Livingston Television’s Steve Milano Retires
By Steve Sears
Steve Milano was with Livingston Television (LTV), a shared channel of public access for the Livingston school system and the township, for 33 years. But when he officially retired in June, he asked the township and Board of Education if he could occasionally return and volunteer.
Milano said, “I’d like to be approved to be around the students again and to keep doing what I did. I just found it so motivating, liberating. You end up living through their excitement. You get excited about getting everybody else excited. It’s just such a thing - it’s positive.”
“I was the second staff member brought on in 1992,” Milano said regarding his early days at LTV. “I kind of represented what the high school students were doing on the channel, and helped to get the volunteers working on what they were doing with the channel. So that has always been my role, and that role grew over time because I created more for us to do.”
Milano takes the reader back to where it all started. He said, “My dad had an eight millimeter silent film camera that he used. In middle school, he taught me how to use it to do stop motion animation. So in middle school, every toy I owned became an animated video: Matchbox cars driving, GI Joes walking, little story lines that made no sense, but I was creatively making films. And when I got to high school, I looked for a film club, and it didn’t exist, but there was a TV studio. So I joined the TV studio, thinking this would be similar, and just fell in love with a crappy
little black and white, three camera studio that did a news show that aired on local access on Sunday afternoons.”
After his Indian Hills High School of Oakland graduation, he attended then-William Paterson College.
“I always thought that I would be an NBC camera operator; it seemed like in the back of my mind that’s where I was going,” Milano said. But during his time at William Paterson, he did a work study program one on one with a chief technician named John Kiernan. Instead of just working cameras, his education expanded to the overall workings of the station, in his words “how the studio was fired up and how you build it. It became more of a technical job for me.”
Kiernan would often be asked by adjunct professors teaching an evening TV class and high school teachers who attended the college to further their education if he would visit their studios to fix equipment. When he made those trips, he asked Milano to assist him. Eventually, when Kiernan was seeking to pass the baton, he said to Milano, “You seem to be catching on. Do you want to do it?”
“And I said, ‘Yes!’ and I took it over,” Milano recalls. Those early efforts became the company that he still owns, Video Plus TV, and Ridgewood High School maintenance led to his first job teaching TV.
For Milano, it has been a rewarding 38 years total in the industry, and perhaps the top reward are the successes of the people he has mentored.
“Most of the Livingston graduates who went through
the TV program and decided they wanted to have a TV career went to very good places and really were successful,” he said. “Some on camera, some on the air, and some behind the scenes. I’m proud of that, because what we created gave them opportunities, and then they made the most of their opportunities.”
Steve Milano in the control room (courtesy of Steve Milano)
Presbyterian Church of Livingston Hosts New Dinner Club Ministry
By Steve Sears
For Pastor Dan Martian of the Presbyterian Church of Livingston, there is a prime goal: defeating loneliness.
Pastor Martian said, “The big thing is to connect people. This really grew out of the sense and the observation that people do need to connect with one another. There is a lot of loneliness that people are dealing with, and they do not know how to reach out and do new things. And the lonely hour is the dinner hour. People eat alone.”
Presbyterian Church of Livingston will soon host a new Dinner Club ministry to eradicate the loneliness, connect people, and get them together to talk about whatever is on their mind. The first will take place at the church on Saturday, September 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A potluck dinner will precede discussion, and future get togethers will take place at a local eatery.
Initially labeled Table Talk, Pastor Martian pivoted to the new name.
He said, “The reason for that was because nobody really knew what Table Talk was all about. But people know that when it is a ‘Dinner Club’ you eat dinner together.
We are going to eat dinner together, and eating fosters conversation, and basically it is conversation around the table about anything that people would like to talk about. It is an open discussion, and there is no agenda, just talking about what is going on in our world, our society, and what is going on with us. Those are the things that we are going to be dealing with.”
The Dinner Club ministry is open to all, not just members of Presbyterian Church of Livingston.
“It is not going to be a religious event,” Pastor Martian said, “It is going to be an event that helps people get together and socialize. I am hoping that it will grow into the state where people do come and socialize, and they can talk about anything that is on their mind.”
And Pastor Martian is hoping that potential attendees will not think it is an advice-giving session. Instead, as he states, “We are going to support each other. And once that trust level and the group is built, people can bring their own questions they might have about what is going on in life. How can they make it through these tough
times? I really want to emphasize that the Dinner Club is a safe space. People should treat others with respect, and dignity should be given.”
Presbyterian Church of Livingston is located at 271 W. Northfield Road in Livingston. Visit https://presbyterianchurchoflivingston.org/ for more information.
Presbyterian Church of Livingston often holds get togethers, and the Dinner Club ministry commences early in September (courtesy of Pastor Dan Martian)
Planning Underway for the 15th Annual Morristown Christmas Market
It may be summer, but the spirit of the holiday season is already stirring as preparations begin for the 15th Annual Morristown Christmas Market at Assumption Church. Scheduled for Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th, 2025, this festive event is one of the area’s most anticipated holiday traditions offering a joyful shopping experience while supporting two non-profit organizations.
Hosted at Assumption’s Rauscher Hall (91 Maple Avenue, Morristown, NJ), the Morristown Christmas Market brings together a curated collection of unique artisans, handmade African crafts, specialty vendors, bakers and local retailers, attracting over 1,000 visitors eager to shop for handmade gifts, holiday décor, and seasonal delights.
This year marks a milestone—15 years of community, creativity, and charitable
What’s
giving. All proceeds benefit Africa Surgery (africasurgery.org) and The Village Angels of Tanzania (thevillageangels-tanzania.org), two organizations dedicated to improving lives through medical and nutritional care, education, and support in underserved communities. Both non-profits were founded in Morristown.
Vendor & Crafter Opportunities Now Open! Organizers are now welcoming applications from crafters, creators, and retailers to be part of this special anniversary event. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your goods to an enthusiastic and generous holiday crowd—all while making a global impact.
To learn more or to inquire about vendor participation, please email us at: mtchristmasmarket@gmail.com
Let the jingling begin…..and stayed tuned for event updates!
Kidz World Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
By Megan Roche
Hezly Rivera, a 17 year old gymnast from Oradell, has earned herself another accolade: USA Gymnastics 2025 National Champion.
Rivera, who most notably competed as the youngest member of Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, started gymnastics
New Jersey Gymnast Crowned US National Champion
at the age of five. She had attended a friends birthday party at a local gymnastics facility and fell in love.
While working her way through the ranks, Rivera has had the opportunity to represent the United States internationally at the 2022 DTB Pokal Cup in Germany, the 2023 Junior World Championships in
Turkey, the 2024 Jesolo Trophy in Italy, and the 2025 Senior Pan American Championships in Panama.
She was a key member of the 2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Gymnastics team that won a team gold medal.
During the National Championship competition in August, Rivera had a strong showing on balance
beam, floor exercise, and uneven bars. She was the all-around leader after the first day of competition. Scores from the first day of competition are carried over to the second day and after the second round of competition, both days scores are added together for the final outcome.
Rivera earned the allaround win with a final score of 112.000 to claim victory. It is her first senior national championship title. She is the youngest champion since 2017.
“It means the world to me to take this national championship title home because I have worked so hard for this. It was not easy coming back after the Olympics. I took some time off, but did so much work in the gym, blood, sweat, and tears, so I am just so grateful that I am here today,” Rivera said in an NBC Sports interview after her win.
She also earned individual
championship title on floor exercise and balance beam.
She is a co-champion on the uneven bars alongside Skye Blakely, a University of Florida gymnast.
Along with winning the championship title, Rivera also earned herself a spot on the U.S. Women’s Senior National Team, where she will be given opportunities to compete to represent the United States on the international competition circuit.
Her next stop will be a training and evaluation camp for a spot on the U.S. Gymnastics World Championship team. The World Championship competition will take place in Indonesia in October.
Hezly Rivera receives her medal atop the podium at U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August. (John Cheng/USA Gymnastics)
Livingston’s Allie Nankivell Prepares for Softball at the College Level
By Evan Wechman
Livingston High School graduate and softball star Allie Nankivell just arrived recently at the University of Delaware campus to attend freshman orientation. Like the other incoming students, she will be getting ready for classes, moving in to her new dorm room, and adjusting to life in a new city.
However, for Nankivell, there is one more added component to her role as a student. She was given an athletic scholarship to the college, where she will help the
Allie Nankivell signing her letter of intent to go to the University of Delaware. Courtesy of Allie Nankivell
Nankivell Prepares...
Blue Hens(college nickname) softball team compete against other major universities in Division I athletics.
Though she is only two years removed from her magical junior year where she smacked over 100 hits and stole 100 bases, she is moving up a level. Nankivell knows the opposition will be fierce, and trying to be a starter for UD(University of Delaware) will be competitive as well. However, she wants to do whatever she can to help the team.
“I’m just excited for the opportunity to earn my spot in the lineup, whether it’s a
starter or a base runner,” Nankivell said. “I am just so excited to contribute to the team in any way possible. I am looking to improve as an overall player. I can’t wait to get faster, stronger, and more consistent overall. There is definitely some anxiety about playing at a higher level. The jump from playing at a high school level to a Division I level is a big one. I just hope that I can work up to the high level of play and succeed with my new teammates.”
For Nankivell however, she has been preparing for this high level of competition for several years now. Though she has been
playing softball since she was a toddler, she didn’t have her sights set on playing at the collegiate level until she was breaking records at Livingston High School.
Not only did the Livingston softball star work on her softball fundamentals daily while in high school, but she also paid close attention to improving her speed. She realized growing up that she was quick, but she also had to learn more about the nuances of stealing bases.
“I’ve always been fast. I just needed someone to teach me how to steal, “Nankivell said. I really think that my coaches early on in my softball career, especially my dad, helped me have great success with stealing bases. I also believe that a lot of it is instincts and now the more I do it, the more it feels like second nature.”
Besides learning how to steal, she has also undertaken an intense training regimen to help with her speed and strength during the last few years. She ran winter track in high school in which she credits her coaching staff for helping her tremendously with her work on running sprints. She ran the 200meter dash, which she believes helped her speed and endurance on the base paths. Also, running track helped her learn how to accelerate quickly which is always beneficial when trying to steal a base.
But I always continue to enhance my skills.” Nankivell who is also regarded as a good student in the classroom as well as on the field, will be tackling her studies in the behavioral sciences. She is planning on using her great intellect to advance both academically and athletically.
Though the road to graduating in four years at the University of Delaware while becoming a leader of the softball team won’t be easy, the scholar-athlete is up for the challenge.
“I want people to know that I am so excited to experience the atmosphere of a Division I university as an athlete. I am also eager to meet my teammates and compete for a championship in our conference.”
Though Nankivell will be competing against top athletes across the nation, she remains modest. She credits a lot of her success to the staff and students from Livingston High School.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot from my freshman year, both as a player and a person, “Nankivell said. “I worked on both my skill on the field and my confidence as a player. I credit a lot of my progress to my coaches and teammates. They have really helped me grow into the player and person I am today. In the last few years, I’ve focused more on the strategy behind the skill in the game.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Essex Fells Presenting the Requiem in D minor by Gabriel Fauré on Nov. 2
The St. Peter’s Choir will join with the Caldwell University Choir and the Choir of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, West Orange to present the Requiem in D minor by Gabriel Fauré on Sunday, November 2 at 4 p.m., conducted by Mark Trautman and featuring award-winning baritone Kevin Johnson. A small chamber ensemble will accompany the work. We begin rehearsals in September, and interested members of the community are welcome to sing.
The “Commemoration of All Faithful Departed” commonly called “All Souls,” has been celebrated on November 2 for centuries. We will remember those who have gone before us during a this public service of thanksgiving that will include an opportunity for the names of the departed to be read during the service. We welcome the community to enter into the music and prayers, and to give thanks for the blessings of the saints who have gone before us, the saints among us, and the saints yet to come. The event is free and everyone is welcome; a reception will follow.
Mark Trautman is Director of Music and Administrator at St Peter’, aprofessional church musician since his teens, he has a broad range of experience building and strengthening music programs and developing congregational song. He is an award-winning organist, and has performed throughout the United States, England, and Germany. He has been described as a “clear and communicative conductor” by Classical New Jersey, and he has conducted at the State Theatre and George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark. He has also been a featured organist on CNN and New Jersey Public Television. Mr. Trautman earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance and church music with honors and distinction from Towson University in Baltimore and Westminster Choir College in Princeton and studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Leipzig, Germany. He served for 11 years at Music Director of St. Paul’s, Englewood, where founded the award-winning St. Paul’s Choir School. Prior to that, he served Christ Church in New
Brunswick for 17 years, and is responsible for commissioning their unique Richards, Fowkes & Company mechanical action pipe organ and developing a full time, multi-gen-
erational choral program and an award-winning concert series. His choruses have sung onstage with the award-winning ensemble continued on page 9
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church...
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The Chieftains and Kristen Chenoweth. He is in demand as a teacher, conductor, consultant, and guest lecturer, and has served as an adjudicator for events sponsored by the American Choral Directors’ Association, the American Guild of Organists, and the New Jersey Folk Festival.
Laura Greenwald is the Music Department Chair and Director of Vocal Studies at Caldwell University where she teaches voice, Women in Music, Music and the Arts, and directs the University Chorale and Opera/Music Theatre Workshop. She directed the Caldwell University Concert Series for twenty years, presenting professional concerts and recitals to the community, and prepared the University Chorale as the chorus for the Garden State Opera for seven seasons. The Chorale performs at all University masses and has performed in concerts with other choirs at Carnegie Hall, Princeton University Chapel, and on campus. In 2011, Dr. Greenwald was honored to receive the Caldwell College Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Greenwald sang with Ember, the Schola Repertory Singers, and the select Schola Sing Solo! of Schola Can-
torum on Hudson for over 10 years including performances in the chorus with the NY Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She has performed in concerts and recitals in Ohio, Vermont, and the New York Metropolitan area specializing in the music of women composers.
Dr. Greenwald earned her DMA from the Manhattan School of Music, her BME from Baldwin-Wallace College, and an MM in Voice Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. She is the choir director at the Church of the Holy Innocents in West Orange and the proud mother of trumpeter, Andrew Strom.
Kevin Johnson, bass, is a native of Hackensack. He has performed with the Repertory Opera Theater of Washington, Atlanta Opera, DaCorneta Opera, Maryland Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, HUB opera, Center for Contemporary Opera and Bel Cantanti Opera. He earned degrees in music at Morehouse College, The Chicago Conservatory of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the bass section leader at St. Peter’s in Essex Fells.
Black Tom – A Formula for Disaster
By Henry M. Holden
It was 2a.m. on Sunday, July 30, 1916, on the New Jersey waterfront. The dockworkers were choking with high humidity. The temperature was predicted to go to 85 degrees. It was already 77 degrees with a threat of rain later in the morning.
After midnight, a series of small fires were discovered on the pier. Some guards fled, fearing an explosion. Others attempted to fight the fires and eventually called the Jersey City Fire Department.
Suddenly at 2:08 am there was an explosion. What took place was a colossal earsplitting ground shaking glass, breaking explosion.
The second and larger explosion occurred around 2:40 am. A notable location for second explosion was around the Johnson Barge No. 17, The explosion created a detonation wave that traveled at 24,000 feet per second with enough force to lift firefighters out of their boots and into the air.
Large chunks of debris from the explosion traveled long distances: some lodged in the Statute of Liberty, and other fragments lodged in the clock tower of The Jersey City Journal Building, in Journal Square, more than one mile away, stopping the clock at 2:12 am. The explosion was the equivalent of an earthquake measuring between 5.0 and 5.5 on the Richter scale and was felt as far away as Philadelphia. Windows were broken as far as 25 miles away, including thousands in Lower Manhattan. Some window panes in Times Square were shattered. The stained glass windows in St Patrick’s Cathedral were destroyed. The outer wall of Jersey City Hall was cracked and the Brooklyn Bridge was shaken. People as far away as Maryland were
awakened by what they thought was an earthquake.
Property damage from the attack was estimated at $20,000,000 (equivalent to about $578,000,000 in 2024). On the island, the explosion destroyed more than one hundred railroad cars, thirteen warehouses, and left a 375-by-175-foot crater at the source of the explosion
Black Tom was used to store small arms and artillery ammunition were stored at the depot in freight cars and on barges, including several tons of TNT on Johnson Barge No. 17. All were waiting to be shipped to Russia.
The blast occurred on Black Tom island a misnomer for a mile-long pier on a land fill forming a peninsula that at one-time jutted out from Jersey City into the Hudson River opposite Manhattan.
The New York Times said, “At least one-million people, maybe five million, heard and were shaken by the explosion that shook New Jersey from the shore to the skyscrapers on the rock foundations of Manhattan. It tossed people out of their beds, miles away, while thousands of broken windows posed another threat close to home.”
United States had remained neutral to the war going on in Europe. The government was aware of spies and did their best to ferret them out and bring them to justice, but in those days, the German spies were smart and few were ever caught.
As smoke began to fill the air, Captain Alfred T. Clifton, of the U.S. Army Signal Corps ordered the alarm sounded, and soon women and children were evacuated to the local parade ground, near the base of the Statue of Liberty.
As the civilians made their way to the designated safety zone, another explosion sounded, one even larger and far
more devastating. This explosion came from a warehouse where an arsenal of military weapons, explosives, and other material were stored.
The force of this explosion sent shrapnel from the shells, bullets and debris, along with glass and wood from the building, plummeting down on the island, causing significant damage to the island and its structures. The shockwave from this blast was so intense, the force pushed the torch-bearing arm of the Statue of Liberty against the crown, damaging its internal framework.
When the smoke cleared later that morning, investigators and emergency personnel found all the island’s 17 buildings were seriously damaged. Glass and other debris covered the streets. Several people including women and children suffered serious trauma, and tragically, six adults and a 19-weekold baby lost their lives.
This left the U.S. government with a seemingly colossal continued on page 11
Black Tom...
task at the time—identify who was responsible, and how it could have happened in a relatively small, quiet community.
One of the largest obstacles was the lack of resources and structure to handle this kind of event. There were no organizations in place to investigate what appeared to be a terrorist attack on U.S. civilians.
While World War I was raging in Europe, at the time of the attack the United States was officially neutral in the conflict. As such, there were few national security laws and protocol in place to handle this type of event, and the ones that existed were vague. There was nothing like the international intelligence agencies that operate today who would have normally been equipped to investigate what looked like crime.
The Bureau of Investigation, which later became the FBI, initially led the investigation trying to back-track into the events at Black Tom. But, partially due to its lack of resources, negligeable experience, and small size at the time (only around 260 members with a few scattered offices). Progress was at a snail’s pace, painfully slow. But people wanted to know who was responsible and punish the culprits.
There was speculation among locals and authorities that the Black Tom explosion had been simply a tragic accident. Just five years earlier, in 1911, a discarded cigarette had caused a similar explosion in Jersey City Harbor when it landed in a container of explosives being unloaded by dockworkers. Due to the mysterious nature of the Black Tom incident, to many observers it seemed to be the likely cause.
This attack was one of many during the German sabotage campaign against the neutral United States, and it contributed to the shift of public opinion against Germany, which eventually resulted in American President Woodrow Wilson’s declaration of war against Germany.
The Russian government sued the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company operating the Black Tom terminal on grounds that lax security (there was no entrance gate; and the territory was unlit) permitted the loss of their ammunition. It was argued that due to the failure to deliver them the manufacturer was obliged by the contract to replace them.
After the war, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, sought damages against Germany by the Treaty of Berlin from the German American Mixed Claims Commission. The Mixed Claims Commission declared in 1939 that Imperial Germany had been responsible and awarded $50 million (the largest claim) in damages, which Nazi Germany refused to pay. The issue was finally settled in 1953 for $95 million (interest included) with the Federal Republic of Germany. The final payment was made in 1979.
The Statue of Liberty’s torch was closed to the public after the explosion, due to structural damage. Access was not opened even after the 1984-1986 restoration which included repairs to the arm and installation of a new goldplated copper torch.
German spies like Kurt Jahnke, worked as an intelligence advisor to Walter Schellenberg, a German functionary during the Nazi era. Schellenberg and his wife were captured by Soviet agents in April 1945 .
After World War II, Jahnke a naturalize American citizen
set up the “Jahnke Büro”, an intelligence organization although it was eventually dissolved by April 1945. Jahnke was arrested by the Soviet Union in 1950. Kurt Jahnke was put on trial as a spy, found guilty, and executed the same day.
Lother Witzke was arrested at the Mexican border on February 1, 1918, near Nogales, Arizona. Officials did not prosecute for the bombing but prosecuted him as a spy. A military court at Fort Sam Houston found him guilty of espionage and sentenced him to death by hanging. While in custody, he tried to escape twice, once succeeding, but he was recaptured the same day. On November 2, 1918, Witzke’s death sentence was approved by the Department Commander. However, he was not executed because of the November Armistice. In May 1920, President Woodrow Wilson commuted Witzke’s sentence to life in prison. In September 1923, Witzke, because of heroic conduct in prison and pressure for his release by the Weimar Republic, was pardoned by President Calvin Cooledge and deported to Germany. Upon his arrival, Witzke was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class, by the Reichswehr. Witzke later joined the Abwehr, and after World War II, lived in Hamburg. He was a monarchist who represented the German in the Hamburg Parliament from 1949 to 1952. Witzke died in 1961.
Landfill projects eventually incorporated Black Tom into Liberty State Park. Nothing remains of the munition’s depot with the Black Tom peninsula and all traces of physical damage are gone. A plaque marks the site where an explosion rocked the nation.’
By Henry M. Holden
CChristopher Columbus Did Not Discover New Jersey
hristopher Columbus discovered America, but he did not discover New Jersey. That kudo belongs to Giovanni da Verrazzano, who in 1524, was the first European to see the land that one day would become New Jersey
There were probably a few million native human beings living here when Columbus and Verrazzano showed up, so for accuracy we’ll call them explorers who were the first to bring back descriptions of worlds they had found to the Europeans.
Verrazzano was one of the great men of the ages. He was an explorer who, like Copernicus, redefined the shape of the solar system, and Michaelangelo who redefined the image of man. What Verrazzano did was redefine the map of the world.
So, what little we know of Verrazzano comes from fragments gathered long after his death. Some historians disagree on where he was born albeit we know when and the cause of his death.
Verrazzano was born about 1485 to wealthy and cultured parents south of Florence, the capital and main city of the Republic of Florence. Verrazzano was an explorer living in France. He led most of his later expeditions, including the one to America, in the service of King Francis I of France. He is renowned as the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between Florida and New Brunswick in 1524, In contrast to his detailed account of his voyages to North America, little is definitively known about his personal life. After 1506, he settled in the
port of Dieppe, Kingdom of France, where he began his career as a navigator.
He embarked for the American coast probably in 1508 in the company of Captain Thomas Aubert, on the ship La Pensée. He explored the region of Newfoundland, possibly during a fishing trip, and possibly the St. Lawrence River in Canada; on other occasions, he made numerous voyages to the eastern Mediterranean.
In September 1522, the Magellan expedition returned to Spain, having successfully navigating the world. Now Verrazzano embarked for the American coast. Competition in trade was becoming urgent, especially with Portugal.
French merchants and financiers urged King Francis I of France to establish new trade routes. In 1523, the king asked Verrazzano to explore on France›s behalf an area between Florida and Newfoundland, intending to find a sea route to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition was funded by a consortium of Florentine merchants and friends based in Lyon and Rouen. Enough money was raised, with Verrazzano himself contributing as both captain and investor.
Within months, four ships set sail due west for the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, but a violent storm and rough seas caused the loss of two ships. The remaining two damaged ships, La Dauphine and La Normande, were forced to return to Brittany.
Repairs were completed in the final weeks of 1523, and the ships set sail again. This time, the ships headed south toward calmer waters under Spanish and
Portuguese control.
After a stop in Madeira, complications forced La Normande back to home port, but Verrazzano’s ship La Dauphin departed on January 17, 1524, and headed once more for the North American continent.
It a letter to Francis I, Verrazzano described by historians as the Cèllere Codex, one of three surviving copies of a manuscript letter sent by Verrazzano to King Francis 1 of France. Verrazzano wrote that he was convinced that it was the beginning of the Pacific Ocean from which access could be gained to China.
Continuing to explore the coast further northwards, Verrazzano and his crew met Native people living on the coast. However, he did not notice the entrances to the Chesapeake Bay or the mouth of the Delaware River.
In New York Bay, he encountered about 30Lenape canoes with friendly inhabitants and observed what he deemed to be a large lake but was really the entrance to the Hudson River. He then sailed along Long Island and entered Narragansett Bay, where he received a delegation of Wampanoag and Narragansett people.
He discovered Cape Cod is one of three surviving copies of a manuscript letter sent by Giovanni da Verrazzano (1481–1528) in 1524 to King Francis I his claim being proven by a map of 1529 that clearly outlined Cape Cod. He named the cape after a general, calling it Pallavicino. He then followed the coast up to modern Maine, southeastern Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, and he then returned to France by July 8, 1524.
Verrazzano named the region Francesca in honor of the French king, but his brother’s map labelled it Nova Gallia (New France). Verrazzano arranged a second voyage, with financial support from those who knew him well. The exposition departed from Dieppe with four ships early in 1527. One ship was separated from the others in a gale near the Cape Verde Islands. Still, Verrazzano reached the coast of Brazil with two ships and harvested a cargo of brazilwood before returning to Dieppe in September. The third ship returned later, also with a cargo of brazilwood.
The partial success did not find the desired passage to the Pacific Ocean, but it inspired Verrazzano’s final voyage, which left Dieppe in early 1528.
There are conflicting
accounts of Verrazzano’s death. In one version, during his third voyage to North America in 1528, after he had explored Florida, the Bahamas, and the Lesser Antilles, Verrazzano anchored out to sea and rowed ashore, probably on the island of Guadeloupe. He was allegedly killed and eaten by the native Caribs. The fleet of three ships was anchored out of gunshot range, and no one could respond in time.
A 1527 map by Visconte Maggiolo showing the east coast of North America with “Tera Florida” at top right and Labrador at bottom left. The information supposedly came from Giovanni da Verrazzano’s voyage in 1524.
The geographic information derived from this voyage significantly influenced sixteenthcentury cartographers. Despite his discoveries,
continued on page 14
A Cafe Rooted in Tradition, Crafted for You
There was a time when food was simple, honest, and nourishing. Every meal carried a sense of care, leaving people satisfied without the heaviness. In many parts of Europe, that tradition is still alive. Meals satisfy without the hassle, taste fresh without being overly processed, and leave people craving more.
Yet here in the United States, many struggle to find that same wholesome experience in their everyday dining options. The result is a rising number of health concerns, from gluten and dairy intolerances to food allergies and lifestyle-related conditions. More and more Americans are realizing that we truly are what we eat, and that our food choices directly affect how we feel.
Defying Gravitea has stepped in to answer that craving. Built on the belief that food should love you back, this café has designed its menu with a health-conscious mindset rooted in quality and comfort. Every dish is crafted with the same care and balance that echoes Europe’s culinary traditions, while maintaining the warmth of a homemade meal.
What makes Defying Gravitea stand out is not just its commitment to clean ingredients, but its mission to be the link between good food, a healthy body, and a true sense of comfort. Children delight in the flavors. The everyday crowd embraces it. And those seeking dietary-friendly options discover food that feels effortless, yet deeply nourishing.
Visit www.defyinggravitea.com or stop by at 211 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock, NJ 07440 to experience the difference.
Here, nourishment and enjoyment come together, reminding us that food should make you feel good, just the way it used to be. Defying Gravitea proves that the food you love can, indeed, love you back.
Christopher Columbus...
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Verrazzano’s reputation did not spread as well as other explorers of that era. For example, Verrazzano gave the European name Francesca to the new land that he had seen, in accordance with contemporary practices, after the French king in whose name he sailed. That and other names he bestowed on features he discovered have not survived. He had the misfortune of making significant discoveries shortly after the years (1519 to 1521) that the dramatic Conquest of the Aztec Empire and the first circumnavigation of the world occurred. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a great debate in the United States about the authenticity of the letters that Verrazzano ostensibly wrote to Francis I describing the geography, flora, fauna, and native population of the east coast of North America. Others thought that they were authentic, since the discovery of the Cèllere Codex in 1909. This is the most widely held opinion today particularly after the discovery of a letter signed by Francis I, which referred to Verrazzano›s letter. Verrazzano’s reputation was partially obscured in New York City, where the 1609 voyage of Henry Hudson on behalf of the
Dutch Republic came to be regarded as the de facto start of European exploration of New York
Estêvão Gomes’s trip of 1524 was also forgotten. It was only by a real effort of the Italian American community in 1909, and then in the 1940s and 1950s that Verrazzano’s name and reputation were reestablished as the European discoverer of the harbor, culminating in initiative to name the newly built Narrows bridge after him.
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a longspan suspension bridge spanning New York Harbor from Brooklyn to Staten Island, built from 1959 to 1964. The bridge was an exceptionally expensive engineering project largely because of the problem of land acquisition. Its total cost was more than $325 million. It is the longest suspension bridge in the United States and the 17th longest in the world.
This author completed two New York City Marathons each having the starting point on the Staten Island side of the bridge. The most alarming part of the race was having thousands of runners pounding the concrete bridge and feeling the bridge sway like waves raising from the concrete.
By Megan Roche
IA Warriors Story: The Life and Legacy of Jamie Smith
n A Warrior’s Story, you’ll meet and learn about all the sides of Jamie Smith. Smith was a West Morris
Central (WMC) High School graduate who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving as a US Army Ranger during the Battle of Mogadishu in
1993. You’ll hear from Jamie’s former teachers, his Army Ranger battle buddies, and how his legacy still lives on to this day in the
halls of WMC. This series will be an on-going feature in the months ahead.
While Jamie has been gone for over two decades, his Long Valley legacy has remained. It was only in 2019 that the state of New Jersey put together legislation to remember him.
In 2019, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law that designates every October 3 as Corporal Jamie Smith Day.
“Sergeant Pilla and Corporal Smith served our country courageously and selflessly, protecting the people of our nation,” said Governor Murphy in a 2019 interview. “It is my honor to sign this legislation and recognize the incredible service and sacrifice of these two heroic individuals.”
Locally in Long Valley, the road leading to the Long Valley Raiders football field at Rock Spring Park is named Cpl. Jamie Smith Drive. Smith’s name also lives on at Picatinny Arsenal, where there is a building named in his honor.
For Smith’s former teacher Dennis O’Connell, he hopes Jamie’s legacy lives on forever.
“I remember Jamie as a caring selfless young man who loved his Country, loved being of service to others, a team player with a fantastic sense of humor. I hope that people can learn
from Jamie’s legacy that he represented the very best character traits in what it means to be an American…. to care for others, to ‘step up’ when others can’t. He was in Somalia originally on a humanitarian mission to stop the warlords from stealing food and starving their own population. Jamie demonstrated the best values of what it meant to be an American regardless of your faith, your race or your politics….Jamie’s
legacy to me…be kind, be caring, step up to help those who can’t help themselves… that was the America that he believed in and died for,” O’Connell said.
Jamie’s story of bravery is told in the 2025 Netflix docuseries, Surviving Black Hawk Down. In the show, you’ll meet some of Jamie’s Army Ranger pals, hear from the doctor who tried to save his life, and more. For more information on the series, visit Netflix.com.
The street sign that memorializes Jamie at Rock Spring Park.
Livingston AARP Chapter 3663 Receives Grant
Livingston’s own AARP Chapter 3663 is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Community Awareness Grant from AARP’s Office of Volunteer Engagement (OVE). The grant is designed to support Chapter activities to grow the awareness of the Livingston community of this vibrant chapter, and to promote Chapter membership growth.
Participation in Livingston’s local AARP Chapter provides benefits beyond membership in the national AARP organization. Chapter members enjoy a monthly opportunity to meet and form relationships with their fellow Livingston members, promoting a spirit of local fellowship. Members also learn about both Chapter activities and Livingston township activities designed to benefit its Senior community. Musical entertainment or lively guest speakers are part of each monthly meeting, and refreshments are always provided.
Community outreach is also an important focus of this local Livingston Chapter. Most notably, members are encouraged
to participate the Chapter’s “Livingtones” musical ensemble. No experience is necessary, and the group specializes in providing entertainment to local Assisted Living facilities, Nursing Homes, and Rehabilitation Centers. Members enjoy fellowship, along with the satisfaction that bringing a small measure of joy to others brings.
To support its goal of Chapter membership growth, a special Chapter “Open House” will be offered on Friday, November 7th, from 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. Any Livingston resident, 50 years or older, is invited to join current Chapter members at this “Open House” to enjoy fellowship, refreshments, and entertainment. Assistance will be provided to join the Livingston Chapter and, if needed, become a national AARP member, since National AARP membership is a prerequisite to Chapter membership.
The “Open House” will be held at Livingston’s Senior/Community Center (LSCC), 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ, Lower Level.
By Richard Mabey Jr.
In January of 2024, I was diagnosed with having Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy,
Feat Not Thy Death, Heaven Is A Real Place
commonly known as HCM. This is a rare heart disease that mainly affects the muscular wall of the Left Ventricle. It is a genetic
mutation that results in the Left Ventricle becoming thicker and thicker, until the Left Ventricle can no longer function properly,
resulting in death to the patient.
Since January of 2024, I have most earnestly worked on getting my affairs in order. But more importantly, I have begun to read the Holy Bible more and more. To pray more often. And, to contemplate more on God’s infinite love for each and every one of us. And, during this time, I have been blessed with incredibly beautiful and meaningful dreams at night.
One of my repetitive dreams that I have, is of my Grandpa Mabey and I walking across the rickety bridge of the old Morris Canal. The rickety bridge was a real bridge that once crossed the muddy, murky waters of the old Morris Canal in Lincoln Park. It was located along the old tow path of the canal, a few yards to the west of the remains of Incline Plane Ten East. I first crossed the rickety bridge in the Summer of 1960, when I was only six years old.
My grandfather, Watson Mabey, loved to walk the wooded path from the end of Mabey Lane to the site of the remaining foundation of his father’s ice house. From the time I was six years and all through
grade school, Grandpa and I would walk the forest path to the old canal, and rest upon the stone foundation of the old Mabey Ice House. I remember how a twinkle would shine in Grandpa’s eye, as he told me his remembrances of working at Incline Plane Ten East, when he was a younger man.
After we rested for a while, Grandpa and I would walk eastward along the path along the old canal, to the rickety bridge. The foundation of the old bridge was made up of two thick, fallen trees that were stretched across the canal. And, atop of those two long logs, were old boards of wood, nailed to the two thick logs.
I was six years old, when I first crossed the rickety bridge with Grandpa. I was a sensitive child and I remember, all so clearly, how I shook with fear to step upon the first wooden plank, to cross over the old canal. Grandpa assured me that I wouldn’t fall off the bridge. I remember Grandpa holding out his hand, my holding Grandpa’s hand and the fear evaporating from my heart center.
Since January of 2024, I have dreamt of crossing the rickety bridge, with Grand-
pa holding my hand, dozens upon dozens of times. Just yesterday, it occurred to me of the spiritual importance of that dream. For in my dreams, it was not the murky waters of the old Morris Canal, that I was crossing, with Grandpa holding my hand. Rather it was time and space and this very physical existence that I was crossing over from.
The beautiful, brightly lit, open field that was on the other side of the rickety bridge was Heaven. In my dreams, I could hear Grandpa’s gentle voice, talking to me the way he did when I was six years old.
“Dicky Jim, hold my hand, don’t be afraid,” Grandpa gently and calmly tells me in my dream. If you are faced with a terminal illness, I share these words with you. Please do not be afraid. Do not worry. Heaven is a real place. God loves you more than you will ever know.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail. com.
An old photo of a rickety bridge, with an uncanny resemblance to the old rickety bridge that once crossed the old Morris Canal in the early 1960’s.
