M t . O l i v e’s H o m e t o w n N e w s p a p e r
MOUNT OLIVE LIFE Vo l . 1 7 • I s s u e 1 0
Novemb er 2022
Member of Mid-Atlantic Community Papers • Association of Community Publichers • Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce AUDITED BY CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL (CVC), ST. LOUIS, MO.
Flanders Author Taking Young-Adult Fiction to New Heights with Debut Novel, The First Thing About You
ALEXANDER RIVERO STAFF WRITER MOUNT OLIVE - It was after he graduated college and plunged into the job-search market that Flanders native Chaz Hayden had an idea that would change his life. “I had no job for the first year after graduating from college in 2015, so I read a lot while I kept applying for jobs. And at some point, I realized that I could do this,” says Hayden, referring to giving a crack at writing youngadult fiction, which constituted a sizable chunk of his reading during that year. “I had stories to tell and experiences I could share that I felt others could relate to. So why not give it a shot?” For Hayden, the allure of young-adult fiction centered on the genre’s focus on individuals going through a fascinating time in their lives, a time, he says, “in which we are very much our most authentic selves.” Hayden himself was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, when he was three months old. At the time, doctors informed his mother that he would not live to see his first birthday. Now living in Easton, Pennsylvania and working a finance day-job from the home he purchased for himself and his parents, Hayden is working hard at expanding himself in a
new direction—that of writer. “I want to share the experiences in my life of living with a disability. I’m not too good at writing about myself, so I started writing short stories, poetry, and going to writing groups and workshops to learn and see how other writers approached the work.” Hayden made friends and received feedback. He honed his skills through daily practice, sitting with his materials, reading, re-reading, refining, picking up on rhythms and discovering new ideas. He found a job he liked that would allow him the time at the end of each day to dive into his new hobby, and before long, the idea of writing up characters and exploring new situations became, he realized, a passion. “I knew this would be what I would be doing for the rest of my life one way or another,” he says. “I also realized that this was what I was supposed to be doing, a liberating feeling.” In 2019, Hayden got the idea for a debut novel. He realized that he had a unique vantage point as a person with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and he thought it would be interesting to center a story—in this case a classic teenaged romance novel—on a character with a disability. Based on his intense reading and studying of stories
available on the market, he realized his introducing such a character into the young-adult genre would be groundbreaking. “I wanted to bring forth a genuine portrayal of a disability you just don’t see in popular fiction,” he says. The result was his debut novel, The First Thing About You. Although the story itself has a protagonist with a disability, it is not about that disability. “It’s a story,” Hayden says, “about love and friendship, as well as all the things that a young person would hope to experience.” The novel follows a fifteenyear-old main character named Harris who, like Hayden, also has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Harris and his family move to New Jersey from San Diego, a big change that Harris uses as momentum to reinvent himself as more than just a kid in a wheelchair. He believes that by knowing someone’s favorite color that he can come to a conclusion on that person—in much the same way that many people feel they can reach a conclusion on him just because of the fact that he is in a wheelchair. “I don’t know how to talk about the inspiration behind this story other than to refer to all the experiences I’ve gathered throughout all these years
Musconetcong Lodge #42 Held Their Annual Citizens Award Night
MW Robert V Monacelli; Grand Master NJ, Charlie Uhrumann, Worshipful master James A Taylor, (seated); Musconetcong Lodge #42 F&AM MW John Ryan, Past grand master grand secretary, and RW William; JVOnderheide 4th DDGM !st district
RW William J Vonderheide 4th District Deputy Grand Master 1st district reciepient,John Geiger (maintenance supervisor for the town of Mt. Olive and he and his crew are responsible for keeping the AVM immaculate!! Most Worshipful Robert V. Monacelli Grand Master State of N.J.
MOUNT OLIVE - Musconetcong Lodge #42 in Budd Lake held their annual Citizens Award Night on October 26, 2022.
This year’s awards honored Charlie Uhrmann and John Geiger for their vision, dedication, and patriotism in creating the
All Veterans Memorial at Turkey Brook Park. John accepted the plaque on behalf of the AVM committee.
of study and searching,” says Hayden. “The people I’ve met, the emotions I’ve felt. All of it. I wanted to fictionalize these things to make them more relatable, and I found the process totally therapeutic.” As of this writing, Hayden and a friend are in the early stages of a non-profit organization called Ballers and Bookworms. The goal of the organization is to provide free academic and athletic support for student athletes from communities that can use some help. Many retired educators and athletes have already signed up to offer their services. For more information on Hayden, The First Thing About You, and all other aspects of his life, please visit his website at www.chazhayden.com; check him out on Instagram and/or Twitter @thechazhayden; or find him on his own YouTube channel, called simply “Chaz Hayden.”
Honoring the Legacy of Snoopy the Peacock
MEGAN ROCHE EDITOR
MOUNT OLIVE - Phyllis Shelton, affectionately known around Mount Olive as the Peacock Lady, is mourning the loss of her beloved Snoopy. Snoopy the Peacock was known well around town but sadly lost his life after recently being attacked by a coyote. Condolences and love have been pouring in for Shelton as the community rallies behind her. “Everybody knew Snoopy. He’s been around forever, and he was such a happy peacock. He was my policeman on the street and people would always stop and take pictures of him. He loved everybody; when I’d have parties, he would visit every table. He was the sweetest thing,” Shelton shared. Shelton had Snoopy for 25 years and he would constantly roam her property. He would always greet visitors at the Shelton residence, he’d knock on the door to the Shelton house with his beak when he wanted food. There was even a time when Snoopy got into the house! “He got right between my legs and pranced into the house,” Shelton says. “That was a disaster because he’d never been in a house before! I have a lot of mirrors and he was fighting the mirrors, running into them. It was horrible, but he thought he was a person and he wanted to come in.” As for the support of the Mount Olive community, Shelton is grateful that the community cared so much for Snoopy and knows that he will always be remembered. “I’ve received countless cards and flowers as if Snoopy was a person. He was a part of me, and now part of me is
Your Chance to Win a $25 Gift Card with the “Find Moe Life Mascot” Contest
MOUNT OLIVE - Check out our new mascot...Mr. Moe Life. Look for him in the ads in this issue and enter (no purchase necessary) to win a $25.00 gift card.
It is easy to enter. 4 Winners will be selected each month. Look through the paper and read the ads and look for Mr. Life in the ad. He will be located throughout
the paper in 6 random ads. Then go to www.mtolivelife.com scroll down and fill out the form to be entered. Winners will be notified and printed in the next issue.
Winners From September’s “Find Moe Life Mascot” Contest
MOUNT OLIVE - The winners from August’s “Find Moe Life Mascot” are Ken Weiland; Netcong, Dennis
Pante; Flanders, Austin Burse; Budd Lake, and Hollace Davis Miller; Hackettstown. Mr. Moe was hiding in the
following ads: Amish Mike, Remax Linda Smith, Remax Tara, American Sons, Panther Valley and Rainbow Travel.
Thanks to everyone who enter and congratulations to our winners!
Phyllis Shelton and Snoopy.
gone,” Shelton shared. Snoopy’s feathers are scattered around town as many people have been given his feathers from Shelton as a gift. His colorful feathers are now treasures of the legacy that Snoopy leaves behind. “Snoopy was a huge part of
me, he was a legend, let’s put it that way,” Shelton says. Snoopy was buried at the Shelton home where he is visited everyday by the Shelton family. Phyllis even has plans to hold a community memorial service for Snoopy sometime in spring 2023.
Free Thanksgiving Dinner 2022
MOUNT OLIVE - Please come and Be Our Guest on Thanksgiving Day! We will be hosting a Traditional Thanksgiving Family Dinner for anyone who will be alone or any individual or family facing financial hardship on Thanksgiving Day at the Mt.
Olive Senior Center starting at 1:00 p.m. Meal deliveries will also be available for drop off on November 23. MUST CALL TO RESERVE! Please call Mary at 973-768-1815 or email at mary.lalama@gmail.com to reserve your seat now.
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