Mt Olive Life April 2019

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Vol. 2 • No. 4 April 2019

100 Special Olympics Medals and More for Budd Lake Man

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 3

Are You Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired?

Exploring Another Treatment Option For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

C

hronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome (CFIS) also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disabling and poorly understood illness that is becoming more widespread in Western countries. CFIS is a term used to describe a myriad of neurological, neuromuscular, and immunological abnormalities. The initial onset of CFIS consists of flu-like symptoms including fever, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, chills and extreme fatigue. The chronic manifestations of CFIS always include disabling fatigue but can also include muscle and joint pain, sleep disorders, headaches, hypo- or hypersensitivities, cognitive disorders, depression, malaise, anxiety, irritability, confusion, weight fluctuations, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, muscle fatigue, worsening PMS, visual disturbances, tachycardia, paresthesias, dry eyes, dry mouth, night sweats, skin rashes and decreased sexual desire.

The etiology of CFIS is still unknown, but the suspected cause is a viral infection. Some researchers believe that CFIS is actually a neurological response to a viral infection. Since there are no absolute markers or lab tests to confirm the illness, chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome is often diagnosed by symptoms alone and by process of elimination. For the same reasons, western medicine has no treatment for chronic fatigue. Instead, doctors prescribe individual medications to deal with each of the associated symptoms.

As with any illness, traditional Chinese medicine treats the individual on a case- by- case basis. A diagnosis is made based on the individual’s symptoms as well as their tongue and pulse presentations. The patient’s tongue is inspected and 6 pulses are felt on each wrist in order for the Acupuncturist/ Chinese Medical Practitioner to determine the diagnosis. Since chronic fatigue manifests differently in each person, this method of diagnosing is superior. The treatment plan is then formulated based on the individual’s diagnosis.

As you can see in the chart- one Acupuncture treatment plan will address all of the individual’s symptoms as well as the illness as a whole. This is known as a root and branch treatment. Addressing the root cause of the chronic fatigue is addressing the illness as a whole while treating the branch aims to relieve all of the symptoms associated with the illness. A single Chinese herbal formula can also be prescribed to treat both the root and branch of the chronic fatigue syndrome.

For more information about Acupuncture and Chronic Fatigue Immunodeficiency Syndrome, call Kearstin R. Tripi, L.Ac at Mt. Olive Acupuncture & Wellness 973-527-7978.

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Page 4 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

MT. OLIVE EDITORIAL

Mt. Olive Life Mt. Olive Life has become huge hit with the residents of Mt. Olive. We love bringing you articles on our residents and businesses.

If you like what you see just send me a comment about what you like about the magazine to joe@mylifepublications.com.

It is free to have a copy emailed to you each month. Just visitwww.mtolivelife.com and sign up today.

Mt. Olive has so many great people and organizations.

We need your help to let us know who those people and organizations are. You are the eyes and ears of the town.

Email me, joe@mylifepublications.com, with any suggestions that you have to feature residents that have achievements that we might not ever know about.

Do you know someone who is turning 100? Celebrating a big anniversary?

How about the unsung hero who is always there to help

people and do good for the community. We want to know.

WE NEED YOUR HELP: Consider us the facebook of print (without all the politics) and send us photos from your family vacations, information on your life events, parties, birthdays, weddings, engagements or any other milestones. You can send them to joe@mylifepublications.com.

We welcome your feedback as well to the same email.

You can also visit our website www.mtolivelife.com or on Facebook under “Mt Olive Life.”

Please support our advertisers in our publications as they make this magazine and our newspapers available free to all with their advertising support. We want to help the local businesses and your support of them is appreciated.

Thank you for choosing “Mt. Olive Life” to read and enjoy.

Joe Nicastro & Mary Lalama

We want to hear from you....

If you like our magazines (or not) please send us your feedback on our Facebook page at Mt Olive Life.

All comments on our articles and magazines are welcome.

While you are at it send a shout out to our fire departments for the great job they are doing!

Next Issue May 2019, Deadline April 21st To receive your free copy of Mt. Olive Life direct to your email visit www.iwantmypaper.com and sign up!

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 5

D

Page 6 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

100 Special Olympics Medals and More for Budd Lake Man

By Janie Rosman uring the past 17 years, Todd Gensheimer has been competing in the Special Olympics New Jersey where he’s clinched more than 100 medals, competing since age 11, his mom Liz Gensheimer said. “He has three older brothers, and as a family we all ski. He’s very athletic, compassionate and fun loving,” his mom said. And he knows his sports!

He trains six times either Saturday or Sunday at Shawnee Ski Resort in Pennsylvania, his mom said. “We always skied as a family, and once he was old enough, we thought it would be great exercise and fun.” They also visit the gym three to four times per week and that Todd works with a personal trainer for half an hour each week.

Gensheimer, of Budd Lake, competed in the Alpine Skiing event during the 2019 Special Olympics New Jersey Winter Games at Mountain Creek Tuesday.

He won a Gold Medal in that competition —called super-G or super giant slalom, a racing form of alpine skiing — and a Silver Medal in the Giant Slalom.

Each win is unique and special. “It’s always, ‘Wow, another medal!’” Gensheimer said of her son, who also swims and plays basketball.

While he stays active throughout the sports, he is also very active in the community. Three days a week you’ll find him working at Panera Bread in the Succasunna – Roxbury Mall, and he works with Abilities of Northwest

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 7

Jersey in Hackettstown as well. “He’s very social and loves interacting with people and is helpful and compassionate,” Gensheimer said. “Both of my grandsons love Uncle Todd.”

Gensheimer is also a major volunteer with Advancing Opportunities, based in Budd Lake, where he helps to instruct arts and crafts, dancing, and more. When he’s not competing, you’ll find him throughout the Budd Lake area with nothing short of a smile on his face.

According to Liz Gensheimer, her son is affectionately known as the mayor of the Special Olympics. His positive outlook on life and happy go lucky nature have helped him to really live each day.

“Todd’s been involved with Special Olympics since he was old enough to participate,” his uncle Bill Tickle said. Tickle became involved through his son Mark, who passed away in a car accident in 2016. “About five years ago I was refereeing a high school sports game, and someone said they needed help with Special Olympics. I offered, and Todd came walking up to me at the second game!”

Gensheimer recently took to the Polar Plunge to help raise money for the Special Olympics. Since its inception five years ago, Team Todd – Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics raised more than $66,000 and bears the motto “We Jump for Todd in Memory of Mark!” Gensheimer participated in the recent February 23 Plunge, which raised more than $12,000.

Gensheimer will be competing again with the Special Olympics soon as the games for basketball and the meets for swimming will round out at the end of March.

Garden State Yacht Club to Host Open House & Boating Safety Course

T

he Garden State Yacht Club on Lake Hopatcong will offer a US Coast Guard-sanctioned boating safety course on Sat. May 4. Given in one day, students are eligible to receive the NJ Boating Safety Certificate at the completion of the course and passing the exam. All boaters are required by New Jersey law to have this certificate. Students do not have to be a member of the club to take the course. The fee for the course is $75 which covers materials, the exam, and lunch.

Sign in at the GSYC Clubhouse, 33 Point Pleasant Road, Hopatcong at 7:30 a.m. The class runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register online at f.federico@att.net. Or call 973-398-0022. Visit www.GSYC.org for further details.

The Garden State Yacht Club is also hosting an open house at their clubhouse on Lake Hopatcong for prospective members on Sun. April 28 and Sat. June 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tour the facilities, including heated pool, playground, fire pit, tennis and pickle ball courts and docks. (A boat not needed for membership). Club members will be in attendance to talk about the extensive summer and year round activities. Some of these include dining, dancing, parties, trips and entertainment that are available to Garden Sate Yacht Club members.

For more information and to reserve a spot at the open house, please call 973-398-0022 or visit www.GSYC.org.

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Page 8 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

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European Wax Center Joins the Fight Against the Pink Tax

uropean Wax Center (EWC) is a brand that empowers confident women every day. EWC first launched its #AxThePinkTax campaign in 2018 to raise awareness surrounding the often-overlooked Pink Tax: the extra amount of money women are charged for everyday products and services throughout their lives. The “tax” is present everywhere from baby bottles and personal care products to clothes, canes, and more. As the Clio award-winning campaign enters its second year this April, EWC will take the campaign to the next level by not only continuing to raise awareness through education but also by providing people with tools to take action and ignite a movement. The Pink Tax is absurd, and EWC is taking action.

“As multiple studies have confirmed, The Pink Tax is real. It affects not only the millions of women who come to our centers, those who work at EWC locations, but all women, everywhere,” says Sherry Baker, President of Marketing and Product Development for European Wax Center. “Due to The Pink Tax, the average woman is charged an extra $1,351 each year for basic goods and services, which is money women will never get a say in how to spend and money that will never get invested, donated, or used to fund a passion project or business. We know that women know their worth, and we are going to help them claim it.”

In addition to the 2015 landmark New York study: From Cradle to Cane: The Cost of Being a Female Consumer*, a new 2018 study

by the U.S. Government Accountability Office** on gender-related price differences revealed that while they acknowledge that the Pink Tax exists, not enough people speak up about it because the price differences are difficult for consumers to identify and therefore, many of them continue to be unaware that it exists. As a result, the government has assumed a status quo stance with no plans to take action. With this insight, EWC will amplify its efforts to raise awareness about this unfair pricing practice to help create a consumer outcry to inspire change.

The #AxThePinkTax campaign will kick off its second year with a new look and feel, calling out the absurdity of The Pink Tax with eye-catching and overtly strong visual assets. From the AxThePinkTax landing page, to Instagram, to print ads in magazines and on digital media, the campaign will reflect a new bold and fierce look.

EWC will engage women and men throughout the U.S. this April with a robust 360 campaign that includes media partnerships, live events & activations, street art & wild postings, Starter P.AX (digital toolkits to help people take action), in-center visual takeover and programming, social media, an Influencer program, and an updated website.

The multi-faceted campaign includes: Media Partnerships: EWC will partner with Popsugar on a custom content series and Bustle Digital Group on an Instagram story/ad series. The message will also be spread through advertising on Hulu with a comedian video, and in Marie Claire maga-

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 9

FREEHOLDER

FREEHOLDER

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H Douglas Cabana H H Tom Mastrangelo H H Kathy DeFillippo H Freeholder Director 2000-2001,2017-current Attorney in Private Practice Past President, NJ Assoc of Counties Former Mayor and Committeeman, Boonton Township Former President, Morris County League of Municipalities Resident of Boonton Township

Freeholder Freeholder Director, 2013-2015 Liaison NJ Association of Counties Working to make government more efficient 25+ year experience in information technology JD.Seton Hall School of Law; MBA,FDU Resident of Montville

Former Mayor and Councilwoman of Roxbury Past President, Roxbury Chamer of Commerce Former Brd Member, Nat MS Society, NJ Metro Founder of the Roxbury MS Walk Retired Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Resident of Roxbury with husband Robert & 3 children

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Page 10 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

zine’s “Power Your Purpose” April edition, as well as podcast reads.

Live Events & Activations: The #AxThePinkTax campaign will hit the road in April to reach different audiences across the country.

EWC will partner with fashion and lifestyle website, Man Repeller for a three-city comedy tour, to highlight the absurdity of the Pink Tax in New York City, Chicago and Houston. And, in partnership with Ladies Get Paid and the Ellevate Network, both organizations that help to close the pay and leadership gap for women through career development, EWC will host panel discussions focused on education and how to “Ax The Pink Tax.” The Ladies Get Paid panels will take place in Atlanta, D.C. and Boston, while the Ellevate Network’s panel event will be in New York City, moderated

by Sherry Baker, and livestreamed through the Ellevate Network.

Street Art, Out of Home & Wild Postings: Female street artists have been commissioned to create #AxThePinkTax murals in highly trafficked areas around Miami, L.A., and Houston. Each mural will depict a set of pink and blue wings, with a price disparity, highlighting the price differences in men’s and women’s products to create must-share Instagrammable moments. To further level the playing field, in addition to their quoted rates, each female artist will be compensated an extra $1,351 for the money that they have lost due to The Pink Tax in 2019. Inspired wild postings will be seen around New York City as well.

Starter P.AX: Packaged as a digital kit called a «Starter P.AX» for download on AxThePinkTax.com, the packs include information on how to post proof on social media, pre-written e-cards,

shareable graphics, and more.

EWC Centers: Throughout April, each EWC center in the U.S. will echo the messaging, look, and feel of the national campaign with #AxThePinkTax window clings, lobby posts, front desk and product wall assets, suite signage, mirror clings, shopping bags and Pink Tax buttons that associates will wear. Guests will have the opportunity to win Pink Tax swag, service and product discounts, and loyalty points with percentages all related to The Pink Tax, through EWC’s “Wax On, Tax off” peel-off cards. EWC will also provide “Pink Tax Free” window clings for all EWC locations and will offer the clings to other businesses that demonstrate Pink Taxfree practices.

Social Media & Influencers: EWC social media content will bring attention to the Pink Tax through videos and other content that displays the absurdity of gender-related price differences and #AxThePinkTax giphy stickers will be accessible through Instagram to help followers show their frustration. A curated group of Influencers will leverage their voices to bring awareness to this cause and urge their followers to take action.

AxThePinkTax.com: AxThePinkTax.com provides educational resources and tips on how to take action on The Pink Tax including the 2015 and 2018 gender pricing studies, a calculator tool to learn how much women have lost in their lifetimes to The Pink Tax, downloadable Starter P.AX, EWC›s philanthropic partnerships, and more.

To learn more, visit www.AxThePinkTax.com.

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Morris County Releases Municipal Profiles Countywide and statewide data was also compiled, to allow residents and businesses to compare and contrast across Morris, as well as with the rest of New Jersey.

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By Kimberly Redmond hat’s your town’s unemployment rate? Or the average commute length of people who live in your community? Or how many residents are over the age of 65?

The answer to those questions – and many more – are at your fingertips, thanks to the Morris County Economic Development Corporation and Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation.

In a press release announcing their newly-completed initiative, the agencies said they compiled profiles for all 39 towns in Morris County “for marketing purposes as part of its continuing effort to bring new businesses and jobs to the county or help keep existing employers here.”

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The sheets can be accessed by visiting www.planning.morriscountynj.gov/data and scrolling down to “Municipal Profile Sheets.”

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Morris percentage of residents below poverty level: 4.6 State percentage of residents below poverty level: 10.7 Morris total crime rate: 8.8 percent State total crime rate: 17.9 percent Percentage of Morris County residents who use public transportation: 5.4 Percentage of New Jersey residents who use public transportation: 11.5 Morris average family size: 3.19 people State average family size: 3.22 people Other Morris numbers of note Of the county’s 257,135 member workforce, about 57 percent work in Morris. About nine percent travel to Essex County everyday, 5.5 percent to New York City and 5.2 percent to Bergen County.

Of that number, 80 percent commute using their own car each day. Some of the lengthiest commutes are made by residents in Chatham Borough (39.3 minutes), Chester Township (39.8 minutes), Jefferson (37 minutes) and Mount Arlington (37.6 minutes).

The county’s top employers include Picatinny Arsenal, with 6,400 full-time employees, followed by Atlantic Health System with 6,350 employees and Novartis, with 4,607 employees.

Of the county’s 347,344 residents age 25 and older, 106,544

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have earned bachelor’s degrees, making Morris one of the most educated places in the state. Of that number, 76,125 have received a master’s degree or higher.

Within Morris, towns with the highest concentration of residents with master’s degrees include Denville, Madison, Montville, Morris Township, Morristown, Parsippany, Randolph and Rockaway Township.

The county’s population has grown from 492,276 in 2010 to 499,693, a 1.5 percent increase. Towns that reported gains include: Hanover (6.9 percent), Mountain Lakes (4.4 percent), Mount Arlington (16.2 percent), Mount Olive (4.0 percent), Riverdale (19.3 percent) and Rockaway Township (5.5 percent).

Population declines were reported since 2010 in Victory Gardens (-0.3 percent), Pequannock (-0.8 percent), Parsippany (-0.1 percent), Mine Hill (-1.6 percent), Mendham Township (-0.4 percent), Mendham Borough (-0.1 percent), Lincoln Park (-0.5 percent), Kinnelon (-0.3 percent), Chatham Township (-0.2 percent), Chatham Borough (-0.4 percent) and Netcong (-0.1 percent).

The county’s birth rate, like the statewide one, has also generally declined since 2007. In Morris, the 2017 birth rate was 4,680, down from 5,501 a decade earlier. The most births that year occurred in Dover, Jefferson, Morristown, Rockaway Township, Mount Olive and Morris Township.

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Page 14 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

An Approachable Van, An Approachable Team, All in the Name of Hope

T

By Steve Sears

he van still arrives for battle, but for a different type of battle.

Thomas Purdy visited the Hope One van when it was stationed on a frigid day outside Walmart in Riverdale. He had stopped to buy wiper blades and saw the Hope One van and approached it. “I am in a N.A. program – Narcotics Anonymous.” He then bluntly adds, “I’m a heroin addict. You’re always a heroin addict.”

Purdy had heard of the NARCAN program but had never encountered the van nor its NARCAN training prior to this day. Kelly LaBar, a Peer Recovery Specialist for the Center for Addiction Recovery, Education & Success (CARES), had given him a lesson in how to use NARCAN, a nasal spray that aids in the prevention of opioid overdose. “They help everybody,” says Purdy of Hope One. “They help by saving lives. People come to an (NA) meeting high, you hear about it at every meeting that somebody has overdosed.

People are dying left and right out there now. And it’s the

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 15

Fentanyl.”

“I think that this has become much of my professional life,” says Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon of Hope One and the fight against drug addiction, “and my personal life, too. I’ve been around in the security and law enforcement business going on four decades, and I’ve seen changes occur.”

Gannon in the early 1980s was a Boonton police officer, and often arresting people for possession of heroin.

Heroin at that time was 3% pure. Fast forward to 2019 and that percentage is now at 60 - 65% pure. “New Jersey is showing the purest, due to access to the seaports and the airports. But the real issue here affecting us is more than that. It’s prescription drugs and Fentanyl (opioids pain medication). Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin.”

Gannon and others have seen the spikes in usage and death due to opioid overdosing, and Gannon is aware that roughly 75% of those currently using heroin and fentanyl started

out using prescription drugs with legitimate purpose. “It started with a broken bone or a broken tooth,” says Gannon, “and now it’s ending with a broken heart. I think many times people start with a medical purpose and then they end in a tragic way.”

Gannon, who had been a homicide detective for 17 years and also worked for the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, had never run for public office, but when he started campaigning, he knocked on over 9,000 Morris County doors, asking residents in many communities what they’re biggest concerns were. Drug addiction was near the top. “Everybody talked about opioids, whether it was a mom with a baby on her shoulder, or a grandmother or grandfather. They talked about opioids, how it affected their family, their friends, their colleagues.” In 2018, 3,118 New Jersey residents were killed or died as a result of drug overdose. “These are guys and gals ages 13 to 80 in Morris County. They have families, they have kids - some

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Page 16 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

of them have grandkids! What are we doing about it?”

Gannon was elected and took office on January 2, 2017 and he sprang into further action, convening a team meeting with the Morris County Prosecutor’s office, the Chief’s of Police Association, the Morris County department of Human Services, addiction and mental health specialists, and police officers. All sat around a table as Gannon said, “Listen, if we have a blank piece of canvas, what can we do to curb this problem? What can we do that hasn’t been done before?”

The focus was the at-risk population, the people minus support: the homeless, and those with mental health and addiction issues. But here was the key. Rather than dragging people to what Gannon calls “brick and mortar operations”, he suggested bringing services to them instead.

Then came the van. “I had an old SWAT vehicle,” Gannon says with a smile, “it looks like Anthony’s Bread Truck, right? I was go-

ing to repurpose it and put it somewhere else, but then I said, ‘Let’s use this for Hope One.’ And we did. We took all the police markings off it, there’s no overhead lights on it, there’s no Sheriff’s star on it, there’s not even government license plates. The license plates read ‘Garden State – HOPE ONE’. We needed $15,000 to retro-fit the vehicle for wi-fi, so it could be comfortable, so it could be private, so the heat worked, and things like that – and comfortable to approach.

We took $15,000 from drug forfeiture money; no money from the taxpayer. So, drug dealers are paying for a drug program.”

Hope One, and the qualified folks accompanying it, meet people where they are, geographically and clinically, doing it in a stigma-free manner. “We don’t judge people,” says Gannon. “A guy comes up to us, say he’s 57-years-old like me, and he’s got a long story. We don’t judge people. We say, ‘Hey, let’s have a cup of coffee, let’s have a bun, let’s talk about which services are available to you. Maybe we can help you.’ You can’t force it on anybody,

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people are only ready when they’re ready.

But we start the conversation, we provide people with materials to get them on their way.”

Hope One also will give out toiletry bags, fresh socks, coats, and more.

Gannon and the team also have resources who are treatment providers who can aid the at-risk individual.

In addition to educational material on the truck, people were needed. They’re there, no matter where Hope One pulls up to a curb, table outside the van, a welcoming assortment of buns and smiles greeting folks who wander over.

First, a Sheriff’s officer, Erica Valvano, who Gannon coins the “Mother of Hope One.” “She is totally invested in it. How she does, what she does, I don’t know. I’m very grateful for her, because she makes it all happen.”

Valvano is a Corporal in the Sheriff’s Office. “As coordinator

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In April 2019, Gannon will be starting Hope One PAARI (Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative). “It started out in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and about 45 states are involved right now. We’re going to train police officers in Morris County so that when they’re on patrol, and they see a person who’s in a bad way that’s addicted, they don’t have to wait for the Hope One truck. We can deploy specialists to the police department, free up the police officers and let them

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Page 20 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

get back to their work, and we can deal with that person who has the addiction problem.”

Valvano echoes Gannon’s words about bringing services to the client, and she herself selects the spots the Hope One van visits.

“We are out in the community offering services outside of retail stores throughout the county as well as reaching out to the at-risk community at soup kitchens. I select our locations based on recent overdose data from the Morris County Sheriff’s Trends and Analysis Team (MCSTAT). The Hope One calendar can be found at www. sheriff.morriscountynj.gov/community/hope-one/.

The Hope One benefit is also spreading to other spots of the Garden State. “There has been statewide interest in the Hope One program as well as most recently Delaware reached out for information,”” says Valvano. Hope One has launched in Newark, Monmouth County, Atlantic County and Cape May County. Other interested agencies include Passaic County, Burlington County and Bergen County.”

Madine Despeine, Director of Self Help, Advocacy and Education for the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris County, is also a fixture at Hope One. “As a mental health professional I provide a layer of comfort to individuals who come to the truck as well as offer mental health services to that individual. I con-

nect them to resources such as social groups, therapist, support groups, medication monitoring, case management, housing, etc.

These are services many people don’t know where or how to access.”

The chief mental health challenge is treatment. “We know that most people who have a substance abuse issue also struggles with mental illness. Many people don’t know where they are, how to get in and how to get there once an appointment is scheduled. Through the Mental Health Association, I can connect them to a case management program that can assist with that as well as linking them to other services. The case manager helps with navigating through a system that can be intimidating and overwhelming for an individual especially if he or she is homeless, self-medicating with drugs and/or alcohol, struggling with mental health issues, and feeling helpless.”

Despeine lauds the team she works with. “This is a unique team. We all come from different backgrounds, but we come in contact with the same individuals in our daily work and offer another layer of service/help to him or her. We can have a gentleman just released from the jail that comes to the truck. Kelly (LaBar) will work with someone in recovery but finds out he is struggling with loneliness and depression and will refer

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 21

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Hope One since January 2017 has visited locations 239 times.

“Since we’ve been out, we’ve had contact with over 6,245 people that came up to us and said, ‘Hey listen, I have a friend, colleague or family member who has a problem.

Can I have some information so maybe I can slip it to them, and you can help them.’

Every 10 minutes somebody comes up to that truck and says, ‘Can you help me with something?’ I knew it would work,” says Gannon, “but I never thought it would work to the level it has worked.” him to me. I will then get him involved with some social groups, therapy, the warm line, etc. but he is also struggling financially. He will then go to Ashley (Reed) to see if he qualifies for food stamps and other benefits. We have to work collectively and build our community relationships in order to provide the highest level of services to everyone we help. Sometimes we get parents who are struggling with trying to help their loved one get help but we realize they (the parents) would benefit from some support, therapy and a hug.”

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Page 26 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

open about my recovery both personally and professionally. When I get to help people on Hope One, I want to make sure no one feels the way I did when I was trying to get sober. I want them to know I will help them in whatever path they choose, and recovery is possible at any point. I still am in awe of the fact that I get to go out and help people every day.”

LaBar knows of no key first Fodali agrees that, when step to take, including admitting a family member is you have an issue. “I wish there was a one size fits all solution addicted, the issue goes but getting better is just as indiwell beyond the addict. vidualized as the person. I think fostering a loving, accepting, non-judgmental model for people who are using, like all of us do at CARES, truly leads people to feel empowered in the direction of their lives. Kindness goes a long way.”

Reed represents Family Promise of Morris County, a non-profit agency serving those impacted by homelessness and poverty in Morris County through a continuum of services including outreach, shelter, and housing programs, also aids Hope One. “Family Promise is a proud partner in the Hope One project,” says Maria Fodali, LSW, Coordinator of Outreach Programs.

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Our role is to address the additional needs on the van aside from addiction and mental health, as the needs of our Morris County community members can be broad and multifaceted.”

Family Promise has also kicked off their own mobile van services as well. “From our work with Hope One, and the daily work we do at Our Promise, our DropIn Center location, we received funding to launch our own mobile outreach vehicle in the spring of this year (2019) in partnership with Morris County Human Services – Navigating Hope! Our van, that will travel often in tandem with the Hope One vehicle, will provide case management and a variety of services to low-income and homeless individuals. The van will target hard-toreach communities and populations and is intended to fill traditional gaps in community service provision.”

Fodali agrees that, when a family member is addicted, the issue goes well beyond the addict. “Yes, absolutely. Addiction is simply not an individual problem, it is a family challenge. Families often go through every avenue possible to get their loved ones help and to learn the services available for them. We see

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family members of those suffering from addiction approach the van at shopping centers like Walmart in Boonton, unaware of the Hope One Program, and leave their shopping trip better educated on addiction and recovery, with training on how to administer NARCAN safely, accessible mental health services, and with resources for financial concerns and housing as appropriate. The key to this program is a holistic approach – the whole team ensures that we are addressing challenges in all needed areas and prioritize basic needs, a harm reduction philosophy, so that recovery is not only achieved but also sustainable.”

As of this interview, Hope One since January 2017 has visited locations 239 times. “Since we’ve been out, we’ve had contact with over 6,245 people that came up to us and said, ‘Hey listen, I have a friend, colleague or family member who has a problem.

Can I have some information so maybe I can slip it to them, and you can help them.’ Every 10 minutes somebody comes up to that truck and says, ‘Can you help me with something?’ I knew it would work,” says Gannon, “but I never thought it would work to the level it has worked.”

Gannon also states that over 1,600 people have been trained in the usage of NARCAN. “The kit, the mask, the gloves - we’re giving people second chances. Are we saving their life? For now.

But we’re giving them second chances.”

Purdy now knows how to administer NARCAN should he see someone overdosing. “I’ve been a heroin addict since I was 15 years old; that’s the first time I put a needle in my arm. I’m 62

now., This (NARCAN) was not around when I was younger. There was nothing around.” Purdy’s son is a former heroin addict who has now been clean for seven years. Purdy understands what he went through. “Drugs were part of my culture. My kids can come to me about drugs. I couldn’t go to my parents; they’d wonder what was wrong with you, because it wasn’t part of their culture.

But today it’s gotten out of hand. It really has.”

Purdy’s next step is always to put one foot in front of the other and continue on. He hasn’t done drugs or alcohol for years. “I don’t feel good where drugs are going in this country. It’s a pharmaceutical drug. When I was doing heroin, it was smuggled in.”

Purdy then looked at LaBar, then around inside the heated truck. “This is a fabulous job. they need more of these vans out there. They need more people trained in NARCAN. Maybe there’d be a lot less overdoses.”

Hope One has documented 32 lives have been saved. “So, it’s been wonderful, and I have to say, Morris County’s been great,” says an excited Gannon. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders have embraced this program – they get it, they’re talking to their constituents, I’ve spoken to people in the Assembly, in the Senate, in Congress, I’ve spoken to people across the board who are looking at this program and saying, “Wow. “It’s simple, it has No impact on the budget.”

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Page 28 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

Feet ‘N Beyond Adds Minimum Invasive Surgery to its Comprehensive Foot Care

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By Bonnie Cavanaugh he podiatrists at Feet ‘N Beyond of New Jersey, P.A., are changing up the way they operate – literally – with newer, less-invasive surgery procedures that allow their patients to better plan for, endure, and heal from foot surgeries.

It’s part of the practice’s effort to become the “go-to family foot doctor” for the Warren, Sussex and Morris tri-county area, says Curtis Mack, marketing coordinator for the office.

The practice has been in Hackettstown since April 2008, and moved to its current location on Mountain Ave. in September 2017.

The office operates as a private practice, though it is part of a “super group” of foot specialists across the state called the New Jersey Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons Group (NJPPSG), Mack says. Membership enables the practice to offer new technologies and other perks not normally available to small practices: it accepts all insurances, and allows patients to access its sister locations statewide. Currently there are 15 practices in the NJPPSG, with 32 doctors.

“It’s a better way to provide care to everybody in the community,” says Dr. Helene Nguyen, who shares the Feet ‘N Beyond practice with her husband, Dr. Yong Zhu. Twenty years ago, a foot operation was far more complicated and required the patient to spend from six weeks to three months on crutches; now, a patient can often walk the same day.

Yet health care has become more complicated over the years, especially since the passing of the Affordable Care Act, which included mandated policy changes for the private practitioner, Dr. Nguyen says.

That’s why alliances among caregivers, such as the NJPPSG, can be critical to their operation and their ability to provide the most comprehensive care. “You have to rely on a bigger group [today] for everything from logistics to critical care,” she says. “In the group, we have better support that way.”

“In this day and age, we have information on our fingertips,” she adds. But the technology for minimum invasive surgery in foot care hasn’t always been cost effective for practitioners or patients.

She describes this procedure as an alternate way to complete traditional surgeries, with a quicker recovery time. The practitioner can now correct bone alignment through “a very tiny incision,” allowing the patient to recover faster and have less pain during the recovery period.

“We want to focus on this now more so than we have been doing,” she says.

Minimum invasive surgery can be done either at a surgical center or in the office, either of which would be more cost effective for the patient. Otherwise, fees for hospital use, a surgeon, and an anesthesiologist “can be overwhelming” for the patient, she adds.

Although Feet ‘N Beyond treats every age group from little ones to the elderly, the type of patient tends to vary with the seasons, Dr. Nguyen says.

“In the springtime, kids become more active in after-school sports,” she says. “Then in summer, there’s summer camp.”

Children are involved in athletics “much more so” today than a few years ago, and that puts extra stress on their growing feet.

“Constant sports can affect the way they walk,” she says. Usually a coach or trainer will notice if a player is walking or running incorrectly; sometimes the parents will notice.

“Usually, it’s not the parents calling, but the grandparents who come to us,” Dr. Nguyen says. “They notice their grandchildren are not running right.”

In autumn, Feet ‘N Beyond begins to see more adult patients, especially middle aged adults, who’ve been barefoot or wearing sandals or flip-flops all summer. Switching to closed-toe shoes can reveal heel pain, hammertoes and a host of different conditions, she says.

Each patient benefits from medical technologies the practice uses that sets it apart from other foot clinics, Mack says. One is laser technology as an advanced treatment in clearing toenail fungus, which does not require the patient to take any medications after the procedure—very important for patients who may have multiple medical issues and already use prescription medicines, he says.

The clinic also provides in-office testing for nerve and circulation damage; a secure Patient Portal, where patients can access their health records, schedule appointments and check lab results; and shockwave therapy for chronic heel pain syndrome or plantar fasciitis, and other tendonitis conditions.

Dr. Nguyen hopes the clinic’s future brings them more advanced technologies as they are perfected, so she and Dr. Zhu can do more to help their patients.

“The human mind is continually evolving and inventing better technologies,” she says. “I tell most of my patients that if we live long enough, there’s going to be so much more advanced technologies out there for our office to utilize.”

Social media has also made it easier for patients to keep up with events, health tips, and announcements from Feet ‘N Beyond; which can be accesed on all major social media platforms.

Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 29

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Page 30 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

Stylist Transforming Lives One Haircut at A Time

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Wharton hair stylist and salon owner is doing her part to help women become the best version of themselves.

Amy Murphy has 14 years in the business and was attending beauty school when she was only in high school.

From there, she worked in three local salons before opening her first out of her home in the highlands of Morris County.

That’s where Murphy does hair, nails, facials and waxing three days a week by appointment only for her longtime clients.

The stylist needed something bigger, so in November 2014 she decided to expand and bought Entourage Salon.

She heads up there on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to do administrative work for the business.

Murphy says she never would have done well in a departmentalized salon. “Where you go to a colorist to do your color, then a stylist to cut your hair and a nail tech to do your nails,” she says.

“There’s all these different hands in everybody’s work.”

She prides herself on being able to offer all their services under one roof.

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Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 31

ly well and that works for them and their clients. I enjoy being open seven days a week, flexible hours and times. We take walk-ins and appointments, so I love that we’re able to cater to many different kinds of people.”

The salon definitely fits into Joanna Maglio’s life. “I have used many of the stylists with a great experience each time.

From waxing, nails and pedicures to haircuts, color or a simple blowout. I would highly recommend Entourage to anyone who wants to be beautiful,” says the Roxbury teacher’s aide.

Everything fell into place and seemed like a good fit when Murphy opened. She has some of the original team, as well as some new people and says it’s been going well.

“I think that a lot of people think that they want to open their own salon,” she says. “But they don’t realize how hard it is, and I’ve seen a lot of people who are good hair dressers but not good owners or vice versa.”

According to the stylist, she has changed throughout her career.

“I’m very type A, meticulous about the way that I do things — sanitation, cleanliness, disinfection. My clients laugh that they could eat out of my pedicure tub,” Murphy says.

She says, it’s very hard for her to work hard on building something and then have other people not take care of it the way that she would.

“I just needed to have everything myself — to be the only person who could make a mess and no one to complain about it,” the stylist says.

While on maternity leave Murphy entrusted her clients to her Level 2 stylist, Dani and it was then that she realized she was able to give up some control.

“There are other people like me out there who do a good job and take care of their surroundings,” she says.

Her goal was to create a space where she could have like-minded people and coach them to success.

Now Murphy enjoys sharing her knowledge with the staff and watching them grow in their careers.

“I’m really proud to see that we have stylists that are good with kids, stylists good with the older clientele, stylists good with short hair, stylists good with men, stylists good with the trendier color techniques, and stylists good for updo’s, bridal and makeup.”

So there’s really someone for everyone, according to Murphy. Whoever walks in the door she’s confident in recommending one of her stylists and knows they will do a fantastic job.

“I’m just constantly amazed and impressed and proud of the talent we have in the salon,” she says.

Murphy is constantly helping them (and herself) learn and evolve by offering continuing education classes in style, technique, even social media on how to promote your brand.

Catherine Regenthal loves Entourage because she says one is always treated like family.

“I can go in and tell Dani exactly what I want and she makes my hair perfect (even better than the pictures),” says Regenthal, of Green Township. “I am so glad I walked in a few years back for a cut and color.”

If you’re new to town and left your fave stylist behind, who can you trust with your tresses?

“I’d say the best place to start when you’re new to an area is word of mouth,” Murphy says. “That is definitely our biggest referral. I think it’s also important to tell people what you’re looking for.”

And she lets the work speak for itself.

She starts by asking a potential client questions: how do you maintain your hair, what kind of color do you like, do you want something low maintenance, what’s your style.

“So when a client comes in not only do they have a choice based on their look and what kind of services they need, but also what their budget allows.”

After years of using other salons, Marilyn Ryan found Entourage and couldn’t be happier.

“The new owner and stylists are experts in color, cutting and styling,” says Ryan, a retired AT&T manager, from Hackettstown.

“Their prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.”

“Entourage is the best salon in the area. When I leave there my hair looks beautiful.”

The guest experience is what they remember.

“It’s not just about cutting hair, it’s about the way you make people feel,” Murphy says.

Page 32 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

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Page 34 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

Graphic Image Inc. Celebrates 40 Years in Business

1

Stefanie Sears 978 was a great year for business and pop culture.

Home Depot was founded, Ben & Jerry’s opened their first ice cream parlor, and movies and television shows such as Grease, Saturday Night Fever (along with the Bee Gee’s smash hit “Stayin Alive”), Animal House, “Laverne & Shirley,” “Three’s Company,” and “Mork & Mindy” reached the height of popularity.

Looks like Budd Lake’s Graphic Image Inc., a woman-owned company that is celebrating its 40-year anniversary, is in good company.

“I am proud to be a woman-owned business since 1978, when we were very few in number and almost non-existent in the print production industry. I attended Rutgers College in New Brunswick and was admitted in only the second female graduating class, so I guess I am used to being a pioneering female,” says Graphic Image Inc. owner Claudia Ehrgott.

In 2017 Graphic Image Inc. was certified with a Woman-Owned Business Certification.

1

ATTENTION

BUSINESS OWNERS...

The Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for Business Person of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year, with the recipients to be honored at the organization’s 64th Anniversary Awards Dinner in June.

Nominations must be sent in by May 6. For a nomination form, go to http://mountolivechambernj.com/awards/ or check out the chamber website for general information, www.MountOliveChamberNJ.com.

You can also email nominations with pertinent information about the nominees to: president@mountolivechambernj.com.

For full meeting and events schedule, visit www.mountolivechambernj.com

Marketing in the Morning • Lunch and Learns Women in Business • Young Professional Group

Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 35

Ehrgott initially wanted to get into publishing and graduated with a BA in Mass Communications. As a student at Rutgers, she was introduced to typesetting and layout when she worked at

the school’s Daily Targum newspaper. She took some graphic design and photography classes and in senior year, she began working for a marketing agency in East Brunswick. Her boss then encouraged her to open up her own business when she got married and moved to Mt. Olive in 1977.

Ehrgott founded Graphic Image Inc. in November 1978 under the name GraphicType Inc. and provided typesetting and layout services for advertising agencies and printers. She used the Quadritek 1200 phototypesetter, paste up table, typesetting and mechanicals service for trade-only clients.

Back then the business was stationed in her home office and her husband Glenn worked with her briefly from 1981 to 1988 before returning to the family power equipment business. They eventually moved to their current location in Budd Lake in 1985/1986.

“We have adapted to changes in technology and strived to focus on excellent customer service by staying small and client-focused,” she says.

Changes in technology ultimately led to the compa-

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ny’s eventual name change in 1990. Such changes included Agfa imagesetter connected to Apple (Mac) desktop computers for page-layout direct to film capability and Ricoh networked color laser printer/copier.

More changes planned for the near future are updating their website, which was first launched back in 2003, and increasing their social media presence as well as increasing consulting on special projects.

Ehrgott believes that her longtime success is attributed to a combination of providing the services and the quality clients are looking for and doing so in a timely manner with competitive pricing. Her main clientele is mainly located within a 45-mile point of Mt. Olive, stretching east to New York City, and south to Somerset County and includes corporate, medium sized and small businesses as well as ad agencies and graphic designers.

However, they are also able to ship internationally and coordinate with out-of-state vendors to produce material closer to the final destination.

“What makes us unique is that we are owner-operated and provide personal attention to every project, large and small,” says Ehrgott, “A smaller, hard-working, professional staff ensures continuity and knowing who a client is and what they do when they call. While our services are broad, we try to bring our experience and intelligent approach to all of them. While we handle the gamut of business card, brochures, banners, etc. Our specialty is creating unique solutions to challenges that are not always

cookie-cutter projects.”

“When you have a requirement, just turn it over to us and we will take it from there to complete it to your satisfaction,” explains Ehrgott, “Clients sometimes know they want to do something different and may have a general idea so we help them accomplish their goals by researching and creating unique finished products. These can be a combination of print, wearable or promotional items and displays. Applications can be corporate, trade show or retail centered. Occasions such as product launches, sales meetings or incentive contests and training programs are all areas where we have assisted. We can also handle packaging and fulfillment in cases where the products must be shipped to various locations.”

“Consider it done.” That is Graphic Image Inc.’s motto, after all. According to a video on the company’s website, they take pride in helping their clients’ brand images with “creative, effective solutions” and “fast, accurate production,” and therefore forming a relationship with their clients’ brands.

“There are so many great memories from the past 40 years, it is hard to choose one,” says Ehrgott, “I am proud to have been on the ground-floor of expanding the marketing and educational endeavors of the National Kitchen and Bath Association in Hackettstown in the 1980s to 1990s. Working on trade show coordination and with authors, industry professionals, and administration on marketing and educational materials was an amazing growth experience.”

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Page 38 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

NJStarz Jessica Vosk Hometown: Clinton, NJ

J

By Stefanie Sears essica Vosk of Clinton is the most recent woman inducted into the “Green Girl Sisterhood,” a collective term referred to all of the women who have shared one such green-skinned role, as she performs as the iconic Elphaba in the Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz Broadway musical Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.

Her interest in the arts began when she was about three or four years old when she was exposed to her father’s musical nature. He had a band when he was in his 30s, so he taught her about harmo- Ryan McCartan and Jessica Vosk nies and how to sing.

Photo by Joan Marcus (2018) “I’ve been a huge fan of records, rock music and pop music. I grew up singing in the living room with my dad,” Vosk explains, “Those memories, they click. Music was such a huge part of my life. I will always say and still feel to this day that music completely changes people and can be emotionally helpful with people going through any moment of their life.”

She then got into community theater at 7 or 8 years old.

When she was in fourth grade, she performed in the Carole King show Really Rosie. This was the experience that really ignited the fire within her.

“It was probably the first time that I got a laugh from the audience onstage. I was like, ‘This is addictive. This is something

that I can do that can help people.’ From then on, the rest was history. It was all I wanted to do.”

However, she did not start off her professional career this way. Though she did want to look into musical theater programs for college, she eventually obtained a degree in Communications and Public and Investor Relations at Montclair State University.

Vosk’s decision here was pretty typical for those in her position. The common thought process is that a career in the arts industry is not very financially stable so one must find a more grounded path.

“My parents said to choose something different, so that’s when I decided to go to Montclair State and do a complete 180 from the musical theater world and dive right into a communications major and a specialty in investor relations,” Vosk says.

Before she even graduated, she got a job at an investor relations firm in midtown Manhattan.

“It was the idea of this is how I’m going to take care of myself and my parents won’t have to support me and they’ll be proud of the fact that I’m doing a real people job and it won’t be so much of a struggle figuring out how to break into the Broadway career.”

In the end, however, she realized that this did not make her happy, but she does not regret it.

1

Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 39

“I barreled along for almost three years at that job and didn’t sing or do musical theater or see any theater that whole time,” says Vosk, “At the end of the day, I think that if I didn’t do that financial path, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am right now or reached the level of success that I’m working with right now.

In essence, it’s all a business and to have learned the business world first was kind of a blessing. Without that experience, I would never be here right now. I wouldn’t be as knowledgeable about business decisions that I make. I wouldn’t be as confident.”

Vosk was performing in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway when she found out that she had booked Elphaba for the national tour and ended up touring for about 13 months in 2016 and 2017.

“It was a whirlwind. I toured the country and it was a huge learning experience of how to take care of yourself. The role itself is the hardest role a female could play these days. She’s a beast in every way, shape, and form physically, vocally, mentally.

She never leaves the stage. You can really learn a lot about yourself and what you’re capable of. I had crossed my fingers when I left the tour. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to play her on Broadway.”

However, Vosk was welcomed on board just in time for the Wicked 15th Anniversary and she made her Elphaba Broadway debut on July 16, 2018. The newest addition in a long line of Elphaba’s, she has huge shoes to fill, and some of her befriended predecessors in the “Green Girl Sisterhood” have guided her along the way.

“There’s something really special about being able to say to somebody, ‘I understand, and I get it. I know exactly what the role is and exactly what you’re going through.’ Because unless you’ve played it, you have no idea.”

Vosk credits Julia Murney, who is one of the first women to have played Elphaba both on tour (2006) and Broadway (2007), as one such previous actress and friend of Vosk to have given her advice. Another is Idina Menzel’s initial successor Shoshana Bean, whom also played the role both on tour (2006) and on Broadway (2005). Vosk refers to Bean as a “fierce vocalist.”

“It’s just the kind of thing when you run into each other and you say, ‘You know what? If you need anything, I got you.’ She’s wonderful that way. Mandy Gonzalez, the same thing. They all have different advice because everybody’s experience is different, but at the end of the day, the difficulties are the same, so it’s nice to be able to bond with people over that. Even the ones who I have not had a chance to meet, I just think that all the women are just fierce lady bosses. There is a strength that comes with playing this role that sometimes you don’t realize until you’re in it or when you’re done with it.”

Therefore, Vosk’s “beast” description of Elphaba is seemingly accurate and appropriate. From the moment of Elphaba’s conception in the show, it is her against her world because of prejudgments due to her skin color. As a result, Elphaba’s powerful vocals, especially in such numbers as Defying Gravity and No Good Deed that emphasize the character’s sense of relying on herself and no one else, are especially poignant.

1

Page 40 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

Because of this, Vosk acknowledges that the role can be vocally challenging, so she keeps her vocals trained for this by equating preparing for a role of Elphaba’s stature to preparing for the Olympics.

“I’m a very big vocal health advocate,” she explains, “Before I had done Elphaba on tour, I trained physically because the voice muscles are very athletic.

You have to really train physically first and that strengthens the voice. That is in my opinion what Elphaba and taking on that role is about.

If you’re going to be in the Wicked, Jessica Vosk Olympics as a sprinter, then Photo by Joan Marcus (2018) you’re going to be training for a long time to be able to sprint as fast as you possibly can and long as you possibly can. For me, I was classically trained, which lends itself really well when you have to belt these kinds of things. I approach it from a classically healthy way versus just yelling. That’ll hurt you. You won’t be able to do 8 shows a week.”

The fact that Wicked has remained a relevant part of theater culture after all these years is certainly telling of the impact that it has had. Vosk believes that the role of Elphaba and her portrayal of her have evolved with the times.

“It was written at a time when it was a very different political climate. Fifteen years later, now that we’re in this climate, it takes on a completely new meaning. I often get the question of do we change some of the lines in the show to represent our current society, and the answer is no. Wherever we are sociologically and societally, it makes sense still. It’s completely something that people come to and they’re very surprised. I think that’s why it’s lasted so long. If you think it’s just because young girls are going to come and see these two women portraying roles that they want to be one day, yes, that is one of the reasons why the show has lasted so long. But also, I get parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who have come to see the show and say ‘Wow. I had no idea that this would touch me in such a way.’ You don’t see a show that’s run 15 years and that’s still able to captivate thousands of people every single night.”

In the musical, Elphaba is constantly ostracized and bullied because of her appearance. Vosk, who was bullied herself growing up, now witnesses how behind the screen bullying has become more rampant, so she uses Elphaba as a symbol for overcoming these hardships.

“It’s very hard to be the only green person onstage. Since I took the role on, that’s something that I take very seriously. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be the only different one. It’s very important for me to play a role where I am clearly the only one

with a different color skin and treated badly because of it. It’s very important for me to advocate as much as I can for anybody who feels that they are the only different one or that they keep making mistakes or they can’t seem to get it right or they feel like they are being bullied all the time. If I could take on a platform, that would be what it is, to say ‘It is okay to be yourself. If you can be okay with who you are, then everybody else has to be okay with who you are.

No apologies necessary.’”

Now, after 15 years onstage, Wicked is getting a movie adaptation in 2021.

“I think it’s kind of cool. It would be neat to see it on the big screen and be cool to see the aspect of the show that we’ve done come to life. It’s really cool when it comes down to making a film to see more of the behind the scenes stuff.”

Could Vosk possibly be in the running of playing the leading lady onscreen?

“In my wildest dreams, that would be great, but I’m sure that at the end of the day, big names sell tickets to the movies,” she says, “As much as I would love to do it, and if you put me in the role of one of the Munchkins in the movie I would do it, but the likelihood of that happening is probably no.”

That is okay though, because Vosk is keeping herself busy with other personal projects. In August 2018, she released her own debut solo album called Wild and Free. In it she offers a variety of songs in the Broadway, pop, and rock genres. Fans funded it on Kickstarter in 72 hours and it hit 4 Billboard charts and rose to #16 on iTunes.

“I’m a recording artist at heart,” says Vosk, “I love taking emotion and relaying it through song. Not everyone can get to a Broadway show, but everyone can listen to an album, which I consider my best and most personal project yet. There will be another when I am done with my time at ‘Wicked.’ I’m planning to tour the album as well.”

In addition to her music, another endeavor Vosk would love to partake in if given the chance is the role of Fanny Brice, originated by Barbra Streisand, in the musical Funny Girl. She would also love to originate a role herself.

“Playing Elphaba is one of the coolest things I will have ever done,” says Vosk, “You always hope that there is a show that hasn’t been written yet where you can create and make it your own and become known for a role that you’ve created. There’s something fun in that. That’s the cool thing about this business.

You never know what is going to come your way.”

Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 41

VASA Park: A Scandinavian Gem in Mt. Olive

Recently, three members of VASA Park, Hanright and Helen and Arthur Haumacher of Tranquility, sat down in the park’s archive room and shared the past and present of the park.

I

By Elsie Walker came here from Sweden and have been here 40 years.

I’ve been a VASA member for 20 years. Vasa Park is a community. Many of the people here now are third and fourth generation; people have met and married here.

I think everyone here sees it as a big family,” said Inger Handright, of Mt. Olive, more specifically of VASA Park in Mt. Olive.

What was to originally be an “old people’s” home for VASA lodge members, became a place where members could come and socialize and eventually live. It is a place where the Scandinavian heritage is celebrated and passed on to new generations and shared with the public through events during the year.

Known as VASA Park, its official name is New Jersey VASA Home.

Located on Wolfe Road in Budd Lake, it is the cultural center for the VASA lodges in New Jersey.

Recently, three members of VASA Park, Hanright and Helen and Arthur Haumacher of Tranquility, sat down in the park’s archive room and shared the past and present of the park.

“

The VASA Order of America is a Swedish Fraternal organization; VASA orders are also found in Sweden and Canada. The VASA Order of America was started in 1897 as Swedish immigrants looked for others like themselves, with the same language and culture. Men’s working groups developed. Within New Jersey, the number of such groups grew, with lodges in various parts of the state. In the 1920’s the lodges got to thinking about what would happen to them in old age. In 1929, lodges in NJ District #6 had a meeting. Helen Haumacher explained that it was decided that an old people’s home would be built and in 1936 someone found a farm in Mt. Olive for the lodges to purchase. The cost of the 126-acre farm was approximately $5,400. That included a couple of cabins, chicken coops and the white farmhouse that still stands today and is over 250 years old.

Men from the different VASA lodges would come to the site after work or when they had free time to volunteer in building on the site. The women would come and support them by cooking meals. The first thing built was a dance floor. From there, building continued to include washrooms and a temporary kitchen

Page 42 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

and bar and eventually much more. As for the “old people’s home”, it never got built.

“They were too busy having fun,” said Helen Haumacher a 62-year member of VASA park. After the long trip many made to get to the park from various areas of New Jersey, people just wanted to relax and that was the reason the dance pavilion was the first thing built.

People would have fun and pitch tents and camp overnight.

In 1937, a big picnic was held as a fundraiser with over 1000 people attending. It was through the efforts and financial support of lodge members that VASA park grew and still continues to do so. Over the years, things were added to the VASA Park location, such as a pool, a children’s play area (today with a children’s size “ship” in which to play), horseshoe pits, and more. The attractiveness of the area moved some members to want to have summer homes there. Lots were created which could be leased and on which members could build summer homes.

Helen Hanmacher noted that the place “quickly became attractive” and known for its “comradery and fun”. Eventually, some members decided they wanted to make VASA Park their permanent home, and in 1952, the first yearround house came to be. As time went on, more summer homes became permanent homes, as members of various lodges now called VASA Park “home”.

In 1980 disaster struck, as a fire, the result of arson, ravaged

the dining room and dance floor. However, the community came together and decided to rebuild, making the new building the cultural center of the park. The new building, dedicated in 1983, has a meeting room, complete bar, kitchen, rest rooms, and an archives room of the park’s history.

Another thing that changed over time was that the population was no longer just Swedish; Hanright noted that today its approximately 1000 membership represents those of Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia heritage.

VASA Park became the cultural center for lodges in this NJ District.

VASA Park keeps the Scandinavian heritage alive through various members only events and passing on traditions to new generations. There is a children’s club where folk dancing is taught, cultural programs given, and children are taught Scandinavian Christmas songs.

Each year, there is a Lucia’s program. “It is a very Scandinavian thing,” said Hanright.

The program is done on December13th, the darkest day in Sweden, the winter solstice. A Lucia pageant includes a procession headed by a girl with a headdress of candles personifying light and warmth, and other children follow in various costumes.

For Arthur Haumacher, the importance of membership is passing on his wife’s heritage. He pictures his granddaughter as one day being Lucia in the yearly procession.

Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 43

New Jersey VASA Home is truly about community and sharing a heritage, not only with those who are part of it, but those who want to be a part of its culture, if just for a day.

For more information on VASA Park, see its website at www.vasaparknj.com.

VASA Park not only keeps Scandinavian traditions alive for its membership but shares them with non-members through events offered to the public.

In June, there is summer solstice event with dancing around the Maypole, children performing, and food.

This September will mark the 35th anniversary of its biggest event: Scandinavian Fest. Held on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, the event celebrates and shares the Scandinavian heritage. About 4000-7000 people attend the fest which involves a good deal of Scandinavian fun, food, music and dance. Most of the VASA lodges do fundraisers, such as selling dishes like Swedish pea soup. There are vendors selling goods. There are various events, one of which has drawn quite a crowd in the past. Arthur Haumacher shared that in the wife-carrying contest, a man will carry his wife through an obstacle course. “The prize [for the winner] is the woman’s weight in beer,” he said. That weight is determined by putting the woman on one side of a seesaw and beer on the other. This year, Scandinavian Fest will be held on September 1st, rain or shine. Tickets for the festival go on sale in July. For more information, see its website at www.scanfest. org/festset/index.cfm. Those interested in becoming a member

of VASA Order of America can find information at the fest. To be a member, one has to have a sponsor. Information on the various lodges can be found at www.vasaparknj.com.

A holiday shopping event is held in the fall: the Jul Bazaar. This Christmas bazaar features items from Scandinavia and handiwork of those with Scandinavian heritage. On sale are packaged goods and baking items specific to Scandinavian cooking and baking. In addition, there are baked goods such as limpa (ryebread) and there’s traditional lingonberry jam. In addition to the shopping, there is a Swedish meatball lunch.

In addition to Scandinavian events, VASA Park is the site of a Vet’s Summer Festival to benefit Operation Chillout, an organization which helps homeless veterans. The event has live music, crafts, food, a car show, and a kids’ zone. As part of its outreach, the park does not charge the veteran’s organization for the use of the park for its festival.

New Jersey VASA Home is truly about community and sharing a heritage, not only with those who are part of it, but those who want to be a part of its culture, if just for a day. For more information on VASA Park, see its website at www.vasaparknj.com.

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Page 44 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

The Growing Stage Promises A Good Time to Audiences Young and Old Their mission is “to create a professional theatre company at which young people and their families could grow through the performing arts.”

I

By Stefanie Sears n March 2019, The Growing Stage: The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey located in Netcong prepares for its production of “Curious George: The Golden Meatball,” directed by Marketing Director Danny Campos and ran on the main stage from March 15-31.

The shows here are all strictly family and child friendly and have been so since its conception.

Their mission is “to create a professional theatre company at which young people and their families could grow through the performing arts.”

“The Growing Stage is the only professional theatre company solely dedicated to young people and their families that has its own facility,” says The Growing Stage’s Founder/Executive Director Stephen L. Fredericks, “We are a member theatre of the Association of Actor’s Equity, and by being so we strive to produce quality theatrical experiences that can be appreciated and enjoyed by the entire family. Our Main Stage productions are unique in that we have adult artists work alongside young people in age-appropriate roles, providing them with a unique educational opportunity not found anywhere else in our state.”

Inspiration hit Fredericks after taking a Theatre for Young Audiences class at Arizona State University and meeting his mentor Don Doyl. Upon graduation, he debated about graduate school but opted to pursue The Growing Stage instead.

Thanks to the Chester Theatre Group, The Growing Stage’s history began in 1982 when they first opened with a show called

“Code Breaker” at the Black River Playhouse in Chester.

However, “growing” is a key word here, for expansion was eventually crucial. They then took residence in the Williamson School building, which was owned by Chester Township, Chester Borough, and the Chester Board of Education, but realized that they could not keep that as their permanent home.

“We couldn’t afford their collective asking price, which started us on our journey to find the Palace,” explains Fredericks.

The Growing Stage has resided within the former Palace Theatre’s walls since 1995.

The historic Palace Theatre was built in 1919 and served as an entertainment venue such as a silent movie and vaudeville house in its earliest years but had eventually fallen on hard times after the 1960s. From 1981 until 1994, it was a warehouse for a moving company until The Growing Stage purchased it in May 1995. Their first show there was “The Wizard of Oz” for which they received 1,200 audience members for six performances.

“At the time, The Growing Stage was in need of a home and the Palace Theatre was in need of a miracle – fortunately the two just came together naturally,” says Fredericks, “As an organization, the renovation and restoration of our home, the Palace Theatre has been a huge project.”

The Growing Stage has raised and invested over $3 million dollars back into the facility over the last 24 years.

“While this has been a great accomplishment though, providing our region with this unique performing arts resource has been our most rewarding, especially when you see the joy in the faces of our families after seeing one of our productions,” Fredericks adds.

In addition to “Curious George,” this year’s season also included “The Wizard of Oz” (a Growing Stage regular), “Babes in Toyland,” “John Henry,” and “A Better Place to Be.” In May they will be presenting “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.”

The Growing Stage is always looking for new ways to improve the theater experiences of their patrons. This spring they are planning three-hour Broadway Master Class Workshops for high school students led by Broadway artists. Also, this season they are

1

Mt. Olive Life • April 2019 • Page 45

adding Sensory Friendly performances for both “Curious George” and “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” Sensory friendly accommodations include dimmed house lights to give patrons the ability to move around and exit the theatre easily, bring your own snacks and drinks, limited crowds with open seating to allow space, reduced and consistent sound levels, designated “Quiet Areas,” and permission to use tablets and smartphones for communication.

“We’re always looking to increase our accessibility services to our patrons and as a children’s theatre, sensory friendly performances was always something we wanted to offer, so we were able to obtain funding for it through the New Jersey Theatre Alli-

ance’s Stages Festival,” explains Campos, “Again, as the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, we want to be able to provide theatre for the entire family. Accommodations are based on what other theatres have done, we’ve also attended workshops on sensory friendly productions too.”

Along with the Main Stage productions, throughout the school year The Growing Stage also offers a full range of educational programming, such as school performances and special events. Their most popular is the Summer Arts Day Camp.

The Growing Stage Summer Arts Day Camp program is designed for children entering kindergarten in the fall through stu-

1

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Page 46 • April 2019 • Mt. Olive Life

dents who have completed eighth grade by the June prior. Like the theatre’s common goals, the purpose of the Summer Arts Day Camp is to expose the youth to the performing arts and creative collaboration. This year’s Summer Arts Day Camp will take place July 8 to August 16.

The Growing Stage’s seasons always take into consideration the different age groups of their audiences and include a holiday themed show as well as a brand-new piece delivered through their New Play-Reading Festival, for which Campos serves as Director. Playwrights are welcome to submit their work.

“We’re looking for something aimed at young audiences that is fresh, new, exciting. New voices that we haven’t seen or heard on our stage yet,” Campos says.

In fact, there are plenty of opportunities for the community to get involved with The Growing Stage, such as costume and set construction, working backstage, ushering, selling concessions, distributing marketing materials, and assisting in the office or at special events.

On April 7, The Growing Stage hosted A Party at the Palace to kick off the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Palace Theatre.

“This adult only party supports the ongoing efforts of our theatre as well as ensures the rich history of our home, The Palace Theatre, only keeps getting written,” says Fredericks.

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