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Former Soccer Teammates Create Inspiring Podcast

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By Steve Sears ric Klenofsky and Josel Mateo, teammates who helped DePaul Catholic High School win its first ever Passaic County soccer title in 2012, are founders of the “Less Talk, More Work” podcast, and they give some credit to old man winter. Klenofsky remembers the day. The 6-foot-7 goalkeeper, who also starred at Monmouth University, was ready for his first day of therapy following a second knee surgery. He awoke to six inches of snow. There was no family around to aid him. He needed help; he couldn’t walk for eleven weeks. Couple that with his eventual release from his team, Major League Soccer’s DC United, and the pill swallowing was difficult. He had moved into a house in Pequannock to be closer to the therapy location in Hackensack, and at that time was battling both physical pain and depression. And now, the ground was blanketed by white stuff. Klenofsky, on crutches, headed for the front door to prepare to do some shoveling at 6:30 am. Mateo beat him to it. “I open the door at 6:30 in the

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morning, and Josel is outside shoveling the driveway,” says Klenofsky. “And I never said a thing to him. And there’s that mantra, ‘Less Talk, More Work.’ He (Mateo) is not saying anything, he was not looking for thanks, but he was like, ‘I have a friend here who needs help, and I need to help him.’” The two became housemates and started coaching others while Mateo trained his friend during his recovery, all the while living by their mantra. Mateo in December 2019 even mentioned to his friend about starting a podcast. COVID19 hit, and the “Less Talk, More Work” podcast was born on March 19, 2020. “Life is in our control,” states Klenofsky, “and we have a message we need to get out and help more people. There’s a lot of growth and positivity that can come from us sharing our message.” The podcast is 30 episodes old, and there is no ceiling for growth. Mateo, the current DePaul boys’ soccer coach and the owner of Krank Sports Performance, his Pompton Plains continued on page 6

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 3

When Was Your Last Mammogram? Current Updates in Breast Cancer Screening

By Chris Bauer MD hances are you probably know someone whose life has been impacted by breast cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that 1 in every 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Males make up at least 10% of all people that are diagnosed. Although the mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased significantly in the last 50 years, even one death from breast cancer is too many. Due to the increased frequency of breast cancer, regular screenings and awareness of the symptoms are essential to maintaining every women’s health. It is important that women know if they are at greater risk of developing breast cancer in their lives. Patients who have higher risk of developing breast cancer should be in consultation with their doctors to see what cancer prevention strategies are possible. Women with higher risk include those who have a history of breast cancer in their family, have a personal history of BRCA mutation, have nev-

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er had a baby, have had late menopause or have previously had breast biopsies with Atypical hyperplasia or Lobular carcinoma insitu. Additionally, women who have increased Body Mass Index (BMI), smoke or have radiation therapy to the chest for other malignancies are at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Other risk factors exist for breast cancer for both males and females and patients should consult their physicians for more information. The mammogram is a valuable tool in breast cancer screening. A mammogram is the test that is most commonly used in the detection of breast cancer. The test is an x-ray of the breast that will show if there are any abnormal areas in the breast tissue. Generally, mammograms are well tolerated by most people and there is minimal discomfort. There is a small amount of radiation that is absorbed with each test and most physicians would agree that the benefits of regular mammograms outweigh the risks. Although regular screening for breast continued on page 7

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A VIEW FROM THE LEFT

Our Most Personal Vote

EDITORIAL &

Opinions

n the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, the Democratic nominees, former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John Kerry, were both seen by the nation’s voters as more knowledgeable and more intelligent than the Republican standard-bearer in both elections, George W. Bush. But those same voters in both campaigns found Bush to be more honest, trustworthy and likable than either Gore or Kerry. In explaining why Bush defeated Kerry, respected Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart put it bluntly: “Voters value ‘I Like’ over IQ.” Our vote for president is actually the most personal vote we Americans get to cast. Aware of the enormous impact every president has over our lives -- both national and individual -- we learned painfully that the national tragedies of both Vietnam and Watergate were directly attributable to defects of character and personality -- along with acute absence of honesty -- of elected American presidents. In the most recent Wall Street Journal-NBC News national poll, 2020 voters listed the three most important qualities in deciding how to vote for president to be “having the ability to bring the country together” (36%); “being honest and trustworthy” (35%); and “having strong leadership qualities” (33%). Democrat Joe Biden held a statistically insignificant 45%-43% edge over President Donald Trump on the “strong leadership qualities” question. But on “bringing the country together,” Biden was judged to be better than Trump by the lopsided margin of 52% to 28%. And on “being honest and trustworthy,” voters again picked Biden over Trump by a decisive 47% to 30% margin. How, if the vote for president is so personal, did Trump, with a 38% favorable-60% unfavorable personal rating from 2016 voters, the lowest for any major party candidate in the history of polling, win the White House four years ago? Because he was running that year against Democrat Hillary Clinton, whose 43% favorable-55% unfavorable personal rating was the second-lowest ever recorded by a major party nominee. If Trump had been running unopposed four years ago, he would have lost. But he was running

Mark Shields against Clinton, who just 36% of voters saw as “honest and trustworthy,” while 61% said she was not -- almost identical to Trump’s bad numbers on “honest and trustworthy,” which were 33% positive and 64% negative. No incumbent president or his party has won reelection to the White House when that president’s job rating was below 48% positive. In nearly four years, during which he presided over an economy where unemployment fell to just 3.5%, the nation’s lowest rate in 51 years, Trump remains the only U.S. president in the history of the Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll never to be rated positively by at least 50% of Americans; in fact, he never even reached beyond 46% approval. In this bizarre pandemic year, with voters unable to assess the character and personality of the presidential candidates because they are unable to see them interact with voters, Americans will take their clues more than ever from the three presidential debates, in which the candidates will be wise to remember that character is destiny and the presidential choice is the most personal vote we will cast. To find out more about Mark Shields and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2020 MARK SHIELDS DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM 100% MailedNewspaper Flanders, NJ 07836

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A VIEW FROM THE RIGHT

The Hit-Job Parade of Anti-Trump Authors It must be fall campaign season, because our incredibly tilted Democratic media are rotating through a series of authors ripping into President Donald Trump. Start with the most overpraised journalist in Washington, Bob Woodward, who is the same age as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden but is still trotted out with great fanfare as the conquering hero of Watergate. Everywhere he goes, it seems Woodward is asked to declare that Trump’s term in office has been “worse than Watergate.” Tony Dokoupil on CBS insisted that “no one died in Watergate,” while Trump is somehow responsible for the vast majority of deaths from the coronavirus. On “60 Minutes” this week, Woodward colorfully described the president as a lethal pile of dynamite. No fact-checkers were requested Also this week, the networks lavished attention on two discredited actors in Trump scandals: former FBI agent Peter Strzok, dismissed from the Robert Mueller probe for flagrantly partisan text messages, and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, fresh from serving a prison sentence. Trump’s niece Mary Trump is still squeezing big money out of her lurid psychological profile on Uncle Donald. She calls him “The World’s Most Dangerous Man.” It helps with the royalties. Notice that there isn’t a single author with a deeply critical book on Joe Biden. Somehow, all the publishers in America weren’t interested in the half of America that might buy that book. A librarian trying to help a reader interested in Biden might try to suggest Woodward’s Washington Post colleague Steven Levingston and his book released last October, helpfully titled “Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership.” The publisher, Hachette Books, touts it as “A vivid and inspiring account of the ‘bromance’ between Barack Obama and Joe Biden.” Potential buyers of that book were sold with explicitly anti-Trump terms: “As many Americans turn a nostalgic

Tim Graham eye toward the Obama presidency, (SET ITAL) Barack and Joe (END ITAL) offers a new look at this administration, its absence of scandal, dedication to truth, and respect for the media.” You’d have “respect for the media,” too, if they didn’t lie about the “absence of scandal.” Pro-Trump authors are being ignored by the “mainstream” media. Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has a bestselling memoir called “Speaking for Myself,” but somehow, she is considered beyond the pale, even though she hasn’t been to prison like Cohen. Washington Examiner reporter Byron York has a new book out on the Mueller probe and other Trump scandal inquiries titled “Obsession: Inside the Washington Establishment’s Never-Ending War on Trump.” Liberal journalists will probably dismiss the book because it’s published by the staunchly conservative Regnery Publishing. The networks that were so deeply invested in the fantasy of Russian government collusion with the Trump campaign won’t want to hear York explain that Mueller’s team of Democratic investigators knew early on there was no proof of collusion but dragged the whole charade out past the midterm continued on page 6

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Anti-Trump Authors...

Inspiring Podcast... continued from front page based physical training business which suffered during the pandemic, weighs in. “No matter what you do - whether you’re an athlete, business owner, a doctor, whatever you’re pursuing - number one you’re going to be faced with adversity. It happens to everybody. Number two, something we say all the time, control what you can control.” The one thing that the duo tries best to touch on during the podcast is that doing the work and investing in yourself while planning and learning and trying to move forward will help remove fear. “The fear is what you need to attack.” says Mateo. “As you get better, you put your hand out and pull the next person with you. It’s not just about one person. That’s what the podcast is about, spreading the message that everyone can be great, and everybody can get to the top.” Klenofsky, who is 26, adds, “People can change your life. The people you associate yourself with can really dictate the trajec-

tory in which you are going.” The duo also leaves nothing to randomness, posting positive affirmations and goals on white boards in their respective rooms, practicing the positivity and growth they preach. “We’re being very conscious and very deliberate on how we’re going to move forward, and how we’re going to create change.” Mateo, 25, says that he and Klenofsky don’t expect to change the world, but, “If we can change a couple of people’s lives, that’s a win in our books.” “Legacy is something Josel and I talk about constantly,” says Klenofsky. “We want to be able to look back and say, ‘We laid a brick, and we made the world a better place by us having did this.’ So, we care deeply about legacy and the people we’re impacting and leaving the world in a better place than we found it.” The “Less Talk, More Work” podcast can be heard at www.linktr.ee/LTMWpodcast or www.instagram.com/ltmwpodcast/.

Have a human interest story or something you would like to share? Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

continued from page 4 elections. Black conservative Candace Owens has a brand-new book titled “Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation” published by Simon & Schuster imprint Threshold Editions. Does anyone think CBS will lavish attention on this book as it did for Woodward, a Simon & Schuster author? The Democrats running the “news” media and the book publishing industry have stacked the deck against Trump, just as they did in 2016. Once again, they expect

their merciless onslaught against Trump to usher the Democrats into the White House. Once again, they cannot imagine why half of America treats them like relentlessly partisan pseudo-news outlets. Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center and executive editor of the blog NewsBusters.org. To find out more about Tim Graham, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 7

Breast Cancer Screening... continued from page 3 cancer is strongly recommended, there has not been consensus in the medical community on what that should be. Patients should be familiarized with the symptoms of breast cancer by their doctor and should report to their physician immediately if they have these symptoms. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The American Cancer Society recommend that women should begin mammogram screening at age 40yo and repeat that testing every 1-2 years depending on the patient risk factors. The US Preventive Task Force recommends screening every 2 years starting at age 50. Regardless of what guidelines patients and their doctors utilize, a shared decision-making process should be employed. Each patient screening regimen should be tailored to their individual medical history and their personal risk factors for breast cancer. Women who

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have a higher risk of getting breast cancer may require breast ultrasounds or a breast MRI yearly added to their screening plan. For women who have “dense breasts” on mammogram, a breast ultrasound may be ordered as an adjunct test to improve the cancer detection rate. Worldwide, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a global initiative organized by thousands of charities and companies to educate, empower and to raise awareness about breast cancer. Pink is the color often worn by supporters this month to show their support for this worthy endeavor. Locally the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society have a full list of local activities and listing of how people can get involved this month to support this cause. For more information or to donate, please go to www.cancer.org/breast and www.Nationalbreastcancer.org .

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

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Consider the Tax BEFORE You Sell Multiple tax rates hold the key

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* a 3.8% net investment income tax may also apply to these earnings. As the above tax rate chart suggests, understanding the tax consequence of selling an investment can be complicated. Your tax obligation could be subject to no tax or up to 37 percent plus an additional 3.8 percent for the net investment income tax. Here are some

ideas to consider: Within retirement accounts Generally not taxable. Selling investments within your retirement accounts is not usually a taxable event. The potential tax event occurs when you take the funds out of your account either by a withdrawal or occasionally as a rollover into another account. Follow the account rules. Each of your retirement accounts has its own set of rules. If you follow them, you can avoid early withdrawal penalties. Following the holding period rules within Roth accounts can also make your withdrawals tax-free. Gains and losses outside of retirement accounts Losses. Your losses are first used to offset any investment gains. Any excess losses can offset your ordinary income up to $3,000 per year. So the benefit of losses can be worth next to nothing or up to 37 percent if it offsets ordinary income. Non-investment losses. Unfortunately, individuals may not offset losses on the sale of non-investment property. So if you sell a car and make money, you need to report the gain. If you sell the car and lose money, there is no deductible loss unless it is part of a business transaction. Long-term better than short-term. Holding an investment for longer than one year is key if you want to minimize your tax obligation. Short-term gains are taxed the same as wages. Remember your investment decisions can often have quite different tax consequences. The best suggestion is to seek advice BEFORE you sell. Robert P. Sokoloff and Associates, PC, 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.

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

How to Help Pets Maintain Healthy Weights

ike their human companions, pets can struggle with their weight. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), in 2014, an estimated 53% of dogs and 58% of cats in the United States were overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese can shorten pets’ lives by increasing their risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and osteoarthritis. The APOP estimates that unhealthy weights can shave up to 2.5 years off of pets’ lives. Sedentary lifestyles and overeating can contribute to weight gain in cats and dogs. In addition, choosing the wrong foods for an animal’s activity level may contribute to weight gain. Is my pet too heavy? Many pet owners miss signs that their pets are maintaining unhealthy weights. Pet owners may have a distorted perception of just what qualifies as a healthy weight,

thinking a few extra pounds make for a robust pet. But those extra pounds could be causing substantial harm to cats and dogs. The APOP lists healthy weight guidelines for cats and dogs. Cats are easily weighed by weighing yourself and then weighing yourself while holding the cat. Subtract your

weight, and then you will know how much the cat weighs. Dogs require larger scales, and this is something best handled at a veterinarian’s office. Wellness visits provide more opportunities to get accurate assessments of pets’ weights. Vets can conduct visual assess-

ments to determine if pets are maintaining healthy weights while also sharing information about the ideal weight for your particular animal. Cats’ and dogs’ waists should be visible when viewed from above. If your pet seems thick in the middle, chances are he or she can stand to lose some weight. Increasing activity Exercise and healthy eating are the keys to getting cats and dogs to shed some pounds (animals suffering from illness may need to pursue other avenues to weight loss). Ask the vet how much your pet needs to lose and the role that diet can play in helping your pet to lose weight. Reduce caloric intake accordingly until pets reach the weight vets recommend. When pets are already overweight, adhering to guidelines on food packaging may make it difficult for pets to lose weight. Exercise is another key to healthy weight continued on page 11

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 11

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Maintain Healthy Weights... continued from page 10 loss. Dogs can go out for walks or engage in other aerobic activity, such as playing games of fetch. It can be more challenging to get cats to exercise. Toys that play into a feline’s predatory nature, such as things they have to hunt or chase, may inspire cats to move more. Overweight pets need exercise and changes to their diets in order to lose weight and extend their life expectancies. Consult your veterinarian for advice on how

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FINANCIAL FOCUS

Protect Your Family from Long-term Care Costs Like everyone, you want to remain physically and financially independent throughout your life. But if you lose some of this freedom, the last thing you’d want is to become a burden on your family. How can you keep this from happening? First of all, you need to be aware of the risk. Someone turning 65 today has almost a 70 percent chance of eventually needing some type of long-term care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you face that 70 percent likelihood. In reality, you have either a zero percent chance of requiring long-term care (you’ll never need it) or a 100 percent chance (you’ll definitely need it). Nonetheless, if you think you’ve got that zero percent chance, you’re taking a gamble – and it could be a big one, because long-term care is expensive. The median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is over $102,000, according to Genworth, an insurance company. Other long-term care services, such as those provided by a home health care aide, also don’t come cheaply.

Furthermore, you can’t count on Medicare paying all these costs – in fact, it would probably only cover a small portion of a nursing home stay and provide limited assistance for home health care. So, if you were financially unprepared for the expense of long-term care, the burden might fall on your loved ones. This could be a big financial challenge, in two ways. First, if a family member had to become your caregiver, this individual might have to abandon a career, or at least substantially reduce their working hours. Not only would this result in a loss of income, but it could also lower the amounts that could be contributed to a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan. Second, if your family members couldn’t leave their jobs or cut back on their hours, or they were simply unable to provide the type of long-term care you need, they might be forced to pay for a nursing home stay or home health care worker out of pocket. To avoid these outcomes, you have a couple of options: • Self-insure – You could conceivably “self-insure” against the costs of long-

term care by devoting a portion of your investment portfolio specifically to this purpose. However, if at some point you require admission to a nursing home, it may require a significant commitment of your resources. • Purchase protection – Over the past decade or so, there’s been an increase in the types of long-term care protection vehicles available. These instruments vary widely in cost and in what they cover, but by choosing a protection option, you may greatly lower the financial risk you might face. By consulting with a financial professional, you should be able to find an arrangement that’s appropriate for your situation. Preserving your financial independence and helping protect that of your family should be a key financial goal. And you can make progress toward accomplishing this by recognizing the potential cost of longterm care and taking steps to deal with it.

around the mistakes made by average investors. My Branch Office Administrator, Ellie Racz, and I are dedicated to providing you top-notch client service. Please call us today to schedule a complementary consultation at 973-248-3359. Our office is located at 88 Wanaque Ave in Pompton Lakes and my email address is daniel.murray@edwardjones.com.” This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

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Long-time Jeweler Retires, Embarks on a Full-Time Writing Career

By Steve Sears oseph Mirsky has seen his Pompton Lakes business, Joseph’s Jewelry, suffer hard times. Business went slowly downhill following the recession of 2008, and COVID19 stuck a permanent pin in the balloon of his 33-year career as a bench jeweler, stone setter, and gemologist. His shop closed on August 29. “Good night, sweetheart, it’s time to go,” he says, echoing the words of the popular early 1950s tune. He’s a happy guy, though, regardless. He’s got his writing, something he’s always enjoyed doing, and received compliments about. An author of books dealing with both jewelry and writing of wit and unknown information, Mirsky has now released Now and Then Again: The Way We Were and the Way We Are (Second Edition), which features short articles that were included in a newsletter titled “The Jewelry Box”, which Mirsky sent out to 1400 loyal customers from 1997 to March 2020. Sixty-eight issues of the newsletter were mailed during the twenty-three-year span. Issue number sixty-nine was never distributed due to the pandemic, but it is included in the 489-page volume. For Mirsky, 77, who is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Air Force from February, 1965 to December, 1966 (he was both a Vietnamese linguist and a lifeguard on China Beach), departing Wanaque Avenue in Pompton Lakes is bittersweet, and he will now from his West Milford home seek to make a go of it as a full-time writer. Per the book’s website (see below), Now and Then Again: The Way We Were and the Way We Are is “1122 articles (you can count them different ways), up from 804 in the first edition, not including 88 notes and the 76½ pithy profundities styled Deep Thought scattered through the book…” There are also 394 photos in the 1.8-pound paperback, which many readers have coined a “bathroom book” due to its short offerings. However, each entry is so relatively quick and information-filled, you’ll be encouraged to continue perusal in the other rooms of your home as well. Mirsky, who is originally from Pennsylvania and has a Philosophy degree from that state’s university, has no writing background. “It wells up from the abyss unbidden,” he says of his topics and words. “With the first edition (of his book), I had a lot of good reviews.” He then reflects on the feeding of the book: the newsletters. “The newsletters were so popular, it was unbelievable. People would call me up to thank

me for sending them the newsletter – some people who I hadn’t even seen in a while.” Basically, lots of conversation locals and customers had with Mirsky, or articles they enjoyed via his newsletter, are now in book form. He won’t be physically in your home with you, but his words will. “People would come in, and then I’d get emails that the newsletters are the best thing and are different.” He then smiles and jokingly says, “I can’t believe I’m not rich – they’re so popular. I mean, they really, really are.” Mirsky can be contacted via his website, www.nowandthenagain.com, and Now and Then Again: The Way We Were and the Way We Are is available for purchase on Amazon. Clicking the “Book” icon on Mirsky’s website will bring you to the seller’s page at www.amazon.com.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 15

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Take the Fear Out of Trying Unfamiliar Produce

ntroducing kids to unfamiliar flavors doesn’t have to be a frightful experience. Getting creative and taking cues from some beloved characters may be all it takes for families to explore produce in a new way and discover how delicious, satisfying and enjoyable fresh fruits and vegetables can be. A passion for produce may begin with America’s favorites, like bananas, apples, citrus, celery, carrots and broccoli, but that’s just the beginning. Whether it’s their angry names and tough exteriors, or simply a fear of the unknown about taste and preparation, dozens more diverse and exotic fruits and vegetables like dragon fruit, horned melon and Brussels sprouts are often the sources of produce paranoia. An initiative from Dole, in collaboration with Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., is helping to take the scare out of specialty fruits and vegetables and widen America’s produce horizons. That’s because, like a good book or the characters in a beloved film, you can’t judge a fruit or vegetable by its appearance; nature’s true beauty often lies within. The campaign offers character-inspired recipes, serving suggestions, digital and social activations, family-friendly activities, fun trivia and influencer partnerships that celebrate the not-so-scary world of the planet’s more unusual fresh bounty. One easy way to introduce new flavors

is by trying a variation of a familiar fruit or veggie. For example, there are more than 500 edible banana varieties in the world. You might sample a red banana or a Manzano, or even an ice cream banana, with a taste resembling vanilla custard. These fun and kid-friendly Green Slime Nacho Cups feature plantains, for example, a member of the banana family with a different taste and texture than everyday yellow bananas – more firm and starchy like a potato. Increase your family’s produce intake even further with a Slippery Slimy Smoothie, which calls for green grapes, spinach, banana and pineapple. Find more recipes and other not-soscary fun at dole.com/Disney, and follow #Dole and #DoleRecipes. Green Slime Nacho Cups Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 1 green starting to turn yellow DOLE® Plantain, peeled and thinly sliced on bias 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided 1 Dole Avocado, halved, pitted and peeled 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 cup thinly shredded Dole Purple Cabbage Preheat oven to 375 F. Toss plantain slices with canola oil and season with pinch of salt. On parchment paper-lined baking sheet, arrange slices in single layer with no

overlapping. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until crispy and lightly golden. Cool completely and set aside. Using spoon, scoop flesh of avocado into small bowl and mash, reserving one half avocado shell. Stir mashed avocado with lime juice, garlic and remaining salt. Stir in slaw, reserving some for garnish. Scoop into reserved avocado shell and smooth top with back of spoon. Stick reserved cabbage shreds out of avocado mixture to look like hair. Serve slime nacho cups with plantain chips. Slippery Slimy Smoothie Prep time:10 minutes Servings: 2 (8 ounces each) 1/2 cup DOLE® Spinach 1 Dole Banana, peeled and frozen 1/2cup Dole Green Grapes, frozen 1/3 cup cucumber, diced 1/2 cup Dole Pineapple

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 17

A Flavorful Family Meal for Fall

beefandlambnz.com. Grass-fed Beef Meatballs with Garlic and Herbs Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 Beef Meatballs: Oil 1 pound New Zealand grass-fed ground beef 1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 egg, lightly beaten 3 tablespoons milk 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs, such as parsley, thyme and oregano salt and pepper, to taste Tomato Sauce: Oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, sliced 1 can (14 ounces) chopped tomatoes, in juice 1 1/2-2 cups vegetable stock 1 tablespoon tomato paste

arm, delectable dishes go handin-hand with cool fall evenings when the crisp air sends you to the kitchen for a filling meal. Look no further than easy recipes like meatballs that pack fulfilling flavor to feed your family when the autumn temperatures dip. These Grass-fed Beef Meatballs with Garlic and Herbs can be the perfect solution anytime you’re craving a warm, comforting meal. They’re made with New Zealand grass-fed ground beef, which provides an unrivaled taste. Grass-fed year-round, the animals roam and graze freely over lush green hills and pastures, resulting in lean, flavorful meat that tastes just as nature intended. Paired with a tomato-based sauce, the meatballs are baked before being topped with Parmesan cheese and parsley then served hot for a dish that warms you from the inside-out. While preparing the meatballs, be sure to wet your hands prior to shaping them as it helps prevent the meat from sticking to your hands. Find more comforting fall recipes at

1 teaspoon sugar 1 bay leaf salt and pepper, to taste To Serve: 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup roughly chopped parsley leaves To make beef meatballs: Preheat oven to 425 F. Lightly oil deep baking dish or skillet. Mix beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, mixed herbs and salt and pepper, to taste, then shape into eight meatballs and place in prepared baking dish. To make tomato sauce: In heavy saucepan over low heat, heat dash of oil and add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, stock, tomato paste, sugar, bay leaf and salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer 10 minutes to allow flavors to mingle and liquid to reduce. Remove from heat, cool about 5 minutes and remove bay leaf. In food processor, process until sauce is smooth. Pour sauce over meatballs and bake 25

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Two-time Cancer Survivor Doing It Her Way with Raw Resilience

By Jillian Risberg taring down breast cancer as an adult was not the same as her teen bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma because now Christine Shields Corrigan has the advantage of tackling the diagnosis on her own terms. In her new book, “Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists,” the former attorney and legal writer tries to normalize her own family life with her husband and kids, while feeling echoes of her deeply ingrained upbringing. Shields Corrigan says her parents were very protective and in her mother’s family there was a culture of don’t tell the kids anything — it’ll get them upset. “Then when it was over, it was over and nobody talked about it,” says the author of her early cancer. This time around it was an early evening in March 2016 when the former attorney was wrapped up in what her older son wanted for his 15th birthday dinner the next day. Then her breast surgeon called and said those dreaded words… “I’m sorry, it’s cancer,” the 49-year-old says. “I was frozen in my spot.” Her visceral reaction was that she was ‘doomed.’ “All of life’s ordinary was right there with me in the kitchen and I knew in that moment my world shifted and I would never have that again,” says Shields Corrigan. It all started with a routine mammogram and ultrasound. “Sitting in the exam room waiting for the techs to walk in with the reminder card for me to fill out for next year,” she says. “Instead the door opened and a woman in a white coat walked in and my stomach fell out.” The author had a gray cyst they said looked ‘junky.’ “Of course I immediately asked if it could be breast cancer and she said, ‘I don’t know, that’s why you have to have it biopsied, but most of the time these things are benign,’” Shields Corrigan says the doc told her. The biopsy revealed triple positive breast cancer, which meant she had to go through six cycles of targeted anti-HER2 chemotherapy from March until July. “It was a stage-one tumor,” the author says. “It wasn’t even palpable when I did my monthly self exam but it was an aggressive cancer.” Her oncologist is very conservative. “Very aggressive with treatment and very conservative in making determinations about causation,” says the former attorney, adding that her childhood lymphoma certainly put her at greater risk of developing a secondary cancer. A month after completing chemo she was very adamant about having a bilateral mastectomy.

“I was like ‘look, I had cancer now twice; I’m not putting my family through this a third time,’” Shields Corrigan says of the surgery, which she followed up with implant reconstruction. “There’s certainly an aspect of grieving because there is a loss. I felt like I lost a big sense of who I was as a woman,” says the author. “I had been going to a breast cancer support group run by my surgical nurse navigator and at the end of one of the meetings she asked me if I wouldn’t mind putting together a list of tips and tricks,” Shields Corrigan says. She told the nurse she would be happy to but in hindsight didn’t know what she was getting herself into. “In a very uncharacteristic move I chose to ignore the request for a couple of months,” says the former attorney. “And then my guilt caught up with me and I was like I really need to sit down and write that list.” The nurse loved it and wanted to share it with her patients. She also felt Shields Corrigan should publish, ’What I know now’ — a collection of 10 interwoven essays about her breast cancer experience. “And I was like, ‘that is so cute but this is not something that can be published,’” the former attorney told her. According to the author, that was the genesis of the book but she didn’t have any training in creative writing or writing outside of law. So she tackled it the way she would a legal case — with research. That meant taking classes in New York City, attending author talks, writing seminars and conferences. “I read a ton of memoirs; joined a writing group and that gave me the structure and accountability to write the book,” says Shields Corrigan. “This time last year I was working on writing a book proposal to find a publisher, had my marketing plan ready to go, querying agents and then COVID happened.” The author says she was looking for small, independent publishers who would be willing to take a chance on her. She had three acceptances of the manuscript and went with Koehler Books. And the former attorney was excited to put it out there because this is the type of cancer book she needed. “There’s tons of books written about breast cancer, tons of books written about cancer in general, tons of books written by doctors, all sorts of celebrity cancer memoirs and absolutely gorgeous meditations on life’s meaning, she says. “But those weren’t books I wanted to read when I was newly diagnosed and terrified of dying.” “I wanted the grit of somebody’s experience to help guide me through my own as an ordinary mom with teenage kids and I

searched high and low for that book let me tell you.” She also wrote the book to help other women, families and caregivers. “They will find the strength and courage to walk a path they never asked to be put on and that they’re not alone,” says the author.

The book not only tells Shields Corrigan’s story but interspersed throughout is the ‘practical reality’ list of information she learned along the way. “I am happy that Koehler thinks it’s going to work and it’s going to be released on October 24,” she says. “It’s available now for pre-order on Amazon and on my website, christineshieldscorrigan.com as well.” It was very cathartic to write the book, according to the author, who says she knew she had to tell both stories. “Because when I went through this experience as a teenager Hodgkin’s lymphoma was called Hodgkin’s disease, so I don’t think when I was 14/15 years old I even understood that I had cancer,” she says. She walked this journey with more transparency and graced with wonderful people who supported her through the whole process. “I’ve learned to live with the uncertainty, try everyday to let go of the things I can’t control — and just be at peace with that,” Shields Corrigan says.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 19

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College Friends and Fellow History Teachers Create “History Teachers Talking” Podcast

By Steve Sears enville’s Peter Zablocki and Mount Olive’s Thomas Reszka, who originally met as students and started talking over 20 years ago at William Paterson University, are now verbalizing some pretty interesting stuff via a unique podcast. Starting in early August 2020, the duo has hosted ten, weekly, hour-long “History Teachers Talking” episodes. Zablocki explains the foundation. “We’ve always talked about starting a podcast. We said, ‘You know what? It’s corona(virus)…’ and we just needed an outlet, especially since we couldn’t teach that much in a traditional sense. It’s almost like we missed the history banter that we would probably have in the class.” “With everything going on, we said, ‘Let’s just do it,’” adds Reszka. “History Teachers Talking” discussions center on history, politics, education, and pop culture. Zablocki has found that many former and current students listen in, and the goal was to be broad in scope while not ignoring the nearness of home. “That was the goal,” says Reszka. “What we would do in the classroom is have banter back and forth; that’s where sometimes you get some of the best conversation.” Zablocki adds, “In the classroom we form a rapport, a good relationship with our students, oftentimes from not just the content, especially when a student has a question. And we don’t always have the time in the classroom to get into these particulars or what you would call fun topics, but

it does happen.” That banter and resulting topics thereof have been discussed on the podcast, including George Washington, the tumultuous year of 1968, and the 1916 Manasquan shark attacks. “That’s the story of us as a nation, and that’s the story of us as people,” says Reszka. “Like the shark attacks in New Jersey and Jaws, which is a major pop icon.” It’s understanding the past as well as comprehending what’s currently occurring and how things connect. “I very much concur with that,” says Zablocki, agreeing with Reszka’s prior comment. “I always kind of looked at history as a bunch of facts.” He likens those facts to building blocks and uses the following analogy with his students. “Unless someone takes those facts, that are just blocks, and puts meaning and does something with them, they’re kind of boring blocks. The way I look at history is taking the facts and putting them in the context and connecting them, and as Tom was saying, connecting the past and present, connecting the social aspects with the political and economic aspects in the present, to kind of form meaning to what our word is about.” “That was kind of the impetus for this podcast.” A bio on each, who have both been teachers for 16 years. Zablocki is currently at Kinnelon High School, and is Vice-President of the Denville Historical Society, Museum, and Research Center. He teaches courses in World History, Military History, Sociology, Advanced Placement United States History I and II, Advanced Placement Seminar and Research, and International Baccalaureate High Level His-

tory- America and the World. He is also an author of three books: Denville Goes to War: Denville’s Story of World War I, in addition to the forthcoming true crime history titled Denville 13: Murder, Redemption and Forgiveness in Small Town New Jersey due out in February of 2021, and Denville in World War II, coming out in May of 2021, both published by The History Press. Zablocki also contributes a monthly column of local history to Denville Life. Reszka’s specialties include World History, Ancient Civilization, World Cultures, Western Civilization, United States History I and II, Sociology, Law and Justice, Advanced Placement Government and Civics, and Advanced Placement United States History. He is also an administrator of the Mount Olive school district’s history department, and as well oversees the curriculum development and teaching of over thirty Middle School and High School teachers. The interesting thing: there is no true preparation on the part of the hosts, just a little bit of research. Per Zablocki, when the recorder is turned on, he and Reszka are talking about the topics for the first time. “We don’t want to be scripted,” he says of he and his partner, who on their jobs deal often with strictly prepared and uniform lesson plans. This is laid back conversation. “This isn’t a job for us,” he continues. “It’s fun; an escape somewhat. It creates an outlet for our students, family members, and everyone that’s interested.” To listen to the “History Teachers Talking” podcast, visit www.historyteacherstalkingpodcast.com.

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Gulf Station Now Open in Pompton Plains

ribbon cutting was done by Mayor Ryan Herd at the new Gulf Station located at 403 Newark Pompton

Tpk., Pompton Plains. Owner is Tony Kalejian.

Claim to Fame Opens its Doors in Bloomingdale

n September 3rd, the Borough of Bloomingdale and the Economic Development Commission welcomed Claim to Fame,13 Hamburg Turnpike, Bloomingdale, Community of the Arts with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Claim to Fame is an arts community with specially designed

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programs for every age. The offer dance, tumble, yoga, aerial, summer camp, after care & more. Pictured: Councilmember John D’Amato, Students Giada Toriello ad Margot Ruiz, Mayor Jon Dunleavy, Owner Shannon Keeler, Students Cameron Bowen and Reilly Meszaros.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 23

Community Garden Soon to Sprout in Riverdale

By Steve Sears omething new will soon sprout in the Township of Riverdale. A community garden, available for Riverdale residents to rent a plot for their personal use for the entire growing season, was Initially discussed earlier this year by the Sustainable Riverdale Green Team Members Michael Carelli and Todd Urban. There will be raised beds, ADA compliant beds, and salad tabletop beds. Also, a raspberry trellis is being discussed, too, and nearby picnic tables will also be part of the landscape. If all goes well, and the borough receives the Sustainable Jersey Grant and the Board of Education and Borough Council both approve the project, the garden construction will most likely begin in June 2021 and be unveiled by end of July 2021. For Carelli, a Riverdale resident who works full-time as Assistant to the Borough Administrator in the Borough of Oakland (but also serves as Public Information Officer and Green Team Chair in Riverdale), community gardens are familiar territory. He recently worked on getting one installed at Oakland Borough Hall. He explains the proposed Riverdale project. “The borough is enrolled in Sustainable Jersey, which is a rigorous program in which municipalities earn points through completing actions such as electric vehicle charging stations, community gardens, the arts, health and wellness, and much more. The Borough of Riverdale is aiming for bronze

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certification which is worth 150 points or higher, and silver certification is 350 points or higher. It is incredibly hard to reach even bronze as many actions are required and a lot of hard work and dedication is involved in such certification. The community garden action is one of the easier ‘high points’ actions to knock off our list first before tackling other items.” The proposed location of the Riverdale Community Garden would be at the Riverdale Senior Community Center at the old abandoned bocce ball courts. The area, open and not currently used, appears to be an adequate location, especially given that the Riverdale Food Pantry is located at the Community Center. “The garden would provide a free plot for the food pantry, which would assist in providing free produce to the food pantry clients,” says Carelli. Free plots would also be given to the Riverdale School, especially since the garden is on school property. “The Sustainable Riverdale Green Team,” adds Carelli, “went before the Board of Education to present the idea in the summer and will be back for final approval in order to submit a grant application to Sustainable Jersey. The Green Team plans on applying for a Sustainable Jersey grant in the amount of $20,000.00 to fund the project. Discussions over plot size, amount of plots, and placement is underway between the Sustainable Riverdale Green Team and the Board of Education. The proposed garden would be fenced in to keep critters out, most likely a sprinkler system, and security to ensure only renters of plots will have access along with our

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Page 24 • October 2020 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Morris County Clerk Hopes to Ease Vote by Mail Fears

By Megan Roche 020 has been a year that has been completely out of the ordinary. With COVID-19 and social distancing rules still in effect for many places, voting in the 2020 Presidential election is going to look a bit different. Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi is hoping to ease the voting fears and reassure Morris County residents that their votes will count. “We’re getting a lot of calls from people who don’t trust the system. I try to encourage them and remind them that this is the only option we have right now. Please don’t ignore the election, it’s important for everybody to vote. I want to calm the fears and the best way to do it is to provide as much information as I can and that’s what I’ve been trying to do,” Grossi says. Grossi filmed a video, found on YouTube by searching ‘Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi explains the Vote by Mail Process’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvofZ_ OT0tE&feature=emb_title) that easily explains the process of Vote by Mail. Grossi walks viewers through the process of receiving their ballot in the mail, how to properly cast the ballot, as well as the steps to properly packaging and returning the ballot. When it comes to returning the ballot, there are many ways to do so. Currently, there are ballot boxes strategically placed around the county. Grossi’s website has the most up to date locations on where each ballot return box is located. Voters can also use the US Postal Service (ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3) or visit your polling location to drop your paper ballot in a secure ballot box on Election Day (Nov. 3).

“Voting is one of the most important rights that we have. By not voting, you are letting other people control your destiny. I know that voting by mail is not an ideal way to do it for a majority of people, but not voting shouldn’t be an option. By not voting, you are not going to be heard. Fill the ballot out and send it in as early as you feel comfortable doing,” Grossi said. According to Grossi, all ballots should be received in Morris County by the 15th of October. If your ballot has not shown up by that point, call the clerk’s office right away and inform them and they will send you a duplicate ballot. Don’t think your vote is secure? Grossi explained the process this is currently in place for picking up the ballots at the ballot boxes around the county each night. “The Board of Elections, which is responsible for picking up those ballot boxes, is going to be sending out a Morris County Sherriff’s Officer, along with one member of the Republican Party and one member of the Democratic Party. Each day, that team will go to the drop boxes and empty out the contents of the drop boxes and bring them back to the Board of Elections,” Grossi explained. Grossi urges anyone with questions, big or small, to reach out to her and her team at the Morris County Clerk’s Office at (973) 285-6066. Grossi also updates her website and Facebook page daily as new information comes out about Vote by Mail. Check out www.morriscountyclerk.org for all the up to date information.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 25

County College of Morris President Dr. Anthony J. Iacono Named to NJBIZ Education Power 50 List

By Steve Sears or Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, being recognized as a top leader of an institution is familiar territory. He has been lauded again, being named to the NJBIZ Education Power 50 list for the second consecutive year. And he’s proud of the honor. But there’s more recognizable terrain when it comes to the fifth President of the County College of Morris. It’s never just about him. “It’s a big honor, but it’s more of a reflection of what we do together at the college and the incredible support we get from the community,” he says. “Particularly the manufacturing community and our Freeholder Board, and our state legislators, because the county and state provided a majority of the funding, and then we’ve had good support from manufacturers also.” NJBIZ this year focused on recognizing educators’ leadership during COVID-19 and their economic recovery roles. Iacono and CCM acted with gusto in both categories. With the pandemic, the Randolph campus from March 30 to June 26 offered COVID-19 drive-thru testing by Morris County and Atlantic Health System for Morris and Sussex County residents in its park-

ing lot. “That was just a remarkable countywide partnership between the Office of Emergency Management in Morris County, the Sheriff ’s office, Atlantic Health, Randolph Township Police, parks police, and the college,” says Iacono. “You know that saying, ‘It takes a village”? Well, in over two months they administered 8,000 tests. That was great work with the county coming together.” Also, the college gave a hand to hard hit Morristown Medical Center, lending five ventilators, and donating 325 N95 masks and 3,000 gloves for use. CCM also hosted March and August Table of Hope food distribution events, and during the pandemic many college faculty and staff, current students and alumni, volunteered or worked on the front lines during trying times. In addition to bringing new paramedic (in partnership with Atlantic Health) and paralegal studies and expansion to technology programs to CCM in the future, Iacono is excited about both the Dover College Promise, and the September unveiling of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center. “We are Morris County’s community college,” he says when speaking about

the Dover partnership, “and our job is to really serve the whole community. We want to make sure that we’re reaching out to all communities, and that every individual has an opportunity to get a great education. The Dover initiative is college employees, faculty, staff, and administrators partnering with community leaders, business owners, education officials – the Superintendent’s office in particular – and others up in Dover to make sure the kids are getting great opportunities.” In September, the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center (AMEC), finally opened after two years of construction. The center provides a wealth of new employees to businesses and is there to update the skills of those currently employed. Dr. Iacono, received his Ph.D. in American History from Mississippi State University, and his M.A. and B.A. in American History from the University of Central Florida. An Associate in Arts in General Studies recipient from Indian River Community College, prior to his CCM arrival, he was Vice President of Academic Affairs at Indian River State College (IRSC) in Fort Pierce, FL. “I have a great team,” Iacono says. “I like

my Cabinet a lot, the Senior Administrators, the Junior Administrators, the great faculty and staff here. A big part of it is we do get tremendous support from our community, which is key for any community college to achieve its mission.”

Page 26 • October 2020 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

I Remember Dad:

By Richard Mabey Jr. ne of the greatest honors that was ever bestowed upon me, was when I was presented the golden opportunity to write the front page story for the old Lincoln Park Journal about my dad and Jack Floyd receiving the Scoutmasters of they Year Award. This was back in early 1987. Dad received the Scoutmaster of the Year for the Boonton District. And Jack Floyd received the Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year Award for the Boonton District. At that point in time, Dad was serving his 21st year as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170. And, Mr. Floyd was serving his 24th year as Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170. I was the one who took the picture of my dad and Jack Floyd standing in front of the “Scout Awards Wall” of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s Thorpe Hall. It is a most strange and bewildering thing, because I was the very person who created the Scout Awards Wall, back in the Summer of 1969, when I painted Thorpe Hall for my Eagle Scout Project. Dad and Jack were as close as brothers. After Jack’s first wife passed away, Jack remarried quite a few years later. Jack asked Dad to be his Best Man when he and Lee married. My dad was deeply honored. Jack was like an adopted uncle to me. Dad, Jack and I, and the scouts of Boy Scout Troop 170 shared 10,000 memories together. We went on several week-long, rugged hikes of the Appalachian Trail. We went on dozens and dozens of scout campouts. We survived the rapids of the Delaware River on quite a few, week-long canoe trips. When I received my Eagle Scout, Dad told me that he just wanted to be my dad and not my Scoutmaster for the

The Front Page

important event. So, I asked Jack to honor me, by presenting my Eagle Scout medal to me. Jack told me that he was honored that I asked him. And, I hold the historic record in Boy Scout Troop 170 of being the only scout to have received the highest rank of scouting from Assistant Scoutmaster Jack Floyd. Both Dad and Jack lost their battles with cancer. At times, I can feel their spiritual presence so strong. When I am faced with making a hard decision, going through rough times, or just struggling with my writing; I can hear the gentle echo of both Dad and Jack’s voices sharing words of assurance with me. In so many ways, I have been very blessed to have had so many positive role models in my life. Things were not always honey and roses. There were times when I had to learn the hard lessons of being disciplined. Like when I got a D on my first chemistry test in high school. Dad’s answer to the problem was very simple. “Richie, you need to study more,” was all Dad said about the subject. And, my father was right, he was all so very right. I really had not put my best foot forward in chemistry class. I am glad to say that I earned a B as my final year-end grade in that chemistry class. I think that love is the key that unlocks the door to most every problem that we could ever face in life. Love melts away the ugly wall of prejudice. Love inspires. Love can take us to another dimension, to find hidden talents sleeping deep within our inner selves. For love truly is the key to life. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com. Please put on the subject line: My Life Publications.

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My front-page story, from the pages of the old Lincoln Park Journal, that told of my dad and Jack Floyd receiving the coveted Scoutmasters of the Year Awards.

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 27

“Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks” Facebook Group Spreads Enjoyment, Stress Relief, and Color

By Steve Sears f ever in the area of Bloomingdale or Butler, be on the lookout for lovely painted, colored rocks. They are courtesy of the very artistic “Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks” Facebook group, and although started in 2017, the worth is never greater than in 2020, a year when adversity has struck everyone. Cristina Earle started the page in 2017, basing it on the original rules and set-up of the “Pompton Lakes Rocks” Facebook page. “At the time, hiding painted rocks was starting to become a nationwide movement. A few people in our town were seeing them hidden in other places and wanted to do the same at home.” In the summer of 2018, Linda Bennett, the since-retired Bloomingdale Library children’s librarian, reached out to Earle, seeking to partner her planned “Reading Rocks” summer reading program with Earle’s group. Earle then reached out to Cindy Keegan, the service unit leader for the Butler Bloomingdale Girl Scouts, to see if some of the members wanted to partner with the program. “She was happy to come on board,” says Earle, “and with this summer program came the decision of the name change to ‘Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks’ as the Girl Scout service unit is for both Bloomingdale and Butler.” The group currently has 676 members. Anyone is welcome to join the group, whose administrators monitor who joins and what is posted. The general process is to paint a rock, hide it, and post

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clues where it is hidden. Someone then finds the rock, posts on the Facebook page where it was found, whether they are keeping the rock or hiding it and, if they do, post clues where it is newly located. All rocks that are painted and hidden nationwide have the specific group’s name on the rock’s back, and the majority are hidden in public areas: outside shops, banks, schools, public buildings, as well as in the local parks. “Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks” means different things to different members. “For some, like my family,” says Earle, “it is an unexpected smile as we are out walking and happen to see a painted rock. Regardless of where we are, either walking our neighborhood, or traveling somewhere else, when we see a painted rock, we take a picture and share it with our ‘home group’. There have only been two rocks my daughter has kept. She saw the picture, it was one of her very favorite things, so we went out to find the rock. We tend to leave rocks where we find them. Occasionally we have hidden batches of rocks. Our preference is to spot the unexpected painted rock as we are going about our daily life.” For others, painting the rocks is the joy, while many enjoy the hiding and creating clues aspect, eagerly awaiting to see a picture that their rock was found. “The group fulfills different needs for different people, and families.” The “Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks” Facebook page has continued on page 30

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Page 28 • October 2020 • Hometown Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

CCM Professor’s Award-Winning International Latino Award Novel Honors Mother and Grandmother

by Jillian Risberg he colorful words of Maria Estelle Picouto, the County College of Morris (CCM) professor who recently took home the Latino Book Award for Best Novel Historical Fiction in Spanish permeate “Estelita.” “Standing at the entrance of his small plantation home, while enjoying a foamy cup of coffee, Ventura Sanjurjo contemplated the sun as it rose through the coastal valley covered by sugar cane fields. He could perceive the sweet smell of the sugar cane ready for harvesting, as well as the sticky humidity characteristic of the season, on his skin.” The fictional novel was also chosen by the Luis Munoz Marin (Puerto Rican journalist, politician, statesman and first elected governor of Puerto Rico) Foundation as a book of importance to the history of Puerto Rico — a proud moment for Picouto, who wrote it as a loving tribute to her mother and grandmother. And the book was selected for a community outreach project to promote the reading of culturally and historically significant Puerto Rican books. The professor even heard from Kirk Whisler, the publisher and activist, National Association of Hispanic Journalists Founder and Latino Book & Family Festival cofounder with Edward James Olmos. ‘One or more of the judges for your book felt it would be a good fit as a TV show or movie,’ reads Whisler’s e-mail. “I have to send a copy in English because they will check

the book with some of the people who make movies to see if they want to do a movie about my book” says the author, a Spanish as a Second Language, Hispanic Culture and Cultural Affairs professor at CCM since 2006. According to Picouto, her book is full of intrigue, envy, lies, loneliness, abandonment, physical, emotional and institutional abuse and is based on the complex history of the Sanjurjo-Gely family from 1800 to 1955. The story begins around 1917 with the migration of Puerto Ricans to New York when Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones–Shafroth Act. “My grandfather came and brought some of his brothers,” says the professor. “Then comes my grandmother (Margarita Gely Caceres) and she established herself in New York and then met my grandfather and they married. “Soon after my mom (Estelle Sanjurjo Gely) was born my grandmother died. And my grandfather put my mom in an orphanage.” That meant Picouto had no connection to her family. “My mom met her family when she was around 15-years-old, the first time she went out of the orphanage but she was already a novice and was going to become a nun that summer,” the professor says. continued on page 29

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Hometown Life • October 2020 • Page 29

CCM Professor’s Award-Winning... continued from page 28 According to the author, they moved to Puerto Rico when she was four and never got to know her extended family on both sides. “I never met my grandmother’s side of the family and very few on my grandfather’s side,” she says. “So I grow up with that need to know who I was, where I come from,” the professor says. It was a natural progression to study anthropology when she got to college. “For my first thesis I decided I was going to write on Puerto Rican immigration to the United States,” she says. “To do that work was to start with my genealogy.” The year was 1990 — and Picouto says through researching the genealogy for 25 years after that she met her mother’s aunt in Puerto Rico. “They never knew that my mom was born and never knew what happened with my grandmother,” says the professor. “All those thoughts were always in my mind.” “Everything you read in the book really happened and also the places where the characters live and go (are real),” the author says. “I also include pictures and documents that prove the story.” In 2005, when she had most of the information she needed, the author started writing short stories with the intention to preserve them for her children. “One day four years ago a friend of mine, Dr. Yun Sil Jeon (Foreign Languages professor at Coastal Carolina University) came here on vacation,” Picouto says. “My husband tells her I’m writing a book; I didn’t even tell anybody.” The author was halfway through writing when she

emailed her friend the draft to find out what she thought. “I was embarrassed because I was so afraid the book was not good,” says the professor. “The next morning she said, ‘Not able to sleep last night; I was the whole night reading your book (and) I need more. She’s Korean but was raised in Argentina and speaks fluently in Spanish, so she becomes like my mentor.” Jeon continued to follow up. “Since she read the draft, for two years was motivating me to complete the book, calling or visiting me every week,” the author says. “When I finished I said, ‘I’m going to publish but probably only something my family will read.’” It was much more and in April 2020 “Estelita” went into mass publication. Then her cousin’s friend who had read the book encouraged Picouto to compete in the International Latino Book Awards. She wasn’t sure about such a prestigious competition. But after hearing that famous Spanish writers compete and they have to approve your book just to enter — she decided to send her manuscript. “A month later I receive an email telling me to send five copies of my book,” Picouto says. “They consider my book like a novel. Two months later, I received another email saying I was in the finals; I was in shock.” On September 12, there was a virtual celebration and the professor got to take in the whole experience. “I was worried because I researched the people who were competing in my section; they are really writers, they live writing, make a living writing,” says the professor, who

was feeling a little intimidated. “This is my first book.” Picouto told her husband that while she was happy to be there and made it to that point she didn’t think she was going to win first place. But she got a thrilling surprise from the emcee announcing the awards in her category as none other than Esmeralda Santiago (Puerto Rican author known for her novels and memoirs). “Ever since I read Esmeralda’s book, ‘When I was Puerto Rican’ in 1992 I have always dreamed of writing something like her,” the author says. “So not only I did write the book, she was the one who announced the first-place award for ‘Estelita,’ my book. That was like a sign from heaven.” “I feel like I accomplished a promise I made to my mother and grandmother.” According to the author, her phone hasn’t stopped ringing for weeks. “Family, friends (and) people that I don’t know e-mailing me because they want the book but don’t want to buy it from Amazon,” she says. “They want me to sign it.” The book has been translated to English and Picouto expects to release that version in December. And at the request of the readers who can’t get enough the author started penning a second book, which she is calling “Estelita; what I did not tell you.” At the end of the day, the author feels incredibly blessed about the award. “I was doing this with my heart to heal part of the family story,” says the professor. “This was a process of healing for me, my mom and my grandmother. I complete that circle.”

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Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks...

continued from page 27 indeed been uplifting during these trying times. Earle adds one more particularly important note. “I would ask that anyone who finds a painted rock, whether you take it or leave it, to please post on the Facebook page of the group

that you found the rock. There is as much joy in seeing that a rock has been found as there is in the artistic design of the rock, and the hiding of the rock.” To join, visit the “Bloomingdale Butler, NJ Rocks” Facebook page.

Did You Know?

ging men and women may be tempted to eschew home cooking entirely. After all, there are plenty of convenient frozen or take-out foods available that can be whipped up in a snap. However, there are certain benefits to cooking your own meals. John Moore, DO, an Aetna medical director and senior health specialist, says that cooking can be good for helping to stave off cognitive decline. Dr. Moore

notes that, when cooking, the mind is put to use following a recipe and learning new skills and tasks. Furthermore, cooking for oneself can boost seniors’ self-confidence, reassuring them that they can handle an important daily task without having to rely on their family for meals. As long as it is deemed safe (i.e., no sign of cognitive decline or forgetfulness), seniors should be encouraged to continue cooking.

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