East Hanover/Florham park January 2023

E a s t H a n o v e r / F l o r h a m Pa r k’s H o m e t o w n N e w s p a p e r

LIFE

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Annual Angel Tree Project A Huge Success

FLORHAM PARK - Annually, the Florham Park Rotary teams with the State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division of Child Protection & Permanency. In cooperation with the Florham Park Post Office, the Angel Tree is placed at the entrance for about three weeks wherein people may select ornaments with gift wishes of local disadvantaged children.

Once again, the Florham Park Rotary would like to thank all those in our generous community who granted wishes under the Angel Tree.

Child Protection and Permanency is New Jersey’s child protection and child welfare agency within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. Its mission is to assist all New Jersey residents to be safe, healthy and connected.

“Each year Florham Park Rotary reaches out to us at the

Morris East Local Office to help us bring all the children under our care and supervision a bright and happy holiday. The children are asked for their holiday wishes, and then they are put on the tree in the Florham Park Post Office for people who would like to help grant the children’s wishes. This year there were over 100 children. Many of our children would not have the joy of opening gifts without the generous donations of the public. The Morris East Local Office would like to thank all who donated to help make this holiday season a little brighter for our children.” Per Jaime O’Leary, DCF Administrative Assistant.

About Rotary The Angel Tree project wrapped up another good year in the Florham Park Rotary’s efforts in supporting the local community. Per Rotarian Peter Nicolas “It follows successful

4th Quarter 2022 of events, including: Distribution of nearly 100 dictionaries to help expand vocabularies of Brooklake Elementary School 3rd Graders, Sorting of over 5,000 individual items onto pallets at the Interfaith Food Pantry to ready distribution to families for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday, Coordinating jointly with Pets Supplies Plus on the second annual Dog Parade and Costume Contest, wherein funds were raised for Rotary Scholarship Awards to benefit high school Seniors who are residents of Florham Park and who give back to the community.”

Rotary International is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are 35,000 clubs worldwide dedicated to bringing togeth-

er business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world.

To learn more about the local Florham Park Rotary, guests are welcome to join a weekly Rotary breakfast meeting. They are held at the Florham Park Diner at 182 Ridgedale Avenue and also held via Zoom (to provide the option for members who can’t physically attend frequently in the Diner). Meetings are 7:47 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. every Friday.

To learn more about the Florham Park Rotary visit www.FlorhamParkRotary. com, check Florham Park Community TV (Channels 21 for Cablevision and 35 for Verizon), or call or write Membership Chair George Gregor at ggregor@florhamparkrotary. com or 917-848-0982.

Pictured are Jaime O’Leary, DCF Administrative Assistant, and Kara Vincelli, FSSI, DCF Resource Development Specialist.

Florham Park’s East Hanover Woman Embraces Life Changes Kai Youngren Named to Finish NYC Marathon a Rhodes Scholar

BY JILLIAN RISBERG STAFF WRITER

Florham Park’s Kai Youngren (credit: Elizabeth Woodruff)

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

FLORHAM PARK U.S. Military Academy cadet, Kai Youngren, who was raised in Florham Park and graduated from Livingston’s Newark Academy, will in the fall of 2023 be heading to England’s University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Youngren is one of 32 individuals nationwide thus awarded, and this good news follows on the heels of his being named

Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point’s September 2022 Cadet of the Month.

“It was a great feeling,” Youngren says of being named a Rhodes Scholar. “I put so much work into the application process, and for many students it obviously doesn’t pan out into a win, but for me, I just was incredibly grateful for the PLEASE SEE RHODES SCHOLAR, PAGE 2

EAST HANOVER - People come from all over the world to run the New York City Marathon. For East Hanover’s Giana Vecchio that dream was close to home.

“I felt like I was on cloud nine for a while,” Vecchio says. “The comebacks are always greater than the setbacks and this was definitely one for the books. Reconnecting with this thing you’re so passionate about is like finding a part of your soul.”

Seeing your family on the course is such a pick-me-up.

Her parents, stepparents, best friend Deanna, aunt and boyfriend met the runner on mile 18 (when the real race started) — and you dig deep to the pit of your core.

She finished in five hours and nine minutes, after pacing a 4:30 until the final stretch.

That last 10K she had to take care of herself.

“By the time we crossed the finish line we were hungry, depleted, tired, you want to find your family, get home and celebrate,” says the runner. “But the adrenaline rush is insane.

When you turn the corner in Central Park it’s that true magical feeling of what everyone talks about; the moment you’ve envisioned for so long.”

It culminated six months of focused, structured training.

NYC RoadRunners hosts dozens of runs to prepare you

for the marathon, one of the toughest courses in the world.

Vecchio (and friend Jamie) picked specific spots throughout the boroughs to get a feel for what the actual course would be like.

She had such a sense of empowerment after this.

“Years ago you never saw female runners do this type of thing and it’s evolving into this powerhouse sport where all shapes and sizes are acceptable,” the runner says. “It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are; just the fact that you are moving.”

And it’s about mental preparation.

“Training your mind to endure something for so long that becomes uncomfortable and you tell yourself that you can do it, you can go for miles,” says Vecchio. “The greatest gift I have been able to digest throughout this whole thing is if I’m able to move my body every day, that’s it for me (and to be in good health).”

It took some time for her to get used to that whole running process again and find the deeper love for it — you’re training your mind first before you’re training your body.

“The million dollar question was, ‘when are you going to do it again?’”

According to Vecchio, she qualified for NYC September 2019, and was supposed to run

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the November 2020 marathon, which was scrapped.

She did her first World Majors Marathon in Chicago (2018).

“Within that timespan I lost my grandma Fran to metastatic breast cancer; it was a whirlwind. So I took a step back and

was trying to find what was going to make something in my inner heart tick again,” says the runner. “I couldn’t even walk for more than 20 minutes without feeling mentally distracted.”

AREA - The winners from December’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” are Michael DeAngelis; Florham Park, Ed Correale; East Hanover, Ivana Sitoy; East Hanover, and Barbara DeVecchi; Florham Park.

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East Hanover’s Tom Corea Still Shares the Joy of Music

Page 2 • January 2023 • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

EAST HANOVER - Tom Corea, of East Hanover, was a professional musician since the 1970s. His career began when he worked as a drummer for various local rock bands, performing sets of classic and new rock, as well as a complete set of songs by The Who. An agency found them and asked them to play strictly Who songs. The band named themselves Dr. Jimmy, after a song by The Who, and things happened fast.

“Tribute bands were becoming the big thing,” explained Corea, “and we were playing seven days a week, during the days when the drinking age was 18-years-old.”

Corea took a brief break from music when he got married in the early 1990s, then re-emerged on the scene with

a new band, Bad Attitude, and were signed to a recording contract. Their producer was Mark Berry, whose first credit was assistant producer to the hit “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon.

Around 2001, Corea was diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel in his hand, so it was impossible to play drums. During recovery from his surgery, he decided to purchase recording studio equipment and open up BabyFishmouth Studios.

With his new studio, he began working on Christmas CD releases. And over the years, as his studio grew into a fullsized studio, he continued making music with various musicians. At the height of his career, he produced “The Magic of Winter” by The Wizards of Winter, an original holiday

rock opera outfit focused on the spirit of the Christmas.

He produced a Cheap Trick tribute album that was put out in Australia. “It was my first time working with people that were not from around here,” Corea said.

But that was just the beginning of working with musicians from other countries.

Shortly afterwards, he worked with U.K. musician, Ian Roberts, on “Christmas at Our House” via Skype.

In addition to producing with musicians overseas and performing live with various bands, Corea began working with kids in theatre, doing sound design. All was right with the world until COVID shut everything down. But Corea didn’t stay stagnant very long. With a bit of research,

FROM FRONT PAGE opportunity. I’m excited for what’s going to come ahead.”

At Oxford, Youngren will study Development Studies.

Youngren, 21, says the application process was very arduous. “I had to get a nomination from West Point, and then collect about eight letters of recommendation from different instructors and mentors - different people around the Military Academy. In their personal statement, that really outlined how my early life has influenced my passions, desires, motivations, and how that coalesces with the needs of the world at the present time.” After selecting a course of study, Youngren submitted his application by October 3, and waited for about two weeks before a decision was made. “I found out in late October that I was going to be a finalist and started preparing for an interview.

West Point was pretty good with this process; they held a couple of mock interview practices.” On Veterans Day, Youngren had his interview via Zoom, and the following day he learned he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.

From birth until age three, Youngren lived in Oregon with his parents, and the family soon moved back to Florham Park, New Jersey after his grand-

father died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Youngren first attended Briarwood Elementary School, where he had some “awesome teachers and great friends,” and then moved on to Brooklake Elementary School, where he had Karen James for a teacher, whom he calls a “legend” at the school.

“At Brooklake, I was on the soccer team, but I also joined her club, which was the World War II History Club, and that’s kind of where I fell in love with military history and studying conflict as well,” he says. As he was going through high school, he learned more about his grandfather’s death. “9/11 obviously was incredibly impactful in my view of the military and the importance of public service,” Youngren explains.

“As I transitioned to my junior year, West Point was definitely on my mind, as well as serving in the military.”

The U.S. Military Academy houses several different military and policy think tanks, one of which is the Combating Terrorism Center, which offers a Terrorism Studies Minor, so Youngren has been able to participate in research on domestic and foreign terrorism, and take courses in Homeland Security. He says, “I’m in a course right now which is about understanding terrorist groups,

and next semester I’ll roll into a class called Combating Terrorism and looking at the military’s policy tactics and strategy on combating terrorism.”

Youngren currently serves as a Brigade Deputy Commander. “I think one of my biggest accomplishments this past summer was leading cadet basic training, which is where we bring in about 1,200 incoming freshmen, or new cadets, and help them transition out from their civilian lives to soldiers,” he says. “I was the commander in charge of that training. It was a great experience, leading and building new teams, and that then rolled into my job as second in command of the corps of cadets, which has been a pretty surreal experience at 21 years old, leading 4,400 of my peers’ daily lives.”

Youngren’s next step is to become a Special Forces Officer, also known as a Green Beret. “I really want to just go into developing countries and conflict-ridden societies and help those societies ameliorate some of their troubles, as well as provide humanitarian relief to the vulnerable populations,” he says. “That’s my next goal.

Beyond that, we’ll see where the journey takes me, but I definitely want to make that central to my career.”

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Angeles who played on hit records during the 1960s.

Currently Corea plays drums for Captains of Leisure, an outfit he calls “yacht band rock” and a cover band called Terry and the Rockits. He’s also a substitute teacher for general classes, as well as art, physical education, and special needs.

At age 65 he said, “There’s no reason to retire.”

To hear Tom Corea’s music on ReverbNation, visit www. reverbnation.com/babyfishmouthstudio/songs.

FROM FRONT PAGE Having a great support system gave her the mental strength to come back slowly.

Like when her dad asked if Vecchio was running and she said she hadn’t in weeks. He said she has to get back at it and stay focused – the marathon was coming up.

“There’s no me without them and I have such an interesting family dynamic (my parents; grandfather Jerry; my stepparents; twin sister, Gabrielle and boyfriend Paul, incredible friend group). I’ve got the village,” Vecchio says.

Runners just get it.

And they have the same purpose (NYC Roadrunners for the past eight years) that the runner is a part of, she calls the camaraderie unmatchable.

“I got into longer distance running post college. When you find hobbies that eventually mold and shape who you are — you can’t imagine life without it,” says the runner. “At this point in my life it’s much deeper than that.”

In the past few years American women distance runners are having their moment — Vecchio cherishes being part of that sisterhood.

“It’s such a positive community among female runners,” she says. “The positive

influences now of these female athletes who are winning and breaking incredible records, but even the encouragement is what I hope I am able to project to the young women in my family.”

According to Vecchio, she is able to explain to them what it takes to put yourself through the marathon.

“If it keeps you fired up everyday it’s doing its purpose,” says the runner. “That’s what I’ve learned over the past four years. You’re going to go through the rollercoaster of your life-ride more than once.”

Vecchio’s parents always supported her hobbies, including traveling with her throughout the last eight years and attending all her races — and that meant everything.

“My mom and stepdad always say “you’ve got this“. It’s just a thing they do before every big race,” Vecchio says.

She has also felt the love from her hometown of East Hanover.

“In terms of waiting to hear the good news of how the marathon went,” the runner hopes it gives kids entering the sport a sense of direction. “In the end, that’s all I really want out of this whole thing. I’m not a pro or super fast runner, I’m just

experienced.”

Running transformed her life. At age 12, Vecchio’s stepfather had her watch the NYC marathon and she told him she wanted to do that one day.

Three weeks later on Thanksgiving, he took her for a jog around town and that little girl never looked back. She joined the track team.

“We started doing local races and he would help me with this new hobby,” the runner says freshman year of high school things got “pretty intense.”

Vecchio did sprint and field events there and in college.

When she graduated her stepfather suggested she sign up for a half marathon, since track and field had been such a significant part of her life.

So she did in Morristown, fall 2015. And the rest is history.

“I’ve been through all the leaps and valleys of loving it, hating it, loving it again, staying healthy is such a big part too because when you see female runners they’re super skinny, but that’s not normal anymore,” says Vecchio. “At such a young age that’s what you think you have to look like and it’s not. I hope my message reaches young runners who are hoping to love it.”

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plishments it’s interesting that he did not grow up in a musical household. “My brother played accordion, but he never kept it up,” he said. However, it was his brother who had “those great records” including The Beatles.

“I remember watching them on Ed Sullivan as a 6-yearold,” said Corea, who also loved AM pop music on the radio and was inspired by Hal Blaine, a drummer who was a core member of the Wrecking Crew, a close-knit group of session musicians in Los

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Corea found more musicians to collaborate with on Kompoz, a community of artists— musicians seeking musicians.

“I played on so many genres,” said Corea. “Rock, pop, funk, jazz, big band, avant garde, metal…I’ve worked with people in Brazil, the U.K., Germany, Mexico, Canada, Italy, France, Sweden, Russia, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, and Japan. It’s so much fun. It’s all independent release stuff.”

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Whippany Park High School Gives Back to the Community

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • January 2023 • Page 3

WHIPPANY - Whippany Park High School’s Student Government Association once again sponsored the Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Angel Trees were decorated with paw print ornaments, each representing a small gift specifically requested and vetted by the hospital.

Students and staff were invited to select an ornament and return the purchased gifts to their first period teachers. The Wildcat Family raised 157 gifts to be combined with a check for $1,500 for the children of Goryeb and for the expansion of their music therapy program. Whippany Park Assistant Principal, Brian Palumbo remarked, “With everyone’s help, we once again have a truck load of gifts for the children spending their holidays in the hospital.”

Student Government Association senior members: Wyatt Lieto, David Farrell, Noah Kaplan and Alaina Pagulayan with Principal, Mr. Christopher Kelly with a donation of $1,500 to the Goryeb’s Children’s hospital.

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Hanover Park High School Making a Difference Beyond the Classrooms

HANOVER PARK - Hanover Park’s highly successful Kids Helping Kids program aims to empower young “future Hornets” to impact their communities positively. One of the many ways they’ve done this is by hosting kindness assemblies at the sending district elementary schools. The Frank J. Smith Elementary School students recently hosted an anti-bullying kindness assembly through the Kids Helping Kids program.

The assembly began with a presentation by Kids Helping Kids, who performed skits about the importance of kindness and how it can positively impact others. They shared stories and examples of ways students can be kind, such as helping a classmate with a project, listening to a friend in need, or volunteering at a local shelter. After the presentation, the students participated in interactive activities, received honorary Hornet gear, had lunch with their Heroes, and decorated a “Make Kind-

Kids Helping Kids members (in no particular order): Mike Borello, Mia Cicarelli, Jill Ciprich, Sofia Dellanno, Phoebe Feldman, Gia Leonardis, Ryan O’Leary, Isabella Palmieri, Angela Paradiso, Samantha Peters, Ashley Pomante, Jada Quintela, Sienna Quintela, Mark Ruccio, Ava Siciliano, Leah Solano, Kaitlynn Wood, Aleksander Merrick and Isabella Navarro.

ness Contagious” poster. Activities were led by Ms. Marcketta and Mrs. Black our Kids Helping Kids advisors, who guided and supported the students as they learned and grew. The Kindness assembly at Frank J. Smith Elementa-

ry School was a great success.

Students left the assembly with a greater understanding of the importance of kindness and how they can make a difference in the world around them. Hanover Park Assistant Principal Sergio Silva remarked, “The

Kids Helping Kids program has far exceeded everyone’s expectations. The genuine and unselfish commitment to service is exemplary. Kids Helping Kids’ impact far exceeds any other program I’ve ever been involved with.” Go Hornets!

John Bonanni: Retiring Morris County Administrator Attends Last Board Meeting

Page 4 • January 2023 • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

AREA - Long-time Morris County Administrator John Bonanni was hailed for his years of leadership at his final meeting of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, who thanked him for 33 years of service and a steady management style that steered Morris County government through good and bad times over the years.

“Morris County government really does run like a top, as our Governor once said, and the reason is people like John Bonanni. The hard work and sound advice he brought to the office every day for the past 33 years is immeasurable, and the entire county is a better place because of him and the people he surrounded himself with. I will deeply miss John’s dayto-day guidance, but I know he will pick up the phone if I call to ask his advice. That is who John is,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

The Commissioners and administrative staff presented Bonanni with an etching of the Morris County Courthouse, a traditional gift given to retiring, long-time employees. The etching bears a placard that simply reads: “Thank You, John G. Bonanni For 33 Years of Distinguished Service To the People of Morris County.”

“There truly are no words that could describe my deep appreciation to Morris County. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work for this amazing county for over three decades. I am so proud of what we have together accomplished,” said Mr. Bonanni during the public meeting.

“John’s impact is as much about the future as past accomplishments. His pride in Morris County and his drive to provide a high level of caring and service for our residents is embedded in how the county operates and will have a significant positive effect for years to come,” said Deputy Director John Krickus.

Many honors and awards have been bestowed upon Mr. Bonanni over the years. Among them was the New Jersey Association of Counties first-ever County Administrator Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2020. That honor was later put on the Congressional Record in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) in February 2021.

Mr. Bonanni’s tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic also earned him The Arc of New Jersey Heroes of 2020 award for helping to rescue and support people with disabilities who were stricken by the virus and suffered staffing shortages at group homes.

“John has been a true friend, mentor and partner. He’s a humble guy who -- and let’s be honest about it -- has always made the board look good. He has guided all of us to be the best representatives we can be

for Morris County,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith.

“I’ve known John my entire life, so I’m not going to even try to encapsulate everything about him in just a few words. But we grew up together in Boonton. I knew his sister first and his father, and I remember John back when he first began working in a bank. We’ve known each other through so many different relationships over the years that, on a personal level, I’m sure we will continue to stay in touch somehow. On a professional level; however, I’ll miss his insight and his ability to get things done effectively. He has been a great asset to Morris County and it’s difficult to envision Morris County without him. So, I just want to wish my old friend the best life has to offer in this new phase of his life and to say thank you for your friendship,” said Commissioner Douglas Cabana.

Mr. Bonanni, who is noted for shunning the spotlight and deflecting praise for his achievements over the years, was heralded – and roasted somewhat – during a recent retirement party attended by hundreds of family, friends, colleagues and elected local, county, state and federal officials. He officially retires on Jan. 1, and Assistant Administrator Deena Leary, who was appointed by the board earlier in the year to assume the helm, will officially become the new administrator in the New Year.

“The people in Morris County have benefited from John’s wisdom and knowledge.

His legacy will be felt for many years to come. I also enjoyed his sense of humor,” said Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo.

“Morris County is a better place because of John Bonanni’s 33 years of service. John’s motivation is simple, he has a

deep rooted desire to help others. This motivation coupled with uncompromising ethical and work standards has served Morris County and the Commissioner Board well. John prefers to work tirelessly behind the scenes and has also developed a phenomenal support staff that is enabling the commissioners to make a seamless transition at the Administrator and Deputy Administrator positions. It has been an honor and great learning experience to work with John since I have been on the board,” said Commissioner Stephen Shaw.

A lifelong resident of Morris County, Mr. Bonanni began his employment with Morris County in January of 1990 as Assistant Director of Operations within the Department of Human Services. In 1992, he was promoted to Director of the Department of Human Services, which is the largest department in county government, charged with providing a wide array of services directed at enabling residents an opportunity to improve the quality of their lives.

“As the second longest serving freeholder-Commissioner

on the board, I have seen John Bonanni in action through economic downturns and through events such as Irene, Sandy, blizzards and a pandemic, exemplifying what good government should be,” said Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo. “Most importantly, he guided me during my two terms as Director of the board, helping me to insure that any decisions made were not influenced by politics, but instead were decision of good government for all the people of Morris County as we delivered zero percent tax increases, introduced a $60 million debt reduction plan and remained one of the best financially run counties in the country. His example of leadership will be missed.”

Mr. Bonanni was promoted in 2004 to the position of Morris County Administrator and has served the county in the position for the past 18 years.

As County Administrator, he was directly responsible for operations and management of the six major county departments, as well as the development and management of the county’s annual $331.1 million budget. Mr. Bonanni also over-

saw the Departments of Public Works, Human Services, Law and Public Safety, Finance, Employee Resources, and Information Technology.

Looking back over his tenure, Mr. Bonanni said he is proud of the advancements that have been made in the areas of Human Services, Public Safety and shared services.

Having been Administrator during Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Bonanni has experienced firsthand the emergent and ongoing needs of the county’s residents. He says he was extremely fortunate to have been able to partner with the many local community based nonprofits, local municipal governments, local first responders and faith based groups to address those needs.

Mr. Bonanni was issued the 2016 Patriots Path Council, Boy Scouts of America Morris County Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2016 Mental Health Association of Morris County Community Leadership Award for his years of advocacy on behalf of the Morris County human services community.

In 2018 he was presented with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce Alex DeCroce Public Leadership Award.

Mr. Bonanni has served as a Commissioner on the N.J. Public Employees Relations Commission, as a member of the Morris County Insurance Commission, and as chairperson of the Morris County Improvement Authority. In 2010 he chaired Governor Chris Christie’s Departments of Human Services and Children and Family Transition Teams.

He is a 40 year member of the Boonton Fire Department, serves as a Board member on theMorris County Economic Development Corporation and on the New Jersey Association of Counties.

Mr. Bonanni also has regularly served as a presenter and instructor for Rutgers University’s Center for Government Services, sharing his extensive knowledge of county government.

Mr. Bonanni, however, takes greatest pride and delight being with his three daughters and two grandsons.

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Madison Resident and Golf Historian Pens New Book on History of the Game in Garden State

BY ALEXANDER RIVERO STAFF WRITER

AREA - As far back as he can recall, Madison resident and Louisiana native Kevin Casey, 69, has been in love with the game of golf. As a child he played it with his parents and older brother, and by 8 he won his first trophy. By his own estimation, he was a “pretty good” junior player in the state of Louisiana, and went on to the University of Georgia, where he played on the school team. He followed with a fiveyear stint in the army, during which time he, naturally, continued playing.

Now retired and hungry to remain within the game he loves, Casey wrote a book tracing New Jersey’s historical place within the history of golf in the United States.

The book—Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—is published by Legendary Publishing & Media Group, and dives into local golf history by way of its greatest stories.

The book is of the coffee table variety, 11 by 14 inches in length, rich in description and photographs, and is a fine addition to the library of anyone that appreciates not only the beauty of the game, but the extent to which New Jersey helped determine its development in the United States up through the 19th and 20th century.

Like anyone who had taken a head-first plunge into a deep subject, Casey’s main problem

of a golf club. Shady Rest was a community center, a place for African-Americans to congregate and relax, as well as a venue for some of the greatest singers and musicians of its day. Some of the talent that stopped by Shady Rest include none other than Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway.

Shady Rest ultimately closed in 1964, and in the pro-

The author, Kevin Casey.

in putting the book together was in determining what information to keep and what information to discard.

“There was easily enough material here for another book,” he says. “The history is so rich, it was a struggle to determine the scope of what I’d focus on.”

Casey knew that there was always a great deal of interest in the subject of golf in New Jersey, both from the practical perspective of gamesmanship and the historical element of it. He took a careful inventory of the books published on the subject of local golf, and found an opportunity to add a volume of material that no one had ever delved into beyond a peripheral point.

“New Jersey didn’t have any place that pulled together the history of the game in the state,” Casey says, “and the more I dove into it, the more amazing it all got.”

Two of the most interesting stories that caught his eye during his early research phase were the very first golf club ever managed completely by women, and the first golf

cess transferred over to public ownership.

For more information on Kevin Casey’s book—Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—please visit his website at www.njgolfstories.com.

Click on the “order now” link on the upper right hand corner of the page to purchase a copy.

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club ever managed wholly by African-Americans.

The first story centers on the Morris County Golf Club, which started in 1894. From the beginning, it was an all-female operated club, and the course itself was designed for women as well.

“The men would be able to come and play on Saturdays, during the afternoons, after 3 o’clock,” Casey says. “But before long, the men, who controlled the pursestrings at the time, ended up deciding it was something they had to take over, and they did.”

The options were to either pull out their funds entirely, or keep the club with the men as the board of governors. The women’s board disintegrated

and Morris County Golf Club was born.

The golf course set the stage for female participation in the sport, and it had a lasting impact on golf’s attraction to female participants for years to come.

The second story centers on the Shady Rest Golf Club of Scotch Plains (now the public Scotch Hills Country Club), which ran from 1920 to 1963.

In 1921, Shady Rest became the first ever African-American owned and operated golf club, a first for both New Jersey and the United States.

Throughout most of its history under African-American ownership, all the way up through 1964, the club went beyond the simple standards

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • January 2023 • Page 7

with Saint Clare’s

The Journey of Weight Loss Surgery

MARK J. BONAMO STAFF WRITER AREA - When Ken Mooney made the decision to have bariatric surgery after years of struggling with his weight, he knew he was ready to be healthier in both mind and body. His journey for a new lifestyle began at Saint Clare’s Health over three years ago.

“I’ve always had struggles with weight, even going back to high school, and it just got

worse over the years. I got to the point where I weighed 360 pounds and was a type-two diabetic reliant on two different types of insulin, and pills. I just saw the trajectory of my life, and I didn’t like what I saw,” Mooney said. “My diabetes physician was actually the one who said I should explore bariatric surgery, advising me that it could actually save my life.

A friend of mine had successful results with their bariatric surgery at Saint Clare’s, and took control over their life. I decided it was finally time to take control of my own life.”

Mooney made the decision to have bariatric surgery after trial and errors on many different failed diet and exercise plans, and some lifestyle changes. After careful research and thoughtful consideration, Mooney took the leap to go forward with bariatric surgery to give himself a second chance at life and all the good things that come with a healthier life.

“When my nephews were born, I started thinking about wanting my own family one day. Do I want to be the dad that can’t chase after his kids, play ball with them, go on adventures because I would become winded, or can’t fit on a roller coaster? Those are things that are important to me,” Mooney said. “The light bulb went off in my head, and I felt I needed to do it before it was too late.”

Mooney noted that getting ready for the surgery is not only a physical, but also a mental endeavor.

“One of the most important considerations I can share is that if you’re going to choose this path, and I encourage you to do so, be sure you have a therapist, or support network.

There are many psychological aspects that come from having the surgery. The biggest one I dealt with was the realization that I was completely addict-

ed to food, and used it as a source of comfort and happiness. When you come down off that, it can be initially challenging. It wears and tears on you both mentally and physically,” Mooney said.

“For the first 30 days after the surgery, you quickly realize that you were dependent on eating for both psychological as well as physical reasons. It’s like pulling the plug on something that you’ve been accustomed to your entire life.

You can no longer use food as a source of serotonin. The best advice I can give to anyone choosing this surgery is to be psychologically prepared. In my opinion, that was the most challenging aspect of the surgery.”

Regarding the physical component of the surgery, Mooney strongly believes that the bariatric physicians and medical team at Saint Clare’s Health prepared him well. As part of the bariatric team’s commitment to providing quality care provided by advanced technology, Mooney felt supported every step of the way.

Saint Clare’s Health offers the convenience of being close to home and delivering exceptional care with best in class physicians.

“What they call ‘bedside manner’ or compassionate care is significantly important in knowing that you can trust the care you are receiving,” Mooney said. “Bariatric surgery has advanced over the

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Ken Mooney

years. It was relatively painless for me, and the recovery time was quick. I was completely happy with the results. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

For those who doubt that bariatric surgery is right for them, Mooney gave pointed reasons for why they should reconsider. For one, his own life has changed.

“The most important change, simply put, is that I can be physically active again.

I was at the point where I couldn’t even exercise because I would get tired and winded before I could even break a sweat. I grew up an active kid, and now, at almost 40 years old, I can be active like that again,” Mooney said. “I travel a great deal for work, and being able to be comfortable on a plane is important. You know, you don’t think about those things when you’re a smaller person. But when you go through many years of being on the larger side, and then everything changes, it is for the better.”

Mooney pointed out how life can change for the better for those who make the same

choice that he made about bariatric surgery.

“The best advice I could offer is just to make the call, don’t be afraid, and do it. You know, it’s your life to live.

By doing this, you can get a chance to have a new lifestyle, one in which you are able to live healthy and happy again,” Mooney said. “Bariatric surgery helped to kick start my way back to health after nothing else had really worked. Getting well is both a mental and physical process. Surgery can be frightening, but the consequences of not doing anything to make a change for the better is even more frightening.”

“This surgery was the best thing I ever did for myself, not only for me, but also for my family and for my friends. I want to live a long healthy life, and the idea of being healthy and living a long life outweighs any risk all day long,” Mooney added. “I gave myself a chance.

Please give yourself the same chance.”

For more information, please visit saintclares.com/ bariatrics.

Page 8 • January 2023 • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

BY JILLIAN RISBERG STAFF WRITER AREA - Since 1989, Community Options has encouraged the freedom and self-determination of all people with disabilities by always advocating for them.

And 2023 will mark the 15th anniversary of Cupid’s Chase. It originated in Princeton, and this is the 10th year being held in Morristown — on Saturday, February 11 from 11am to 6pm.

There are also races in Bridgewater, Burlington, Glen Rock, Princeton, Seaside Heights, Spring Lake, Westfield; and occurring simultaneously in 40 additional cities

Cupid’s Chase 5K Morristown Spreads the Love for a Beautiful Cause across 10 states.

“We raise the funds to improve our residences and accessibility supports,” says Northern NJ State Director, Tracy Mendola. “Funding for these are not provided by the state, and we want to ensure that those we support have the most up to date technologies, activities, and homes in order for them to live their most meaningful lives in the community.”

The 5K became a yearly tradition for people to stay fit while raising money for a worthwhile cause.

There are currently about

55 runners registered in this year’s race and they expect to have about 300.

According to Mendola, the course runs throughout the town suburbs, beginning and ending at their Daily Plan It location, 150-152 Speedwell Avenue in Morristown.

This location provides rental space for businesses and employment training for individuals with disabilities who provide concierge services for those tenants.

For the State Director, the most rewarding part of this journey is being able to include the local community in raising

CycleBar Livingston Promises Fitness and Fun Together

BY MEGAN ROCHE EDITOR AREA - CycleBar Livingston, located at 277 Eisenhower Parkway, combines fitness and fun with workouts, high energy music, and more. Dr. Charlotte Jones-Burton, co-owner with her husband Delvin Burton believes that CycleBar Livingston creates a space where fitness can be fun and entertaining. “Getting fit physically does not have to be a burden.

Our instructors use the music, lights, and rider energy to create a party on a bike!”

CycleBar Livingston has been serving the fitness needs of the Essex and Morris County communities for 5 years.

CycleBar Livingston opened its doors September of 2017 and is owned by Delvin Burton and Dr. Charlotte Jones-Burton, business owners with service oriented leadership style that is evident when you step through the doors of CycleBar Livingston. Staff are quick to welcome new and returning riders and make sure they have everything they need to enjoy their experience. As a boutique fitness venue, CycleBar Livingston provides a number of luxury amenities - water, towels, robes, earplugs, hairties,

mints, etc.

CycleBar Livingston maintained its commitment to serving its riders throughout the pandemic. In the early months of the pandemic the owners pivoted by offering bike rentals and classes online. When restrictions were relaxed and allowed for outdoor gatherings classes were offered outdoors in the parking lot. Finally, to serve a max number of customers safely, classes were offered at both the studio and a satellite location within the shopping center. Although the pandemic negatively impacted revenue, the Burtons have persevered and are using the lessons learned over the past 5 years as a foundation for success in the months ahead.

“The pandemic was tough for everybody, but we are optimists and look for the silver lining in tough situations.

Throughout the pandemic we frequently asked ourselves what can we learn to be better for our employees, riders, and the community”, states Delvin Burton, CycleBar co-owner.

For the CycleBar Livingston team, it’s also about giving back.

Veteran in the business for over 35 years

“CycleBar Livingston lives out its commitment to community by creating opportunities for people to connect on and off the bike. Charities and individuals that are passionate about a cause can leverage CycleBar’s CycleGives program.

The studio becomes a platform for fundraising with a class/ ride being organized and riders paying a set fee for the opportunity to ride. Area schools, youth groups, and businesses, such as RWJ Barnabas have utilized this unique fundraising platform to raise funds for worthy causes while having fun and getting fit. CycleBar Livingston welcomes the opportunity to serve area organizations and nonprofits or individuals looking for a fun and communal way to support those causes that are near and dear,” the Burtons said.

Please contact the studio via phone at 973-261-5647 or email livingston@cyclebar. com to learn more and schedule your CycleGives event.

For more information on CycleBar Livingston, visit www.cyclebar.com/location/ livingston.

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awareness for individuals with disabilities and their housing and employment needs — and the substantive lives they are living with the support of Community Options staff.

The most challenging part is the unpredictability of February weather.

“Last year we had a beautiful 50-degree day, but negative temperatures and snowstorms make logistics of the race a bit more complicated,” Mendola says. “Thankfully we have a wonderful team and group of volunteers that ensure the race goes off without any issues.”

The State Director has organized the Morristown race for 10 years. Although she has not attended other races, they all often share information regarding what works and what doesn’t.

“It is truly a team effort with the National office and the race directors to ensure each race is successful,” Men-

dola says this year’s goal is $30,000; currently they have amassed about $5K. “Last year we raised over $26K, so we are hopeful.”

All proceeds from each Cupid’s Chase race go directly to benefit the region that hosts the race. So anything raised for Morristown benefits the residences and services in Morris, Sussex, and Essex Counties.

“In the past we have utilized the funds for updating wheelchair ramps, creating accessible bathrooms and many more improvements for residences,” says the State Director.

Her greatest hope for this year’s Cupid’s Chase is that everyone has a great race, and they exceed their fundraising goal.

According to Mendola, the race has a little catch.

She says on the runner’s registration one is asked if they are “available” or “un-

available,” which translates to the color of the Under Armor shirt they are provided in their competition goody bag.

“This year single runners looking to make a connection at the race will be wearing a white shirt with ‘available’ on the back,” says the State Director. “Those who are ‘unavailable’ will be wearing a red shirt with ‘unavailable’ printed on the back. This makes it easy for Cupid.”

They also have sweatshirts (available in pink and red) for sale with the CC logo and “Morristown” on the back.

With previous races sidelined because of COVID-19 everyone couldn’t be happier to be back.

“Community Options is grateful for all the local participation and support,” Mendola says, adding they hope for a lovely day.

For more information, www.comop.org/cupidschase

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • January 2023 • Page 9

PH Steakhouse Revives Historic Chester Publick House

BY STACEY FEINTUCH STAFF WRITER

AREA - The history behind the building that now houses PH Steakhouse in Chester dates back over 200 years. The location has been a stagecoach stop, prep school, hotel, tavern, and famously The Publick House up until 2020. Now, the Restaurant Village Hospitality Group is reviving the space as an upscale steakhouse.

The building itself is part of the National Register of Historic Places. While developing PH Steakhouse, the 18,400-square foot space received cosmetic renovations, but no structural changes have been made. For instance, wood was stripped down and refurbished, and the walls have been painted burgundy and forest green shades.

They also upgraded the kitchen appliances to accommodate steakhouse cooking.

“My vision for this place is to have everything be first class

and high end,” says Steve Bussel. This includes hosting a live piano player and offering valet parking on Friday and Saturday evenings. The President and Owner of Restaurant Village Hospitality Group, Steve resides in Tewksbury but once lived in Chester. He works alongside Andrea Bussel, his wife, who manages all of the marketing and social media for the group.

A Prime Menu Selection PH Steakhouse offers an elevated steakhouse menu.

They only serve prime cuts of meat, with sirloin, porterhouse, tomahawk, T-bone, and New York strip options. All their meats, desserts, and dressings are made on-site. Steve says he prefers to try a little bit of everything, but ultimately loves the porterhouse for two.

Other menu highlights include seafood, chicken, burgers, and

salads. But save room for tasty desserts like crème brulee, 24-layer chocolate cake, apple crisp, and banana bread pudding.

As for drinks, the cocktail menu comes from a professional mixologist, and their high-end wine list from a sommelier. PH Steakhouse presents favorites like the dirty martini and classic collins, as well as seasonal flavors. For example, fall options include the Harvest Spritz and A Stroll on the Boulevard. The former mixes Grey Goose Essences White Peach & Rosemary Vodka, Aperol, apple cider, honey syrup, and Prosecco. Meanwhile, the latter combines Starlight Applejack, apple cider, Nonino Aperitivo, and Blandy’s Rainwater Madiera with shaved cinnamon and lavender.

About the Building Despite the updates, PH

Steakhouse has the look and feel of a 200-year-old building.

In particular, décor includes some old art and sewing machines from the building’s previous lives. “The ambiance suits a steakhouse. It has a lot of history and charm,” Steve says.

The interior seats 130 diners, in addition to a catering room for up to 80 guests.

Meanwhile, the outdoor porch has nine tables that can seat 30 people comfortably. There are also 10 renovated hotel suites on the upper floor which will open in the future for reser-

ropractic practice. They were painful years. You see, back in the mid seventies to the early eighties, in a small town in West Virginia, I may as well have put up a sign that read, “Witch Doctor.” I don’t mean to sound harsh, but sadly, that is the painful truth.

There was a time when there was a great prejudice against chiropractic, sadly it was headed by the well meaning, buy poorly misdirected leaders of the established medical profession. I don’t write those words with malice and bad feelings, but rather as facing a cold, hard historical fact.

A very close friend of mine, whom I have known for many years, suggested that I should write about those years of struggle, the years of counting pen-

nies, the years of a certain loneliness. In many ways, my failure to make it as a chiropractor in that little town in West Virginia, was actually one of my greatest successes.

Each and every one of us knows deep within the chambers of their heart that they hold the key to their own fate and destiny. Struggles can be looked upon as a means to feel sorry for yourself, to look with envy at those who have all so much while we are faced with living on hot dogs and beans as a dietary mainstay. Or, we can look at our times of struggle as a precious gift that gave us the opportunity to grow and become stronger and dig deeper to find faith in God. The West Virginia Years as I now call them were the some

of the toughest times of my life.

But along the path of that journey in time, I did come to meet and know some very kind people. And, sadly, I came to know some very cruel and mean-spirited people.

This is a most painful, but still inspiring, memory of my life. It has been very hard to face square on, let alone write about it. Now, at the age of 69, I have found the courage and strength to revisit that time of hard challenges, a certain loneliness, a devastating heartbreak, and a struggle that only strengthened me in heart, mind and soul.

In the next few montths, that lie ahead, I will share this heart warming story with you.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

A recent photo of yours truly with my dear friend, Little Rocky. I still wear my old West Virginia sweatshirt and baseball cap, for old time’s sake.

vations. Each suite includes a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Future plans include opening a gelato café within the building.

Visit PH Steakhouse at 111 Main St in Chester. To learn more, visit www.phsteakhouse. com.

Approaching 70: Remembering West Virginia

BY RICHARD MABEY JR. STAFF WRITER

AREA - In September, I’ll turn 70. In many ways, it is a most incredible milestone. From having done decades of research on my family heritage, I found out that my forefathers settled in what is now known as Lincoln Park, way back in the 1600’s.

Here is a most interesting fact.

Going back many generations, none of my forefathers ever made it to 80. So, I have become ever aware of the clicking of the clock and tearing of the pages of the calendar.

I tend to write about my family heritage, of the years of growing up in old Lincoln Park, and of people who deeply touched my life. I don’t write much about my years of living alone in a small town in West Virginia, wherein I did my very best to maintain a small chi-

To say the starters are impeccable, would be an understatement. Try the colossal new SEAFOOD TOWER, the unique CRABMEAT COCKTAIL, the addictive TUNA POKE BOWL & the exquisite Fall CHOPPED SALAD, along with a superb LOBSTER ROLL. The deletable MARGUERITA & BLANCO FLATBREADS were a joy to our tastebuds and true flavor explosions.

A Classic Steakhouse with a Modern

By GAIL GERSON

From its tasteful 18th century décor, to their smooth, nicely liveried servers, to a versatile & intelligent wine list & sophisticated kitchen, the PH Steakhouse is everything a refined steakhouse should be. Although many of the dishes seem familiar, they are designed with a creative & very modern flair, that contribute to a singular & memorable dining experience. The beautifully appointed & fully restored dining room with comfortable chairs & roomy tables, the extremely knowledgeable servers, who are absolutely up to their eyebrows trying to make sure that guests have good reasons to like the restaurant, indicate someone is paying attention. The talented host-owner, Steve Bussel, who has developed many restaurants, along with manager Jennifer Evans, Assistant Manager Blake & the talented Chef Juan, believe in making almost everything from scratch, following the seasons & savoring & caring about the food.

Here, the original flavors are wisely presented in all their opulence.

They do believe in the slogan: “Keep it simple, work with quality ingredients.”

ABOUT THE OWNER The steakhouse & Publick House hotel re-opened September 28, 2022. Mr. Bussel’s plan was to offer the finest cuts of USDA, perfectly seared prime, dry-aged steaks. Steve Bussel, the son of a Kosher butcher, grew up in an atmosphere where food was the main topic in the family, from the start.

He fell in love with the 1812 building that was a stagecoach stop between Morristown & Pennsylvania & accomplished his dream to restore the building to its original splendor. After our press tasting, our researchers concluded that the entire staff presented a combination of style, personality, know-how & perseverance, along with a passionate mix of delectable culinary delights. With mouth-watering side dishes created to enhance the flavors of the cuisine & award-winning cocktails & dazzling desserts, our group of researchers were truly impressed. This talented team brings a unique hands on approach, to restaurant ownership & hospitality. Mr. Bussel and his skillful organization have created a recipe for success, by applying their own unique ideas & extensive experience, to this new American steakhouse. Gail says “Go!”

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STEAK & SEAFOOD SPECIALITIES PH Steakhouse 111 Main St., Chester, NJ 908.955.7911 Phsteakhouse.com

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“Owner Steve Bussel, along with famed Chef Juan, GM Jennifer Evans & Assistant Manager Blake, present the area’s best steak & seafood by any standard, with the USDA’s highest designation for beef. The PRIME steaks we experienced have the necessary marbling that impart a unique combination of taste & texture & define the ultimate steak-eating experience,” Writer Gail Gerson.

Chef Juan presented us with the perfect finale.

The succulent CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE & CREME BRULEE are finger-licking good & the RICOTTA CHEESECAKE delish, but the HOMEMADE DELICATE MILK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE is enchanting.

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Ten suites, five on each floor, of various sizes & each with its own living room, are quite historical & beautifully appointed. Several can accommodate 4-6 guests. Reserve with Roomkey.com.

I heartily recommend the DRY AGED PORTERHOUSE FOR TWO, but the generous cut of oven roasted BONE-IN RIB-EYE, is marvelous as well. From the impeccable DRY AGED DOUBLE CUT DUROC PORK CHOP, to the delicious TOMAHAWK CHOP FOR TWO, our researchers were impressed with every bite. The unsurpassed FILET MIGNON is another glorious selection. Non steak entrees include the pleasant tasting AHI TUNA STEAK & the striking GRILLED SWORDFISH STEAK. Other dishes that readers recommended are the OLIVE CRUSTED SALMON & sauteed mushrooms. The list of superb sides includes the supreme TRUFFLE SMASHED YUKON GOLD POTATO, the CREAMED OR SAUTEED SPINACH, the JUMBO GRILLED ASPARAGUS and BAKED WHITE CHEDDAR MAC & CHEESE. The ROASTED BROCCOLINI & THE SMOKED BRUSSEL SPROUTS are divine. You can also choose your own sauce from a wonderful selection.

Page 10 • January 2023 • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Ever Hiked in Northern NJ? Thank the NY-NJ Trail Conference

BY CHIP M. O’BRIEN STAFF WRITER

Bob Jonas and Estelle Anderson, Trail Conference Co-Supervisors at Morristown National Historical Park

AREA - Howie Liebmann still remembers the moment that changed his view of hiking trails forever.

He was hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a demanding trek in the best conditions, and springtime snowmelt had swallowed many stream crossings. In order to cross, he had to remove his socks and boots, wade through the frigid water, and dry off on the other side before continuing. It was arduous and exhausting.

“And then you come to a spot where there was a bridge built,” Liebmann says. “And you go: wow. Thank God for this bridge. I don’t know who built this bridge, but God bless ‘em.”

It’s a familiar sentiment for the 24 staff members and 2,500 volunteers who power the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. “They know bridges don’t happen on their

own,” says Liebmann, who now leads volunteers in maintaining 75 miles of trails as the NYNJTC’s Northwest New Jersey Trail Chair. “And they want to pay it forward.”

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a nonprofit organization that builds, maintains, and protects about 2,175 total miles of hiking trails from the Delaware Water Gap in northern New Jersey to just north of the Catskills in New York. About 760 of those miles fall within New Jersey, almost all north of Interstate 80.

“Basically, we do work to make sure that the natural areas and trails in our region are accessible and sustainable for another century, for generations to come,” says Ashley Nester, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Trail Conference.

The Trail Conference knows something about sustaining wilderness trails for

generations: in 1923, after changing its name from the Palisades Interstate Trail Conference, the organization built the first completed mile of the Appalachian Trail near Bear Mountain, NY. While the Trail Conference remains focused on building and maintaining hiking trails, as well as publishing famously authoritative trail maps by Sussex County, NJ cartographer Jeremy Apgar, it has also expanded to include conservation and stewardship work that ties to its mission. “It’s great if we have someone building a trail, but what about the natural areas around those trails?”

Nester says. “You can’t really have a healthy trail system without a healthy forest for it to thrive in.”

On the local level, the Trail Conference’s work in NJ focuses primarily on three tasks: erosion mitigation, management of invasive plants, and trail upkeep and signage. All three have increased in importance as more people have turned to local trails for recreation and relaxation since COVID: Nester notes that the Conference’s most popular trailheads each saw about 20,000 users in 2022 alone.

The battle against erosion has become increasingly challenging thanks to changing conditions: more intense summertime heat, followed by intense storms with heavy, eroding rain. “It has forced the Conference, particularly our trail builders, to think a lot more creatively about what a sustainable trail looks like,” says Zachary Cole, Long Distance Trail Coordinator for the Conference. Trail crews can deploy an arsenal of tools to control water flow and erosion: water bars, check dams, puncheon (a low plank bridge), and puncheon’s big brother:

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Though erosion presents a constant challenge, many parks suffer from an even more aggressive enemy. “The biggest problem here is probably the proliferation of invasive botanical species,” says Bob Jonas, currently Co-Supervisor of Morristown National Historical Park alongside his wife, Estelle Anderson. Invasives choked the trails when they first arrived as Co-Chairs of the Central North Jersey Committee in 2008. A threeyear concerted effort helped fight back the worst of it, ensuring wider trails and reduced regrowth. “They’re very prolific,” he says. “So it’s a constant job, really.”

The Conference focuses on about a dozen particularly

aggressive invasive species in NJ, including barberry, Japanese stiltgrass, and multiflora rose.

Training is also a major component of the Conference’s work: they offer rigorous apprenticeship programs for their certified sawyers as well as practical training and experience for their Conserva-

tion Corps members. “We’re really training the next generation of environmental conservationists and leaders,” Nester, the Community Outreach Coordinator, says.

All of this work is accomplished in partnership with federal, state, local, and priPLEASE SEE TRAIL CONFERENCE, PAGE 11

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • January 2023 • Page 11

GRAMMY Museum Experience™ Prudential Center Educates and Provides a Timeline of GRAMMY® History

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA Even though COVID-19 came calling in March of 2020, don’t think activity wasn’t bustling at the 8,200 square foot GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark.

“We lost a year and a half in the physical museum, but we went digital,” Mark Conklin, Director of Artist Relations and Programming, states. “We did a lot of programming. Our ‘Behind the Song’ series, our ‘Off the Record’ series, our mini masterclass interviews, and we did virtual education programs for lots of kids. We lost the foot traffic in the physical museum, but we kept at it pretty strong.”

Also, as part of the museum’s fifth anniversary celebration in 2022, a “Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles!” traveling exhibit opened in October, and will run until June 25, 2023. On display are many Beatles-related pop culture artifacts from the period, as well as original lyric sheets, clothing worn by the band, posters, photographs, interviews, interactive displays, and more. Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles! provides insight into how and why The Beatles impacted America in the 1960s—and beyond.

Two offshoots of the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, California – Record-

ing Academy GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland, Mississippi and GRAMMY Museum Gallery at Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee - predate the Newark Museum, which was the first to open on the east coast on October 20, 2017. When interviewed for his position, Conklin asked founding Executive Director, Robert Santelli, why Newark was the chosen spot.

“His response to me was great.

He said – and I’ll never forget what he said, ‘Because New York doesn’t need it. New Jersey needs it.’ It was his vision to bring it to New Jersey, and also because obviously New Jersey has had a large influence on music, probably greater than a lot of people realize. I think Newark needed it for the education side, but also there’s a great cultural contribution musically and historically here in Newark. And then I think finally and very importantly, they found a great partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment company, who owns Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils.”

If visiting the GRAMMY Museum Experience in person, you’ll discover that about 70% of it is interactive. First, there’s the ability to play actual instruments and learn about the re-

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cording process. Conklin says, “You can drum along with Max Weinberg from the E Street Band, and you can rap along with Wyclef Jean. There are a lot of things that you get your hands on, which is really great for anybody, but especially for younger people, or students that come through with large groups.” Then there’s celebrating the history of the GRAMMYss featuring a timeline, with a focus on Garden Staters who have made a significant contribution to music. “You can see artifacts from legends like Bruce Springsteen, Whitney and Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Kool and the Gang, and Les Paul,” Conklin adds.

“And then there’s the traveling exhibit, which changes once or twice a year, and programs. We just screened May Pang’s new documentary, we’ve had Gloria Gaynor, we’ve had Mary Wilson of the Supremes. You can come and get a very close and intimate experience with artists, and hear their stories and talk about the creative process.” If you can’t visit in person, online virtual visits yield informative, digital interviews. “If you just love music and want to learn more about artistry and creativity, that’s a great place to be,” Conklin says.

A deep focus of the GRAM-

GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark

MY Museum Experience is education and even music career planning. Conklin says, “The big thing that we focus on is teaching young people how to have careers in music. We’ve developed a program called Record High. We’re going into schools and organizations and teaching young people how to have careers in the music business.” Record High after-school classes are available in the spring and fall, in addition to a week-long immersive camp experience during the summer. Courses include contemporary songwriting, HipHop performance, vocal per-

formance, audio production, and the music business itself.

Additionally, there are exclusive mentorship and internship opportunities.

The GRAMMY Museum Experience has been working with youths for almost four years, and the initial seeds are bearing fruit. Conklin speaks proudly about progress made with regard to young people enjoying success. “There are so many avenues for young people that can have exciting, fulfilling careers that we’ve been doing with this program. We have a kid that just signed his first record deal, and we have a

girl that signed her first music publishing deal. We have several of them now at USC, and they’re also at NYU. I don’t know of anybody who’s really doing it as well as we’re doing it. That’s the most fulfilling thing that we do, the role that we play in the community, and that’s what we’re very excited about.”

For more information including directions, ticket prices, visitation and event hours for the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, visit www.grammymuseumexp.org.

versation with literally dozens of land owners. The Conference serves three long-distance trails: the NY-NJ section of the Appalachian Trail, which it maintains alongside the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and two trails that it designs and leads: the 358-mile Long Path and the 180-mile Highlands Trail.

The Highlands Trail is of particular importance to NJ because it passes through the federally recognized Highlands Region, which occupies less than 15% of the state while providing over 70% of its population with drinking water. By connecting separately owned pieces of the Highlands Region into one landscape, says Cole, the Long Distance Trail Coordinator, the Highlands Trail helps preserve NJ’s water and air quality while offering opportunities for recreation, as well as justification for preserving individual parcels of natural land.

If certain land is considered historically significant, several entities must approve major maintenance projects before the Conference can proceed. Anderson, Co-Supervisor of Morristown National Historical Park, notes the historical importance of the land she maintains: over 7,000 of

George Washington’s troops were stationed at Jockey Hollow throughout the terrible winter of 1779-80 during the Revolutionary War. Every pile of rocks “could have been an encampment,” she says. “It could have been a fireplace, it could have been a foundation.”

The result: digging and moving rocks is not permitted in the park without approval from the State Historic Preservation Office, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office, and the Northeast Region Archeology Program. But Anderson and Jonas are undeterred.

They’ve made a list of twenty trail signposts that they’d like to replace or service, as soon as approval and warmer weather arrive.

The Trail Conference enjoys a harmonious relationship with land managers and park staff. As a volunteer-run organization, the conference can perform necessary trail work that parks don’t have the time, personnel, or resources to do themselves. Liebmann, the Northwest NJ Trail Chair, recalls asking one park superintendent for her input about a tricky trail maintenance challenge. Her response: “Why are you asking me? You know the trails better than I do. What do

you think?”

“And she’s right,” Liebmann says. “We’re on the trails all the time.”

This speaks to the especially vital role that the NY-NJ Trail Conference fills in NJ: our state allocates insufficient funds to its parks, leading to a lack of resources and park staff that many fear is unsustainable. In April 2022, ecologist Michael Van Clef, Ph.D. released the New Jersey State Lands Management Report assessing NJ’s public lands and resources. Clef depicts a dire picture of NJ’s state parks: the state’s operating budget for parks is one third of Pennsylvania’s and one sixth of New York’s, even as NJ state lands face more environmental pressures due to greater population density. Park staffing has been slashed to bare bone, with only fifteen Park Superintendents assigned to supervise fifty parks, and “invasive species control is virtually absent on park lands” due to a lack of personnel to tackle the job.

In short, NJ parks don’t have enough staff to do the work required to keep trails usable– and without the Trail Conference’s legion of volunteers, there would be no one to do the work at all. “They probably would just say, okay,

Trail Conference

FROM PAGE 10 vate entities, as the Trail Conference doesn’t own any land itself and must seek permission from land managers in order to service the trails.

In the case of long distance trails, this might require con-

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • January 2023 • Page 1

BY DANA JACKSON Q: A good friend of mine was telling me that I’d probably like the Canadian detective series “Cardinal.” Where can I watch it if I live in the United States? -- H.C. A: “Cardinal” aired on CTV out of Canada for four seasons, from 2017 to 2020, with six episodes in each season. It was a crime series based on the novels

by Giles Blunt about a detective named John Cardinal, set in the fictional town of Algonquin Bay. The first season was based on Blunt’s novel, “Forty Words for Sorrow,” about the murder of a young girl. Subsequent seasons involve a different novel/mystery.

Fans of British crime dramas like “Broadchurch” or the U.S.based show “The Killing,” set in the Pacific Northwest, will likely find “Cardinal” right up their alley. It also stars Billy Campbell, who has been acting in Holly-

Celebrity Extra wood since the 1980s and also played Darren Richmond in “The Killing.”

I’ve always enjoyed watching a series or film set in a snowscape while I sit in my warm living room with a cup of hot tea, and “Cardinal” does not disappoint. Filmed on location in Ontario, temperatures dipped to -40 degrees F. Executive producer Julia Sereny told RadioTimes. com that it was so cold sometimes that the “sound recordist could not get his truck started” and that windows on vehicles cracked.

You can watch all four seasons of “Cardinal” currently on Hulu. *** Q: “Desperate Housewives” is my all-time favorite show.

How many years has it been off the air? Any chance of a reboot?

-- P.I. A: Last December 31, the

official ABC “Desperate Housewives” Twitter account featured a photo of the cast with the cryptic statement “*Desperately* waiting for 2022.” Because 2022 would be a full decade since the show concluded, buzz started circulating that the soapy drama was next in line for a reboot.

Unfortunately, it never came to fruition, at least not yet.

A couple months earlier, former cast member Eva Longoria said about “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry, “We both just think there’s so much more to do there, and I would be the first to sign up if he did anything.”

Former onscreen spouses Teri Hatcher and James Denton recently guest-starred on “Fantasy Island” as a couple whose marriage is put to the test as contestants on a twisted game show featuring a quicksand trap. ***

Q: How is Billy Joel doing?

I heard he had some health issues and had to cancel some concerts. I really hope he tours again. -- J.A. A: The six-time Grammy-Award-winning piano man recently had to postpone his last performance at Madison Square Garden this year due to a lingering virus. The new date is June 2, 2023, unless the hometown New York Knicks make it into the NBA Playoffs at that time.

Joel has been playing MSG every January since 2014. He’s also supposed to perform with Stevie Nicks at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium in March.

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Krasinski reprises the role of CIA agent Jack Ryan for the third season of this action series, out now! The first season followed Jack as he ventured out from his CIA analyst job to become a field agent. In the second season, he was stationed in Venezuela in the middle of intense political warfare. Now, Jack is called to Rome by a mysterious source, who gives him information about a secret Russian plot in Eastern Europe that could lead to a third World War. Facing his most challenging time ahead, Jack must go within and learn to become his own authority. Amazon confirmed that this would be the second-to-last season of the series, with talks of an eventual spin-off starring Michael Pena. (Prime Video) “Bros” (R) -- Bobby Lieber (Billy Eichner) is a podcast

host and museum curator who greatly enjoys the single life. But when he’s out with a friend at a nightclub, Bobby meets Aaron Shepard (Luke Macfarlane), who Bobby’s friend deems hot but boring. Amid their stark differences, the two begin to date and get to know each other.

Their connection begins to get stronger, but Aaron still finds Bobby too intense, while Bobby doesn’t appreciate having to minimize his behavior for others. The odd couple must learn to accept each other’s differences in order to make their relationship prosper. Out now on streaming, “Bros” is one of the first gay rom-coms produced by a major studio. (Peacock) “Into the Deep” (R) -- In this thriller, a young woman named Jess living on an island meets a young man named Ben and in-

vites him to a party. The two hit it off and return to Ben’s docked boat, but when Jess awakens, she realizes Ben set sail while she was asleep. And now, she is stuck on a boat with him in the middle of the ocean. Jess accepts it as yet another adventure, but things begin to escalate when Lexie, an unconscious woman on a jet ski, crashes into the boat.

The two rescue Lexie, but Lexie begins to put doubts about Ben into Jess’ head. Jess is at a loss of who to trust, as time ticks by for her to find a way off the boat.

Premieres Dec. 30. (Hulu) Write in to Couch Theater by emailing TheCouchTheater@ gmail.com or writing to KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY DEMI TAVERAS

Year in Review 2022

“Lady Chatterley’s Lover” (R) -- Emma Corrin (“The Crown”) and Jack O’Connell (“Skins”) star in this steamy romantic drama, which recently premiered on Netflix. Based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence, Corrin plays Constance Reid, who marries Baronet Clifford Chatterley and becomes Lady Chatterley. Clifford gets injured fighting in World War I and returns paralyzed from the waist down, which causes a big rift in their marriage. Left feeling unwanted by her husband, Constance tries her best to hide her unhappiness, until she meets gamekeeper Oliver Mellors. An attraction builds between Constance and Oliver and blossoms into a love affair that ultimately can’t thrive in secrecy. (Netflix) “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season 3” (TV-MA) -- John

Couch Theater

Billy Campbell (“Cardinal” and “The Killing”). Photo Credit: Depositphotos

Courtesy of Netflix. Photo Credit: Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell star in “Lady Chatterley’s Lover.”

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Bucket List Travels: Surprising Cape May

Morristown resident Paul Partridge has been building a travel bucket list for years. Now he’s diving in – near and far – and shares his adventures in this column.

BY PAUL PARTRIDGE GUEST WRITER AREA - Even after 12 years of family retreats, Cape May offers new surprises and adventures The Bread Lady Down towards the Nature Conservancy on Sunset Boulevard sits an inconspicuous roadside stand that’s open one or two days a week, and the days change randomly. Enfin Farms operates like Vatican City does when choosing a new pope. Thousands breathlessly wait for the signal, only in this case the signal comes via Facebook and Instagram: One hour ‘til fresh bread!

Signal given, the race is on.

Men, women, children, and dogs dash to the stand on foot, bike, car, golf cart and jogging strollers to secure a place line in hopes of getting one or two loaves of the best (still warm) homemade wood-fired bread you’ve ever tasted.

The Bread Lady makes 15 or so different varieties, but those waiting in line don’t know what today’s offerings will be. But we don’t care. Because whether it’s beet and dill or rosemary or pumpernickel, we know it’s going to be amazing. We also know that her 100 or so loaves will sell out within minutes, so we pray she doesn’t run out before it’s our turn.

Tiki Cruise The phrase ‘tiki cruise’ conjures up images of loud, drunken revelers cruising the harbor

in a floating Mexican hat. Nevertheless, I agree to go when I learn that we have the boat to ourselves, and our dog Billie is welcome.

Our 2-hour sunset cruise gives us a chance to explore Cape May from the water. As a bonus we have Captain Rob, a fountain of knowledge. By day, Rob is a tugboat captain. Today he’s sitting in for the boat owner, who’s taking part in the MidAtlantic fishing tournament.

Some fun facts we learn from Rob: 80% of the world’s squid production comes from Cape May. Also, a very high proportion of bunker, which is used for cosmetics and other fish oil products.

The tournament purse for this year’s MidAtlantic competition was $5.23 million. 1st prize in the white marlin category paid $871,404. Second prize went to Michael Jordan’s boat (yes, that Michael Jordan), paying $693,615.

One angler tried to cheat by pumping his catch with seawater to add weight. One of the judges was a taxidermist who deduced that the fish was waterlogged. The competitor was disqualified.

The Marvelous Mrs. Mallard One afternoon my daughter Emma and I are taking a walk.

Suddenly, a mallard duck lands at our feet and starts to follow us. Her little duck feet struggle

to maintain our pace. So she flies ahead and waits by the side of the road for us to catch up.

The same pattern repeats a few more times. Finally, she takes flight high into the sky.

We wave au revoir.

A minute later she’s back, this time landing across the street. She waddles through traffic straight to us and settles at our ankles. Maybe it’s a relative reincarnated, Emma suggests. The duck accompanies us for another half mile, finally breaking off to swim in a backyard pool.

Later that evening, we learn that Carol, my mother’s best friend for 70 years, passed away earlier in the day. Mom wonders if the Marvelous Mrs. Mallard was Carol saying goodbye.

Pontoon Swoon My wife’s brother Marco is an avid fisherman. The rest of us are the gang that couldn’t cast straight. Our specialty is hooking everything that’s not a fish. Fingers and thumbs?

Check. A baseball cap? No problem. The boat’s canopy?

Snagged it. A PBS tote bag?

Reel it in.

For years we rented the same ragtag pontoon boat. To picture it, imagine a 1967 VW Bus – not well maintained. Duct tape holding the seat cushions together. Shag carpeting. Cigarette burns in the dashboard.

More than a little rust.

On our first fishing trip, we said to the marine owner, “We’d like to rent this pontoon boat.”

“You would?” he said, totally surprised.

Even worse than the relic’s shabby condition is the engine – a 4 horsepower lawnmower engine. It’s the only craft that can go full throttle through a no-wake zone without creating even a ripple. Each year we putt-putt along, embarrassed, passed by kayakers, row boats, floating sea gulls, turtles. Last year, when a woman doing an open ocean swim zipped lapped us, waving, we decided it was time for an upgrade.

We found a new marina with an updated pontoon boat and – best of all – a 60 HP engine! So we set out with great expectations and the wind in our hair (for once).

The fish start biting right away. First a small shark. Then several dogfish. Marco tries to kiss a dogfish for good luck, but it jumps out of his hand.

Uh-oh, is this bad luck?

As we wonder, the engine makes a grinding noise and abruptly conks out. The mooring line is wrapped around the propellor. We cut the line free, restart the engine, and breathe a sigh of relief. Then… “Dog overboard!” Billie is in the water – and getting pulled away from the boat by the current.

on prescribed opioids, Lucas sometimes took up to 1,400 pills monthly.

Recognizing the concern that teen athletes who get injured can also suffer the same type of addiction, PDFNJ, HBCBS, and the NJSIAA wants to stop the spread before it gets out of hand.

“The Partnership has developed a multi-pronged approach to educating young people in the state of New Jersey on the opioid epidemic,” Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director, says. “That approach includes events such as what we’re doing with Ray which we’ve just completed at Clifton High School: talking to student athletes who are very vulnerable, unfortunately, because they experience injuries, and as a result, may be in a position

where they may be prescribed an opioid. We’re also delivering messages through various media outlets, including but not limited to signs on buses and trains and billboards, and messages on our social media platforms.”

Another part of the process, per Valente, is engaging young people in many of the PDFNJ’s school-based programs, allowing them to become more knowledgeable about the issue.

“That’s also another part of the approach,” Valente adds.

He also feels that, in addition to Lucas being representative of an esteemed group that had risen to the top ranks of professional sports and had fallen on hard times in addiction, Lucas’s presence is also emblematic of someone who, if he knew back then what he knows now, he

would not have become dependent on opioids. “That is one of the reasons his presentation is so important. As a person who has gone through athletics on the high school, college, and professional levels, by speaking to athletes, he can easily relate to what they are experiencing on a day-to-day basis.

When he delivers his message about looking at ways to deal with pain other than through opioids, speaking to your trainers, doctors, and coaches about alternative to using opioids to address any sports injuries, I think that’s most important.”

Lucas played for seven seasons in the National Football League, primarily as a quarterback. Two years after he left the NFL, he had major back surgery, and five years after that started to experience seri-

Billie after her rescue at sea.

Emma leaps in and manages to wrestle her aboard after a few nervous minutes.

We decide it best to take Billie ashore. My daughter Grace, Billie and I offload at The Crab House at Two Mile Landing.

The rest of the crew ventures back out, catches more dogfish, several black sea bass and a 19” flounder, which becomes dinner.

Other Fun Surprises Elaine’s Porch – an ideal summer hangout with a neat outdoor bar. One of the regulars is Chunk the bulldog, a spitting image of Winston Churchill.

Only thing missing is a cigar.

The Washington Inn restaurant – at some point during dinner, you will say Wow! Especially if you try the crab & corn chowder or the lamb cavatelli.

Cape May Point Beach – never crowded, a daily dolphin show right offshore, good fishing off the rocks, and delightful sunsets.

Music – free concerts all over town. Enjoyed the Sensational Soul Cruisers and Hunka Junk at the Cape May ferry, and The Big House Band in Rio Grande.

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program Returns to Deliver Message to High Schoolers

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA - For the first time in two years, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program, courtesy of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (HBCBS), in collaboration with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), has returned to deliver a powerful message to high school students in the area.

And late in August, current Harrison High School football coach, former Rutgers Scarlet Knight quarterback, and New York Jets/New England Patriots/Miami Dolphins player, Ray Lucas, delivered a key address. Lucas suffered numerous injuries and underwent more than a dozen operations while and after he was a player. After becoming dependent

New Jersey native Ray Lucas and Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo Valente at an event

ous neck issues. He started to take pills regularly, and his addiction had begun. “I was in a very dark place,” Lucas says. “I don’t know if I’m a role model, but a survivor definitely. Again, I was in a very dark place.” He had also dropped from his playing weight of 215 pounds down to 164 pounds, and he was approached about telling his story. “That night I went home and

prayed, and I heard a voice that asked, ‘How many others are suffering in silence like you?’

I didn’t know, but made the decision that, if I could tell my story, then maybe they (others) could get some kind of hope.”

For more information about the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey and its programs, visit www.drugfreenj.org.

Preschool Advantage Annual Gala Funds Tuition for 40 Children

AREA - Preschool Advantage, a Morristown-based non-profit organization, held its 2022 annual Turning Leaves benefit dinner at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park on October 12th. After a two-year hiatus, the event returned with great energy fueled by guest emcee Guy Adami of CNBC’s “Fast Money,” who challenged the 250 attendees to give generously in support of this important cause. They took note, raising over $200,000 to fund preschool tuition for children in our community. The event was sponsored by the William T. & Marie J. Henderson Foundation with additional support from Hackensack Meridian Health, Private Advisor Group, Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes, and several other individual donor-sponsors.

At this year’s event, Preschool Advantage honored its 11 past board presidents. Under their selfless leadership, the nonprofit has sent 1,300 local children to preschool since 1995. Special recognition was given to trustee, Gail Reuther

Jillian (left) and Hector (right), Preschool Advantage parents with Nancy Bangiola, Preschool Advantage Executive Director (center). Photo by Baseline Productions

for her 40 years as director at Mount Olive Child Care & Learning Center, a partner preschool of the Organization.

Preschool Advantage Executive Director, Nancy Bangiola noted, “Gail has generously shared her decades of experience and expertise in early childhood education with Preschool Advantage. Her peers recognize her a leader in the field, and we consider ourselves very lucky to have benefitted from her wisdom for so many years.”

Preschool Advantage also

recognized a local family whose twin daughters attend preschool with a grant from the Organization. The twins’ mother, Jillian, remarked “The cost of preschool turned out to be one of our biggest challenges.” Expressing gratitude to the supporters in attendance, Jillian shared that her daughters are thriving and will be ready for kindergarten in the fall. “It has been an extraordinary journey watching our children learn and grow,” she said with great emotion.

Page 4 • January 2023 • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

NJStarz

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

NJ Starz: Don Herrmann Hometown: Chatham

AREA - For New York Giants rookie wide receiver, Don Herrmann, it was a dream game every first-year player perhaps wishes they could live.

The powerful Minnesota Vikings, that season destined for a Super Bowl IV trip against the Kansas City Chiefs, strutted into old Yankee Stadium on September 21, 1969, to open the National Football League season. Herrmann that day played a major role in the Giants defeating Minnesota and their “Purple People Eaters” defense. Herrmann caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Fran Tarkenton, the second on a slant route in the last minute of regulation, to defeat the Vikings, 24 – 23.

It was also Alex Webster’s first game as Head Coach, and not only did he get his first win, but was also hoisted onto the shoulders of some of his players at game’s end.

After the game, Herrmann posed for a photo with both Webster and Giants owner, Wellington Mara. “With his arm around me,” Herrmann says of Mara and the photo.

“In fact, I have the picture here in my house with Wellington with his arm around me. It was in the New York Times.”

Herrmann initially grew up in Linden, and then as a young teen moved with his family to Chatham. His parents were Harry and Anna, and his siblings were Rachael, Glenn, and Wayne. “My father was a builder, and they were going to put the Jetport in Chatham in the Great Swamp,” Herrmann explains. “He bought a house that was half finished, because they couldn’t sell any of the houses because everybody was afraid of the Jetport going in. He bought a house right on top of a mountain in Chatham and finished the house, and we moved there when I was 13. That’s when I started in the Chatham school system. I was in the seventh grade, and I was the last class from the township to go to the borough.

I met my wife, Anne, in the borough. We met in the ninth grade, and when we were in high school, we started dating.”

While a member of and running back for the Chatham High School Eskies, Herrmann was injured in his first practice in high school, and was sidelined for almost the entire year, returning at season’s end to play a few games with the junior varsity team.

He returned at full strength for his junior year. “I played as a defensive back most of the time and I played a little bit on offense as a wingback, but we didn’t throw the ball a lot at Chatham,” Herrmann says of the Herm Hering coached club. “My senior year, I played halfback both ways, and I was the leading receiver.” The Eskies posted a 7 – 2 record during Herrmann’s junior year, and they were 6 –3 in his senior year.

Herrmann tried to get into the big schools, knocking on the doors of the likes of Rutgers, Syracuse and more, but there were no takers. He ended up as a walk-on at Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, which he calls a “blessing.” His future wife also went to the smaller NAIA institution, and it gave Herrmann the chance to also grow as a player. “I wound up going to Waynesburg,” Herrmann says, “and the way the Lord led this thing was the best thing that could happen to me, because I needed time to develop as a player. And also, I wound up marrying my wife, which was the most important thing.”

He did consider leaving after his freshman season and becoming a Purdue Boilermaker, but they didn’t accept him – another blessing. “If I had transferred there, it would have been the biggest mistake of my life, because I wouldn’t have developed as a player,” Herrmann says. “I would have never played at Perdue, and I would’ve never married my wife. “ But under new head coach, Carl DePasqua, he got an 11win, undefeated season, and a national title at Waynesburg during his sophomore year. During his junior year, Herrmann caught 47 passes as Waynesburg employed

more passing as part of their offense, and for his senior campaign under another new head coach, Darrell Lewis, he caught 20 touchdown passes for over 1,000 yards, including one game against Lock Haven University where he had over 300 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

Herrmann was drafted in round 15 of the 1969 National Football League draft by the Giants, and he went on to play nine seasons in the NFL, six for New York and three for the New Orleans Saints.

For his career, he played in 36 games and caught 234 passes for 3,039 years and 16 TDs. He was the first Chatham High School Eskie to play in the NFL. Herrmann recalls the first time he set foot on the turf of the sports cathedral, Yankee Stadium. “We came up for a practice day before the game.

I just remember stepping out of the dugout and looking at the blue seats all over, and the green grass, and I was amazed just looking around at this place.” For his career home games as a Giant, Herrmann in addition to Yankee Stadium played at Shea Stadium and the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, and in the Superdome as a New Orleans Saint.

However, he never played in Giants Stadium. His lone game against the Giants as a Saint was in New Orleans.

In his first season, the Giants were 6 –8, and in 1970 finished 9 – 5, a 31 – 3 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the last game of the season elbowing the Giants out of the playoffs. However, there was another game early in the season that perhaps played a bigger role in the Giants missing the postseason. Herrmann explains. “We lost a game down in New Orleans where Aaron Thomas caught a touchdown, and they ruled it incomplete because of the way to endzone was painted.” Video shows Thomas coming down with the ball well inbounds, but the referee waved his arms to signal “no good” as the play transpired on the left side of the endzone. “And they changed

the painting of the endzone after that,” Herrmann adds.

Herrmann caught 165 passes while with the Giants for 2,049 yards and 15 touchdowns, and during his career with both them and the Saints, he played with two NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Tarkenton and Norm Snead, and College Hall of Famer, Archie Manning. “Tarkenton was by far the smartest of all,” Herrmann states. “He was a very accurate thrower. I wouldn’t say he had a strong arm, or he could throw the deep ball, but he was so accurate when he threw the ball. He was by far the smartest, and the best one I thought to play with. Norm Snead, we traded for at the end of his career. He’d played for Washington (Redskins), the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Vikings, and now he comes to New York. And Norm was an accurate thrower, and he could throw the deep ball, too. He was a big guy. He was at the end of his career, but he was still a very, very good quarterback.” After he joined the Saints, Herrmann’s time playing with Manning was limited to three games. “He missed the next year because he had a tendon in his shoulder and they tied it too tight during an operation, so they had to re-operate. He wound up missing the whole year. After that, I split time with quarterbacks Bobby Scott and Bobby Douglas.”

All-in-all for Herrmann, 75, it has been a wonderful life. “I have my jersey from Waynesburg, and the only reason I have anything is because of my wife,” Herrmann says.

“They wouldn’t give it to us, so she bought the jersey from the athletic department. She’s my biggest fan.”

Don and Anne Herrmann were married in January of 1971, and have three children Timothy, Carrie, and Andrew and the Mendham couple also has four grandchildren. “And that’s really what summarizes my life, because my family is a big part of my life,” Herrmann says happily. “We’re still in close contact with our children. Some people have problems with their children

Don Herrmann with New Orleans Saints Mascot, Gumbo (credit: Anne Herrmann)

and things like that. We don’t.

It’s just been a great relationship and a great ride. And my wife and me? We really are best friends.”

When asked for a closing

statement to describe the happiness in his life, Herrmann doesn’t hesitate. “That comes from being a Christian. My faith in Jesus Christ, that’s where it all starts.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover-Florham Park Life • January 2023 • Page 5

Warm Up with Classic Comfort Foods

3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon French-fried onions (optional) Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly coat 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Spread potato salad evenly in dish. Top evenly with chicken.

In small bowl, stir together cream, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over chicken.

Sprinkle with cheese, bacon and French-fried onions, if desired.

Bake 15 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes. Top with additional French-fried onions, if desired. (Family Features)

With plenty of cold-weather events and gatherings to celebrate alongside loved ones, one classic way to warm up the crowd is hot, comforting food. Soups, chili, casseroles, stews and more provide perfect ways to shake off the chill that comes with the season.

Ideal for serving family and friends after time spent outside or just as an excuse to get together, Beet Lentil Chili with Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Beets and Loaded Chicken Bake made using READ German Potato Salad provide filling options for satisfying a group with eight servings each. Plus, they’re easy to make – the chili calls for 20 minutes of prep before simmering while the chicken casserole requires less than an hour spent in the kitchen.

Next time a brisk day cools

your family to the core, keep these hearty meals in mind for simple options to warm up from the inside out.

Find more comforting recipe ideas at auntnellies.com and readsalads.com.

Beet Lentil Chili Recipe courtesy of Angie McGowan of “Eclectic Recipes” Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 2 hours Servings: 8 2 jars (16 ounces each) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Beets 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, diced 4 stalks celery, diced 3 medium carrots, diced 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cloves garlic, diced 2 tablespoons smoked paprika 2 tablespoons ground cumin 1 1/2 tablespoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons chili powder 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste 2 quarts low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock 1 quart water 1 pound lentils Garnishes (optional): 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup radishes, cut into matchsticks 1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro 1/2 cup finely chopped onions 1 cup crumbled queso fresco Drain beets; dice and set aside. Discard liquid.

Preheat large soup pot over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil. Add onion, celery, carrots and salt; saute until softened, stirring occasionally.

Add garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano, chili powder and tomato paste; saute until fragrant, stirring frequently.

Add stock, water, beets and

lentils. Bring to boil; reduce to simmer. Simmer about 2 hours, or until lentils are tender.

Serve with sour cream, radishes, cilantro, onions and queso fresco, if desired.

Loaded Chicken Bake Recipe courtesy of “Hungry In LA” Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 8 Nonstick cooking spray 2 cans (15 ounces each) READ German Potato Salad 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

The next time your loved ones crave a comforting dish that’s warming from the inside-out, turn to an all-time classic with a touch of southern flair.

Take inspiration for this Tex-Mex Beef Lasagna from season 3 of “BBQuest: Beyond the Pit,” a video series that dives into the long-held traditions, new flavors and everyday inspiration that make Texas barbecue legendary. Developed from the show by BBQuest cohost and “Hardcore Carnivore” cookbook author Jess Pryles, this tasty take on comfort food can be the perfect solution for a family meal with plenty of leftovers.

After dinner, settle in together and learn pitmaster techniques from the experts as the series follows four themes that capture the essence of Texas

barbecue: legacy and tradition; creativity and innovation; Texas trailblazers; and family and community.

“Since launching BBQuest four years ago, it’s truly remarkable to see how much has changed and yet stayed the same when it comes to Texas barbecue, and that’s exactly what you see in season 3,” said Rachel Chou, Texas Beef Council’s director of consumer marketing. “There has been so much exciting innovation around cooking methods and international flavors while there’s still a huge dedication to long-held recipes and smoking techniques.”

To find more pitmaster-worthy recipes, visit BeefLovingTexans.com.

Tex-Mex Beef Lasagna Recipe courtesy of Jess Pryles on behalf of Beef Loving Tex-

ans Total time: 60 minutes Servings: 10 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 pounds ground beef 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin 2 teaspoons chipotle powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 15 ounces canned corn, drained 15 ounces canned seasoned black beans, drained 10 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained 15 ounces canned red enchilada sauce 1 cup Mexican crema or sour cream nonstick cooking spray 12 corn tortillas 8 ounces shredded Mexican blend cheese cilantro (optional) green onions, thinly sliced (op-

tional) Preheat oven to 375 F. In large pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat then add onion. Cook until softened, 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly.

Add ground beef and cook, stirring regularly, until beef has browned.

Add kosher salt, garlic powder, cumin, chipotle powder and onion powder; stir well.

Add corn, black beans and diced tomatoes. Turn heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

In bowl, combine enchilada sauce and crema; mix well.

Spray casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour about 1/4 cup enchilada sauce mixture on bottom to prevent tortillas from sticking.

Layer 2-4 tortillas across bottom then top with layer of

ground beef mixture. Use ladle to spoon some enchilada sauce mixture on top, distributing evenly. Top with another layer of tortillas then repeat layers until casserole is full, 3-4 layers. Top with shredded cheese.

Loosely cover dish with foil in tent shape to help prevent

cheese from sticking then bake 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Cool 5 minutes before serving. Top with cilantro and green onions, if desired.

(Family Features)

Starting fresh with a new year is a chance to hit the reset button for many people, and your family can use this opportunity to rethink homemade meals while striving for nutritious (and still delicious) dishes.

From snacks to the main course each evening, the options are nearly endless for planning a revamped menu with healthier ingredients.

Dinnertime can be a cinch with Peanut Butter Chicken, a simple dish that takes less than 20 minutes to make when busy evenings call for a quick solution. If a veggie-based option aligns better with your family’s desires, try Veggie Sammies with Peanut Butter Satay Sauce or go full-on comfort food with Very Vegan Peanut Butter Jackfruit Chili. Snacking doesn’t have to mean forgoing your dedication to nutritious choices either – these Peanut Granola Bars can be your made-at-home

masterpiece for adults and children to enjoy.

These recipes from the Georgia Peanut Commission are powered by peanuts, a nutrient-rich superfood that delivers 19 vitamins and 7 grams of protein per serving for a health benefit punch in each bite.

Discover more nutritious recipe ideas at gapeanuts.com.

Veggie Sammies with Peanut Butter Satay Sauce Prep time: 30 minutes Servings: 2 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons water 4 teaspoons hoisin sauce 2 teaspoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons sriracha 2 French baguette rolls (6 inches each) 1/2 cup cucumber, sliced 1/2 cup white onion, sliced into thin strips 1/2 cup red bell pepper, sliced

into thin strips 1/2 cup purple cabbage 1/2 cup fresh cilantro In small bowl, combine peanut butter, lime juice, water, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sriracha; mix well.

Spread sauce on both sides of each roll then layer with cucumber, onion and bell pepper.

Top with cabbage and cilantro.

Very Vegan Peanut Butter Jackfruit Chili Recipe courtesy of the National Peanut Board Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Servings: 8 2 teaspoons oil 1/2 large white onion, chopped 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 can crushed tomatoes

1 can whole tomatoes 2 cups water 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 can green jackfruit, drained and chopped 1/4 cup peanut butter cornbread (optional) tortilla chips (optional) cinnamon rolls (optional) Heat large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add oil, onion and peppers; cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder and tomato paste, stirring to coat. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, then stir in crushed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, water, kidney beans and jackfruit; bring to boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 25-30 minutes. Stir in peanut butter and simmer 5 minutes.

Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips or cinnamon rolls, if desired.

Peanut Granola Bars

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 6 minutes, plus 3045 minutes cooling time Servings: 12-14 1/2 cup honey 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 2tablespoons creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4teaspoon salt 2 cups rolled oats (quick or regular) 1 cup bran flakes 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes1 cup dried fruit (raisins, blueberries or cranberries) 1 cup roasted peanuts, chopped In large, shallow, microwavable dish, combine honey, butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Microwave at 50% power 2 minutes then whisk to combine and microwave at 50% power 2 minutes.

Add oats, bran flakes, coconut flakes, dried fruit and pea-

nuts; stir to combine. Microwave on high 1 minute. Stir and microwave 30 seconds.

Press mixture into 13-by9-inch baking dish lined with parchment or wax paper with some extra hanging over edges to easily lift bars out. Use bottom of glass wrapped with plastic wrap to press granola mixture firmly into pan. Allow to cool completely 30-45 minutes.

Cut into 12-14 bars.

Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe courtesy of “Unsophisticook” Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 12 minutes Yield: 6 cups Peanut Sauce: 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter 3 tablespoons sweet red chili sauce 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1/8-1/4 cup hot water (optional) chopped unsalted roasted peanuts (optional) 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon soy sauce 3/4 cup peanut sauce cooked brown rice assorted bell peppers, sliced chopped unsalted roasted peanuts (optional) To make peanut sauce: In small glass bowl, whisk peanut butter, sweet red chili sauce, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and honey until blended smoothly.

Thin sauce with hot water to desired consistency. Garnish with chopped unsalted roasted peanuts, if desired.

To make chicken: In large skillet over medium-high heat, drizzle oil. Add diced chicken then pour soy sauce over top.

Saute about 10-12 minutes until chicken is fully cooked.

Serve with peanut sauce, brown rice and colorful sliced veggies. Garnish with chopped unsalted roasted peanuts, if desired.

Turn to Tradition for Tex-Mex Taste

Power Family Meals with Protein-Packed Peanuts

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