Mt Olive Life August 2019

Vol. 2 • No. 8 • August 2019

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Singer Dana Fuchs is scheduled to perform at this year’s event

Homeless Vet Outreach Group Looks Forward to Vets Summer Fest 2019 Anthony DeStefano jamming out with his band B-Sides

Saturday, Aug. 10

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Homeless Vet Outreach Group Looks Forward to Vets Summer Fest 2019

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By Anya Bochman

ith the news cycle currently dominated by Democratic primary candidates, it’s impossible not to hear at least several plans and promises for helping the American veteran population.

Yet it’s an issue that often doesn’t get enough attention, or at the very least is fraught with public misconceptions. For instance, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 555 veterans experienced homelessness on any given day in 2018 in New Jersey. But Ray Chimileski, of Long Valley, founder and executive director of Operation Chillout (OCO), figures the true number is actually greater.

“Recently, we’ve had more requests for help [from homeless veterans] than ever,” Chimileski said. “It’s certainly not something you’d read about in the papers.”

Chimileski, who has background in domestic counter intelligence, explains this rise in homelessness in several ways. For one, the original generation of Vietnam vets that his organization helped at its inception is aging and requiring ever more care, such as placement in nursing homes. The younger veterans of wars in the Middle East are getting diagnosed with ailments such as PTSD quicker, but not necessarily receiving the proper aid they need following the diagnosis.

As a result, there is a generational shift in younger veterans who are in need and have never experienced homelessness before. And unlike some of the older Vietnam veterans who have unfortunately gotten accustomed to chronic homelessness and developed certain survival skills, these younger men and women are truly out of their depth.

“A vet who has nowhere to go but is currently in a hospital for PTSD or injury is still homeless, but those numbers are often not counted,” Chimileski said.

Chimileski founded OCO on December 21, 2000 with several friends, after encountering a group of homeless Vietnam veterans living in the open under a railroad trestle in northern New Jersey. When asked how they could be of help, Chimileski’s group was told, simply, “It’s cold.” Immediately recognizing the need, the incipient OCO took it upon itself to collect warm clothing and other survival supplies.

From there, the organization grew, becoming a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2011. Its mission is hinged upon recognizing the inherent worth of every homeless person and providing emergency supplies and survival gear to the most vulnerable members of the community without regard to religious affiliation, ethnic heritage or state of life.

The all-volunteer outreach organization is dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness for veterans throughout New Jersey and parts of North East Pennsylvania by promoting awareness of the multifaceted nature of poverty; advocating for sustainable solutions and programs serving the needs of the poor, addicted, abused and homeless; organizing for peace and economic justice to address systemic inequities challenging impoverished communities; and engaging in direct compassionate action including the collection, dissemination and delivery of supplies to homeless people and the agencies that provide for their temporary care.

One of the tasks before the OCO is seeking out veterans on the streets, many of whom now face acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as other chronic illnesses, and are a group represented heavily amongst the general homeless population.

Anthony DeStefano, who was a Major in the U.S. Army and had served for 24 years, is OCO’s Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator.

His primary task is finding the homeless veterans in need, and providing appropriate help – whether through clothing donation or transport to medical facilities and housing.

Combat PTSD is something DeStefano, of Hackettstown, is intimately familiar with, as he acquired the condition while serving in Iraq and was officially diagnosed with it following his honorable discharge from the military in 2006.

“I met [Chimileski] in 2007 shortly after I was discharged and was suffering from PTSD,” DeStefano said of his original involvement with OCO. “I needed something for catharsis and to turn my life around.”

A crucial aspect of OCO that both DeStefano and Chimileski depend on is the annual Vets Summer Fest, which is the organization’s largest fundraiser. Held this year on Saturday, Aug. 10, the festival provides OCO with funding that enables it to undertake its seasonal outreach campaigns. For instance, in 2018, OCO provided 35,000 bottles of water and 25,000 backpacks to the homeless veteran population.

Such supplies are more crucial than the public may initially understand. As a sobering example, Chimileski recalled an incident ten years ago when a homeless vet died after drinking water from the Hackensack River during the summer, a tragedy that could have been avoided if he had access to clean drinking water.

“We get five new calls a day on our rapid response helpline from homeless veterans in the summer,” Chimileski said. “If all the people we have helped so far stood together holding hands, they would form a line 21 miles long.”

Another initiative that OCO has recently taken up is tiny homes for homeless vets. Many veterans face challenges returning from military service - finding a decent job, making a living wage, reintegrating back to civilian life, navigating the maze of support service providers, as well as physical and emotional stress. Many veterans cannot sustain incomes needed for their own homes or apartments, lapsing into homelessness. OCO’s Tiny Home program offers an affordable, healthy and respectful alternative to shelters, halfway houses and unsafe community living arrangements.

In lieu of full state support for veteran housing, these energy-efficient domiciles are a true step towards independent living. The recent recipient of such a home is a young vet who Chimileski described as having overcome addiction and gotten “his head on straight.”

“This is the population we serve, and we wish them a lot of luck,” Chimileski said, while pointing out that contrary to public perception, most vets who struggle with substance abuse do so as a result of accidental addiction to opiate pain killers following legitimate treatment.

“It’s a myth that [homeless veterans] take drugs,” Chimileski said.

“Most end up where they are due to economic and psychological reasons.”

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Don’t Let Allergies Get The Best Of You This Season

don’t know about you, but I’m thinking spring cannot come soon enough… especially after the unexpected, late season, blizzards! Spring brings longer days, budding flowers, sunshine and warmer weather. Along with the beautiful flowers, spring also brings pollen and allergens! For some, these allergens can wreak havoc. If you’re someone who suffers from allergies, you might dread the spring season. Seasonal allergies can cause a multitude of nagging symptoms including: runny nose, itchy and/or red irritated eyes, stuffy nose/congestion, sneezing, scratchy throat and itchiness. If you suffer from any of the above, I’m here to tell you that there is a solution! Believe it or not, Acupuncture can help you to enjoy the spring again!

So, you might be asking how can Acupuncture help? Acupuncture relieves symptoms of allergies by diminishing the body’s inflammatory response, without the unwanted side effects. It helps to open nasal passages, reduces sinus pressure, calms itching, decreases throat pain,

coughing and sneezing.

Here’s the catch… it’s always best to begin treatment before the season begins. It is better to prevent symptoms then try to tackle them when they are in full effect.

In addition to Acupuncture treatment, you can help yourself at home with these simple tips: Flush out allergens with a Neti pot, keep windows closed to prevent al-

lergens from entering your home, try an air filter, vacuum and dust often to eliminate pollen in your home, eat local honey daily, take an omega-3 supplement, boost immunity by eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies and eliminate processed foods.

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The essence of OCO is rapid response – it has a helpline equipped to handle emergency requests for help. Though Chimileski explained that the organization’s focus is on immediate problems which differentiates it from groups that offer case management over time, it’s impossible for those involved – an all-volunteer staff – not to notice certain trends.

For this reason, OCO has molded itself to certain ideals.

“Our philosophy is early intervention,” Chimileski stated. “Today we still see Vietnam vets who have been on the streets for decades and at this point, will never not be homeless. So we try to intervene early with the younger generation of veterans.”

The Vets Summer Fest makes much of this intervention and support possible. “[Chimileski] calls it a picnic, but it’s a really great festival,” DeStefano said. “There are live bands, tents and food vendors.”

Starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Vasa Park in Budd Lake, the festival is open to the public, with all proceeds benefiting the veterans helped by OCO. There is no admission fee, a situation that the organizers feel comfortable with given enduring public generosity.

“We used to have a sliding scale idea, but we got rid of that once we realized that attendees are even more generous than we anticipated,” Chimileski commented. “People just donate towards the cause, and it helps us for months and months with funding for hotels, phonelines and outreach events.”

The festival opens at 11 a.m., with what DeStefano described as a “major tribute” to veterans commencing at noon. Attendees can expect a guest speaker, pipes and drums performing patriotic music, and the Honor Guard from the Morris County Sheriff’s Department singing

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the national anthem. The opening ceremony will wrap up with a rendition of “Taps.”

The musical acts performing at this year’s Vets Summer Fest include Dana Fuchs, an acclaimed American singer and songwriter known for a mix of Southern rock, soul, roots and blues. Two of Fuch’s albums, Bliss Avenue and Songs from the Road reached the Top 10 of the Blues Album Chart of Billboard magazine. Fuchs will take the stage at 3 p.m., after an opening act by local favorites Atlanta Café Band. DeStefano’s own classical rock band, B-Sides, will round out the music portion of the event at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to the musical entertainment, there will also be a motorcycle run, car show, bike run, food, beer and wine, and some 60 vendors. Family-friendly events for the children in attendance are also on the bill for the festival.

“It’s going to be really good,” DeStefano said. “And the money raised from this event goes a long way in helping us continue our cause.”

The turnout for last year’s Vets Summer Fest was approximately 2,000 people. According to DeStefano, an average of 1,500 attendees is a typical turnout. The festival is sponsored by Millington Bank, Transwestern, Navitend, WRNJ, WXPN and Joe Hirsh Productions.

Chimileski attributes OCO’s ongoing success to a nonpartisan focus on helping homeless veterans.

“We keep ourselves non-political and all volunteers are welcome – not just vets,” Chimileski stated. “Every form of help is important as it all goes to the men and women who are still on the streets. And everyone has something that they can do to help.”

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Mount Olive Couple Shares Stories of War Heroes

By Christine Graf ount Olive independent filmmaker Jack Thomas Smith travelled to North Carolina in 2011 to shoot Infliction, a feature-length horror movie that he wrote, directed and produced. The movie opened in select theaters in 2014 and was later released on DVD by Virgil Films & Entertainment. Smith’s first film, Disorder, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was released on DVD by Universal in 2006.

While in North Carolina, Smith held open auditions for Infliction.

It was there that he met his fiancé, California native Mandy Del Rio. At the time, Del Rio, a social media and marketing consultant, had been living in North Carolina for just three days. Her eleven-year-old daughter, Luna, was an aspiring actress and had asked her mother to take her to the audition.

Although Del Rio pursued acting when she was younger, she had no intention of auditioning for Infliction. She changed her mind after Smith encouraged her to audition, and she ended up with a small role in the film.

According to Del Rio, she and Smith had an instant connection.

After the two started dating, she began working alongside him on the movie.

“We immediately hit it off. It was love at first sight as cliché as that sounds,” she said. “And, I believed in the film so much. I loved the concept, and I wanted to help him in any way I could. He’s an indie filmmaker--that’s kind of an all hands on deck situa-

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tion--so I basically became his assistant on the film. I learned so many things about production, preproduction, and post-production--everything that goes in to making a film.

After film was shot, he and I completely built the social media marketing campaign.”

After completing Infliction, the couple moved to Mount Olive with Luna. Smith, a Pennsylvania native, attended high school in Sparta and has lived in the Mount Olive area since 1990. His daughter, Megan Cruz, is a 1994 graduate of Mount Olive High School and works with him at his production company, Fox Trail Productions, Inc. “We have been inseparable since we started working on Infliction,” said Del Rio. “We have worked on commercials, music videos, PSA’s, lots of different film projects. I’ve basically been his right hand man through everything.”

According to Del Rio, one of the things she and Smith have in common is their deep respect for the United States military. Her father served in the Army and fought in Vietnam, and her grandfather

was a career soldier who saw action in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Her other grandfather served in Korea, her uncle did three tours in Vietnam, and her brother served in the Army. Her family’s military service dates back to the war of 1812.

Smith also has several veterans in his family, and Del Rio described him as “extremely patriotic and pro military.” She said he was the one who came up with the idea for their latest project, a documentary series called War Heroes.

“He came to me one day and said, ‘I have this amazing idea of how we can give back using our skills and our talents and our expertise with filmmaking. What if we did a docuseries where we tell the story of an individual soldier so that we know who they are, their entire life story, their family? Basically they will be the stars of each episode.’”

She loved the idea, and so did Glenn Nevola. Nevola is one of Smith’s best friends and the primary investor for War Heroes.

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vestor. He’s part of the team but he’s not involved in day-to-day operations. That’s Jack and I. We’re boots on the ground,” said Del Rio. Former Army Ranger and private security contractor Kris Paronto was chosen as the host of War Heroes. Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team stationed in Benghazi at the time of the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound. The 2016 movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi tells the story of what happened that day. Actor Pablo Schreiber portrays Paronto OUR PROMISE TO LOSE in the movie.

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He was really interested.”

For the pilot episode of War Heroes, Del Rio and Smith chose to tell the story of Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz from Mine Hill, New Jersey.

They learned about the fallen soldier through a friend of Smith’s daughter, Megan.

Doltz died less than two months after arriving in Iraq. The twenty-six-year-old was killed on June 5, 2004, when the vehicle he was driving hit an IED (an improvised explosive device). He was part of Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery, New Jersey National EXCLUSIVELY AT Guard. Three other soldiers from his unit were killed that same day.

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announcements, music videos, were donated to Paronto’s 14th and other projects through Fox Hour Foundation and the Sgt. Trail Productions.

Ryan E. Doltz Memorial Foundation.

They have many ideas for Del Rio and Smith are hoping future episodes of War Heroes, the series will be picked up by and not all episodes will be a network. Once this happens, about fallen soldiers. The series they can begin filming new epwill not be exclusive to New Jerisodes. sey and will tell the stories of “We have a producer rep servicemen and women from all who is shopping it around to over the United States. networks,” said Del Rio. “To be Del Rio said she and Smith honest with you, a couple of are anxiously awaiting the day networks have reached out to they can devote themselves fullus about it. One of the channels Jack Thomas Smith, Mandy Del Rio, Kris Paronto, Glenn Nevola - Las Vegas time to War Heroes. that reached out to us does a lot Premier Jan. 2019.tif “We’re just hoping it’s sooner of documentaries.” than later. We’re just so anxious She said the series would be a to start telling more stories. It’s perfect fit for any network that has a “documentary-friendly audi- our passion, so it’s easy to want to focus mainly on that. But as ence.” As examples, she mentioned A&E and the History Channel. much as it’s been rewarding, it’s also been painful and heartbreakFilming new episodes will require an entire crew and a signifi- ing. There are just so many emotions going.” cant budget. It is for that reason that filming of additional episodes Although she never met Doltz, Del Rio said working on the pilot cannot take place until the series has the backing of a network. episode made her feel as if she did. As a result, she has found herOnce this happens, Del Rio and Smith will commit themselves self mourning his loss. full time to the project. Currently, they both work as freelance me“I felt like I got to know him through his family and friends” she dia and marketing consultants, and Smith has several screenplays said. “I never met him, but I miss him.” he is working on. They also produce commercials, public service To view the trailer for War Heroes, visit warheroestv.com.

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Page 14 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

35th Annual Scandinavian Festival Promises to Educate and Entertain

V

By Anya Bochman asa Park, located in Budd Lake, is Morris County’s seat for the New Jersey District Six Vasa Order of America, a Swedish fraternal society. Although the park space is rented out for events to all manner of organizations, Vasa Park has its own professional staff and promises to serve patrons “in the Viking tradition.” This year, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the park will be host to the 35th Annual Scandinavian Fest (ScanFest).

Billed as “an all-day celebration of Scandinavia at its best,” the festival offers the community a way to discover the customs and history – as well as cuisine – of the six Nordic nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the non-profit event aims to promote and celebrate both the historic and current life of Scandinavia.

According to Carl Anderson, Advertising and Promotional Coordinator of ScanFest, the festival’s inception can be traced back to a Chicago couple visiting New Jersey and deciding to form the local chapter of Vasa in the state. Soon, there were 15-20 local clubs along with a district lodge to host the organization.

“The festival started out as a small club picnic,” Anderson said. “Eventually, it branched out to reach other Scandi-

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navians – not just the Swedish.”

After about ten years, the organizers realized that in order to reach out to the wider Scandinavian community, they needed to become established as an independent entity separate from the Vasa Order; to this end, ScanFest was incorporated in New Jersey as an independent 501(c)3 educational organization. In recent years, it has grown to become the largest Scandinavian festival of its type in the eastern United States, having some four to five thousand annual participants.

The Vasa Order of America was founded over a century ago as a benefit fraternal society for Swedish immigrants to the United States; it takes its name from Gustav Vasa, the 16th century king labelled as the founder of modern-day Sweden. As the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a great wave of Swedish immigration to America, the Vasa Order was formed to help its

members integrate into American society.

At the time of the order’s founding, membership was limited to Swedish-born men. Over time, the focus of the organization underwent a change and the society has grown to meet the needs of the entire Scandinavian American community.

Today, Vasa provides members a means to share their rich heritage with fellow Americans, as well as teaching them meaningful values of the "Old Country.”

Current membership to Vasa is open to men and women over 14 years of age with Nordic roots - Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish or Icelandic – as well as their spouses who would like to rediscover the traditions of their forefathers. Those who are not of Scandinavian ancestry but are demonstrably committed to the promotion and advancement of Nordic heritage and culture are also eligible for member-

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ship.

Vasa sponsors language classes and activity clubs in which folk dances are learned and performed in authentic costume.

Whenever the members can, they share their heritage with the public through events such as Skand-Jam, Leif Erickson Smorgasbord and Festival, Lucia Pageant and Barnen's Dag - an annual midsummer event. There are more than 150 local lodges in the Vasa Order, governed by 18 district lodges in the United States, Sweden and Canada.

In New Jersey, there are 12 individual lodges of the Vasa Order of America, comprising NJ District Six, with Vasa Park serving as their recreational and cultural center.

While some years after its inception, ScanFest became independent of Vasa in order to reach more people of Scandinavian heritage, according to Anderson the Vasa Order invited the festival back to its park ten years ago.

“We are not a fundraiser for any cause or group,” Anderson stated. “We hope that people will come to enjoy a fun and educational time, presenters and re-enactors to have a venue for performance, vendors to sell their wares and foods, artisans to demo their handwork, and kids to just have fun.”

Since ScanFest doesn’t have sponsorship, it is funded primarily by admission tickets ($14 for adults, $13 for seniors; children under 12 are admitted for free). Approximately a quarter of the funding comes from the 30-40 vendors that purchase booths at the annual festival.

The food vendors run the gamut from traditional Scandinavian cuisine to regular festival fare. As Anderson joked, some cultural Nordic delicacies – lutefisk, salted salmon and pickled herring – do not necessarily have universal appeal. Due to the very short growing season of the northern countries, many of their staple dishes originated from the need to preserve food before the advent of refrigeration. As a result, smoked and pickled fish features prominently on the Scandinavian menu.

“Not everyone likes the idea of eating cold raw fish, so we try to also have ‘American’ food,” Anderson said.

While Anderson estimates that about half of the festival’s participants have traditionally Scandinavian names, the true demographics are difficult to determine given the “melting pot” nature of American society. He used to attempt to document the heritage of the attendees through survey questions, and determined that about 70 percent had ancestors who originally came from Sweden and Norway, with equal distribution between the countries. The remaining 30 percent were comprised of the other Nordic countries, which had smaller immigration waves to the United States.

“It’s hard to tell who has [Scandinavian] ancestry, because some people just don’t know,” Anderson said. “Many people my age who had European parents weren’t taught about our Scandinavian language and culture.”

Anderson, who is a chemical engineer from Gettysburg, Penn., said that his father was born in Sweden while his

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Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 17

Page 18 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

mother was American. His father wasn’t particularly invested in his cultural heritage, and Anderson first became interested in Sweden and its culture after attending a ScanFest in the 80s. He joined Vasa in 1987 and became involved with running the annual event.

Although Anderson doesn’t consider himself a historian, he is very well versed on the evolution of Scandinavian presence in America over the years. He pointed out that there was a Swedish and Finnish colony founded at the base of the Delaware River in what is now Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the early 1600s some 50 years before the arrival of the British.

For the settlers of what was known as “New Sweden,” iron and smelting was a popular industry. Long before western Pennsylvania dominated the American iron and steel industries, southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey became the epicenter of colonial iron production. In a little over forty years beginning in 1716 - Pennsylvania ironmasters erected nearly 50 furnaces and forges for producing iron stock and goods, and by 1840 the region’s national preeminence had been secured.

Perhaps the greatest contribution of New Sweden to the development of the New World is the traditional Finnish forest house building technique. The colonists of New Sweden brought with them the log cabin, which became such an icon of the American frontier that it is now thought of as a purely American structure.

“There was already a big Scandinavian historical presence

that preceded the great immigration waves [in the late 19th century],” Anderson said.

Attendees of this year’s 35th Annual ScanFest will experience an educational immersion into some of this history. They will also be privy to a rich array of Scandinavian music and entertainment, with a set list that includes live musical performances by Westminster Conservatory of Music, which will feature pieces by Scandinavian composers.

Other musical guests include The Not Club of NYC, and Thornbjørn Rygir; the latter specializes in traditional Norwegian music with a multifaceted sound. The members use the twelve-string guitar, traditional hardanger fiddle and ordinary fiddle, which makes for a full and tight sound.

The sax ensemble Spirit of Scandinavia is also on the bill, as well as performances by Maria Langberg and Hanne Ladefoged-Dollase - a duo of sought-after Danish-born singers.

The Scandinavian Woman's chorus of Rhode Island, which is the only Scandinavian women's chorus on the Eastern Seaboard that sings four part harmony in all the Nordic languages as well as English, will likewise showcase its talents at ScanFest. The group’s mission is to promote Scandinavian music, culture and language.

A series of folk dancing ensembles will present traditional numbers from Sweden and Finland. Although their colorful native garb is sure to heighten the element of immersion into a different culture, the dancers will not be the only people

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to stand out sartorially – ScanFest is granting free admission to all patrons who come dressed in traditional Scandinavian outfits.

Other noteworthy events include field activities featuring Telge Glima, a traditional Nordic wrestling group from Sweden, and Norse ax tossing courtesy of The Slockbucklers. For patrons who have had a healthy helping of mead and machismo, there will be the Annual Jersey Wife Carry Competition – which is, apparently, an actual event that has been going on for years. Participants can grab a wife – any wife – and carry her through an obstacle course to win her weight in beer. The cultural significance of this practice is debatable.

There is also, of course, entertainment geared towards children, complete with clowns and puppeteers, such as The Mock Turtle Marionettes. For adults not typically inclined to, say, carrying wives, there will be educational programs on Scandinavian genealogy and a presentation by story-teller and author Margaret Thorell. Finally, a smorgasbord of artisans will demonstrate skills such as Scandinavian weaving, wood carving, blacksmithing and hardanger embroidery.

The overall effect adds up to a festive day of cultural celebration and merrymaking, which is, after all, the purpose of the event.

“Our operating premise is to hold an event that will present and promote the cultures, contributions, and current life of the Nordic peoples such that those who participate benefit in whatever manner they choose,” Anderson said.

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Garden State Fondo 2019 Will Remember Life of Founder Marty Epstein

The Garden State Fondo covers over 140 miles of roads through 25 different municipalities in Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties. Routes will go through Morristown, Chester, Mendham, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack, Gladstone, Pottersville, Tewksbury, Califon, Clinton, Pittstown, Milford, Spruce Run, Long Valley, Randolph, and Morris Plains. The organizers work diligently with local authorities to secure the permits necessary to ensure the safety of both the cyclists, and the citizens, of each town the ride passes through.

A

By Greg Ziegler

s summer fades and the calendar turns to September, it’s time again for the Garden State Fondo (formerly the NJ Gran Fondo) held annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day since 2011. The Garden State Fondo is a one day bicycle ride that begins on the Green in Morristown and travels the most scenic and bucolic roads that North Jersey has to offer.

This year the organizers expect over 2,500 participants, making it one of the largest Gran Fondos in the country, with riders from over 30 states as well as participants from other countries.

The term “Gran Fondo” is loosely translated from Italian to

mean “big ride” and this year’s event really lives up to the name.

This year’s edition of the Garden State Fondo offers five different routes designed to accommodate riders of every level. There is a double metric century of 200 miles named the “Estremo”; the traditional “Gran” route of 107 miles; the “Medio” route of 75 miles, which was named one of the best rides in NJ by the editors of Bicycle Magazine; the “Piccolo” route of 42 miles; and the “Breve” route of 18 miles.

The Garden State Fondo is designed to offer participants the opportunity to enjoy a day of cycling on some of the most scenic roads New Jersey has to offer. For those riders who enjoy a little competition while on the bike, all the routes, (aside from

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Page 22 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

the Breve), offer timed climbs where riders can challenge themselves and compete with other riders for designation as King or Queen of the Mountain, via a point system. Other than these timed sections riders are encouraged to simply ride and enjoy the scenery and support as there is no special award for finishing first.

Each route provides support stations strategically located along the course.

Along with the standard fare provided to cyclists, this year’s rest stops will offer wood-fired pizza, affogatos (a shot of espresso over a scoop of vanilla ice cream) cannoli’s, s’mores, and a number of other items not typically found at ride support stations.

The Garden State Fondo was established by Marty Epstein (of Marty’s Reliable Cycle) whose vision was to showcase the amazing riding that is available in northern New Jersey by creating a fun and challenging cycling event and to also be able to give back to the community. Epstein passed away earlier this year.

The Garden State Fondo has raised over $1.25 million dollars for both local and national charities. One of the beneficiaries of this year’s event will be the Raritan Headwaters Association, a non-profit conservation organization that protects water in our rivers, streams, and homes.

The Garden State Fondo covers over 140 miles of roads

through 25 different municipalities in Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties. Routes will go through Morristown, Chester, Mendham, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack, Gladstone, Pottersville, Tewksbury, Califon, Clinton, Pittstown, Milford, Spruce Run, Long Valley, Randolph, and Morris Plains. The organizers work diligently with local authorities to secure the permits necessary to ensure the safety of both the cyclists, and the citizens, of each town the ride passes through.

New Jersey has a long and distinguished place in the history of cycling with races being held throughout the state in the late 1800s and continuing into the 1900s with the Tour de Somerville which held its inaugural race in 1940. The Garden State Fondo is a terrific addition to the history and legacy of New Jersey cycling.

For riders registered for the event the Garden State Fondo is offering training rides on Sundays that leave from Marty’s Reliable in Morristown, and from Strictly Bicycles in Fort Lee. More information on registration and additional details about the event can be found on the Garden State Fondo website at www.granfondonj.com/.

Bike rentals are available for those riders who have the inspiration but not the equipment. There is a ride and a route for everyone and no reason not to participate in this year’s edition of the Garden State Fondo. Ride the long route, ride the short route, or ride one of the medium routes, but just ride.

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Page 24 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

Giving Homes A Face Lift:

Magnolia Home Remodeling Group Does it All

A

By, Dawn M Chiossi home is much more than a house. It is much more than four walls, a foundation, and rooms. Much more than just a place to eat and flop down for the night, homes are often an extension of the people who live in them. At their best, homes can be a place for family dinners, a place to binge-watch favorite shows, a hub for sociability, or just a comforting oasis away from the world.

Homes are an investment, literally and figuratively. It is often said that people do not own their homes--their homes own them. Even though the saying is often uttered off the cuff, there is a nugget of truth in it.

The best homes give off good vibes.

Everyone strives to make their home be a place of comfort, a place that is both restful and pretty. They aim to make their home a place where they can enjoy their solitude as well as the company of others.

It is a fact that, invariably with time, homes will deteriorate. As every homeowner knows, there will be wear and tear on them; they will need improvements, renovations, and refurbishments. In time, people may decide to do a home makeover, or even make improvements to sell it. In all of these instances, their homes will need a kind of face lift.

When this happens, people need to put their house and home into the hands of trusted professionals to rejuvenate it for whatever purpose they need.

Magnolia Home Remodeling Group is just such a business.

Founded in 1995, Magnolia Home Remodeling Group is a New Jersey Home Remodeling & Home Improvement Contractor. Located at 1640 Vauxhall Rd in Union Township, these hard workers seek to help their customers make their home its best. Whether customers would like their homes to go the nip and tuck route, or seek to have a showstopper of a home, Magnolia Homes strives to make them as pretty as a magnolia and several times as

strong.

Serving areas in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties, Magnolia Home can do it all. They specialize in both interior and exterior remodeling in the New Jersey area.

With over 25 years of industry experience, they are a licensed New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor. This family owned business was founded by brothers-in-law and partners, Vic Fiore and Chris Fontana.

For this close-knit staff, family pride and reputation is everything. At Magnolia Home Remodeling Group, they take pride in their work as well as their business.

Fully insured and licensed, Magnolia Home Remodeling is a full-service business.

They specialize in installing vinyl siding, roofing, and windows, as well as kitchen, bathroom, and basement remodeling. They also offer porch remodeling, decks, masonry, patios, additions, levels and more.

Additionally, they offer a variety of affordable product choices to fit any budget.

They facilitate affordable, no-hassle financing to help their customers. They also offer custom options to cap off the look of the home to make it unique to homeowners.

Offering the best in customer service, Magnolia Home seeks to make their customers feel comfortable and satisfied with their progress throughout the home projects.

They stress communication, workmanship, professionalism and so much more.

According to Fiore, “We describe this business as family owned and operated. I chose to work in this industry because I enjoy working with people. Every home project is so different that it makes every day new and exciting,” he says.

The same sentiment is echoed by Fontana, “I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day, I wanted to work with people. They have their own personalities and the work is different every day.”

It’s all paramount at Magnolia Home. They ask that all homeowners be present at the consultation so everyone is on the same page, and will have confidence in Magnolia and the job they are doing with their home.

“We give the personal touch to each job,” Fontana says, “We sit down with

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Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 25

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everyone so that nothing gets lost in translation. We are always available for our customers.”

Knowing that a home improvement job can be scary for their clients, Fontana explains that they strive to make their customer’s experience a positive one.

“That includes taking pride in the level of workmanship and transparency, having a real relationship with the customers and making sure that the customers have trust in the project,” he tells. “The customers in turn, appreciate what we do.”

For the owners of this family contracting business, having respect, professionalism, and consistency is key. Not only for their customers, but to build a stellar reputation as well. For them, it is all in the details. Even something as simple as cleaning up when the job is finished creates a positive and lasting impression on homeowners.

With consistent five-star ratings, Magnolia Home Remodeling Group has even been named a Super Service Award Winner for several years running from Angie’s List.

They have many repeat customers as well. The reason for that lies in their customer service and desire to make homeowners happy. When a question needs answering, or someone has a concern, it is guaranteed that they will speak to an owner.

“I’d use them again,” is something people say over and over again.

Magnolia Home Remodeling Group fervently believes in giving back to the community as well. The company was even featured on TV’s George to the Rescue on April 27th, when they lent more than a hand to Union County’s Munt Family.

The family suffered a terrible tragedy on Thanksgiving in 2017 when husband and father, 46-year-old Alex Munt passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

The community quickly rallied around the family doing all they could to help, and that included George to the Rescue and

Magnolia Home Remodeling Group. They jumped right in to help the family with their home improvements by giving the house a total makeover.

Magnolia Home not only donated construction supplies and labor for the project, they were the lead contractor as well.

“We are proud to be able to do this,” Fontana enthuses. “To take the worry and the risk out of a job for our clients. It is an honor.”

Fontana mentions they have also worked on projects for the Make A Wish Foundation and in South Jersey helping a disabled child. They also work on a regular basis with police, firemen, and first responders to use their talents and skills to make their lives a little better.

That’s what it’s all about for the owners of Magnolia Home.

Perhaps nothing demonstrates this more than a memory Fontana shares. “There was a widow whose husband had just recently passed. Her house needed work, and her money was understandably tight. She had been suspicious and hesitant to work with us at first because she’d had a bad experience with another contractor.”

Undaunted, Magnolia Home Remodeling set out to help.

“We worked with her,” Fontana explains. “Starting out, she had been very affected by her previous experience. We understood that, took everything into consideration, and went above and beyond to change it for her.”

Check them out on Yelp, Angie’s List, Better Business Bureau, or their list of references.

Taking pride in their family and business reputation, Magnolia Home Remodeling Group puts their heart in customer’s homes.

Giving homes the face lift they deserve; they make homes as beautiful as their name implies.

For further information, details, or a free estimate, call 855624-6655 or visit www.magnoliahomeremodeling.com.

Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 27

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Page 28 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

High View Farms Encourages Learning About Farming and Agriculture in a Fun, Loving Way

T

By Steve Sears here are two pigs - Hamlet, age 7, and Nellie, age 4 – who call home Mount Olive Township’s High View Farms (416 Sand Shore Road, Budd Lake).

Roseanne Oblen, for 35 years the owner of the 27-acre farm, lovingly calls to the one which is napping. “Nellie – come on Nell, get up!” Per Oblen, Nellie likes her naps, but eventually she raises and slowly rises from sleep, and Oblen cheerfully says, “There you go. Aww, my little Nellie, you’re such a good girl.” She then turns educator, stating, “Pigs do not have sweat glands, that’s why they lay in the mud.” She then looks back at Nellie with a wide grin. “She’s a happy girl,” says Oblen, petting the dark pig, whose tail sways back and forth. “Who wouldn’t be,” Oblen laughs, “with a mud bath?”

It's all about fun at High View Farms. It’s also about learning.

Most of all, it’s about love of agriculture and animals. As Oblen says, if you love them, they’ll love you back. For that reason, High Views Farm is never a lonely place for her. “Oh no. My family is here, and my animals. That’s my solace. It’s unconditional love. They (the animals) just want to be fed, watered, and paid attention to.”

There’s much more, including two words that she uses often to describe a day at her spot of peace: freedom and therapy.

Highview Farms is not open to the public, but is open to school groups, hosts birthday parties, and during the last two weeks of August hosts P.E.A.K. Adventures for autistic children only. Oblen doesn’t want competition with other farms. She doesn’t want to sell produce or do CSA. For her, it’s all about the children, entertaining them, and education – the wonder of it all. “I do farm adventures where the kids come and spend a couple of hours with animals; I want them to relate to animals. A lot of farms don’t; they’re in to crops and vegetables and things like that, and animals are a lesser thing, and to me they’re the more important things.”

“The ironic thing is, I always wanted to be a teacher, and now I am.”

Consider the following. For those who don’t know farming, who have never set foot on farmland or ventured near a silo, Oblen provides an inkling of the life in brief. “They (passersby) think they see grass fields and they can do things on it, and it’s all in production. All your fields are in production for hay. They don’t see that being a hay field. They just think it’s a lawn; they have no clue. They’re hayfields, cornfields, all different types of things. People don’t understand. Also, corn is from the grass family. People don’t know that. Each silk that you see on the corn is connected to a kernel for growing. Another thing about chickens people don’t know is that you can determine the color of the eggs (they hatch) by the earlobe of the chicken.”

Seated in the large barn on her property, where many birds have found nesting spots and chirp often while she talks about her love of animals and agriculture, Oblen discusses the history of her farm. She awakens at 5:30 a.m. daily to the “heehaw” of one of two donkeys, and then looks out her window to see the crops in the field, and the animals roaming in their pens. “It makes me feel good. I was a nurse, I worked in a hospital, and I‘d rather work with animals, crops, and gardening. It’s a little more of the freedom that you feel, and you feel good not going into ‘work.’”

Oblen and her family were living in Wallington in Bergen County, that busy area a boulder’s throw from the serenity she now enjoys. “There it goes,” she says with a laugh as she hears a donkey, either Paco or Pablo, calling to her. “There’s my alarm.”

She, her husband at the time, and her four children then moved to busy Clifton in Passaic County, and the congestion of that area nudged the family to Western Jersey, and to what eventually became High View Farms.

From the barn area, to your left are viewable corn stalks, and straight ahead, behind rolling green hills, a neighboring dairy farm, where Oblen has in the past milked cows, and

1

Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 29

even artificially inseminated one. “I learned how to do artificial insemination on the cows because, with my nursing background, I know the anatomy and physiology. I studied it on the cow and their cycles. Goats have a cycle in the spring and in the fall, but cows are continuous. It was so gratifying when the calf was born 9 months later, and you feel you’re really a part of the whole situation. It was therapy.” She then adds, “I miss the cows, but I don’t miss the 5 in the morning to 5 at night, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”

When she first arrived in Mount Olive, Oblen didn’t envision living farm life. In fact, she had no idea about farm life. When she bought the property, the farm didn’t exist – but she created it.

She purchased the property, built her house, built her barn, “and then we started with chickens,” she says, “and I had no idea what I was doing, but we had 250 laying hens. I was selling eggs, and then my oldest son, who was six at the time and in Little League, had a friend over. I said to the kid he was playing with, ‘Joey, come on into the hen house. Maybe you’ll see a chicken lay an egg.’ And he said, ‘Hey lady, they (eggs) come from A&P.’ I said, ‘Hey Joey, they’ve got to come from here (the chickens) first.”

“I never really feared it,” she says of those early days of the foray into farming. “I looked at it as a challenge and I was doing it. I went down to the Hackettstown auction market and the farmers down there loved to help and explain things. So that’s where I learned a lot of things - like chickens start laying eggs at five months of age.”

Oblen is a 4-H (Head, Hands, Heart, and Health) Club leader in the area. “It all relates because we have to think, we have to feel, and we have to do,” she says. She is head of the Feathered Friends, which focuses on poultry care, breeds, and showmanship; Furry Friends, teaching the care of rabbits, cavies, and other small animals; Just Kid ‘n” Around, which explores goat care, breeds, and showmanship; Busy Bees ( she has a hive for honey down by the woods at the edge of her property); a Seedlings garden club, which educates youngsters in the sowing and growing of flowers, fruits and vegetables; and finally Radical RC Racers, which focuses on the basics of RC cars including repairs, racing, and design.

When welcoming guests to High View farms, Oblen and her family are ready to dispense learning, along with a little bit of fun. When school visits are scheduled or birthday parties are held, your class or child’s party is THE event, THE visitor. Only one event is held at a time. High View Farms is yours for the time you are there, to look, learn, touch, and maybe even hug an animal.

As for the birthday parties, which last 1 ½ hours, farm animals are visited, touched, held, hands afterwards are washed, pizza and drinks are served, and then Monster Trucks (along with the birthday child) reign supreme, eleven children seat belted in for a ride of fun. Following that, it’s cupcakes time and singing “Happy Birthday.” Oblen’s grandchildren are involved, so High View Farms is now a third-generation farm. Her grandson, Shane, and granddaughter, Sammy, run the birthday parties, and Oblen’s son, Shawn, is behind the wheel in the Monster Trucks.

Wandering away from the High View Farms barn yields visits first to (and some calls from) chickens, rabbits, goats,

1

Page 30 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

and…turkens, a chicken which has no feathers on its neck. And, no, they are not half chicken and half turkey. They all know Oblen, hurry to greet her. Jackson the New Zealand rabbit scampers away, but 3-year-old Fluffy nestles in her arms. “They all have different personalities,” she says regarding how soon they get to know her after birth.

“There not classic cases; they’re all different.” Next it’s cows, goats, pigs, and a horse.

“Goats, sheep, cows, alpacas, llamas, deer – all have no teeth on top,” she shows a visitor, always the friendly, knowledgeable teacher. “They have molars for grinding, but nothing in front. They’re called ruminants; they have four stomachs. People have asked me if I have pulled them (their teeth) out, and I say, ‘No, that’s the way God made them.’ That’s why when we go around with the kids, we can hand feed these guys.”

Corn is grown for the animals, and there’s just one horse living at High View Farm, 15-year-old Sonny, a palomino who does the horsey rides at the parties. There is also a garden on the property, where kids in the 4-H Seedlings club have their own plots.

“They’re growing their own vegetables and everything,” Oblen says with a smile, peering at this tiny square of beauty and color dotting her land.

Stanley, “Stash” for short, visits the farm often. A 4-H member, he holds one of his inherited chickens. He’s taken care of it since chick days, and it rests in his arms calmly.

“I love it,” he says, petting the animal’s head. He has six in total on the farm, and you can tell by his voice and the care in which he handles the chicken that he relishes the opportunity.

“Opportunity.” Oblen saw it when she transitioned to a new home and new life in 1984, taking a chance and building a barn and nurturing a farm – and all the goodness that comes with it. And High View Farms and the Township of Mount Olive reciprocally give back to each other. Except for wintertime, Oblen hosts 4-H meetings in her barn, and the township has graciously allowed Oblen and the 4-Hers to meet in the library or municipal building. Oblen herself, if needed, will visit schools for science fairs, many times with farm animals in tow. “They love the baby chicks,” she says of the school children, “and I bring rabbits, too. They love rabbits – all types of rabbits. But the baby chick is the neatest because it develops so fast. One week it’s just fuzz, then next week it’s got wing feathers.”

For more information about High View Farms and all it offers, call (908) 303-0010, or visit www.highviewfarms.net.

Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 31

NO REASON TO CHANGE! Keep The MOmentum Going!

Council President Joe Nicastro, Council Woman Colleen Labow, Council Vice President Alex Roman and Mayor Rob Greenbaum

GENERAL ELECTION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5TH

Working diligently to keep Mount Olive a great place to live, work and raise a family.

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Page 32 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish: Welcoming Friend and Stranger Alike

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By Elsie Walker t. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish was formed in May 1985. From our earliest days, we have been called to be a caring Christian Community, aware of the needs of others, welcoming friend and stranger alike, until there are no more strangers, “said Phil Lamoureux, Music Director of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church located in Flanders. Recently, Lamoureux, Rev. Stanley C. Barron, Pastor and Shannon Jones, Youth Minister/Confirmation Coordinator shared about their church’s worship, youth programs, and education, fellowship and outreach opportunities.

“Engaging with the good people of the parish and helping them to grow in relationship with Jesus is very rewarding,” said Barron. He shared that his initial call to the priesthood was shaped by excellent mentors who inspired him to walk in their footsteps. He has been a priest for 45 years, serving St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish for 14 years. “As a pastor, I have the opportunity to walk with people throughout their life journeys. I celebrate with parishioners in the joyful moments of life, such as baptism and matrimony, but also pray with them in times of illness and mourn with them in grief,” shared Barron.

The church’s worship style is contemporary, English-language Catholic Mass with music from contemporary Catholic composers and traditional hymns. “Contemporary [style] in this sense means we celebrate Holy Liturgy in the manner prescribed by the Second Vatican Council since the 1960’s, and not the Latin Tridentine Mass,” said Lamoureux.

Making up the music ministry of the church are the Seton Choir, the Family Choir. Teen Choir, and Cantors. The Seton Choir is an adult contemporary ensemble of about 10 singers accompanied by multiple guitars, bass, piano, flute, clarinet, djembe and hand percussion. “Approximately half the singers are also on an instrument. The Seton Choir leads song at the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass, Easter Triduum,

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holy days, Pentecost vigil, and Confirmation. The music is mostly English language, with some bi-lingual Spanish/English songs, occasional Latin, and a rare French or German song,” said Lamoureux. Leading song at the 9 a.m. Sunday mass is The Family Choir.

Made up of 12 -15 people, age children – adult, it is accompanied by guitarist, bass and piano. At Saturday mass, cantors and the Teen choir lead song. “We are blessed with seven experienced cantors who lead song at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass, and at the extra Masses added for Christmas. Most of the cantors also sing with the Seton Choir,” said Lamoureux. From September through May, the Teen Choir leads song once per month at that Saturday mass. Led by one of the cantors and an adult guitarist, the Teen Choir is typically made up of 6-10 singers and instrumentalists.

Monthly “Coffee and…” hospitality time is held after 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Mass one Sunday a month, giving parishioners a chance to say “hello” over baked goods, coffee, tea and juice.

Educating and supporting youth in the faith is an important part of this church, as shown by its Faith Formation Program, SPARK Teen Ministry, Peer Leader Team, Teen Advisory Board and Vacation Bible School.

“Approximately 300 children in grades K-8 attend weekly Religious Education classes in our classrooms on Sunday mornings or Monday afternoons during the school year.

Sessions are led by dedicated catechists who pass on the Catholic faith to the children and help them to draw closer to God. Second graders prepare for, and receive, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. As the children continue to

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Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 33

grow and learn during each year of formation, they open their hearts and lives to the love, mercy, and nourishment of Jesus,” said Jones.

After finishing the K-8 program, teens enter a two-year program that prepares them “to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation,” she shared. “Our Confirmation Program is multi-faceted, offering many opportunities for growth through catechesis, prayer/worship, service, retreats, and fellowship within parish life,” she added.

A multi-media approach, focusing on critical thinking and discussion is used in the small group sessions which meet on either Sunday or Monday evenings and are led by devoted catechists.

Their goal is to guide teens towards a deeper relationship with Jesus. The teens also learn about discipleship and serving, by doing outreach to the parish and community. “ Whether sharing their musical talents at Teen Masses, hosting a birthday party at the Mount Olive Manor, preparing lunches for the homeless with Bridges Outreach, or making weekend food packs for the children of a Paterson preschool, our teens use their gifts and talents to bring glory to God and make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. Upon receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, teens are ready for lives of discipleship,” said Jones.

The church also helps teens find their spiritual spark, though a program aptly named, SPARK Teen Ministry. Formed by teens for teens, SPARK is built on the belief that the youth are both the present and future of the church. The program is done in coordination with the confirmation program, but is open to any teen. It meets at least twice per month “to pray and worship together, serve their neighbor, and grow in friendship. In addition to monthly events, SPARK Teen Ministry offers an annual weeklong mission trip each July and helps to run Vacation Bible School each August… SPARK Teen Ministry encourages all teens to open their hearts to the fire of God’s love and actively participate in the life and mission of the Catholic Church,” said Jones.

Also, after teens receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, they are invited to take on leadership roles as members of the Peer Leader Team and/or the Teen Advisory Board. Jones explained that the Peer Leader team plans and runs the 10th Grade Confirmation retreat. “After many hours of preparation, the team puts their plans into action by facilitating activities, leading small groups, and, most importantly, giving witness to God. They truly make a difference in the lives of their peers,” she said. “The Teen Advisory Board is a group of confirmed teens (high school juniors/seniors) who represent the collective teen voice of the parish and help to plan/lead social, spiritual, and service activities for their peers,” she added.

As for Vacation Bible School, the church is holding its fourth annual Vacation Bible School in August. The program, for children in grades K-5th (incoming September 2019), is called ROAR! Life is Wild ~ God is Good. Children will work together in crews and rotate through different stations, focusing on bible discovery, games, crafts, videos/discussion, and song/dance.

In addition to the offerings for children and teens, the church offers a variety of opportunities for adult spiritual growth and fellowship. Among the on-going ones is a monthly viewing and discussion of the “Catholicism” video series by Bishop Robert Barron. A Praying the Rosary group meets every Monday-Saturday morning at 8:15 a.m. and Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. A Men’s Fellowship meets at 7:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month, except July and August., and Women’s Fellowship meets at 9:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month, except July and August. On break right now, but resuming in the fall, is a scripture study led by Father Barron.

Programs held during certain times of the year include the church’s online reflection series located on the church’s website during the Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter seasons, a retreat for college age and up, plus special events where speakers and musicians come to the parish and bus trips. Of course,

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there is the opportunity for fellowship through joining in the church’s outreach projects.

“Our parish family performs a number of community service and outreach activities through the year, spanning the local communities of Mount Olive and Roxbury, the Diocese of Paterson, the northern New Jersey area, including Newark, and beyond,” shared Lamoureux.

The following are just some examples of the outreaches the parish does. It provides food for 30-40 families of the local community each week, with supplies donated by parishioners. The parish partners with Bridges (in Summit) to feed and clothe the homeless of Newark. Led by more than 20 members of the Teen Ministry, with support from 10-15 adults, the parish prepares nutritious bag lunches and distributes them in downtown Newark.

In addition, the parish’s Good Samaritan Stitchers Ministry knits scarfs, hats, and mittens that are distributed along with the bag lunches and hot soup. That Stitchers ministry also stitches baby blankets, lap blankets, hats and prayer shawls that are donated

to local hospitals, cancer centers, homeless shelters and makes scarfs and hats for military members serving overseas. The parish helps students through a variety of programs. At the beginning of the school year, it provides backpacks filled with school supplies to needy children of the community. The backpacks and supplies are donated by parishioners Through, El Mundo de Colores, the parish provides food for long weekends to children who would normally eat at school and at extended daycare. There is also a college care package program through which the Teen Ministry sends a cheering package to parishioners that are away at school. Among the many other outreaches the parish does are reaching out by working on Habitat for Humanity projects and a mission trip run by the Teen Ministry coordinated through Catholic HEART Workcamp.

This busy parish is looking forward to a variety of upcoming events. Currently, K-8 Religious Education is accepting registration for classes that start in early September. There is the parish picnic which will be held on September 15th in the field behind the church. A Catholic Adult Group will have an Italian night one Saturday in early October, and November will feature a Thanksgiving theme dinner. Lamoureux said to watch the website for details.

Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 35

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Page 36 • August 2019 • Mt Olive Life

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Ease Kids Back into School with Confidence

here’s nothing like a major milestone in a child’s life to test a parent’s confidence. Big changes like a new school or classroom can be trying for kids and adults alike, but tackling the transition a little at a time can make it easier on everyone.

Most parents agree that being confident is important, but only about 1 in 3 parents feels confident on a typical day, according to KinderCare’s Parent Confidence Report. However, experts say your own feelings can impact youngsters.

Whether your child is making a big change like stepping up from pre-K into kindergarten or entering a new grade in the same building, there’s likely to be some trepidation. However, each child is different, which means reactions to change can vary.

Some kids show up ready and raring to go, eager to explore and meet new friends, while others can be a lit-

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Mt Olive Life • August 2019 • Page 37

tle clingy, tearful or even refuse to look at the teacher or take a step through the door.

If you think your child might have trouble making the transition, consider these strategies from the experts at KinderCare to help ease both of you into a more comfortable place and build confidence for a successful school year.

Set up classroom visits before school starts. Sometimes fear comes from the unknown. By visiting ahead of time and seeing firsthand, your child can become familiar with the layout of the classroom, meet the teachers and know what to expect, which can help alleviate some of the anxiety and jitters.

Talk with your child’s teacher about the transition. Your child’s teacher should be your partner, so be open and honest from the start. Talk about how your child handles change, what causes stress or what behaviors the teacher might expect.

Don’t be afraid to call and ask for updates on your child to see how things are going. Set up regular check-ins over the next few weeks to talk about any additional support your child may need.

Avoid sneaking away from your child at drop-off. Talk about what will happen ahead of time and create a consistent and predictable drop-off ritual, such as two high-fives, a hug and a

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wave from the window, to ensure your child feels secure and safe. Continue this routine every day to help your child get used to the classroom environment and make sure the process is a quick, happy one. While you’re typically welcome in most classrooms, lingering too long can make it harder on your child once you do leave.

Be enthusiastic. Just like laughter, excitement is contagious.

Rather than focus on nerves or uncertainty, share your own memories from school including how you felt at the beginning of a new school year and the excitement of learning and meeting new friends, which can help your child get hyped up, too.

Set up a work station at home. Creating a designated space at home for your little learner to do homework, read, write, draw and complete art projects can help set him or her up to develop good study habits. Stock this station with colored paper, crayons and markers, pencils, glue sticks, scissors, books, stickers and other necessary tools, and leave room for stowing a backpack. Encourage your child to spend time working on educational endeavors in the space each night.

View the full Parent Confidence Report and find more advice to help ease your child’s way into the school year at KinderCare.com. (Family Features)

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How Much Exercise Does a Person Need?

150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination thereof, every week. Try to engage in strength training for all major muscle groups at least two times per week. The Mayo Clinic says a general goal for most people is to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.

Health experts say that this exercise needn’t all occur at once, either. If a 30-minute walk is not possible, split that up into a few 10-minute walks throughout the day. Any activity is better than doing nothing at all.

For those with specific fitness goals, it could be wise to speak with a trainer or a doctor about which types of exercises (and durations) are effective. Physicians may be able to map out a fitness plan that works.

xercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise helps people maintain healthy weights, improves mood, reduces the risk for various health ailments, and much more. But how much exercise is necessary for optimal health? Research indicates that the answer to that question depends on the person and his or individual health goals.

According to David Bassett, Jr., PhD, a professor of exercise physiology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, having a clear set of exercise goals can help a person determine just how much exercise he or she needs, particularly if a person is exercising to control his or her weight or reduce his or her stress.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that most healthy adults get at least

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