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Hiking More Than 500 Miles of Appalachian Brings New Inspiration to Local Grad Student

Pictured are: Vinny Gasso, Fire Goat and Eric Wagner.

Inside: School Bell Rings in 10th Year for Grossi as Superintendent Hanover Park High School Class of 1958 - 60th Reunion Planned This Month Where There is a Will There’s ‘Will’ans to the Rescue

Page 2 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 3

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HANOVER EDITORIAL

Hanover Park Life Thank you for reading this premier issue of “Hanover Park Life.” The Hanovers is such a great place to work, live and play. There is so much here for the residents to enjoy that we have decided to dedicate a magazine to the Hanovers. The people that make up this community are caring people who never hesitate to help others in need. Our goal is to provide you with articles about people, places and things all Hanover. Each month you can pick up a copy of the magazine at local businesses or visit www.iwantmypaper.com and sign up for a free emailed copy that will be sent directly to your email. In this first issue you will find articles on Hiking More Than 500 Miles Of Appalachian, Hanover Park High School Class Of 1958 Reunion, Florham Park Mom Cultivates Communication With Kids In First Book, as well other articles. We are also asking our readers to send

Barbara Freda

us in photos and information on your life events, parties, birthdays, weddings, engagements or any other milestones. You can send them to editor@mylifepublications.com. We welcome your feedback as well to the same email. You can also visit our website www.HanoverParkLife.com or on Facebook under “Hanover Park Life.” Please support our advertisers in our publications as they make this magazine available free to all with their advertising support. We want to help the local businesses and your support of them is appreciated. We are happy to have Barbara Freda as our sales representative for Hanover Park Life. Barbara has been very active in the Hanover Park Life business community. Thank you for choosing “Hanover Park Life” to read and enjoy. Joe Nicastro & Mary Lalama Publishers

To receive your free copy of Hanover Park Life direct to your email visit www.iwantmypaper.com and sign up! Subscribe $35 / year / $60 for 2 Call 800-691-7549

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Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 5

Hiking More Than 500 Miles Of Appalachian Brings New Inspiration To Local Grad Student

n May 3, Florham Park resident Eric Wagner arrived at Springer Mountain, Ga., to cross off a very important item on his bucket list: Hike along the Appalachian Trail. “Hiking has been a passion of Eric’s since he was young,” shared his wife, Annie Wagner. “He has always loved the outdoors and fresh air.” It was an idea that came to Wagner during the summer between his junior and senior year in high school. Growing up in Mt. Olive, the 28 year old aspiring history teacher recalled his English teacher assigning the class a reading list to choose from. At random, he had chosen “A Walk In the Woods,” by Bill Bryson. “I just remember seeing the title and it jumped out at me,” Wagner explained. “It reminded me of something that one of my favorite authors Jack London or Gary Paulsen would write. I’ve always been a big fan of outdoor ad-

venture stories.” What started out as homework quickly grew into an idle pastime obsession filling the spaces between school semesters. After graduating college, the obsession only grew stronger. “Since I’ve known Eric, hiking on the Appalachian Trail was always on his mind,” commented Andy Hill, a family friend. “Sometimes it was all he could talk about. He used to try and convince me to take the

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Eric Wagner celebrates his 28th birthday at Clingman’s Dome Ranger Station in the pouring rain - one of 14 consecutive days.

time off work. But who has six months to commit to something like that?” Running more than 2,200 miles along the Eastern seaboard and crossing through 14 different states, including Wagner’s home state of New Jersey, the Appalachian Trail inspires thousands of hikers from all over the world to test their adventurous spirit each year through the ultimate hiking challenge. Known as “thru-hikers” within the hiking community, these brave individuals make the attempt to hike the entire trail from start to finish. Of those thousands of eager hikers starting out, only a fraction actually make it from Spring Mt., Ga., to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. “They say that over 1/3 of the hikers that start quit by the third day,” Wagner shared. Despite failing to reach his intended destination, in N.J., more than 1,300 miles from his starting point at Springer Mt., Ga. Wagner claims that he harbors no regrets about how the experience went. “I was able to make it out in the woods for 45 days and hiked over 500 miles, so that’s not too bad,” Wagner exclaimed. “I got to see things and experience things a lot of other people will never get the chance too. And for that I will always be grateful.” The experience wouldn’t have been possible without a strong network of support in his hometown of Mt. Olive. “We are so proud of what Eric has done,” shared his mother, Lisa Wagner. “It was such a challenge and I’m just glad he is home safe and sound.” Despite the close proximity and his desire to hike on the

trail, Wagner admitted to being a novice to the hiking lifestyle. “I’ve gone camping before, but nothing quite like this,” Wagner exclaimed. “When you camp, you typically bring a car to load everything in. On this hike, everything you need has be carried on your back! You really can’t prepare for it until you’ve experienced what it’s like.” For 45 days, Wagner successfully hiked more than 500 miles along the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Ga. to Damascus, Va. “I was able to make it out in the woods for 45 “At first, days and hiked over 500 miles, so that’s not too bad,” I was only able to hike Wagner exclaimed. “I got to see things and experience about 5 or 6 things a lot of other people will never get the chance miles a day,” too. And for that I will always be grateful.” remembered Wagner, “but eventually my pack grew lighter and my legs got stronger. On my longest day, I was able to hike over 26 miles from one campsite to the next.” In spite of the challenges, Wagner remained upbeat and optimistic. He was even able to spend his 28th birthday in the Smoky Mountain National Park at Clingman’s Dome, one of the trails most famous landmarks. “It was pouring rain, but I had made some friends along the way and they surprised me by buying me a cupcake with the candle already sticking out,” laughed Wagner. “They sang me happy birthday and even though we had trouble getting the candle lit it was the best cupcake I had ever eaten.”

Another spectacular view on the AT in Georgia.

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 7

Page 8 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

The original four, solid group for a month. - From left, trail names (Warrior (Chris Baker), Unhurry (he actually never told us his real name haha), Compass (Eric Wagner) and Gucci (Vinny Gasso).

Although starting out alone, by the end of Wagner’s hike, he had made close friendships with several thru-hikers, including Vincent Gasso. Dubbed the trail name, “Gucci,” Gasso shared that his motivation for completing the entire hike was to honor his recently deceased grandfather. “My whole life, I have tried to maintain my childlike

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woods, Wagner simply shrugged and smiled. “It’s mostly mental, you just need to put one foot in front of the other,” Wagner advised. “The best way to prepare is to just go out and do it.” “It was a once and a lifetime experience, A f t e r one that I wouldn’t ever want to change,” more than he concluded. nine and a half decades since it’s official recognition by the United States Government, the Appalachian Trail receives thousands of hikers each and every year. Yet despite its growing popularity, it is maintained on a purely volunteer based system. Thousands of hikers across hundreds of local chapters dedicate time and effort to keeping the hundreds of miles of trail clear of debris, sometimes hauling equipment straight up mountains in order to remove fallen trees after storms. “Anyone who enjoys nature and being outdoors should be willing to put in some time and effort so that the rest of us can enjoy it,” shared Gasso. “It’s an amazing thing to see all these committed individuals helping keep something so precious intact after this many years.” As far as future plans, Wagner claimed that he is currently working on his second novel, “Leaving It On the Trail,” while attending graduate school at Montclair University. He plans on revisiting the trail next summer and continue hiking for the rest of his years. “It was a once and a lifetime experience, one that I wouldn’t ever want to change,” he concluded. Sunrise at the smokey mountain national park entrance.

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Dick Pillion

Joseph Mihalko

Judy Beecher

Pat Coolack

Hanover Park High School Class Of 1958 Reflects On Where Time Has Gone 60th Reunion Planned This Month

By Steve Sears he first graduating class of Hanover Park High School (HPHS) is celebrating a 60th reunion this month. LaStrada Ristorante in Randolph is the place; Friday, Sept. 28 the date. The reunion organizers, those focused on pulling the historic occasion together, are Class President Julie Gawron Mihalko, Treasurer Marie Rello Accetturo, Pat Coolack Heller, Betty Buchanan Ferraiuolo, and former Florham Park Borough Clerk and Councilwoman Judy Bailey Beecher. Yes, a milestone it is, but backtracking in time, learning from some of the graduates their memories and where their lives have taken them, therein lies deepest reminiscence and a big part of the story. “We walked in mud up to our ankles…” Judy (Baily) Beecher recalls the oft travels of she and her classmates, never truly being settled until the senior year (1957-58). “Students from Florham Park, East Hanover, Cedar Knolls, Whippany (Hanover Township) travelled to Dover High for our freshman and sophomore years, and our junior year began with hours 4-8 pm at Ridgedale Middle School, Florham Park, and the old Madison High School. We were finally able to get into Hanover Park High School in November. The school was still not completed, and we walked in mud up to our ankles.” Although attending a new school they could truly call their own, challenges of a new kind surfaced. “In our school, which was designed as a campus school, built in the middle of a swamp, the students changed classes and went from building to building on open sided walkways, carrying their books and coats since there were no lockers. It might have been thought that having to walk

from building to building was healthy being outdoors, but not when winter is coming on.” Beecher recalls one day, when not yet a student long at the new school, when she received a call in one of her classes from school then-Principal Ketelaar, saying he had just received a call from the local newspaper wanting to know about a student strike. “It turned out many of the students were frustrated with the amount of homework they were receiving, as well as their parents,” recalls Beecher. “Since we had such an abbreviated school year so far, the teachers were just trying to catch up with scheduled curriculum. It resulted in a meeting in the gym of all the parents and their students trying to work out a better system, and it actually was a positive meeting.” Current students still head outside, traveling from building to building, but there are a few changes. “As far as changes, the most significant ones I am aware of are the addition of another gym and the addition of the more professional sports fields,” she says. “The sizes of the classes have changed, and Hanover students from Cedar Knolls and Whippany no longer attend; they have their own high school, Whippany Park, which is still part of the Hanover Board of Education system.” Beecher was the second woman to serve as president in the Florham Park Rotary and is still a member. She served as borough clerk of Florham Park until her 2005 retirement, and afterwards was appointed to the township council to serve the remainder of Councilman Joe Morano’s term. “I was only the third woman to serve on the council,” she says. “I was then elected to a full term in 2007 and

Page 12 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

In the group that went to Bermuda, from left, is Pat Coolack Heller; Betty Buchanan Ferraiulo, John Radzewich, Audry Curlo Miller,Julie Mihalko Gawron, Linda Monica Laverso, Joseph Mihalko and Judy Bailey Beecher.

finally retired in August of 2010 and moved to Brigantine with my husband.” She adds, “Pat [Coolack Heller], Betty [Buchanan Ferraiuolo] and I went through grammar school together in Cedar Knolls and we still see each other often for card games. That’s a lot of years

together - 70.” “I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but high school was probably the best time I ever had…” Dick Pillion, who played fullback on the Hanover Park football team that shocked Madison, 13-12, currently resides in

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 13

Page 14 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

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Calabash, N.C. “Absolutely, it wasn’t just one building, you had to walk from building to building to go to your classes,” he says when asked about the difference between the new school complex and other schools the students had been attending. “We dealt with the experience of that (construction) being done while we were there. The walkways were , but of course the drainage wasn’t the best in the world, but I never heard a complaint about that at all.” He and his friends now had a school to call their own. “It was,” Pillion says fondly, “we named everything about it. It was Hanover Park, and we came up with the name of the Hornets, and different activities that are maybe still there today, I don’t know, but the name is still there.” Pillion visits the school whenever in town and says there are indeed differences. “The football field is a lot different, I can tell you that,” says Pillion. “There was mud and rock, whatever you had available at the time. And they’ve got carpeting now.” His feelings when he visits? “Nothing could ever change that,” says Pillion. “It was the greatest time in my life, and I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but high school was probably the best time I ever had.” When asked to elaborate, he responds, “It’s very simple. All of the people got along. There wasn’t any groups or gangs or anything like that, we all worked together. We went to dances together, we went to parties together.” Pillion and his mates were, in his words, thrown right into the varsity football situation. “Madison was to be the team of the area at the time, and we didn’t have anything but a bunch

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Page 16 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

of guys that [Athletic Director and Coach] Barry Michaels put together and said, ‘Okay, you guys are a football team,’ and we said, ‘Okay,’ he says with a laugh. “He was able to put us together the first year and go out and be a competitive football team, beating some high-end teams in the area.” Pillion was captain of the team that also had seniors Joseph Mihalko, Bill Dickinson, Joe Kurlo, Frank Ravo, Al Curran, and John “Speedy” Skurchak, Esq. After high school, Pillion was awarded a college football scholarship, and he also played baseball, and tried to catch on with the Detroit Tigers minor league club. He has been married twice and has three children. The 60th reunion for him is emotion-filled. “I have a photo of the 50th reunion. There was a lot of people there. As to how many are gone, I don’t know. The emotions are, ‘Wow! Where did it go? How fast can that be?” “We won, and we marched up and down their streets…” Pat (Coolack) Heller’s initial reaction to her new high school? “We had seen pictures and were informed quite regularly by the newspaper and whatever, so it was pretty much what I expected it to be, but it was so exciting because we were all so happy to have our new school. We waited so long; we waited two years for it. The first six to eight weeks we were going to night school, being bussed to Madison High, our group was to Madison High, it was something else, walking home in the pitch dark,” she laughs. Heller and her classmates were really settled their senior year, when they enjoyed a full year inside Hanover Park High School walls. “It was great,” she says. “And we were a very close-knit

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through that town, I led the band and the twirlers, and we went proudly states. “I guess I’m just an old homebody. I love Hanover up and down the streets. We won, and we marched up and down Township; I’ve been in the Whippany section of Hanover Township since I was born.” their streets.” “This first thing I think about [when thinking about HPHS] is Heller also pays tribute to the band director, Rudolph Kreutcer. “He was from the Midwest, and out there they had all these…I that we were a class coming in at such a time in American history, don’t know how to describe it – we did a lot of of stuff in the field, and how fortunate we were to have the teachers that we did,” he as far as marching and doing all kinds of patterns. In this area they says. “We were a young class of course in high school, and they didn’t do much of that, but he brought that to the area, which seemed to be all young teachers. What those teachers gave to us of themselves for education, they was very unique. So, we were kind were very progressive, way ahead of of unique in a lot of ways, where we “We had teachers that weren’t just there their time. Our teachers were not so had a lot of things that we did that to elicit facts and figures and what not; much disciplinarians as much as they other people hadn’t done yet. Good we had teachers that cared.” were humanitarians. They looked to ole Kreutcer, Mr. Kreutcer; I rememstudents as students; their attitudes ber his name well.” made us look further into the future. Heller married two years after graduation, lived in Denville for 35 years and had two children. The lessons that I learned from them have been life altering.” Mihalko recalls his shop teacher, Joe Kufka, who got him his She now resides in Belvidere. The 60th reunion carries a cacophony of feelings for Heller, first job at a tool store called Do It Yourself on Route 10. Many who was in charge of gathering her classmates for the September years later Mihalko bought the business and owned it for 30 years. event. Of the 98 1958 grads, 30 are deceased, 10 she couldn’t “It was exciting for me to be part of that,” he says. Joe Kufka saw in me more than I saw in myself. I have to thank him, although he locate. “It was very depressing going though this, trying to get this has passed, for that inspiration he gave me to be more than what organized,” she admits. “Two phone calls were answered by wives I was. “We had teachers that weren’t just there to elicit facts and figwho husbands had passed away from my class; one passed away eight years ago, and the other one passed away 10 years ago. It ures and what not; we had teachers that cared,” he continues. The first thing Mihalko recalls when first walking in the doors of was very depressing finding these people had passed away.” his new school in November 1956 was the sight of contractors still “…we had teachers that cared…” Joseph Mihalko is one of the 1958 grads who has remained on the job. “The sidewalks weren’t completed; we had to walk near his roots. “Born and raised and still live in Whippany,” he through mud,” he shares. “Our buildings were set up in

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a California style because there were separate buildings that you went to, and these covered walkways between the buildings for the inclement weather. But the only thing they hadn’t planned on was some of the covering of walkways were not angled properly and occasionally we had to walk through a downpour of rain because everything came off the edge of the covering. It was like you were walking through Niagara Falls to get to the next class.” Mihalko, a right guard on the 1957 football team, thinks that the Madison game was the only victory for him and the Hornets. “We played Hunterdon, we lost to them,” he says. “We played Livingston, we lost to them. That is probably the

only win we ever had.” For Mihalko, who has been married for 53 years to his wife, Rosemarie, a HPHS girl three years his junior, and is a father of five children, it was so exciting for him personally to be part of something that was in 1957 just beginning. “It was like we were Christopher Columbus discovering America or we were the first class that was going to be part of a dynamic institution, and we were going to be the first ones to graduate,” he says. “It was just so exciting.” Was the HPHS class of 1958 pioneers? “Oh, that’s perfect, that’s right!” he says. “I love it. It was exciting to be a pioneer. We were breaking really new ground.”

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Page 20 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

Florham Park Mom Cultivates Communication With Kids In First Book “It was a really nice balance to communicate with each other and problem solve with each other,” she says. “We would garden in the car, on the way home from school. What were your weeds; what were your ﬂowers?”

By Cheryl Conway seed, planted in her mind for her first book, has grown into mini episodes teaching life lessons to kids as well as tools for parents and teachers to help spread positive resolve to daily challenges. Life-long Florham Park resident Shanna Truffini’s book, “You Are A Gardner” has taken a life of its own since it was published in Dec. 2017. The 39-year old mother of two wrote the 32 page book in just 20 minutes that March with its simple language and poetic style. “It was just a matter of me to self-publish it,” she says. So she had a friend, Kelsey DeLaney, illustrate the cover and pages and within months “I had the book in my hand.” What appears to be a children’s book about gardening is really “a system for parents to talk to their kids and open the door for communication,” explains Kaitlyn Reynolds of Mt. Olive, marketing representative for the book. “The method is to “pull your weeds, plant your seeds, and enjoy the flowers along the way.” “Pull your weeds” translates to mean “talk to an adult about what is making you sad, scared, mad.”

“Plant your seeds: Do something positive! Bake cookies, take a walk, hug your grandma. “Enjoy the flowers: Step back and take notice of the best part of each and every day.” According to an overview of the book provided by Reynolds, “You Are a Gardener” is a solution based system to help children learn to solve life’s everyday challenges with a positive and empowering result. The book embraces a child friendly vocabulary that allows children to effectively recognize and communicate the “weeds” that they encounter and understand that they have the power to control the way

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 21

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Page 22 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

they feel.” While the book is intended for young readers, Truffini says it is “one of those books at any age, you pick it up, the message comes through.” Go to www.youareagardener.com to purchase a copy at $15.99; educators and schools are eligible for a 10 percent discount. The idea to write the book grew after Truffini encountered a difficult situation with her daughter Anna, 9. “When So Truffini turned to other methods such as my daughhomeopathic medicine. “It’s all natural stuff ter Anna to take; home remedies,” she explains. was five our “It was helpful but it wasn’t enough. family enHer stress was really starting to take root.” c o u n t e re d an unforeseen event,” explains Truffini, who did not want to provide details. “It caused her to have post-traumatic stress.” Truffini says her pediatrician told her to “look for signs” and that “children can hold stress three or four weeks,” after a situation occurs. Concerned, Truffini immediately brought Anna to a cognitive behavioral therapist after she noticed a change in her behavior weeks later. “She would talk to her once a week; her stress started to take root,” says Truffini. “While the therapist was great, it was not enough. She stopped sleeping through the night and had trouble going to school; just a total change in be-

havior. Therapy wasn’t enough. It was like a pile of dirty dishes in the sink.” So Truffini turned to other methods such as homeopathic medicine. “It’s all natural stuff to take; home remedies,” she explains. “It was helpful but it wasn’t enough. Her stress was really starting to take root.” What happened next was the inspiration for Truffini’s book. “I was with a friend one day- she compared stress and anxiety for watering weeds instead of your flowers. That was a light bulb moment in me. That whole day I found myself watering my own weeds and it caught me off guard and how often I was thinking about things that stressed me out. “That same night, I sat my kids down because there was something special I wanted to share with them and I said ‘Do you guys know you are gardeners?’ I instantly had their attention; told them they are gardeners growing the most beautiful garden inside of them.” Anna was 7 then and in second grade; her son Aidan was 5 and in kindergarten. “The flowers are like baking cookies and snuggling but every garden has weeds and that’s just a natural fact,” she told them. “Weeds in their garden are the things that make you feel sad, scared or mad. I said ‘As gardeners when we see a weed we got to get it out.’ It was then, I asked them if they had any weeds that day at school. Instantly, they said they had a weed and told me things that made them mad, scared or sad.” Anna told her how her “music teacher had a

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Page 24 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

bloody nose; I was so scared I wanted to go home and get a hug.” Her son, Aidan, told her how his friends were playing with Legos in class but would not let him play, so he walked away. “I literally watched my children’s shoulder come down,” says Truffini, who works as a general manager and creative director at Willow St. boutique in Summit and Morristown. This verbal exercise helped Truffini realize “We were not talking about these kinds of things every day. We would talk about their problems but not consistently. “It was a really nice balance to communicate with each other and problem solve with each other,” she says. “We would garden in the car, on the way home from school. What were your weeds; what were your flowers?” Truffini started to see “tremendous progress” with her daughter, by talking about her weeds. She noticed that the technique had an active result for her daughter, yet a proactive affect for her son. “My goal is to get everyone to use the same vocabulary,” says “It changed our lives,” and it “motivated me to self-publish” the book as she was anxious to share her Truffini. “We will get to the root more quickly.” She explains: “One thing happens, you don’t talk about it and method with others. Having always enjoyed writing in her youth, especially poetry, it kind of takes root; goes to weeks, to stress and anxiety, leads to Truffini received a bachelor’s in English from Fairfield University depression. “Let’s give these kids at five or six a voice,” she continues. in Connecticut. “When you talk about something, you really set it free. What they Book Blossoms Into Teaching And Counseling Method After sharing her first book among friends and family, she says experience every single day can be crazy sometimes.” “I really knew I had something special.” So she brought it to her Children Grow Into Mentors, Spread Seeds Last summer, when Truffini was at the beach with her kids they kids’ school counselor, who praised the book even more. She was told: “Stress level for kids is at an all-time high,” says noticed a boy playing roughly with his sister, throwing sand at her Truffini.” They are seeing it younger and younger; nothing get- and causing her to cry. ‘He must have a lot of weeds,’ ting to the root of what’s happening. Truffini recalls her daughter saying. I know the system I’m offering will With that idea bloomed a series of episodes ‘Aidan and I should start a video help.” “Hello Gardeners,” starring Gardener Anna and series and help that little boy pull Some schools use mediation and Gardener Aidan. The first episode was released on his weeds.’ mindfulness techniques, “Which are YouTube in September 2017. “We’ve been shooting With that idea bloomed a sewonderful tools,” she says, “but this is one every month,” says Truffini, adding that her book ries of episodes “Hello Gardeners,” getting to the root of the individual.” illustrator, DeLaney, is ironically also a videographer. starring Gardener Anna and GarSince her idea was working at dener Aidan. The first episode was home, Truffini decided to share it with some teachers who developed a gardening curriculum using the released on YouTube in September 2017. “We’ve been shooting same language in order to help students share their daily stresses, one every month,” says Truffini, adding that her book illustrator, DeLaney, is ironically also a videographer. she explains. Each being three minutes long and concentrating on a differ“Flowers, weed and seeds,” she says. Flowers are the positive thoughts and experiences; weeds are negative emotions, ent theme, such as bullies, to help kids deal with issues, episode thoughts and problems; seeds are the problem solving and com- seven is in the works. Their productions are spreading like wildflowers with calls ing up with solutions. She has also shared her method with behavioral therapists coming in from all over, as far as Texas, from kids discussing their and counselors in some schools in Morris County, as well as other weeds, says Truffini. “It’s like a ‘Dear Abby’ for kids.” “Anyone who watches it can get vocabulary,” she says. teachers and parents.

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 25

“So many of these weeds and what’s happening with other kids, it’s nice that there is something positive on YouTube. We are just going to keep making these video series. The more kids we can help, the more we can do.” As far as her writing, Truffini has ideas for her next book. She also plans to continue to educate others through workshops, presentations, round table discussions and gardening clubs. “I call it emotional education,” concludes Truffini, “all came from this huge weed to Anna at age five, grew into a seed. It’s absolutely beautiful. My son uses it for proactive- keeping his garden clean; he knows when something’s bugging him, he talks about it. “Kids have the power to change the way they feel,” she says. “I pull my weeds all day long and I feel better.” To purchase “You Are A Gardener,” for free resources, more information and to view “Hello Gardeners,” go to www. youareagardener.com.

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School Bell Rings In 10th Year For Grossi As Superintendent With Goals In Place And New Programs Begun

By Cheryl Conway azy days of summer at the Jersey shore with her family have set like the sun for Superintendent of Schools Carol Grossi who is full steam ahead into her tenth year heading the two local high schools: Hanover Park High School and Whippany Park High School. “I am looking forward to another successful school year!” says Grossi of Bergen County, pointing out that both schools were recognized as one of the Top 100 High Schools by “New Jersey Monthly.” This year may even be that much better with more programs planned. “I enjoy introducing new and relevant academic; extra/co-curricular, fine/practical arts; STEM/STEAM and athletic programs to our students and staff that support 21st Century learning,” says Grossi. “We offer a variety of activities, courses and programs that appeal to our students’ interests.” Among the new offerings, science, technology, engineering and math are being enhanced. “This year we are offering a STEM/STEAM program at both high schools,” says Grossi. “We opened two STEM/ STEAM labs, one at each school; introduced a new senior English elective program; introduced the AP Capstone Program; added an 18-21 year old Special Education Life Skills program; and, continue to evaluate and upgrade our school security.” With about 1,500 students under her realm, Grossi looks forward to year number ten with some goals in mind. “I am honored to work with three communities that are caring and supportive of our schools’ programs, staff and students,” says Grossi. “We have been honored with being named a National School District of Character by the Character Education Partnership of Washington D.C. for the second time and recognized as A No Place for Hate by the Anti-Def-

amation League for the fourth consecutive year with Gold Status for the third consecutive year. Our students and staff are caring individuals who are always willing to help others in need; very involved in service learning and community service which support our character education initiatives.” She says the district’s “biggest challenge is working within budget constraints while still offering our students a thorough and efficient education.” The goals this year are to: “Create a safe and secure learning environment by promoting social and emotional learning to enhance the building of a positive school climate and the healthy development of our students. “Create a culture for character education so that students will develop into responsible, trustworthy, fair, caring and involved citizens. “Evaluate the academic program of study in an effort to provide courses and programs that promote relevancy, real world application, and challenges for all students to attain high academic growth.” A fourth goal is to “enhance articulation with the sending districts to align programming and academic expectations.” New and Continuing Programs at Hanover Park Regional High School District for the 2018-2019 school year: AP Capstone Program: The College Board’s AP Capstone Program is an innovative college-level program based on two courses – AP Seminar and AP Research – that complement and enhance discipline-specific AP courses. The program provides students with an opportunity to engage in challenging scholarly practice of the core academic skills necessary for successful collect completion. The abil-

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 27

Page 28 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

ity to think independently, write effectively, research, collaborate, Architecture, and all forms of Engineering, Construction, Manuand learn across disciplines is essential for success in college, ca- facturing or Machine Trades. The coursework is designed to dereer, and beyond. Students who earn scores of three or higher in velop students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills related to AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of each individual’s ability and career goal(s) or vocational interests. their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies Topics of instruction and activity will include sketching, lettering, their outstanding academic achievement and attainment of col- measurement, scale drawing, orthographic and isometric drawlege-level academic and research skills. Students who earn scores ings, section views, and drafting constructions. Pencil and paper of three or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research but not techniques will be introduced prior to introduction of computer-aided drafting. Students will be on four additional AP Exams will re“Evaluate the academic program of study in an using AutoCAD. ceive the AP Seminar and Research effort to provide courses and programs that promote Pre-Engineering and Robotics: Certificate. relevancy, real world application, and challenges for all This semester course emphasizes Technology Education: Techstudents to attain high academic growth.” the application of the design methnology Education is the means od to invent solutions to real world by which students are taught the Technology and Engineering components of Science, Technolo- technological problems. Students will identify problems, perform gy, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Effective internet research, design, and fabricate models or prototype soluTechnology Education combines knowledge of content, processes tions. Problem solving and design skills are taught through a vaand skills to provide students with a holistic approach to learn- riety of problem solving activities. Hands on themes for this level ing. Technology Education offers students unique opportunities to include, but are not limited to, structural, fluid powered and roapply numerous academic concepts through practical minds-on/ botic systems. This course provides all students with the valuable hands-on applications giving these academic concepts relevance. skills such as: problem solving, design, creative thinking, systems The program is getting introduced for the 2018-19 school year thinking, team work, documentation, computer applications, applied math and science. and includes two courses: The district has partnerships with Seton Hall University and Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD): This semester course is especially valuable for students who are Fairleigh Dickinson University where 11 dual credit courses are ofinterested in pursuing a career in the areas of Interior Design, Art, fered at a minimal cost. The district also has a partnership

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“I am honored to serve the communities of East Hanover, Florham Park and Hanover Township as the Hanover Park Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools,” she states. “Our communities and Board of Education support our staff and students and are always willing to lend a helping hand.”

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with Rutgers University Health Science Career Program where four courses are offered for dual credit at no cost to the student. The district is offering twenty-three Advanced Placement courses for the 2018-19 school year. A Decade Of Difference Since coming to the district, Grossi has played a part in expanding the curriculum with new semester courses, dual credit courses, additional advanced placement courses as well as other advances such as increased graduation credits, upgraded technology, improved building and athletic facilities, strengthened school‐to‐ home communication, enhanced school security, increased test scores, strengthened special education department’s program, introduced a STEM program and many other enhanced programs and initiatives that support the district’s goals and objectives. Grossi attended New Jersey City University where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She began her career as an educator in Bogota, working at Bogota High School for 25 years, 15 years as an English teacher, two years as a guidance counselor, five years as a vice principal and three years as a principal. Before coming to the Hanover Park Regional High School District, Grossi was principal of West Essex Senior High School and Cranford High School. She was also an adjunct professor for Kean University and St. Peter’s University. Grossi takes pride in that a referendum passed to upgrade fields and the physical education facilities. Hanover Park High School and Whippany Park High Schools each have a state of the art athletic facility inclusive of a multi‐purpose turf field, a new track and other field improvements. Professionally, Grossi is involved with the N.J. Association of School Administrators of Morris County, N.J. School Boards Association, N.J. Association of School Administrators, N.J. Council of Education, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, N.J. Superintendents’ Study Council, the N.J. School Boards Special Education Task Force and the Morris Area Coalition for Education and Positive Choices. Some of her accolades include: 2006 N.J. Coalition of Educational Leaders Service Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership; 2014 Woman of the Year Award from the East Hanover Italian American Club; 2015 Morris County Superintendent of the Year recognized by the Morris County Association of School Administrator. “I am honored to serve the communities of East Hanover, Florham Park and Hanover Township as the Hanover Park Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools,” she states. “Our communities and Board of Education support our staff and students and are always willing to lend a helping hand.” She concludes: “This year, as in the past, we will concentrate on the processes that spur continuing advancement: evaluating what we have, determining what we can do to improve, and identifying what we need to make those improvements.”

Page 30 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

One Center To Serve All Dental Needs-

Now That’s Something To Smile About “We do things very differently than every other practitioner,” he says. “We try to stop what’s going to happen; treat disease before it’s full blown.”

By Cheryl Conway oming soon in East Hanover will be a one-stop center for dental care. Dr. Raj Upadya of East Hanover is expanding his own practice of 14 years- Esthetic Dental Care at 256 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park- and launching a new practice- The Metropolitan Center For Complete Dentistry in East Hanover. Located at 49 Ridgedale Ave., the center is under construction with plans to be completed by the end of the month if all goes according to plan, says the 48-year old general dentist. Two other dentists, Dr. Ira Goldberg and Dr. Tony Pinadella, will be joining his team. “Rebranding, offering more services and growing,” is the reason for Upadya’s move to opening this new center. He, and his current hygienist, will be bringing in more practitioners to offer more in-house services. Upadya has known Goldberg for the past three years and decided that his expertise with implants would be a welcoming addition to his team. All three dentists are scholars from the Dawson Academy which teaches the Complete Care philosophy: WIDIOM, which means “Would I Do It On Me,” Upadya explains. “We try to figure out if it were ourselves, do we want to be treated?” he explains. “What would I do if this was my clinical situation, if this was my wife, if this was my mother?” The post graduate dental teaching academy, the Dawson Academy, focuses on the concept of complete dentistry, he says. “Teeth fit into a system,” says Upadya. “They fit in a jaw; they fit in a moving

system. We’ve learned to examine more than just the teeth. We want to know why it happens,” when an issue comes up. “Dawson Academy is a more comprehensive approach” to dental procedure, he says, adding that only five to ten percent of all dentists are specialists trained to use this philosophy. “We do things very differently than every other practitioner,” he says. “We try to stop what’s going to happen; treat disease before it’s full blown.” Upadya likes this approach to dentistry as he says “it prevents a lot more that needs to get done. It’s so different than what everyone’s used to. We try to stop it from happening. If we can prevent it from happening in the first place, we say ‘that’s

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 31

better’ because in the end it requires the most “minimal amount of dentistry in a person’s lifetime.” New Name, New Company Rebranding his company, even with a new name, follows the changing purpose of his practice. The original name, Esthetic Dental Care, has been complete oral care solutions. “So we decided to rebrand away from that cosmetic name,” says Upadya. “We can do pretty things but it’s such a small part of what we do.” The Metropolitan Center For Complete Dentistry is just that, “complete care,” including cosmetic dentistry. “We are a family dental practice,” accepting all new patients, kids and adults. And with a trio in the house, three is certainly company, each specializing in their own area of expertise. Upadya specializes in bite-related problems, reversing what causes broken teeth, TNJ problems and even orthodontics. Goldberg, who practices in Roxbury with his own practice, Morris County Dental Associates, specializes in all levels of implant dentistry and implant reconstructive therapy. Pinadella, who practices out of Clifton, specializes in root canal therapy, restorative dentistry, crowns and bridges. “We all have a little bit of overlap,” says Upadya. Goldberg looks forward to joining Upadya at the new center. “I will be in East Hanover once per week,” says Goldberg, who plans to still stay at his main practice in Roxbury. “Dr. Upadya and I work very well together and enjoy each other’s company,” says Goldberg. “He’s a great doctor; he’s fun to work with. We took the same postgraduate training, so we share the same philosophies. I bring to the table comprehensive implant options and skills, which fit in well with today’s treatment options.” Goldberg looks forward to “the fact that patients will be able to receive some of the most comprehensive dental care around. Dr. Upadya is an extremely talented doctor, and his skill set is unbelievable. To be able to join him in such a comprehensive facility is truly an honor.” His says patients “will be hard pressed to find a facility and set of doctors that can provide better care all under one roof.” Most of the construction of the new facility was done in early September with a target opening at the end of the month, according to Upadya. The main office will be 2,500 sq. ft. and will be used not only as a dental office but also as a training teaching center to teach other dentists in the U.S. as well as internationally; as well as a study club for other dentists. A new website is currently under construction so patients with more information can go to www.estheticdentalcare.com. While the majority of Upadya’s current patients live locally, there are others who travel throughout the state as well as the country for treatment. “People sometimes find us because of what we do,” says Upadya, while other longtime patients may move out of the area and travel back for an appointment. “We provide all the services,” says Upadya. “If we can’t provide it we will find the best person to provide it.” Oral surgery, for example, can be done but for major reconstructive jaw surgery, a patent will be referred to a specialist.

Dr. Ira Goldberg and Dr. Raj Upadya

As far as technology, Upadya says “Every major technology, we will have it,” from 3D imaging for face and jaw, digital x-rays, scanners, computerized bite sensor equipment, gum contouring, sterilization of bacteria with lasers. “Our sterilization is at the top end going to the next level at the new center,” he says. Offered will be “the best quality of everything you can possibly have. You can’t get better care; to provide the best treatment and healthiest treatment for patients. If something comes out next year, we will get it.” Why Dentistry? Upadya says he knew at a young age that he wanted to be a dentist. “I apparently wanted to be a dentist before seventh grade,” Upadya elaborates. “I wrote an essay that said I wanted to be a dentist because I wanted to help people and help them smile and I wanted to go to Harvard,” he laughs. He almost went to medical school instead but six months before entering he switched to dental school, says Upadya who grew up in East Windsor. “I love making people feel better,” he says, “taking people out of pain, making them smile again; mouth is window of health. If we can make you smile again, that’s what we strive for everyday. It’s not just about cleaning” the teeth. About his team at his office, he says, “it’s never been a job; it’s been a passion to make a difference. Every part of my office, they are good people and they are family.” Speaking of family, next March Upadya will be married

Page 32 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

“We will never try to sell you anything,” says Upadya. “We’ll try to make you as healthy as you can be; try to help you to figure out what’s causing the problem. WIDIOM, that’s the real reason. Ethics is what we are reared on; will do the most ethical treatment as well. Dawson Academy, it’s all about ethically what’s the right thing to do.”

for 20 years to his wife Pam, a pediatric anesthesiologist; they have an 11 year old son, Arden. As far as other dentists in the family, other than a cousin’s husband in New York, Upadya is the only one but he admits that he “comes from a family of overachievers. His father had his doctorate, worked as retired electrical engineer with 22 U.S. patents and was on the team that developed Fios. He was “smarter than I’ll ever be,” says Upadya, “a brilliant man.” Why Try Metropolitan Center For Complete Dentistry? “We will never try to sell you anything,” says Upadya. “We’ll try to make you as healthy as you can be; try to help you to figure out what’s causing the problem. WIDIOM, that’s the real reason. Ethics is what we are reared on; will do the most ethical treatment as well. Dawson Academy, it’s all about ethically what’s the right thing to do.” Upadya points out that “a lot of my patients are dentists,” as well as physicians; “dentists that seek me out, some are students and are my patients.” In the fall, Updaya plans to host community lectures covering various topics. The new office is located at 49 Riverdale Ave., East Hanover. Call 973-822-1200. New patients are always welcome. Visit www. estheticdentalcare.com for more information. To learn more about the Dawson Academy, visit www.thedawsonacademy.com. Brief Bios Of Center’s Three Dentists Upadya is one of the most highly trained and qualified general dentists in the Florham Park area, focusing on advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry procedures. He is also an educator and mentor to dentists all over the country through his affiliations with The Dawson Academy and local New Jersey dental organizations. A native of Princeton, Upadya attended the Hun School of Princeton and Rutgers University and completed his graduate training in 1997 at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. After finishing dental school at Penn, Upadya completed his General Practice Residency at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, and then served as chief resident in the Department of Dentistry. He has been in private practice since 2007. Upadya is committed to advanced education and training. He broadened his cosmetic dentistry education at the University of

California Los Angeles Aesthetic Continuum, where he completed a rigorous certification in comprehensive esthetic dentistry. At the Dawson Academy for Advanced Dental Study, Upadya underwent extensive prosthodontic training allowing him to treat the most complex dental problems. He is now on the faculty at the Dawson Academy where he teaches dentists from all over the world, gives lectures and teaches courses on advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry techniques. Goldberg has been practicing implant dentistry for more than 22 years. His passion for implantology has led him to lecture other dentists about dental implants, and offer dental implant seminars for prospective patients and colleagues. He is currently a board member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Goldberg has advanced knowledge in all three disciplines in dental implantology: Placement, restoration and maintenance, which is the very reason why so many implant patients seek out his care so they only have to go to one office to take care of their needs. Pinadella attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., from 1985-1987; gained early admission to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, graduating in 1991 with a Doctor of Medical Dentistry Degree. With more than 25 years’ experience, Pinadella has trained under two prominent prosthodontists focusing in crown and bridge, prosthodontics and endodontics, as well as training in cosmetic dentistry and implant prosthodontics.

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 33

Where There Is A Will There’s ‘Will’ans To The Rescue- Superwoman Lives In Town

By Cheryl Conway volunteer: “A person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service; to offer or bestow.” Joanne Willans of Whippany is one such volunteer but the 49-year old Youth Ministry director of the First Presbyterian Church in Whippany would consider it more like a reflex or natural reaction to helping others. “Volunteering is part of my life,” she explains. “When an elderly person in town needs leaves raked they call me to find help with that, or when someone has a parent/relative pass away and they need to clean out their home, they contact me. We clean it out and then donate the clothes and unwanted items to people in need. “People contact me when someone is in need of something and I do my best to fill the need,” she says. “Whether it be food, prepared meals for when they are ill, a prom dress, or manual labor, I volunteer my time and resources to

help out others, whenever I can. “I’m the go to person; that’s what I’m in town,” says Willans. “We make things happen when people need things. That’s just who we are. We do a lot of things with the church,” and even help with its food pantry. Living in Whippany since she was six years old, Willans has been connected to her community most of her life. A boy named Steve she met and dated through her church youth group at First Presbyterian Church when she was 14 was the same man she married just three weeks after she graduated from college. Shortly after their marriage, she started volunteering at that same church in 1992 and when the pastor retired “we took it over” she says. “The youth group is ours; that’s my baby. This is the same youth group I grew up with.” While Willans gets paid a salary for her work as a director of Youth Ministry since 2008 most of her work is volunteer. The church’s pastor of the adult ministry is Sarah Cairapti, while Willans runs all the high school and junior high school programs at the church. “We run the Kindness Project one Sunday a month,” she says, collecting and delivering clothes and sandwiches to the homeless in Newark outside of Penn Station. “We hand out clothing and food every third Sunday of the month. Our kids have grown to love it; been doing it for two years now.” From about 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Willans and her husband, one or two other adults and at least eight kids in sixth grade and up from Whippany, Cedar Knolls and Rockaway take three car loads to a grassy triangular area outside of Penn Station to hand out the items to those in need. Sometimes the Girl Scouts looking for service hours make sandwiches for them to bring. Willans’ group usually shows up with about 200 sandwiches in assorted varieties such at turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, tuna or peanut butter and jelly on white or wheat bread. Steve, who works in sales at Stroehmann by Bimbo Bakeries, gets the bread donated to his cause. They also bring snacks such as cakes, fruit and vegetables such as bananas, carrots, apples, as well as water and juice. “They don’t get that from other people,” says Willans about the healthier foods. “That’s one thing they always lack, especially bananas. We can get bananas at Costco at a good price.” To offset costs, Willans applied for and received a $500 grant in 2018 from Newton Presbyterian Church. Members from her church have also been a big supporter of the Kindness Project.

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“Our congregation, we’re small but they have big hearts,” says Willans. She says each visit to Newark costs about $100. “Our congregation members donate financially,” as well as clothing. “Our youth group organized shelves upstairs in classrooms,” with bins to sort sizes. Her group also connected with Howard’s Mission in Cedar Knolls which donates brand new and gently worn clothing, undergarments and shoes. “They fill a truck,” says Willans regarding Howard’s Mission, with 10 to 12 boxes of clothing for men, women, and children; coats, blankets, thermal underwear, socks. “They support groups like us,” says Willans. “They do this out of the kindness of their hearts. “They give us a lot, bundle it according to size.” Why Volunteer? Helping others comes naturally to Willans, must be the “Will” in her last name. “We have so much so why not give back?” says Willans. “We are very lucky and fortunate. There are so many people who are not that fortunate.” Returning to the church youth group that she grew up in, and now serving as an adult leader, is most meaningful to Willans. “This church means the world to me,” says Willans. “It’s great I can show these kids what they can do. They can make a huge difference. I love bringing them down there [to Newark] and show

the smile on their faces. “I love my kids; don’t think twice about helping someone else,” continues Willans. “That’s what you should do; that’s how you should live. I love that my kids didn’t bat an eye. People are like ‘You are taking these kids to Newark?’ And I say ‘so what.’ They sing with these people, talk to them, laugh with them. The kids go in and know them by name.” In addition to the donations they make in Newark, Willans and her youth group visits the Homeless Solutions shelter in Morris Plains. “Our church cooks meals there,” she says, including her youth group, every fourth Sunday dinner. The best part is “when we’re in there and we recognize someone who we saw before on the street.” Besides organized volunteer efforts, Willans gets her crew involved in random efforts such as last summer 2017 when she and 20 kids from her youth group spent an entire day cleaning up a house in Rockaway. Another church member/volunteer Joyce Schuckman of Rockaway knew about this homeowner about to be evicted by the town for poor property maintenance. So she contacted Willans and the youth group. “There was stuff everywhere,” describes Willians. “Joyce who lives in Rockaway said ‘we need to do something.’ There was so much garbage, scrap metal. Our youth group has a trailer;

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 35

100 pounds later, made them $170 in scrap metal,” picking up Mountain T.O.P. Rings In 25 Years various items such as engine blocks, swing sets, garbage, debris. For the past 25 years, the youth group at First Presbyterian When other neighbors saw the youth group cleaning up the Church has been going to Mountain T.O.P. Tennessee Outreach lawn, a chain reaction occurred and others started to pitch in, vol- Project. unteering their time too offering home improvements like fixing Involved for 19 of those years, every July Willans takes about the roof, redoing the floor, says Willans. two dozen girls and boys in high school and college to one of “Neighbors are coming up to us asking ‘Why are you doing poorest areas to help improve lives. this?’ says Willans. “Neighbors down the street were buying us Even my college kids come back” to join her on mission trips lunch. Mayor wrote us a beautiful note.” to Tennessee. Willans and other neighbors wound up saving the house This summer, 26 youth attended the mission trip held July 14owned by a married couple with four kids, pregnant wife, working 22 in Altamont, Tenn. husband. “It’s amazing,” says Willans. “We’ve tried other missions,” she “They had only four days to do it,” says Willans. The judge says, but there is something about the Tennessee mission which gave them an extension to fix inside of the house since the exteri- always brings them back. or was presentable. Willans describes it as an “old “That’s my youth group,” says Christi an community” where “you “Whenever they need anything they give us a call,” Willans, always available like her eat breakfast together,” build homes, says Willans. One year a girl there could not to help out. “Send a text, or an wheelchair ramps, talk to people in afford a prom dress. “Not only did we get her email, make a phone call.” day camps, spend ti me with kids in a prom dress,” but also paid for her to get her She also helps out at the East the community. “You eat dinner to“hair done at DE Pasquale, got her a limo.” Orange Charter School collecting gether, you worship together, nothing and donating holiday gifts and food baskets. is commercialized.” “Whenever they need anything they give us a call,” says WilThey sit by the campfire without any electronics. lans. One year a girl there could not afford a prom dress. “Not “We like how it’s simple,” she says. “You get rough cut lumber; only did we get her a prom dress,” but also paid for her to get her you are on the back roads in Tennessee. It’s beautiful there. We “hair done at DE Pasquale, got her a limo.” travel 16 hours. It’s a great program, great camp, great service to That effort led her group to donate prom gowns for the past the community. We are reaching thousands.” three years to various hospitals who organize proms for cancer This trip involves tools and building, says Willans, unlike the patients. Last year they donated 25 and this year plans to have other mission trip she takes every summer with the younger kidsa “big collection” of more gowns and cocktail dresses with 15 al- sixth grade to seniors- which is more of a community service misready collected, she says. sion to areas in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maryland. They also donate toys to Ronald McDonald House for OperaThis year, Willans and 12 students attended the one week mistion Ho Ho Ho. sion from July 1-6 to Burtonsville, MD. There they volunteered “We have lots of things our kids like to do,” says Willans. One at Habitat For Humanity, a YMCA day camp, two assisted living new idea is to host a senior prom for senior citizens. places and a park.

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Willans’ youth group also works with ReStart Ministry, which collects furniture and clothing for people placed in rehab, battered women’s shelters, Homeless Solutions, in need of items when they get out. ReStart Ministry “will furnish their apartment for them” to help them get started; will get dishes for them and other needed items like twin beds, kitchenettes, pots and pans. “We will help deliver; will help get stuff for them; help organize storage facilities; put together bed frames and kitchen sets,” she describes, “pulled mattresses up balconies; we assemble kitchens to go. We love what they do. We love to set it up and have things ready for them. What I love about Homeless Solutions, it’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up.” Besides serving as role model to her youth group, Willans’ altruism has also rubbed off on her own kids. As a mother of four- Ben, 22; Josh, 20; Samantha, 16; and Tim, 14- Willans has gotten her kids involved as volunteers. Her son, Ben, has worked at Mountain T.O.P. for the past three summers, she says. “They have to raise their own money to work there,” she says. This past summer was the “best summer of her life,” she says, as “all six of us were at the Mountain T.O.P. this year at the same camp at the same time.” Her sons have been joining her on the missions since they were 12, and her daughter since she was 13. “Most of this I do with my kids,” says Willans. “Anything I do, I do with my kids.” Her kids have gotten her involved through the schools and sports too. For the past five years she has run the Hanover Twp. Little League snack bar as she got involved through her kids. She was her daughter’s softball and soccer coach for travel and recreation for years. Willans used to work full time as a music teacher at the Hanover Elementary and middle schools- a position she held for eight years from 1999 to 2004- but after child number four, became a substitute in the schools and private music teacher from home. “When I work, I do it while they are school or I work at the school,” says Willans. “I try to do things with them. It’s rare I’m without a child.” Her older kids come home from college and go with her to Newark. “My 22 year old was the advisor during the Week of Hope” junior high trip while her daughter was one of the youth members volunteering. “Hanover Symphony is one thing I do for me,” says Willans who is a bassoonist. She attended Rutgers, New Brunswick, Mason Gross School of Arts, where she attained a bachelor’s in music and music education. Music, her family and helping others are her passion. “My summer mission trips of Mountain T.O.P. and Week of Hope are amazing and I look forward to them every year, especially when my family is with me!” says Willans. “I love the people we meet on the streets of Newark with our Kindness Project, serving meals at Homeless Solutions and helping ReStart Ministry is great because you are helping others while they are getting their feet back on the ground but volunteerism, in my opinion, is something that should be second nature,” con-

cludes Willans. “People should volunteer their time and resources and offer compassion for others. “My favorite saying is a Swedish Proverb: ‘The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.’ It should be that simple.”

Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 37

Police Upgrade Dispatch Center

he Township of Hanover Police Department has completed the second phase, of a three-phase project, upgrading its dispatch and communications center. This second phase followed the installation of a cutting-edge Emergency Call Works 9-1-1 and phone system during the fall of 2017. Phase two upgraded the furniture and dispatch consoles in the communications center and prepares the agency for the future. In August 2018, every Hanover Township officer was issued a new Harris XL-200 “All-Band” portable radio. These radios will allow each officer to communicate directly with each of its law enforcement neighbors during routine calls, large scale emergencies, and mutual aid incidents. The Harris XL-200 radios are P-25 compliant and give officers reliable personal communications. The new dispatch consoles upgraded both the furniture and dispatch-radio interface from police headquarters to its existing communications infrastructure that is scheduled to be replaced in phase three. The Zetron MAX Dispatch System was selected because it has been proven to be effective from routine calls for service to mission-critical operations. This IP-based system provides the Hanover Township Police with a U.S. Homeland Security compliant, digital capable, communications system to assure reliability no matter the situation. The flexibility of this new system will facilitate the anticipated growth of our

community and agency. “With Emergency Call Works, MAX Dispatch, and the new Harris radios we have streamlined the user capability to improve response times and efficiency while increasing officer safety,” says Chief Mark

Roddy, who thanks the Township Committee and the Township Business Administrator for their continued support of the department’s equipment needs and their recognition of the importance of staying current with public safety necessities.

Former Twp. Health Oﬃcer To Be Recognized For Years Of Service

n Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Birchwood Manor in Whippany, the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee (WRWAC) will recognize Dr. George Van Orden for his years of service, commitment, and dedication to the Whippany River Watershed and the WRWAC. Hanover Township Mayor Ron Francioli has been invited to take part in the tribute as a keynote speaker. “WRWAC could not have selected a more deserving individual to honor this year than Dr. Van Orden,” stated Francioli. “Since the 1980’s, George has been on the forefront of watershed management. His work over 30 years ago to restore the Whippany River to the clean, thriving ecosystem it is today stands out as one of his signature accomplishments in championing water quality. It is one

of many.” Van Orden worked for the Hanover Township Health Department as the municipal health officer and Environmental Health Specialist from 1981 through 2015, when he retired from local government. He currently serves as a volunteer member of the Township’s Board of Health and teaches at the universities of Rutgers and Drew, as well as at the College of Saint Elizabeth. To learn more about the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee’s dinner, which will also raise funds to support the non-profit organization’s efforts to preserve, protect, and maintain the land and water resources of the Whippany River Watershed, visit www.wrwac. org. Tickets are on sale through Oct. 5 by going to https://wrwac2018dinner.eventbrite.com.

Page 38 • September 2018 • Hanover Park Life

Rotarians Schuck Corn At Camp Merry Heart

anover Rotarians shucked and cooked corn for the Camp Merry Heart Service Club Day Aug. 8 at Camp Merry Heart, Hackettstown. Each year, on the second Wednesday of August, the camp holds its annual “Service Club Day” celebration; a way of saying “thank you” to all the supporters throughout the year, and an opportunity to introduce the camp to new friends. The event began with a carnival for the campers provided by Rotarians and friends, followed by a barbecue dinner prepared and served by Rotarians, and culminating in a “thank you” ceremony to honor those who provided support throughout the previous year. Hanover Rotary prepared the corn for the barbecue dinner. The corn was provided by Ort Farms in Long Valley. Camp Merry Heart serves handicapped children and adults. In the past, the Hanover Rotary built a pavilion and provided camperships for worthy children.

The Hanover Rotary is always looking for additional members to help it serve the community. The club meets for breakfast

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Hanover Park Life • September 2018 • Page 39