Hometown 12 December 2022

Zone 12

Services offered: COVID-19 Disinfecting • Junk Removal House Clean-Outs • Shed Removal • Hot Tub Removal

No. 18 Vol. 12

My Life Publications • 973-809-4784

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December 2022

Big Red Santa of Kinnelon Brings Happiness to All Ages

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By Steve Sears or Bob Smith, it may have started in 2009, but you can tell during discussion with him that he’s had the Santa Claus goodness within him all along.

Just ask Emily.

Although in his words he was terrified when he first dressed up as the Big Red Santa and the event was a success, it was best defined by little Emily, who the next day visited the event organizer and thanked them for bringing a real Santa Claus. “And it was because I was nice and I had a real beard,” Smith says. It mattered not to Emily that the red Santa suit Smith wore was older, that his beard was short, or whether it was sprinkled with baby powder. What mattered was Smith’s kindness to her, which Emily returned the following year, she showing up with a gift for the Big Red Santa.

“I think 90% of Santas find their way into the role by someone asking them to fill in for somebody that can’t make it,” Smith says. “I think 100% of the people who get that question are kind of reluctant to do that because they’ve never done it before.”

Smith wasn’t reluctant when first asked thirteen years ago. He filled the role, but was concerned his voice wouldn’t be correct or he’d say something wrong. The request came from a group called Rainbows for All Children, a nationwide group which meets with and supports children who had a parent pass away during the year and are grieving. Smith recalls the instructions he received at that time. ‘They said, ‘We’ve got all the toys, we’ve got the bag. Just show up, everything’s tagged, call up the kids, take the picture, and off you go.’” The group had available a Santa Claus suit from K-Mart, and Smith took care of the rest. “I had this very short George Clooney beard,” he says. “It really wasn’t quite right, and I peppered it with some baby powder, because I was not going to wear a previously used polyester beard. Then I threw on a white turtleneck to cover the lack of beard.”

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After his first appearance, Smith returned the suit and thought nothing more about dressing up as Santa Claus – until the following September, when he was asked by Rainbows for All Children to do it again. This time, not only was the child called up, but Smith also asked the parent who had lost 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.

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Santa of Kinnelon... continued from front page a spouse to head forward as well. Smith explains. “I would say, ‘What would you like for Christmas?’ and ‘How have you been?’ I realized it’s about the family.”

During his first eight years as Santa Claus, Smith would do just a gig or two per year.

In addition to the Rainbows event, he would get calls to do Breakfast with Santa get-togethers. As he started to get more requests for appearances, he then began to buttress his Santa skills. “For the first eight years, I had no idea that there were Santa Claus organizations,” Smith says. “There are Santa Claus groups that will help you hone your skills in terms that if you’re going to see 200 kids in a day, one or two of them are going to be on the autism spectrum. How do you handle that? How do you deal with sensitivity in terms of questions? If somebody asks, ‘Can you bring grandma back?’ There’s that

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For the record, Smith now dons a custom-made Santa Claus suit, and his appearances aren’t limited just to the Christmas season. During this past summer, he had three Christmas in July gigs. Also, it took about six or seven years to convince Mrs. Claus (Smith’s wife, Pam) to make appearances with him. “The Knights of Columbus, every time they saw her, they said, ‘You’re coming to the Breakfast with Santa, too?’ and she would say, ‘No, no, no.’ I just bought her the dress, and once she had the dress, she was okay with it, and said it was a lot of fun. And Mrs. Claus is an integral part of the Santa experience.”

For more information about the Big Red Santa, visit www.bigredsanta.com.

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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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Buy a Diamond, Help the Animals

D

awn, of Diamonds by Dawn in Riverdale, has a creative way to help this Christmas.

From now until Christmas, Diamonds by Dawn is selling hoop earrings with crystal ball accents in hypoallergenic stainless steel for $10 a pair and donating the proceeds to the North Jersey Animal Shelter.

“My family and I are very grateful to this community, which has allowed us to stay in business so long” says Dawn. “This is just a small way for us to help who has given us so much.

It feels good to be able to help make a difference.”

The animal shelter does important work for this community and is often overlooked this time of the year. Dawn then adds, “Our supply is limited, and I want as many customers as possible participate, so we have a limit of one pair per customer.”

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T

Friends of the Pompton Lakes Library & The Pompton Lakes Women’s Club Dedicate New Bench and Celebrate the Library’s 110th Birthday

he Friends of the Pompton Lakes Library and the Pompton Lakes Women’s Club, joined together to dedicate an outdoor bench in honor of former Library Director and Women’s Club Member, Dr. Margaret Freathy (1937-2015).

Born and educated in Michigan, Dr. Freathy held several Professorial positions at Seton Hall University, Montclair State University and Brooklyn College. In 1990, she was appointed as the Director of the Pompton Lakes Public Library. Dr. Freathy modernized the Pompton Lakes Library by introducing computers and new technologies, and also served on many State, County and local committees.

2022 also represents the 110th anniversary of the opening of the Pompton Lakes Public Library. Mrs. Emanuel Einstein bestowed the building as a gift to the people of Pompton Lakes, in memory of her late husband, who passed in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Einstein were residents of New York City and spent their summers in Pompton Lakes.

As the library celebrates one hundred and ten years of service to the community, it is a vital center of the community, with a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction

books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs and audio books. The library also offers children’s programs like Story Time sessions, and a Summer Reading Club. For adults, the library offers Pompton Poets, a Book Discussion group, Chess Club, Mahjong Club, and Adult Coloring.

The Friends of the Library plan events, such as the annual film festival, used book sales, reading events, author presentations and have recently planted flowers and bulbs to beautify the library grounds.

Steve Edgeller, President of the Pompton Lakes Library said, “We’re very pleased to be here celebrating the 110th anniversary of the library, and very pleased to have this beautiful and characterful building in our town.”

Margaret Kaffka, Co-President of the Pompton Lakes Women’s Club said, “The Women’s Club are delighted to dedicate this bench outside the library to Dr Freathy, who was a valued and much loved member of our club, as well as a dedicated and conscientious library Director.”

The Friends of the Pompton Lakes Library is an independent non-profit volunteer organization working to further the

educational and informational needs of the community through its support of the Emanuel Einstein Memorial Library, also known as The Pompton Lakes Library. The Friends of the Pompton Lakes Library is a

not for profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

The Pompton Lakes Women’s Club is a volunteer organization whose objectives are to promote the civic, cultural, and social life of the community.

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Lincoln Park Communications Expert and Former Teacher Distills Life Lessons, Experiences into Writing

A

By Alexander Rivero little over twenty years ago, after the passing of his wife, Frank Plateroti closed down the international production company he had been operating.

In regular contact with the Communications department over at William Paterson University, he was offered a chance to teach communications courses, and he agreed.

What started off as a possible gig turned into a second career, and for twenty years he taught at William Paterson. He loved the production courses, saw some enormous potential, and fell in love with one course in particular—Communication and Action.

“I absolutely loved that course,” he says, “and after a while I incorporated some self-esteem compo-

nents into it. I wanted the students to have more than just a course of papers, assignments, and lectures.

I wanted more for these kids, specifically to really get ready for what awaited them after college.”

Plateroti’s students, whom he referred to in class as pre-career professionals, liked the material enough to encourage him to put it all into a book. It was advice Plateroti took to heart, writing his first book, Speak No Evil: In Search of Our Self-Esteem, Self-Empowerment, and Self-Worth, published in October of this year.

Plateroti is a focused man, loyal to his vision and tireless in his approach and execution. His energy transfers over in conversation, and there is an electricity to his voice that speaks to the urgency of his mission and his belief in his purpose. At

Dr. Frank J. Plateroti

60, having already earned a masters in communications and media productions, he decided to return to school for a doctorate in education research with a concentration in psychology.

He finished in four years, a process that he describes as the most difficult one he has ever personally undertaken in his life, and has since kept up the pace, publishing two books. The first, mentioned above, is Speak No Evil, and the other is the first installment of a planned

Plateroti’s book, Speak No Evil, based on his over With East Clinton Avenue, Plateroti traces his twenty years of communications experience. family’s arrival and assimilation in America, as well as his own childhood.

trilogy about the history of his Sicilian family’s arrival in the United States. Book One of the tree-part set is

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continued from page 8 from her. Lots of connected and unconnected stories. So I connected them at freedom here, in this book, which is really just a tapestry of stories, with some implementations of the lessons I’ve been teaching for years.”

At heart, however, Plateroti is a born teacher, and his new writing career is but an extension of his old job, albeit quieter, more solitary, and done from home. He cites his access to his students, and specifically his ability to inspire them on a daily basis, as the crowning joys of his professional career. It was a particular pleasure to have had such an influence in this age of hyper-communications and social media which, he assures us, has fundamentally altered everything for everyone, but especially for the young.

“I look at social media,” he says, “and I see the building of jealousy, envy resentment. The whole idea of ‘look at what I’m doing’, which is of course always a sneaky way of showing the people looking at the photographs what they’re not doing. There is something profoundly wrong with it all, with the idea of people surrendering who they are to others, of being told by others what they should be doing, wanting, pursu-

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ing.”

Students would often come up to him, he remembers, and tell him about how they were cancelling their memberships to these social media platforms. Understanding this reaffirmed for Plateroti a lesson he felt should serve as the backbone—one of them at least—of Speak No Evil: that the most important things we have in our lives is relationships.

“No doubt about it, the happiest people I’ve ever met in my life are those people invested into the lives of others,” he says.

“And by extension, the saddest ones are those too invested in themselves. That said, we also have to have a sound relationship with ourselves, a healthy self-esteem, and developing the basis from which to never allow others to have power over us and determine our self-worth.”

For more information on Frank Plateroti, EdD., please visit his website at www. drfjesteem.com. There, readers can find a summary of his life’s work, reviews of his books, and links to websites where they can purchase each of those books. For those searching specifically for copies of Speak No Evil and/or East Clifton Avenue, simply go to to amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or wherever books are sold.

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

M

Holidays Potentially Hazardous to Pets

any pet parents do their best to ensure optimal health for their companion animals. Veterinary visits, exercise and diet play an integral role in pet health. Pet owners tend to be very selective when choosing commercial pet foods, but sometimes they’re less discerning when they offer scraps of their own food to pets.

It can be hard to resist the pleading eyes of a pet looking for a handout from the dinner table. While it is generally fine to offer a tidbit here and there, even small amounts of certain foods can cause illness or even death, and pet owners are encouraged to familiarize themselves with foods that may be hazardous to pets.

Some foods people eat can be toxic or even lethal to pets. Avocado, for example, contains persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, according to the Gateway Animal Hospital. Birds and rodents are also sensitive to avocado poisoning.

Grapes and raisins are other seemingly healthy foods that can be harmful to pets. The toxin inside of these fruits is unknown, but grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.

Cyanide is present in the seeds/pits of plums, pears and peaches, making these fruits potentially hazardous as well.

The ASPCA lists coffee, caffeinated products and chocolate as dangerous for pets as well. These items contain substances called methylxanthines that, when ingested by companion animals, can cause vomiting, panting, hyperactivity, tremors, and seizures. Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate.

Baking chocolate is the most toxic kind of chocolate to dogs.

Foods and products artificially sweetened by xylitol will cause insulin release in many species, and this can lead to liver failure. Keep pets away from chewing gum, candy and toothpaste.

Common herbs like onions, chives and garlic can cause gastrointestinal irritation and may lead to red blood cell damage. Cats are more susceptible than dogs to these foods, but each species can be affected negatively.

Dog owners have frequently offered animal bones as a treat. However, these bones continued on page 11

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Holidays.. continued from page 10 may harbor bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses. Furthermore, bones can splinter while they are being chewed, potentially lodging in the esophagus or intestines of the pet.

The following are some additional human foods and beverages that should not be given to pets: alcoholic beverages, apple seeds, hops, macadamia nuts, moldy foods, mushrooms, potato leaves and

stems, salt, tea, tomato leaves and stems, yeast dough and walnuts.

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 973-616-0400.

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J

ust A Little Somethin, “The Sweetest Spot in Town”, located at 591 Newark Pompton Tpk, Pompton Plains had their Grand Opening on October 16, 2022.

They are a Chocolate and Sweets Boutique that offers unique gourmet desserts and confections that you won’t find anywhere else.

Page 12 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

A

Lower This Year’s Tax Obligation Actions to Take Now! limited if your spouse has access to a plan.

In the case of Roth IRAs, the income limits restrict who can participate in the plan.

Other ideasIf you have not already done so, also consider: Setting up new accounts for a spouse or dependent(s) Using this time as a chance to review the status of your retirement plan including beneficiaries Reviewing contributions to other tax-advantaged plans like Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care) and prepaid medical savings plans like Health Savings Accounts.

Shah & Sokoloff , CPA’s, is a year round full service CPA firm providing a wide range of Accounting and Tax services to both Small Business and Individual Clients. We are QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisors and provide new business set up, training and support. Our office is located at 166 Main St. Lincoln Park, NJ 07035. Our website is www.cpanewjersey.com and email is rps@ cpanewjersey.com. To contact us by phone please call 973-633-1001.

s part of your planning for next year, now is the time to review funding your retirement accounts in 2023.

Recent cost of living calculations means much higher contribution limits for next year. Plus the higher income phaseouts for eligibility will make many more taxpayers eligible for fully-deductible contributions.

So plan now to take full advantage of this tax benefit. Here are annual contribution limits for the more popular programs: How to use Identify the the type(s) of retirement savings plans that you currently use.

Note the annual savings limits of the plan to adjust your savings to take full advantage of the annual contributions. Remember, a missed year is a missed opportunity that does not come back.

If you are 50 years or older, add the catch-up amount to your potential savings total.

Take note of the income limits within each plan type.

For traditional IRA’s, if your income is below the noted threshold, your taxable income is reduced by your contributions. The deductibility of your contributions is also

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 13

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Page 14 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Adventure Aquarium Celebrates 30 Years of “Edutainment”

M

By Steve Sears elissa Patterson, Guest Experience and Events Manager for New Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium, coins what goes on at the facility perfectly.

“I like “edutainment”: entertainment that is educational. The entertainment and education really go hand in hand,” Patterson says. “Our main goal is always going to be to educate our visitors about the animals here and about the ocean, and why it’s important to care about these animals, care about the ocean, and to care about waterways and conservation, and caring for species, like our sea turtles and our sharks and our penguins. But, by adding that entertainment side of things into the mix, that’s how we really create those unforgettable experiences for the visitors, and that’s what keeps them engaged and keeps them excited.”

Patterson provides a brief history. “Adventure Aquarium was opened by the state as part of a plan to revitalize the Camden waterfront and drawing revenue to the city and to the area, and really revitalize western New Jersey and the Delaware River waterfront, especially on the New Jersey side. We opened officially as the New Jersey State Aquarium on February 29, 1992.”

In September of 2004, the State Aquarium closed for expansion, and by the time it reopened in May 2005, it had almost doubled in size, and was renamed Adventure Aquarium. Current parent company, Herschend Family Entertainment, acquired Adventure Aquarium in November of 2007.

Since its opening, Adventure Aquarium has not only been a huge cornerstone of both Camden County and the city of Camden, but even the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas as well. “We really have the support from Camden and from the community to thank for that,” Patterson says. “We would be nothing without our community, and we really pride ourselves on supporting the community and being

Grand Opening

out in Camden and trying to make a difference, and trying to have a positive impact on the residents. Because without them, what would we be?”

More than 700,000 visitors enter the doors every year. A large majority of those visitors are families with children, many of them living within 50 miles of Camden or residing in the Philadelphia area. “We really are definitely open to all ages; I think there’s really something for everyone to find here,” Patterson says. “We like to say that ‘We bring families closer together,’ and that’s whatever family means to you. Of course, there’s the traditional definition of family, but our school groups can be families, or groups of friends can be families. We have couples that have started their relationship here by going on a first date, then getting engaged here and getting married here, and then they bring their kids. It’s really, really rewarding to see our guests who come here because they’re all so different from each other. But they can all find something, for sure.” Including business and corporate professionals, who utilize Adventure Aquarium for a unique team building experience.

“Our Group Sales office is very, very busy,” says Patterson. “We love our groups here; they make up a big chunk of our visitor population. It really is very varied on who comes in the door. I think a lot of people think just of children and families and schools, but we really do welcome everyone.”

One reason Adventure Aquarium is so popular is what Patterson calls “marquee” animals. “We love our sharks here,” she says. “We have the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, and some of those sharks have been here from when we first opened. But our hippos, especially; we’re the only aquarium in the world that exhibits hippos. And something that’s really special about that exhibit is you see them underwater. When you go to zoos or safaris, you can see them in the water, but it’s not very

Adventure Aquarium (credit: Adventure Aquarium Marketing Department)

often that you get that underwater view of them. We have two green sea turtles and a loggerhead sea turtle, and then our penguins are our next most popular exhibit. We have two different species of warm weather penguins; you can see our African penguins, and then we have our Australian little blue penguins which are the smallest species of penguins in the world.”

Adventure Aquarium is always looking

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to present different things, including live mermaids that have made appearances the past few years. They will return again by popular demand in 2023, and a special, still-being-discussed pumpkin themed series is planned for next autumn.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 15

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Page 16 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

F

Celebrate the Holidays with Special Centerpieces

ew things bring family and friends together quite like the holidays, and serving up an elegant, seasonal meal centered around a mouthwatering main dish is a recipe for creating lasting memories with the ones you love.

Forging a fabulous holiday experience for the special people in your life starts with choosing a flavorful, tender cut of meat to serve as the centerpiece of the meal. Hand-cut by expert butchers, an option like Spiral-Sliced Ham from Omaha Steaks can serve as the focal point of a memorable holiday dinner. Flash frozen to capture freshness

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 17

Celebrate the Holidays... continued from page 16 Rum and Cola Holiday Ham Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 80 minutes Servings: 10-12 Ham: 1 Omaha Steaks Spiral-Sliced Ham (8 pounds) Glaze: 1 cup cherry fruit spread 3/4 cup dark spiced rum 3/4 cup cola 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon Dijon mus-

tard 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt To make ham: Thaw frozen ham in refrigerator 2448 hours.

Remove from refrigerator and let ham come to room temperature, about 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 F. Remove ham from foil and film. Return ham to foil wrapping and place in oven-safe roasting pan. Roll foil down leaving 2 inches of foil around bottom of ham.

Place roasting pan with ham in oven on lower rack

and heat uncovered 60-75 minutes, until ham starts to brown. While ham cooks, make glaze.

To make glaze: In medium saucepot, whisk fruit spread, rum, cola, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard and salt until well incorporated. Bring to boil then reduce heat to medium. Simmer over medium heat 10 minutes then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.

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Page 18 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

F

Glory Days: Butler High School Football 1982 & 1983

By Steve Sears rom 1967 to 1981, legendary Butler High School Bulldog head football coach Jack Davies and his teams averaged almost eight wins a season, won a number of Suburban Conference championships, but a state title for the gridiron-talented school was elusive.

That all changed in 1982, when the Bulldogs – featuring a grind it out offense and extremely stubborn defense - defeated Caldwell at Pequannock High School, 23 – 7, for their first NJSIAA North II Group II state sectional championship. Davies and Butler had their first state football title, and they’d get another a year later, when the Bulldogs traveled to a snowy field in Hillside and claimed a 16 – 8 victory over the host team Butler finished 11 – 0 both seasons, and won 24 straight games until an early season loss in 1984.

Some familiar names ring a bell immediately. Howard Alexander, Chuck Tepper, Mark Lisa, Mark Tracy, Kevin Duffy, Steve Zignorski, Gary Geiger, Dan Dooley, and many others.

Mark Mickens was a first-time coach in 1982, helping out with the defensive line and special teams. “The 1982 team was so dominant defensively,” he says. “I’ve been

there for many, many years and I don’t recall us ever having a more dominant defensive team. We had seven shutdowns that year. We were just so good defensively, and we ran the ball effectively with a big offensive line. Howie (Howard Alexander in 1982) was a big power runner, and in 1983 we had a running back named Brian Woop who never played until he was a senior. He was not a big guy but he was quick, which changed a little bit what we did offensively.”

Against Caldwell in 1982, Alexander rushed 32 times for 162 years and two touchdowns. He also played cornerback on defense that season and returned punts. “In both state games, the Hackettstown game and the Caldwell game, we felt as though we could dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and then we could run on them,” he recalls. “It was a special game. The linemen were able to create enough of a seam for me.”

Chuck Tepper was a junior in 1982, and returned for his senior season in 1983.

“Our line was bigger that first year,” he says. “Both teams were running teams, but the second year had maybe more of a pass complement. Definitely a power run the first year, speed and agility that second year.” Tepper then echoes Micken’s opinion

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about the Bulldog defense. “That first year, the big distinction in my mind between the two teams was defensively. We gave up very few points that first year. That ’82 team defense was amazing.”

Mark Lisa, like Tepper, played for both championship clubs. He alternated at quar-

terback his junior season with Kent Stock, and took over the duties full time his senior year. “Dan Gormley was a fullback, but he still had great speed and great moves. Dan was a little bit bigger than Brian (Woop), but these guys could run and they were continued on page 19

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Center Chuck Tepper hiking the ball to the quar- Howard Alexander celebrates Butler’s big win over terback Mark Lisa in 1983 Caldwell in 1982

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 19

continued from page 18 tough as nails. They gave us some really good ball running capabilities, because we were not a big passing team. We passed when needed.”

In 1983. the Bulldogs returned to the field with a winning streak and with a target on their backs. Tepper says, “We really came in that second year confident. We weren’t overconfident, but we were definitely confident going into that second year that we were going to win, and it was just a matter of how we were going to do it.”

Lisa says of the Hillside game, “When we got there, there was almost an inch of snow on the field, but that slowly dissipated. It was a little bit of a wet track, and we knew it was going to be one of those knock them down, drag them out dogfights. They were a pretty big team, but we proved that we were so disciplined, and that all you have to do is block and tackle right, and you have to run the ball and hand off properly, and make your throws properly.

I do believe we played a very strong, clean game.’

Tepper is asked if he favors either team. “They’re both great, but I’m thinking I would have to say the second one.

And my reasoning would be I was a senior, not a junior. It was my senior year. I know teams have gone 11 – 0 and won state championships, but not many probably go 22 - 0 and win two. And for me, I was lucky enough to start both years at center.”

Alexander remembers the final minutes of the Caldwell game, “They were asking all the seniors to come off one at a time,” he says. “I was just thinking about my entire childhood and my dad coaching me, playing with all my friends, and that we brought the first state championship back to

The Butler High School 1982 NJSIAA North II Group II state champs

Butler. That’s probably the proudest part of winning the state championship, and I think the most special part was the fact that I was able to do it with my friends.”

Jack Davies left Butler High School after the 1983 season with a record of 128 wins, 24 losses, and 24 ties.

Page 20 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Bucket List Travels: 3 Days of Wonder in the Rainforest 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.

A

by Paul Partridge late-night flight into Quito makes the Sunday morning drive seem earlier than it is. Highway becomes local road becomes dirt road becomes jungle path enroute to Mashpi Lodge.

Mashpi is a nature-lover’s hideaway deep in Ecuador’s Choco Forest. If you’ve ever thought about visiting a rainforest, but a two-week trek into the Amazon perhaps seems overly ambitious, Mashpi might be the ticket – especially if you favor comfort over camping… enjoy great food… like to avoid crowds (this private resort houses only 47 total guests)… and appreciate making a gentler impact on the environment.

Looking back, I’m still not sure if it was real or a mirage.

Our group of four was motoring along for hours, deeper and deeper into the wilderness, and then – suddenly, there it was, like some sort of plush Brigadoon. My first thoughts: “What the…? How in the world…?” Given the location and geographical challenges, its existence seems utterly impossible.

But alas, here it is. And waiting for us at the entrance, smiling broadly, is Santiago, our naturalist guide during our three-day stay. Having the same guide is a treat, because he gets to know your group, your pace, your interests, etc., and then tailors activities accordingly. Santiago is a rainforest encyclopedia. He can spot, identify, name and wax poetic about any plant animal, insect, tree, fungus, bird,

reptile, stream, or river we encounter.

A call echoes through the forest. “What kind of bird is that?” I ask.

“Actually, it’s a frog,” says Santiago.

Ok, I may be from Jersey, but to be fair, that was no ‘ribbit’ or ‘croak.’ That frog could win the national bird calling contest. Just the first of many surprises.

Staying at Mashpi feels like living in a large, fancy tree house. Floor-to-ceiling windows make you feel totally immersed in your surroundings. Right outside your window are 400 species of birds, trees, frogs, monkeys, and endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

Day 1: The Incredible Glass Frog A quick lunch and we’re off into the forest, spotting Toucans, tayras, a tarantula, a giant snail, and hundreds of beautiful, exotic butterflies. Santiago informs us that the tayra is one of only three creatures on earth that thinks ahead, the other two being octopi and humans (females, mostly).

After sunset Santiago takes us on an unforgettable night walk using flashlights and headlamps. We’re stalking the rare transparent glass frog. Within 10 minutes Santiago has found one. It’s a great find, especially since glass frogs are the size of a thumbnail and blend into their environment.

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The famous glass frog. Photos by Paul Partridge

– especially the head because they desire the brain protein. We’re told of one jungle species where the male has evolved a second brain in his chest. This way he can procontinued on page 21

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 21

Bucket List Travels...

continued from page 20 create and survive the beheading. I imagine this must confuse females on praying mantis dating sites. “Wait, didn’t I just eat you last week?”

Day 2: Cooling off in a Waterfall The trail drops steeply from the lodge to the Laguna River below. At times we walk alongside the river, other times we wade right in (rubber boots are provided by the lodge). Down and down we go. Our reward is Magnolia Waterfall, and we’re invited to swim in its pool. This is one of those pinch-yourself moments. The staggering beauty and serenity leave a mark.

Eventually we must hike back. Note to self: walking down is easier than walking up. As we huff and puff, Santiago mentions that there’s a lunar eclipse tonight. It feels like we’re hiking up to it to see it in person.

Mashpi is home to over 30 species of hummingbirds, and in the afternoon, we see many of them at the Hummingbird Garden. Colorful, playful, and mesmerizing to watch, the hummingbirds dart and flitter all around us.

One might not expect to eat well in the middle of the rainforest. At Mashpi, every entre and appetizer is meticulously prepared. And the natural fruit juice concoctions alone are worth the trip (you had me

at passion fruit lemonade).

Day 3: A Birds-eye View of the Forest The highlight of the morning is a ride on the Sky Bike. Sky Bike is a two-person gondola that stretches 655 feet across the jungle canopy. Think of it as your average, everyday bicycle built for two – if you happen to grow up a member of the Flying Wallendas. The Sky Bike sits on a tight rope. The front person enjoys the view; the back person is the engine. Once you reach the other side, switch positions and pedal back.

At home I won’t even go on a step ladder due to severe height aversion. Somehow, this seems doable. As we pedal and backpedal over the treetops, my adrenaline is flowing and I’m shouting, “Isn’t this amazing?” My wife wants to know, “Who are you and what have you done with my husband?”

Mashpi offers another way to float in the clouds called the DragonFly. This is a onehour ride in an open-air gondola that holds four persons and rises more than 200 feet above the ground. Jaw-dropping views, no pedaling required.

In the afternoon, a transfer returns us to Quito and to pass the time I make up some rainforest awards.

Best Insect Name: Jesus Spider (because

The butterflies are comfortable around humans.

it walks on water).

Amazing Flower Fact: There are 4,000 different varieties of orchids in the cloud forest.

Most Interesting Tree: Walking Palm.

Its roots grow above ground and serve as “legs.” When the tree doesn’t get enough sunlight, it grows new roots in the direction of the sun and moves in that direction, thus

“walking.” Walking palms can supposedly move up to 20 meters in one year. I found this hard to believe until I saw a walking palm wearing a Fitbit.

[Resources] Quito hotel: www.casagangotena.com/ Mashpi Lodge: www.mashpilodge.com Transportation and Transfers: www.metropolitan-touring.com.

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Page 22 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

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not knowing how long they would literally be able to keep the roof over their heads, the Rotter’s ironically live right next door to Blue Nail’s corporate office and must see their trucks entering in and out every day, knowing they could never afford to do anything different. “When I saw that Blue Nail posted for nominations for someone in need, I just had to submit my parents. I prayed daily and truly felt this was meant to be – a gift from above, we couldn’t be more grateful for their generosity.” said Rob Rotter.

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As submitted by their son Rob Rotter, Emil (age 79) and Karen (age 75) are forced to continue to work despite age and illness, just to afford to stay in their home, with no financial availability to make any repairs. Mrs. Rotter works for the local library and Mr. Rotter as a school crossing guard. Medications required to sustain Emil’s life exceed $14,000 per month.

Currently, he has a grant to cover this expense, but is unsure of that continuance.

With a roof that is over 35 years old and in desperate need of replacement, Emil attempts to climb ladders and make repairs himself when leaks arise.

To add to the stress of

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 23

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Page 24 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Prevention is Key Helps Educate Public on Substance Abuse Relief

S

By Elsie Walker ubstance abuse doesn’t have one face. An abuser could be an elderly individual, a youth, or an adult struggling with life who found “relief” in a drug or alcohol. For those who want to move from abuse to recovery, there’s help: the non-profit organization Prevention is Key (PIK). Located in several counties, its Development Director, Laura Jennings Pitt of Pompton Lakes, explained, “Our bottom-line goal is to create a stigma free community. …we offer programs that will help individuals at all stages of recovery to find their way back to a meaningful life, and so, we don’t require abstinence of our participants but… we strive to meet them where they are.” But, PIK is not just for those with an addiction; it offers help to family and friends who are trying to support them in recovery. Also, it has prevention education programs. PIK offers its free services through its brick-and-mortar CARES (Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success) centers, its mobile units, and its 24-hour hot line. Recently, Pitt talked a little about her role and gave an overview of PIK’s services.

Pitt is the organization’s first Development Director. Prior to her, everyone in the organization seemed to take some part in handling fundraising and it’s just become too big of a task for it to be managed in that way. “They needed to implement a centralized strategy led by someone who’s got the skills and the vision to deliver on the promises of the development department and that’s what brought me here to this organization,” explained Pitt.

In addressing PIK’s offerings, Pitt noted that there are five physical CARES locations: one in Essex County (Newark), two in Morris County (Dover and Rockaway), and two in Burlington County (Burlington County and Burlington City). “They’re a place where you can come and be part of a community that makes you feel welcomed. They’re really helpful for individuals who are just getting started in their recovery journey because they give them a place to go [where they] can be away from substances and around people who are encouraging and supportive and positive and just want to be there for them [when they need us],” shared Pitt. There’s peer support for both those in recovery and the people supporting them, where someone coming to the center is matched with someone with a similar background who’s

Here a PIK staff member gets out the word on what harm reduction is in an interesting, visual way. gone through recovery or has supported someone going through recovery. The centers offer a variety of meetings (NA, AA, etc.) plus various educational offerings which include Narcan training in recognizing an overdose and administering Narcan.

Administering Narcan to someone who is overdosing can reverse the effects of an overdose and save their life.

Pitt shared that there’s a monthly recovery recognition breakfast at the Rockaway location where individuals who are in or exploring the idea of recovery can meet with each other as well as network with some of the providers PIK works with.

The breakfast includes speakers who talk about the different services that are available and then there’s a story of recovery.

The breakfast takes place the second Monday of every month.

PIK also has mobile recovery units such as HOPE 1 for Morris County plus mobile units in Essex and Passaic counties.

Through these units, connection is made with those homeless individuals struggling with substance abuse. “The way that we get the word out about where the mobile recovery units are going to be is in partnership with the sheriff’s offices, and those locations are publicized so we strive to make those units accessible to the communities,” shared Pitt. Building trust is the first step. Those struggling with addiction may not immediately ask to see a social worker or mental health professional or seek treatment for recovery. The mobile units give out homeless care packages, which are assembled at PIK’s general locations.

What’s in the packages may vary but they contain things like food, personal hygiene

Those in the mobile unites reach out to substances abusers by building trust and creating a stigma free environment. items, toiletries and clean underwear. The unit will give rides to a place a homeless person might want to go to get a meal or shower or take the person to an appointment and then return the person to where they feel safe. It is through interactions like this that the trust is built so that the connection is there when the individual is ready to take the first step to recovery.

Jennings noted that in Passaic County, part of a care package is fentanyl test strips. Using these strips, a person can check for the presence of fentanyl in other substances such as heroin. This is part of “harm reduction”. Fentanyl is deadlier than other substances and Pitt noted that it can kill a person on the spot. PIK realizes people receiving its packages can still be abusing. Checking for fentanyl’s presence could keep a person from killing themselves by taking something laced with it.

The idea is that the abuser will live longer with a chance of recovery in their future.

Besides the mobile unit and CARE centers, PIK has a 24-hour telephone recovery support line. “…if you don’t find our mobile recovery unit and you can’t come to our physical center. you can call us anytime,” said Pitt. She noted that it is not only for people who are struggling with substance use but also anyone who’s affected by it. The hotline number is 973625-1143.

PIK offers events during the year addressing education, recovery, and fundraising. Its website lists what’s upcoming,

ways to volunteer, and also includes a “shop” area where people can buy items to encourage those in recovery or as a way to support PIK by buying a gift for someone.

While, as its website notes, PIK ”relies on many trusted relationships with private foundations and government agencies to sustain and advance its mission”, fundraising is needed. According to its website, “There are over 27,000 individuals with a diagnosed SUD in the communities served

by Prevention is Key, plus many others who struggle with problematic and chaotic use without any official diagnosis.” The funds PIK raises helps it to provide its services.

An example of a fundraiser was the online #PIKYourWhy on social media for Giving Tuesday in November. The organization encouraged supporters, friends, peers, and loved ones to post why PIK is important to them with a button for people to click to donate. Also, people can donate at any time to the organization by going to a tab on its website: preventioniskey.org/ donate Pitt shared about a special fundraiser in the upcoming year. Looking ahead, on May 24, 2023, there will be a Road to Recovery event at the Windlass in Lake Hopatcong. There will be a sunset cruise, a tricky tray, and a speaker who has used PIK’s services and is in long term recovery.

For more information on PIK, people can call 973-625-1143 or visit it online at preventioniskey.org.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 25

Page 26 • December 2022 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

A Remembrance of the Real Santa of Main Street

T

By Richard Mabey Jr. here are people who touch our hearts and lives, to whom we will not truly appreciate their kindness till years and years have passed. Such is the case of my remembrance of the Real Santa Claus of Main Street.

It was a long standing tradition, of the Mabey clan, to spend Christmas Day at the old Mabey Homestead. From the day I was born till I was six years old, my parents and I lived in Clifton. Every Christmas Day, we would sojourn westward on Route 46 to the little hamlet of Lincoln Park, where my great grandmother, Dora Mabey lived.

I remember we would arrive at the old Mabey Homestead, early in the morning. I was a shy and sensitive child, so the abounding number of relatives that would congregate at the old farmhouse, would seem all so overwhelming to me.

I don’t know at what age I had any degree of conscious remembrance of the dear, kind, elderly man who was the Real Santa of Main Street. I remember him fondly as a very kind man with a gentle spirit. He would knock on the door of the old Mabey Homestead, sometime during the late morning on Christmas Day, all dressed in his Santa Claus gear.

My dad was the fifth of nine children, so on Christmas Day the Mabey Homestead abounded with children, my many cousins. Santa would arrive with a big burlap bag strung over his shoulder, with a gift for each and every one of my cousins, my sister and myself. I remember the gifts were not expensive at all. Some were actually handmade toys. While some had a clue of having been passed down from another child, who had outgrown the little toy

car or doll.

My mom and dad, my sister Patti and I moved into the old Mabey Homestead in the early Autumn of 1959, shortly after Great Grandma Mabey went Home to be with the Lord. I was six years old that Christmas. I remember wondering if the real Santa would still be knocking on the door on Christmas Day. To my happy surprise, the real Santa did come by to visit us, with presents for my sister and I. I never learned the name of the Real Santa of Main Street. My grandfather, Watson Mabey, one time told me that he thought that he lived in this little house at the end of Clover Lane. When I was about 10 years old, I walked down Clover Lane, stood at the front yard of that little home and wanted to knock on the front door and see if that was in fact, the home of the real Santa. Sadly and regretfully, I didn’t get the courage to knock on the door.

That little home was torn down many years ago, to make room for a larger, modern home.

My Aunt Vi once told me that she thought that the Real Santa of Main Street lived in a little home in Towaco, just past the Lincoln Park border. I don’t think anybody really knew who this kind hearted soul was. It’s one of the greatest mysteries of my childhood.

The Christmas of 1961, when I was eight years old and in the third grade, was the last time that the Real Santa of Main Street ever came to visit us on Christmas Day. I once asked my father if he knew who this gentleman was. He endorsed Grandpa Mabey’s theory.

In deep fondness, I remember the Real Santa of Main Street. I think about him from time to time. My intuition tells me that he was not a wealthy man at all. I think he

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From 1953, a photo of the Real Santa Claus of Main Street. Yours truly sitting upon the lap of Santa, with my mom and dad.

was actually quite poor. Somehow and someway, he accumulated toys for children in the neighborhood. Most of the toys he gave to us, were handmade. He was truly the real Santa Claus of my childhood.

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

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • December 2022 • Page 27

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Kevin The Painter

Lenovo Laptop $549 3.0 Ghz/8GB RAM 256GB/Win 11

Painting & Wall Paper Removal, Kitchen Cabinet Painting and Refinishing Wood & Deck Staining, Sheetrock, Spackle, Repairs & Driveway Sealing

Support Contracts starting at $25/Month/Computer On Site / Remote Support • Wireless & Wired Networking

“A True Professional”

6 DAYS A WEEK • INTERIOR/EXTERIOR • FULLY INSURED References Available • 25 Years Experience

39 Main Street • Bloomingdale • 973-248-9500 x-204

973-979-8043

CONSTRUCTION

PAINTING

973-831-610 973-83161022

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL PAINTING INSURED & LICENSED FREE ESTIMATES

www.griffithhandymannj.com Owner Operated • Not A Franchise

SERVICES

Small or Big Jobs No Problem!

5% OFF

• Carpentry Repair • Tile Repair & Regrouting New Customers Only.

Must be present at time of estimate.

• Sheetrock Repair • Caulking Labor only. Cannot be combined with • Interior/Exterior Painting • Picture Hanging any other offer. Expires 1/31/23 • Wall Paper Removal • Siding Repair December Special • Deck Repair • Door/Lock Replacement • Concrete Masonry Repair • Carpet, Tile & Upholstery DRYER VENT • Powerwashing Cleaning & Many More CLEANING Services • Gutter Cleaning Call for details. Expires 1/31/23 SERVING ALL OF PASSAIC, BERGEN, SUSSEX & ESSEX COUNTIES

Looking for A Plumber?

A Contractor? A Roofer?

A Tutor? An Electrician? A Mason?

A Cleaning Person?

You’ll Find It Here and So Much More!

1-800-691-7549 www.mypaperonline.com

973.865.1161

Any Job Over $100

C O N S T R U C T I O N

elitepaintingnj@gmail.com elitepaintingnj.com elitepaintingnnj

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL CUSTOM PAINTING SPECIALIST ALL TYPES OF EXTERIOR/INTERIOR PAINTING COLOR CONSULTANT • QUALITY PRODUCTS • WALLPAPER REMOVAL POWER WASHING • WOOD DECK STAINING SHEETROCK INSTALLATION & REPAIR • GARAGE FLOOR EPOXY

When Quality Counts!

GENERATORS

ROOFING

ALLEY

ROOFING & SIDING

VG

ENERATORS

We specialize in Installation, service and warranty for Generac, Kohler and most brands of permanent standby and portable generators

Schedule your appointment today

908-876-4510

marc@valleygenerators.net

ROSS

•Vinyl Siding •Replacement Windows •Residential Roofing •35+ Years Experience •Free Estimates •Fully Insured

973-696-5699

My Life Publications PO Box 575 Flanders, NJ 07828

ECRWSS Local Postal Customer

259 Easton, Md 21601