East Hanover/Florham Park Life

EAST HANOVER FLORHAM PARK

FLORHAM PARK - Florham Park Rotary members volunteered at the Interfaith Food Pantry on Friday April 2024 in what has become another annual method in giving back to the community.

Interfaith Food Pantry volunteer, Jayne Wenner, greeted the Rotarians to assign various treats for bagging for later distribution to families. “In the past we have sorted fruits and vegetables, stuffed solicitation envelopes, and/or bagged hundreds of groceries for distribution during Thanksgiving,” commented Rotarian Peter Nicolas. Nicolas and fellow Rotarian Karol Williams have volunteered at the Food Pantry many times. Both were both

impressed with the newly renovated location at 2 Executive Drive in Morris Plains. This Morris County pantry has become a model for others in the volume of households it can now support.

The Interfaith Food Pantry reached a new milestone last year in the fight against hunger, distributing over 2 million pounds of food during more than 39,000 household visits to the Pantry. These included low-income workers, seniors living on fixed incomes, and families struggling with economic hardships due to inflation and the end of pandemic-era benefits.

Rotary president Damion Bernard noted that annual-

ly there are 26, 000 volunteer hours donated, and he is proud that the Florham Park Rotary contributes to that.

The biggest needs at the Pantry currently are: Cereal – lower sugar preferred

Pasta

Tuna fish, salmon and other canned fish

Canned meats and meals –ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, hash, stew, canned chicken, chili, etc.

Tomato products (sauce, crushed, whole, diced, paste, puree, etc.)

Rice

Side Dishes (Macaroni & Cheese, Rice-A-Roni, Instant Potatoes, Hamburger Helper, etc.)

Canned beans – pork and beans, pinto beans, red or white kidney beans, black beans, etc.; NOT green beans

Baby food – stages 2 and 3 Baby diapers – size 3, 4, 5 and 6

*When shopping, consider low-salt, low-sugar and gluten-free items. Interested in volunteering?

Contact the Interfaith Food Pantry Network: 2 Executive Drive, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 at 973-5388049.

Contact the Florham Park Rotary to learn more about the many other opportunities to contribute in the community: info@florhamparkrotary.org, www.florhamparkrotary.org

Historical Society of Florham Park Spring Programs a Big Successes

FLORHAM PARK - The Historical Society of Florham Park kicked off 2024 with two successful free presentations to the general public in March and April.

“LEGACY OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN” was held on April 9th and HIDDEN CHILDREN OF WORLD WAR II was presented in March. Both were maximum capacity audiences at the Florham Park Library and were informative and inspiring presentations.

RECAP

“Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen” - Dr. R. Merritt Brown, DMD, of Morristown shared history and behindthe-scenes insights. He is the past President of the Morris County Historical Association, the 102nd Cavalry Regiment Association, and Northern NJ Military Officers Association. Attendees learned that one of Florham Park connections was that his Tuskegee Airman father had previously been a student at the Little Red Schoolhouse!

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black pilots in U.S. history, breaking barriers and showing immense bravery during WWII. Their formation was a victory for civil rights activists, leading to their impressive track record and historic achievements. Despite facing racism post-WWII, the Tuskegee Airmen continued to be sought after for their expertise and contribution to Air Force technology.

One detail that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen was their nickname, the “Red Tails”, which referred to how the Tuskegee Airmen painted the tails of their P-47 planes red. The noses and tails of their P-51 Mustang planes were red as well (see attached picture). Though this coloring may have seemed dangerous, as it could have made their planes stick out to enemies, the red detailing on

the Tuskegee Airmen’s planes set them apart from other air squadrons. Indeed, American bomber crews were relieved to see the fierce Red Tails support them on their bombing runs. German pilots both feared and respected the Tuskegee Airmen, called them the “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” (or “Black Birdmen”).

Following their service in the military, many Tuskegee Airmen were awarded medals and on March 29, 2007 were collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in the rotunda of the U.S. Capital.

“Hidden Children of World War II”. Maud Peper Dahme was born in the Netherlands, is a Holocaust survivor, a New Jersey resident, and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2014. She is a former president of the New Jersey State Board of Education. The event on March 12 was presented to the largest audience the Historical Society has seen in several years at the Florham Park Library.

Of the 1.6 million Jewish children who lived in Europe before WWII, only 100,000 survived the Holocaust. Most of those children were hidden from the Nazis by righteous gentiles in attics, cellars, convents, villages or farms. Dahme was one of those hidden children, and shared her four years of experiences of the horrors of that time and also of the goodness of people who saved Maud’s and her sister’s lives.

NEXT

Readers should save October 8 and November 12 for the next informative presentations offered free to the general public by the Historical Society.

“Presidential Visits to the Garden State” will be presented by Peter Zablocki, local historian, author, and podcaster, as he returns to the Florham Park Library.

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

Funerals, Tracey Franco and Piano Store. Thanks to everyone who enter and congratulations to our winners!

“I wanted to write a political book that was not really political. The goal was to write a book that celebrates our state’s political history and not one that divides us over it.” Zablocki said. “It was super fun to research and equally difficult to present it in a non-partisan way. Hopefully, I succeeded.”

The Vanderbilt Family will be the topic of the November 12 presentation. Appropriately fitting Florham Park’s 125th Anniversary, it will review the history of the Vanderbilt family, including Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, favorite granddaughter of “Commodore” Vanderbilt who was once considered one of, if not the, richest man in the world.

Delaney at the Green generously provided refreshments at the Tuskegee Airmen program at 6:30 PM. A new Senior living community off Park Avenue in Florham Park they are also looking forward to teaming with the Historical Society

in October and November and other presentations.

In addition to the 4 free presentations in 2024, members of the Historical Society may also look forward to an additional three members-only events. Indeed, the May 10 luncheon at the Florham Park Diner will host guests Stephanie Akers and Annemarie Landishman sharing fond memories of living in Florham Park. The luncheon will also celebrate the founding of the Historical Society on April 26, 1935.

Mrs. Martha Conlon and a group of forward-thinking Florham Park women formed the society for the purpose of preserving the Little Red Schoolhouse. Saving the “important landmark which was in grave danger of being torn down”.

Anyone wishing to learn more about that luncheon or membership may write to Peter Nicolas at pnicolas@optimum. net or call 973-520-8654.

Florham Park Rotary at Interfaith Food Pantry

Taste of Florham Park A 2024 Event of the Florham Park Rotary

FLORHAM PARK - The Taste of Florham Park is the annual festive food extravaganza that benefits the Florham Park Rotary Scholarship Fund, which rewards Florham Park students who have a record of community volunteerism and who are Seniors in local high schools. Florham Park’s eating establishments graciously provide samples of their best dishes. Local purveyors of fine wine, beer and spirits greet guests with samples of their offerings, as do other local merchants. The Taste is a must attend party for food lovers.

It is also a celebration of the best of Florham Park and an opportunity to enjoy the evening with family and friends – and neighbors – at a historic mansion. So appropriate because the Vanderbilt-Twombly Mansion was a home for Florence Vanderbilt Twombly and Hamilton Twombly which the

boro separates now in its 125th Anniversary of Florham Park. Event Date and Time: Monday, May 20, 2024: 6-8 PM (5 Mansion tours scheduled at 5:30pm!)

Event Location: The Vanderbilt-Twombly Mansion on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in Florham Park. Just a short drive from the center of Florham Park, enter either via Park Avenue or Madison Avenue.

Ticket Prices: General Admission (event entry at 6 p.m.) $50 (includes a door prize chance and a tour of the Mansion).

Ticket Locations: To purchase tickets early go to the Florham Park Diner. Tickets may be purchased at the Event. Tickets may be purchased at the Florham Park Diner (182 Ridgedale Avenue), at the Event, or by check mailed to

Friends of Florham Park Library to Host First-Ever Book Sale May 3 & 4

FLORHAM PARK - The Friends of the Florham Park Public Library have been collecting gently used books and media this spring in anticipation of hosting their first ever book sale event! The Book Sale will take place on Friday, May 3 from 5-8pm and Saturday, May 4 from 10am-3:30pm in the Library’s Akhoury Room. All proceeds from the event will go toward enhancing library programs and services through an investment in the library’s summer reading program, museum passes, and free community events held throughout the year! Items on sale include popular hardcover fiction and nonfiction books, cookbooks, “coffee table” books, puzzles, DVDs, like-new paperback books, and teen and children’s books. The Friday night event is billed as an opening night “presale,” with a cover charge of $20 at the door, which buys entry to the library after hours, a Florham Park Public Library tote bag, first pick of the books on sale, and the first 3 books selected by each person. On Saturday, all items will be on sale for between $1 and $5. A bag sale will be held at 2:30. Bring your own standard grocery-sized tote for $5 and fill it up!

CP Chin; Hanover, Maureen Leddy; Florham Park and Alvin Chu; Florham Park. The ads

“Hank the Hornet” were in: UPS Store, Christine Nagy, McKean Monuments, Hancliffe Home for

Rotary Club President Damion Bernard with boxes about to be prepped for distribution. Photo Courtesy of David L. Kramer.

Red Tails 640px-Tuskegee P-51. Courtesy of David L. Kramer.

Marie Anzalone - 107 year Florham Park resident recounted her husband’s involvement in WWII with Dr. Brown as Mike Renahan and Peter Nicolas look on. Courtesy of David L. Kramer.

FDU Men’s Basketball Celebrates 75th Season

Long history includes several NEC championships and some NCAA Tournament

BY JEFF GARRETT STAFF WRITER

AREA – When NCAA Bas-

ketball March Madness upsets come to mind, sitting right at the top of the most unexpected outcomes ever, may forever sit the #16-seeded, Fairleigh-Dickinson Knights men’s basketball, 63-58, first-round victory over #1-seeded Purdue University in Columbus, OH on March 17, 2023.

That upset came in the program’s 74th-year of existence and shocked the basketball world.

2024 marked the 75th-anniversary of the school’s cherished and historical, men’s basketball program. Needless to say, there’s a lot to remember.

Some of the school’s greatest achievements on regional and national levels since the program launched in 1949 happened within the last 15 years. In 2019, the Knights notched their first NCAA Tournament win by defeating Prairie View A&M with a 82-76, in the First Four round.

The victory would be a hallmark achievement for coach Greg Herenda who took the reins of the program in 2013 as the institution’s seventh men’s team coach. In his tenure, Herenda, from Bergen County coached the team for nine seasons while leading the Knights

to two NEC championships and two NCAA championships. His 2016 team earned a #16 seed in the NCAA Tournament after finishing second in a three-way tie for second place with an 11-7 conference record and 18-15 overall performance. Wins over Rutgers Univer-

sity and Seton Hall University in 2013 provided the Knights with solid regional credibility, as did a 2018 victory over Princeton.

1998 and 2005 were great years for the Knights teams. The ’98 squad, under Tom Green who coached the pro-

Renovations Forthcoming for Library Children’s Area

FLORHAM PARK - The Florham Park Public Library is thrilled to announce that it will be renovating the children’s area of the library beginning May 20, 2024. The renovation project includes new carpeting, new shelving and furniture, the incorporation of cozy reading nooks, and the addition of custom storage and play areas to the room.

While the renovation is taking place, the Children’s Room will be closed to the public. A temporary browsing collection for children and teens will be housed in the current teen area of the library during this time. The children’s area is anticipated to reopen some time in July of this year.

The renovation project comes after nearly two years of planning that included community surveys and feedback and an extensive study of the

FROM FRONT PAGE

Florham Park Rotary, PO Box 40, Florham Park, NJ 07932 or Tickets via Venmo - @Rotary-

ClubOfFlorhamPark

collections and user behavior in the youth services area of the library. “Over and over again, we heard from community members that they wanted a space that is more interactive, playful, and comfortable for children and their families,” said Library Director Nancy Shah of the project. The library has observed a surge in interest and usage of the spaces, collections, and events aimed at young families with children in recent years, which is in line with a nation-wide trend in young people turning to public libraries for recreation and entertainment. “The last two years were our busiest years on record, and young people are driving that uptick in usage,” remarked Shah. According to Shah, the Children’s Room accounts for 20% of the Library’s space, and the collections housed there account

More Fun: The Taste of Florham Park includes a “Tricky Tray” with merchandise from many local vendors and other contributors and Event Sponsors. Tricky Tray tickets are sold separately at the entry. $10 for 10 Tricky Tray chances. The General Admission stubs include entrance for a Door Prize drawing. Sponsorship Opportunities: Revenue sources for the Taste are ticket sales, auction and raffle proceeds and corporate sponsorships. Local food es-

for 45% of overall circulation.

The renovated space will optimize the presentation of library materials and make it easier for users to find what they are looking for. The room will be organized so that the front of the space is oriented more toward infants, toddlers, and young children, while activities and collections intended for older children will be located farther back in the room. Throughout the space, a variety of seating options will cater equally to children and their caregivers to ensure people can comfortably enjoy the space and use it for extended periods of time. “People are looking for somewhere to go and hang out, and a public library is the ultimate stop because we have plenty to keep kids occupied and it’s all free!” said Shah.

tablishments and other businesses are invited to participate in either the food presentations or in the Tricky Tray and Door Prizes – or both. For further information, please contact Florham Park Rotarians George Gregor 917848-0982 or Peter Nicolas 973-520-8654.

gram from 1983 until 2005, gave FDU and Green the school’s third NEC championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2005 team made the NCAA tournament as well.

Green achieved a record of 407-351 and a .537 winning pct as the school’s fifth head coach, made the NCAA Tournament four times and racked up 23 NEC appearances.

Standout Knights player, Marcus Gaither was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1984 after Green’s first season. FDU also saw Knights player Ken Webb drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1981 while decades earlier, George Glasgow was selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1953.

From 1969 through 1980, the team was steered by the

school’s third coach, Al Lobaldo.

Lobaldo enjoyed success early as a director who’s Knights teams practiced great defense. The 1970-71 team complied a 16-7 record and nailed down honors as the number one nationally- ranked team in team defense that season by holding teams to an average of 53.7 points per game.

The 1970-71 team graced the floor at Madison Square Garden and bested Dartmouth, 53-48 on March 1, 1971 which marked the first time FDU appeared in the internationally-known nearby arena.

Inside the school’s Hall of Fame are five Knights men’s basketball teams, including the 1951-52 and 1952-53 teams.

The 1951-52 team was coached by the school’s first men’s

Appearances

coach Dick Holub and went 22-4 while winning 15-straight games during the season. The team featured Hall of Famer George Glasgow who poured in over 1,000 points on the hardwood for the Knights and later coached Soccer at FDU in the 1950’s and 1970’s. The 1952-53 team, 197071 team, 1984-85 team and 1997-98 teams are also in the school’s Hall of Fame while 24 players including Webb and Gaither, enjoy recognition in the Hall.

With a broad history of achievement and news over the first 75 years for the FDU men’s basketball program, one can only ponder what the next 75 years will hold for the nationally-recognized Knights as they continue to turn heads.

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN

AREA - Mother’s Day, a holiday honoring motherhood was created by an American, Anna Jarvis, of West Virginia in 1908. It became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. While it is observed in different forms and different times throughout the world, Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s overthe-top commercialization and spent a large part of her adult life trying to remove it from the calendar.

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, But the strongest modern example for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

A major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time

The Origin of Mother’s Day

when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special blessing or visiting the church in which one was baptized.

Mother’s Day in the United States dates to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Jarvis helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.

One mother who has been praised and admonished is also another precursor to Mother’s Day. Her roots, came from the abolitionist and suffragette movement Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote

the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” asking mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” celebration every June 2.

While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated worldwide, traditions vary depending on the country. In Thailand, for example, Mother’s Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of the current queen mother, Sirikit.

Another alternate observance of Mother’s Day can be found in Ethiopia, where families gather each fall to sing songs and eat a large feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honoring motherhood.

In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers, and it has become one of the biggest holidays for consumer spending. Families also

Interesting Facts Related to Memorial Day

Mis

May across the United States. The proximity of Memorial Day to the summer solstice has led many to view the weekend preceding the holiday as the unofficial kickoff to summer. However, Memorial Day is about more than backyard barbecues and weekend getaways.

Memorial Day honors service members who died while serving in the United States military. Though Memorial Day traces its origins to the years following the American Civil War in the mid-nineteenth century, it did not become an official federal holiday until 1971. That’s one of just many interesting facts about Memorial Day that are worth noting as the United States prepares to commemorate the sacrifices of military personnel who died in service of the country.

• Memorial Day began as something of a grass roots movement. According to History.com, by the late 1860s individuals in towns across the war-ravaged United States began holding springtime tributes to soldiers who lost their lives during the American Civil War.

• Among the more notable postwar commemorations was one organized by former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina. That commemoration occurred less than a month after the Confederate forces surrendered in 1865. Despite

that, History.com notes that in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day.

• Postwar commemorations also were organized by northern veterans of the Civil War. General John A. Logan, who led an organization of Union veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance in May 1868. General Logan referred to the holiday as Declaration Day and chose May 30 because it was not the anniversary of any specific battle and therefore unlikely to be viewed by some as controversial.

• Early commemorations of Decoration Day, which gradually came to be known as Memorial Day, initially honored only those soldiers who died during the American Civil War. However, that changed over time as American servicemen fought in various wars,

including both World Wars, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and other conflicts.

• The red poppy has become a symbol of Memorial Day. That red poppy can be traced to a poem by Canadian John McCrae, who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in World War I. “In Flanders Field” notes the red poppies that grew in fields where countless soldiers had been buried in modern-day Belgium. The poem was published in 1915, three years before the war ended. Sadly, McCrae himself was a casualty of the war, succumbing to pneumonia in France in 1918 while still in the service.

Memorial Day honors service personnel who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday’s inspiration and lengthy history merits consideration as the nation prepares to commemorate countless soldiers’ sacrifices once more.

celebrate by “giving” mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores.

At times, Mother’s Day has also been a date for launching political or feminist causes. In 1968 Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr., used Mother’s Day to host a march in support of underprivileged women and children.

In the 1970s women’s groups also used the holiday as a time to highlight the need for equal rights and access to childcare.

Mary Ball Washington was neither a villain nor a saint— but rather an exceptionally strong and resilient woman, a single mother who raised five children and instilled in them qualities of fortitude and purpose. She was independent in ways few other women were at the time, choosing not to remarry after her husband Augustine’s death and refusing to give up her property to a male relative as had been the custom.

By many accounts Mary Ball Washington, mother of George, our first president was a tough mother. After she was widowed, she didn’t have the money to send George or her other children to school in England, as was common for well-to-do Virginia families at the time. Instead, she enlisted George and his siblings to help run the farm. She emphasized

obedience in her children.

“She treated George seriously as a man and seriously as a religious being,” according to her biographer Martha Saxton (The Life of Mary Washington)

Prior historians once interpreted this as poor mothering, which contributed to Mary’s adverse standing in history. In fact, it was common of mothers at the time to be stern, even remote. “The fond mother, the mother who is psychologically and emotionally utterly available and has nothing but unconditional love for her children came about in the late 19th century,” Saxton says.

“That’s not the kind of mother Mary was.”

Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’

Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.”

Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day traditionally involves Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the month of May presenting moms with flowers, cards and other gifts. ‘ In the United States, Mother’s Day 2024 falls on Sunday, May 12.

BY RICHARD MABEY,

AREA - In late June of 1996, I hiked the Appalachian Trail for the last time. I did not know it at the time, that it would be my last time hiking this wonderful and magnificent wooded trail. The late Reverend Fred Herwaldt and I took the boys, who had just finished a rigorous one-year term of both religious studies and hard working service to their church in their pursuit to earn the coveted God and Country Award.

My dad, Reverend Herwaldt and myself had led the weekly God and Country Award classes at the First Reformed Church of Lincoln Park. This very special award is a combined effort of Boy Scouts of America and the Re-

My Last Hike on the Appalachian Trail

formed Church of America. There is a scouting religious award for just about every faith known to mankind.

The boys earnestly studied and worked hard on service projects for their church. From raking leaves to cleaning windows to repairing the binding on hymnals, the boys learned the practical side of serving their church. But aside from hard work, the boys had completed a rigorous academic study of the Holy Bible. Written tests on Bible knowledge are given to the boys, usually once a month, in the course of the year-long study. In June of 1996, I was 42. My dad was now 68. Dad was fighting a bout with prostate cancer, so it was not possible

for him to hike the Appalachian Trail. Reverend Herwaldt knew that I earned Eagle Scout and had served as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 170 for many years, so he appointed me to be the leader of the pack.

The stretch of the Appalachian Trail, that traverses New Jersey, is 72 miles in length. However, during our one-day hike, we hiked a little over 20 miles. We left the First Reformed Church in Lincoln Park at 6:00, that morning. One of the boy’s father drove us to our starting point near the New York State and New Jersey border.

Along the hike, I had the honor of reviewing with the boys, how to identify the dif-

ferent species of trees. I pointed out natural, edible plants. Along our hike, we saw all so many different birds. I brought my Boy Scout Handbook in my backpack, and used it as a reference, while the boys successfully identified the various species of birds. Squirrels abounded, climbing the oak, the maple and the elm. We stood still and remained quiet as we watched a group of deer walk through the forest. All in all, it was a most wonderful and memorable day.

We all had brought sandwiches that we packed in our backpacks. There is something to be said for eating lunch, sitting upon a big rock, beneath the umbrella of majestic trees. The warmth of the golden sun, gentle breezes, birds singing in the trees, and squirrels seemingly flying from tree limb to limb. I remember, all so very well, that Reverend Herwaldt read a few Palms to the boys. It was a most heart warming moment in time.

As we hiked the wild and wonderful Appalachian Trail of New Jersey, I felt the shadow of my father. I was just 11 years old, when I first hiked the AT. Now, over 30 years had passed. I was no longer the Tenderfoot Scout, walking beside my father. I was now the responsible leader. Ever watchful for snakes that might plunge upon one of the boys. It was only a day hike. But I think we all came away from that special day, a little more aware of God’s beauty in nature. And soon the boys would all be honored with the presentation of their hard-earned God and Country medals, at a church service. This was the completion of a special, yearlong endeavor the boys had undertaken.

I was immensely proud of the boys, who hiked all those miles in just one day. I think we had finished out hike at about 8:00 that night. We had cooked a group supper along the trail, consisting of beef

stew and buttered hard rolls. There was a genuine spirit of good fellowship that prevailed.

I had no idea at the time, that this would be the last time that I would hike the AT. Now, at 70, with a serious heart condition, I am resigned to return to the dear old Appalachian Trail in memory only. If your healthy and in fairly good shape, please do consider hiking the Appalachian Trail. If only to go for a fullday hike. There is an endearing quality to the trail that will move your heart and give you a deeper appreciation of God’s breath-taking creations in nature. 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.

Yours truly (fourth from the left hand side) with some of the scouts who hiked the Appalachian Trail, back in

late June of 1996.

JR.

What Families Can Do to Honor Fallen Veterans

AREA - The freedoms people living in the United States are afforded would not have been possible to provide if not for the brave efforts and undying commitment of the many individuals who have served in the nation’s armed forces. American military personnel have played vital roles in securing freedoms for their fellow citizens as well as individuals overseas. Each year on the final Monday in May, the United States commemorates military personnel who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Those individuals made the ultimate sacrifice, and Memorial Day is a way to honor them and thank their families for their selfless acts. This Memorial Day, families can embrace various measures to honor fallen veterans.

•Visit a local veterans cemetery. The United Service Or-

ganization (USO) notes that most states have national veterans cemeteries. Though some veterans cemeteries are open only to family members of service personnel, others are open to the general public. Visiting a veterans cemetery is a great way to honor fallen military members and ensure the memory of their service and sacrifice is not forgotten on Memorial Day.

•Celebrate veterans over Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day weekend is now synonymous with getaways and backyard barbecues. By taking time out during the weekend to honor fallen veterans, families can ensure the meaning behind the holiday is not lost in the midst of celebrations with family and friends. Take time out during a family barbecue to discuss a family member who served or, if trav-

eling, make an effort to visit a veterans memorial along your travel route.

•Help raise funds for veterans organizations. Fun runs or community Memorial Day walks may benefit local veterans organizations that help service members in need. Many service members may need help dealing with the deaths of friends or family members who died while serving in the armed forces, and veterans organizations may provide such help or direct funds to groups that do. That makes participation in events that benefit veterans organizations a great way to honor current military personnel and those who have served in the past, including those who died in service of their country.

•Teach youngsters about the role of the armed forces. There’s a lot competing for the attention of today’s young peo-

ple, and that can make it easy to overlook the very freedoms that make the United States such a unique country throughout world history. Parents and guardians can emphasize the role the armed forces play in

procuring and protecting freedoms in the United States and emphasize the significance of the sacrifices of those who gave their lives to ensure a higher quality of life for all U.S. residents.

100 Years Ago This Month: Historical Events from

AREA - The month of May has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in May 1924.

•Iodized salt is introduced in the United States on May 1. Iodized salt is now used in table salt across the globe, and its introduction to the U.S. is credited to Canadian-born pediatrician David Murray Cowie, who ultimately persuaded various salt retailers to utilize iodized salt to combat health problems, including goiters, that were linked to existing salts.

•Russian aviator and schoolteacher Zinaida Kokorina makes her first solo flight on May 3. Kokorina is the first woman pilot in military history.

•Erich Ludendorff is elected to the Reichstag in Germany on May 4. Ludendorff ran under the banner of the National Socialist Freedom Movement, which was standing in for the banned Nazi Party.

•Sophie Lyons is murdered in Detroit on May 8 at age 75. Lyons was a notorious criminal in the post-American Civil War era, but abandoned her criminal life and spent her later

years supporting causes related to the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. On the day of her death, Lyons allowed three men into her home, likely hoping to rehabilitate them. However, the men refused her help, ransacked her home and killed her.

•George Buchanan introduces a home rule bill for Scotland in the British House of Commons on May 9. The ensuing debate becomes a shouting match, and the session is ultimately adjourned.

•On May 10, 29-year-old lawyer J. Edgar Hoover becomes Acting Director of the Bureau of Investigation, which would eventually become the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hoover would remain in the post until his death from a heart attack in 1972.

•Prohibition ends in Alberta, Canada, on May 12 when two government-owned liquor stores open in the province.

•Former Ontario treasurer Peter Smith and financier Aemilius Jarvis are arrested on May 13. Each man is charged with theft and conspiracy to defraud the provincial govern-

ment in what became known as the Ontario Bond Scandal. Smith and Jarvis are ultimately acquitted of theft and fraud, but both are found guilty of conspiracy.

•On May 14, a committee of the Methodist church recommends that the church never again participate in any type of warfare. The committee, convened in Massachusetts, votes 76 to 37 in favor of the church never engaging in warfare under any type of circumstances, including self-defense.

•Chinese Foreign Minister Wellington Koo survives an assassination attempt on May 15. A package containing a bomb and addressed to Koo is delivered to his home, but a servant opens the package and is killed.

•The wooden roller coaster

The Giant Dipper opens at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on May 17. In July 2012, the park celebrated the 60 millionth rider to ride The Giant Dipper, which is now a National Historic Landmark.

•On May 19, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company uses telephone lines to transmit images for the first

time. Over a two-hour period, the firm transmits 15 photographs from its office in Cleveland to company headquarters in New York City.

•Fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks is kidnapped on May 21 in Chicago. Franks’s parents receive a ransom note demand-

May 2024

ing $10,000 on May 22, but the boy’s body is discovered near Wolf Lake before any money is paid. Nathan Leopold, Jr. and Richard Loeb confess to the murder on May 31.

•The United States Border Patrol is created on May 28 to prevent illegal entry into the United States from Mexico and Canada.

•A munitions depot explodes in Bucharest on May 29.The explosion shakes the city, causes damage to the royal palace and claims the lives of many.

Mark Your Calendar for Springfest, June 5th

AREA - What is Springfest, you ask?

If you are a foodie looking for amazing tastes from the surrounding area, we’ve got you covered.

We did the research, personally handpicked the culinary options and restaurants, and narrowed it down to give you the best of the best.

Needless to say, we are getting very excited to bring this event to you.

Historic Rutherfurd Hall will be the picturesque backdrop to showcase these favorite hidden gems. Explore all the delectable culinary options

in this most elegant atmosphere, the heart of Warren County. All this while listening to live music, sipping wine or sampling local beers & ales on June 5, 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

This evening has been created for you with the generous donations of many local individuals, restaurateurs, and local businesses.

This exclusive event is limited to 100 tickets which are on sale now. Please join us

100% of the proceeds will go to support the F&N programs which include scholarships and financial support for

various community and veteran’s organizations. Restaurants participating so far…The Black Forest Inn, Taste of Italy Ristorante, The Circle Restaurant, Arbor Bakery, Grand Avenue Tavern, Sweet Bites & Delights, Mama’s Cafe Baci, Fromage, Mattar’s Bistro, Starbucks, Pandan Room, Czig Meister Brewing Company, El Tucan, HarBee Beekeeping and Grape Expectations. Tickets are $70 per person. Contact jsappio@gmail.com 973-222-8290

Memorial Day commemorates military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. There is much families can do to ensure those sacrifices are never forgotten or taken for granted.

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

Continuing Education in Her Field is Important for Former My Life Publications Editor

AREA - For former My Life

Publications editor, Megan Roche, there have been many stories she has both edited and written, and a love for writing which is irreplaceable.

But then there is the additional thirst for knowledge and improvement, for her and for others.

Roche is now enrolled in the rigorous Modern Journalism program at New York University. The course, which Roche will take virtually, is comprised of six modules: Acts of Journalism Today; Journalistic Inquiry: Basic Investigating and Reporting; Storytelling the Truth: Longform and Feature Writing; Multimedia Storytelling; The Journalist and Social Media; and The Journalism Business and the Working Journalist. She started the course in March and hopes to complete it in August.

Roche said, “It is online,

BY ELSIE WALKER

WRITER

100% virtual, and you do it as you have the time. I am excited to go back to the classroom and learn what has changed in journalism over the last 10 plus years that I have not been in a classroom.”

Since March of last year, Roche – who now lives in Virginia and is a DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Williamsburg Chapter “Outstanding Media and PR Professional of the Year” award recipient, has been a full-time writer for Williamsburg Yorktown (WY) Daily, a daily online publication which covers Virginia’s Historic Triangle area of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, communities located between the James and York rivers on the state’s southeastern coast.

“We cover all facets of the community,” Roche said of WYDaily. “I think the thing that is really important is - and

it shows in my career - I am really steeped in community journalism.”

Roche, who is a graduate of West Morris Central High School in Long Valley, started her writing career in Denville, and eventually served as editor of My Life Publications from December 2018 until March 2023. While with My Life Publications, she developed popular, monthly feature articles like “NJ Starz” and “Glory Days” while overseeing a staff of 10 writers.

One of WYDaily’s goals this year is to get more involved in educating students in what Roche and her colleagues do and how, and that is along the lines of the education she values.

Roche explained. “I think that is important. I always try to ask during my own interviews of people that I talk to for a piece of advice or some

idea for the younger generation and the up-and-coming journalists. The biggest thing is do not be fooled thinking that this is all glamour all the time. It is not. It is work and hard work at that. You need to have a strong backbone in this career, and you need to know that not everybody is going to agree with you. You have to be okay with that and you have to let that roll off your shoulders.”

In her heart, writing has always been the real deal, and Roche cannot see herself doing anything else.

Roche said, “The love for writing specifically has never gone away. I think when you are a journalist, you have to be innately curious about so many different things. And one of the things that I have learned more than anything is sometimes if you need an idea for a story, you just jump in your car and you drive around you say,

Motor Madness on May 26th in Hackettstown

AREA - On May 26th is an event offering a day of fun for the whole family while helping local charities: Memorial Motor Madness. Now in its 28th year, this car show is put on rain or shine by the Hackettstown Rotary and held on the grounds of Mars Wrigley at 800 High Street in Hackettstown. Gates open to cars at 7:30am and opens to spectators at 9am; the event runs to 3pm. Admission is $5. (Children under 12 get in free when accompanied by an adult.) Recently, rotary members James

Travis (chairperson of the car show) and Norm Worth talked about the event. The show’s “founding fathers”, Ed Hagaman and Larry Middleton, ran it for the first few years; then, about 24 years ago, the Hackettstown Rotary took on the show. Worth noted that is a great event for family and friends, and you can see three generations ( children, parents, and grandparents) enjoying it. The show is sponsored by the John Johnson Auto Group, Warren Community College, WRNJ, and Mars

Wrigley. Proceeds benefit The Joan Knechel Cancer Center at Hackettstown plus a variety of local charities supported by the rotary. Speaking of the rotary, it is all hands on deck for the event. “Virtually all 25 members of the Hackettstown Rotary (which is comprised 70% of women) will be actively engaged in making the Memorial Motor Madness Car Show a success,” shared Worth.

Car pre-registration is $20 per car and the day of the show registration is $25. The first 400 to register get a dash plate.

Travis noted that the show usually has about 500 cars on display. There is a wide variety of vehicles which in the past have included monster trucks and antique food trucks. Worth noted that there’s always something special, “something exotic”. Last year, one of those “something special” was a chalk car that people could help decorate with colored chalk which was provided. There are 21 classes in the show which start with antiques to 1940 and run up to current models. Trophies are given in every class plus a larger Ed Hagaman Memorial Trophy for Best in Show, named for the late Ed Hagaman.

“Music is a big part of the

show, “ noted Worth. That music is provided by Chris Schmidt of S.C.3. Entertainment and Doc South. Music includes what Travis described as “Happy Days” type of music and more recent offerings. Also, Doc South has a tradition during which those in attendance are reminded of the meaning of the upcoming Memorial Day. At noon on the day of the show, Doc South asks for a moment of silence; then, the National Anthem is played. This is followed by a “rev-up”, the cars’ loud tribute to our fallen soldiers. Doc South also takes donations for phone cards to be given to soldiers to help them stay in touch with loved ones.

Besides the vehicles on display, there will be food trucks and vendors selling miscellaneous items. It was noted that no smoking or animals are allowed on the Mars Wrigley grounds. In talking about the venue and its importance, Worth said, “[We’re] so grateful for Mars Wrigley. Without them, there is no car show.” For car pre-registration forms, vendor registration information, and information about the Hackettstown Rotary, its upcoming events, and charity work, visit the Hackettstown Rotary website at https://www.hackettstownrotary.org

The Hackettstown rotary provided the pics and wanted a photo credit to say the photos were taken by Bob Eberle.

Megan Roche doing what she loves - covering William & Mary football (courtesy of Megan Roche)

BY DANA JACKSON

Q:How is Celine Dion doing since she was diagnosed with a neurological disorder? Will she ever sing in front of an audience again? -- N.G.

A:Two years ago, Celine Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a neurological disorder with an unknown cause and an uncertain prognosis. In an interview with Vogue France, she said that she undergoes physical and vocal therapy five days a week and hopes to sing again.

In February of this year, Dion presented a Grammy Award to Taylor Swift. She looked happy and radiant, leaving her fans hopeful that they’ll hear her angelic voice on stage again someday.

***

Q:Is it true that Garcelle Beauvais is leaving “Real Housewives” because her acting career has taken off? She’s

BY DEMI TAVERAS

“Dune: Part Two” (PG13) -- The sequel to the 2021 sci-fi film “Dune” is officially out now to rent after garnering more than $685 million worldwide in its box-office release. Starring our modern-day movie stars Timothee Chalamet (“Wonka”) and Zendaya (“Euphoria”), “Part Two” picks up right after the events of the first film that left Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), in the hands of the Fremen troops on the planet Arrakis. Paul and Lady Jessica begin learning the ways of the Fremen, while Baron Vladimir Harkonnen remains relentless in his plans to take over the desert planet. The Baron re-

the only levelheaded one in the bunch, so I wouldn’t blame her if she quit. -- T.S. A: There have been several firings and voluntary exits among Bravo’s “Real Housewives” lately, but Garcelle Beauvais is not one of them -- at least not yet. The popular cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” began her career in front of the cameras as a model for the Ford agency before getting bit by the acting bug. She appeared in the Eddie Murphy film “Coming to America” and its sequel, as well as “The Jamie Foxx Show” and the shortlived Aaron Spelling primetime soap “Models Inc.”

After her career lagged a bit, she joined “Real Housewives” in 2020. While most actors look at reality television as a step down, this had the opposite effect on Beauvais’ career.

Viewers were charmed by her wit, levelheadedness and beauty, and her career in Hollywood was reborn.

In 2023, Beauvais produced and starred in a hit movie for the Lifetime network called “Black Girl Missing.” She recently inked a deal to produce two more telefilms under this franchise, which will “continue the imperative conversations about systemic inequalities where missing girls and women of color are ignored.”

She’ll also star in another Lifetime movie, the first of what hopes to be many with the introductory title “Terry McMillan Presents.” If that name sounds familiar, McMillan is the novelist behind some bestselling books that were adapted into hit movies, like “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “Waiting to Exhale.” With all this success, don’t

be surprised if Beauvais does leave the bickering “Housewives” behind her, but as of now, she’s expected to return next season.

***

Q: Is “Russian Doll” ever coming back to Netflix, or has it been canceled? -- K.S.

A: According to TVLine, the Netflix drama “Russian Doll” was originally intended to take three seasons to tell its story. However, it’s been two years since the second chapter ended, but the writers’ and actors’ strikes last year played a role in its delay.

In the meantime, the show’s star Natasha Lyonne found herself with a new hit show on her hands, “Poker Face,” which streams on Peacock. Will she have time to star in both shows? According to Lyonne, there are “potentially more adventures” for “Russian Doll’s” Nadia, but

Celebrity Extra Couch Theater ENTERTAINMENT

cruits his bloodthirsty nephew, Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler), to assist him in conquering Arrakis. With much more action, an excellent ensemble cast, and visuals that will give you goosebumps, this incredible film will make you want to stay in the worlds of “Dune” forever. (Apple TV+) In Case You Missed It “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” (TV-14) -- This five-part docu-series isn’t an easy watch, whether you grew up watching Nickelodeon’s shows or not, but it’s monumental for shedding light on the brutal behind-the-scenes world child actors deal with. Featuring interviews from child actors who worked for

shows like “All That,” “Zoey 101,” “The Amanda Show” and more, the first four episodes detail the horrific work environment they had to endure at the mercy of producers like Brian Peck and Dan Schneider. Drake Bell (“Drake & Josh”) explains the crimes that were committed to him by Peck, a sex offender who continued to work in Hollywood following his conviction. The series also highlights the subtly inappropriate jokes that Schneider would slide in for unknowing young actors like Ariana Grande and Jamie Lynn Spears. The fifth and final episode includes extra, indepth interviews led by journalist Soledad O’Brien. (Max) “Breakfast on Pluto” (R)

-- Before Cillian Murphy ever donned a brimmed hat to play J. Robert Oppenheimer and win an Oscar, he once played Patricia “Kitten” Braden in this peculiar comedy-drama film from 2005. Born Patrick, Patricia lives in the fictional Irish town of Tyrellin during the 1970s and causes havoc because of her choice to come out as transgender. After years of getting in trouble at school and never feeling like she belonged, Patricia decides to run away from Tyrellin and see where the world takes her. As she tries to find her footing in the dodgiest of places, she meets an unusual array of individuals, like Billy Hatchet and the Mohawks, magician Bertie

“it’s

Vaughan, and the singing/dancing Wombles, who all eventually push her closer to realizing and accepting her truth. This film will leave you astounded

Singer Celine Dion. Photo Credit: Depositphotos

628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

with Murphy’s range as an actor. Out now. (Amazon Prime Video) (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Cillian Murphy stars in the 2005 comedy-drama film “Breakfast on Pluto.” Photo Credit: Courtesy of MovieStillsDB

BY HENRY M. HOLDEN

AREA - The RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship, sank on its maiden voyage, in the early hours of April 15, 1912. It sank off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic after running into an iceberg. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 lost their lives. The Titanic disaster has inspired many books, news articles and films (including the 1997 Titanic movie starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio). Today, the ship›s story has entered public awareness as a cautionary tale about the perils of human overconfidence.

One person who has had a long and personal attachment to the ill-fated ocean liner is Charles Haas (Charlie) a retired Randolph High School educator of English and journalism.’ One thing Haas did not do was sit around wondering what to do after retirement.

Haas retired from his educator’s job in 2006 and decided to pursue his dream to explore Titanic twice in 1993 and 1996.

Charles Haas was born in New York, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J , and a Master’s degree from William Paterson University, in Wayne, N.J. He was named Morris County Teacher of the Year in 1990, and listed four times in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers

Haas’ interest in ships was sparked by his grandfather, who worked in the management of a New York stevedoring company. He introduced Charlie to ocean liners through the windows of his office, which overlooked New York Harbor. His grandfather also loaned him a copy of A Night to Remember, thus beginning a lifelong interest in the Titanic

In high school and college, Haas studied microfilm of newspapers’ coverage of the

Titanic disaster. His interests are in the ship’s features, exploration of the wreck, the state of the wreck and artifacts.

Hass is a co-founder of Titanic International Society (TIS) and a longtime trustee. He served as editor of their journal, Voyage, until the group was founded in 2006, when he became president of TIS.

A lifetime highlight for Haas was making two dives to the Titanic wreck in 1993 and 1996. Haas narrated the program “Titanic: Untold Stories,” and was a member of the 1998 expedition to the wreck, and contributed to the design of artifact exhibits through 2000.

He was a featured speaker on the 2012 Titanic Memorial Cruise, and has appeared in numerous television documentaries. With co-author John P. Eaton, he has written five books: Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy, Titanic: Destination Disaster; Titanic, The Exhibition; Titanic: A Journey Through Time; and Falling Star: Misadventures of White Star Line Ships.

When asked what his first thoughts upon reaching the ship he said, ”My first reaction was the surprise of the immensity of it. It was over two-and-a half football fields.

“Photos of the ship don’t convey the immensity of it,” Haas said. “We were following the debris field in the submersible until we got to the actual ship. My first impression was oh my God, the size of it.

As we explored the ship another set of emotions came into play all pulling each other. Remember, we were looking at a ship that had nine decks and was 882 feet from stem to sten. It was a unique reaction or a set of reactions at the same time. There was sadness remembering the passengers who lost their lives. I treasure that

Exploring Titanic

memory even though so many people perished. I also felt tremendous pride that I was the world’s first teacher to go down to the wreck.

“On the first trip I had a severe case of nerves because I had been told about the pressures on a submersible’s hull. I came very close to saying I did not want to make a dive.

“My writing partner, John Ethan said basically that I was being given an opportunity that not many people had.”

His trepidation must have been obvious to the crew. One of the crew said to me “we want to see our families again too.” So, when the second dive came, I felt much more confident about the whole process because of the strong adherence to checking things and being safe.

“On the second dive, I had a commission from the Discovery Channel to narrate a tour of the Titanic.

“I took them on a virtual guided tour of the ship relating to them what I know happened. Though it was a very different feeling. I cherish those

There were artifacts outside the ship that could be removed, and the Navy had a system that could interact with transponders. This interacted with the submersible’s navigation system permitted each artifact to be identified and cataloged its exact location. It recorded latitude, and longitude. A record of where the artifact came from was created.

On my first trip I was told that the pressure on the submersible would be about 6,000 pounds per square inch. Just me and the two crewmembers were in a 7-foot-wide titanium sphere which was part of the submersible which is about 22 feet long. It wasn’t long before we began feeling water on our feet and head.

“I was immediately alarmed. What was happening?” One of the crew said we had lunch in 85° temperature on a surface but the water down at the Titanic site is only about 28°. As a result, there was water on the top and inside surface of the crew’s sphere, it was kind of like a private drizzle. By the. End of the day, several gallons of water were sloshing around on the floor. What was happening was the water vapor in our breath was condensing.

It was very chilly down there and I had five layers of clothing on so I could deal with the temperature changes. The warm Gulf Stream was mixing with the Newfoundland current.

“On the way down what struck me was that sunlight only penetrated about 250 feet down and then, for the remainder of the dive, we did it in total darkness. The only way you could tell if you were descending by looking at the digital depth reader. When we finally reached the bottom, the crew turned on all the exterior and interior lights. We had made the trip without lights to save the batteries. I remember hearing that if we got stuck for some reason under the water, the batteries would last for about four days.

Haas can relate information about the icebrg and put it in perspective.

“The iceberg was a medium size one about 70 or 80 feet tall, and had recently turned over so that, instead of it, being a brilliant white color, it was a blueish color because of all the blue light waves water it had absorbed. It was also in an area where there was a slight haze, and that was the result of the Gulfstream and Newfoundland’s current mixing.

When the lookout in the crow’s nest spotted of the iceberg, he called the bridge, and the deck officer ordered a hard over rudder turn and full speed astern turn. The hard over began to turn the ship slowly because of the size of the ship.

After about 37 seconds the ship was beginning to turn to the left when there was a very gentle rumbling on the ship’s starboard side. In the space of about 30 seconds an underwater spur on the iceberg punctured a series of small holes below the water line. “On the 1996 trip, we were able to look at the starboard side using special U.S. Navy sonar equipment. We discovered. the holes were not gigantic: They were small, (totaled area about 12 square feet} but there were several dozen of them, small enough so you could not stick your thumb through them. Plus, there were several rivets scraped off. Six watertight sections that were breached by the scraping of the rivets.”

The death toll varied greatly depending on location. The higher death toll for the thirdclass passengers, was the result of actual physical barriers put in place to separate first- and second-class passengers from the third-class steerage passengers who would have to undergo a customs inspection when they arrived in New York. First and second-class passengers did not need to undergo this inspection, according to the rules of the day.

In addition, there were no lifeboat requirements. There were only 1,178 lifeboat seats available for 2,240 passengers and one seat for each passenger was not required by British law. Witnesses reported that some lifeboats left with empty seats.

The Titanic’s damage was minor in one sense of the word where there were a few small tears that one could not put a thumb through, the tears extended for one-third of the ship and resulted in seawater pouring into the otherwise watertight compartments. Communication was also a problem. There were 20 nationalities on board, and there was no public announcement system available.

At the time the number of lifeboats were not mandated and no lifeboat drill for the passengers took place. The crew had one abandon ship exercise. When the abandon ship order was given, it was ignored at first then became a disorganized, haphazard and uncontrolled evacuation. The boats on the port side of the ship allowed only women and children to board. On the starboard side men were allowed to board the lifeboats if there were no women waiting for a seat.

There were only lifeboat seats available for about 1/3 of the passengers, and they were not required by British law. The majority of dead were crew members and third-class passengers, there were roughly 2,200 passengers but there were only 712 survivors and approximately 1,500 dead. While the trip down took eight hours, in just 2-hours-40 minutes the world’s finest luxury liner was gone forever. Immediately after the tragic sinking the United States and Great Brittian held hearings to assess blame, The outcome was clear. Regulations regarding mandating enough; passenger seating was enacted, and better communications between ship and shore were established.

Haas is on the right inside the submersible Nautile during his 1996 dive, with pilot Jean-Michel Nivaggioli

Photo by Xavier Pascaud, courtesy RMS Titanic, Inc.

BY STEVE SEARS STAFF WRITER

NJStarz

AREA - Don Casey, soon-tobe 87 years old in June, never played much varsity basketball in his youth, but coaching became and was his forte.

In fact, Casey coached basketball as either an assistant or head coach on the high school, collegiate, and professional level for almost 40 years.

Casey was the youngest high school coach in the country when Bishop Eustace Preparatory School of Pennsauken Township hired him back in 1959. He would eventually be at the helm for both the San Diego Clippers and New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association for a year and a half each in the 1990s.

And the lone son of Larry and Mae Casey, who was born on June 17, 1937 in Collingswood, is in very good health. Casey said, “I work out, not feverishly, and the jogging has turned into long walks with the husky dog for an hour, three times a week. And that keeps you moving, which helps.”

If you desire good health, talk to Don Casey. Yours truly – the writer of this article – who will soon be a 28-year heart attack survivor - was on the fielding end of some very sensible questions. “What is your HDL & LDL?” Casey asked me. I disclosed the numbers, and when I told him the details of my workout program and how sporadic I am with my regimen, he said, “You have to get a regular routine going.”

Ever the coach, ever the caring individual. So much so that, post-coaching, he dedicated himself to health care for many. More to come on this.

Casey, who now lives on the west coast, fondly recalled his Camden County hometown. “Collingswood was a nice competitive town of about 18,000 with its own high school. But I went to Catholic school, and the high school for me was Camden Catholic.”

Casey’s mom was a telephone operator, and his dad a writer. He said, “He worked in the political arena for papers in Camden, and I know he worked hard for Governor (Alfred E.) Driscoll to be a governor, and he worked on the (Dwight) Eisenhower campaign. We lived on a street called Wesley Avenue. It was a dead-end street and with 18 rowhouses on it, and it was a street where everybody knew each other.”

Casey played intramural basketball for the Camden Catholic basketball team in the 1950s, and as senior was invited to try out for the basketball team. He made the varsity squad, but due to the fact he had not played freshman of junior varsity basketball, was primarily a practice player. He said, “The team was okay. It was not as good as Camden

Catholic teams in the past, but it was a very good experience in that regard, just being with the team.”

Nearby Temple University was up next for Casey. He attended as a part-time student, and then in 1959 learned through a friend that Bishop Eustace Prep was looking for a junior varsity coach. He accepted the job, but after the varsity coach left, Casey next season had his first head coaching role.

Casey, age 21 at the time, was the youngest high school coach in the United States, and his Crusaders won state titles in 1961 and 1962. He said, “I had the good fortune to be introduced to Jack McCloskey, who was at Penn, Harry Litwak, who was at Temple, and Jack Ramsay, who was at St. Joe’s. The influence of each one of those three was how I developed the game.”

Casey in 1966 would eventually become Litwak’s first, full-time assistant coach at Temple, and it would lead to an eight-year head coaching stint.

During his first season at the helm, the Owls won 16 games, and then finished below .500 in the next two campaigns. The team turned the corner in his final six seasons. During that time, the Owls won 119 games and lost just 48, were three-time Men’s East Coast Conference champions, won one conference tournament title, made an appearance in the 1979 NCAA Tournament, competed in three National Invitation Tournaments, and finished in the Top 20 twice. His overall record as Owls’ head coach was 151 – 94, and he was inducted into the Temple Hall of Fame in 2018.

For Casey, the south Jersey\Philadelphia area was

home, but he next ascended the coaching ladder to the National Basketball Association. In 1982, he headed to the National Basketball Association’s Chicago Bulls to be head coach Paul Westhead’s assistant. He was with the Bulls for just one season before moving on to the San Diego Clippers to serve as an assistant again, this time for head coach, Don Chaney. When the club moved to Los Angeles for the 1984–1985 season, Casey went overseas and coached Scavolini Pesaro in Pesaro, Italy. He returned to the United States in 1985 to rejoin Chaney and the Clippers and remained an assistant during legendary head coach Gene Shue’s tenure until 1989. When Shue was fired, Casey took over for a half a season, and then coached a full season in 1989-90.

His next stop was the Boston Celtics, where he served as an assistant to both Chris Ford and M.L. Carr. Casey said, “We had Larry Bird, Keving McHale, and Robert Parrish at their last stages, but they still could play.”

Casey remained with the Celtics until 1996, when he returned to the Garden State and was hired as John Calipari’s assistant with the New Jersey Nets. In his second season with the team, the Nets went to the playoffs but were swept by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The following year was a lockout year, when the team started 3 – 17, and Calipari was let go.

Casey recalled, “I was very much involved. Behind the scenes I was a Senior Vice-President of the NBA Coaches Association, representing the assistant coaches.”

Like his Clipper days with Shue, Casey was again thrust

into the head coaching seat for half a season in 1999, and for a full ledger during the 19992000 season. His Nets went 31 – 51, and Casey was replaced by Byron Scott.

After lowering the curtain on his coaching career, Casey served as Vice-Chairman of the President’s Council for Physical Fitness, serving with Tom McMillan, Jackie Joyner Kersey, and others. And Casey, who lost his mom to Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) in 1969, also has been a strong advocate for 55 years in the fight against the disease.

Casey, who has served on both New York and San Diego ALS Association chapter boards and served as a member of both ALS Association National Board of Directors as a Trustee, said, “It (ALS) hits two groups. It is the only disease associated with being a veteran. If you are a veteran, you are two and half times more likely in your lifetime to get ALS. The second group is football, the NFL. It is a high number of former players that are coming down with it – concussions are a precursor to ALS – and they are under the scope of Boston Brain Institute.”

Casey is also an author of two books, The Temple of Zones, and (with Ralph Pim) Own the Zone: Executing and Attacking Zone Defenses. Both offerings focus on the effectiveness of zone defense in any level of basketball competition.

A young Don Casey is hired to be head coach of Pennsauken’s Bishop Eusatce Prep (courtesy of Don Casey)

BY RICHARD MABEY, JR.

Love Floweth, From Heaven to Earth

and Hikers Association. There were about 12 families that belonged to this group of family campers. The Landers family was one of the families who would go camping with all of us. Penny Landers had just completed her sophomore year of high school. She was very smart, kind hearted and very pretty. During our time of family campouts, Penny and I would play chess together, on a picnic table at a vacant campsite, that we were always able to find, no matter what state park our families were camping at that particular weekend. Penny was an incredibly great chess player. Inevitably, our conversations during our chess games would

focus on books that we had recently read. At the time, I was totally absorbed into Thomas Wolfe’s novels. I was in the midst of reading, Look Homeward, Angel. To my surprise, Penny had already read the book. I think that was a turning point for me. Looking back, the moment that Penny had told me that she had read Look Homeward, Angel, was the very moment that I fell off the Grand Canyon, in love with Penny. I was a very shy boy. I didn’t have much self confidence. I had a damaged Mitral Valve, so I couldn’t play sports. And in 1970, sports were everything at Boonton High School. I lost myself in poetry, novels and in playing the snare drum in the school marching band. I wanted all so much to ask Penny for a date, but I felt so strongly that I was way out of her league. I would think to myself, “what

would a smart, pretty girl like Penny Lancaster, ever see in me?”

Although I never mentioned it to my father, Dad knew that I liked Penny a lot. It was during our annual week-long hike of the Appalachian Trail that Dad talked to me about Penny. It was now July of 1970, we pitched camp somewhere in the forest of Eastern Pennsylvania. Dad and I were alone together, outside of our makeshift tents, cooking stew. And Dad told me, in no uncertain terms, that I had to stop putting myself down. That I had to dig deep within myself and get the courage to ask Penny for a date.

Well, at the next campout of the Trailmates Chapter, I found myself playing chess with Penny. Somehow and someway, I managed to get the courage to ask Penny for a day. My palms were filled with sweat. My heart

was beating like a big, old bass drum. I inwardly trembled, after the words came out of my mouth. There was that two second pause from Penny. Then, her response came, quietly, almost shyly, “yea, that’d be nice.”

I was 16, Penny was 15, when we had our first date. Mom drove me to Penny’s house in Paterson. Penny’s father was a bit strict with her. And, rightfully so. It was a Saturday afternoon. We watched a movie in Penny’s living room, sitting together on the couch, while Mr. Lancaster sat in his easy chair.

Then we went out to Penny’s backyard. Penny had this game setup in her yard, it was like horse shoes, they called it Ring Toss. Instead of playing with horse shoes, you would toss this circular rope at the stakes, to try to get the ring onto them. It was a fun time.

Then we ate supper. Mrs. Landers was very kind to me. I

can’t say that Mr. Landers made me feel all that welcome. His eldest daughter was coming of age and having a boy over for an official date. I don’t think that settled too well with him.

Penny and I dated for two years, through my senior year at Boonton High and my freshman year at County College of Morris. In September of 1972, Penny left for Rutgers University.

We had promised to stay faithful to each other. Sometimes the most earnest of promises get broken. Sadly, we drifted apart. We stayed friends till Penny’s passing in November of 2012. Sadly, Penny lost her battle with lung cancer. Although all traces of romance had evaporated, a kind of kinship still lived in our hearts for each other. We became adopted cousins to each other.

I would write email letters of encouragement to Penny, during her time of her fight with cancer. She would write me back that she dearly appreciated my kindness.

I know that this may not coincide with the religious beliefs of many people. But since I was diagnosed with Severe Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I have had many, many visitations from Penny. I’ll be working on a story and I’ll feel Penny’s presence, powerfully strong beside my desk. Almost every night, Penny visits me in dreams, so real and vivid that it seems like it’s all so real and not just a dream. Penny assures me that there is a God and a place we call Heaven. Can God be limited? Can God be put into a box, of our liking? Is it possible that a dear and cherished friend, residing in Heaven, can become a guiding angel? I know what I experience is powerfully real. Spiritual love, not a romantic love, but a true spiritual love between two people cannot be limited, be boxed in.

Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It is the foundation of miracles. It knows no limitations. Love is the most endearing force known to mankind. Truly, it is the foundation of miracles.

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.

My dear friend, Penny and myself, from June of 1972.

T racey Franco

Tracey