Hometown 12 March 2023

Zone 12

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March 2023

Montville UNICO Foundation Puts Service Above Self

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By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta ince 1989, Montville UNICO has contributed over $2 million to those in need. Giving financial support for terminally ill children, relief funds for families affected by the World Trade Center disaster, and holiday donations for needy families, are examples UNICO has supported over the years. UNICO is also the largest Italian American service organization in the United States and has recently celebrated 100-years of “Service Above Self” (1922 to 2022).

Joan Bunda, of Towaco, joined the Montville chapter five years ago. She and a girlfriend who shared Italian culture figured “why not?”

Their kids were in high school, and they decided to dedicate their time to something that was of interest to them. Bunda is Chair of Membership Committee.

“We unite our Italian heritage. Being proud Italian Americans, we come together as a group to have

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Jessica Bunda, Russ Pisano, Joan Bunda and Angie Pisano

fundraisers and support local community,” Bunda said.

During meetings, members pitch opportunities of how to help people in the community. “Any individual we hear about, we donate to their plight,” she added.

“Just knowing we’re helping people motivates us.”

During meetings, members discuss business, but they also learn about Italian

heritage and share their stories. “It’s really good comradery,” said Bunda.

With any organization there will always be challenges. Bunda said that funds were low during the pandemic, but not things are getting better. They just keep looking for more opportunities to help others.

UNICO meetings take once a month at The Co-

lumbia Inn, 29 Route 202 (Main Road), Montville. But Bunda pointed out that the chapter is not just for people in Montville. “Anybody can join,” she encouraged.

Currently there are 42 members. “We’d like to increase the number,” Bunda said.

“That’s my main goal.”

Volunteering for UNICO has so many rewards, but continued on page 4

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Caring and Serving the local communities dental needs for over 14 years

DEMENTIA

Dementia typically occurs gradually, making it tough for family and friends to notice the signs in a loved one. One of the noticeable side effects is poor oral hygiene, which leads to plaque buildup and gingivitis.

HEART CONDITIONS

Gum disease has a potential link to heart disease, so irritated or infected gums (paired with other other heart disease risk factors) suggest that you should see a cardiologist.

DIABETES

Many symptoms accompanying diabetes actually show up in the mouth. Periodontal disease, bleeding gums, loose-feeling teeth, and other subtle signs point to the possibility of diabetes. Your dentist may recommend you see your doctor, and if you’ve already been diagnosed, these symptoms show that your blood sugar isn’t under control.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Loss of bone tissue can lead to brittleness and changes to the jaw bones, which might show as receding gums or loose teeth.

EATING DISORDERS

If you or a loved one has struggled with an eating disorder, you know how difficult it can be to seek out the care you need. Enamel erodes when exposed to stomach acids or as a result of poor nutrition, and your dentist can help you address this and find a way forward.

HEARTBURN

While heatburn is usually noticeable to the patient, nighttime acid reflux is tougher to diagnose because it occurs during sleep. Your dentist will notice erosion of enamel on the upper back morals and consider whether nighttime heartburn might be the cause.

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Roots & Wings Hosts 10th Annual Authors’ Luncheon

n Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Roots & Wings, a Denville-based nonprofit supporting young people who have aged out of foster care, will host its annual Authors’ Lunch at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. This event is traditionally attended by over 125 professional and literary-minded people who understand the need to support aged-out foster youth in New Jersey.

This year, author Emi Nietfeld will discuss her memoir, Acceptance, a memoir of her journey through foster care and homelessness, interrogating the true meanings of resilience, ambition, and success. After graduating from Harvard in 2015, Nietfeld worked as a software engineer, an experience she wrote about in her viral New York Times essay, “After Working At Google, I’ll Never Let Myself Love a Job Again.” Today she’s a mental health advocate, speaker, and journalist writing for publications like The Atlantic, Fortune, and Slate.

Nietfeld will be joined by #1 New York

Times bestselling author Christina Baker rise toward their greatest potential.

Kline who is continuing her longstanding Roots & Wings is funded almost enrelationship with Roots & Wings to lead a tirely by individual donations. We rely on discussion and Q&A session with Nietfeld. the generous support of donors to help Kline is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, and the author and/or editor of five continued from front page nonfiction books. She is published in more what Bunda particularly cherishes are inspirthan 40 countries; her books are taught in ing “thank you” letters. For example, UNICO granted a student with a $2500 scholarship universities, colleges, and high schools.

Hundreds of young adults age out of when he graduated high school, and he New Jersey’s foster care each year. Many thanked the organization with an inspiring are not reunited with their families or testimonial essay which is on their website.

Volunteers for UNICO can help in areas in placed into a permanent home, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, pover- which they do best. “One woman is a phety, unemployment, lack of education and nomenal decorator,” Bunda shared. “Me, incarceration. You can help. Join us for I collect the money, arrange table settings, an afternoon of fine dining, stimulating make up guest lists…Another may be a lawconversation, and good company while yer donating his services. We have an acsupporting our mission of providing safe countant who does the books. Any strength housing, emotional support, life skills, and gives one hundred percent to our organizaeducational opportunities for youth aging tion. It flows so smoothly it is unbelievable.” out of foster care; empowering them to Bunda explained that at one time mem-

change the course of the lives of aged-out foster youth in New Jersey.

To learn more and register to attend please visit www.rootsandwingsnj.org.

Montville UNICO...

bers had to be part-Italian, but now anybody can join if they have an interest in Italian culture. And while meetings happen once a month, it is not mandatory that members have to be there each month.

The next UNICO event will be Saturday, May 6, 2023, their Annual Kentucky Derby Dinner Dance, held at Hanover Manor, East Hanover. The celebration will have a DJ and a singer. “Some women wear big hats like they do at the Kentucky Derby,” Bunda said.

“Contact us if you’d like to go.”

Montville UNICO Foundation is a 501c3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible. For more information, visit: www. montvilleunicofoundation.org/

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Sales: Joe@mylifepublications • Editorial: editorial@mylifepublications Please e-mail all press releases and calendar information to editor@mylifepublications.com. Advertising in My Life Publications is affordable and effective. We are a “family friendly” publication and therefore reserve the right to accept only advertisements that appeal to the entire family; the final determination of which is made by My Life Publications. Views expressed in My Life Publications are those of the respective columnists and writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, or My Life Publications. Advertising is open to anyone desiring to reach the public and is subject to approval, revision and/or rejection at any time by the publisher. Many of the articles are paid for by the author and are in effect advertisements. Publication of any advertisement does not constitute, either implied or inferred, an endorsement of services, products or businesses advertised.

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The Summer of 1968: The Sacred Sacrifice

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By Richard Mabey Jr. here are moments in our life, which leave a deep mark upon your heart, mind and soul, that they are simply not to be forgotten. Such a sacred moment came on a Saturday morning, in the middle of June of 1968. I was 14 years old and had just completed my freshman year at Boonton High School.

Dad and I were eating breakfast at the kitchen table at the old Mabey Homestead. Mom and my sister, Patti, had left earlier to visit Mom’s mother in Boonton. Dad and I sat at the kitchen table eating Wheaties cereal and sipping hot tea. I remember that we were talking about the big, week-long hike along the Appalachian Trail that was planned for Boy Scout Troop 170, for the next week.

Then, Dad did something a bit unusual. He took the inner bag of Wheaties, from the box and began cutting out the front and back cardboard. Then Dad did something even more unusual. He took one of the pieces of cardboard and laid it flat on the kitchen table, next to his bowl of Wheaties. Then Dad took one of his shoes and traced the bottom of his shoe onto the cardboard with a pencil. Then repeated the process with the other piece of cardboard and his other

Dad and I, on our way to attend a scout meeting of Boy Scout Troop 170.

shoe.

I remember simply asking my father, “Dad, watcha doing?”

Dad then answered me with me with a smile on his face, “I’m tracing my shoes on the cardboard. I got these holes in both my shoes!”

Dad then showed me the small holes in his shoes. They were big enough so that Dad could put his forefinger through both of them.

“Dad, why don’t ya’ just go and buy new shoes?” I asked my father.

Dad’s reply deeply moved my heart. “I’m a working man. I’ve got to save my money for you to be able to go to college.” And, in so few words, Dad spoke volumes.

I remember being lost for words. I remember being all so deeply moved. “I see,”

was all I could conjure up to say.

I never forgot that moment. Now at 69, it sometimes haunts me in my dreams. My father dropped out of high school to join the Army Air Corps during World War II. It was later in life that Dad earned his GED and attended classes at Drew University to become a Lay Leader in the Methodist Church. Despite having had dropped out of high school to serve in the Army Air Corps, my father had an immense respect and love for education. My father was one of the wisest men I have ever known.

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

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It Happened In NJ: The Day Baseball was Born; Potentially, Maybe…

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By Peter Zablocki oday, Maxwell Place in Hoboken is the epitome of luxurious living with condominiums and townhomes overlooking the New York skyline. Some may even remember it being the Maxwell House Coffee plant site throughout the twentieth century. Still, the location’s roots are even more profound than that. For buried well below the brick buildings is the Elysian Fields park – the site of the first-ever organized baseball game in the United States, played on June 19, 1846.

The myth that Abner Doubleday invented baseball and first played it in Cooperstown, New York, has long been discredited. It was a brainchild of a special commission established in 1903 to research the sport’s origins and based on a testimony of an older man – and friend of Abner’s – who claimed to have seen Doubleday make up the rules and play the game sixty years before. Ironically, the so-called founder never admitted to doing so. In fact, at the time of the said occurrence, Doubleday was present at West Point Academy and nowhere near Cooperstown.

It is still a major point of contention for baseball enthusiasts, considering that it makes the Baseball Hall of Fame’s location in New York State based solely on unproven hearsay. For a precise, albeit more controversial origin of America’s past, one should look no further than Hoboken, New Jersey.

In the 1840s, thousands of New Yorkers rode the ferryboats to Hoboken each Sunday. Their destination was often the famed Elysian Fields, which provided a peaceful

sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the nearby metropolis. The visitors enjoyed the five-acre paradise’s cafes, strolls through the flower-booming gardens, and cricket matches. It was also where a twenty-five-yearold New York volunteer fireman and banker, Alexander Cartwright, would spend his days playing “town ball” – an Americanized street version of the British game of rounders. More akin to dodgeball, the game would see players try not to get hit with the ball thrown directly at them to get them out on their way to secure bases (laid out in a square), all while the men on the field would fight to catch the ball off the bat (with the batter standing between home and first base) through a free-for-all melee.

In 1845, Cartwright decided to organize his buddies into a baseball club. Named the New York Knickerbockers after

his firehouse and made up of other members of higher social standing, Cartwright’s club adopted new regulations to make the game more entertaining, safer, and quicker.

Approved by club members on September 23, 1845, Alexander’s rules saw the square turned into a diamond, the batter staying at home, and bases placed ninety feet apart. The game now also had three outfielders, foul and safe lines, and a new position of shortstop, all while deciding on three outs instead of letting the entire lineup bat before switching. The Knickerbockers liked to play with these rules so much that they would visit Hoboken’s Elysian Fields during the week instead of just Sundays.

And while they always played intrasquad games, they soon began calling themselves world champions which continued on page 10

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Grow It Green’s Annual Spring Fundraiser

id you know that Morristown is home to an urban farm that has donated up to 30,000 pounds of annual fresh produce to those in need, educated thousands of local students and new farmers, and offers fresh produce throughout the year with a Winter Market and seasonal farm stand?

Grow It Green Morristown, now in its 14th year, continues to promote health and strengthen our diverse community through urban agriculture, extensive education offerings, and equitable food access.

Each year, the organization holds one major fundraiser to support its programs. This year’s Spring into Action fundraiser will be on Monday, May 1 at 5:30 pm at Glenbrook Brewery in Morristown.

Tickets are $85. Guests will enjoy a casual evening with light fare, including tastes from the Urban Farm and a custom ice cream flavor donated by Beenie’s; seasoned petite maize popcorn from Madison Park Foods, an exclusive Glenbrook beer;

and an eco-friendly wine tasting, courtesy of Cambridge Wines. Also included - a swag bag, music from the team at DJ Chelli, and a collection of tricky tray baskets.

The event will also include a virtual Silent Auction with fantastic getaways, golf outings, Mansion in May tickets, and more.

You can even bid to name one of the famous Urban Farm chickens! Sponsorships and ads are also available to help support our programs - email kathy@growitgreenmorristown.org.

“Growing and distributing sustainable, fresh food to thousands of local residents is a super power, one made possible by events like our Spring into Action fundraiser. With the state of our world today, there’s never been a more important time to collectively join together in this mission,” said Lisa Alexander, Executive Director.

For ticket sales: growitgreenmorristown. org. Can’t make the event? Register for free to visit the Silent Auction and provide some support.

What’s happening in your school or organization?

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Brought to you by Dr. Matthew Krupnick, the owner of Pequannock Animal Hospital

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Debunking Myths About Spaying and Neutering

ompanion animal overpopulation poses a considerable problem. The Humane Society of the United States says about 2.4 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in American animal shelters each year - about one every 13 seconds. Many of these animals are the offspring of beloved pets or stray cats and dogs who reproduce unchecked.

One of the easiest solutions to the pet overpopulation problem is to have pets spayed or neutered. Another solution is for prospective pet owners to adopt pets from a nearby animal shelter - one that handles spaying and neutering for their adoptable animals.

Many pet owners are hesitant to have their animals spayed or neutered. That hesitation may stem from some prevailing myths surrounding spaying or neutering.

Myth: You can use neutering or

spaying interchangeably to describe the sterilization process.

Fact: Neutering is associated with male pets and the removal of the testicles.

Spaying is for female pets and involves the removal of both the ovaries and uterus.

Myth: Recovery from spaying and neutering takes a long time.

Fact: Many veterinarians and animal clinics allow pet owners to bring their pets home on the same day the animal is spayed or neutered. Pets are usually fully recovered within a week of having the surgery.

Myth: Removing reproductive organs will make my pet get fat and lazy.

Fact: Weight gain is not a byproduct of spaying and neutering. Pet weight gain is typically linked to an unhealthy diet and inadequate exercise.

Myth: My pet’s personality will change continued on page 9

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How Did Easter Get Its Name?

Debunking Myths...

POLISHED PETS

continued from page 8 for the worse.

Fact: Pet behavior may improve after the animal is spayed or neutered. Males tend to be less aggressive, and females won’t howl, cry or pace when they’re in heat. Also, your pet actually may stick closer to home because the desire to find a mate has been reduced.

Myth: It’s advisable to spay a female pet after she has at least one litter.

Fact: Many veterinarians stand by medical evidence that suggests females spayed.

Fact: Many veterinarians stand by medical evidence that suggests females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier than those who aren’t.

Myth: It is expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.

Fact: Subsidized voucher programs as well as low-cost spay/neuter clinics can help make the procedure affordable.

Myth: The sterilization procedure is painful for my pet.

Fact: The surgery is done under general anesthesia, and the pet will not feel anything. Discomfort after the surgery

hristians and even many nonChristians likely know that Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Less widely known may be the origins of the name of this significant holiday. Historians are not certain about the precise origins of the name “Easter.” Some believe the name can be traced to the English monk Bede, often referred to as “St. Bede the Venerable” or “The Venerable Bede.” According to History. com, in his most famous work, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Bede asserts that the English word “Easter” can be

traced to “Eostre” or “Eostrae,” which is the pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring.

Many historians past and present echo this sentiment and believe Eostre is the namesake of Easter. However, others believe “Easter” comes from the Latin phrase “in albis,” which is plural for “alba” (dawn).

That phrase became “eostarum” in Old High German, a language that historians have connected to Old English. Though which camp is correct may never be resolved, there’s no denying that the word “Easter” represents the same spirit of rebirth that Christians celebrate each spring.

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is usually mild, and a vet can prescribe a post-operative pain medication if your pet seems to have any lingering discomfort.

Myth: If I keep my pet intact, I can have a puppy or a kitten just like him or her one day.

Fact: The offspring of a pet is not guaranteed to be a duplicate in looks or personality to your existing pet. In addition, at a later point in life, you may find your schedule or ability to care for a young pet has changed.

Pet overpopulation is a considerable problem with wide-ranging consequences.

Pet owners should speak with their pets’ veterinarians about spaying and neutering.

Dr. Matthew Krupnick is the owner of the Pequannock Animal Hospital. He grew up in Kinnelon and is happy to be home – with his wife, three cats, and two dogs – to provide quality and compassionate care for pets in the community. The Pequannock Animal Hospital is located at 591 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pompton Plains. You can reach the hospital by calling 973-6160400.

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It Happened In NJ... continued from page 6 did not sit well with other “town ball” baseball clubs.

On June 19, 1846, known as “the day baseball was born,” the Elysian field hosted the first prearranged baseball game between two organized clubs and playing

by Cartwright’s rules, the Knickerbockers and the previously “town ball-playing” the New York Nines. No questioning of the umpire was allowed since the players considered themselves gentlemen. Proof of their social status, a historian would write, was that they could play baseball on Monday and Thursday afternoons at a time when Paterson mill workers were beginning the second

half of their long day. With no real equipment apart from a bat (no baseball glove yet), the clubs agreed to play for honor and to test Cartwright’s rules. The winner would keep the ball as a trophy.

The New York Nines got the hang of the new rules rather quickly, which made it a fun afternoon for the various onlookers who came to watch the game. In a twist of fate, the Nines pummeled the Knickerbockers 23 to 1 and went home with the baseball in hand. Still, the Knickerbockers would go on to dominate baseball until clubs began playing for money in the 1870s, by then with

Cartwright’s rules becoming the standard around the country and the world.

And so, although thought up by a New Yorker in New York, the game of baseball as we know was first played in an organized matter in our home state of New Jersey on June 19, 1846, thus making it the birthplace of the sport – well, potentially, maybe… it sure depends on how one looks at it.

Peter Zablocki is the co-host of the History Teachers Talking Podcast. For more information, visit www. peterzablocki.com

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 13

Celebrating our 2nd Anniversary

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Page 14 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Rejected! What to Do if Your E-filed Tax Return is Rejected by the IRS

M

ore than 90% of individual tax returns are now filed electronically, and usually the process goes smoothly. When an e-filed tax return is rejected, however, e-filing can become more complicated.

Common causes for rejected tax returns Simple filing errors. Most rejections are caused by things such as misspellings, typos on Social Security numbers, or missing forms. When an e-filed tax return is rejected, the IRS e-filing system sends back rejection codes. These codes are specific to lines on the tax return and descriptions of the problem are readily available. Most of these errors can be easily corrected.

Dependent errors. This error occurs when someone else has claimed a dependent on a previously filed tax return.

This often occurs with divorced and unmarried couples who each claim the same child on their tax return. The IRS does not take sides in this situation, they simply accept the earlier-filed return and reject any subsequent returns.

Identity fraud. Someone else has already filed a tax return using your Social Security number.

What to do

Most errors are simple and easily corrected, which paves the way for resubmitting your tax return for e-filing without much additional delay. However there are two instances that require your immediate attention. When either of these occur, you may need to file your tax return via physical mail and work to correct the error for future tax filings: 1.) Dependent errors. A dependent can only be claimed on one tax return. If a dependent is already claimed on another individual’s tax return you will need to provide proof that the dependent belongs on your return. If this happens, contact the other party who claimed your dependent

and ask them to amend their return. Let them know that you’re filing your tax return correctly claiming the dependent.

Your filing will target both tax returns for a potential IRS audit. This audit risk often is enough motivation to correct the problem.

2.) Identity Fraud. Criminals using stolen information submit tax returns electronically in an effort to steal your tax withholdings. Fraudulently claimed refunds are then automatically deposited into thieves’ bank accounts. Unfortunately, you may discover the theft when your e-filed tax return is rejected. If this happens to you: File a paper tax return.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 15

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O

Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education Honors 15 Outstanding Educators Including Teachers and Educational Services

n January 17, 2023 the Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education recognized the district’s 15 outstanding educators of the year for the 2022-2023 academic school year. The BOE meeting was held at the Montville Township Municipal Building.

Principals from each of the district’s schools introduced the honorees to the members of the Montville Township BOE. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Gorman presented each honoree with a certificate.

The elementary, middle, and high school educators who received the recognitions were named in one of two categories: Teacher of the Year and Educational Services Professional of the Year. Additionally, the high school also named a Prince-

ton University Distinguished about education, and we Secondary Teacher of the are excited to thank them Year. for their commitment to the “This is a special time of students and the district.” year,” Gorman said. “It is Many of the 15 who rejoyful to recognize our out- ceived recognition on Janstanding educators. These uary 17 have been in the > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC dedicated individuals are MTPS district for over 20 creative and passionate years.

Compare our CD Rates Bank-issued, FDIC-insured

There are seven Montville Township Public Schools. The district includes: five elementary schools, Cedar Hill, Hilldale, Valley View, William Mason, and Woodmont; one middle school, Robert R. Lazar; and one high school, Mont-

ville Township High School.

The following is a list of the 2022-2023 MTPS educators that were honored by the Montville BOE on January 17, 2023.

Teachers of the Year: Cedar Hill - Trudy Coppola Hilldale - Tammy Minsky

Valley View - Dara Conte William Mason - Andria Navarra Woodmont - Jane Mancuso Lazar - Derek Lynn MTHS - Sandra Vermaelen Educational Services Professional of the Year: continued on page 21

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

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FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate * Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 12/21/2022.

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Early withdrawal may * Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 12/21/2022.

CDsPlease offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yetwww.fdic.gov paid) per depositor, perto insured depository institution, for each account ownership category.

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Subject to availability and price change.

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CDs offered through EdwardCDs Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide.

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by Edward Jones are bank-issued and institution, for each account ownership category.

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Subject to availability and decrease. price change.

CDare values to interest risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices CDs can If CDs sold are prior to maturity, the rate CDs soldfor by Edward Jones are registered with theof Depository Trust Corp.

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FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured advisor additional information.

Subject to availability and price change.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 17

All Sports Museum in Bridgeton Houses South Jersey Sports History

I

By Jeff Garrett f not for the inviting gold and green sign saying, “Welcome to All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey,” passers-by might never know of how much local, regional, collegiate and professional sports memorabilia and artifacts lay inside a regular, modest building in Bridgeton.

But there’s more than enough with more planned.

The building was originally part of Cumberland County Community College but changed hands. At some point, hopefully sooner than later, the clanging of hammers to nails and the sounds of buzzing drills to install more siding and roofing will take place adjacent to the six-room, 1500 square foot cozy museum. At least this is what museum chairman and chief curator Dom Valella hopes for, as the expansion is planned in the hopes of providing more indoor space to remember more athletes and contributors to southern New Jersey sports fame – for those from Trenton down to Cape May actually.

There’s an Eagles room, a Phillies room, a Sixers room, a Flyers room and even a Cumberland County room, for impressive athletes who have a connection to that area.

“Pioneers, contributors, athletes and coaches are in here,” says Valella. “We’ve

had some who want to be paid to be in here but we just don’t do that. In many sports hall of fames like this, they say one needs to wait five years to enter after their contribution is made and they’ve essentially retired.” Not the case in Bridgeton, where Valella is hoping he can add two NFL rookies he doesn’t want to name at this time, one of which plays for the AFC Champion, Kansas City Chiefs, to the collection this year.

If so, these rookies will occupy spots alongside greats remembered such as Phillies 2008 World Series coach, Charlie Manuel, a longtime Haddonfield, NJ resident; legendary title-holder, boxer Joe Frazier from Philadelphia who trained in Vineland, NJ and was inducted posthumously. Gold glove phenom, Willie Mays who, while working for Resorts International in Atlantic City, donated a gold glove just over 25 years ago in exchange for a few buckets of peaches and plums. He added a “Say Hey Willie Mays” jersey too with the glove. Mays was a frequent visitor to the Bridgeton Invitational Baseball Tournament, an annual tournament Valella coached, showing his personal affinity for baseball.

“About five years ago, we were able to get a Jackie Robinson statue from the African-American Negro Hall of Fame in Newton,” said Valella. “A lot of schools came with

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15 to 20 students at a time. I’d give tours and the kids learned a lot,” he added, realizing Robinson’s importance in the equal rights movement in professional sports.

21-year-old local ice hockey player Johnny Gaudreau from Pennsgrove High School, who was a top scorer for the NHL’s Calgary Flames has a spot in the Hall, thanks to police chief of Bridgeton, Michael Gaimari, who knows Johnny’s family and recommended him to Valella. Dozens of plaques and trophies sit in the Hall at 8 Richie Kates Sr. Way in Bridgeton.

Right now, Valella is focused on the next induction ceremony to be held Saturday, March 11 at 11am at Ramblewood Country Club in Mount Laurel, where the Hall welcomes ESPN and NFL analyst, Sal Paolantonio to its membership. So yes, there’s a spot for sports commentators with a significant tie to New Jersey, in the museum. Just ask Philadelphia sports commentator Michael

Barkann and former Phillie and commentator for the team, Ricky Bottalico, who have been inducted already. Both have ties to the Garden State.

Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski will be the special guest speaker on the 11th while sports radio talk show host Joe DiCamara will be the guest master of ceremonies.

Later this year, Paolantonio wants to hold another fund-raiser for the expansion of the facility. “We run the museum now as a non-profit with donations,” Valella noted.

The price of admission is free. “The expansion will be a large task for a small facility started 58 years ago in 1965.

There’s plenty to be optimistic about for sports enthusiasts in New Jersey. Even a nonsports enthusiast can come here and learn about South Jersey history,” said Valella.

For more information about All-Sports Museum of South Jersey, visit www.cumberlandcountynj.gov/allsportsmuseum

Page 18 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Congratulations

Crest Real Estate

to our NJ REALTOR® 2022 Award Winners

CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate

973-686-1500

142 Route 23 North, Pompton Plains, NJ

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 19

C

Danielle Fiorina Awarded the Gold Level of the 2022 NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award

entury 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is pleased to announce that Danielle Fiorina has been awarded the NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Sales Award Gold Level for 2022. This is Danielle’s 9th year obtaining this award level by having an annual minimum of $12 million in sales.

In 2020 and 2021, she had obtained the Platinum Level award for 2 consecutive years, having an annual minimum of $20 million in sales.

Danielle is also the recipient of the Century 21 President’s Producer Award, CENTURION® Award, and Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, and Top Office Producer for 2022.

Danielle is a member of the NJ REALTORS® Distinguished Sales Club for achieving the Circle of Excellence Sales Award for a minimum of 10 years and is also a member of the CENTURION® Honor Society.

“We are thrilled to acknowledge Danielle’s accomplishments. Her hard work

and dedication to her real estate business is evidenced by the many awards Danielle has received throughout the years,” said Patricia Wojtyszyn, Broker/Owner Century 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. “My clients always come first. Understanding their personal goals and needs is at the heart of my real estate business, and I believe it is the foundation for an effective client/realtor relationship. I am very grateful to my clients for putting their trust in me and thrilled to be acknowledged by NJ REALTORS® for this distinguished award.” says Fiorina.

Danielle Fiorina has built her reputation on professionalism and honesty. As a former business owner and accountant/ controller, she is very innovative and promotes her client’s needs to successfully reach their goal. Fiorina has been a professional realtor and top producer in the industry since 2006 and provides one-onone personal expertise to each and every

client from start to finish.

When you choose Danielle, you work directly, and only with Danielle. Call Danielle to put her experience to work for you and for all your real estate needs. Danielle can be reached at 973-460-4352.

Century 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. has serviced the Northern New Jersey area since 1981, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. has enjoyed a fine reputation specializing in residential, commercial and rental properties. CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is an award-winning, full service real estate agency. They are an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the iconic brand and franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, comprised of 14,250 franchised broker offices in 86 countries and territories worldwide with more than 145,000 independent sales professionals. The Century 21® System provides brand marks, mar-

keting, communications and innovative technology solutions that help enable its franchisees and their independent agents to attract and engage prospects, nurture customers, and deliver a positive real estate transaction experience.

S R O T L A E NJ R Gol

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NJ REALTORS®Office: 973.646.7 Circle of Excellence Award 2006-2022 DOUBLE CENTURION® Award 2020, 2021 President’s Producer & CENTURION® Award 2012-2022 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer 2011-2022 • Advertising on over 200 websites • Direct access to all real estate listings • Short Sales & Foreclosure Certification

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Page 20 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate Announces NJ Realtors® 2022 Circle of Excellence

C

ENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate is pleased to announce that seven of its agents have achieved the NJ Realtors® 2022 Circle of Excellence Award®. These awards recognize the top producing agents in New Jersey. To earn the award, recipients must achieve designated sales levels and be in good standing.

NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Award (COE) Gold Level achievers ($12 million and 25 units minimum or 90 units sold) are: Danielle Fiorina has achieved the Circle of Excellence Gold Level Award, 2022 CENTURION® Award, CENTURY 21’s President’s Producer Award and Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award for 11 consecutive years, 2012-2022. She has received the NJ REALTORS Circle of Excellence Award, 20062022. She is a member of the CENTURION Honor Society and the NJ REALTORS Distinguished Sales Club. Fiorina also has been named CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate’s Agent of the Year.

Colleen A. McMahon has won over 23 NJR Circle of Excellence Awards during her 28 year career at CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate. Colleen is also the recipient of the 2022 CENTURION® Award (2016-2022) and 2022 President’s Producer Award for Commitment to Quality Service and Productivity. The CENTURION Award is one of the most prestigious awards presented to CENTURY 21 Real Estate Professionals.

McMahon has been named CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate’s #2 Agent of the Year for 2022.

Silver Level COE award recipients ($6.5 million and 20 units minimum, or 70 units sold) are: Margie West has achieved the Silver Level Circle of Excellence Award for New Jersey Realtors, CENTURY 21 Quality Service Producer Award and Masters Emerald Award. West

has been with CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate for 21 years.

Margie has been named #3 Agent for 2022 for CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate.

Regina Petry has achieved the Silver level Circle of Excellence Award for New Jersey Realtors, CENTURY 21 Quality Service Producer Award and Masters Emerald Award. As a 15 -time COE award winner, she has earned the NJR Distinguished Sales Club Award.. An agent with CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate for 14 years, Gina is CENTURY 21 Crest #4 Agent for 2022.

Bronze Level COE recognition ($2.5 million and 15 units minimum or 30 units sold) was awarded to: Tere Episale is celebrating 35 years at CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate. She has been awarded the Circle of Excellence Award 34 times since 1987 and has been named a NJR Distinguished Sales Club “Lifetime” Award winner. She has received the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer for the past 10 years.

Marie Episale, broker/Sales manager, has been awarded NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Awards since 1989 and has been named a NJR Distinguished Sales Club Award winner.

She has received CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer, Presidents Award and Centurion Award many times over the course of her career at CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate.

Catherine Lawton has been a COE winner for more than 10 years earning the prestigious Distinguished Sales Club Award and a consistent recipient of CENTURY 21’s Quality Service Award. She has been with CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate for 18 years.

“At CENTURY 21® Crest Real Estate, we are pleased to commend our agents who were named NJ Realtors® 2022

Circle of Excellence Award® winners. I am so very proud of my agents not only for their production, but most of all, for their dedication to superior customer service,” says said Patricia R. Wojtyszyn, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate Broker/ Owner, adding, “I applaud their efforts in 2022, and look forward to helping them achieve their sales goals in 2023.”

Servicing the Northern New Jersey area since 1981, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. enjoys a fine reputation specializing in residential, commercial and rental properties.

CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, Inc. is an award-winning, full service real estate agency located at 142 Professional Center on Route 23 North in Pompton Plains. Members of CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate’s award-winning sales team can be reached at (973) 686-1500.

About CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of Century 21 Real Estate LLC (century21.com), franchisor of the iconic CENTURY 21® brand. Century 21 Real Estate LLC is comprised of approximately 14,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 85 countries and territories worldwide with about 150,000 independent sales professionals.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 21

Honors Outstanding Educators... continued from page 16 Cedar Hill - Joseph DiLascio Hilldale - Sarina Nesto Valley View - Lillian Main William Mason - Kimberly Beiermeister Woodmont - Diane Colaiacovo Lazar - Claudia Heim MTHS - Catherine Lomauro Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher of the Year: MTHS - Maria Nord The honored educators were nominated by their peers. Within each school there

is a committee that accepts nominations.

From there one educator at each school is selected to serve as Teacher of the Year and one is selected to serve as Educational Services Professional of the Year. At Montville Township High School one educator is also selected as the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Each of the Teachers of the Year and Educational Services Professionals of the Year that are named at the district level are also submitted to the Morris County competitions. If an educator is named at the

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Morris County level, that individual is then reviewed on the state level and competes to be selected by the Governor as an outstanding educator.

In the past, Montville Township Public Schools has been home to two Morris County Teachers of the Year: Lazar Science Teacher Cheryl Zanone (2015-2016) and MTHS Social Studies Teacher Christopher Butchko (2020-2021).

According to the state.nj.us/education website, the Governor›s Teacher of the Year and the Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year programs highlight educational innovation, student achievement, the rewards of teaching, and important services outside the classroom environment that lead to student success.

These two recognitions “seek to attract public attention to the positive aspects of our educational system.”

Additionally, the Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher recognition affords Nord the opportunity to be consideration by Princeton University to be honored at the University’s spring 2023 commencement.

According to the teacherprep.princeton.edu website, “Each year since 1959, Princeton University has honored at its Commencement four outstanding New Jersey teachers from public and independent schools for their contributions to the lives of the state’s secondary school students and to their school communities.”

Video of the Montville Township BOE ceremony honoring the district’s 20222023 award-winning educators can be viewed on the Montville Township Public Schools YouTube Channel: https://youtu. be/TTHrTpyX3qs

What’s happening in your school or organization?

Celebrating a special birthday, anniversary, graduation?

Have a human interest story or something you would like to share?

Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

Page 22 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Vic Fiore—A ‘Remodel’ Citizen Who Brings Home Visions to Life

M

By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta any would agree with the old cliché, “There’s no place like home.” And many would also agree that most homes could use a bit of help. Whether it’s replacing siding, remodeling a kitchen, or finishing a basement, Vic Fiore and his team at Magnolia Home Remodeling are here to help.

Vic Fiore partnered with his brother-in-law Chris Fontana back in 1996, to get the ball rolling. Both gained valuable knowledge early in the game, as Fontana’s dad was an operations specialist at Con Edison; and Fiore has been around the family business since he was 13-yearsold. Throughout high school and college he gained working experience in home remodeling and feels that nothing is better than “on the job experience.”

Fiore studied at Rutgers University and graduated with a BA in Economics. “Business interested me, and it led me to this,” he said. Well versed in many phases of construction, Fiore shared that remodeling homes was at the top of his list when it came to potential careers. “I’m very happy with the decision to be involved in this business,” he said.

Now, with over two decades in the industry, Fiore enjoys taking a project from concept from start to finish. In order to help a client create his/her vision, Fiore explains that it’s all about having a stellar team that makes the process successful.

He said, “We have consultants and project managers that understand our clients needs, goals, and budget…They work towards a proposal that can check all these boxes

and bring the project to successful completion. Permits, working towards an approved design, selecting materials, several walk throughs…Everyone understands from the beginning what the goals are. We learn what people are looking for. We have the whole package and we’re looking to build relationships with people. A large portion of our base is repeat clients.”

Though sometimes clients prefer aggressive timelines, Fiore and his team presents realistic completion dates.

“We explain from the beginning that each task requires a reasonable time frame, form each phase to be succesful.

We can approach it from a standpoint. If there are delays or changes, we let them know. We’re good about finishing jobs on time, and even ahead of schedule. The feedback people give us is that they are impressed with how efficiantly we complete. Its difficult to speed up a project and maintain quality. We want to minimalize stress and work carefully so attempting to get something done in a shortened time frame is never a good recipe.” Nevertheless, Fiore prides himself in that his team often finishes ahead of schedule.

When it comes to home transformations, many homeowners might be concerned about budget, but Fiore feels that even a small tweak such as new siding or a new walkway can create a refreshing vibe. “It just makes you feel good every time you pull up to your driveway,” he said.

Or remodeling your kitchen could also amp up the atmosphere. “A new kitchen with an updated layout, beautiful cabinetry, that really brings a lot of value,” Fiore expressed. “Little things you can do to make the house look

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However, if sacrificing quality for the final product, it may be better to wait until budget meets expectations. If a potential client needs another six months to be able to spend more money, that’s what Fiore’s team sometime encourages people to do.

Magnolia Remodeling also offers a finance program that allows people to do more work than they normally would and pay monthly. “That’s a nice feature not every continued on page 23

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 23

Vic Fiore...

continued from page 22 contractor offers,” Fiore said.

Home Design Trends 2023 According to Fiore, multiple colors and tones is a trend that seems to be continuing. “We recently completed a

project in Watchung with matte black and gold appliances against white wood and stained cabinetry,” he said. “People are taking risks and choosing exciting color combinations.”

Moving forward, Fiore’s vision for Magnolia Home Remodeling is to continue to grow organically. “We have

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Page 24 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Towaco’s Good Shepherd Episcopal Church: A Merger of Joy

I

by Elsie Walker, staff writer t is said in a marriage that two become one. Towaco’s Good Shepherd Episcopal Church at 9 Two Bridges Road came to be as the result of a marriage, a merger of two churches: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Church of the Transfiguration. Once small separate congregations located in close proximity to each other, a merger made sense financially. but also coming together has meant they could further their outreach to the local area and beyond. “[You] can do more with more people,” noted church administrator Kim Rizzo of Pequannock.

The two churches which became Good Shepherd Episcopal Church were started by summer residents looking for a nearby place for Episcopalian worship, according to histories shared by Dean Witty of Montville and Susan Leeds of Lincoln Park. Long ago, the area was a summer vacation place for people from the cities; it was a rural farming area known for its lakes and rivers. However, it was missing a place for the vacationing Episcopalians to worship. In 1913, a group of Episcopalians from New York, who spent their summers in the area, started worshiping together using the Methodist Church in Towaco as a meeting place. They named their congregation Church of the Transfiguration after their home church in New York. In 1917, a small congregation of Episcopalians started worshipping at the local firehouse in Lincoln Park. They decided to name their congregation after St. Andrew, the disciple who was a fisherman. Over the many years since each church’s origin, things changed.

Church buildings were constructed. The churches’ congregations were no longer solely summer residents; much of the farms gave way to houses. The congregations welcomed families which had settled into the area and outlying areas.

However, in recent decades, both congregations came to see what many small churches have seen: membership starting to dwindle. In 2007, with both congregations dwindling, and being only about a mile apart, the churches decided to link the parishes to save resources (shared priest, music directors, etc.) and shared in activities. In 2014, they moved from being linked to being one, taking the name: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.

Deacon Gail Kertland, of Lincoln Park, preaches at the lay-led the morning prayer service each Sunday at 10:30am.

Kertland noted that when she was first called to be a Deacon she didn’t know everything that entails and did research into it, including asking as many clergy as she could about their call. She discovered that a deacon is “a mix of social worker, community organizer, and church leader.” As for her own experience in the role, “I was licensed to officiate in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, which encompasses all of central and northern New Jersey, in July of 2022. I have been an ordained Deacon for almost 25 years and have served in seven Diocese throughout the country; serving 15 parishes; and functioning on nine diocesan boards, commissions, and committees.”

When asked what she likes most about the ministry, Kertland shared, “I love talking with people and helping to match needs and resources. As a trained spiritual director, I enjoy hearing their spiritual journey, helping them discern God’s Call, and working with them to bring it to fruition.”

Kertland is married. She and her husband, Keith, have a Shitsui-mix dog, Phoebe, named after the first female Deacon of Biblical times. They have a son who lives nearby with his wife and daughter. The Deacon’s hobbies include crocheting prayer shawls, reading, and exploring various spiri-

The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church is located at 9 Two Bridges Road in Towaco.

tual prayer modalities.

The church’s morning prayer service is held each Sunday at 10:30am. “The style of worship would be considered traditional, as it follows Morning Prayer Rite Two as prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer. The congregation is flexible and open to the needs and interests of all who might choose to worship here, so may adopt a more contemporary style when warranted,” shared Rizzo. The weekly service is live streamed via Facebook and Rizzo noted that online followers continue to grow weekly (GoodShepherdEpiscopalChurchMontvilleTwp/Lincoln Park).

While the choir has not sung since COVID 19, Rizzo noted that the church has a gifted music minister who is not only an organist but a vocalist as well. “The music minister takes continued on page 25

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 25

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Parishioners and community volunteers make up St. Andrews Thrift Shop open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, located at 211 Main Street, Lincoln Park.

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church... continued from page 24 care to select hymns that encourage congregational singing. She intersperses congregational singing with her own vocal solos. Each service begins with an instrumental prelude and ends with a postlude,” said Rizzo. She went on to share that “on two recent occasions, the music minister performed several music selections on Facebook live as a form of outreach to spotlight our church on social media, and also to strengthen the connection with our congregants who are not able to attend services in person.”

For children attending worship, the church has a supply of child-geared worship aids (coloring pictures, crayons, etc.) for them. “When children are present at worship, they are always acknowledged and made to feel welcome,” said Rizzo.

A fellowship time of coffee and refreshments is held after the service. “Our members are enthusiastic about community-building and socializing,” shared Rizzo.

Outreach is important to the church and it reaches out to the local area and beyond in a variety of ways; one of which is the St. Andrews Thrift Shop. The store is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and is located at 211 Main Street, Lincoln Park. Keith Kertland shared that it is staffed by parishioners and volunteers, and it sells gently used clothing, housewares, books, and decor, all at affordable prices. “This year our Thrift Shop also provided warm clothing for the people of the Ukraine thanks to a financial donation from the Lincoln Park Lions,” Kertland shared.

Another project is the food pantry. Kertland noted that donations are brought in each Sunday by parishioners for the Kiwanis Montville Food Pantry. Once a month a team led by a parishioner also helps distribute food. In addition, the church encourages donations to the Lincoln Park Food Pantry.

Making prayer shawls is another way this church touches the community. Kertland explained that shawls, made by parishioners, are “given to people who are at a point in their life when they need to know they are loved, supported, and remembered… those who are ill, mourning, apprehensive, dealing with stress, or in need of comfort.” Kertland

shared the shawls are prayed over with each stitch and finished shawls are blessed by the congregation. “Our shawls are a tangible reminder that we are never alone. God’s Grace and the loving community of Good Shepherd are with them even in the darkest times,” noted Kertland.

The church also lends its support to four other programs which help people both near and far. Kertand explained that four times a year, parishioners of the church help with St. John’s Boonton “Drop in” Lunch which is held every Saturday.( It offers a hot meal to anyone in need of food or fellowship.) Quarterly, parishioners of the Good Shepherd purchase food, cook, and serve this hot meal for those who choose to come. The church also gets involved in CROP Hunger Walks.

Kertland explained that is an annual walk to fight hunger with 25% of the funds raised returned to the host community to support local hunger-fighting efforts. It is supported

by Good Shepherd parishioners and others in the community through donations and participation. “Grains of Hope provides sustainable solutions to help relieve poverty worldwide and to connect people with global response efforts,” shared Kertland.

“Parishioners donate and raise money for this ministry. Parishioners along with other volunteers help pack thousands of meals to be sent to Ukraine and [other] countries,” he explained. And, the church donates supplies to North Porch Women & Infants’ Centers. “[The center] provides emergency aid of baby supplies to mothers and infants in northern New Jersey, helps them stabilize, and improves the quality of lives. At each visit, clients receive one week’s supply of diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and toiletries,” he shared.

Besides helping others, the congregation of the Good Shepherd enjoys getting together. “The church plans frequent social gatherings, with very good success: St. Patrick’s Day dinner; Mardi gras, Seder Supper, Chicken Dinner, Beer and Wine Tasting Event (social and fundraiser), annual church breakfast, and Christmas dinner,” shared Rizzo.

For more information on the church, visit www.goodshepherdtowaco.weebly.com.

Page 26 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

NJStarz NJ Starz: Eric Klenofsky Hometown: Lincoln Park

T

By Katie Bohn he power and appeal of soccer is universal. Just ask Eric Klenofsky, the head of academy goalkeeping for the Houston Dynamo professional soccer club.

“Soccer is a universal language,” says Klenofsky. “It goes across race, ethnicity, location, any kind of barrier that may stand in the way of any other type of societal structure.

Soccer is in every country in the world. Do I speak German?

No. Do I speak French? No, but I can dribble a soccer ball with you. That is what is unique to soccer as opposed to many other sports, it’s global.”

Klenofsky’s personal list of soccer experience and achievements is extensive. He played high school soccer for DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne all four years where he was goalkeeper for the DePaul Spartans. “I was the captain my senior year and my junior year we won the first ever county championship in the history of the high school which was awesome.” He was first team all state his junior and senior year and from there was selected for the high school boys soccer All American team where he went and played at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Klenofsky, 28, was the first ever representative in the history of DePaul Catholic High School at the All American soccer game. Post high school, he first committed to Southern Methodist University but when that fell through he ended up at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, near the Jersey shore. Klenofsky says his time playing soccer as a starter at Monmouth was an “amazing” experience. “I graduated early because I did summer classes and I ended up getting drafted 34th overall in the 2017 MLS draft to D.C. United. My junior and senior year of college I was Goalkeeper of the Year for the conference.”

There seems to be no shortage of successful soccer goalkeepers who hail from New Jersey. Klenofsky shares memories of playing against Premier League club Arsenal and United States National Team goalkeeper Matt Turner in both high school and college. “Saint Joseph’s was in our high school conference when I was at DePaul Catholic and in our college conference was Fairfield University and Matt Turner was a goalkeeper at Saint Joe’s when I was in high school and he was a goalkeeper at Fairfield as well.” Klenofsky calls winning Goalkeeper of the Year accolades over Turner “incredibly ironic” considering the direction Turner’s career took. “There is absolutely something in the water in New Jersey in terms of goalkeepers,” laughs Klenofsky. “The 1994 World Cup had Tony Meola [who is from] New Jersey. After that came Tim Howard who went to Montclair Kimberley Academy in New Jersey and played for Manchester United and is arguably the greatest American goalkeeper in the history of the country.” Howard played goalkeeper for the United States soccer team in both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. “In the last eight World Cups, about seventy percent [featured] New Jersey goalkeepers,” says Klenofsky.

Klenofsky’s lengthy accomplishments in the soccer world

did not come without some hurdles and challenges. “One of the biggest hurdles I had to overcome was my own selfdoubt. You have challenges, you either succeed or you don’t.

There’s a voice in your head that says ‘Yes, you can do it.’

There’s another that says ‘Maybe you shouldn’t’ or ‘You probably can’t’. That stemmed from my own self-awareness of what my actual level was as a player. I had three knee surgeries in my first four years of playing professionally.

Every time I took a step forward, I would get knocked back.

I would definitely say that was probably one of the biggest challenges I had to get through. Having two surgeries in my rookie year was really difficult. Another difficult time was my senior year at DePaul I was already committed to Southern Methodist University. The day before signing day in May of my senior year I got a call from the coaching staff saying that I wasn’t admitted to the school academically. I had gotten some senioritis and gotten metaphorically punched in the face a couple months before my senior year was over [with the news.]. Those were two really hard moments for me.”

However, Klenofsky goes on to say, “I really needed to get metaphorically punched in the face at that age. I needed to taste a little bit of adversity. Sooner or later I was going to have to taste a bit of adversity so I’m glad that it happened then. I’ve been able to approach a lot of challenges following that with a lot of resilience and logic.”

Helping the DePaul Spartans win their first ever Passaic County Championship in 2012 is on Klenofsky’s list of greatest accomplishments in his soccer career. His time spent playing NCAA Division I men’s soccer at Monmouth University is also on that list. During Klenofsky’s freshman and sophomore years in college playing for the Monmouth Hawks, he led the NCAA in goals against average, with the Hawks conceding the least amount of goals in the country two years in a row.

“My freshman stat was 0.22 goals per game which I think is third or fourth all-time single season record for the NCAA. I am immensely proud of the longevity that I’ve had and the career that I’m building, whether playing or coaching. I’m proud of the person I’m developing into and that kind of stuff means more to me than just a singular moment [of career achievement]. It’s more about a collection of moments for me.”

One of those moments occurred during the time Klenofsky played in the MLS for D.C. United. A selfproclaimed “massive” fan of Tim Howard, Klenofsky found himself sharing a field with the man he respected so much.

“My rookie year playing for D.C. United I made the roster to go play against Colorado Rapids. Tim Howard had just transferred from Everton over to the Colorado Rapids. I’m warming up for the game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver and Tim Howard jogs onto the field and I’m thinking to myself that six months ago I was playing in West Long Branch and now I’m sharing a field with Tim Howard. A moment like that is the culmination of years of hard work.”

Klenofsky says the height of his career was being invited on

Eric Klenofsky

trial (a soccer tryout or audition) with Premier League club Everton in Liverpool. “Being an American playing in Europe is what every soccer player wants to do,” says Klenofsky. “That was an amazing moment for me.”

When asked about future career goals, Klenofsky emphasizes the importance of one word in particular: longevity. “One of the things that Tim Howard talks about a lot in interviews is longevity. That is a main goal for me, to have longevity and to be a part of the fabric of a club. I’m with the Houston Dynamo right now. I want to be in Houston working for this club, growing with this club for years. One of the things I really want to accomplish is to put together a really strong body of work that is backed by years and years of evolution and productivity. I would also love to coach at the highest level I possibly can. I would love to say I was a first team goalkeeper coach in the MLS, in the Premier League, or in the World Cup.” As Head of Academy Goalkeeping for the Houston Dynamo soccer club, Klenofsky now works with a younger generation on soccer skills that he grew up learning and playing. He is constantly amazed at the level of talent he sees on a day-to-day basis. When asked what he notices in a player with exceptional talent he replies, “Speed of learning is massively important. At the same time, you have to have a deep desire and a deep love for goalkeeping along with athleticism and coordination.”

When asked if he has any advice he’d like to impart on young people looking to be successful in the soccer world, whether as a goalkeeper or any other position, Klenofsky says, “You have to be doing it because you love it. We’re not in the business of forcing anyone to love the game. You’re always more likely to get better at things that you enjoy doing. Make sure you enjoy doing it because there will be a lot of sacrifices, a lot of ups and downs that you will have to manage as best you can. Also make sure that soccer is a part of you, but not all of you.”

For more information on Eric Klenofsky or the Houston Dynamo, please visit www.houstondynamoacademy.net.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 27

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Page 28 • March 2023 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Bucket List Travels: Discovering the Azores

I

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

The Azores is a nine-island archipelago located 900 miles west of mainland Portugal. Columbus stopped here in 1492 on his famous voyage.

by Paul Partridge f Hawaii and Ireland had a love child, the Azores is what the baby might look like.

Imagine tropical forests… dramatic cliffs… green, green rolling hills… volcanic mountains… natural hot springs… and the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen – not only in the same vacation – but within a single day’s hike. And it’s only a short 4½-hour flight from Newark.

The Gulf Stream keeps the Azores temperature remarkably consistent – never too hot or cold. As a result, nature has a chance to shine. And she does.

One example is hydrangeas. Blue, white, purple . . . the distinctive hydrangea panicles are everywhere – decorating roads and miradouras (scenic viewpoints) along the highway.

Driving feels like floating through an enchanted garden.

Over four days, my three travel companions and I visited the largest island, São Miguel. (I’ll write about other Azores adventures in future articles.)

Day 1 – Brigadoon’s Swimming Hole Twenty minutes up the coast from our Airbnb in Candelaria is Ponta da Ferraria. A sign welcomes us to the beach. None of us speak Portuguese but we decide later it says, “Warning: Please be sure to pick your jaw off the ground before entering. It’s dangerous to swim in the ocean with your mouth open.”

Picture a black rock beach leading to a natural ocean pool.

A rugged cliff flanks one side, glowing in the late afternoon sun. The far end is open to the ocean, and waves cascade in.

Giddy bathers hold onto ropes tied across the water every

20 yards or so.

The waters are heated by thermal springs. Enter the pool near the shoreline and the water is quite warm. Swim towards the sea and the water temperature drops.

People of all ages swim, float, bob, and tread water.

Everyone is giggling. It’s almost impossible not to. If we didn’t have photographs to prove it was real, we might think it was a mirage.

Day 2 – Furnas Hot Springs São Miguel is a hiker’s paradise. Today’s trail beside Furnas Hot Springs begins with a 90-minute trek up a mountain. Our reward is picture-postcard views of Furnas Crater Lake. From here, the path transitions into rolling meadows and the final leg winds through a tropical forest – three different worlds in one hike.

The trail ends at the Caldeiras das Furnas – steaming, boiling geothermal springs. The sights, sounds, and smells of boiling mud and gurgling geysers feel like going back in time to when the earth was young. If a dinosaur had strolled out of the forest it wouldn’t have seemed out of place.

Next to the caldeiras sit a series of holes in the ground.

Early each morning, pots of Portuguese stew containing pork, chicken, sausage, beef, kale, potatoes, and other assorted vegetables are lowered into the holes and covered.

Seven hours later the pots are removed and the feast is served in local restaurants. For $30, four of us eat the equivalent of Thanksgiving dinner, with enough left over for two subsequent meals.

After lunch we waddle over to the Poca Da Dona Beija spa

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Catching a barracuda with Captain Pedro Rodrigues.

Photo credit: Paul Partridge

– a series of pools whose waters are warmed by hot springs and are said to have healing qualities. Some bathers spread iron-tinged mud paste on their face and body and soak for hours. This is a place to earn a black belt in relaxation.

Day 3 – Seta Ciades and Afternoon Fishing The next morning we’re reminded how ever-changing island weather can be. While enjoying breakfast outside – in beautiful sunshine – it’s raining right next door.

Today’s trek is around Seta Ciades, São Miguel’s most popular vista. We’re here for the spectacular views of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde (Blue Lake and Green Lake).

Awaiting us at the first viewpoint is a San Francisco-grade continued on page 29

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The waters of Ponta da Ferraria are heated by thermal springs.

Exploring the trellised grounds of Cha Gorreana Tea Plantation.

Bucket List Travels...

continued from page 28 fog obscuring the sights. Ah, but this is the Azores. In less than the time it takes to visit the restroom, the fog lifts and reveals Lagoa Azul. Bravo!

Over the next five hours we hike, climb, and race to the next lookout. Around each bend is another more amazing view, made even more picturesque by dramatic skies. A misty lagoon leads to a windswept meadow that reveals a dazzling lookout – with cows

grazing at such a preposterous angle it looks like they’ve been stapled in place.

Next we drive to the harbor in Ponta Delgado. Pedro Rodrigues, a fishing boat captain with Trilhos da Natureza, is expecting us.

The Azores is a fisherman’s dream. Big game fish include marlin, swordfish, and tuna. But since only one member of our party is an avid fisherman, we stay close to the coast and troll for bluefish and barracuda.

Our afternoon haul is not impressive – four barracuda, one of which we keep – but we don’t feel gipped. Pedro entertains with stories of the sea, as well as island and family history. The sky and the sea are so brilliantly blue – and the air so clean – it feels like I’m wearing Polaroid sunglasses even though I’m not. And seeing the island from the water reveals beauty unnoticed on land. As we turn for port, dusk has snuck up on us.

The rocky cliffs and small towns are aglow in golden, late-day light.

Day 4 – Traditions and Tea Cha Gorreana Tea Plantation has been producing teas since 1883 and is the last working tea plantation in Europe. Even if you don’t like tea, the ocean views and trellised

landscapes make this a memorable stop.

We do a quick factory tour followed by a tea tasting. Then it’s off on a hiking tour of the property. Another feast for the senses.

On the drive home, two miradouras demand attention. By now I’ve changed the name miradoura to meudeus, as in “My God!” because that’s our first reaction to the extreme beauty on display. Almost every viewpoint is a religious experience.

I’m beginning to understand why the Azores is one of Europe’s fastest growing travel destinations.

To learn more about visiting the Azores or exploring your own travel bucket list, email partridge.p@gmail.com

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C

Raritan Headwaters Association Worked Wonders for Clean Water, and a Clean Environment, Since 1959

By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta indy Ehrenclou was always a person who loved nature and the outdoors. It’s no surprise that coming on board with Raritan Headwaters Association during November 1994 was a good fit.

Since 1959, Raritan Headwaters Association has been focusing on clean water, with a vision that everyone within their reach has access to safe, clean water that is swimmable, fishable, and above all, drinkable.

During the time that Ehrenclou has worked with Raritan Headwaters, the most positive change she’s seen is the science they’ve been able to bring to their work. “We’ve been monitoring water quality for decades,” she said, “but to be able to collect data that can be translated into creating better policies for watershed protection is a big step forward.”

Stellar Education Programs Raritan Headwaters offers several educational programs for kids, adults, family, and groups. They include nature day programs, field trips, service learning, scout programs, visiting their nature preserves, and even birthday parties.

“Our education programs are stellar,” Ehrenclou said.

“Our nature day camp and school programs are under such demand. The programs just keep growing. We have kids that first came to camp in 1998 that are now adults and volunteering or teaching for us. So, it’s exciting to see we’ve engrained conservation ethnicity into a few generations.”

Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve is home to Raritan Headwaters Association. A former dairy farm, the 170acre property now serves as a living classroom for the Land Preservation Program.

“Its open to the public

Stream Cleanup Event 2022

Stream Cleanup Event 2022

seven days a week, from dusk to dawn,” Ehrenclou said. “It’s our headquarters, however there are five miles of trails, gardens, a small pond, a nature classroom, opportunities for photography…It’s a wonderful place to visit.

It’s a hidden treasure. No bells and whistles. No snack bars. It’s very authentically a nature preserve. It’s a pretty neat place to visit.”

With 10 preserves, all open to the public, Raritan Headwaters Association has lots of volunteering opportunities. “We really need the help of volunteers,” said Ehrenclou.

“Land storage-ship requires many hands and help. Maintaining trails, planting trees, removing invasive species…

We work very hard to promote native plants that are indigenous to the region that support local wildlife.

Invasive plants are a huge problem in New Jersey.”

Challenges and Solutions When asked about the challenges Raritan Headwaters Association faces, Ehrenclou pointed out, “Overuse of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides…The challenge is getting people to change behaviors and understand everything they do on the land ends up in their drinking water supply.”

However, the message

is that everybody can make a difference. Ehrenclou shared, “The step is to connect people with nature.

Give them experiences in the outdoors, in our streams…

Get them to love the natural resources firsthand so they’re inclined to want to protect. If you learn to respect nature and precious natural resources, you are inclined to want to share the message and conduct yourself differently in your homes, in your schools, at work…Recycling, reusing, cleaning up, planting trees— all our steps to a cleaner environment. We like to show people how they can make a difference.”

Other steps to take, suggested by Ehrenclou, include cleaning up trash along roadsides and streams. “Plastic and all the other debris is going to end up in your water supply,” she said. “And eventually in the ocean. It’s a threat to wildlife and human health all along the way. Any item that is not biodegradable, from gum to cigarettes, to plastic bottles… any kind of manmade debris is not healthy for the environment.”

Another enemy to the environment is plastic, according to Ehrenclou.

“It’s ambiguous,” she said.

“Plastics are breaking up and showing up in our food, in our bodies. It’s a scary

situation when you think about it.”

Another concern, of course, is water.

Testing wells in the community region is another important issue according to Ehrenclou. “There are some scary contaminates showing up in drinking water,” she warned. “Contaminants like lead, arsenic, and PFAS. We help people test their water and find solutions.”

Saturday, April 15, 2023, Raritan Headwaters Association will have their

Annual Stream Clean-Up, which is one of their most exciting events according to Ehrenclou.

“People, including kids and church groups, clean up tons and tons of trash,” she said. “It’s a huge event. It’s not just a ‘feel good event,’ it does make a difference.”

To volunteer for Annual Stream Clean-Up, visit raritanheadwaters.org and go to the “Get Involved” tab.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • March 2023 • Page 31

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