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Helping Veterans and Active Duty Military Cope with Social Isolation

s a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of veterans and active duty military personnel are on lockdown, many suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or substance abuse. With the additional challenge of social isolation, finding ways to combat depression, anxiety and loneliness is critical. That is why Help Heal Veterans (Heal Vets), a nonprofit founded during the Vietnam War, has gone into overdrive, shipping more than 90,000 free craft kits since the beginning of the pandemic and creating a newly designed kit to help veterans make the masks they need to stay healthy and safe. Operating on the principle that not all medicine comes in a bottle, Heal Vets distributes kits in craft categories like masks, leatherwork, models, woodwork, jewelry, paint-by-numbers, needlecrafts, poster art, scrapbooks and more. Crafting can provide therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits, including improving fine motor skills, cognitive functioning, memory and dexterity, and can help alleviate feelings of anger and the severity of negative behaviors triggered by PTSD and TBIs. With demands flooding in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, kits have been distributed to more than 90 Veterans Affairs (VA)

medical centers around the country and a large number of military bases, state veteran homes and other locations where the need is great. “The coronavirus is overwhelming, but being alone in a pandemic crisis can be terrifying and deeply debilitating,” says Joe McClain, retired Navy captain and Help Heal Veterans CEO. “Our goal is to give our veterans what they need to heal during this time of enforced isolation.” In a recent survey of vets, 94 percent of those polled who use Heal Vets craft kits said the kits helped them have a more positive outlook on life, and 98 percent said the kits took their mind off problems. With many of the nation’s veterans labeled high-risk now in lockdown with little contact from others, (no visitors, no family allowed, no volunteers and limited staff interaction), it is particularly important to address suicide prevention, according to McClain. “We’re working closely with the VA Suicide Program to start including VA-produced suicide prevention awareness and education material with our kits,” he says. “Our concern is that during this time of increased stress from isolation and financial uncertainty, some veterans may be at higher risk of taking their own life. We are hoping to raise awareness and improve access

Craft care specialist, Kathy Vanasse, prepares craft kits for veterans Courtesy of Help Heal Veterans.

to craft therapy kits to help mitigate that risk.” To learn more about Heal Vets and the organization’s COVID-19 efforts, as well as find out how you can help, visit HealVets. org.

Anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges can be exacerbated during this quarantine period. Luckily, there are tangible ways to support isolated and sick veterans in their most significant time of need. (StatePoint)

Three Ways to Stay Connected to Your Senior Loved Ones While Social Distancing

fter more than 45 days in lockdown, it’s no surprise that many people are going a tad stir-crazy. But it’s far worse for seniors: Not only have visits from their kids and grandkids been suspended, but there’s the extra stress that comes with the nagging suspicion that they’ll be advised to remain on lockdown long after

younger people begin trickling back to work and the world starts opening up again. In fact, the AARP Foundation has even come up with this dire comparison: Prolonged social isolation, for those aged 50 and older, “is the health equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” Fortuitously, some of the niftiest technology offers solu-

tions both to keep us connected and protect against some of the miscreants taking advantage of the situation. • Health Checks. If you are worried that all of the anxiety is harming your loved ones’ overall well-being, the machine-learning algorithms that analyze activity data as part of Alarm.com’s Wellness solution can pro-

vide you with the very details you’ve suddenly found yourself obsessing about. Did they open their medicine cabinet when they should, to take their prescription? Have their sleeping, eating, and (yes) bathroom patterns changed? Are they up and about during the day? continued on page 2

Page 2 • May 25, 2020

Three Ways to Stay Connected... if the Tiger King is worth all the hype and whether Carol Baskin really did kill her husband. Plus, unlike in real theaters, not many people (if any) are physically there to complain if you’re making too much noise eating popcorn. • Apps! Apps! Apps! No NetFlix subscription? With apps such as FaceTime, Skype, Houseparty and Zoom comes more proof that social distancing needn’t mean social disconnecting. Mass virtual dinner parties. Mass virtual “happy hours.” Mass virtual

continued from front page All that and more is done by connecting their home to yours via smart-home technology, with real-time smartphone alerts to let you know if something’s amiss. “You don’t even know it’s there, but it’s here to protect you and let someone know if something does go wrong,” says Margarete Pullen of Dallas, Texas, whose son had the system installed by an authorized service provider for her and her husband along with a Wellcam video camera with two-way voice capability.

• Movie meet-ups. Most of us are just trying to find novel ways to cope with a situation that Nicholas Christakis, a social scientist and physician at Yale University, told Science magazine “calls on us to suppress our profoundly human and evolutionary hard-wired impulses for connection.” Google’s new Netflix Party extension lets friends and family watch – and video-chat their way through – a movie together on their computers. You’ll need a NetFlix subscription, but then you’re free to debate

gym classes. They’ve all become quite the rage, with one Vermont couple in their eighties even touchingly using Apple’s FaceTime to see and talk to each other after the husband had to be put in a nursing home that bars visitors during the pandemic. Want to be a hero in your neighborhood? Use an app such as Instagram to share a video of someone Alarm.com’s doorbell cameras caught swiping one of the many, many packages you’ve been having delivered.

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A VIEW FROM THE LEFT

EDITORIAL &

Opinions

Coronavirus Blame Game Continues to Spread

ttention readers: Mark Shields is off this week. Please enjoy the following column by Veronique De Rugy. The coronavirus did apparently originate in China. Now President Donald Trump wants to punish that country for its role in letting the virus spread to the United States. This is just another poor excuse to push the same protectionist policies he has always favored. It’s also a way for him to deflect responsibility for the failures of his own administration and the many agencies that intrude daily into our lives. Trump’s administration is reportedly exploring the exact details of potential punishments to inflict on China. Among the options being discussed by senior U.S officials are $1 trillion in tariffs on Chinese products and canceling part of the U.S. debt obligation to China. While both of these options may hurt China, when all is said and done, Americans will be hurt the most. This is true even though the Chinese government unquestionably covered up the COVID-19 outbreak and failed to take important measures that could have reduced the virus’s spread. While there may be a constructive way to put China on notice, if blame is the name of this game, there’s plenty to go around. For instance, some could blame Trump for buying the early Chinese propaganda, as he did in his Jan. 24 tweet: “China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!” Trump is also much to blame for the fact that the trade war he started with China has reduced Americans’ access to many essential medical supplies to fight the pandemic, including thermometers, face masks, medical-grade personal protective gear and hand sanitizer. It’s not for lack of being warned. Economists, health care professionals and even lobbyists all told the president that his tar-

Stop Training Saudi Arabia’s Jihad Pilots

’m glad the FBI was able to crack the iPhones of the Pensacola naval air base shooter, which confirmed that radicalized Royal Saudi Air Force second lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani had communicated with al-Qaida to carry out a “special operation.” Three young American patriots died in Alshamrani’s December 2019 attack. The more information we have to prevent the needless slaughter of U.S. military members on U.S. soil the better. But Attorney General William Barr’s announcement of the Pensacola jihadist’s unlocked phones yesterday raises more questions than it answers. Why Mark Shields haven’t the American people been iniffs would create shortages and higher formed yet of basic details regarding prices. The president refused to listen. how Alshamrani got into our country? Now Americans and health care profes- Why have we resumed foreign flight sionals on the frontlines are paying an training while lockdowns have put nearly 37 million citizens out of work -- and exorbitant price. Of course, some blame also belongs while national security concerns about to the Centers for Disease Control and the A-2 visa for foreign military trainPrevention and to the Food and Drug ees remain unresolved? Why weren’t Administration. The first of these agen- all temporary foreign visa programs for cies is supposed to protect us from this both civilian and military pilots from kind of pandemic, while the other is around the world immediately frozen supposed to oversee the production of as part of President Donald Trump’s sothe drugs, vaccines and technologies called immigration ban? In January, Senate Homeland Secuthat could save us from this nightmare. Let us never forget the crushing events rity and Governmental Affairs Committhat are unfolding before our eyes and tee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and the lives lost to this virus. Some bureau- fellow committee members Sens. Rick crats at each agency spread misinfor- Scott, R-Fla., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., mation and displayed a certain level of asked Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf for a “timeline of Alshamraincompetence. For instance, CDC employee emails ni’s nonimmigrant visa vetting process, obtained through a Freedom of Infor- the specific vetting actions conducted, mation Act request reveal that on Jan. whether he was interviewed by U.S. 28, CDC director Robert Redfield sent officials and whether the Department emails to his employees to inform them of Homeland Security (DHS) was made that “the virus isn’t spreading in the US aware of any documents provided by at this time.” In reality, it was indeed the Saudi government indicating terrorspreading and had been for weeks. A ist sympathies.” The letter also sought information on month later, the CDC was still telling state and local government officials “how many A visa holders were refused that its “testing capacity is more than entry by Customs and Border Protection adequate to meet current testing de- and how many of those refusals were mands.” It wasn’t. One day, we were Saudi nationals, as well as details on supposed to wear masks; the next, we DHS monitoring of visiting foreign milcontinued on page 6 itary personnel’s social media and any 100% MailedNewspaper Flanders, NJ 07836

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A VIEW FROM THE RIGHT

H 973-809-4784 H

Michelle Malkin such monitoring conducted in Alshamrani’s case.” Was biometric data collected? Were any red flags shared by Saudi Arabia, and did our consular officials follow up on any warnings? The three GOP senators also asked Wolf about what “diplomatic courtesies or other differences from regular nonimmigrant visa arrivals are afforded on arrival to individuals on an A visa?” It’s ancient history, but those of us who care about a functioning immigration and entrance system remember how lazy and pandering State Department bureaucrats didn’t even bother to interview the 9/11 Saudi hijackers in person when they applied for fast-track visas. The Bush administration set up the so-called “Visa Express” program to allow Saudis to skip the lines and wait times. We also remember that when the FBI was warned before 9/11 by Phoenix-based agent Kenneth Williams that Arab Muslim pilots should be monitored because his investigation found “a coordinated effort by Usama Bin Laden to send students to the United States to attend civil aviation universities and college,” the FBI ignored Williams. He had called on his superiors to conduct nationwide sweeps of aviation schools continued on page 6

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Please e-mail all press releases and calendar information to editor@mylifepublications.com. Advertising in My Life Publications is affordable and effective. We are a “family friendly” publication and therefore reserve the right to accept only advertisements that appeal to the entire family; the final determination of which is made by My Life Publications. Views expressed in My Life Publications are those of the respective columnists and writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, or My Life Publications. Advertising is open to anyone desiring to reach the public and is subject to approval, revision and/or rejection at any time by the publisher. Many of the articles are paid for by the author and are in effect advertisements. Publication of any advertisement does not constitute, either implied or inferred, an endorsement of services, products or businesses advertised.

May 25, 2020 â€¢ Page 5

Page 6 • May 25, 2020

Coronavirus Blame Game... continued from page 4 weren’t; then we find out that, yes, we should wear masks. In truth, the CDC and the FDA did their most destructive work when they worked as a tag team. While the FDA prevented private and academic development of COVID-19 tests for weeks, the CDC arrogantly denied Americans access to functioning foreign tests only to produce its own defective tests. If time was of the essence to reduce the number of people infected and killed by the virus, the CDC and the FDA only prolonged the testing process when they should have been expediting it. The result has been to force most Americans into their homes voluntarily or under state government mandates, with no hope of getting out because of the lack

of testing. I could go on. The bottom line is that the Chinese government behaved like we expect such an authoritarian regime to behave. Only our president seems to be surprised by that. However, American public officials -- including all the members of Congress who passed a poorly designed and massive spending bill -- deserve a lot of the blame for the way they behaved during this crisis, too. Veronique de Rugy is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. To find out more about Veronique de Rugy and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

Did You Know?

ccording to Oldways, a nonprofit organization that helps people rediscover and embrace shared cultural eating traditions, traditional meals in Africa varied depending on where on the continent one might be. In Central Africa, Oldways notes that traditional meals were often based on hearty vegetable soups and stews that were poured over boiled and mashed tubers or grains. In Eastern Africa,

the main features of traditional meals were whole grains and vegetables such as cabbage, kale and maize. In places like Ethiopia and Somalia, flat-breads play a significant role in traditional meals. Meals were based on these breads and beans, such as lentils, fava beans and chickpeas, and served with spices. Beans were eaten throughout Africa, and Oldways notes that they were often pounded into a powder for bean pastes.

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Stop Training... continued from page 4 and surveillance of suspicious visa applicants. Had the feds done so, of course, Muslim grievance-groups would have been up in arms and hindsight hypocrite columnists like former New York Times’ finger-wagger Maureen Dowd would have screamed “Islamophobe” faster than a speeding bullet. Instead, the Bush administration did nothing to stop the inflow of terrorists into our homeland through an alphabet soup of visa programs, including F-1 student visas, B-1 tourists visas, J-1 cultural exchange visas, diversity visas and the A-2s. In 20182019, the number of foreign students from Saudi Arabia in the U.S. totaled more than 37,000, 30.2% of whom were admitted to study in STEM/Engineering fields. Moreover, our U.S. military has been training Saudi airmen since 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Eglin AFB, Florida; Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida. Government officials insist that the vetting is rigorous. But a 2017 report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction exposed how untold numbers of A-2 foreign pilot trainees from the Middle East have simply disappeared for more than a dozen years. In 2014, I report-

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ed on the alarming phenomenon of Muslim deserters in 2014 who had been granted visas for serving as interpreters in Afghanistan and Iraq. “We generally don’t know who we are training. We have little reliable information,” one U.S. official told RAND Corp. researchers. Their study “found significant problems with current U.S. vetting practices in relation to security assistance.” Why would we continue to put our soldiers, pilots, sailors and citizens at such unnecessary risk? Follow the money. The Pensacola joint training program was part of the $30 billion sale of F-15s to the Saudis -- engineered by Hillary Clinton and her pay-for-play State Department. Is it too much to ask President Trump, who campaigned on “America first,” “build the wall” and “drain the swamp,” to put some flesh on those bones and shut down the Saudi terror pilot pipeline? Michelle Malkin’s email address is MichelleMalkinInvestigates@protonmail. com. To find out more about Michelle Malkin and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM

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“Suppers For Staﬀ ” Delivered To Chilton Medical Center

he Pequannock Valley Rotary with Community Partners for Hope delivered another “Suppers for Staff,” feeding the night shift workers at Chilton Medical Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Tuesday’s turkey dinner with all the trimmings was prepared by Bardi’s Bar and Grill, Pequannock. The group has been sending meals to Chilton staff to show the community’s appreciation and gratitude for its neighborhood Front Line Heroes during

the Covid-19 pandemic. Members of the Pequannock Valley Rotary, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate and Chiropractic Healing Center of New Jersey were on hand to help deliver the entrees, which were sponsored this week by local business owners Pat Wojtyszyn, CENTURY 21 Crest Real Estate, and Dr. Donna Perillo, Chiropractic Healing Center of New Jersey.

May 25, 2020 • Page 9

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Page 10 • May 25, 2020

Young Singers Treated to Special Virtual Interview from Broadway Performer

ifth and sixth-grade chorus members at Lincoln/Roosevelt had virtual “front row seats” to an interview with a former Broadway performer last Thursday. Allison Fischer, who appeared in such productions as “A Christmas Carol”, “Grease”, and “Lestat”, spent time video chatting with LRS Music Teacher Kate Katz in a live stream for students. Driven by student questions, Ms. Fischer pro-

vided insight as to how she got her start, what it’s like to audition for and perform on Broadway, how she dealt with stage fright and mistakes during a performance and gave a resounding message of perseverance as advice to our student performers. The interview concluded with Ms. Fischer performing a song. Many thanks to LRS Principal Chris Argenziano, LRS As-

sistant Principal Brian Hamer, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Chuck Seipp, Superintendent Loretta Radulic, and Director of Technology Teresa Rehman for their support and assistance in bringing this opportunity to LRS singers. A recording of the interview is available in the fifth and sixth grade Chorus Google Classrooms and can be shared upon request from kkatz@roxbury.org.

What’s happening in your school or organization? Have a human interest story or something you would like to share? Email us at editor@mylifepublications.com

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Hazel Elementary Shows the Love at Community “Parade”

ith Governor Murphy's announcement that public schools would remain closed through the rest of the school year, the staff of Hazel Elementary reached out to its students to spread the love at a special community parade in recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week. "It was a spectacular event," said Hazel Principal Ana Marti. "We had about 40 cars all decorated with positive messages, balloons, and ribbons," she continued, "and teachers, office

personnel, nurse, head custodian, lunch aides, and paraprofessionals all participated." The West Orange Police and Fire Department provided an escort for the celebratory caravan as it weaved through the Hazel neighborhood in a unique route that took them past the house of every Hazel student. The parade took about two hours to complete, but the smiles of the staff and the families they passed was worth it. The faces of the students and parents, the tears that we saw in some faces, the

clapping, the beautiful posters thanking the teachers, and the amount of "I Love You's" that we heard made it all very very special," Marti went on to say. "The community came out in great numbers. Everyone came out to cheer. We saw a young couple outside their house with a newborn and a poster that read, "Future Hazel Student." We also saw many senior

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citizens on their front porches waving and clapping. This parade made their day, but it made ours as well, she explained. The parade was made possible by school counselor Leila Tirado-Smith, art teacher Michelle Ledesma, third-grade teacher Stacey Varanelli, and office assistant, Paula Goncalves-Healy, along with the WOPD and WOFD.

Page 12 â€¢ May 25, 2020

May 25, 2020 â€¢ Page 13

Page 14 • May 25, 2020

Diary of a Scout Leader: Remembering Thorpe Hall, Part III

By Richard Mabey Jr. ur story so far: It is the first day of summer vacation of 1969. I am 15 years old and have just completed my sophomore year at Boonton High School. It is nearing high noon and I have spent the entire morning painting Thorpe Hall of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, for my Eagle Scout project. After eating my lunch, a man comes to the door and begins banging on the door and demanding that I let him in. Fortunately, I had locked the door. I try to huddle out of sight of this man, who is continuing to hammer on the door and scream for someone to let him in. “I know someone’s in there! Let me in! Ya’ hear me, let me in,” the man screamed outside the door. I trembled with fear. This is long before cell phones. There was a telephone in the kitchen. But in order to get to the telephone, I would have to walk by the door where the man that the man was pounding on. Since there was a glass window on the upper half of the door, he would be sure to see me. I crunched up in a ball, my knees against my chest and I trembled. I prayed and prayed and prayed for the man to go away. Then, suddenly, the screaming stopped and so did the terrible booming of the man pounding on the door. I looked out the window, just barely looking out so that I was not in full view. And, I saw the big, tall man, in the parking lot, walking away from Thorpe Hall. I was just too shook up to do any more painting. It was a little past one in the afternoon and I quietly walked toward the kitchen to use the phone on the wall. As I passed the window on the side door, that the man had been pounding his fist on, I looked outside and there was no sign of the maniac. I walked to the telephone and called my mom. When my mom answered the phone, I told her what had happened and I asked her if she could come down to pick me up. Mom said that she would be right down. While I waited for my mom, I gathered up my paint cans and paint brushes and rollers and placed them neatly atop my folded tarp. A few minutes later, I heard my Mom knocking on the door. I was so glad to see my mom outside the door. I opened the door for Mom to come in. As soon as Mom came in, she gave me a great big hug and told me that everything was going to be okay, that the man was gone now. In some ways, I felt ashamed to be so scared. In another way, I was just so glad to see my mom. Once inside Mom’s car, Mom asked me if I wanted to stop at Moe’s Sweet Shop for

a malted milk. I didn’t hesitate at all. After all, Moe made the best malted milks in the entire state of New Jersey. So, Mom drove around the block and parked on Zeliff Street and we walked into Moe’s Sweet Shop together. I had paint all over my shirt and dungarees. I also had some paint in my hair. Plus, I was still a little bit shaken up about the maniac pounding on the door of Thorpe Hall and yelling and screaming at me to open up the door. Just outside of Moe’s, I opened the door for Mom. And, there she was, sitting at the counter with one of her friends. One of the cutest girls in my class, Mary Tafano. Mary had an incredible resemblance to the actress, Patty Duke. She was just that cute. As Mom and I walked to the one of the tables to the back of the sweet shop, Mary smiled at me and we exchanged hellos. Then Mary giggled a bit and said to me, “Richie, did you get any paint on the walls?” I was so embarrassed. I had forgotten how much paint that I had all over my shirt and pants, not to mention how much paint I had in my hair. I softly replied, “I got some paint on the walls.” Then Mom and I sat down at the table in the back of the sweet shop, closest to the counter. Mom smiled at me and said, “well, you are covered with paint.” Mom and I both ordered chocolate malted milks. I felt so conspicuous to be sitting in the sweet shop all covered with paint. Then, what was about to happen, felt like a dream. I almost had to pinch myself to believe it was true. Mary’s friend paid Moe for her soda and left. But Mary stayed. And, to my surprise, Mary walked over to the table that Mom and I were sitting at. Mary said hello to Mom and then Mom said hello to Mary. Mary lived only a couple of blocks down from me. We both lived on Main Street. Then, out of the blue, Mary said to me, “Richie, I’m having a birthday party this Saturday at three o’clock. You’re welcome to come, if you’d like.” At first I was lost for words. Cute and popular Mary Tafano was asking me to her birthday party. I had never thought of myself as being one of the popular kids or one of the cool kids. And here it was, Mary Tafano, who looked like Patty Duke, was asking me to her birthday party. I trembled as I told Mary that I would love to come to her party. Then Mary smiled and said to me, in a very teasing way, “well, don’t be late.” The Mary said to my mom, “it was nice to see you Mrs. Mabey.” Upon which my mom simply replied, “it was nice to see you Mary.” Then Mary turned around, paid Moe for her soda and walked

Moe’s Sweet Shop as it looked in 1969. Moe made the best malted milks in all of New Jersey!

out of Moe’s Sweet Shop. As she opened the door to leave, the little bell above the door rang. Then, suddenly Mary was gone. My mom smiled at me. Moe smiled at me as he brought the malted milks to our table. The door slowly closed and I watched Mary walk by the big glass window in the

front of the sweet shop. My heart pounded like a big bass drum. What a day it was, so far. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com. Please place the wording “My Life Weekly” in the subject line.

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Tips to Manage Weather-Related Aches and Pains

hile research on how weather affects a person’s pain levels is inconclusive, many people swear that the pain in their joints or ache “in their bones” can predict rainy or chilly weather ahead. The general theory is that this is caused by changes in temperature and barometric pressure. “Sometimes joint pain can occur in flares that your body can predict: a change of weather in a usually dry climate, a change of temperature or staying in contact with water for too long,” says Dr. Ken Redcross, author of “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor” and founder of Redcross Concierge. “Particularly as we age, pain tends to sneak in, so managing it is a useful skill to acquire. However, it’s not just about taking a pill to numb the pain and hoping for as few side effects as possible.” If a chill in the air or damp, humid temps bring you discomfort, Dr. Redcross recommends the following simple measures, which may help you find relief: • Keep Moving: Inclement weather can keep us sedentary. When you reduce your movement or don’t get out as much, pain can increase. Don’t let potential aches and pains stop you from regular activity. The sooner you start moving, the better you will feel. • Know Your Limits: Don’t increase the

intensity of physical activity too quickly, especially if you have existing cardiovascular, joint or muscle problems that could be aggravated as a result. Work with a licensed trainer at first, who can assess your strength, flexibility, balance and endurance, and create a custom workout program accordingly. • Relieve Pain Naturally: The next time you experience pain, avoid popping a conventional pain reliever. Arnica montana, a type of mountain daisy, has been used for centuries for natural pain relief and is one of the most popular homeopathic medicines worldwide. As a first-line therapy, consider using an unscented, non-greasy topical treatment like Boiron Arnicare Gel for muscle pain, stiffness and swelling from injuries and bruises. More information can be found at Arnicare.com. Claims for Arnicare are based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. They are not FDA evaluated. • Spice it Up: Turmeric, ginger and cayenne pepper all have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as many other health benefits. Stick to an energy-boosting diet by giving your foods a low-calorie kick with spices, roots and herbs. Don’t let the weather get the best of you. With a few key strategies, you can better manage weather-related joint pain, rain or shine. (StatePoint)

Hanover Chinese American Community Steps Up During Pandemic

By: Megan Roche uring the novel coronavirus, many local organizations, businesses, and foundations have stepped up to help those on the front lines. Joining their ranks are the Chinese American community from Hanover. What started out as a complete grassroots effort, pooling money through Venmo, the Hanover Chinese American community has been able to purchase and donate over 10,000 face masks and PPE to local community organizations, the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, hospitals, and first responders. “It was super organic. We’re not an official community in Hanover. We were all sitting at home and we wanted to do something to help. We all just pooled money together through Venmo and it was a grassroots effort. It’s very touching that they decided to do that. Once they reached a certain amount, they reached out to me to help facilitate,” Annie Ma said. Ma, who runs the Lunar New Year celebration in Hanover each year, along with many other Chinese American volunteers have dropped off donation after donation to many local groups. Ma says the response has been overwhelming. “It came down to what do we get, how do we get it Member NJ Arborists Association Commercial • Residential Owner Operated

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May 25, 2020 • Page 17

their community. “It all really came about when we heard from family back in China. We heard about how bad it was and we took it really seriously when we heard the World Health Organization reports. We were all just really worried,” Ma said. The team is doing all they can to ensure that all things being imported and shared with the community are safe. “We are working with a team of scientists to ensure that the masks are not knockoffs. We’re doing our best. Nothing is ever 100% and through all of our individual strengths, we were able to bring it in,” Ma said. When dropping off donations, Ma says that those on the receiving end of the donations have been able to breathe a little easier. “When we drop off our donations, everybody looks like they are about to cry. I think that’s one of the most heartfelt moments. They all say they are so relieved, and you can see it. They literally breathe a breath of relief so that’s really what is keeping us all going. We know we’re making a difference, but it’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience all around,” Ma said. The Hanover Chinese American community is actively taking donations toward their efforts. If interested in donating, email Ma at anniema973@gmail.com.

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May 25, 2020 • Page 19

Hopatcong Middle School Music Teacher Gets Creative with Poetic Music Video to Spread Hope

By: Megan Roche l Cerulo, first year music teacher at Hopatcong Middle School, has felt the need to get creative during the coronavirus. Cerulo, who has been teaching for over 15 years, wanted to elicit his own creativity while staying true to himself. “Music is communal, everything about music is communal. Not only am I a teacher, but I want to help my students keep some sort of normal in their lives. I love teaching and it’s a stressful time for everybody. Times are stressful for the kids. I wanted to try to figure out a way to help them make education a priority,” Cerulo said. The musician turned educator wrote a poem entitled “We Are…” one evening while sitting at home with his wife and two sons. While he has been distance teaching his instrumental music students, he wanted a creative way to get them involved. Sending them the poem, he instructed them on how to read it and how to angle their camera so they could record themselves reading it. “I try to wear many hats as a person. I’m a teacher, husband, father, and also an artist/musician. As artists in the world, when we come to something like this, we need to express our feelings. When all of this happened, it was hard for us as musicians to express the things going on. I perform a lot outside of teaching and all of that just immediately

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stopped. We needed some sort of outlet to express this new sense of grief. I wanted to feed the world with some positivity,” Cerulo said. While he wrote the poem, he also composed the music that goes along with it in the music video. Cerulo has noted that since the video debuted, he has received countless calls and messages from parents and fellow teachers about how truly touching it was. “The poem project came together really nicely. It was a nice, positive product. From the reactions I’ve been getting, the kids are really proud of it and they think it’s great.

The reaction from the parents is that they are realizing there will be hope as we get through this. The kids were happy to be part of something, but the parents and grandparents are seeing the bigger picture and it’s pouring out of them. I was touched because I really didn’t think it was going to be this big thing,” Cerulo said. On May 4, Governor Murphy issued a statement that schools would remain closed throughout the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Although the news is disheartening, Cerulo hopes that his poem and video can remind people to stay positive during these dark times. “We have all these people putting out positive content from famous people to local organizations. I just wanted to be a part of that positivity. The kids are going to be the ones who get through this and they will be the ones to change the future. As artists, we have this need to be creative and present something to make people feel a certain way. Sometimes that reaction is positive, it can make people think, or it produces a negative reaction. It was nice that I can give people a moment away from the negativity and to step away for a brief moment and just smile,” Cerulo said. The video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/2NAT0FJJ8E.

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Newly Unemployed? Understanding Your Health Insurance Options

ith millions of people nationwide filing for unemployment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals and families across the country are suddenly finding themselves without health insurance at a precarious time. Fortunately, new options may be able to help those on tight budgets. “The sudden and unexpected loss of health insurance only compounds the stress caused by job loss amidst this unprecedented economic and public health crisis. However, unemployed individuals have more options for affordable health insurance than they did during past economic recessions thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act, along with actions recently taken by Congress and some states,” says American Medical Association (AMA) president, Patrice A. Harris, M.D. Whether you recently lost your jobbased health insurance or were uninsured before COVID-19 struck, the AMA, a longtime advocate for health insurance coverage for all Americans, is highlighting the following options: • Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces: Family and individual health plans can be bought in the health insurance marketplaces created by the ACA. Losing a job is a qualifying life event that allows unem-

ployed individuals up to 60 days to enroll in a marketplace health plan before the close of a special enrollment period. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain states have reopened enrollment periods when all consumers -- not only those who have experienced a job loss -- can enroll in marketplace health plans and potentially qualify for financial assistance to purchase these plans based on their income. Subsidies available to eligible individuals through the health insurance marketplaces can help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs, making coverage more affordable. The Kaiser Family Foundation can help calculate an estimate of premiums and subsidies based on an individual’s income, age and family size. It will also estimate an individual’s eligibility for Medicaid. • Medicaid: While each state’s program has unique attributes for coverage, Medicaid can offer no- or low-cost coverage for those with the lowest incomes with limited cost-sharing requirements. Unlike the ACA marketplaces, there is no defined open enrollment period for Medicaid, and eligible people can sign up at any time. State eligibility requirements and income qualifications vary by state. Every state covers low-income children, pregnant women and people with disabilities, while 36 states and

the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid coverage so that adults with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify. • Beware Short-Term Plans: The AMA cautions patients to avoid short-term limited duration plans whenever possible, especially during this pandemic. Short-term plans are designed to fill temporary gaps in health insurance when comprehensive coverage may not be an option. But it is important to understand that these plans of-

fer very limited benefits and do not usually cover COVID-19 testing and treatment, preexisting medical conditions, mental health services, prescription drugs, and preventative and wellness care. “Avoiding gaps in coverage should be a top priority for anyone who has recently lost their health insurance,” says Harris. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having meaningful health insurance coverage.” (StatePoint)

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CCM Foundation Launches Titan Emergency Fund Campaign to Assist Students

rior to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of the students at County College of Morris (CCM) reported that they faced financial challenges, ranging from food insecurities to housing issues. Now that many have lost jobs, been confronted with health and mental health issues, required laptops or other equipment to take classes online, or encountered other challenges, the financial difficulties students face have reached unprecedented levels. The federal CARES Act provides funding to students who are dealing with financial issues that threaten to impede or interrupt their ability to continue their college education, but not all students and situations qualify. To ensure that funds are available to assist as many students as possible, the CCM Foundation has launched the Titan Emergency Fund Campaign. The Titan Emergency Fund

was created earlier this year to provide students with financial support to meet unexpected expenses, from car repairs, to food, housing, medical and other issues, so they can stay on track to earn their college degree or certificate. The campaign is intended to increase the amount of funding that is available to meet the heightened challenges students are now facing. A survey of CCM students, released in January by The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University, found that 33 percent of respondents had experienced food insecurities, 35 percent faced housing issues and 11 percent had experienced homelessness. A total of 49 percent of CCM students said they had experienced at least one of those forms of basic needs insecurity in the past year. Also 56 percent of CCM students receive financial aid through grants, loans and scholarships.

May 25, 2020 • Page 23

“The number of students facing financial issues was staggering before COVID-19 and now the pandemic has disrupted the lives of our students in even more troublesome ways,” notes Katie Olsen, executive director of the CCM Foundation. “To help ensure that our students are not forced to give up on their dreams, the CCM Foundation Board has launched this campaign to provide much-needed assistance. Gifts to the Titan Emergency Fund will help students meet unexpected expenses and will be awarded immediately where need is the most critical. We all can help.” Awards to students from the fund can range from small to large amounts, depending upon specific needs. All contributions to the fund will be awarded directly to students. To make a donation to the Titan Emergency Fund to help a student today, go to www.ccm.edu/FundDonate/.

MCVTS Student, Sarah Tubbs, Initiates Messages of Joy

By: Cathy Mohrle arah Tubbs, a sophomore at Morris County School of Technology in Denville, is a volunteer at the Care One of Morris senior residential facility. A week before school closed, Sarah visited Care One to interview people for her podcast project in English class. Upon hearing the news that the facility was ordered to close, Sarah was devastated. She knew those seniors thrive on visits from friends and family. Sarah jumped into action and came up with a solution. She reached out to her friends and peers in

the Academy for Education and Learning (a program for future educators) to ask if they would be willing to write letters and start a "pen pal" program. Fifty students responded to Sarah's request and messages were sent via email which were printed out and distributed to residents. Sarah shared, "I received five different calls from employees I know telling me how thankful the residents were to get the letters and many came close to tears. I honestly wish there was more I could do but my pen pal, Martha, wrote back to me: 'Life gave you lemons, you made lemonade. Just make

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I Remember Dad: Hickam Airfield

May 25, 2020 • Page 25

Dad atop the wing of a P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane. His best friend, Tommy is standing beside the wing of the plane

An aerial view of the infamous Hickam Airfield, as it looked during the Second World War.

By Richard Mabey Jr. t 18 years old, my beloved father was shocked to see the devastation and destruction that men can do unto men. As many of you know, Hickam Airfield borders Pearl Harbor. The two places, etched in American history, almost merge together as one place. In the Summer of 1943, at the age of 18, my dad was shipped to Hickam Airfield to become part of the illustrious Seventh Army Air Corps. His heart filled with an uncanny devotion to a 15-year-old girl, whom he had only seen, from across the street for about five minutes. But, in that five minutes, my dad fell deeply in love with Janet Kemmerer. It was at Hickam that Dad made friends with Tommy Andrews, who hailed from Haskell, New Jersey. These two men, from small towns in northern New Jersey, found themselves in this strange place that had been brutally attacked by the Japanese, less than two years ago. Rumors abounded at Hickam that the Japanese were planning another attack on Hickam. Both, Dad and Tommy, were assigned to care for and do small repairs on the planes, mostly on the infamous P-51 Mustang Fighter Planes. Both young men felt the homesick blues. Both young men longed to be back home to their respective hometowns. There was one big difference between these two young men. Tommy was an only child and my dad was the fifth of nine children. Sadly, Tommy’s father went Home to be with the Lord when Tommy was just eight years old. Tommy became my dad’s best friend and confidant. And, yes, Dad did tell Tommy about the cute girl who sat on the rock wall on Boonton Avenue. The girl, Janet Kemmerer, whom he fell in love with at first sight. The very girl whom Dad had never spoken to. But deep in his heart, Dad knew Janet was the girl for him. For whom among us have known a truth so deep in his or her heart that it speaks with abundance clarity? So clear,

does the love beat within the chambers of the heart’s center, that a hundred wild horses could never tear it from the deepest chambers of the heart’s inner core. And, from everything my dear, beloved father ever told me; he prayed every night to meet Janet Kemmerer when he returned to the mainland, to his hometown of Lincoln Park. Dad told me that every night that he was at Hickam Airfield, he dreamt of returning home to the house that his father built at the end of Mabey Lane, in the little nook of Lincoln Park. My dad and I would often take a week or so and ride out to Gettysburg and walk just about every square foot of that sacred battlefield. I remember this so very well. It was back in Year 2000. Dad and I were walking along the edge of that big field where General Pickett made his charge. And, as we traversed that historic field, Dad told me that while he was at Hickam Airfield, he knew deep in his heart that he was going to marry my mom. Dad told me that he never had any doubt about it. The good Lord provides. There is no doubt about it. God provided my dear father with a good friend in Tommy, during his long time at Hickam Airfield. God provided Dad with a knowingness, that abideth deep in his heart that he was going to marry Janet Kemmerer, the cute girl who sat on the rock wall in her front yard on Boonton Avenue. And of an utmost, amazing, endearing miracle; Dad came home from the war, safe and sound. How many of us have looked into the eyes of our beloved father? Saw his pain. Saw his joy. Saw his fears. Saw his strengths. How many of us have thought what it would be like to be the man who was responsible for bringing us unto this physical world? How many of us have felt our father’s pain? My father was a man who dropped out of high school to join the United States Army, in the midst of World War II. He endured the heat and trying moments at Fort McClellan Army Base in Anniston, Alabama. He returned home

A very rare photo of my mom, Janet Kemmerer Mabey, sitting on the rock wall of her home on Boonton Avenue when she was 15 years old.

to Mabey Lane, for a one-week leave, before departing to Hickam Airfield in Hawaii. And, in that week, for about five minutes he saw the young girl, sitting upon a rock wall. She stole his heart. And Dad fell in love with Mom at that very moment in time. Dad never stopped loving Mom for his entire life. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com. Please put on the subject line: My Life Publications.

Page 26 • May 25, 2020

Coping With Stress During Uncertain Times

tress is an important and natural stimulant that compels us to adapt to a new environment or lifestyle change. It causes a physiological response that helps us either flee or fight the threat or stressor. But spending too much time on high alert can have damaging health effects. Prolonged, unwanted and unmanageable stresses like the ones so many people are facing during the pandemic can take a toll, causing anxiety, irritability, nervousness, sleeplessness and digestive upsets. Stress can also aggravate or even trigger chronic diseases. Here are some easy, natural ways to cope: 1. Write a gratitude list. Grab a blank piece of paper and write down a list of things that you are grateful for. This has been proven to drastically improve one’s mood and completely change their perspective. You might even consider making this a daily habit and keeping a journal. 2. Do a random act of kindness. Consider donating to an organization feeding those in need or asking an elderly neighbor if you can pick anything up for them at the store. Give a colleague a compliment. It feels good to do good. 3. Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Think about that person you used to be close to but just haven’t had the time to catch up with. Go ahead and give them a call or arrange to video chat! They will appreciate hearing from you, and reconnecting can put you both in a much better mood. 4. Go for a walk. Step outside and enjoy the fresh air. Going for a walk can help to clear your head. 5. Meditate. You don’t need to invest a lot of time. Meditating for even just five to 10 minutes can reduce stress and anxiety. 6. Use homeopathy. Homeopathic medicines offer a sim-

Consider using Sedalia from Boiron to relieve nervousness, hypersensitivity and fatigue due to everyday stress, and Quietude to address occasional sleeplessness or restless sleep. Claims for these products are based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. They are not FDA evaluated. To learn more, visit shop.BoironUSA. com. While a certain amount of stress is normal and natural, too much of it for too long can have harmful health impacts. To cope safely, take natural steps to relieve tension and worry. (StatePoint)

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ple, low-risk solution as they do not suppress the cause of stress itself, but provide enough relief to help you face it and react appropriately. “Solutions are not always simple. Stress pills, or anxiolytics, relieve tension and some physical symptoms of stress, but unfortunately, they have unwanted side effects, like drowsiness, and can be habit-forming,” says Dr. Ken Redcross, author of “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor,” and founder of Redcross Concierge. “However, homeopathic medicines provide an easy, lower-risk treatment option.”

hile the Pequannock Library’s doors are not open to you at this time, we are available to you virtually. Go to www.pequannocklibrary.org, the bottom has all of our eresources. These are FREE to you with your library card. If you need a Library card, you can get one now—email circ-peq@mainlib.org and we will get back to you via email. Find out about our virtual programming via our social media--#pequannocklibrary. Have a question? Email our Adult Services staff at peqref@mainlib.org. You can reach out to our Library Director, Debbie Maynard @ peq-director@mainlib.org. We are here for you now, and will be here in the building when we are given the official go ahead. Stay healthy and while you have time ---READ!

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