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Hanover Township Spelling Bee Winner Crowned

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

HANOVER TWP. - Salem Drive School 11-year-old, Audrey Thomas, knew her Hanover Township Public Schools Spelling Bee final round competition was tough.

“When I started, I didn’t think I was going to make it that far,” Thomas said. “In the entire district, there were a lot of good spellers, and a lot of people that I know.”

Her dad, Michael Thomas, earlier on felt differently. He said, “Everything she does, she tries and does her best. I’m so proud of her. I told her the day before, ‘I have a weird feeling that you have a shot to win this.’”

His words were prophetic.

Once other competitors started to get eliminated towards the end of the event held on 6/3 at Memorial Junior School in Whippany, Thomas was thinking her chances for a win were much closer.

Finally, as the last youngster

standing and after spelling the word “procrastinate,” Thomas was awarded the Hanover Township Thea Spina Spelling Bee Award for 2023.

Nicole Gavin, Thomas’ fifth grade teacher at Salem Drive School, said, “I am so proud of Audrey, all around. She has a natural talent for spelling yet is very humble about her knowledge. I was impressed with how she was able to take her time, settle her nerves, and truly work through the phonetics of each word. Her ability to remain focused and determined was key. The spellers this year were among the best I have seen throughout the years. All the students should pat themselves on the back for a job well done!”

A combined 18 fourth and fifth graders from Salem Drive, Mountview Road, and Bee Meadow schools took part in the final round after winning respectively their school’s own

preliminary spelling bees.

Owen Csatlos and Antonio Savoia of Mountview Road School were runners-up to Thomas.

Rosemary Cataliotti, who is an accelerated math and PACT (gifted and talented program) teacher at Salem Drive School, has been overseeing that school’s spelling bee for 20 years.

Cataliotti said of the wonderful but challenging contest, “It’s always an exciting event.

And it is a traditional event, and it catches everyone’s attention.

The entire gym is quiet; all you hear is the fan going. It is very exciting, and there are six finalists chosen.”

Rob Camean, Principal of Salem Drive School, lauded Thomas and all those who took part.

Camean said, “Kudos to all of our spelling bee finalists who participated in the Hanover Township Public Schools Spell-

a musical revue at hospitals, nursing schools, and special education schools, and help bring some light and levity to individuals who might not be able to attend a theatrical production,” she says.

This led to her formation of the Pixie Dust Players at 13, hoping to provide opportunities for teenagers to hone their craft and pursue acting on a deep level.

Since that time, Maron has helped many young students move onward to major theatrical tours, even witnessing her former pupils take the stage on Broadway.

Though Maron remains modest and prefers to keep the spotlight on her performers, her teaching style does help prepare young actors for the future.

“My goal with Pixie Dust is to treat everyone like emerging professionals, which means that I treat them with respect, and I treat them with expectations that I know they can rise to,” Maron says.

Both her style and experience has led to a flurry of musicals and other shows being directed by Maron and the Pixie Dust Players.

During the last few years, Maron has been working with DreamWorks Theatricals on piloting a few of their shows.

This indicates Maron’s theater company is the first to produce a play while it’s still in development. For instance, this past year they piloted “How to Train Your Dragon Jr” and

“Trolls JR.” As for the upcoming summer, she is holding auditions for the piloting of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Kids. There are also plans to perform “Camp Rock” this August in Millburn.

“We have some exciting pilots, I believe, coming up in the next year, as well as some other well-known titles. So, lots to come, and lots of opportunities for all ages, both on stage and off,” she says.

For more information about auditioning or participating

ing Bee. All students showed great confidence and composure in a high-pressure situation.

And I am extremely proud that Audrey Thomas represented Salem Drive School in the fashion that she did. She is multi-talented and demonstrates great character in all that she does.

Audrey’s victory is a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance. Her achievement not only highlights her personal talents but also underscores the importance of competition, education, and the joy of learning.

Way to go Audrey!”

And for Thomas, who said she was both surprised and happy when she won the spelling bee, there was a treat awaiting her when she returned to school that Monday: she was honored with a parade. She marched around the school with her trophy while the runners up from Salem Drive School followed behind her, and the rest of the student body cheered her vic-

Florham Park’s Lindsay Maron Introduces Children to the Theater

BY EVAN WECHMAN STAFF WRITER

FLORHAM PARK - Lindsay Maron of Florham Park may have made a big splash as an actress if she remained on the typical path. However, Maron’s passions have always been about helping others, even if the road was more difficult.

She is still shy of 30 years old but has been around theater since she was a child when her family took her to see “Annie,” at the age of three.

Ironically, Maron was far from excited about the theater initially. “I Was terrified. We had very close-up seats and I wanted to leave. I was crying but they convinced me to stay, and from that point on, I was hooked,” she says.

About three years later, Maron took the stage during a production of “Annie” at the JCC MetroWest in West Orange.

She received stellar reviews and went on to perform in other major plays in Manhattan.

She could have continued performing which would have led to a terrific acting career.

But, when Maron was preparing for her Bat Mitzvah project, she envisioned something wonderful.

She recalls that while most of her friends were doing bake sales and other activities to raise money for charity, she wanted to do something closer to her heart.

“I was looking for something that was true to my interests and theater has always been a huge part of my life.

So, I decided to put together a troupe of teenagers to perform

Winner from June’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” Contest

AREA - The winners from June’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” are Ajay Mampilly; East Hanover, Steven Miano; Florham Park, Helen Axelrad East Hanover and Eileen O’Connor Florham Park.

The ads that “Hank the

Hornet” were in: Ice Hockey Registration, MagnoliaHome Remodeling, UPS Store, Simply Perfect, Planks to You and Bergen Debate Team.

Thanks to everyone who enter and congratulations to our winners!

Hanover Township Public Schools Spelling Bee winner, Audrey Thomas (credit: Michael Thomas)

tory.

Thomas, who loves playing softball and also writes song

lyrics in her spare time, looks forward to potentially talking part in future spelling bees.

VFW 5351 to Hold “Special Needs” Luncheon and Dance

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

Lindsay Maron

in these future productions, please check out their website at Theatre | Pixie Dust Players | United States.

Interesting Facts Related AREA- VFW 5351 of Whippa- kicked up again, and people will hold a “Special Needs” were willing to come even if it to Independence Day nyluncheon and dance for adults was held outside. But we chose

AREA - Americans celebrate Independence Day every July 4. The holiday has become synonymous with summer fun, as grand fireworks displays and backyard barbecues are integral components of many people’s July 4 celebrations.

As Americans and residents of the United States prepare for some festive Fourth of July celebrations, they can keep these interesting facts related to Independence Day in mind.

• There have been many iterations of the American flag.

The American flag has become an iconic symbol of freedom recognized across the globe since the United States declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776. But few July 4 celebrants may know that the current version is the 27th iteration of the American flag. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the current version of the flag officially became the flag on July 4, 1960.

• More than half of all Amer-

icans own an American flag.

A 2023 poll from WalletHub found that 57 percent of Americans own an American flag.

And that’s not the only way Americans show their national pride, as the same poll found that roughly one in three Americans intended to purchase patriotic merchandise for July 4.

• The United States is not the only place to celebrate American independence. Such celebrations occur in various countries, including Australia, Denmark, Ireland, and Norway.

The festivities in Rebild National Park in Denmark is believed to be the largest celebration of American independence outside the United States.

• The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that 150 million hot dogs are consumed on July 4. Though there’s no corresponding estimate related to how many hamburgers Americans eat on PLEASE SEE INDEPENDENCE DAY, PAGE 2

and children with disabilities on Sunday, July 14, at 1:00 p.m.

The luncheon had its genesis years ago, when VFW 5351 members would purchase $25 gifts for residents of a Newark orphanage. When the orphanage closed, the VFW continued with a “Special Needs” party during the Christmas season, each attendee receiving a stocking with an apple, orange, candy, and also a gift of their choice which they listed on their returned invitation card.

The party was held yearly until the COVID-19 pandemic, when Post members would just send a gift card with a Christmas card.

The July 14 party is a newbie, and VFW Post 5351 is hoping for a great celebration as thus far 60 registered only guests are signed up.

“Everything got disrupted during the virus,” Tom Miller, a Post 5351 member and Commander, said. “We were going to have a party this past Christmas, but the virus had kind of

not to.”

Therefore, the July luncheon, the planning of which started in September 2023. Former attendees have been invited back, and new folks in the Hanover area community have also been included as well. Post 5351 itself sponsors and funds the event, and food is provided by the East Hanover Diner.

VFW Post 5351 was formed on January 27, 1946 by a group of returning veterans from World War II in which Robert Gulick served in the Army/Air Force and as post Commander.

Since 1946, VFW Post 5351 has prided itself on its support for veterans and the community.

In addition to excellent food and enjoyable music, registered attendees of the “Special Needs” luncheon and dance will receive a hat adorned with the words I am “Special” and a gift card.

The VFW Post 5351 is located at 13-23 Legion Place in Whippany.

Your Chance to Win a $25 Gift Card with the “Find Hank The Hornet Mascot” Contest

AREA - Check out our mascot...

Hank the Hornet. Look for him in the ads in this issue and enter (no purchase necessary) to win

a $25.00 gift card (4 winners).

It is easy to enter. Look through the paper and read the ads and look for “Hank” in the ads. He

will be located throughout the paper in 6 random ads. Then go to https://www.mypaperonline. com/find-hank-contest.html

scroll down and fill out the form to be entered.

Winners will be notified and printed in the next issue.

Page 2 • July 2024 • East Hanover/Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

Livingston’s Hannah Kim Makes an Impact in Written Word and Action

AREA - When speaking with 2023 Livingston High School graduate, Hannah Kim, you feel that, although her interests and goals may be different than yours, she still makes you feel your life is pretty good.

All this is reflected in her resume, which is a testament to her talent and drive, and her cordial persona, where she shows interest in others.

Consider Kim, who attends the University of Pennsylvania, and her fondness for mentoring.

In the summer of 2023, she via virtual weekly meetings encouraged and mentored five young students in Malaysia on how to create a product and manage sales and marketing, the overall goal to foster in them entrepreneurial skills.

Yes, the above points to Kim’s interest in economics and problem solving, but it goes much deeper.

Kim, 19, said, “I wanted to teach them that it’s possible that, no matter the age, and that even if it means that you’re not some multibillion dollar company, just even having some creative movement within your own local community, as I did in high school myself, is something that creates a lasting impact.”

“Lasting impact” also aptly describes Kim’s creative writing endeavors.

Recalling her time in fourth grade, she said, “I was a huge fan of historical fiction, and I loved reading it. What got me into it was I wrote this one piece about World War II – and do not ask me how I knew about that in the fourth grade. I did not know much about that historical event itself; I kind of imagined what it would be like to live in that world.”

Kim continued that love for fiction throughout elementary

and middle schools, but when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, her focus turned to public policy – and other writing genres.

She explained. “After hearing on the news about the painful crimes that were occurring to a lot of individuals in our country, I didn’t have an emotional outlet for that, but I was really inspired by the poet Julien Carr - she began posting a lot - and Amanda Gorman was also pretty popular around this time, and I kind of fell in love with her performance at the White House. Those combined were a big push towards poetry.”

As was the death of her grandfather, which whom she had a wonderful relationship.

Kim said, “Ever since he passed away, a lot of my writing ties back to him.” In fact, one of her latest poems about her grandfather was recently

published. “That’s one way I am still keeping my ties with writing, and I do hope to one day release this one collection.

My grandfather, he was an orphan of the Korean War, and I found the story so impeccable, that I want to pay homage to him in a way by publishing a good poetry collection. That is a long-term goal.”

Kim, who has won awards for her poetry, in 2021 was also awarded a Gold Key from Scholastic Arts & Writing for her essay and memoir titled “Haraboji’s Letters”, which details her grandfather’s Korean War experiences. She served as the editor-in chief of the LHS literary magazine Inner Voices, and was an editor for The Lance, the school newspaper.

Kim, who was raised by her dad and mom, Daewee Kim and Seonyoung Choi, and who has a younger brother, Paul, a Livingston High School senior,

attributes most of her accomplishments and opportunities to her faith.

“I am a firm believer,” Kim

said, “that I would not be here where I am today if it were not for God’s plan and His strength.”

FLORHAM PARK - Florham Park Public Library, located at 107 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, will present Understanding Aging and End of Life Care lecture on Tuesday, July 16 from 6:30pm-7:30 pm in the Akhoury Room A&B. This lecture is designed to help you understand how to take care of yourself and your loved ones in the final years of life.

Participants will learn about the following 3 subjects: Understanding how a licensed home care firm takes care of your loved ones. We will discuss the aspects of a home care firm, and how the process protects you, the customer. We will also cover the role and responsibilities of the Director of Nursing, the vetting of home health aides, and other ways you are protected.

Understanding how to use your financial resources to cov-

er long term care. Basic and current guidelines and information pertaining to different types of investments, Long Term Care insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits and other available resources for seniors looking to cover the cost of Long Term Care will be discussed.

Understanding your brain as you go through the aging process, and how to keep sharp!

We will discuss what is normal, and what is not normal as it relates to memory. In addition, we will talk about the warning signs and behavioral changes when undergoing dementia.

About the Speakers: Kristen Jankowski understands first hand the physical, mental, and emotional challenges with caring for a loved one. As a result, she and her husband, Robert, created OneCare Harmony Home Health Care to help people who want

to remain in their homes by providing home care and companion care. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a Certified Financial Planner.

Previously, Kristen has 10+ years corporate experience working for Johnson and Johnson as well as Honeywell, Inc., where she received her Six Sigma Green Belt, as well as completed other top notch quality improvement and customer service training. She has been a Florham Park citizen for 40+ years, and is also an active member of the surrounding communities through various organizations and volunteer work.

Sarah Schwarcz is an accomplished Healthcare professional with over a decade of extensive experience working with the Geriatric population.

Sarah has done Medicaid Consulting, Veterans Benefits Consulting, and has been a Director

of Admissions at an Assisted Living facility. She currently works in a Subacute Rehab and Long Term Care facility. Sarah has been accredited to provide CEU classes on senior related topics to seniors and other Healthcare professionals.

Barbara Freda is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP).

As the Business Development Specialist for Arden Courts

ProMedica Memory Care Northern New Jersey Market, her role is to bring information and education to the local community for caregiver support and information regarding our community services. Her background includes sales and marketing for the past 20 years helping to build brand awareness and strategic partnerships within the community. Bar-

bara serves on the leadership team for the “Adult Children of Aging Parents”, and she is a member of The Professional Alliance Council for Senior Industry Professionals. Barbara is the recipient of the 2017 Women Honoree Volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America award and is an active member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.

Wharton Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Club.

Florham Park Public Library Presents Understanding Aging and End of Life Care

Independence Day...

FROM FRONT PAGE July 4, various reports suggest Americans eat roughly 50 billion burgers annually, so it’s fair to conclude many a burger will be consumed this Independence Day. • July is a popular month for nations to celebrate their independence. In addition to the United States, various countries, including Algeria (July

5), Argentina (July 9), The Bahamas (July 10), Belarus (July 3), Burundi (July 1), Canada (July 1), Cape Verde (July 1), Colombia (July 20), Kiribati (July 12), and Liberia (July 26), celebrate their Independence Day in July.

• John Adams, a Founding Father of the United States and the second president in the country’s history, felt Ameri-

cans should celebrate their independence from Great Britain on July 2. That’s because the Continential Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776. However, the Declaration of Independence was not approved for two more days, thus making July 4 the day to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover/Florham Park Life • July 2024 • Page 3

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African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey Inspires, Educates in Museums and Throughout NJ

BY JEFF GARRETT STAFF WRITER

AREA - If you’re venturing to the Jersey shore this summer, happen to be around Atlantic City and have a hankering to take in some African-American Culture, then you may want to visit the Noyes Arts Garage at 200 Fairmount Ave. To celebrate Juneteenth, a night filled with poetry readings from some of the state’s most well-known African-American poets occurred on Wednesday, June 19.

10 well-known poets including Belinda Manning from Atlantic County, Cole Eubanks from Vineland, NJ and from Turiya Abdul-Raheem from Galloway, NJ recited poetry and discussed topics relevant to Juneteeth’s historical signifi-

cance celebrating when slavery ended in America. Juneteenth was made a federal holiday to be celebrated on June 19 by President Biden in 2021.

While the poetry event on June 19 was memorable there’s a lot more to see and learn about at the Center.

Only 15 years old, the idea for the Center came when Buena Vista resident, Ralph Hunter, decided to showcase his collection of African-American inspired collectibles from all over in a formal capacity to share with others. The mayor of Buena Vista offered Hunter space where he could showcase his cultural treasures in the mid-2000’s. Hunter, a retired retail worker always had a knack for observing his sur-

roundings and collected things which people left on the card or discarded by any means. He saw significance in these items and just kept collecting.

There are now two locations of African American History – one in Atlantic City and one in Newtonville, located at 661 Jackson Street. In each location, stories which may be looked upon as flattering or the opposite, unflattering, are told at the museums. The museums hope to shed light on black Americans hard road to freedom, the struggles black American have endured since the Emancipation Proclamation and the continued debate about race relations in modern-day America.

On permanent display at

Forgiveness Is The Key To Heaven’s Door

Noyes is an exhibit titled, “Stereotypes: From Little Black Sambo to Aunt Jemima and Beyond.” It recognizes cinematic The Gold Dust Twins, Amos & Andy, Buckwheat — images used widely in advertising and print media to represent black Americans by proxy which influenced the perception of an entire race.

This is critical to today’s youth which did not experience such Media directly. By recognizing it, the museum hopes to ensure that young learners become aware of what their parents, grandparents and those before them had to endure. Its point is to show how negative and wrong such mass marketing was in the hopes that it never occurs again.

Another meaningful exhibit in Atlantic City is titled, “The Northside: The Way We Were,” highlighting the buoyancy of privileged African-American who found success as entertainers in the “Boardwalk Empire” era. The original “Club Harlem” door and sign is displayed too. Two other permanent exhibits titled, “Portraits of a People,” all found pictures of noteworthy African-American found in a crawlspace no less and one display of family furniture from earlier times owned

by African-Americans are there for museum-goers to see.

A traveling exhibit sponsored by AAHMSNJ allows communities and schools to learn about African- American history in New Jersey and the

rest of America.

Exhibits showcasing the protests of organized black American outside Atlantic City’s Convention Hall at the 1964 Democratic National Convention as well as one highlighting the story of baseball-great Jackie Robinson are apart of the traveling exhibit which visits dozens of schools in New Jersey each school year. Admission to the museums are free but donations are strongly suggested.

The Museum in Atlantic City is open from Wednesday through Sunday. Several limited-time exhibits and gatherings such as talks and discussions are ongoing and can be found by logging onto www.AAMHSNJ. org.

BY RICHARD MABEY, JR. GUEST WRITER

AREA - Since September of last year, I have been on a most interesting and enduring path, in search of some degree of healing for my heart condition. It was only last month, when I began going to the University of Florida Medical Center (Shands) that I was definitively diagnosed, very specifically, with a heart disease known as Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Many Cardiologists call it “the silent killer” because it is so very difficult to pinpoint into a defined diagnosis.

Basically one in 500 people get Apical HCM. It’s a relatively rare heart disease. In the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking more and more about my relationship with God, getting right with God and also what I need to do to become a more righteous person. One single, solitary word, has kept popping up onto the inner screen of my mind. And, that word is FORGIVE. Not to just give superficial forgiveness to those people who did me wrong. But rather, to deeply forgive them, from the deepest fibers of my heart and the innermost sinew of the marrow of my bones. To simply burn out any ill feelings that I may have been holding onto, on a conscious or even subconscious level, toward people who have hurt me.

I thought of three or four teachers, from grade school and high school, who mocked my last name. Their sneers, the pathetic joy that they seemed to swim in, by ridiculing a sensitive child. I thought of my gym teacher, from the eighth

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Yours truly, at home, sitting at the very couch upon which I have written dozens of stories and articles, while watching Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

grade who mocked me for not being able to climb the rope all the way to the top. I thought of cruel supervisors and gossiping coworkers. And on and on the list unrolled.

And then, about a week ago, I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to burn out the grievances that I was harboring against these people.

As I prayed at my desk, with my eyes closed, I felt the presence of Jesus, standing over my right shoulder. I felt the hand of Christ, gently touch my right shoulder. I felt a huge burden being lift from my heart center. A calm, serene, peaceful feeling then filled the chambers of my heart.

Here’s the whole thing in nutshell. God loves you more than you will ever know. It is a love that is deeper than the beautiful blue sea and wider than the Atlantic Ocean. God’s love knows no limitations. It is boundless.

God’s immense love will forgive us for anything and everything that we have done, consciously or unconsciously,

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that have hurt another person.

But there’s one caveat. In turn, we need to forgive those who have done us wrong. Forgiveness is the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is deadly serious. This is not a joke. Pray for God to help you burn out the bad feelings that you may be holding toward someone who has hurt you in the past. In prayer, ask God to burn out those grievances to a charcoal crisp and let the wind of the Divine Spirit blow away the charred fibers.

To truly forgive someone, may well be the hardest thing you will ever do. But it will give you the peace that passeth all understanding. Truly, forgiveness is the sacred key to Heaven’s Gate.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover/Florham Park Life • July 2024 • Page 5

New Jersey’s Great Swamp War

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN STAFF WRITER AREA - The Great Swamp of New Jersey is nestled within a 55-square mile natural basin and is the remnant of the bottom of the once-mighty Glacial Lake Passaic that around 15,000 to 11,000 years ago stretched into what is in Morris County, in northern New Jersey. The lake was formed by the melting waters of the retreating Wisconsin Glacier at the end of the last Ice Age. The glacier had pushed a moraine ahead of its advance, a combination of soil and rocks that blocked the existing outlet for the waters that drained into the area. As the retreating glacier melted, the waters rose to create the lake before a new outlet had began to allow the water to drain at a much higher elevation.

Millions of years ago, the continent of Africa collided violently with North America, pushing up great mountains to the north and west. Erosion has

since worn them down to size.

When Africa broke away, hot molten rock flowed up from the earth’s interior, creating the Watchung Mountains to the south and east. Again, erosion has taken its toll.

About 18,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Glacier began to cease its southerly motion and melt, leaving behind a great pile of rock and soil along a line from Chatham to Morristown.

The retreating Wisconsin Glacier left the New Jersey wetlands in its wake some 11,000 years ago. As the last parts of the glacier receded, it formed the basin of the Great Swamp.

Blocked by the Watchung Mountains, the glacier left behind another great pile of earth and rocks to the west of the Great Swamp basin. Today, that pile is known as Basking Ridge.

Today, the wilderness area accounts for the eastern half of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which serves

as a resting and nesting area for over 250 migratory birds. With miscellaneous flora, including cattail marshes, wet grasslands and forests, the area is home to a number of species outside of migratory birds, including rare bog turtles. Wood turtles, blue-spotted salamanders, mice, skunks, raccoons, coyotes and deer also call the Great Swamp home.

It is a natural oasis in an area that is mostly suburban, making the refuge an outstanding area for migrating waterfowl to stop, rest and feed on their migration.

Morris County, among the fastest growing counties in the New Jersey, is nestled amid rolling hills, broad valleys and glittering lakes. It is also approximately 30 miles northwest of New York City, and that made it vulnerable to plunder by land/ airport developers.

The swamp war began in 1959, when the powerful Port of New York and New Jersey

Authority announced plans to construct a huge 10,000 acre “jetport” 26 miles west of New York City in a little-known place called the Great Swamp.

In the name of progress, entire towns would be obliterated, the aquifer and wildlife destroyed, and a way-of-life was threatened for thousands of people if this happened. he Jersey Jetport Site Association,(JJSA) was the first to organize in opposition. Their efforts to prevent the development of an airport in the swamp became public knowledge on December 3, 1959, when four of its members (Kafi Benz, Joan Kelly, Esty Weiss, and Betty White) were expelled from a meeting at the Essex House in Newark that had been organized to generate support for its construction.

The events that followed became one of the more defining environmental confrontations of its time - a grassroots

AREA - Sports fans across the globe will be glued to their televisions this summer, when the historic city of Paris hosts the Olympic Games. Beginning with the Opening Ceremony on July 26, the 2024 Olympic Games is sure to feature awe-inspiring athletic accomplishments that mark the culmination of years of hard work on the part of competitors.

Once the games commence, fans can keep an eye out for these five notable athletes who figure to put their stamp on this summer’s competitions.

1. Simone Biles: Few athletes at this summer’s Games are as recognizable as American gymnast Simone Biles. Biles’s accomplishments are already too numerous to mention, but the 27-year-old can pad her leg-

acy even further by earning just one more medal this summer in Paris. Should she accomplish that feat, Biles will have earned more Olympic medals than any American gymnast in the history of the Games.

2. Daiki Hashimoto: A twotime gold medal winner at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Hashimoto, who will turn 23 during this summer’s games, will be seen as the athlete to beat in men’s gymnastics. Hashimoto is a four-time world champion, and NBC Sports notes three of those titles were earned in 2023.

3. LeBron James: The National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer is no stranger to the Olympic Games,

but the 39-year-old James has not played on the Olympic stage since 2012. Over the last several years, James made no secret of his desire to return to Olympic competition, suggesting this summer’s games will be the last time to see arguably the greatest player of all time compete at this level.

4. Léon Marchand: Born in Toulouse, France, in 2002, Marchand figures to be the center of attention this summer. Some suggest Marchand could put on a performance not unlike his fellow swimmer Michael Phelps’ efforts in the pool years ago, as the Frenchman is coached by Bob Bowman at Arizona State University. Bowman famously coached Phelps during his time at the University of Michigan and beyond, and

swimming fans will be curious to see how the hometown hero Marchand performs in the pools of Paris this summer.

5. Summer McIntosh: The pride of Canada made a name for herself at the tender age of 14 during the 2020 Games, where she was the youngest athlete named to the Canadian team. McIntosh finished fourth in the 400-meter freestyle in Tokyo, narrowly missing a medal in that event but still breaking the Canadian national record.

Now a seasoned 17-year-old, McIntosh returns to the Olympic stage this summer.

The Summer Olympics return this summer in Paris, and many talented, exciting athletes figure to make this year’s competitions as exciting as ever.

5 Athletes to Keep an Eye on at this Summer’s Olympic Games

movement that started in a local high school and a decade later required the actions of a President and an Act of Congress to stop the project. It also led to the creation of a national treasure, a wildlife refuge, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The historic battle of the Morris County residents against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ended on Sept.

30, 1968, with the designation of the Great Swamp as a National Wilderness Area. It was one of the first sieges to pit a grassroots effort against a powerful government agency — and have victory go to the local residents.

“We applaud the disciplined, tough minded action by many voluntary citizens’ groups,” Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior, said in 1969, midway through the fray. “They were determined that a unique outdoor place did not have to be sacrificed to the demands of development.”

During the siege that lasted nine years, more than 14,600 individuals contributed time or money to the battle, conservationists spent $1,500,000 and 462 organizations from 29 states pledged support to the anti jetport forces. e land that would become the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established by an Act of Congress on November 3, 1969, after a multi-year legal battle that pitted local residents against Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials attemped to turn the Great

Swamp into a major regional airport to supplement Newark Airport’s ability to accommodate large jet aircraft.

The JJSA activity was followed closely by an influential sister organization) the North American Wildlife Foundation established its specially designated, Great Swamp Committee, in 1960. Between the two organizations and, in less than a year, enough property in the core of the swamp was quickly purchased, assembled, and donated to the federal government to qualify for perpetual protection as a National Wildlife Refuge.

As the Congressional Representative from Arizona, Stewart Udall immediately championed the efforts of these residents, whom he described as having mounted the greatest effort ever made by residents in America to protect a natural habitat, and later, on May 29, 1964, as the Secretary of the Interior, he oversaw its dedication as a refuge. The initial donation was 2,600 acres which assured its protection as a refuge and the acquisition of additional lands continued. In 1960, Congressional Representative Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr., whose estate was in the area targeted for development also joined the effort.

Over the years, more land has been added. Its eastern half (3,660 acres) was designated as a wilderness area by Congress in 1968, making it the first wilderness area within the Fish and Wilderness system by Congress.

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Page 6 • July 2024 • East Hanover/Florham Park Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

NJStarz

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

NJ Starz: Bonnie J. Monte Hometown: Madison

AREA - When asked what is being missed by those who, by choice, don’t attend or favor theatre arts performances, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Artistic Director Emerita, Bonnie J. Monte, said, “They’re missing an experience that is not replicable by any other experience. You’re missing a kind of in the moment, live chemistry that exists between you and the people on stage that changes from moment to moment. They’re missing out on something that actually, what science tells us, keeps people both mentally and physically healthy.”

Wisdom noted.

When Monte early in 2023 announced that she would be stepping away from her Artistic Director job of 33 years, those associated in any way with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey knew it might be just a tip-toe. In fact, Monte, who has directed over 90 plays during her three decades plus with the much-loved organization on the Drew University campus in Madison, is this month back in the director’s chair for The Book of Will, which runs from July 7 – 28 (www.shakespearenj.org/ events/detail/book-of-will).

Monte, who currently lives in Morris County but is originally from Stamford, Connecticut, was exposed at a young age to literature and the arts, particularly dance, opera, and theatre, by her parents, Eugene and Marjorie.

“It was a fairly idyllic child,” Monte said. “And the question never was raised as to, whether by being a woman or a female, I would be able or not be able to do whatever I wanted. It was always just the assumption I would decide what I wanted to do in life, I would pursue it, and I would be happy doing it. There was never any limitations or censorship on how or what I should be thinking. My parents were pretty incredible.”

The seed for staging performances was sown early on.

Monte said, “I guess it’s in my blood. I don’t know where I got it from, but I started directing plays. I started putting on shows in the neighborhood.

I started grabbing all the kids

together and organizing them, and I put on a circus every summer.” She even turned publisher for a period. “I published a family newspaper,” she said fondly. “I was just very much into all of that stuff, even as a little, tiny kid.”

Monte attended and received a B.A. degree in Theatre from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, and while there, she as part of her thesis production directed popular actress, Frances McDormand, in Tennessee William’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

“I had an extraordinary group of people in the theater program at that time,” Monte said. “I had a wonderful teacher, Dr. David Judy, who was very encouraging, and I directed well over 10 productions just as an undergraduate. I was given a tremendous amount of opportunity to just start cutting my teeth on by actually directing. That was a really good program for me at that time in my life.”

Monte’s next stop was for her graduate degree at The Hartman Conservatory, a twoyear conservatory program affiliated with a new regional theater in her hometown. She said, “I was able to live at home, and also managed to get a full scholarship, so that was a very affordable experience for me. And the great thing about it was all of my teachers were from the Yale Drama School program. I basically got the Yale Drama School education from the same teachers at no cost, and in half the time.”

A big key as well was the proximity to New York City.

Monte said, “I had a great two years of my conservatory training, and then given all the contacts that I made there, I was able to segue right into New York with a theater job right away. So, I was the assistant to the director of a very big off-Broadway production in New York City, right out of graduate school.”

Once that production was out of rehearsals, Monte remained on as a wardrobe mistress. She said, “I didn’t know anything about wardrobe, but I wanted a job. Obviously, I was a young kid in New York just starting out in theater. I

learned really quick how to be a wardrobe mistress, and that has forged a lifelong appreciation and more for wardrobe mistresses.”

After toiling at odd jobs like bartending and waitressing, and serving as a play reader for a producer and working at an off-Broadway cabaret, a big break came in 1981. Monte started to work at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts as the assistant to the Artistic Director and festival co-founder, Nikos Psacharopoulos. While there, she had the opportunity to work with the legendary Tennessee Williams.

As previously mentioned, Monte had done her thesis production in college with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but she had also seen a beautiful production of the same play while in high school. “I became a Tennessee Williams freak,” Monte said regarding the aftermath of that teenage experience, and at the Williamstown Theater Festival, she was the liaison between Williams and a team of writers, herself one of them.

“We were putting together an eight-and-a-half-hour production that was an homage to his entire canon of work, and after that I went to the Manhattan Theatre Club.”

Monte spent just a year as a casting director at the Manhattan Theater Club when she was approached about a theatre needing an Artistic Director. She was interested, and began the interview process for the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, which at that time was known as the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival.

Monte was hired in October of 1990, but was faced with a daunting set of challenges, one being taking over an organization that was almost $300,000 in debt and had less than $500 in the bank.

“I remember the night before I started. I said to myself, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’” Monte said. “But I was pretty excited. I was kind of anxious to ‘fix’ it. I must have some kind of inner mechanism that makes me want to fix things. The institution was in trouble, and everywhere I looked, I saw solutions to

fixing things that had not happened or that needed to happen. It was very challenging, but I had a great partner at the time, Mike Stotts. He was my Managing Director, and he is now the Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse. He and I, along with a couple of other people, truly kind of reinvented and reinvigorated the institution within a year. For the most part, we just dove in and started fixing things.”

One of those things was the organization’s suffering financial state, where a capital campaign was begun and raised almost eight million dollars.

Using the funding, from 1996 to 1998 there was the renovation and expansion of the F.M Kirby Theater, one of two locations where Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey productions are staged (the other is the Outdoor Stage, a summer performance venue at nearby Saint Elizabeth University), and a second component was expanding the mission of the institution, so that there would be an equal focus on education. The Florham Park-lo-

Bonnie J. Monte (credit: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey)

cated Kean Theatre Factory, which functions as a major support facility for the entire organization with created education spaces, was built and eventually unveiled in 2012.

For Monte, who has an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from both Drew University and Saint Elizabeth University, 2024 has been a transition year as she hands the reins over to current Artistic Director, Brian Crowe. However, her eyes are indeed on the future while she reflects on her tenure.

Monte said of the on-stage product and education, “We brought classics to life that nobody had ever heard of - they were buried treasures, and we trained generation after generation after generation, and continue to do so. I think the thing I’m most proud of is that we had and we very quickly became one of the best teaching theaters in America, and one of the best classical theaters in America, and that the quality of work was always world class.”

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Hold Dear Your Purpose to Serve God

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • East Hanover/Florham Park Life • July 2024 • Page 7

BY RICHARD MABEY, JR. GUEST WRITER AREA - Each and every one of us, holds a unique person.

A calling to serve God in our own way, with our own talents, our own abilities. All service to God is sacred. The man who cleans the church is just as important as the famous television evangelist. Each job, in service to God, is of immense importance.

Often times we are held back by the unkind words spoken to us by someone to whom we looked up to and greatly admired. When I was 14 and in my freshman year at Boonton High School, I had an English teacher to whom I greatly admired. I had written a story about the bond of brother-

hood that flowed between my paternal grandfather, Watson Mabey, and his brother, Earl Mabey. I wrote about how devastated Grandpa was, when he got the news that his brother was killed in action, during the First World War. Well, Mrs. Adams, gave me a C- on my essay. Then she wrote at the end of my story, “emotionally sloppy!”

For a long time, the C- grade and those two words that Mrs. Adams wrote at the end of my story, devastated me. I am immensely grateful to my father and to Mr. Marino, Editor-in-Chief of the old Lincoln Park Herald, who convinced me that Mrs. Adams didn’t

know what she was talking about, that I was, in fact, a good writer.

Maybe you’ve had a Mrs. Adams in your life. Someone to whom you greatly admired, respected and thought highly of, who shot you down with unkind words. You must erase that memory from your heart and mind. You must come to know that you are on this earth for a purpose. And, you can never afford to allow anyone to ambush you.

If you’re not sure about what your true purpose in life is. Pray about it. Pray, pray and pray for God to show you what your true purpose in this life is.

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When you do find your true purpose, your calling unto Heaven, pour forth all your heart, mind and soul into fulfilling that purpose. See yourself as a soldier going into battle. Hold that high degree of focus, energy, mental stamina, and willingness to roll up your sleeves, to fulfill your true purpose to serve God. Do not swerve from your true calling. Do not allow oth-

er people to distract you. Let your true purpose to serve God, burn brightly in your heart. See yourself as a lion walking the jungle, being fearless, courageous and bold. Be willing to work hard. Then work even harder to fulfill your purpose to God. Never, never, never ever give up. Never surrender. Place these words on your desk, on your bathroom mirror, at your

place at your kitchen table, “FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!” Never give up! Never, ever give up! Never, never, never give up your dreams!

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

AREA - It’s not uncommon for individuals to think that the ultimate vacation adventure requires venturing far and wide.

But there are plenty of exciting ways to get your thrills even if you don’t stray too far from home. Here is how to plan a summer adventure right in your own neighborhood.

• Visit an amusement or theme park. Spending a day or two at a theme park or amusement park can expose travelers to different rides, sights, attractions, food, and people. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation operates 27 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Water parks, summer carni-

vals and local theme parks also can make for fun excursions.

• Scale great heights. Figure out what is the highest peak where you live and then hike to the top of that lookout. Many of the tallest peaks in North America are along the border between the state of Alaska and Canada, but there are plenty of lofty elevations elsewhere on the continent.

• Try a new food. Experience a new culture by visiting a restaurant that serves food from a country that you’ve never visited. You can score even more brownie points if you opt for an ingredient that is new to you as well.

• Go rafting or tubing. The power of moving water is very impressive. Rafting and tubing enables people to get swept away by rapids and see the landscape as it goes rushing by.

Choose a pace that suits you and build up rapid size and speed as you gain more experience.

• Try a new water sport.

Stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking can be entertaining ways to enjoy the water. These are not only great adventurous activities, they’re also solid workouts for many parts of the body.

• Go fishing. Fishing may seem like a slow-paced sport, but your adrenaline soon will be pumping when a fish bites and you’re reeling in a monster catch. Some of the best times to fish are at dawn and dusk when fish are more likely to hit.

• Swim in the ocean. Head to the coast and dive through the waves. The summer months are the perfect times to take a dip as the ocean water becomes a more comfortable swimming temperature. Always swim in locations where lifeguards are present, and be sure to check red flag warnings for rip currents or rough surf. Keep an eye out for marine life as well.

• Catch a baseball game.

Purchase tickets to a game at a stadium near you and cheer on the team with thousands of other fans. In addition to watching Major League Baseball, there are many minor league teams with impressive stadiums. Tickets for minor league games may be easier to come by and softer on the wallet.

Summer adventures do not have to require traveling far.

There are plenty of exciting ideas close to home.

Adventure Awaits, Even Close to Home

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providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrity Extra

BY DANA JACKSON Q: I just started watching the comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” I know that two people on the series are married in real life. Did they meet on the show? -- G.W. A: Debuting in 2005 and still going strong, this hit FX (and FXX) network sitcom is the longest-running, non-animated comedy series ever, surpassing the previous record holder “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” It was created by Rob McElhenney, who plays Mac on show, and stars his off-screen wife Kaitlin Olson as Dee, Glenn Howerton as Dennis, and Charlie Day as Charlie.

Olson and McElhenney fell in love on the set of “It’s Always Sunny,” but initially kept their romance a secret from their co-stars. They wed two years later and now have two sons.

BY DEMI TAVERAS “A Family Affair” (PG-13) -- From the producers of “Anyone but You,” this rom-com is led by quite the interesting trio -- Nicole Kidman (“Expats”), Zac Efron (“The Iron Claw”), and Joey King (“The Kissing Booth” trilogy) -- with Kathy Bates and Liza Koshy co-starring. King plays Zara, the personal assistant to celebrity Chris Cole (Efron), while Kidman plays Brooke, Zara’s widowed mother. Upon learning that her boss of two years is hooking up with her mother, Zara understandably undergoes a bit of a crisis, especially knowing firsthand how much of a selfish man Chris can be.

Amid Zara’s protests, Brooke

The strikes in Hollywood pushed back production, but there will be a 17th season -just don’t expect it until late 2024 or early 2025. *** Q:Whatever happened to actress Jennifer Love Hewitt?

I loved her show “Ghost Whisperer” and would love to see her do a supernatural theme again. -- W.J. A: Jennifer Love Hewitt first gained fame as Sarah in the 1990s drama series “Party of Five.” She followed that up with the hit scary film “I Know What You Did Last Summer” before starring in the TV show “Ghost Whisperer,” which ended in 2010 after five seasons. Since then, she’s starred in three other hit series: “The Client List,” “Criminal Minds” and “9-1-1.”

Next up, she’ll star, direct and produce “The Holiday

Junkie,” a TV movie for Lifetime later in 2024. Her husband, Brian Hallisay, and their children will also appear in the film. It’s a very personal project for Hewitt about moving on during the winter holiday season while coping with the loss of her mother.

Elaine Frontain Bryant (EVP, head of programming genres for A&E, Lifetime and LMN) stated that “Jennifer is beloved by Lifetime and our viewers. We’re excited to work with her again on this special project near and dear to her and to have it as one of our cornerstones for our ‘It’s a Wonderful Lifetime’ slate.”

In addition, Hewitt launched her marketing and consumer brand The Holiday Junkie last year and is also releasing a book titled “Inheriting Magic,” which is set for publication this December.

*** Q: Did Bette Midler get cast as one of the cast members on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” like she wanted? I never heard anything further about it. -- W.M. A: Back in March, film actress Bette Midler (“The First Wives Club”) asked via social media if it was “too late” for her to be a “Real Housewife.”

She was in the mood to “talk some s**t” and get paid for it.

Alas, her name was not among the cast of the upcoming season, but she does have a new project on the horizon.

She’s part of the ensemble cast of the comedy “The Fabulous Four,” which hits theaters this July. Midler stars as a bride whose old college pals (played

by Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullaly) make up her bridal party at her destination wedding.

and Chris’ relationship starts to deepen, as Brooke acknowledges that she hasn’t felt this way in years since the death of her husband. So, will Zara continue to stand in her mother’s way, or will Nicole Kidman get her happily ever after with Zac Efron? (Who would’ve thought!) Find out on June 28.

(Netflix) “Red Right Hand” (NR) -In this action-thriller film out on June 28, Orlando Bloom dons a Southern accent to become Cash, a hardworking man who is just trying to live a quiet life with his niece and brotherin-law after the death of his sister. But his past wasn’t as clean as his present, and the presence

of the kingpin Big Cat (Andie MacDowell) in his town is a reminder of that tragic past. But when Cash finds out that his brother-in-law owes Big Cat a hefty sum of $100,000, Big Cat starts showing her claws and terrorizes their family. So, Cash is left with no choice but to fall back into her trap, and he promises to do three jobs for her to repay the debt. Despite his honorable intentions, he quickly realizes that he underestimated the mercy Big Cat will show and buckles up to finally put the kitty down. (Hulu) “Fancy Dance” (R) -- Erica Tremblay makes her feature directorial debut with the perfect actress to lead this emotion-

al drama. Taking place on the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Reservation, Lily Gladstone (“Under the Bridge”) stars as Jax, an aunt who is helping prepare her 13-year-old niece, Roki (Isabel DeRoy-Olson), for an upcoming powwow. Because Roki’s mother recently went missing again, this powwow holds a special importance to Roki, and Jax tries her best to step up in Roki’s mother’s place. But law enforcement fails to show any desire to find Roki’s mother, rather showing an interest in Jax’s criminal background that they think makes her an unsuitable guardian. Even though they force Roki to live with her close-minded grandparents, the

Couch Theater

Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson star in “It’s Always Sunny” Photo Credit: Courtesy of FX

Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail. com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando,

FL 32803. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Isabel DeRoy-Olson, left, and Lily Gladstone star in “Fancy Dance.”

Photo Credit: Apple TV+

renegade Jax sneaks Roki out to embark on a journey to find her mother in time for the powwow. This moving film pre-

mieres June 28. (Apple TV+) (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

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AREA - If you were a kid in America in the 1990s, or really any year since, you probably remember your first taste of Dippin’ Dots. Maybe it was at an amusement park, a cool treat after the thrill of riding your first roller coaster under the summer sun. Or maybe it was in between innings at a baseball game, after begging your parents for what felt like hours.

Regardless, you’ll never forget the sensation of the impossibly cold, impossibly round bits of ice cream. There was the

What Are Dippin’ Dots, Really?

The History of Cryogenic Ice Cream

crunch of biting into them, and then the sweet release of letting the ice cream melt, ever so slowly, on your tongue.

Back then, getting to eat a bowl of Dippin’ Dots was far more urgent than understanding what they actually were or where they came from. But the history of the theme park staple is a story-worthy treat of its own.

Dippin’ Dots was invented in the late 1980s, when novelty frozen desserts like astronaut ice cream and frozen yogurt

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and flavors like bubblegum were already proven hits. The product is the brainchild of microbiologist Curt Jones, who was working in cryogenics, flash-freezing animal food, in 1987.

“He kind of had his eureka moment when he was explaining the technology to his family,” says Dippin’ Dots’ senior director of sales, Adam Gross.

“He said, ‘You know, if I were to put the same process to ice cream mix, I could create an ice cream bead.’ And then the light bulb went off for him.”

The technical term, cryogenic encapsulation, is what happens when ice cream mix is dripped into liquid nitrogen. Conventional ice cream is made from a rich base, which is churned while its temperature is lowered to around 30°F. It’s a gradual process that incorporates air and ice crystals to produce a rich but light-onthe-tongue dessert that melts easily. When that same base is dropped into -300°F liquid nitrogen, however, it freezes immediately, without incorporating any additional air. That rapid freeze also means there’s no time for ice crystals to form in the beads. The result is tiny, dense, creamy balls that unfreeze extremely slowly.

After honing his process and polling friends for an appropriate name for the business, Jones and his wife Kay opened the first Dippin’ Dots storefront in Lexington, Kentucky; flavors included vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Neapolitan, peanut butter, and strawberry cheesecake yogurt. But the shop closed nine months later when they were unable to attract many customers. One year later, in 1989, a family member had the inspired idea to bring it—on vending bikes—to Opryland USA, a theme park in suburban Nashville that has since closed. “It started to gain some traction there,” says Gross. In 1991, the Joneses

came up with the slogan, “ice cream of the future,” which did wonders for their branding.

By 1992, Dippin’ Dots was in the Kennedy Space Center, and that’s when people started waiting in lines for a taste.

After that initial foray into amusement parks, the product gained a near fanatical following and, thanks to franchised operations, could be found in places like stadiums, water parks, and shopping centers.

By the late 1990s, Dippin’ Dots carried anywhere from 25 to 30 flavors, with top sellers including cookies and cream, rainbow ice, banana split, and chocolate chip cookie dough. In 2006, at the height of the company’s success, they were selling $47 million worth of tiny balls of ice cream. Since then, they’ve suffered through bankruptcy filings in 2011; ownership changes in 2012; and recently had to lay off workers, as many amusement parks, along with shopping malls and stadiums, remain closed due to the ongoing pandemic.

Dippin’ Dots is still shipping directly to customers’ homes, though the only direct-to-consumer option is a 30-serving bulk bag. I can personally attest that the dots arrive fully frozen, thanks to a prodigious amount of dry ice. They should be eaten the day they arrive, though—a standard home freezer won’t keep them chilly enough to stay in discrete ball for, and the dry ice can sublimate quickly.

While Dippin’ Dots may be the granddaddy of cryogenic ice creams, it hardly has a monopoly on the category. Its top competitor today is probably Mini Melts, which markets itself as the more gourmet alternative to other cryogenics.

They use a base with a higher butterfat percentage, which results in a creamier and richer taste. “It’s more on the level of Häagen-Dazs, where our closest competitor is more like a Good Humor,” says Barry

Bass, the South Florida–based distributor of the ice cream.

The company claims that its higher-end ingredients attract a larger market. “It’s a product that appeals not just to kids, but to adults as well,” Bass says.

Like Dippin’ Dots, Mini Melts also profits from its vending machines, which dispense the ice cream beads without the need for a salesperson—quite the benefit in these pandemic times. Later this year, they hope to offer local home delivery via DoorDash.

Novelty ice cream’s target consumer may be the young and sugar-obsessed, but there are even adult ice cream makers for whom the product still holds great appeal. Nick Morgenstern is owner of cult-favorite Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in New York City, where his 88 flavors include combinations like banana kalamansi and burnt sage. Even so, for Morgenstern, novelty products like Dippin’ Dots play just as important a role in the history of American ice cream as more classic varieties.

“They’re really all about the innovation of their process and their production,” he says of treats like cryogenic ice cream.

“It was created purely from the technology of, ‘Look we can make this thing that’s totally unusual and weird.’” While

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Morgenstern uses a fairly traditional approach for making his ice cream, he’s also dipping his toe into the waters of more faddish concoctions. “I’m obsessed right now with ice cream novelties... We’ve been really pushing into that world,” he says. “I’m constantly surprised at how much traction we have with focusing on the weirder stuff. We make it, and people buy it!” he says.

In 2015, Jones left Dippin’ Dots and founded 40 Below Joe, a concept that transforms coffee and dairy-free creamer into tiny frozen spheres. It officially launched to the public in 2018, and is now shipping directly to customers’ homes.

One point of contention in the early development process: Would freezing coffee negatively affect its taste? “We started to experiment with it, and I found that I could still capture all the flavor and essence of coffee,” Jones told Feast magazine. “Most baristas will tell you that as soon as you draw an espresso shot, you want to use it right away, because it starts to oxidize or change a little. That was my curiosity: I wonder if I froze it at 320°F below zero, if it would lock in? You’re putting it in nitrogen, which also displaces oxygen, so I thought maybe it would just lock it in. And then what would it be like a week, two weeks later? A month later? We kept checking it, and it never changed. We have some product that’s even a couple years old, and you can’t tell the difference from the day it was frozen.”

Though Disneyland and many zoos have reopened and other amusement parks are sure to follow, many Americans aren’t ready to visit though spaces. But for those who truly love the frozen spheres and want a little shot of nostalgia for the pre-pandemic times, (and have a family that can comfortably consume 30 servings of the treats in a couple days’ time), ordering a bag online might help alleviate the doldrums of isolation. Alternatively, you can find Dippin’ Dots in sealed single-serving pouches at roughly 12,000 convenience stores around the country.

It’s safe to say the frozen spherical treats are here to stay, in one form or another. As Morgenstern notes, “They have a place of such cultural significance.”

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