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LIFE December 2024
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Whippany Author Fulfills Dream by Thrilling Readers
BY EVAN WECHMAN STAFF WRITER
WHIPPANY - Whippany’s Lisa Hodorovych knew when she was telling her family stories as a child, that she wanted to be an author as an adult. She loved entertaining them with wonderful characters and clever plots. Fast forward several years later, Hodorovych was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University which required a thesis involving a creative fictional piece. Though she received an A grade on the 80-page assignment, she was not fully satisfied with her
work. “After a while, for whatever reason, something clicked in my mind to work on it, to develop it, to expand on it more, and create this novel. And it took me, I graduated 2009 so over, over 10 years, 13 years, I guess, to do it. But I did,” Hodorovych says. The result was the publication of her first novel in 2022 titled The Disappearance which converted her thesis to a 200page novel which both thrilled and frightened adult readers. Hodorovych’s writing cuts across several genres.
“I’m technically in suspense, thriller, horror. paranormal, supernatural, with comedy and romance and a little bit of action mixed in. And the reason why I got into it is because it’s something I grew up with. I watched all different types of movies when I was little. I watched Predator, I watched The Lost Boys. I watched Ace Ventura at the time. I watched all those type of movies and that damsel in distress but can kick your butt type of character I’ve always loved. I always loved that type of story where there is the damsel in distress
and somebody comes to rescue her, but putting I guess you can say a modern twist on it, that damsel can protect herself. She does get scared, and she may be a little weak, a little defenseless, but she can still protect and defend herself. That’s something I’ve always been fascinated with,” she says. Hodorovych recently came out with a sequel to her first novel, titled He’s Here! which was a big hit with the readers of her first novel. Due to the overwhelming success, she is PLEASE SEE WHIPPANY AUTHOR, PAGE 2
Brooklake Elementary Third Graders Get New Dictionaries From Florham Park Rotary Volunteers
FLORHAM PARK - There were two “Words of the Day” for Brooklake Elementary Third Graders when the Florham Park Rotary volunteers conducted their annual visit. In timing with the borough’s 125 Anniversary year, “Anniversary” and “Volunteer” were the words students searched for in their new dictionaries. Rotarian Bob Feid, a past-president, helped establish this annual gifting and distribution of dictionaries to each of the Third Grade students more than 20 years ago and current president Damion Bernard continues this popular program. Students are encouraged to write their names in their dictionaries at the start of each 20 minute class, and are assigned to find the words of the day. Students learned to search alphabetically, and raising their hands to volunteer, students read the definition. Then students were asked to use the word in a sentence. To reinforce the learning, Rotarian Kristen Jankowski suggests upon reading this article that parents and grandparents of Brooklake Elementary School students ask their student to find the words “anniversary” and “volunteer” again and read those definitions. Be sure to note that
Brooklake Pajama Day photo with students, Rotarians George and Judy Gregor, Peter Nicolas, Damion Bernard and Principal Foster. Photo credit David L. Kramer for the photos.
“volunteer” is both a noun and a verb!” The Table of Contents was also reviewed where students found the Constitution, Sign Language, a list of the United States Presidents and their bios, the States, the latest list of planets (no Pluto!). Since the dictionaries belong to the students now, each was encouraged to explore in their own time. One student pointed out that the longest English word was listed in their dictionary. It was 1,909 letters! One joked that was even longer
were in: Amish Mike, Rainbow Travel, Window Works, Jackson Eye Care, Kids World Pediatri Dentist and East Hanover Community Partnership. Thanks to everyone who enter and congratulations to our winners!
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Candy for the Troops
This Halloween candy was collected for treats for troops and goes directly to the soldiers. Specifically this candy is being shipped to Texas, Fort Bliss. We have collected right under 1000 pounds. Donated by community members, nonprofits, and patients from Helix Dental.
Winner from November’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” Contest
AREA - The winners from November’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” are Jodie Kruis; East Hanover, Claire Bogan; Florham Park, Jack Howarth; East Hanover and Giuseppe Di Popolo; Florham Park. The ads that “Hank the Hornet”
Lisa at Scary Stories Book Fest on the lawn of Act 2 Books in Flemington, NJ last October.
than “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” The Rotarians stressed the importance of having a dictionary and referring to it to help build vocabulary and of improving and in leading successful lives. “As you continue your education at different levels of schooling, building a good vocabulary will be the foundation of leading successful lives,” advised Peter Nicolas, Rotary Sergeant-at-Arms. “Your teachers, in the Third Grade now will work with you” continued Rotarian George Gregor. The 3rd Grade Teacher Team: Mrs. Jill Acluri, Mrs. Colleen O’Brien, Mrs. Kathleen Pasculli, Mrs. Kathleen Cogan, Ms. Amy Volker, Ms. Stacy Marchesano and Ms. Wendy Rufolo. Exclaimed Principal Robert Foster, “We are very grateful for the Florham Park Rotary Club’s generous donation of dictionaries and time to Brooklake’s 3rd grade class. The Rotarians provided a meaningful lesson to our 3rd graders, teaching students how to properly use their dictionaries. This annual event
at Brooklake School demonstrates the value of community support and educational enrichment. The Rotary Club’s contribution not only provided our students with an academic lesson but also strengthens a strong community bond between our students and the greater Florham Park community. We are grateful for their partnership in shaping the academic futures of our students.” As the students also learned, the Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and strive to build good will and peace in the world. A group of nice people who meet once a week to make the world a little better place to live. To learn more about the Florham Park Rotary, visit www.florhamparkrotary.org, check Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/428768947164657or perhaps attend a breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner, held every Friday, from 7:47am-8:47am.
Free ‘Holidays In Hanover’ Concert
In the Holiday Spirit: (from left) Ayden Khan, HWS assistant musical director and guest conductor; Ester Musilli of Montville, trumpeter and guest conductor; and Matthew Paterno of Parsippany, HWS musical director and conductor.
WHIPPANY - Mid-December is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit, and a free concert will certainly make the yuletide bright! The Hanover Wind Symphony will present a free “Holidays in Hanover” concert on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m., at Memorial Junior School, 61 Highland Ave., in Whippany. This concert is part of the 40th anniversary season of the renowned 85-member wind band. Joining the HWS musicians
will be the Morris Music Men, under the direction of Nate Barrett. Speaking about the upcoming holiday concert, Matthew Paterno of Parsippany, musical director and conductor of the Hanover Wind Symphony, says, “Our annual ‘Holidays in Hanover’ concert has been an integral part of the holiday season for our entire HWS family. We look forward to again sharing the concert with the wonPLEASE SEE HOLIDAY CONCERT, PAGE 4
Your Chance to Win a $25 Gift Card with the “Find Hank The Hornet Mascot” Contest
AREA - Check out our mascot... Hank the Hornet. Look for him in the ads in this issue and enter (no purchase necessary) to win
a $25.00 gift card (4 winners). It is easy to enter. Look through the paper and read the ads and look for “Hank” in the ads. He
will be located throughout the paper in 6 random ads. Then go to https://www.mypaperonline. com/find-contest.html, scroll
down and fill out the form to be entered. Winners will be notified and printed in the next issue.