East Hanover_June 2025_section 2

EAST HANOVER FLORHAM PARK

Local Student Helps Bring Computer Skills and STEM Education to East Hanover Schools

BY MEGAN ROCHE STAFF WRITER

EAST HANOVER - For Jismi

Mathew, a rising senior at the Morris County School of Technology (MCVTS), starting a computer science and STEM education night for East Hanover’s Central School has been a dream.

Mathew began planning the event during her freshman year at MCVTS. After contacting staff at Central School, the first event was held later that year. The school saw the success of the event and continued to implement the program. The 2025 Computer Science and STEM Night took place in late April.

“My primary role has been organizing high school volunteers, including those from Morris County School of Technology, and ensuring all names go through the Board of Education’s approval process. I also help manage logistics to ensure the night runs smoothly. It’s been exciting to see students from our school so enthusias-

tic about mentoring younger children and giving back to the community,” Mathew said.

During Computer Science Family Night, various computer science stations are set up around the school. With various activities, students and their families are exposed to all aspects of computer science.

“At the school, they had a bunch of robot kits that we would complete and let the kids experiment with different types of robots, there was a computer science themed bracelet making station, etc” Mathew said.

While working the event has been fun, it was something that Mathew personally felt compelled to ultimately create.

“I have two younger siblings and one of them at the time of creating this, she was in Central School. I was watching my own siblings go through the process of figuring out technology and being exposed to different things on the internet. I

wanted to be able to help our younger generation navigate through the internet. It’s so big and if you don’t know how to use it properly, it can be a scary place,” Mathew said.

Mathew hopes to bring back the event in the spring of 2026, ahead of her graduation from high school.

“Organizing this type of event has really helped me gain leadership skills. It gave me the perspective that I’m truly able to run something like this. I’m capable of doing something, I’m capable of leading, I’m capable of being this leader that I never thought possible,” Mathew said.

After graduating, Mathew hopes to study computer science.

Overall, she hopes the creation of the event helps kids learn the true magic of the internet.

“I hope that when the kids leave this event, they are able

to see that the internet is a big, scary place, but there is also a lot of tools available to them that are both educational and

fun in an educational sense. I want kids to explore the internet but also to remain safe while doing so,” Mathew said.

Shelter’s Eviction Notice Threatens Safe Haven for

BY CHERYL CONWAY STAFF WRITER

AREA - After decades of providing a safe haven to abused women and their children, one of the five houses operated by a shelter program in Passaic County is in jeopardy.

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

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

The notice left Strengthen Our Sisters shelter program and its Founder/Executive Director Sandra Ramos in a difficult situation for the tenants who live there. It is in desperate need of support, financially and perhaps petitions and letters to officials

Five Nights of Family Fun That Give Back to Our Community

AREA- Join us June 17 through June 21 for the Annual East Hanover Italian-American Club Carnival, Lurker Park, East Hanover, with thrilling rides, games, live entertainment, and delicious food — all while supporting the heart of East Hanover. For 25 years, your support of this carnival has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for: Student Scholarships, Families in Need, Veteran Organizations, St. Rose Church & Food Pantry, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Shriners. Pre-sale tickets available now at https://campys.com/ events/46 Come for the fun. Stay for the impact. Together, we can lift our neighbors and community, support important, local programs, and preserve local traditions.

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

AREA - The winners from May’s “Find Hank the Hornet Mascot” are Tyler Marshie; East Hanover, Thomas Bannon; East Hanover, Maureen Guthrie; Florham Park, Annemarie Landishman; Florham Park. The ads that “Hank the Hornet” were in: Kidz World, Party Pleasing Rental, Omaha Steaks, Window Works, Fox Vacation Rental and Little Gym. Thanks to everyone who enter and congratulations to our winners!

Abused Women

as a call for help and suggest alternative solutions to remedy the problem.

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

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

SOS runs two daycare programs, a thrift store, five shelters and a food pantry in Wanque, he writes.

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

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

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

SOS is grassroots, community based, nonprofit, shelter program serving battered/homeless women and children. The mission of SOS is dedicated to

breaking the cycle of domestic violence, poverty and abuse by restoring balance and harmony through individual empowerment.

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

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

In addition to residential services, SOS runs a thrift store providing gently-used clothing, household items and furniture to families directly or sold at its thrift store to raise money for its programs.

Ramos didn’t just start the first domestic violence shelter in America, she empowered them to change their lives, start their own nonprofit organizations and carry on the principles to achieve the mission of healing, and breaking the cycle of domestic violence, poverty and abuse.

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

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

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

As a resident who sought refuge at SOS around 2012, Cheryl Bullock explains, “Many of the women at Strengthen Our Sisters have fallen through the cracks in the system, and have no safe alternative, nowhere else to go. I came because I was in need and ended up volunteering my time as staff.”

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

The Fay House shelter is just one of Ramos’ safe havens for women faced with abuse. Without this house, they face homelessness.

Explains Ramos, “In addition to providing a clean and safe environment for single women and women with children fleeing domestic violence, we were able to have needed repairs done and pay for them to remain housed as they strived toward self-sufficiency. We were able to do these things without funding from the State of New Jersey. However, to continue providing services to this underserved population, and keep single women and women with children safe from their abusers, we need assistance to bring the additional residences up to code according to State Standards for shelters.

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

With support from the media and the community, SOS has survived foreclosure over the years, adds Ramos. It has “been able to keep the lights on by raising $100K.”

AREA - Check out our mascot...Hank the Hornet. Look for him in the ads in this issue and enter (no purchase necessary) to win a $25.00 gift card (4 winners). It is easy to enter. Look through the paper and read the ads and look for “Hank” in the ads. He will be located throughout the paper in 6 random ads. Then go to https://www.mypaperonline. com/find-contest.html, scroll down and fill out the form to be entered.

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

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

SOS needs greater help, now more than ever, with the recent eviction notice.

“We need financial support and even possibly a sprinkler system,” says Bullock. Visit https://strengthenoursisters.org/ to help! Readers can also write to Construction Board of Appeals Office, 401 Grand Street, Paterson, N.J., 07505, to appeal for the support and understanding to keep these women sheltered and safe.

Jismi Mathew, a rising senior at the Morris County School of Technology, left, has helped organize Computer Science Night at East Hanover’s Central School.

Information on Computer Science Night 2026 will be available once the new school year begins.

Sandra Ramos

For Whippany Park Grad, Alyssa Mangino, Sports, Academics, and Friendship Go Hand in Hand

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

WHIPPANY

Mangino remembers the moment in the lab of Dr. John Rayburn, a Geology professor at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Mangino said, “We had the lecture part of the class, and then we had the lab. I was sitting with two teammates that I was in the class with, and he was handing back our first exam. As he handed my exam to me, he said, ‘You might have a future in this.’ And that was it. I took it and ran with it.” Mangino, 33, who has a master’s degree in Educational/Instructional Technology from Ramapo College of New Jersey in addition to her bachelor’s degree in Adolescence Education in Earth Science from SUNY at New Paltz, did indeed run with it. After first teaching science in the Leonia school system, her heart she continues to follow, now doing the same at Eisenhower Middle School in Wyckoff.

During her time at Whippany Park High School, the 2010 graduate was a two-time field hockey MVP in 2008 and 2009, Second and First-Team All-Conference respectively in 2008 and 2009, and a ThirdTeam All-Morris County performer both of those seasons.

Mangino, who grew up in Hanover Township, said, “I played because I just loved to play. It was just a joy to play. And I loved playing at my best; that brought me the most joy. I think I was very skilled, but I did not play like I was the only skilled player. I liked very much giving people opportunities; I was probably more so a playmaker than I was scoring all the goals.”

And as much as she enjoyed playing sports – and she did as well take part in winter track and spring lacrosse - being a member of the marching band and playing the euphonium mini tuba ran neck and neck with her sports endeavors.

She said, “The fall seasons were very busy. In preseason, where we have two practices of field hockey every day, I would also have band camp, and both were such labors of love. Honestly, I think it set the stage for me to be as organized as I had to be, physically fit as I had to be. To have two double sessions of field hockey, that is a lot in itself. And then you are holding an almost 15-pound instrument for hours.”

Mangino often thinks fondly back on those times, pondering how enjoyable it would have been to still be making music.

“It taps into a different part of your brain,” she said. “There is something beautiful about being able to make a beautiful sound, and playing in a band is very much like playing on a team. As I said before, I was never really a player that wanted the spotlight necessarily. I worked my best when I was working with a group, and I feel like that parallels so nicely with being in a band. I never wanted solos, but I played my best when I was surrounded by others who were playing.”

Following her high school graduation, Mangino headed to SUNY at New Paltz to continue her studies and play field hockey for its Hawks. She started every game during her four years at the school, and she tallied 22 goals and 18 as-

sists during her career for 45 points. Her attention to detail on the field and in the classroom prompted her head coach, Shanna Szablinski, to say, “She is one of the finest student athletes I have ever been associated with.”

Mangino was both a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Academic Team and National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Team member four times, was named to FirstTeam All-SUNYAC her latter three seasons for the Hawks, and was also a SUNYAC Commissioner’s List member three times. As a junior, she was named to both the NFHCA Division III All-North Atlantic Region Second Team and SUNYAC All-Tournament Team. For her senior season, Mangino was an NFHCA NCAA Division III All-North Atlantic Region First Team selection, a NFHCA NCAA Division III Senior Game participant, and was voted to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.

She capped off her collegiate sports career by being selected the Hawks team MVP.

“My parents, I think, are my number one supporters,” she said of her mom and dad, Robert and Eileen Stock. “My dad, since I was in high school,

Join the Spectrum Circle –A Social Group for High-Functioning Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum

AREA - Are you a high-functioning young adult on the autism spectrum living in Morris, Warren, or Sussex County? Looking to meet new people, share laughs, and just be yourself in a fun and welcoming environment? The Spectrum Circle is a brand-new social group for young adults ages 20–35 who are ready to connect, make friends, and enjoy good times together—while supporting each other. Whether we’re playing games, watching movies, going on outings, or just hanging out, this is a safe, positive space where you can be you. Come and sign up for our very first meeting—we’re so excited to start this group!

First meeting date & location will be determined once we have rsvps.

*A family member is welcome to join you for the first meeting if you’d like. For more information or to RSVP, contact Grace at 917716-4813/ grace.stampf@ gmail.com

made it a point to come to pretty much every single game I played, including college. My parents would travel to Maine to watch us play. It was so important to me. And my momour (SUNY at New Paltz) colors were blue and orange - she would start coming to games with this ridiculous orange curly wig and holler from the bleachers. I had a lot of support.”

And there is a great “team” at home. Mangino and her husband of almost seven years –who was also her high school sweetheart – Nicholas, are parents of one son, seven-monthold Beau.

“The unsung members of the story would probably be the teammates that I played with throughout the years,” Mangino said, summing it all up humbly. “Your relationship becomes so much more than

what we did 10 – 15 years ago. But there’s always that underlying bond and connection you have right back with each other. There is something nice knowing that you have each other’s backs still.”

Nicholas and Alyssa Mangino and their son, Beau (credit: Eileen Stock)

Alyssa Mangino as a SUNY at New Paltz Hawk (credit: Kaitlyn Vella)

The Wild(e) Clever Wit of The Importance of Being Earnest Opens The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s 2025 Season

BY STEFANIE SEARS STAFF WRITER

AREA - William Shakespeare is famously known for his command of the English language. This very concept kickstarts The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ)’s 2025 “Violent Delights” Season, its 63rd Season overall, in the form of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest, referred to as the funniest play ever written. It premiered on May 14 and will be playing until June 1 at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre.

“Everyone is clever nowadays!” expresses an irritated John “Jack” Worthing (Tug Rice) to his friend Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff (Christian Frost), who has just annoyed him with one of his cheeky remarks. Jack is in town (1895 London) because he wishes to propose to Algy’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax (Carolyne Leys), daughter of Lady Augusta Bracknell (Marion Adler). However, Lady Bracknell is not giving them permission to be wed due to Jack’s lack of origin proof. He was found in a handbag in the strangest of places as a baby, so therefore he does not know who his parents are.

The clever play on words humor comes into play with the double meaning of the word “earnest.” Jack lives in the countryside but uses the name “Ernest” as an excuse to visit town, inventing a troublesome younger brother named Ernest

that he must check on, while adopting the name for himself while in town. As a result, he lives a double life and is anything but “earnest.”

Algy calls this “Bunburying.” He himself has invented a friend named “Bunbury” as an excuse to visit the countryside and avoid expectations at home. He goes “Bunburying” when he finds out that Jack has a ward named Cecily Cardew (Joyce Meimei Zheng) in the country and he wishes to meet her.

Something very unique about this production is that the first half of the show runs much quicker than the second half. The first half flies by and is followed by the standard 15-minute intermission while the second half is briefly paused for a 5-minute intermission. Both intermissions are used for set changes and separate the play into its three-act structure.

The introduction of Cecily in the second half is when the laughs really take place. Zheng, making her STNJ debut, plays Cecily so innocently and yet so maturely, capturing the youth and naivety yet clever wit of the character. It is the addition of her and Algy’s antagonism, for Algy is often a thorn in Jack’s side, that really sets the depth of the play into motion. Algy assumes the identity of Ernest Worthing to meet Cecily and instantly falls in love with her — right when

the colors are vibrant, the flowers are in full bloom, and it is a lighthearted sweet love story of romance and hilarity. There is even another flirtatious couple in the mix: Reverend Chasuble

Jack tries to claim that Ernest has passed away.

Not only are the men at each other, so are the leading ladies. But while the men are quite opposite in personality, Gwendolen and Cecily are similar in terms of dramatics, speech, desires, and their love for the name “Ernest” and distaste for...well, certain others. Their meeting, a combination of female friendship and foeship, is one of the main highlights of the show and receives the most audience applause.

STNJ’s own Artistic Director Brian B. Crowe directed this one, and something that he does very well here is include various slapstick, mannerisms, and gestures that really contribute to the humor. For instance, Richard Bourg plays two characters, Lane and Merriman, both of whom are servant characters that react to moments in the show and find Algy in particular bothersome. Some of the funnier parts of the play are when characters mouth words instead but the acting from this cast still gets across what they say in a comedic manner.

Austin Blake Conlee must also be commended for the costume design. Not only are the costumes gorgeous, he made a nice touch by matching the two couples by color in the second half.

This comedy of manners is a perfect show for this spring time of year. The lighting is bright,

The Blind Spot: Quality Window Coverings on Wheels Since 1987

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(Alvin Keith) and Miss Prism (Celia Schaefer).

Other events that will occur during the show’s run will be Storefront to Stage on May 21, Hobnob & Hang on May 23,

and The Wilde Garden Party on May 28. This play is guaranteed make you crave tea time and cucumber sandwiches by the end of it.

Woman Drives Coast to Coast in an Automobile

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN

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

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

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

The wife of a Hackensack attorney and Congressman could have lived a life of ease,

but she had a taste for danger. She was appealing, self-possessed, and self-confident. To keep her from riding horses, which her husband considered too dangerous, he ordered a new automobile. This was just before the age of the Ford mass-produced model- T, and cars were just considered exotic and expensive toys.

Ramsey attended Vassar College from 1903 to 1905. In 1908 her husband bought her a new Maxwell runabout. That summer she drove over 6,000 miles around and near their Hackensack home.

Ramsey proved to be an excellent driver, and ace mechanic. In rallies, and in long-dis-

tance trips, she established a reputation as one of the best drivers in the Northeast.

A sales manager from the Maxwell Company had a public relations inspiration: Why not have a woman drive from New York City to San Francisco? When Ramsey heard him out she said, “I was embarrassed: My face was like a fireball, and I would like to crawl under the table.” The more she thought about it the more challenging it became. “So, I decided to take the challenge. I had three sisters-in laws and an unmarried female friend from Hackensack to be my chaperones. It was 1909 and Ramsey still had to get her

husband’s permission to make the trip.

cally marketing to women. At that time, women were not encouraged to drive cars.

Her vehicle was a Maxwell 1909 four-cylinder with the potential for 30-horsepower or 40mph. By today’s standards the vehicle was primitive. A wooden yard stick was inserted into a special 20-gallon gas tank to measure the remaining gas. To start the car there was a front-mounted crank. There were no treads on the tires, which made it more dangerous on muddy roads. A canvas top was the only protection from rain or snow. The headlights were “lit” by dropping a pellet in water to generate gas which was then ignited with a match. The first leg of the trip, from New York to Chicago took 14 days.

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

One of the other Maxwell drivers was Carl Kelsey, who did publicity for Maxwell-Briscoe. It was during this event that Kelsey proposed that she attempt a transcontinental journey, with Maxwell-Briscoe›s company’s backing. The company would supply a 1909 touring car for the journey and would also provide assistance and parts as needed. Hotel arrangements were also provided. The drive was originally meant as a publicity stunt for Maxwell-Briscoe, and would also prove to be part of Maxwell›s ongoing strategy of specifi-

On June 9, 1909, the 22-year-old began a 3,800mile journey from New York City to San Francisco in a green, four-cylinder, 30-horsepower Maxwell DA. On her trip she was accompanied by her older sisters-in-law and 19-year-old female friend Hermine Jahns. They were chaperons and none of whom could drive the car.

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

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

Along the way, they crossed the trail of a manhunt for a killer in Nebraska. Ramsey received a case of bedbugs from a hotel. In Nevada, they were surrounded by a Na-

tive American hunting party with bows and arrows drawn.

Sitting Bull, one of the more notorious Native Americans had passed away and the tribes were at peace with the white settlers.

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

“I had good days driving 130 miles to Chicago on the bumpy first 14-day leg,” she said. There was no storage space, so the luggage, spare tires, water, and tools had to be stowed in the back, and on the running boards.

Conditions deteriorated after they passed over the Mississippi River. In places there were no signs that a road ever existed. If they were careful and vigilant they could “sense” the vestiges of a roadway by the wagon wheels that left ruts in the ground or by some crushed sagebrush.

continued

Taste of Florham Park - Pictures Tell the Story!

here in Florham Park! The excellent Tricky Tray items including autographed jerseys by Willie Randolph, Doc Gooden and Don Baylor, Florham Park Golf Club Simulator and Therapy certificates, a helmet from The Bicycle Store, a $450 leather bag from Lucy’s Gift, a basket from Sports Clips, and food Gift certificates from Thirsty Turtle, Tai Chi Bubble Tea, Kyoto’s, Jersey Mikes, and more!

Net proceeds go to the Florham Park Rotary Scholarship fund for students who live in town and give back through volunteerism and community involvement. Indeed, thanks to the successes of past Tastes, this year the Florham Park Rotary was able to award five $1,000 scholarships to students! Said Betty O’Brien, Scholarship Chair, “we wish we had even more funds as every student who applied was deserving.”

Most guests entered the Fairleigh Dickinson campus grounds past the ornate iron gates on Madison Avenue, and passed through that dark tunnel under the railroad tracks. They continued straight surrounded by landscape designed by the most famous landscape architect of the day, Frederick Law Olmsted. The Mansion is hidden from view until the last possible moment when it suddenly appears in full view, a breathtaking sight. A mansion designed by the McKim, Mead & White, the most influential architectural firm of the late 19th, early 20th century. Right

Entering the Lenfell Hall drawing room, guests would be greeted by many of the best food establishments from in and around Florham Park. In order of the stations ringing the walls in Lenfell Hall under impressive paintings of Vanderbilts, were:

• Rose & Swan

• Pascarella Deli (Chatham)

• Kyoto’s Japanese Steakhouse

• Hunan Wok

• Florham Park Pizza

• Florham Park Diner

• Trader Joe’s

• Starbucks

• Enjou Chocolat

• Nothing Bundt Cakes

• Baba’s Bakery

• M&T Bank (providing the cutlery)

• Sonny’s Indian Kitchen (Chatham)

• Angelina’s Trattoria

• Delaney at the Green

The Florham Park Rotary thanks each and every merchant and guest who attended this year’s Taste of Florham Park and thus contributed to the Scholarship program for Florham Park students who will be graduating next year!

MC George Gregor

Marisa Spagnoletti in Lenfell Hall

Past President Simone announcing winners

Rotarians Bob and Nicky Feid near Tricky Tray tables

Rotary president Damion Bernard with Hamilton and Florence Vanderbilt Twombly

Rotary president-elect Dave Kramer with wife Jennifer and daughers Eva and Jesse

Sonny Indian Restaurant

Meet the Dynamic Trio Behind The Little Gym of Florham Park

FLORHAM PARK - In the heart of Florham Park, a new adventure is unfolding for children and families alike.

The Little Gym of Florham Park opened its doors in late January in the lower level of Florham Village Center (187 Columbia Turnpike), bringing a world of fun, learning, and growth to Morris County. But behind this exciting venture are three women whose passion for gymnastics, child development and community shines brightly.

Danielle Sporcic: Visionary Leader and Local Mom Boss

Danielle Sporcic, a mom

of two from East Hanover, is no stranger to the world of The Little Gym. After leaving a career in securities regulation in New York City, Danielle was inspired by her own children’s need for a nurturing, active environment. In 2019, she opened The Little Gym of Jersey City, where her commitment to fostering confidence and joy in young learners quickly gained recognition. Her success there laid the foundation for expanding the brand to Florham Park, where she now partners with longtime director Catherine Christ and childcare veteran

Jessica Caster. Catherine Christ: Nearly Two Decades of Building Strong Kids

At The Little Gym, experience matters—and Catherine brings nearly two decades of it. Known as the longtime Gym Director of The Little Gym of Montclair, Catherine has helped thousands of children grow, tumble, and thrive. She’s a mom of two and a former cheerleading coach, with a knack for motivating little ones (and their parents) with equal parts skill and kindness. Catherine’s depth of experience ensures that every class

is not only safe and engaging but also deeply enriching. Her commitment to The Little Gym’s core philosophy—that serious learning can be serious fun—runs through everything she does.

Jessica Caster: Childcare Pro Turned Gym Guru

With over 17 years in the childcare world, Jessica brings a well-rounded understanding of early childhood education to the team. Most recently, she was the director of a highly respected local preschool, where she was beloved for her nurturing approach and organizational magic.

Now at The Little Gym of Florham Park, Jessica’s calm energy and creative programming help ensure each child feels seen, celebrated, and inspired. Whether it’s a toddler’s first forward roll or a grade schooler’s cartwheel, she’s there to cheer them on.

More Than a Gym—A Community

What makes this location stand out? It’s the personal touch. Danielle, Catherine, and Jessica have poured their hearts into creating a warm, welcoming space where families feel at home from the moment they walk in. From birthday parties to parent/child classes to advanced gymnastics and skill-building sessions, The Little Gym of Florham Park offers something for every age and stage.

As one parent put it: “It’s not just a gym—it’s a community. My child walks in smiling and leaves even happier.”

So if you’re looking for a place where kids can leap,

Woman Drives...

continued from page 5

Ramsey became an expert on chuck holes, prairie dogs holes, mud holes, and arroyos. “Sometimes I got too far ahead of myself and had to be towed back to safety. I had to be towed out with my horse three times and actually it took 13 days of hard driving to make it to just Iowa. Iowa’s weather posed challenges. There was “no gumbo too thick” for the Maxwell, said its manufacturers, but some potholed, muddy roads proved practically impassable for the tread-less tires. From time to time, as conditions worsen her fellow travelers would hop a train, if available.

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

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

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

Ramsey completed the

trip on August 7, 1909, covering 3,800 miles in 59 days, although about three weeks later than originally planned. Ramsey was an American and the first woman to drive an automobile across the United States coast to coast. After her brief bout with fame, Ramsey returned to New Jersey by train, where she resumed a relatively low-key profile raising two children. She continued her cross-country drives, losing count after her thirtieth. In 1960, the Automobile Manufacturers Association named her their “First Lady of Automotive Travel” for her trek across a “trackless land.”

Ramsey was named the “Woman Motorist of the Century” by AAA in 1960. She also set an example set by not having a problem with the authorities: throughout her entire driving career, she received just one ticket. She had made an illegal U-turn—though not, of course, on her famed cross-country trip. Ramsey passed away on September 10, 1983. October 17, 2000, Ramsey was the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

laugh, and learn in a nurturing environment, swing by The Little Gym of Florham Park. With this dream team at the helm, it’s not just child’s play—it’s a movement.

New Jersey’s Extraordinary Inventors and their Legacies

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN STAFF WRITER

AREA -New Jersey, often referred to as the Garden State, has been a fertile ground for cultivating a remarkable collection of talent across various fields. From groundbreaking inventors and powerful politicians to iconic performers and sports legends, these lists not only made significant contributions to their respective provinces but has also left an indelible mark on the international stage. Here is a sample list of famous people from New Jersey showcasing their extraordinary accomplishments and influence in different areas of life.

Every day we use dozens of inventions, rarely thinking about who invented them. Inventors create solutions to problems to share with the world making life a little bit easier. Did you know that New Jersey ranks 5th in the number of patents granted in the United States? Here are just a few inventors most from the ingenious Garden State.

Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes Bubble wrap was invented in 1957 by engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Fielding and Chavannes sealed two shower curtains together, creating a smattering of air bubbles, which they originally tried to sell as wallpaper. When the product turned out to be unsuccessful as wallpaper, the team sold it as greenhouse insulation.

Although Bubble Wrap was branded by Sealed Air Corporation in 1960, it was not until a year later (1961) that its usefulness in protective usage was discovered. As a packaging material, Bubble Wrap’s first client was IBM, which used the product to protect the IBM 1401 computer during shipment. Fielding and Chavannes were inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 1993. Sealed Air celebrated Bubble Wrap›s 50th birthday in January 2010.

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

Norman Joseph Woodland - and Bernard Silver Born in Atlantic City, Woodland (and Silver) invented the barcode by figuring out a way to encode information using simple lines. They patented it in the US in 1952. The invention was based on Morse code that was extended to thin and thick bars. However, it took over twenty years before this invention became commercially successful.

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

Thomas Edison – Is America’s greatest and most influential inventor. While Edison was born in Ohio and grew up in Michigan, he began his career in Newark, New Jersey. Some of his most famous inventions include the phonograph, the light bulb, motion picture, electrographic vote recorder and the magnetic iron ore separator. In total, Edison had 1,093 inventions. Les Paul - Inventor of the harmonica holder, electric guitar and multi-track tape recorders. He moved to Mahwah in 1951,

the same year he and his future wife Mary Ford topped the charts with “How High the Moon.” The song stood at #1 on the Billboard Magazine chart for nine weeks. Les Paul is the only person ever inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame.

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

Anthony E. Winston The man from East Brunswick who has surely helped you smile bigger and brighter. Winston received thirteen patents for using baking soda to create toothpaste, gels and tartar-control agents. A deodorizer, an earwax removal aid and laundry detergents are also among his inventions. In addition to assisting with your personal hygiene, Winston also created products to help farmers kill harmful fungi on plants.

Arthur Nobile – (May 6, 1920 -Jan. 6, 2004) invented Prednisone in the early 1950s. Prednisone is a synthetic drug for autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, kidney diseases, and to prevent and treat rejection in organ transplantation. Nobile was inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007.

Forrest E. Mars, Sr (March 21 - 1904 -July -21-1999) is the son of the candy giant, Frank C. Mars, the creator of the Milky Way and 3 Musketeers candy bars. After a riff in their father and son relationship, Forrest left his father’s company to start his own. After traveling overseas to Europe and working under another food giant Nestle, he learned more about the candy and food business to aid in his quest to start his own. It›s said that during his travels, he came across soldiers during the Spanish Civil War eating small pellets of candy-covered chocolate and that›s what gave him the idea to start his own candy business featuring M&Ms candies.

Sidney Pestka - Dr. Pestka was born in Poland on May 26,1936 and died on December 22, 2016. He moved to Trenton at age eight. Called “The Father of Interferon,” Pestka’s work has led to cures for cancers and viral diseases. He has paved the way for the possibilities of prevention, diagnosis and cures for many fatal diseases. Dr. Pestka, a resident of North Caldwell, died in December 2016. Hoffmann-La Roche, where Dr. Pestka worked, was one of the first companies to receive an FDA license in 1986 for the use of a drug to treat a rare form of leukemia.

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

Vail’s encounter with Samuel Morse’s telegraph experiments in 1837 sparked his interest in the technology. He proposed to Morse to refine the device at his father’s factory in exchange for a 25-percent share of any future commercial profits. However, Morse later brought in Francis Smith as a partner, reducing

Vail’s share to one-eighth.

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

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

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

Alexander Graham Bell In the 1870s, Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically. Both men rushed their respective designs for these prototype telephones to the patent office within hours of each other. Bell patented his telephone first and later emerged the victor in a legal dispute with Gray.

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

Bill Gates and his Windows software opened home computers to the world. The usability of his software provided an intuitive interface that proved a catalyst for the adoption of PCs and the worlds digital transformation. When Charles Babbage debuted his “mechanical calculating machine” in 1833 (that he continued to refine until his death in 1871), it’s unlikely he realized how important his concept would become over the next 177 years. Interestingly, Babbage also invented the printer (that was likely more reliable than the average modern one!), as his “mechanical calculator” printed its answers on paper. Presumably because he hadn’t gotten around to inventing the monitor yet!

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

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

BY DANA JACKSON

Q: What ever happened to actor Shia LaBeouf? I remember hearing bad things about him. Was he canceled? -- D.E.

A:While Shia LaBeouf’s film career isn’t what it used to be with blockbuster hits like “Transformers,” he’s still getting acting gigs. In 2024, he actually co-starred in a movie starring Adam Driver (“Ferrari”) and directed by Francis Ford Coppola (“The Godfather”) titled “Megalopolis,” but it was no blockbuster, having grossed only $12.5 million worldwide.

Coppola and LaBeouf also butted heads while filming, with Coppola later saying that “[Shia is] so talented, but he’s had a string of problems. And on set, he does create tremendous conflict. His method was so infuriating and illogical; it had me pulling my hair out.”

LaBeouf was also fired

BY DEMI TAVERAS

“Disney’s Snow White” (PG)

-- This live-action adaptation of the 1937 classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” might finally be the catalyst to get Disney to stop making reboots. Rachel Zegler, who nailed her last role as Lucy Gray Baird in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” leads the film as the soft-spoken, kind-hearted princess, opposite Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen. Disney Studios poured about $270 million into its budget, only for the film to become “memefied” during its release due to critiques of Gadot’s acting and the film’s poor CGI. Time to go back to the drawing board, Disney! Out now to rent. (Amazon Prime Video)

from the film “Don’t Worry Darling,” but despite all the bad press, he does have one upcoming project called “God of the Rodeo.” It’s based on the true story about inmates in the 1960s who participated in a prison rodeo.

***

Q: When is “Resident Alien” coming back? I know it was renewed, but is there a premiere date? -- K.S.

A: Mark June 6 on your calendar because this is when your favorite alien played by Alan Tudyk returns for an all-new season! Based on the comics from Dark Horse, the series was originally going to move to the USA Network, but SyFy decided to renew it as well. “Resident Alien” was originally facing cancellation on the network due to budget concerns, but I’m guessing that the show increased in popular-

Celebrity Extra Couch Theater ENTERTAINMENT

“A Minecraft Movie” (PG) -- Unlike the previous film, this adaptation of the video game Minecraft was an incredible box-office success, earning close to $1 billion and becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year so far. Jack Black, who’s a veteran of game adaptations (“The Super Mario Bros. Movie”), leads the film alongside Jason Momoa (“Fast X”). The film follows four characters who get pulled into the Minecraft world through a portal and must find their way back to the real world with the assistance of expert crafter Steve (Black). Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”) and Emma Meyers (“Wednesday”) co-star in “A Minecraft Movie,”

ity after season three recently aired on Netflix.

According to Deadline, the USA/SyFy simulcast model was previously used for the series “Chucky.” “Resident Alien” is the only scripted series on USA at the moment, whereas it’s one of four scripted shows on SyFy. All the core cast members from the prior seasons are returning to “Resident Alien,” along with two new additions: Jewel Staite (“Firefly”) and Stephen Root (“Barry”).

***

Q:Is there going to be another season of “Fargo”? I always look forward to hearing which time period the new season will take place in and who will star in it. -- A.D.

A:Inspired by the Coen Brothers’ film of the same name, Noah Hawley created the anthology series “Fargo,”

out now to rent. (YouTube)

“Drop” (PG-13) -- This new thriller film out now to rent hails from Christopher Landon, director of a few notable horror films such as “Happy Death Day” and “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones.” He signed on Meghann Fahy (“The White Lotus”) to play the lead character, therapist Violet Gates. After the death of her abusive husband Blake, Violet is back on the dating scene, hoping to move on from the trauma of her past. She shows up for a fancy restaurant date with photographer Henry Campbell (Brandon Sklenar), but as she waits for him to arrive, she starts receiving threatening messages in the form of “digital

which has won a total of seven Emmys over five seasons. The most recent season with Jon Hamm and Juno Temple ended in January 2024, but there doesn’t appear to be another one on the horizon.

Hawley has a new upcoming series on the same network, FX, that is also based on a film. “Alien: Earth” will serve as a prequel to the 1979 sci-fi film “Alien” and will star Timothy Olyphant (“Justified”), Sydney Chandler (“Don’t Worry Darling”), and David Rysdahl (season nine of “Fargo”).

Hawley also has a feature film in the works called “Nowhere Fast,” which sounds more like “Fargo.” He wrote the original screenplay and will also direct Chris Pine in the film. It’s about a small-town criminal in Texas who inadvertently kills his boss’ nephew. Send me your questions at

drops” from an unknown person. Even after Henry arrives and the date commences, the threats only escalate, putting her young son Toby in terrible danger. (Apple TV+)

“Sirens” (TV-MA) -Meghann Fahy has had quite the busy spring! In addition to leading the previous film, she’s starring in this Margot-Robbie-produced TV series, alongside two other powerhouse actresses -- Julianne Moore (“Mary & George”) and Milly Alcock (“House of the Dragon”). Fahy plays Devon, an edgy young woman who pays a visit to her sister, Simone (Alcock), at the beach estate where Simone works. But upon arriving, Devon realizes that Simone’s

boss, Michaela (Moore), has an intriguingly odd influence over Simone that has left her acting entirely different from the sister Devon once knew. This five-ep-

Ranked among the top 1% of Weichert agents out of 4600 nationwide, #90 companywide, #19 regional. Gloria is a proud recipient of the NJ 5 Star Realtor Award from 2014-2024, and was recently featured in Fortune Magazine 2024 Market Leaders. is is an award which is voted on by past and present clients. In 2022, Gloria earned the prestigious Circle of Excellence Sales Award, Platinum Level, the highest level of recognition in real estate. She has also been a recipient of the NJ Circle of Excellence Sales Award for 25+ years.

Gloria launched her real estate career in 1994 and has since helped buyers and sellers across all price ranges, from rst-time homebuyers to luxury clients. With over 490 homes sold and a total sales volume exceeding $234 million, she brings a wealth of experience to the industry.

As an expert in Morris and Essex Counties, Gloria is recognized as “ e East Hanover Specialist” and has listed and sold more homes in her hometown than any other Realtor. She leads e La Forgia Group, which includes two buyer’s agents and an assistant, and has built a thriving business driven by referrals, repeat clients, and strong online visibility. In today’s dynamic market, having a seasoned agent is more important than ever. While low inventory continues to create a strong sellers’ market, Gloria’s expertise ensures a smooth and successful transaction for her sellers and buyers.

isode limited series premieres May 22. (Netflix) (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Shia LaBeouf (Upcoming in “God of the Rodeo”). Photo Credit: Depositphotos

Milly Alcock, left, and Julianne Moore star in “Sirens.” Photo Credit: Courtesy of Netflix.

Denville Volunteer Continues Quest for Living Kidney Donors

BY EVAN WECHMAN STAFF WRITER

AREA - Denville’s Donna Tissot doesn’t want to be referred to as a hero or have any awards presented to her. However, what she has been doing for the last eight years is nothing short of selfless. She has been working tirelessly to find living kidney donors for people in New Jersey who are in desperate need for one.

For Tissot, what started as an attempt to save a family member’s life several years ago, has now become a fulltime mission to help others who need a kidney.

“I have a passion for helping people, and I just I took this on. And it all started with my brother-in-law, who had chronic kidney disease. I said, I have to do something to save his life. So, I started sending out flyers, and started with social media. And this is how I started advocating. I got

the donor. We had five great years of life, and then word got around, so people started to contact me, and I started helping people from all over.

To date, I have helped save 26 lives, and I have people waiting for me that want me to help, but I just have to get these other recipients transplants first,” Tissot said.

Tissot, is consistently educating others about the process. For instance, many people don’t realize that you can live a healthy life with just one kidney. Also, if your healthy, without diabetes, cancer, or high blood pressure, the kidney transplant procedure should be relatively easy. The donors will also be able to recuperate quickly and will forever know they helped save a life.

Tissot also wants people to understand the paired ex-

change program. In this program, if a living donor is willing to donate a kidney on your behalf, but you are incompatible with the donor or want to try to find a better match, the kidney paired exchange program will donate their kidney to another recipient in exchange for a compatible kidney for you.

Tissot is actively looking for living donors who want to help touch others with the gift of life.

“It’s beneficial to get a living donor, because your chances of longevity are much better than getting a deceased donor. A lot of hospitals, will tell you, try to go out and get a living donor, and that’s where people contact me and say that I really need a living donor. So that’s when I go into action, because organ donation means so many different things, be-

cause it’s hope, it’s an unselfish act of kindness and it is a gift,” Tissot said.

Tissot has become very close with the people she is seeking donors for, as most have families they want to help raise, and they know they can probably only remain on dialysis for a limited time. As a result, Tissot spends much of her free time at events at schools and medical centers advocating for these people and trying to find someone who wants to help continue with the gift of life.

Tissot is not looking for accolades but sees the real heroes as the people who step forward to donate their kidney.

Right now, she is actively looking for donors for six recipients. Karen Zabriskie, Jigisha Desai, and Maria Powers are all local residents who have families that need them.

If someone is interested in being a living donor, they can contact the hospital at http:// cbmclivingdonor.org. Tissot also needs help finding a do-

org/GVN469

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

BY MEGAN ROCHE STAFF WRITER

AREA - The Rutgers University Gymnastics Team had one of its best seasons in 2025 which helped celebrate 50 years since the creation of the program.

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

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

season-high score of 195.350, defeating Kent State but falling to Michigan. On March 16, The Scarlet Knights achieved their highest team score of the season, 196.550, in a victory over the University of New Hampshire.

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

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

rybook ending as we all waited for that last score to come in,” Candia said.

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

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

“The girls really just enjoyed every moment. The pressure got to us a little bit at the end which is just one of those things. This really was the first scenario for us where we had to beat the other team to advance so it added a little

bit of extra pressure. They got a taste of it and they really want more of that going forward,” Candia said.

Following the conclusion of the season, Candia was appointed as the full-time head coach after serving as the interim head coach during the year. Candia, who competed for Rutgers University as a

gymnast, is looking forward to her first full year as the official head coach of the program.

“It’s just an honor to be in this position, to have that full trust and belief not just from the team but also the athletics department and the university. It’s been somewhere I’ve called home for 11 years now as an athlete and as a coach so

I’m very proud to represent this program and to continue to show how special it really is,” Candia said. With the 2025 season in the books, Candia has already begun recruiting the next generation of Scarlet Knight gymnasts. To learn more about the team, visit www.scarletknights.com

Troubadour Concerts Presents Our Annual Classic Rock Party

AREA - On Friday June 20, The Troubadour presents its annual Classic Rock Party, a play-along, sing-along, and dance-along night at the Troubadour, where Folk Project members sign up to be lead vocalist on stage, backed by

our all-star, electric Broadway Boogie Band, consisting of: Alan LeBoeuf: Singer, songwriter, RCA recording artist, bass guitarist, performing and recording with the Wrecking Crew and actor who played Paul McCartney in

Beatlemania, member of Baillie & The Boys. Steve Gibb: Award-winning guitarist who has played in Broadway shows: Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, and School of Rock.

Ted Brancato: A fantastic jazz pianist and accomplished composer, arranger and recording artist who has performed and recorded with Houston Person, Ron Carter, Christian McBride, Milt Jackson, Ernestine Anderson, and Paquito D’Rivera among others.

John Hone: Singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer who is the Folk Project’s favorite percussionist and a major talent.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments and play along from the audience. Lyrics and chords are projected on-screen so audience members can sing along or play along from their seats on acoustic instruments. The music and the spirit are over-the-top fun. Info at https://folkproject.org/mecevents/2025-06-20/

nor for Kate Bowen, a 37-year old EMS Chief in New Jersey and more information can be found at the website www.nkr.

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

BY MEGAN ROCHE

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

Jamie Smith was deployed to Somalia as part of a U.S. humanitarian effort in 1993. The U.S. Army Ranger worked tirelessly to help distribute food and supplies to the Somali people as war lords took over the country. What nobody expected was for the humanitarian effort to turn into one of the bloodiest battles in American military history. Smith and the Army Rangers

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

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

“From the very beginning, Corporal Smith was one of my leaders in my helicopter. He would go into one of the blocking positions on the chopper,” Perino recalls.

According to a site dedicated to the history of Black Hawk Down, Smith was a part of Ranger Chalk One during the Battle of Mogadishu, who’s mission was to cover the southeast corner of the target building

while the Delta assault force arrested the targets of the operation. Smith was also labeled the “best shot” of the chalk. After Black Hawk Super-Six-One was hit by a RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) and crashed into the city, Chalk One, along with the Delta assault force and Ranger Chalk Three, were ordered to fight their way to the crash site and establish a defense perimeter until the rescue convoy arrived. While moving up to the crash alongside Lieutenant Perino and several other Rangers, Smith was shot in the femoral artery.

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

The site continues to explain that with Perino by his side, Delta medic Kurt Schmid got Smith

into a nearby building where they attempted to save his life. Schmid realized that the only way to stop the bleeding was to find the severed femoral artery and clamp it. When told this, Smith asked for a morphine drip before Schmid attempted it, but because morphine would lower his heart rate too far (which could kill Smith) Schmid denied the request. Unfortunately, Schmid’s attempts to clamp the femoral artery ended in failure.

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

After this, Perino and Ranger Captain Mike Steele pushed for JOC (the battle’s command center) to send a medevac for

Smith and Ranger Carlo Rodriguez, who was also mortally wounded. Because of four black hawks being hit with RPGs, JOC relayed that Smith would have to hang on until the rescue convoy arrived. Sadly, Smith would bleed out before the convoy could make it.

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

“He was what I would call

passing was felt at home and in the hallways of West Morris Central.

Livingston Television Host Discusses How Athletes Endure Pain with Renowned Neurosurgeon

BY EVAN WECHMAN STAFF WRITER

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

Livingston Entrepreneur and television host Barry Farber has always been fascinated with how top athletes endure pain to attain their desired goal. Farber is also an avid martial arts fan and has learned the art of Jiu Jitsu. It was while practicing this form of martial arts with his sensei where he realized sometimes pain can be beneficial in athletic competition.

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

“So, what I found was, at first, I’d have certain shoulder pain, and it would be red because I rolled on concrete a

certain way, and really, made damage. But then after a while, I didn’t feel anything. So that’s when I became fascinated with embracing the pain at first, because later it became something that was a benefit,” Farber added.

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

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

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

A former NCAA Division I wrestler, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. He remains active in the wrestling world and is in his seventeenth-year coaching with the Princeton Wrestling Club and in his fifth year of the Trenton Youth Wrestling organization.

According to McLaughlin, there are alternatives for both

athletes and everyday people in how they can deal with pain. Not every situation requires a shot or a needle.

“So, number one, we know that exercise is a more effective antidepressant and a more effective pain reliever than any medicine, any pharmacological substance that you have in any drugstore. Exercise clearly, when compared to antidepressants, is more protective than antidepressants to combat depression and exercise we know causes the release of endorphins, which are powerful pain relievers. So, it is one of the best prescriptions I give to my patients, particularly ones with chronic pain,” Dr. McLaughlin said.

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

As far as how this is practical on the football field or wrestling arena, McLaughlin believes many high-cali-

ber athletes have adopted the mindset he has prescribed that allows them to not fear these sensations.

I think their mind is telling their telling their, body. Hey, look, you can say whatever you want, but I›m just not going to pay attention to you. You can fire those impulses, but you›re not going to stop me from doing what I need to do today,” he said.

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

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

“There’s, a certain balance that we need to have if you’re experiencing pain in a non-extreme situation., it needs to get checked out. You could have cancer; you could have coronary artery disease. You could be experiencing the early signs and symptoms of something very serious. But if you’re testing yourself in a physical

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical Events from June 1925

AREA - The month of June has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in June 1925.

• Twenty-one-year-old New York Yankee Lou Gehrig is inserted as a pinch hitter for Pee-Wee Wanninger in a game versus the Washington Senators on June 1. Gehrig’s appearance begins what would become a streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.

• An Independence Tribunal orders the closure of Turkey’s Progressive Republican Party on June 3. The order is issued on the grounds that the party

had supported the protection of Islamic religious customs that had spurred the Sheikh Said rebellion.

• On June 7, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial is unveiled on the grounds where the Battle of the Somme had taken place in France in July 1916.

• Seventeen people are killed as a result of a coal mine explosion in Sturgis, Kentucky, on June 8.

• Eddie Gaedel is born in Chicago on June 8. Despite his career lasting just a single plate appearance, the 3-foot-7 Gaedel is remembered as the shortest

player in Major League Baseball History.

• Various churches merge to form the United Church of Canada on June 10. The merger takes place during a meeting of church leaders and representatives at the Mutual Street Arena in Toronto, and the Church of Canada immediately becomes the largest Protestant denomination in the country.

• On June 11, the Republic of China agrees to assist the Empire of Japan and Japanese soldiers with the removal of Korean immigrants from China’s northeastern provinces, where Korean independence agitators

had established a foothold.

• The Southern Branch of the University of California, now known as the University of California, Los Angeles, awards its first Bachelor of Arts degrees on June 12. Ninety-eight of the 128 degrees are awarded to women.

• Charles Francis Jenkins publicly demonstrates the synchronized transmission of pictures and sound in Washington, D.C. on June 13.

• Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku, a gold medal-winning swimmer at the 1912 Olympic Games, saves eight people off the coast of Newport

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activity, understand, number one, that your body is so much more capable than what you think it is. You know the mind limits our physical abilities in so many ways. And then secondly, I would say that the more you cannot be afraid of feeling what you’re going to feel, to the extent that you’re going to feel it, the less fear you’ll have, and the more love you’ll have of what you’re doing.”

Dr. Mark McLaughlin

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

the quintessential Ranger. I knew he was an athlete, I knew he was a big team player, he got along with everybody in the platoon. He died doing what he loved to do,” Perino said. A Warrior’s Story: The Life and Legacy of Jamie Smith will continue in the July 2025 issue, where you’ll learn how news of Smith’s

NJStarz

NJ Starz: Janice Kent Hometown: Plainfield

BY EVAN WECHMAN STAFF WRITER

AREA - Janice Kent, who now resides in California has been professionally acting for over 35 years. Her name might not be a household name, but the chances are likely most people have seen her in one role or another. She has been cast in everything from movies and cable sitcoms to well-known commercials. She had a major role opposite Tony Dow in “The New Leave it to Beaver,” and had guest roles in “Castle” and “Criminal Minds.”

Though she now lives on the west coast, Kent is a graduate of Plainfield High School and received her early training in acting in the great state of New Jersey.

Kent remembers as a child in Plainfield she was instantly drawn to the stage.

“Acting started with school plays and things like that in elementary school, and I just fell in love. I was five. I have never really looked left or right. It was sort of a straight shot to being an actor in my life. That was it,” Kent said.

Kent went on to star not only in school plays but was shortly selected for major roles in community productions in playhouses throughout the state. She was quickly progressing and was cast in adult theatrical productions before she was even thirteen years old. She also studied with some great acting coaches when she was still attending Plainfield High School and became well

BY RICHARD MABEY, JR. GUEST WRITER

AREA - As I write this article, it is night time, Thursday, the first of May. On Saturday, the tenth of May, I will say farewell to my Florida home in The Villages. My sister and I are moving to Northern Ocala. It’s a long story, but it’s just time to move.

Having purchased this home in June of 2008, I’ve lived in this home for nearly 17 years now.

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

versed in classical theater and Shakespearean plays. Kent was falling deeper in love with her craft and her future looked bright.

“I really wanted to just go to the American Academy of Dramatic Art, which was a conservatory program for two years. But my folks were like, you are going to college. So, I got a scholarship to Emerson College in Boston, and I studied there and had some fabulous professors. It really had a great education in theater. In fact, one of my classmates was Henry Winkler,” Kent said.

“He was a couple of years ahead of me, but he was sort of the mayor of the school, and kind of took everybody under his wing. And I did a couple of plays with him actually and then came back and went to New York as fast as my legs would carry me. And started out really doing television commercials, which at one time, I had, like 11 national television commercials running in one year. So, I was pretty successful back in those days. I was a housewife; I was a flight attendant. I was the friend, and I was a spokesperson,” she added.

After doing some off-Broadway theatre in Manhattan, Kent moved out to California to try her luck at film a few years later. It was there that she obtained her breakout role in the 1977 film, “The Kentucky Fried Movie.”

From that point forward,

Kent’s career started to take off and she was soon cast as a regular in several television shows.

One sitcom that had great success was “The New Leave it to Beaver,” which started in 1983 and featured Kent in over 100 episodes. She starred as Maryellen Cleaver, the wife of Wally Cleaver, who was played by Tony Dow.

Kent is extremely proud of her work and time on that show. She even considers it one of her favorite roles in her decades long career.

“The five years I did on “The New Leave it to Beaver,” was such a huge experience, and I learned so much. And of course, working with Tony Dow, those were just precious experiences,” Kent said.

Since that show ended, Kent has stayed busy. She has done voiceovers, commercials and guest appearances in many major prime-time television shows. However, her career also pivoted slightly when she started coaching other actors for their roles.

According to Kent, it started almost by chance.

“Accidentally, while I was raising my daughter, a woman friend of mine who was a manager asked if I would talk to one of her actors who was having trouble, and I coached her, and I could see quite clearly what her issues were in terms of how she prepared to be an actress. But I also saw how she was sabotaging herself as

a person. And when I referred her back to this manager, she said to me, ‘Oh, my God, if you were a doctor, you’d be a diagnostician. I’m going to start sending you some of my clients.’ So, I developed an acting coaching process, and in that acting coaching process, I applied stuff that I innately used in my life as an actress always, which is the core values of what is this human being striving for in her life, within the scene, within the within the play, within the movie, the TV show,” Kent said.

Kent became very involved with coaching other people in her profession and shortly began studying the field of life coaching. This allowed her to apply her expertise to people from other fields as well.

However, her acting background has let her work with such esteemed actresses as Didi Conn who praised Kent for all her help. Through word of mouth, stories of how others in the business learned so much from Kent spread, and she has built up a successful coaching business.

According to Kent though, her coaching process still comes down to the basics.

“I find that I still work on the same tenants that I basically work with everybody. It’s about getting deeper into where they are in their own life, given the circumstances of the scene or of the part, really, of how are they actually

accessing their real-life experience, their real-life thoughts, fears, and values into the characters,” Kent said.

“So, I take it to a very primal human level, because I’ve had many, many years, and many wonderful teachers and I’d like to include myself among them. I sort of do the techniques of acting, training, of sense memory work, and just the things you learn as basic thing when you’re learning your basics as an actor. But I wanted to go deeper into what I didn’t get in my all my training which was that approach.,” she added.

For Kent, though her coaching business has blossomed, she still finds time to balance all her other pursuits. In fact, she is currently working on a film project as well as writing her memoir.

Kent loves to stay busy and believes being exposed to different pursuits helps her

Goodbye Dear Old 438

all. It’s just the way it is in The Villages.

It’s all bittersweet. In some ways, I’m looking forward to moving on. In some ways, I’m very sad. From 2009 till 2016, I wrote and published a little monthly neighborhood newsletter. Then from 2010 till 2025, I had the honor to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of a twice weekly newsletter that was published by The Villages Diabetic Support Group. I wrote stories and articles for my church newsletter. And wrote some public relations articles for my church, that were published in local newspapers. And, for a few years, I wrote a regular column for a weekly newspaper in Belleview, Florida. Plus writing many articles and true-life stories for several

New Jersey based newspapers. And, I wrote two books from this desk and self-published both of them.

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

Life is all so strange at times. My life has been filled with all so many twists and turns. Although I never married, I was blessed to know the love of a few very fine women. I never met any of them at the alter. Sometimes their Daddy didn’t like me and put a wedge between myself and my beloved. Other times, religious differences brought a degree of strife.

At one point in my life, I

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

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

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career. She wants young actors to know that the more well-rounded they can be, the more prepared they will be for whatever roles come their way.

“In terms of aspiring actors, I think it’s really key to be as diversified as possible. I know that one doesn’t think one can ever achieve being an actor without being sort of myopic and focused, which is really kind of what I’ve done. But the more you read, as much literature, as much as you can even be involved in career events and understand history, I think that the more diversified you are, the sports you play, the more well-rounded a person you are. It brings so much more to what roles you’ll be doing.”

Kent is still accepting coaching clients virtually and can be contacted at Janice@ janicekent.com.

100 Years Ago...

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Beach, California, on June 14. Kahanamoku’s heroics were prompted by the capsizing of the fishing yacht Thelma.

• The Philadelphia Athletics score 13 runs in the eighth inning of a game versus the Cleveland Indians on June 15. The thirteen-run outburst erases a 14-2 deficit, and the comeback from 12 runs down remains a record today. The 1925 Athletics share the record with the 1911 Detroit Tigers and the 2001 Indians.

• Thirty-eight nations sign the Geneva Protocol on June 17. The protocol establishes a general prohibition on the usage of chemical and biological weapons in international armed conflicts.

• Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini launches “La battaglia del grano” (“The Battle for Grain”) on June 20. The campaign aspires to decrease Italy’s reliance on imported grain and advocates for the consumption of rice and rice-based substitutes for traditional Italian foods.

• The Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League is formally established on June 21. The organization is considered the beginning of communism in Vietnam.

• The Irish Free State holds elections on June 23. The elections are the first local elections since Ireland gained its independence.

• General Theodoros Pangalos leads a bloodless coup d’etat to overthrow the government of the Second Hellenic Republic on June 25. Pangalos installs himself as the leader of Greece a day later.

• “The Gold Rush” starring Charlie Chaplin premieres at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 26. The film remains one of the most celebrated works of Chaplin’s career.

• After a speech by Helen Keller at its international convention in Ohio, the Lions Club formally launches its signature mission of assistance to the blind and the visually impaired on June 30.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled,

“Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at