Livingston January 2023

No. 19 Vol. 1

My Life Publications • 973-809-4784

January 2023

Livingston Actress Awarded for Community Musical

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By Evan Wechman ivingston High School senior Jayden Declet loves her family, friends, and school. The future remains wide open for both her and her classmates set to graduate this June, but Declet knows exactly what she wants to do in the future. Her goals are extremely high, but her down-to earth attitude will help her become a professional actress in the years ahead.

She has been performing on stage since she was six years old and has even appeared on prime-time television as well.

She had small but notable roles in Law & Order SVU and appeared on the big screen working with Joseph GordonLevitt in the movie, Premium Rush.

Her hard work has not gone unnoticed. Recently, she beat out six other actors and captured the New Jersey Perry Award, which honors community theater performers. She won the prize for Outstanding Young Actress in a musical for her wonderful performance in Tuck Everlasting at The Chatham Players Theater.

“I was definitely surprised to win. It was the best feeling in the world,” says Declet. The young actress shined in her role as the iconic Winnie Foster but has been practicing her craft for over a decade now.

As a child, her mother Elizabeth Declet enrolled her in some town-run acting programs just for fun, but she took naturally to the stage right away. Her mother said all the directors of the shows said besides being naturally talented, she followed direction way beyond her years.

Declet’s parents saw how she loved performing and helped develop the three necessary traits for musicals: acting, dancing, and singing. When Jayden wanted to improve her singing, her parents helped her get voice lessons. continued on page 2

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Livingston Actress... continued from front page They also tried to find her an appropriate agent. Her mother said “I started sending out her portfolio to different agents, and the dominoes began to fall.” Shortly after, she was paired with an agent who helped her land several roles on Nickelodeon and elsewhere. In a short time, she was sought after for larger roles due to her impressive stage presence.

This road has been no easy task for the Livingston High School senior. Besides dedicating herself academically, she spends between 25-40 hours weekly honing her repertoire. Next year, she plans on studying musical theater at a major university.

Though she hasn’t made a final decision about what college she will attend, she is actively working on her applications. She says she will continue to study all aspects of the theater, from choreography to acting and dancing. “I want to continue to work on my technique, but my dream is to be performing in the future. That is 100 percent the plan.”

Declet is also seeking to extend her range of performances too. Musicals are her favorite right now, but she wants to get her feet wet in different genres such as comedies, dramas, and everything in between.

Her mother is not surprised at how much

Jayden has accomplished in her young life. “She is an exceptional student and an extremely genuine person. What you see is what you get, but she is also very humble.”

The proud mother recalls the many times her daughter has spent helping her friends improve their theater skills in person, as well as providing them with sound tips on the phone late at night.

The promising young actress loves working with children in her free time.

Declet says she loves performing but loves giving back to the community by helping children learn all the different components involved in the production of a play.

Though many news outlets contain stories portraying the downsides of child acting, both Jayden and her mom, Elizabeth are proud of their work. They both believe community theater can be very positive for everyone involved when balanced with good friends, a loving family, and an optimistic but humble attitude.

The future remains uncharted, but the younger Declet is eager to accept the challenges of university life. “I’m looking forward to next year and attending ballet classes for example at 8 a.m. because I want to be a triple threat.”

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Preschool Advantage Annual Gala Funds Tuition for 40 Children to preschool since 1995. Special recognition was given to trustee, Gail Reuther for her 40 years as director at Mount Olive Child Care & Learning Center, a partner preschool of the Organization. Preschool Advantage Executive Director, Nancy Bangiola noted, “Gail has generously shared her decades of experience and expertise in early childhood education with Preschool Advantage. Her peers recognize her a leader in the field, and we consider ourselves very lucky to have benefitted from her wisdom for so many years.”

Preschool Advantage also recognized a local family whose twin daughters attend preschool with a grant from the Organization. The twins’ mother, Jillian, remarked “The cost of preschool turned out to be one of our biggest challenges.”

Expressing gratitude to the supporters in attendance, Jillian shared that her daughters are thriving and will be ready

reschool Advantage, a Morristownbased non-profit organization, held its 2022 annual Turning Leaves benefit dinner at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park on October 12th. After a twoyear hiatus, the event returned with great energy fueled by guest emcee Guy Adami of CNBC’s “Fast Money,” who challenged the 250 attendees to give generously in support of this important cause. They took note, raising over $200,000 to fund preschool tuition for children in our community.

The event was sponsored by the William T. & Marie J. Henderson Foundation with additional support from Hackensack Meridian Health, Private Advisor Group, Wiley Malehorn Sirota & Raynes, and several other individual donor-sponsors.

At this year’s event, Preschool Advantage honored its 11 past board presidents. Under their selfless leadership, the nonprofit has sent 1,300 local children

Jillian (left) and Hector (right), Preschool Advantage parents with Nancy Bangiola, Preschool Advantage Executive Director (center). Photo by Baseline Productions

for kindergarten in the fall. “It has been an extraordinary journey watching our

children learn and grow,” she said with great emotion.

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Livingston Non-Profit Delivers Pet Supplies to Local Rescues and Shelters

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By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta ive years ago, Livingston resident Jayne DiGregorio had a vision.

It all began when she was driving to UPS to bring care packages to her nieces and nephews who were away at college. With her Bernedoodle, Bear, in the backseat, she began calling the bundles “Care Bear packages”.

“As an aunt, they’re my little sparks of joy,” DiGregorio shared. “Let me give them a little bit of me, in a care package.” She would go to different stores to find various items such as snacks or something fun, to let her know she was thinking of them.

As an animal lover, DiGregorio would often donate items, like one of Bear’s toys or extra treats. “They were always so grateful,” she said. “It gives you a happy sense that if Bear didn’t need it anymore, another dog could use it.”

Then it dawned on her. “How nice would it be if they [sheltered animals] got their own little care packages? Wouldn’t that be something?”

When DiGregorio first started Care BearBox it all fell into place. People who had items they didn’t need anymore, such as gently used towels, blankets, beds, toys, leashes, and collars, donated them to Care BearBox. Year-round Care BearBox collection boxes can be found at CB Pet

Market, Livingston Town Hall, The Barker Lounge, and Livingston Senior Community Center. Once a month, DiGregorio takes the boxes to shelters and rescues.

Five years later, Care BearBox is still going strong! The non-profit has successfully delivered to the following New Jersey animal shelters: Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, St. Hubert’s Animal Shelter, Home for Good Dog Rescue, West Orange Animal Shelter, Montville Animal Shelter, Eleventh Hour Rescue, Associated Humane Societies, Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch, and Wise Animal Rescue.

During the holiday season, Care BearBox partners with CB Pet Market for their Annual Giving Tree Holiday Drive. This was the third year Care BearBox and CB Pet Market paired up to assist various rescues and animal welfare organizations throughout New Jersey.

“Our Livingston community is always so giving in helping our local animal shelters and rescues, especially during the holidays,” DiGregorio expressed, adding, “This town is definitely a town of animal lovers, and it warms my heart that as a collective we can bring some joy and comfort to cats and dogs that are awaiting their forever home.

Our pets really become part of the family.

And it’s beautiful how giving becomes

Bear posing by a box of goodies to be donated (Photo by Jayne DiGregorio).

contagious. I’ve had so many people reach out to me on Facebook. A friend of a friend heard I was collecting towels for animals, and she asked, ‘Where can I drop them off?’

It’s just amazing and inspiring!”

DiGregorio is grateful for her dog, Bear, who inspired the non-profit, all volunteer organization, and for the Livingston community for embracing the connection

people have for animals.

In conclusion, she added, “I want to keep the spirit of community and connection with our mission and inspire other communities so it can expand into other towns.”

To donate items or to include Care BearBox in a volunteer event, please email: CareBearBoxFriends@gmail.com.

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Approaching 70: Remembering West Virginia

By Richard Mabey Jr. In September, I’ll turn 70. In many ways, it is a most incredible milestone. From having done decades of research on my family heritage, I found out that my forefathers settled in what is now known as Lincoln Park, way back in the 1600’s. Here is a most interesting fact.

Going back many generations, none of my forefathers ever made it to 80. So, I have become ever aware of the clicking of the clock and tearing of the pages of the calendar.

I tend to write about my family heritage, of the years of growing up in old Lincoln Park, and of people who deeply touched my life. I don’t write much about my years of living alone in a small town in West Virginia, wherein I did my very best to maintain a small chiropractic practice.

They were painful years. You see, back in the mid seventies to the early eighties, in a small town in West Virginia, I may as well have put up a sign that read, “Witch Doctor.”

I don’t mean to sound harsh, but sadly, that is the painful truth.

There was a time when there was a great prejudice against chiropractic, sadly it was headed by the well meaning, buy poorly misdirected leaders of the established medical profession. I don’t write those words with malice and bad feelings, but rather as facing a cold, hard historical fact.

A very close friend of mine, whom I have known for many years, suggested that I should write about those years of struggle, the years of counting pennies, the years

of a certain loneliness. In many ways, my failure to make it as a chiropractor in that little town in West Virginia, was actually one of my greatest successes.

Each and every one of us knows deep within the chambers of their heart that they hold the key to their own fate and destiny. Struggles can be looked upon as a means to feel sorry for yourself, to look with envy at those who have all so much while we are faced with living on hot dogs and beans as a dietary mainstay. Or, we can look at our times of struggle as a precious gift that gave us the opportunity to grow and become stronger and dig deeper to find faith in God. The West Virginia Years as I now call them were the some of the toughest times of my life. But along the path of that journey in time, I did come to meet and know some very kind people. And, sadly, I came to know some very cruel and mean-spirited people.

This is a most painful, but still inspiring, memory of my life. It has been very hard to face square on, let alone write about it. Now, at the age of 69, I have found the courage and strength to revisit that time of hard challenges, a certain loneliness, a devastating heartbreak, and a struggle that only strengthened me in heart, mind and soul.

In the next few montths, that lie ahead, I will share this heart warming story with you.

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

A recent photo of yours truly with my dear friend, Little Rocky. I still wear my old West Virginia sweatshirt and baseball cap, for old time’s sake.

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

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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 components 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 Celebrating 50 Years

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 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 trilogy about the history of his Sicilian family’s arrival in the United States. Book One of the tree-part set is called East Clifton Avenue: From Sicily to America, 1889-1966, and it is also available for purchase.

“My grandmother lived with us for years,” he says, “and I head a lot of stories from her. Lots of connected and unconnected stories.

So I connected them at

Dr. Frank J. Plateroti

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 hypercommunications 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

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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.

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, continued on page 13

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PH Steakhouse Revives Historic Chester Publick House

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By Stacey Feintuch he history behind the building that now houses PH Steakhouse in Chester dates back over 200 years. The location has been a stagecoach stop, prep school, hotel, tavern, and famously The Publick House up until 2020. Now, the Restaurant Village Hospitality Group is reviving the space as an upscale steakhouse.

The building itself is part of the National Register of Historic Places. While developing PH Steakhouse, the 18,400-square foot space received cosmetic renovations, but no structural changes have been made. For instance, wood was stripped down and refurbished, and the walls have been painted burgundy and forest green shades. They also upgraded the kitchen appliances to accommodate steakhouse cooking.

“My vision for this place is to have everything be first class and high end,” says Steve Bussel. This includes hosting

a live piano player and offering valet parking on Friday and Saturday evenings. The President and Owner of Restaurant Village Hospitality Group, Steve resides in Tewksbury but once lived in Chester. He works alongside Andrea Bussel, his wife, who manages all of the marketing and social media for the group.

A Prime Menu Selection PH Steakhouse offers an elevated steakhouse menu. They only serve prime cuts of meat, with sirloin, porterhouse, tomahawk, T-bone, and New York strip options. All their meats, desserts, and dressings are made on-site. Steve says he prefers to try a little bit of everything, but ultimately loves the porterhouse for two. Other menu highlights include seafood, chicken, burgers, and salads.

But save room for tasty desserts like crème brulee, 24-layer chocolate cake, apple crisp, and banana bread pudding.

As for drinks, the cocktail menu comes from a professional mixologist, and their high-end wine list from a sommelier. PH Steakhouse presents favorites like the dirty martini and classic collins, as well as seasonal flavors. For example, fall options include the Harvest Spritz and A Stroll on the Boulevard. The former mixes Grey Goose Essences White Peach & Rosemary Vodka, Aperol, apple cider, honey syrup, and Prosecco. Meanwhile, the latter combines Starlight Applejack, apple cider, Nonino Aperitivo, and Blandy’s Rainwater Madiera with shaved cinnamon and lavender.

About the Building Despite the updates, PH Steakhouse has the look and feel of a 200-year-old building. In particular, décor includes

some old art and sewing machines from the building’s previous lives. “The ambiance suits a steakhouse. It has a lot of history and charm,” Steve says.

The interior seats 130 diners, in addition to a catering room for up to 80 guests. Meanwhile, the outdoor porch has nine tables that can seat 30 people comfortably. There are also 10 renovated hotel suites on the upper floor which will open in the future for reservations. Each suite includes a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Future plans include opening a gelato café within the building.

Visit PH Steakhouse at 111 Main St in Chester. To learn more, visit www.phsteakhouse.com.

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Montville’s Debut Author Creates Charming Children’s Book in Honor of Beloved Nanny

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By Emily Pirrello s the celebrated saying goes, “grandparents hold our hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.”

Robin C. Di Leo-Banta was very close with her Great Grandmother Maria “Nanny” Mollica, she treasured her time with her great-grandmother and decided during the COVID-19 Pandemic shutdown that she wanted to create a literary legacy dedicated to her dear Nanny. Robin’s award-winning debut children’s novel, “Giuseppe, My Mischievous Goat!” is a heartwarming homage to her Nanny, Maria.

This captivating tale follows the story of an Italian grandmother, Nanny Maria, who awakes one morning to discover that her beloved goat, Giuseppe has gone missing.

“When the mischievous goat Giuseppe goes astray, his Nanny, Maria, must leave her mountaintop village to find him. On her journey, she discovers a community of people who help her along the way.

Unbeknownst to her, little Giuseppe has all his needs met by the generous people along the way who help him until he is reunited with his Nanny.”

When asked what she hopes her readers

will take away from her story, Di Leo-Banta shared, “the importance of family.”

“These memories I’d like to share with my kids, and someday with their kids, all the times she spent teaching me skills I carried throughout my life. And of course, a warm homage to our Italian heritage.”

Like many during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Di Leo-Banta found herself reflecting on her life and what she valued most in the world, her family.

“During the shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, I sat daily listening to the news awaiting our fate as a nation. I started thinking about my Nanny Maria and what she meant to me as a child.”

Di Leo-Banta continued to share about her own childhood with her Nanny, Maria, “I would assist her in cooking family meals as she taught me at an early age to make meatballs. I could barely reach the table and would stand atop the highest step of her rickety old stool. She seasoned by hand without measure and always cooked with love.”

During the uncertainty of the shutdown, Di Leo-Banta felt her beloved greatgrandmother encourage her to write.

“She guided me on this journey, she

was my voice of reason in a time of chaos.

‘I envelop you with my love’ I would hear her say in the middle of the night. What a comfort knowing how loved I was by her.

‘Write,’ she said to me…. ‘Just write.’”

Di Leo-Banta went on to share that she didn’t know where to begin or how to start continued on page 13

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 13

Charming Children’s Book... continued from page 12 but she knew she wanted to create a story to pass on the wisdom of her cherished Nanny Maria.

“Her generosity as a human being and the time she devoted to me as a child is a standard which we all should live up to.”

As many would agree, family heritage and traditions are so very important.

Di Leo-Banta reminisced to some of her favorite childhood memories, “We’d gather every Sunday after church and eat together with our large family. I’d run to the local Italian store to pick up the fresh ricotta and

Italian bread for our weekly gatherings. Now my kids’ favorite treats they request every Christmas Eve.” While writing, Giuseppe, My Mischievous Goat!, she wasn’t quite sure where the story was headed— “As I struggled with an ending, my Nanny came to me again and said, “this story ends where yours began, in church!”

She went on to share her initial wariness about this, “I was uncertain about keeping this part in the book. I didn’t want to exclude anyone, but again, this is who I am, and my fondest memories are of those we spent as a family every Sunday after church. These Serving the area since 1999

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memories I’d like to share with my kids, and someday with their kids.”

Di Leo-Banta valued “all the times her Nanny Maria spent teaching her skills as a child,” and she has always “carried them throughout her life.”

Although this is Di Leo- Banta’s debut novel, she shared that she’s always enjoyed writing. “I used to write riddles or quick little poems as teaching points for my kids when they were young.” Admirably this charming children’s book has already received an Honorable Mention award from Writer’s

Digest.

Don’t worry young readers! This is not the last you’ve seen of Giuseppe. Robin shared that she’s currently working on her next Giuseppe adventure, “Giuseppe Chews My Shoes”. As Di Leo-Banta playfully shared, “My Nanny taught me about well-made shoes too.”

Giuseppe, My Mischievous Goat! is available on Amazon and online at Barnes and Noble. Don’t forget to also keep an eye out for Giuseppe’s upcoming journeys!

Lincoln Park Communications Expert... continued from page 10 wanting, pursuing.”

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.

Page 14 • January 2023 • Livingston Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Dave Brown Becomes First Swimmer Inducted into the Livingston High School Athletic

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By Steve Sears hances are good that you could purge from Dave Brown’s life the swimming records he held while at Livingston High School, his All-State recognition in the 100-meter butterfly event, as well as both his competing (and winning) at the 1973 New Jersey Junior Olympics and his AllAmerican status at Bethany College in West Virginia.

Worthy as all the above is, Brown had swimming itself, and it was for him a great preparation tool for life.

“It taught me a lot of life lessons that I learned at a young age; hard work, discipline with other things, certainly commitment, and perseverance,” Brown states. “Above and beyond that, I think because I started so young, those things were instilled in me at a really, really young age.

And I think I carried those things the whole rest of my life.”

Brown last year received an email from The Big L Club, informing him that he was going to be inducted into Livingston High School Athletic Hall of Fame – the first swimmer to be so honored. “I was very taken aback,” he says. “I was very honored and very humbled by the fact that they had picked a swimmer.

Swimming is not one of those high-profile sports.”

Brown, who started swimming at the age of eight at the Orange, New Jersey YMCA, and continued swimming up until he was 42 years old, had an encouraging introduction to high school swimming. Joe DeLuca, who coached the new swim

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Brown was a member of the Lancer 1973 and 1974 Essex County Tournament title winners, and he was both seasons named AllState in the 100-meter butterfly. “I never really thought of swimming as an individual sport,” Brown says. “I’ve often said that the only way you can really succeed and do well is if you have the support of the cast of characters around you, because there

were so many different events, and everybody sort of had to pull their weight for the whole team to be successful. I was just one cog in the wheel, to be honest with you. Everybody else had to step up and do their part for the team to be as successful as it was.”

Brown also swam for the triumphant relay team in the 1973 New Jersey Junior Olympics. “That was my AAU team,” he says proudly.

“We were state champs in the medley relay. My club team was unbelievable.

The backstroker was a state champion in ‘73, the breaststroker was a state champ, I was second in the butterfly state championships, and the freestyler was second in the state.”

Brown has been married to his wife, Marilyn, for 36 years, and they are proud parents of two sons, 32-year-old Kevin and 29-year-old Ryan. The couple will be first time grandparents in February.

“I think the thing that got me through the most is all the support that I had around me,” Brown says. “I had the support of my folks, my friends and teammates, and I had the support of my coaches. That is what made the difference.”

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 15

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program Returns to Deliver Message to High Schoolers

F

By Steve Sears or the first time in two years, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program, courtesy of the Partnership for a DrugFree New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (HBCBS), in collaboration with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), has returned to deliver a powerful message to high school students in the area.

And late in August, current Harrison High School football coach, former Rutgers Scarlet Knight quarterback, and New York Jets/New England Patriots/Miami Dolphins player, Ray Lucas, delivered a key address. Lucas suffered numerous injuries and underwent more than a dozen operations while and after he was a player. After becoming dependent on prescribed opioids, Lucas sometimes took up to 1,400 pills monthly.

Recognizing the concern that teen athletes who get injured can also suffer the same type of addiction, PDFNJ, HBCBS, and the NJSIAA wants to stop the spread before it gets out of hand.

“The Partnership has developed a multi-pronged approach to educating young people in the state of New Jersey on the opioid epidemic,” Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director, says. “That approach includes events such as what we’re doing with Ray which we’ve just completed at Clifton High School: talking to student athletes who are very vulnerable, unfortunately, because they experience injuries, and as a result, may be in a

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New Jersey native Ray Lucas and Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo Valente at an event

in a very dark place,” Lucas says. “I don’t know if I’m a role model, but a survivor definitely. Again, I was in a very dark place.” He had also dropped from his playing weight of 215 pounds down to 164 pounds, and he was approached about telling his story. “That night I went home and prayed, and I heard a voice that asked, ‘How many others are suffering in silence like you?’ I didn’t know, but made the decision that, if I could tell my story, then maybe they (others) could get some kind of hope.”

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position where they may be prescribed an opioid. We’re also delivering messages through various media outlets, including but not limited to signs on buses and trains and billboards, and messages on our social media platforms.”

Another part of the process, per Valente, is engaging young people in many of the PDFNJ’s school-based programs, allowing them to become more knowledgeable about the issue. “ That’s also another part of the approach,” Valente adds. He also feels that, in addition to Lucas being representative of an esteemed group that had risen to the top ranks of professional sports and had fallen on hard times in addiction, Lucas’s presence is also emblematic of someone who, if he knew back then what he knows now, he would not have become dependent on opioids. “That is one of the reasons his presentation is so important. As a person who has gone through athletics on the high school, college, and professional levels, by speaking to athletes, he can easily relate to what they are experiencing on a day-today basis. When he delivers his message about looking at ways to deal with pain other than through opioids, speaking to your trainers, doctors, and coaches about alternative to using opioids to address any sports injuries, I think that’s most important.”

Lucas played for seven seasons in the National Football League, primarily as a quarterback. Two years after he left the NFL, he had major back surgery, and five years after that started to experience serious neck issues. He started to take pills regularly, and his addiction had begun. “I was

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Page 16 • January 2023 • Livingston Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Cupid’s Chase 5K Morristown Spreads the Love for a Beautiful Cause

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By Jillian Risberg ince 1989, Community Options has encouraged the freedom and selfdetermination of all people with disabilities by always advocating for them.

And 2023 will mark the 15th anniversary of Cupid’s Chase. It originated in Princeton, and this is the 10th year being held in Morristown — on Saturday, February 11 from 11am to 6pm.

There are also races in Bridgewater, Burlington, Glen Rock, Princeton, Seaside Heights, Spring Lake, Westfield; and occurring simultaneously in 40 additional

cities across 10 states.

“We raise the funds to improve our residences and accessibility supports,” says Northern NJ State Director, Tracy Mendola.

“Funding for these are not provided by the state, and we want to ensure that those we support have the most up to date technologies, activities, and homes in order for them to live their most meaningful lives in the community.”

The 5K became a yearly tradition for people to stay fit while raising money for a worthwhile cause. continued on page 18

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 17

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Page 18 • January 2023 • Livingston Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Cupid’s Chase 5K... continued from page 16 There are currently about 55 runners registered in this year’s race and they expect to have about 300.

According to Mendola, the course runs throughout the town suburbs, beginning and ending at their Daily Plan It location, 150-152 Speedwell Avenue in Morristown.

This location provides rental space for businesses and employment training for individuals with disabilities who provide concierge services for those tenants.

For the State Director, the most rewarding part of this journey is being able to include the local community in raising awareness for individuals with disabilities and their housing and employment needs — and the substantive lives they are living with the support of Community Options staff.

The most challenging part is the unpredictability of February weather.

“Last year we had a beautiful 50-degree day, but negative temperatures and snowstorms make logistics of the race a bit more complicated,” Mendola says.

“Thankfully we have a wonderful team and group of volunteers that ensure the race goes off without any issues.”

The State Director has organized the Morristown race for 10 years. Although she has not attended other races, they all often share information regarding what works and what doesn’t.

“It is truly a team effort with the National office and the race directors to ensure each race is successful,” Mendola says this year’s goal is $30,000; currently they have amassed about $5K. “Last year we raised over $26K, so we are hopeful.”

All proceeds from each Cupid’s Chase race go directly to benefit the region that hosts the race. So anything raised for Morristown benefits the residences and services in Morris, Sussex, and Essex Counties.

“In the past we have utilized the funds for updating wheelchair ramps, creating accessible bathrooms and many more improvements for residences,” says the State Director.

Her greatest hope for this year’s Cupid’s Chase is that everyone has a great race, and they exceed their fundraising goal.

According to Mendola, the race has a little catch.

She says on the runner’s registration one is asked if they are “available” or

“unavailable,” which translates to the color of the Under Armor shirt they are provided in their competition goody bag.

“This year single runners looking to make a connection at the race will be wearing a white shirt with ‘available’ on the back,” says the State Director. “Those who are ‘unavailable’ will be wearing a red shirt with ‘unavailable’ printed on the back. This makes it easy for Cupid.”

They also have sweatshirts (available in pink and red) for sale with the CC logo and “Morristown” on the back.

With previous races sidelined because of COVID-19 everyone couldn’t be happier to be back.

“Community Options is grateful for all the local participation and support,” Mendola says, adding they hope for a lovely day.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 19

Madison Resident and Golf Historian Pens New Book on History of the Game in Garden State

A

By Alexander Rivero s far back as he can recall, Madison resident and Louisiana native Kevin Casey, 69, has been in love with the game of golf. As a child he played it with his parents and older brother, and by 8 he won his first trophy. By his own estimation, he was a “pretty good” junior player in the state of Louisiana, and went on to the University of Georgia, where he played on the school team. He followed with a five-year stint in the army, during which time he, naturally, continued playing.

Now retired and hungry to remain within the game he loves, Casey wrote a book tracing New Jersey’s historical place within the history of golf in the

United States. The book— Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—is published

by Legendary Publishing & Media Group, and dives into local golf history by way of its greatest stories.

The book is of the coffee table variety, 11 by 14 inches in length, rich in description and photographs, and is a fine addition to the library of anyone that appreciates not only the beauty of the game, but the extent to which New Jersey helped determine its development in the United States up through the 19th and 20th century.

Like anyone who had taken a head-first plunge into a deep subject, Casey’s main problem in putting the book together

was in determining what information to keep and what information to discard.

“There was easily enough material here for another book,” he says.

“The history is so rich, it was a struggle to determine the scope of what I’d focus on.”

Casey knew that there was always a great deal of interest in the subject of golf in New Jersey, both from the practical perspective of gamesmanship and the historical element of it. He took a careful inventory of the books published on the subject of local golf, and found an opportunity to add a volume of material that no one had ever delved into beyond a peripheral point.

“New Jersey didn’t have any place that pulled together the history of the

The author, Kevin Casey.

game in the state,” Casey says, “and the more I dove into it, the more amazing it all got.”

Two of the most interesting stories that caught his eye during his early research phase were the very first golf club ever managed completely by women, and the first golf club ever managed wholly

by African-Americans.

The first story centers on the Morris County Golf

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Club, which started in 1894.

From the beginning, it was an all-female operated club, and the course itself was designed for women as

well.

“The men would be able to come and play on Saturdays, during the continued on page 24

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Page 20 • January 2023 • Livingston Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

S

Power Family Meals with Protein-Packed Peanuts

tarting fresh with a new year is a chance to hit the reset button for many people, and your family can use this opportunity to rethink homemade meals while striving for nutritious (and still delicious) dishes. From snacks to the main course each evening, the options are nearly endless for planning a revamped menu with healthier ingredients.

Dinnertime can be a cinch with Peanut Butter Chicken, a simple dish that takes less than 20 minutes to make when busy evenings call for a quick solution. If a veggie-based option aligns better with your family’s desires, try Veggie Sammies with Peanut Butter Satay Sauce or go fullon comfort food with Very Vegan Peanut Butter Jackfruit Chili. Snacking doesn’t have to mean forgoing your dedication to nutritious choices either – these Peanut Granola Bars can be your made-at-home masterpiece for adults and children to enjoy.

These recipes from the Georgia Peanut Commission are powered by peanuts, a nutrient-rich superfood that delivers 19 vitamins and 7 grams of protein per serving for a health benefit punch in each bite.

Discover more nutritious recipe ideas at gapeanuts.com.

Veggie Sammies with Peanut Butter Satay Sauce Prep time: 30 minutes Servings: 2 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons water 4 teaspoons hoisin sauce 2 teaspoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons sriracha 2 French baguette rolls (6 inches each) 1/2 cup cucumber, sliced 1/2 cup white onion, sliced into thin strips 1/2 cup red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips 1/2 cup purple cabbage 1/2 cup fresh cilantro In small bowl, combine peanut butter, lime juice, water, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sriracha; mix well.

Spread sauce on both sides of each roll then layer with cucumber, onion and bell pepper. Top with cabbage and cilantro.

Very Vegan Peanut Butter Jackfruit Chili Recipe courtesy of the National Peanut Board Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes Servings: 8 2 teaspoons oil 1/2 large white onion, chopped 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 can crushed tomatoes 1 can whole tomatoes 2 cups water 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 can green jackfruit, drained and chopped 1/4 cup peanut butter cornbread (optional) tortilla chips (optional) cinnamon rolls (optional) Heat large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add oil, onion and peppers; cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder and tomato paste, stirring to coat. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, then stir in crushed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, water, kidney beans and jackfruit; bring to boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 25-30 minutes. Stir in peanut butter and simmer 5 minutes.

Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips or cinnamon rolls, if desired.

Peanut Granola Bars Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 6 minutes, plus 30-45 minutes cooling time Servings: 12-14 1/2 cup honey 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 2tablespoons creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4teaspoon salt 2 cups rolled oats (quick or regular) 1 cup bran flakes 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes1 cup dried fruit (raisins, blueberries or cranberries) 1 cup roasted peanuts, chopped In large, shallow, microwavable dish, combine honey, butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Microwave at 50% power 2 minutes then whisk to combine and microwave at 50% power 2 minutes.

Add oats, bran flakes, coconut flakes, dried fruit and peanuts; stir to combine.

Microwave on high 1 minute. Stir and microwave 30 seconds.

Press mixture into 13-by-9-inch baking dish lined with parchment or wax paper with some extra hanging over edges to easily lift bars out. Use bottom of glass wrapped with plastic wrap to press granola mixture firmly into pan. Allow to cool completely 30-45 minutes. Cut into 12-14 bars.

Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe courtesy of “Unsophisticook” Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 12 minutes Yield: 6 cups Peanut Sauce: 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter 3 tablespoons sweet red chili sauce 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1/8-1/4 cup hot water (optional) chopped unsalted roasted peanuts (optional) 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken

breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon soy sauce 3/4 cup peanut sauce cooked brown rice assorted bell peppers, sliced chopped unsalted roasted peanuts (optional) To make peanut sauce: In small glass bowl, whisk peanut butter, sweet red chili sauce, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and honey until blended smoothly.

Thin sauce with hot water to desired consistency. Garnish with chopped unsalted roasted peanuts, if desired.

To make chicken: In large skillet over medium-high heat, drizzle oil. Add diced chicken then pour soy sauce over top.

Saute about 10-12 minutes until chicken is fully cooked.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 21

To say the starters are impeccable, would be an understatement. Try the colossal new SEAFOOD TOWER, the unique CRABMEAT COCKTAIL, the addictive TUNA POKE BOWL & the exquisite Fall CHOPPED SALAD, along with a superb LOBSTER ROLL. The deletable MARGUERITA & BLANCO FLATBREADS were a joy to our tastebuds and true flavor explosions.

A Classic Steakhouse with a Modern

HHHH Twist

By GAIL GERSON

From its tasteful 18th century décor, to their smooth, nicely liveried servers, to a versatile & intelligent wine list & sophisticated kitchen, the PH Steakhouse is everything a refined steakhouse should be. Although many of the dishes seem familiar, they are designed with a creative & very modern flair, that contribute to a singular & memorable dining experience. The beautifully appointed & fully restored dining room with comfortable chairs & roomy tables, the extremely knowledgeable servers, who are absolutely up to their eyebrows trying to make sure that guests have good reasons to like the restaurant, indicate someone is paying attention. The talented host-owner, Steve Bussel, who has developed many restaurants, along with manager Jennifer Evans, Assistant Manager Blake & the talented Chef Juan, believe in making almost everything from scratch, following the seasons & savoring & caring about the food. Here, the original flavors are wisely presented in all their opulence. They do believe in the slogan: “Keep it simple, work with quality ingredients.”

ABOUT THE OWNER The steakhouse & Publick House hotel re-opened September 28, 2022. Mr. Bussel’s plan was to offer the finest cuts of USDA, perfectly seared prime, dry-aged steaks.

Steve Bussel, the son of a Kosher butcher, grew up in an atmosphere where food was the main topic in the family, from the start.

He fell in love with the 1812 building that was a stagecoach stop between Morristown & Pennsylvania & accomplished his dream to restore the building to its original splendor.

After our press tasting, our researchers concluded that the entire staff presented a combination of style, personality, know-how & perseverance, along with a passionate mix of delectable culinary delights. With mouth-watering side dishes created to enhance the flavors of the cuisine & award-winning cocktails & dazzling desserts, our group of researchers were truly impressed. This talented team brings a unique hands on approach, to restaurant ownership & hospitality. Mr. Bussel and his skillful organization have created a recipe for success, by applying their own unique ideas & extensive experience, to this new American steakhouse. Gail says “Go!”

HHHH

STEAK & SEAFOOD SPECIALITIES PH Steakhouse 111 Main St., Chester, NJ 908.955.7911 Phsteakhouse.com

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“Owner Steve Bussel, along with famed Chef Juan, GM Jennifer Evans & Assistant Manager Blake, present the area’s best steak & seafood by any standard, with the USDA’s highest designation for beef. The PRIME steaks we experienced have the necessary marbling that impart a unique combination of taste & texture & define the ultimate steak-eating experience,” Writer Gail Gerson.

Chef Juan presented us with the perfect finale.

The succulent CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE & CREME BRULEE are finger-licking good & the RICOTTA CHEESECAKE delish, but the HOMEMADE DELICATE MILK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE is enchanting.

Majestic Catering Room Seats 80

Ten suites, five on each floor, of various sizes & each with its own living room, are quite historical & beautifully appointed. Several can accommodate 4-6 guests. Reserve with Roomkey.com.

I heartily recommend the DRY AGED PORTERHOUSE FOR TWO, but the generous cut of oven roasted BONE-IN RIB-EYE, is marvelous as well.

From the impeccable DRY AGED DOUBLE CUT DUROC PORK CHOP, to the delicious TOMAHAWK CHOP FOR TWO, our researchers were impressed with every bite. The unsurpassed FILET MIGNON is another glorious selection. Non steak entrees include the pleasant tasting AHI TUNA STEAK & the striking GRILLED SWORDFISH STEAK. Other dishes that readers recommended are the OLIVE CRUSTED SALMON & sauteed mushrooms. The list of superb sides includes the supreme TRUFFLE SMASHED YUKON GOLD POTATO, the CREAMED OR SAUTEED SPINACH, the JUMBO GRILLED ASPARAGUS and BAKED WHITE CHEDDAR MAC & CHEESE. The ROASTED BROCCOLINI & THE SMOKED BRUSSEL SPROUTS are divine.

You can also choose your own sauce from a wonderful selection.

Page 22 • January 2023 • Livingston Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

Bucket List Travels: Surprising Cape May

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.

E

By Paul Partridge ven after 12 years of family retreats, Cape May offers new surprises and adventures The Bread Lady Down towards the Nature Conservancy on Sunset Boulevard sits an inconspicuous roadside stand that’s open one or two days a week, and the days change randomly.

Enfin Farms operates like Vatican City does when choosing a new pope. Thousands breathlessly wait for the signal, only in this case the signal comes via Facebook and Instagram: One hour ‘til fresh bread!

Signal given, the race is on. Men, women, children, and dogs dash to the stand on foot, bike, car, golf cart and jogging strollers to secure a place line in hopes of getting one or two loaves of the best (still warm) homemade wood-fired bread you’ve ever tasted.

The Bread Lady makes 15 or so different varieties, but those waiting in line don’t know what today’s offerings will be. But we don’t care. Because whether it’s beet and dill or rosemary or pumpernickel, we know it’s going to be amazing.

We also know that her 100 or so loaves will sell out within minutes, so we pray she doesn’t run out before it’s our turn.

Tiki Cruise The phrase ‘tiki cruise’ conjures up images of loud, drunken revelers cruising the harbor in a floating Mexican hat. Nevertheless, I agree to go when I learn that we have the boat to ourselves, and our dog Billie is welcome.

Our 2-hour sunset cruise gives us a chance to explore Cape May from the water. As a bonus we have Captain Rob, a fountain of knowledge. By day, Rob is a tugboat captain.

Today he’s sitting in for the boat owner, who’s taking part in the MidAtlantic fishing tournament. Some fun facts we learn from Rob: 80% of the world’s squid production comes from Cape May. Also, a very high proportion of bunker, which is used for cosmetics and other fish oil products.

The tournament purse for this year’s MidAtlantic competition was $5.23 million. 1st prize in the white marlin category paid $871,404. Second prize went to Michael Jordan’s boat (yes, that Michael Jordan), paying $693,615.

One angler tried to cheat by pumping his catch with seawater to add weight. One of the judges was a taxidermist who deduced that the fish was waterlogged. The competitor was disqualified.

The Marvelous Mrs. Mallard One afternoon my daughter Emma and I are taking a walk. Suddenly, a mallard duck lands at our feet and starts to follow us. Her little duck feet struggle to maintain our pace.

So she flies ahead and waits by the side of the road for us to catch up.

The same pattern repeats a few more times. Finally, she takes flight high into the sky. We wave au revoir.

A minute later she’s back, this time landing across the street. She waddles through traffic straight to us and settles at our ankles. Maybe it’s a relative reincarnated, Emma suggests. The duck accompanies us for another half mile, finally breaking off to swim in a backyard pool.

Later that evening, we learn that Carol, my mother’s best friend for 70 years, passed away earlier in the day. Mom wonders if the Marvelous Mrs. Mallard was Carol saying

Billie after her rescue at sea.

goodbye.

Pontoon Swoon My wife’s brother Marco is an avid fisherman. The rest of us are the gang that couldn’t cast straight. Our specialty is hooking everything that’s not a fish. Fingers and thumbs?

Check. A baseball cap? No problem. The boat’s canopy? continued on page 23

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 23

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Bucket List Travels... continued from page 22 Snagged it. A PBS tote bag? Reel it in.

For years we rented the same ragtag pontoon boat. To picture it, imagine a 1967 VW Bus – not well maintained. Duct tape holding the seat cushions together. Shag carpeting. Cigarette burns in the dashboard.

More than a little rust.

On our first fishing trip, we said to the marine owner, “We’d like to rent this pontoon boat.”

“You would?” he said, totally surprised.

Even worse than the relic’s shabby condition is the engine – a 4 horsepower lawnmower engine. It’s the only craft that can go full throttle through a no-wake zone without creating even a ripple. Each year we putt-putt along, embarrassed, passed by kayakers, row boats, floating sea gulls, turtles. Last year, when a woman doing an open ocean swim zipped lapped us, waving, we decided it was time for an upgrade.

We found a new marina with an updated pontoon boat and – best of all – a 60 HP engine! So we set out with great expectations and the wind in our hair (for once).

The fish start biting right away. First a small shark. Then several dogfish. Marco tries to kiss a dogfish for good luck, but it jumps out of his hand. Uh-oh, is this bad luck?

As we wonder, the engine makes a

grinding noise and abruptly conks out.

The mooring line is wrapped around the propellor. We cut the line free, restart the engine, and breathe a sigh of relief. Then…

“Dog overboard!” Billie is in the water – and getting pulled away from the boat by the current. Emma leaps in and manages to wrestle her aboard after a few nervous minutes.

We decide it best to take Billie ashore.

My daughter Grace, Billie and I offload at The Crab House at Two Mile Landing. The rest of the crew ventures back out, catches more dogfish, several black sea bass and a 19” flounder, which becomes dinner.

Other Fun Surprises Elaine’s Porch – an ideal summer hangout with a neat outdoor bar. One of the regulars is Chunk the bulldog, a spitting image of Winston Churchill. Only thing missing is a cigar.

The Washington Inn restaurant – at some point during dinner, you will say Wow! Especially if you try the crab & corn chowder or the lamb cavatelli.

Cape May Point Beach – never crowded, a daily dolphin show right offshore, good fishing off the rocks, and delightful sunsets.

Music – free concerts all over town.

Enjoyed the Sensational Soul Cruisers and Hunka Junk at the Cape May ferry, and The Big House Band in Rio Grande.

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Page 24 • January 2023 • Livingston Life • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com

New Book...

continued from page 19 afternoons, after 3 o’clock,” Casey says.

“But before long, the men, who controlled the pursestrings at the time, ended up deciding it was something they had to take over, and they did.”

The options were to either pull out their funds entirely, or keep the club with the men as the board of governors. The women’s board disintegrated and Morris County Golf Club was born.

The golf course set the stage for female participation in the sport, and it had a lasting impact on golf’s attraction to female participants for years to come.

The second story centers on the Shady Rest Golf Club of Scotch Plains (now the public Scotch Hills Country Club), which ran from 1920 to 1963. In 1921, Shady Rest became the first ever African-American owned and operated golf club, a first for both New Jersey and the United States.

Need An Experienced Throughout most of its history under African-American ownership, all the way up through 1964, the club went beyond the simple standards of a golf club. Shady Rest was a community center, a place for AfricanAmericans to congregate and relax, as well as a venue for some of the greatest singers and musicians of its day. Some of the talent that stopped by Shady Rest include none other than Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway.

Shady Rest ultimately closed in 1964, and in the process transferred over to public ownership.

For more information on Kevin Casey’s book—Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf: The Unique History of Golf in the Garden State—please visit his website at www.njgolfstories.com. Click on the “order now” link on the upper right hand corner of the page to purchase a copy.

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Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

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Presidential Visits Subject of Latest Zablocki Book

N

By Todd Neikirk ew Jersey is one of the oldest states in the country and has played an important role in American history. Peter S. Zablocki, Denville resident, has long been a student of the state’s importance. In his latest book, Presidential Visits to New Jersey: A History, the historian focuses on the American leaders who have come to the Garden State both to visit and to live.

Presidential history of the state begins with the nation’s first President, George Washington. However, Zablocki notes, “none of his time would count, nor could be talked about in my book, because it all happened as the General of Continental Armies during the American Revolution.

New Jersey is often referred to as the ‘Crossroads of the Revolution’ or the ‘Cockpit of the Revolution,’ where a large portion of the War for Independence was fought.”

While Washington didn’t visit the state post-Revolution, several Presidents did. The biggest draw for many of the visiting commanders-in-chief was the Jersey Shore. Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Chester Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison were all fans of Cape May. The President most dedicated to the shore was Ulysses S. Grant, who built a home in Long Branch.

Zablocki says of the appeal of the shore, “It was just far enough from Washington D.C., yet close enough if the need arose to get back to the office. The areas of Long Branch and Cape May were also known for their exuberant hotels and inns which showcased the wealth and prestige of the upper class and thus catered perfectly to the Nation’s Executive.”

The writer does note that once New Jersey became a prominent tourist destination, Presidents seemed less

eager to visit. “It would not be until the rise of Atlantic City and its boardwalk in the latter part of the 19th century that the shore became a vacation destination for the middle class and working Americans, which coincided with the diminishing allure for Presidents to continue to come and vacation in the state.”

The country’s leaders didn’t just visit New Jersey for leisure, they did so for diplomatic reasons as well. Zablocki goes deep into the story of Abraham Lincoln’s visit to the state in 1860. The voters in New Jersey, at the time, were not big fans of Lincoln and he visited the area in an effort to win their trust.

Presidents have also come to the Garden State in times of crisis. In his new book, the author discusses Barack Obama’s efforts in New Jersey following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.

Readers will also learn about those leaders with the closest ties to the state. Grover Cleveland did not spend much of his life in New Jersey, but was born there and died there as well. And Woodrow Wilson, once the President of Princeton University, was serving as the Governor of New Jersey when elected President in 1912 and had to resign his post.

In the 2010s, Donald Trump became the first President in many years to regularly visit New Jersey. The 45th President regularly spent weekends during his term at his country club in the town of Bedminster.

Read about all of these leaders in Presidential Visits to New Jersey: A History, which is available in both digital and paperback formats via Zablocki’s website: www. peterzablocki.com.

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Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline.com • Livingston Life • January 2023 • Page 27

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