y. This is an annual event to help those - particularly children - who are less fortunate and without the financial means for a chance to participate in life-enriching programs and skill development, both physical and social. In so doing, joining Christian principles and a unified commitment to nurture children through youth development and promote healthy living with a sense of social responsibility, the Y strengthens the foundations of its community. The Lakeland Hills Y supports fundraising efforts from nonprofit religious, civic, service, and educational organizations within its service area through the donation of an adult or family membership. For childcare, the Lakeland Hills Y offers a variety of childcare and camp programs to give kids a safe, caring, and relaxed environment to hang out, meet new friends and have fun. Children get to watch and absorb knowledge, skills, and values from their surroundings. At the Lakeland Hills Y, the values and skills learned by children in their early years are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success. At Lakeland Hills Y, after-school and Child Watch programs are staffed with people who understand the mental, physical, and social development of children, the need to feel connected and supported by trying new things, and the reinforcement parents and families need to help each other. At the Y, babies develop trust and security, preschoolers experience early literacy and learn about their world, and school-age kids make friends, learn new skills, and do their homework. Most importantly, children learn how to be their best selves. This helps to make confident children today, and engaging, responsible, caring adults in the future. Education, enrichment, and leadership ability is taken very seriously at the Y. It is
believed that all youth have great potential, and at the Lakeland Hills Y, the staff works every day to help them set and achieve personal and educational goals. Leadership and academic enrichment programs, along with dedicated efforts to close the academic achievement gap for low-income youth, ensures that every child has an opportunity to envision and pursue the best possible future. The Early Childhood Learning Center, the Teen Leaders Club, Kids Enrichment & Combo Classes (designed to help build self-esteem and confidence through physical fitness and inner personal growth), Wellness Presentations, Red Cross certifications, Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, and babysitting skills are all offered at Lakeland Hills Y. There are also the Before & After School Care programs, which provide a fun, structured, physically, and emotionally safe environment; Vacation Camp which is available to all school children in the local area, including non-members; the aforementioned swimming and aquatics programs, which are a fun way to stay physically active and improve strength and stamina while motivating children to strive for self-improvement, teaching goal orientation, cultivating a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem, while teaching life lessons of sport and sportsmanship so children can learn how to work well with teammates and coaches, and how to cope with winning and losing. “We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health, and our neighbors. Every day, we work to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income, or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” shared Ms. Cooper.
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 43
NJStarz Kelly Tripucka Hometown: Bloomfield, NJ Photo courtesy of Bloomfield High School 1977 yearbook
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By Steve Sears f you asked Kelly Tripucka what his favorite lifetime memory is, no doubt it would be sports related. After all, Tripucka played 12 years in the National Basketball Association, being drafted in the first round by the Detroit Pistons in 1981. That first season, he was also named an NBA Eastern Conference All-Star, and for a period he held the Pistons team record for points in a game with 56. He scored over 12,000 points in 10 NBA seasons. Then there was his collegiate career for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, where he started for four years and led the squad in scoring each season, he and his teammates knocked off a few ranked opponents, and went to the NCAA Final Four in his freshman season of 19771978. However, significant as all of the before mentioned is, perhaps Tripucka’s fondest recollections take him back to his high school days, when as a threeyear starter for legendary Head Coach George Cella’s Bloomfield Bengals, he led the team to a 65-16 record and two consecutive appearances in the Essex County Tournament finals. It was the competition faced, the 2,278 points scored in just three seasons, being named an All-American as early as his junior year, as well as being lauded as the Star-Led ger New Jersey Boys High School Basketball Player of the Century in 2000 – all that resonates in a very special way. “Memories are memories, whatev-
er you make of them, whatever other people make of them,” Tripucka says. “There’s no question that’s also the start of everything; that’s your background, that’s who you are, that’s where you grow up. That kind of makes you into who you end up becoming. Obviously, when you go through it and end up reaching the pinnacle like I did for the most part, that’s also special, too. But it starts at home, and that’s another era. That’s what makes it even more special.” Tripucka, in addition to his hardwood exploits which garnered significant collegiate interest nationally, was also an All-State soccer player (he scored 26 goals as a senior) and track and field record setter (an eastern states champion in javelin, and he was also a high jumper), the results of which were additional colleges recruiting him to attend their schools for those sports. Letters arrived regularly at both the high school and the Tripucka home. Tripucka credits his coaches – Cella, Jim White, and Paul Williams – with his success. “I was fortunate to have three of the greatest high school coaches in different sports than anybody could possibly ever have,” Tripucka attests. “You don’t see coaches around for 40 years like that. Those are the three, top of their profession, great guys, great coaches, fun to be around, and they deserve a lot of the credit because they taught me and others like me to be who we end up being.” A big aid as well was growing up in a family of competitive brothers (and one
sister) when backyard pick-up games became real battles and ended in fights, where the elder Tripucka, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and Kelly’s Dad, Frank, would be summoned to grab a rake or shovel and end the tussling. Little brother Kelly often was teased, having the ball kicked away from him by his older siblings. “Again, that’s part of growing up,” he says. “There are older brothers and they wanted to do what they were doing and most of the time they didn’t like you because you were in the way, so they kicked the ball down the driveway or into a neighbor’s yard.” “But I was persistent: I always came back because that’s what I wanted to do. To stick with it.” When Kelly was in junior high school, brother T.K. was recruited by an East Orange summer basketball league coach to play on his team, and the team suffered a crushing loss in its first game. When asked if he had any other friends that he could think of that might be interested in playing, T.K. asked his younger brother. “I was never so excited in my life,” Tripucka recalls. “So, I show up with T.K., it’s outside and they have stands, beautiful glass backboards, and he tells the coach, ‘I brought my brother with me.’ And the coach looks at me and says, ‘Yeah, fine.’ We start to play the game; he has no idea who I am – and why would he? I’m in ninth grade – and we’re getting killed. The guy, the coach, he’s frustrated they’re losing again, and he walks down the bench, points to me and says, ‘Ahh, why don’t you go in.’” Tripucka
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A big aid as well was growing up in a family of competitive brothers (and one sister) when backyard pick-up games became real battles and ended in fights, where the elder Tripucka, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and Kelly’s Dad, Frank, would be summoned to grab a rake or shovel and end the tussling.
laughs as he continues. “I end up scoring 20 points, we come back, and we win the game, and the coach is running around like Jim Valvano when North Carolina State won the national title! He grabs T.K. (who is 6’ 9”) by the shirt and pulls him down, and this guy is like 5’ 8”, and he looks at T.K. and says, ‘You got any more brothers at home?!’” From that moment on, Tripucka became a fan favorite in East Orange, and thereafter the rest of the county and the state. Tripucka watched older brothers Tracy, Mark, Todd, and T.K. play for the legendary Cella, and he wanted his chance. “Growing up, my goal was to make the high school team and play for George Cella. That’s all you thought about. There was no thought beyond that. ‘I want to play for Bloomfield High School and George Cella.’ So, to finally get that opportunity and play with my brother T.K. for a year, and actually get coached by him (Cella), it meant everything. A great man; knew basketball through and through. It was an honor to play for him.” Tripucka achieved his goal, and for the next three years he led Bloomfield to (arguably – there was a three year, 64-game winning streak in the late 1950s) its most exciting three years of basket ball ever. As a sophomore for Bloomfield’s 20-4 Bengals, Tripucka, who was on the starting five, scored 437 points. Colleges came calling early. “Some guy who sent a letter thought I was a senior,” he laughs. His star was rising. In his junior season, he averaged 29.4 ppg and scored 796 points, became the school’s all-time leading scorer, led the squad to an overall 24 - 3 record, a Big East conference title, and an Essex County Tournament finals appearance. Perhaps the most sparkling gems from that season were wins on the road over rival East Orange, 82-71 (“They never lost at home,” Tripucka says), and at home versus #1 ranked Trenton, also by an 82-71 count. “At that time, you basically played in your county. To be playing Trenton at that time, I don’t know how that game was scheduled,” Tripucka says, who scored 41 points that snowy afternoon. “How crazy that, at that time, they were #1 in the state and we were #2. The gym was packed, the kids were
all into it, and the fans and everything else, and you couldn’t ask for a better scenario. They happened to be #1 in the state, and we get a shot at them. Obviously, there was a lot of talk going on, but we basically ran them out of the gym. That was big for the school, the program, and it was great for me as well. That was a huge game.” In his senior year, Tripucka tallied 1,045 points, and Bloomfield finished the season with a 21 – 8 record but lost again in the county finals and state tournament. Tripucka scored 54 points in his finale, an 82-80 loss to North Bergen, where the opposition said there was no way he’d score his season’s average – 36 points per game -- against them. Tripucka had tallied just short of that by the end of the first half. Courtesy of Danny Callandrillo, former North Bergen all-stater, Tripucka was told that the North Bergen coach walked in at half time and, seeking to have someone else defend the Bengal star in the second half, asked, “Okay, who wants to guard him?” All the players lowered their heads. There were no takers. “Not winning the county tournament one of those two years,” Tripucka says, “that still bugs me, and that along with not winning a state championship.” But there was success, some big wins, and Tripucka attributes that to something very specific. “When you have (on your schedule) teams like East Orange and Orange, you can’t play scared. We got our fair share of them, obviously they won the big games, and I’m still friendly with some of those guys, but I’ve always said that not winning the country tournament at least once and not winning a state championship for George (Cella)…that will go to my grave (with me). I think about it every once in a while, that’s for sure. It still hurts.” “But it was a great, great time in high school. I enjoyed every second of it.” Among the coaches who visited the BHS gym to scout and attempt to recruit Tripucka were Bobby Knight of Indiana, Lefty Driesell of Maryland, Notre Dame’s Digger Phelps, and others. Tripucka visited Duke, Maryland, South Carolina, and Notre Dame, his eventual choice, the same college his Dad attended. “If I didn’t go to Notre Dame, I probably would’ve gone
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to Maryland.” Tripucka would go on to become one of Notre Dame’s alltime leading scorers. “It’s a whole other level,” Tripucka recalls about his college basketball and his freshman season. “You have to be patient. I was always very confident; I never backed down from anybody. I didn’t care; you weren’t going to get into my head or whatever. I think I’m better than you and I’m going to show you. In college, you just can’t assume that you’re going to walk in there because some of these guys have been playing for three years. But I was confident in my ability and I knew you have to work, so I worked at it and I was bigger than most guys at that time at that age. I didn’t start right away but I knew I was going to be a (smart) player, and after three or four games I ended up becoming a starter, and we had some really, really good teams.” Notre Dame made it to the NCAA Final Four but was bested by Duke, 90-86. Tripucka sparkled during the season, averaging almost 12 points per game. He averaged 18 points per game in his 1980-81 senior season, sealing his collegiate career with 1,719 points. During his four seasons, the Fighting Irish won an average of 23 games per season. Tripucka was drafted 12th by the Detroit Pistons, who in the same draft had also selected Indiana Hoosier All-American guard, Isaiah Thomas. “That was a great place. We put Detroit on the map and, again, it was about making another adjustment from college to the pros. You’ve got to have confidence. You’re battling bigger, stronger, faster guys, but I made my way in, worked hard, and having an opportunity to start and playing all 82 games that year. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a job, but at the same time it’s game. It was a very successful first year.” A title eluded Tripucka as well in Detroit, who traded him to the Utah Jazz, and he eventually became part of a new regime in Charlotte, North Carolina known as the Hornets. “We used to sell out all the time as a first-year program. It was a happening place. It was awesome!” For Tripucka, the joy, after two forgettable seasons in Utah, was found in playing again. “That’s what it’s all about. You play. I played in the Jersey shore league. It was about playing. The fortunate thing was that I went to Charlotte. It was unfortunate that it was an expansion team, and it’s tough to win. But you know what, Charlotte was a great place. Two of my three children were born there, and for me it was a rebirth. Basketball was fun again. 20 wins isn’t a lot, but it was enough that they threw us a ticker-tape parade after the season. I was back to playing again, and that made me happy.” Tripucka retired from the NBA after the 1990-91 season with a career scoring average of 17.2 points per game. Tripucka and his wife of 33 years, Janice, have three children. Oldest son Travis and middle child Jake had successful sports careers, and youngest child, Reagan, is a college senior. “I’m very proud of my kids and what they’ve been able to do,” Tripucka states proudly, “and I think they’ll appreciate it more as they go through life and get a little older, and it certainly goes by quickly.” Every so often when in his old Bloomfield stomping grounds, Tripucka reflects. The Brookside Park basketball court has
Photo courtesy of Notre Dame University Department of Athletics
yielded to a playground. “It’s gone,” Tripucka says of the court where over the years he many times perfected his game against top competition. “How disappointing is that?!” The home he grew up in doesn’t seem as big as it did in his childhood. “When we played in that side lot, we hit baseballs out into the street and had neighborhood football games right there, and that basket was the greatest thing ever. The basket was awesome – I think it’s still the original basket my father put up -- and we used to think that that driveway was forever (long), but when you drive by it now, it doesn’t seem as big. Boy, wouldn’t you like to know some of the legends of some of the three-on-three of four-on-four games we had that were pretty good.” Tripucka also states that, when at the high school, he does visit the trophy case and his retired #42, which garners the attention of many sports, especially basketball, fans. For Kelly Tripucka, it was all about the joy of playing, and never playing scared, especially in his and the glory days of Bloomfield Bengal basketball. “You can’t play scared. That was never my problem. I came to play, and I backed down from no one. They (opponents) knew they were in for a game when they played Bloomfield.”
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A Guide to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office
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orris County Sheriff James M. Gannon is entrusted with keeping peace in the county in the 21st Century, just as the earliest of his 76 predecessors would have tried to keep the area clear of bootleggers and stagecoach robbers in the 1700s. Nearly three centuries after the King of England appointed the first Sheriff of Morris County in 1739, the elected Sheriff Gannon runs a two-bureau law enforcement agency that has Triple Crown accreditation and serves residents of the entire county of 500,000 residents with its array of critical shared services and operation of the Morris County Correctional Facility. Sheriff Gannon on September 3, 2019, re-energized the Bureau of Law Enforcement by restructuring and consolidating four divisions into three divisions, and promoting nine Officers, including new Chief Morris Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Officer Kelley Zienowicz. Chief Zienowicz has daily oversight over 120 employees of the Bureau of Law Enforcement who are assigned to three divisions: Protective Services, Specialty Services, and Criminal Investigations. The Bureau of Law Enforcement also is led by Undersheriff Mark Spitzer, a retired Mount Olive Police Chief, and Chief Warrant Officer Richard Rose, a retired Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Captain. The eight other Officers promoted on September 3, and their new ranks are: Detective Captain Denise Thornton, Detective Captain Mark Chiarolanza, Detective Lieutenant Aaron Tomasini, Detective Lieutenant Walter Rawa, Detective Lieutenant Laura Flynn, Detective Lieutenant Michael Turkot, Detective Sergeant James Rae, and Detective Sergeant Thomas Reilly. “We have a tremendously strong, adept group of men and women in this agency who are focused
on keeping Morris County safe, healthy and bound for the brightest future,” Sheriff Gannon said. Since Sheriff Gannon took office in January 2017, he has concentrated on using agency talent and resources to build partnerships with other stakeholders and find solutions to grave societal concerns, including the heroin and opioid pandemic and the potential for active shooters at schools, houses of worship and public venues. The initiatives overlap both the Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement and the Bureau of Corrections, which manages the Morris County Correctional Facility under the supervision of Undersheriff Alan J. Robinson and Warden Christopher Klein. The Bureau of Law Enforcement, which maintains accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., primarily is responsible for protecting judges and the 600,000 annual visitors to the Morris County
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Courthouse in Morristown. The Bureau of Corrections oversees the County Correctional Facility, which has earned accreditations from the American Correctional Association and National Commission on Correctional Health Care Accreditation. Sheriff Gannon said of the Courthouse: “We ensure that everyone who comes here – victims of crimes, defendants, the elderly person who wants to file a complaint over a credit card fraud – is safe and free from intimidation.” A hallmark program of the bureau’s Community Outreach and Planning Section is Hope One, a mobile substance use and mental health resource and recovery program. Within 100 days of taking office, Sheriff Gannon had formed a partnership with the non-profit agencies Center for Addiction Recovery, Education & Success (CARES) and the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris Counties to launch Hope One, a mobile substance use resource and recovery program on wheels. With a plainclothes Sheriff’s Officer, a Peer Recovery Specialist and Mental Health clinician on board the retrofitted box truck, Hope One since its launch on April 3, 2017, has had contact with 8,258 individuals, trained 1,920 people in the administration of Narcan, linked 149 people with rehab and recovery programs, and assisted 107 others in accessing mental health services. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One program has served as a model for similar programs started by the city of Newark, Burlington, Atlantic, Cape May and Monmouth counties. On April 3, 2019, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office was the first Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey to join the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) and serve as a drop-in locale for people struggling with addiction to seek help and be connected with a certified peer recovery specialist from Daytop-NJ.
Since then, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office has trained 10 other law enforcement agencies in the county to serve as PAARI sites. The Bureau of Law Enforcement includes Specialty Services and Criminal Investigation divisions whose expertise is shared with all 39 municipalities in Morris County. The services include responses by 11 trained canines and their Detective handlers to narcotics, explosives, arson and other investigations, searches for missing people, and patrols of sensitive areas. The Sheriff’s Office’s Bomb Unit, with Detectives certified by FBI explosives specialists, is another service shared with municipalities. The Crime Scene Investigation Unit is, by far, the specialized service most in demand, with CSI Detectives responding to virtually every crime – more than 1,100 annually – to collect fingerprints and evidence and take photographs and measurements. As of July 31, CSI Detectives were called out more than 570 times, including responses to 94 death investigations, 14 fires, at least 225 burglaries of homes or vehicles, and 14 sexual assaults. The Sheriff’s Office has a highly-trained tactical team called the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) that responds to a range of calls from violent encounters and hostage situations to search and rescue missions. A vital component of the Office is Legal Services, which is responsible for the service and enforcement of legal documents such as summonses and complaints, writs and subpoenas, to the sales of impounded and abandoned vehicles, evictions, levies and Sheriff’s sales. Under Sheriff Gannon, the Bureau of Law Enforcement also has the Morris County Sheriff’s Trends and Analysis Team (MCSTAT) that works cooperatively with other agencies to identify surges in particular crimes, patterns of criminal activity, and potential solutions. In the spring of 2019, the unit played a key role in assisting agencies in other counties in tracking patterns of thefts from at least 27 recreation league concession
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stands. Recognizing a need, particularly among individuals who lack identification to obtain recovery or medical treatment, Sheriff Gannon instituted the Morris County Identification program available to people between the ages of 18 and 54. A major, ongoing initiative through Sheriff Gannon’s partnership with the Morris County Chiefs of Police Association, mental health and school leaders is the Responsible School Violence Prevention, Preparation and Protection program (RSVP3). One component of RSVP-3 is the training of police to have a coordinated response to active shooters in schools. A second element is scientifically-sound training for police, teachers, school staff and mental health professionals so they can identify, assess and report behaviors that signal potential threats to school safety. The Bureau of Corrections also has embraced strategies to help incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders use their time in custody constructively. The avid reception to Hope One quickly led to the creation in June 2017 of the Hope Wing, a substance abuse housing unit at the Morris County Correctional Facility that is designed to help inmates address their addictions through group and individual interventions. Since its start, 120 individuals have passed through the Hope Wing program. Another partnership between the Sheriff and the Morris County Human Services Department led to creation in 2018 of the Successful Transition and Re-Entry Program (STAR) for Morris County inmates. As of August 2019, STAR had provided intensive re-entry case management to 87 individuals being released into the community, through linkages to housing, general assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid and Vivitrol to help fight opioid addiction. STAR follows the progress of released inmates for up to one year. “This is all about returning folks to being productive members of society, and of course, crime reduction,” Sheriff Gannon said.
Denville Life • October 2019 • Page 49
Debunking Common Myths Associated with Breast Cancer
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Information is a valuable asset in the fight against breast cancer. Learning to decipher between accurate and false information can be especially valuable.
ancer claims the lives of millions of people across the globe every year. But the fight against cancer is anything but hopeless, as the World Health Organization notes that between 30 and 50 percent of all cancer cases are preventable. Learning about cancer is one of the best ways for people to protect themselves from this deadly disease. Researchers continue to learn more about cancer everyday and routinely discover that information once thought to be accurate was actually off-base. Despite researchers’ best efforts, some myths about cancer still prevail. Some of these myths are about cancer in general, while others refer to specific cancers, including breast cancer. Myths about breast cancer can be as harmful as accurate information is helpful, so learning the truth and debunking those myths can be an important part of women’s preventive approach to breast cancer. • Myth: Drinking milk increases your risk for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society notes that early studies raised concerns that drinking milk from cows treated with hormones could increase a person’s risk for breast cancer. However, ensuing research failed to find a clear link between the two. In fact, a 2002 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found no significant association between dairy fluid intake and breast cancer risk. • Myth: Lumps indicate breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® says that only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer. However, abnormalities or changes in breast
tissue should always be brought to the attention of a physician. • Myth: Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread. This myth is rooted in the incorrect notion that breast compression while getting a mammogram causes the cancer to spread. However, the NBCF insists that cannot happen. In fact, the National Cancer Institute touts the benefits of mammograms while the ACS recommends women between the ages of 45 and 54 get mammograms every year. For additional breast cancer screening guidelines, visit the ACS at www.cancer.org. • Myth: Women with a family history of breast cancer are likely to develop breast cancer, too. This myth is dangerous because, if taken at face value, it can give women with no family history of breast cancer a false sense of security. However, the NBCF notes that only about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that a woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a first-degree relative, including a mother, sister, daughter, or even a male family member, who have had the disease. But breast cancer can affect anyone, regardless of their family history. Information is a valuable asset in the fight against breast cancer. Learning to decipher between accurate and false information can be especially valuable.
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