Mendham Township Library is back home,
offering so much more than books
By Jaimie Julia Winters
Upon entering the Mendham Township Library, you might encounter toddlers making music with Ms. Kathryn or dancing with Miss Dana. You could also find seniors participating in chair yoga, neighbors knitting together, or individuals enjoying sound baths and meditation sessions. In December, after a year and a half away, the library staff welcomed patrons back to a renovated and updated space at 2 West Main St.
The flexible space allows the library to expand beyond just housing books, Mendham Township Library Director Rachel Harrison said.
The township funded the $2.5 million renovation to the building that houses both the library on the first floor and the town hall on the second. The building was constructed in 1923 to house the Brookside School and is in a historic district.
Harrison said the library had temporarily relocated its services to the Brookside Community Church in October 2022.
“The building had plumping issues and suffered a small electrical fire in 2021. The upgrades were definitely needed,” Harrison said about the building. “We didn’t gain much space, but it now has a better flow.”
With furniture, desks, and stacks on wheels, the 5,000 square feet of indoor space allows flexibility for lectures, play, movement, and even Mahjong.
New spaces include a tiny area where the original entrance was transformed into booth seating for quiet study and outdoor space in the form of a patio.
“During COVID, we found outside activities enjoyable,” Harrison said. The space will allow for outdoor lectures and yoga. Kylie Bailin of the Township Environmental Commission designed the space. The fencing was donated by Best Gate & Fence of NJ.
The children’s room now includes train and LEGO(™) tables and a tree designed by local carpenter Kyle Noonan for displaying books.
“The woodworker’s daughter comes to storytime with her grandmother,” Harrison said.
The tree holds seasonal displays such as Valentine’s Day and is now prepared for St. Patrick’s Day with Irish items.
“We still have books, but we now have space for activities, as well,” Harrison said.
The library has expanded its wellness offerings, such as yoga, singing bowl sessions, and meditation. Children’s programs include “Movers and Shakers,” story time, music appreciation, and “Babies Morning Out” for new moms and their infants. Empty nesters gather for craft classes, and a recent lecture covered George Washington and his time spent in the Garden State. Book clubs meet weekly.
“If you don’t know the library, you don’t realize we are more than just a place to borrow books,” Harrison said. “We are where the community can gather and meet your neighbors and like-minded residents. We give residents a chance to get out of the house and make new friends.”
Future offerings include afterschool programs such as robot building and a puzzle playout where groups compete to finish a puzzle in an hour.
The library is part of the Main Alliance, which allows cardholders to borrow from 50 libraries and Libby and Hoopla renting digital movies, music, and ebooks. It also loans out Kindles with popular newly released books loaded on them.
Unlike most libraries that receive funding directly from the municipality based on a state-mandated formula, the Mendham Township Library operates as an Association Library where funding is not mandated. The township, however, contributes two-thirds of the library’s budget, while the remaining funds are generated through fundraising efforts organized by the board of trustees, according to Harrison.
Future fundraising efforts include a wine-tasting event, a family day at a farm, a children’s book sale, and the popular used costume sale.
“It’s really good to be back,” Harrison said.
For more information on the Mendham Township Library and upcoming events visit mendhamtwplib.org or stop into the newly renovated space.

Morristown Ciphers Football Season to Start in June
By Evan Wechman
The National Football League (NFL) season recently ended with the culmination of the Super Bowl in early February.  This leaves many die-hard football fans waiting several months until the season starts in the fall again, eager to watch some great football action. However, fans in Morristown will soon be able to enjoy high-quality football brought to the Mennen Sports Arena by Commissioner Andre Reed and the Entertainment Football Association (ENTFLA).
The season is expected to get underway this June and promises more than just a football game, but rather a full day of entertainment.
There are differences between this league featuring the newly named Morristown Ciphers and the action you would see at MetLife. According to Tommy Benizio of Benizio Sports, who is working closely with the executives of the ENTFLA, the spectators who come out to support the team will be in for a treat.
“We’re trying to create a four-hour event that will open up with a tailgate party with live music, jumping castles for kids, maybe a beer garden, if it’s allowable” Benizio said.“Before you even come into the arena, you’re having fun, and having a good time. We have a 20-second play clock. Huddles are illegal. You’re going to hustle through the game without one moment that’s boring. So, you have this incredible halftime act where we bring in America’s Got Talent contestants to perform. You can see this high-level football game, near NFL, quality football, but played on this little quarter-sized field indoors. When the game is over, the players, coaches, cheerleaders, they stay on the field for about a half an hour while we set up the concert.  Fans get to go on the field, meet the players, coaches, and cheerleaders, and then an hour-and-a-half-long concert follows with hopefully notable acts. We’re aiming for higher-level acts that are appealing. So, you got this event that’s approximately four hours long, that provides just a ton of entertainment”
Benizio and the league executives hope this fast-paced event will bring out not only football fans but families too. The tickets, which include a game, concert, and other festivities, will start at approximately $30 for adults and $20 for children.
Besides the game aiming for a quicker pace, the field will only be 50 yards long, and half the width of an NFL field. According to Benizio, they are not trying to duplicate the NFL but rather bring another form of entertainment to the area.
Benizio, who started his sports career as a hockey player and eventually got a job with one of the teams he played for on the marketing side is familiar with how to build out a new league. He recently formed his own company a few years ago and has worked with other football leagues and minor-league baseball teams to maximize exposure and attendance. His role with the ENTFLA and other leagues has always been to find the right communities for the teams, put the right people in charge, and help the leagues operate.
Also helping to ensure the team’s success in Morristown is the new general manager, Randy Feldman. Feldman brings a wealth of sports experience as he has worked with different teams and owned his own sports marketing business.
Feldman is in the process of hiring the right coaches for the Morristown Ciphers so that their inaugural season is successful. Feldman’s philosophy of building a coaching staff is like many highly successful NFL teams.
Feldman wants to allow coaches control over how they manage their players.
“When I was involved with other sports leagues, I allowed the coaches to pick their players and manage them as they saw fit. It’s silly for somebody who has a background in business or in management to start dictating to the coaching staff who and why they should be hiring certain players,” Feldman said.
Benizio is confident with the addition of Feldman, that both the league and Morristown are in a great position to have a successful season. He was particularly drawn to the area for several reasons.
“I studied a couple dozen or more communities, and I sort of ranked them,  trying to find the cities that we felt would be most successful, that really wanted the team there. And Morristown was a clear choice. The arena is incredible. The people that wanted it are remarkable. The people’s passion for sports in that community is so high level that we knew right away this is one of the cities that we could be in,” Benizio said.

Glory Days:
1993 West Morris Mendham Girl’s Field Hockey
By Steve Sears

When you speak with the members of the 1993 West Morris Mendham High School girl’s field hockey team, you get a definite sense that it was and still is more than about the North II Group II sectional state title they won.
When asked if she would go back and coach the 1993 squad once more, then Head Coach Robin Meyh said, “Over and over if I could. I looked forward to that. It was a bright spot in my day every time getting out on the field with them, watching them work together. They were wonderful back then. I was in good hands, very fortunate to have them surrounding me.”
Goalie Cori Menkin (Herbig) said, “Of all the memories I have of high school, winning the sectional title in field hockey is among the best! It is one of the few times that I would happily live over again if I could.”
The 1993 team was primed to do a wonderful thing: win the school’s first sectional field hockey in 18 seasons.
Kim Salomon (Devinney) said, “When we when we were juniors, I think that the seniors were expected to be the best team. It was very unexpected that we were very good when we became seniors. There were superstars on that team the prior couple of years.”
Cheri Drysdale (Orndorf), a midfield defenseman, recalled a special way the team would inspire each other.
She said, “We did all these psyches. They are quotes, things that we would share with each other. I saved some of them, like ‘The top 10 reasons why we play field hockey.’ We really tried to make it fun and engaging.”
The Minutemen, who had an overall record of 10 – 4 – 1, in the state playoffs took on Montville High School in a game that went into double overtime in Mount Olive. Winning that contest earned them the right to face the Group II defending champions,
Boonton High School – in yet another double overtime affair.
Tiffany Bennett scored first to give West Morris Mendham a 1 – 0 lead late in the first half, but Boonton knotted the score at the 27:15 mark of the second half.
Menkin, who sealed the nets in goal that fall, explained. “We were leading by one goal, but they came back to tie it on a penalty shot. I have remembered the name Virginia Guadagnino (the player who shot the penalty shot to tie the game) my entire life. I remember tearing her name off of a banner that was hanging after the game and keeping it for a long time. Even though she made her penalty shot, we still came back to win the game in double overtime. The emotional ups and downs of that game were incredibly challenging. Getting your head back in the game for double overtime after a losing a penalty shot is mentally tough on a goalie. But the team around me helped me to shake it off and continue to make saves through the rest of the game.”
With just 19 seconds left in the second overtime, with a shootout looming to decide the sectional title, Jeanne DelGiorno (Thomas) ended Boonton’s season.
Drysdale said, “Jeanne Delgiorno was our goal scorer. We also had a lot of other people contribute, but she had the speed, and she had the skills.”
Drysdale passed to Denise Markevich (Faehner), who then did the same to Betsy Carroll, who then passed to DelGiorno, who in front of a congested goal used a rare shot for the winning tally.
DelGiorno said, “We were all right in front of the goal, and I did what is called a ‘reverse stick.’ I did not have the space to actually take a normal shot, so I did a reverse stick, and I made it. It is something we would learn, but I had never seen anyone else do it.”
The West Morris Mendham fans erupted, and the Minutemen players raced from the bench to DelGiorno as Menkin, who had seven saves in the game, exited her goal at the field’s other end and sprinted towards her teammates.
“The end was a high I will never forget!” Menkin said.
Meyh said, “That team – they were such a family, such a unit. They laughed together. They worked hard together. It was an amazing group of girls.”
Markevich said she would go back and relive the Boonton game “in a heartbeat.”
She said, “I have a few highlights from when I was younger, and field hockey – being on this field hockey team – was absolutely one of them.”

Kelley Suminski chats about her high school basketball das
By Steve Sears
On January 30, 2001, West Morris Mendham High School Minutemen guard Kelley Suminski was one basket away from 2,000 points.
Suminski does not recall the sequence or play that got her the milestone points, but she had a little help recollecting something that happened immediately after she scored.
Suminski said, “Just last week, one of my best friends from high school did send me a photo of he and three other guys who had put ‘2000’ on their chests, and when it (scoring the 2,000^th point) happened, they just took their shirts off in the stands. It is so funny that is what we are talking about – he just sent me that old photo. That was really supportive of them.”
Suminski, who was coached by the legendary Fred Corona, would finish her West Morris Mendham career with 2,260 points. She was a two-time Gatorade Payer of the Year, and the Minutemen had a won-loss record of 114 – 6 during her four seasons in the backcourt.
Suminski said, “It was a very much an honor to play for Mr. C. Even though I have had top coaches, and I have been very lucky throughout my career – whether it is middle school, high school, AAU club teams, college – I still think Mr. C was probably the best coach I have ever had. I learned a lot, obviously, about basketball, but he taught us all more than just basketball skills. He taught us life skills. He taught us respect and being accountable and responsible, and he never favored one player over another, regardless of playing time or skill. He had a way of pulling out the best in every person. He could be hard on you, and he could be your biggest supporter as well. He was just everything you could want in a coach.”
In addition to her scoring feat, other highlights of her West Morris Mendham career were a few times being ranked a top player in the state, the Minutemen winning two Group II state titles, and the most memorable, a Tournament of Champions title in 1998, defeating #1 seeded Columbia, 67 – 62.
Suminski that season averaged 15 points as a freshman.
“That was the most special night, a feat that we accomplished as a small school,” she said about the TOC title. “They were a much bigger high school.”
Suminski, whose parents are John and Holly Suminski and her brothers Johnny and Stevie, would afterwards play collegiately at Stanford University, where her career point total was 1,364 points.
Suminski, who now lives and works as a nurse in California, said, “I was just so grateful to live in Chester and go to West Morris Mendham. And then to be a part of some great teams, that was such a wonderful pleasure.”
She then reflected on friendships made. “These girls were not only talented, but they were so such wonderful people. We were just the best of friends.”

The Folk Project Presents A Very Special Musical Celebration with Tom Chapin and Friends

Famed singer, songwriter, and storyteller Tom Chapin is celebrating his 80th birthday, and the public is invited. Tom Chapin and Friends will play a Special Concert at the Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series on Friday, March 7 at 7:30pm at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ.
Chapin has labeled this his “80th Big Birthday Bash,” just a few days before his actual birthday. A beloved entertainer with hundreds of songs in his repertoire, he serves up a tasty mix of story songs, ballads, comedic and political songs, family music, sing-alongs, old-time folk classics and a favorite song or two of his late brother Harry’s. He accompanies his soulful vocals with banjo, autoharp, and both 6- and 12-string guitars. So far, his career has spanned six decades, 27 albums, and three Grammy Awards. Generations of kids grew up loving his children’s recordings – clever, often witty, edifying, and never talking down to his young listeners. He has also acted on Broadway and worked extensively in television, radio, and film. Dedicated to social causes, Chapin is a steadfast advocate for the arts, justice, and environmental sustainability.
Tom Chapin and Friends also includes his longtime musical partners Jon Cobert (vocals, piano, keyboards, accordion) and Michael Mark (vocals, bass, concertina, marimba, guitar), both five-time Grammy nominees. In addition to harmonies and the fuller instrumental sound, they add decades of camaraderie and good humor.
This Special Concert is part of The Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series, now in its 50th year, sponsored by The Folk Project each Friday evening at the Fellowship. Admission is $30 per adult at the door, Folk Project members $25. Children 12 and under are free. For further information, call 201-650-6928, or visit www.folkproject.org. The Folk Project website offers music samples of Troubadour performers at troubadour.folkproject.org.
The Folk Project is New Jersey’s leading acoustic music and dance organization, and has been showcasing acoustic and traditional music in North Jersey since 1971.
Funding has been made possible in part by funds from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Chester Lioness Lions Club Offers Scholarships
Towards College Costs
The Chester Lioness Lions Club offers annual scholarships to graduating High School students residing in Chester, Mendham or Washington Township in Morris County. Each scholarship offers $1,000 – $1500 towards college costs. Criteria for these scholarships include the candidate’s academic record, community service, and outstanding accomplishments in activities demonstrating leadership. Financial need is also a key consideration.
Applications can be obtained in the College Resource Center at both West Morris Mendham and West Morris Central High Schools. The schools have applications available to all senior students beginning March 1, 2025. The completed form must be returned to the College Resource Center no later than April 1, 2025.
These scholarships are available not only to public high school students, but those attending private schools or those having home tutoring. A letter requesting an application can be sent to the Chester Lioness Lions Club at chesternjlioness@gmail.com. Completed applications must be forwarded to the Lioness Lions Club by April 10, 2025.

Bob Nulman Lovingly Remembers His Son,
and Fights to Defeat Impaired Driving
By Steve Sears
Wayne resident, Bob Nulman, speaks about his son, Danny.
Nulman said, “Danny was a Communications major. He maybe had a career in broadcasting. That was what he was looking towards, but never really got a chance. Who knows what his future would have held? He was very popular, very funny, smart, and like a young blossom, a young little bud ready to burst forth. And then he was snuffed out, like it was an early frost.”
On October 11, 1987, Danny Nulman, a 22-year-old senior at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey), and four of his college friends were all tragically killed when a 20-year-old woman, impaired by alcohol and drugs, was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 95 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania and crashed into their car. The woman was also killed.
Nulman said, “It was a terrible, terrible crash – one of those crash aftermaths, where you look at just a jumbled pile of metal. It was just so terrible, and so avoidable.”
In early December 2024, during National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) joined forces with liquor manufacturer, Diageo, the National Football League, and Uber Technologies, Inc. and unveiled the “Take a Minute. Make a Plan.” campaign. With drinking much expected on Super Bowl Sunday which would place safe driving in peril, the lifesaving initiative urged football fans to spend just 60 seconds arranging a safe ride home – and perhaps save countless lives as well.
Nulman, who is the National Ambassador for MADD and has been volunteering with them for 37 years, applauds the campaign.
“It is in everybody’s best interest for there to be safe celebrations,” he said. “Whether it is a holiday, whether it’s a major celebration like a Super Bowl, or anything else, it is in everybody’s best interest to avoid these kinds of tragedies that we see. Thank goodness that we are all teaming up here to try to make a difference.”
Nulman took his sorrow and turned it into positive energy to fight the battle against impaired driving.
He said, “I tell people it is my therapy, too, because it helps me get through the night that I am doing something in Danny’s name. Not just to keep his memory alive, but to say, ‘Look at the good that we have done.’ My team is me, it is Danny, of course, and my daughter.”
Nulman, who along with his daughter, Kim, both volunteer for MADD’s National Victim Helpline, said. “There are people out there – like me who, still, after 38 years – are trying to recover from a tragic loss. I am not just a statistic. I am a bereaved parent. I could be the the guy who lives next door to you, and I want to help you to not have to go through the tragedy that I went through. We are still fighting the battle. We are not going to give up. We are making progress, and we cannot slow down.”
Nulman also applauds the HALT Drunk Driving Act (https://madd.org/haltact/), which was signed into law in November 2021.
He said, “Hopefully by 2026, the HALT Drunk Driving Act will be ready to go as soon as the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) promulgates the rules. It means that every new car that is manufactured will have a passive kind of detection system, a system that will detect the driver’s biometrics. Whether there is alcohol in your system or on your breath, it will not let you start the car until it detects a driver that is not impaired. We are relying on technology.”
Nulman then paused, and said, “I think every day of Danny in my mind’s eye, looking down and saying, ‘Hey, old man, you are doing a good job. Thank you for doing it my memory.”

The Last Big Bicycle Race

By Richard Mabey Jr.

It was in late August of 1970 that I took part in the big bicycle race. It was an annual event. I am pretty sure that it was held on the last Saturday of August of every year. The race began early in the morning, about 9:00 and would carry on till about 4:00 that afternoon. The morning was filled with heat races, then after we all ate our bag lunches, would continue on with the big grand bicycle race.
The bicycle course ran throughout the wooded section of Steinhauser Mountain in Lincoln Park. This was a 23 acre mountain top, that was part of Hook Mountain. It was a tumultuous course, filled with big boulders and fallen trees to avoid and ride around. It was a true test of endurance. The entire bicycle course was at least a mile long. And, the big grand daddy finale race, required the cyclist to ride the course, four or five laps. It was by no means, a piece of cake.
In late August of 1970, I was still 16 years old and was looking forward to entering my senior year at Boonton High School. I remember that my good buddy, Stuart Steinhauser, did not participate in the race that year, but chose to take black and white photos of the race with his little box camera.
I remember that there were at least 30 boys and girls who gathered together that morning for the big race. By lunchtime the group of racers had dwindled down to about a dozen competitors, due to the morning elimination races. It was a grinding bicycle race. I remember it being tough and brutal. The bottom line is that I won the race that year. I had participated in this great bicycle race, since I was about 10 years old and now, I had finally won the race for the first time.
Despite the rush of glory that I felt for a few minutes, after the race, I remember that about 15 minutes after the race ended, it left me with such a hollow and empty feeling. Bobby Taylor (I took the liberty of changing his name) had come in second place. Bobby was about 19 years old and had just graduated from Boonton High School. Bobby and I were in Troop 170 together, although we were in different patrols, we were pretty good friends.
Bobby had just signed up to join the U. S. Army. He knew, deep in the marrow of his bones, that he was probably going to be sent to Vietnam.
Although the race was not formally organized by adults, but rather set up by a lot of the kids in the area, it was still kind of a big deal event. We all paid about a dollar entry fee and that paid for the little plaque that was awarded to the first place winner. There was just one plaque presented. There was no second place award. It was a different time, a different mind set. It was still old school, winner take all thinking.
Bobby Taylor did go to Vietnam, in selfless service to his country. He did come home to Lincoln Park. But, respectfully, he was never the same again. Something happened to Bobby while he was in Vietnam. His joyful, fun-loving, happy-go-outlook on life had dissipated from his heart.
The other day, I thought about that last great bicycle race that I was to take part in. It made me sad, reflecting upon it. Now at 71, I have a much greater wisdom than I did at 16. I deeply regret that I didn’t let Bobby Taylor win that race. All through that race, which was held nearly 55 years ago, I remember that I kept telling myself, “gotta win! Gotta win! Gotta win!”
It never occurred to me that I still had one more summer to compete. I never gave one second of consideration of what it would have meant to Bobby Taylor to win that race. It was in the late 1970’s that Bobby Taylor’s family moved out of state. I remember that when he came home from Vietnam that I would see Bobby at Moe’s Sweet Shop or in the Shop-Rite or just around town. We would talk for a few minutes. One Friday night, Bobby stopped by Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s Thorpe Hall and visited Boy Scout Troop 170. My dad was Scoutmaster. Dad was so glad to see Bobby. I think that was the last time Dad and I were ever to see him.
Now at 71, I finally realize that winning isn’t everything. Sometimes a person needs to take a step back and let a friend have their moment in the sun. Oh, if I could turn back the clock, but my time machine is broken. Some life lessons are hard learned.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

Market Street Mission Executive Director Retires,

Honored by Morris County Commissioners
By Megan Roche
David Scott, who served as the Executive Director at Market Street Mission, was recently honored as he retired.
Scott, who served as CEO of the mission for 35, retired in late December. According to a release from Morris County, in his role as CEO, Scott spearheaded significant growth in the Mission’s Emergency Assistance and Life Change Recovery Program, which now serves both residential and non-residential clients.
He also doubled the size of the Morristown facility, expanded the Mission’s reach to the Jersey Shore and Sussex County, enhancing programs that have served tens of thousands annually with meals, shelter and support.
The Mission now provides more than 140,000 meals and 44,000 nights of shelter annually. In recognition of its impact, Newsweek named Market Street Mission one of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers for the past two years. In 2024, it celebrated the graduation of its 100th Life Change addiction recovery class.
Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen presented Scott with a framed resolution of honor, highlighting his tenure at the Mission, a community institution providing aid to the homeless, hungry and individuals struggling with addiction since 1889.
“David has dedicated his life to helping others find hope and recovery. His leadership and service has had a profound impact on Morris County,” said Director Selen. “Under his guidance, the Market Street Mission expanded its reach and transformed countless lives, providing hope, support and a path forward for those who needed it most.”
Scott began his career in service as a chaplain’s assistant in the U.S. Army. Before joining the Market Street Mission, he served as superintendent of the Goodwill Home and Rescue Mission in Newark, N.J., and directed the residential treatment program at the Yonkers Gospel Mission.
“Here in Morris County, we are particularly grateful for your partnership with our Human Services Department in meeting critical community needs, especially during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” Selen added.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral science and a Master of Arts in counseling from California State University and is a certified clinical supervisor, a licensed certified alcohol and drug counselor, and a licensed professional counselor.
Scott’s contributions have been recognized nationally, including the dedication of the Mission’s Asbury Park building in his honor and the declaration of Dec. 5, 2024 as “David Scott Day” in Morristown.
Market Street Mission also boasts a thrift store in both the Morris County and Asbury Park locations. The mission maintains a 25,000 square foot industrial center, which houses the Thrift Store and Warehouse, at the end of George Street off Martin Luther King Avenue. Among the items offered for sale at bargain prices are new and used furniture, clothing, housewares, appliances, sporting goods, office furnishings, and knick-knacks. The Thrift Store accepts donations of most items except toys, books, medical equipment, baby furniture and damaged furniture. Donations are tax-deductible, and all proceeds benefit the Mission.
To learn more about Market Street Mission and its efforts, visit marketstreet.org.


Ocean Historical Museum:
A Museum Measuring a Township’s Past
by Jeff Garrett
If you’ve ever wondered what happened in Monmouth County’s coastal past, think about visiting the Eden Woolley House.  There, in what’s been called an architectural gem of Monmouth County you can find a wide array of memorabilia and artifacts spanning the sandy area’s centuries.
The Township’s Ocean Historical Museum was founded in 1984 and works as a 501 ( C)( 3) non-profit organization. But there’s quite a history before its non-profit stamp of approval.
Some may be surprised to learn that the coastal area many call home was once inhabited by Indians. The township of Ocean itself was originally hailed as “a very good land to fall in with and a pleasant place to see,” by Captain Henry Hudson in the early 1600’s. The Dutch owned the land but saw it cede to England in 1664.  Several land divisions of the area went on for the next 30 years.  Fast forward 185 years to the 1840’s when an act was enacted saying that the first meeting of representatives of Ocean County would meet at the home of James Anderson of Eatontown, for legislative purposes.
The area those on the governing body would legislate was vast. Several houses owned by prominent men in the legislature would host meetings until the Woolley House became its central meeting point in 1849.
Built in 1697, the Woolley House was one of the remaining houses still standing from the 17^th century. In good condition, it seemed suitable as a place to house artifacts and county treasures from centuries past.
Today, the House contains exhibits in the Edelson Gallery which focuses on Ocean Township’s history and the Richmond Gallery.  An exhibit titled “Beginnings: Ocean County’s First People,” is on display in the Richmond Gallery while Edelson, which clings to mini-exhibits is currently showing “Deal Test Site: 100 Years of History.”
The Our Town Gallery also exists as does the Hearth and Home Gallery which explains local life at the Jersey Shore and how it’s changed over decades. Historic manuscripts and photographs of Ocean County from centuries gone by are housed and on display in the museum library.
Another interesting part of history in the museum arose after 13 boxes of historical artifacts arrived at the Museum in 2019-20 after an effort was made to identify and protect the state’s historical and cultural resources during archaeological digs prior to developing land. These findings produced a number of colorful historical anecdotes which sit for spectators to see.
Guest speakers often showcase interesting discussions for the museum’s guests. One discussion of late was “Presidential Pathways” by historian Jim Foley on Feb. 18, combining tradition surrounding President’s Day with local  involvement over the years.
The museum is open to the public on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00pm as well as on Thursday evenings from 7:00 until 9:00pm. One can request a tour anytime by phoning 732-531-2136. The address of the Eden Woolley House is 703 Deal Rd, Ocean, NJ 07712 while its mailing address is P.O. Box 516 Oakhurst, NJ 07755-0516. You can email the House too at communications@OceanMuseum.org

The Origins of Newspapers:
A Chronicle of Communication
The newspaper, a medium that has shaped public discourse for centuries, has its origins in humanity’s enduring desire to share, disseminate, and document information. From ancient civilizations to the modern digital age, newspapers have evolved significantly, reflecting the changing technologies and social structures of the times. This article explores the origins of newspapers, tracing their journey from rudimentary communication tools to sophisticated vehicles of journalism.
Early Beginnings: The Roots of Public Communication
The concept of distributing news dates back to ancient civilizations. In ancient Rome, government notices called Acta Diurna (Daily Acts) were carved on stone or metal tablets and displayed in public spaces as early as 59 BCE. These served as a primitive form of newspaper, providing information on political events, military campaigns, and public announcements. Julius Caesar is often credited with initiating this practice to keep the populace informed and engaged.
Similarly, in ancient China during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), government officials distributed handwritten news bulletins called Dibao (literally “reports from the court”). These bulletins contained official announcements and were circulated among the elite. While these early forms of news dissemination were limited to government-controlled information, they laid the foundation for the idea of regular updates for a broad audience.
The Renaissance and the Birth of Printed News
The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century revolutionized the way information was disseminated. Movable type printing enabled the mass production of written material, paving the way for the development of newspapers as we know them today. By the early 16th century, printed news pamphlets began to emerge in Europe, often reporting on significant events such as wars, natural disasters, and royal decrees.
In 1605, the Relation aller Fürnemmen und gedenckwürdigen Historien (Account of All Distinguished and Commemorable News) was published in Strasbourg, Germany, by Johann Carolus. It is widely recognized as the world’s first newspaper. Printed weekly, it contained reports gathered from correspondents across Europe, offering readers a broader perspective on current events. Around the same time, other European cities, such as Amsterdam and Antwerp, saw the emergence of similar publications, marking the beginning of a new era in information sharing.
The Expansion of Newspapers in Europe
By the 17th century, newspapers began to flourish across Europe, driven by rising literacy rates and growing public interest in news. In 1621, the Corante was published in London, becoming England’s first printed newspaper. A few decades later, the London Gazette, first issued in 1665, became a seminal publication in British history. It focused on official government news and remains in circulation today as a record of public notices.
The spread of newspapers was not without challenges. Governments often sought to control the press through licensing and censorship. For example, the British government implemented strict licensing laws to regulate the content of publications. Despite these restrictions, newspapers became increasingly popular, especially as they began to include more diverse content, such as local news, commentary, and advertisements.
The Birth of Newspapers in America
The tradition of newspapers crossed the Atlantic with European settlers. In 1690, Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, the first newspaper in the American colonies, was published in Boston by Benjamin Harris. However, the publication was short-lived, as it was suppressed by colonial authorities after just one issue.
It was not until 1704 that the first successful American newspaper, The Boston News-Letter, appeared. Published by John Campbell, this weekly paper provided readers with news from Europe, the colonies, and local events. As the colonies grew, so did the number of newspapers, which became vital tools for political discourse and the exchange of ideas during the American Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution and Mass Circulation
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century transformed the newspaper industry. Advances in printing technology, such as the steam-powered press, allowed for faster and cheaper production of newspapers. This period also saw the rise of the “penny press” in the United States, beginning with The Sun in New York City in 1833. These affordable newspapers made news accessible to a broader audience, catering to the growing urban working class.
The content of newspapers also expanded during this time. Stories began to focus on human interest, sensationalism, and investigative reporting, appealing to the tastes of a diverse readership. Newspapers became a cornerstone of public life, influencing public opinion and shaping political and social movements.
The 20th Century and Beyond
The 20th century marked the golden age of newspapers, with iconic publications like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde becoming trusted sources of information worldwide. However, the rise of radio, television, and later the internet began to challenge the dominance of print media. By the late 20th century, traditional newspapers faced declining circulation as audiences turned to digital platforms for news.
Today, newspapers continue to adapt to the digital age, offering online editions, multimedia content, and real-time updates. While the medium has transformed, the core mission of newspapers—informing, educating, and engaging the public—remains unchanged.
Conclusion
The history of newspapers is a testament to humanity’s enduring quest for knowledge and connection. From the Acta Diurna of ancient Rome to the digital newsrooms of the 21st century, newspapers have evolved in response to technological advancements and societal needs. Despite the challenges of the modern era, their role as purveyors of truth and platforms for public discourse ensures their relevance in the ever-changing landscape of communication.

The word “newspaper” is not originally an acronym; it is a compound word derived from “news” and “paper.” However, over time, creative acronyms have been coined to assign meaning to the term, often for fun or educational purposes. One popular interpretation of “NEWSPAPER” as an acronym is:
N – North
E – East
W – West
S – South
P – Past
A – And
P – Present
E – Events
R – Reported
This version reflects the idea that newspapers report on events from all directions (North, East, West, South) and cover both past and present happenings. While this acronym is not the origin of the word, it serves as a mnemonic or symbolic representation.


Dental Bridges, Dentures, & Implants:
What’s The Difference?

Sometimes people need to replace missing teeth or teeth that will be extracted shortly.  Bridges, dentures, and implants are the most common ways to accomplish this, but what are the differences?
The most common area of confusion lies between dentures and bridges.  Dentures are removable: you take them in-and-out of your mouth.  Bridges are permanent: you do NOT take them in-and-out.
Dentures can be made from a number of different materials: acrylic (plastic), metal, a combination of acrylic and metal, or “thermoplastic.”  The advantages of the acrylic include cost and simplicity.  They are the least expensive, and the easiest to fabricate and repair.  The disadvantages include thickness and low stability.
Metal dentures are thin, rigid, and fit tightly.  The downsides include increased difficulty to repair (although not terribly difficult) and cost (they are the most expensive).
Thermoplastic materials have the advantage of being flexible, which many patients find to be more comfortable.  However, repairs can be difficult to impossible, based upon the type of material utilized.
Unlike dentures that are removable, bridges are permanent.  This is one reason why bridges are more popular than dentures.  Other advantages include increased biting / chewing power, increased esthetics, and less fuss with them since they don’t have to be taken in and out.  Downsides include the “shaving down” of teeth on either side of spaces to keep them in place (called “abutment” teeth), and potential cavity development or need for root canals on these abutments over time.
Dental implants provide a host of options.  Most people think of an implant as a post that is placed into the jawbone to hold a single tooth (crown).  This is one use of an implant, but there are other functions.  The implant is actually the post: you can use it to secure a denture or a bridge, also!  With respect to dentures, the implant can help to eliminate or decrease the number of clasps, providing a more esthetic outcome and more stable set of teeth.  Bridges benefit from implants because now you cannot develop cavities around the abutments and there is no need for root canals.  Implant bridges also eliminate the need for drilling on other teeth.
A very common substitute or replacement for large partial dentures and full dentures is “All-On-Four®.”  This revolutionary technology provides the patient with permanent, non-removable teeth in just a few appointments.  Gone is the stigma and disappointment of removable teeth and poor chewing ability.  Patients instantly benefit from a strong bite, excellent smile, and freedom of re-gaining the roof of their mouths if they had a denture that covered it previously.  Many patients who have dentures or require removal of most teeth present to Dr. Goldberg for this procedure specifically: he is a leading authority on this type of procedure within the community.
More information regarding this, and other topics, is available on our website.
Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist & implant expert with 29 years of experience.  He is located in the Roxbury Mall in Succasunna, NJ.  He provides general dentistry for the entire family, including: cleanings, check-ups, whitening, veneers, crowns, root canals, dentures, periodontal (gum) services, dental implants, and much more.  He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Implantology/Implant Dentistry, holds multiple degrees and is recognized as an expert in dental implants.  You can find additional information on his website:www.morriscountydentist.com.  The office can be reached at: (973) 328-1225 or via email: frontdesk.mcda@gmail.com

Discover the Extraordinary Talent of CCM’s
Adjunct Faculty at Free Art & Design Showcase 
Step into a creative and innovative dimension as County College of Morris (CCM) proudly presents an inspiring exhibit showcasing the remarkable works of art created by its skilled adjunct faculty members from the Design & Media Studies and the Arts & Humanities departments. The showcase, on display through Thursday, April 3 in the college’s Gallery, offers a glimpse into the diverse range of expertise these educators bring to CCM’s classrooms.
“The high quality of art and design work in the exhibition serves as both a showcase of our adjunct faculty’s talents and it also gives visitors a unique opportunity to discover the wide variety of courses these artists teach at CCM including Computer Graphics for Designers I, Three-Dimensional Design, Photographic Processes and  Introduction to Sewing and Textiles,” said Dr. Brian Sahotsky, CCM Gallery Director and Assistant Professor, Arts and Humanities Department. “Please join us in celebrating the hard work and contributions of our talented adjunct faculty members in art and design to County College of Morris.”
The exhibition represents many disciplines and media types, including painting, sculpture, documentary film, animation reels, fashion design garments, photography, graphic design, collage art and illustration. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public, and light refreshments and beverages will be served.
The CCM Gallery is located in the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center on the college’s campus, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. Gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is available in Lot 6. For more information visit www.ccm.edu/ccm-gallery.
To learn about the numerous creative pathways of learning available at CCM, visit www.ccm.edu/pathways/creative-arts-media.

Take a Trip to Mars this Winter at the Longo
Planetarium at CCM Visit the Red Planet
and Explore Comets, Asteroids and More 

The Longo Planetarium at County College of Morris (CCM) is ready to launch visitors into a new, out-of-this-world experience to Mars now through April 26, 2025. With the power of Digistar 7, the world’s most advanced planetarium system now installed at CCM, the community is invited to explore the fascinating red planet Mars in the night sky in this 45-minute show. Discover the many challenges astronauts face on this voyage, the farthest ever made by humans, and how creativity, communication and collaboration are essential for deep space exploration. “Mars: The Ultimate Voyage” may be seen on select Fridays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and is best suited for adults and children ages 8 and up.
Due to the immense popularity, the planetarium’s fall semester showings, “Edge of Darkness” and “One Sky,” will continue to be offered this winter. Narrated by Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter from the Marvel Cinematic Universe), “Edge of Darkness” explores comets, asteroids and Pluto. This 45-minute show is offered on select Saturdays at 5 p.m. and is recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up. “One Sky,” a great introduction to the night sky for young children ages 6 and up, is an international collaboration of short films. This 40-minute show is offered on select Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m.
The award-winning visual journey, “Mesmerica,” bringing music by Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood, continues to be shown for adults on select dates.
For more information, including trailers plus ticketing information, visit the Longo Planetarium website at www.ccm.edu/meet-ccm/longo-planetarium/. Tickets for all shows are $10 per person. Online reservations are strongly encouraged, as limited tickets will be available for cash purchase at the door. For safety reasons, all shows start promptly at the time indicated. For inclement winter weather closings, call (973) 328-5580.
The Longo Planetarium is located on CCM’s campus, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. The planetarium is located in Cohen Hall Room 207. The closest parking lot is lot 7. Follow the planetarium signs to Cohen Hall located at the center of campus.
About Longo Planetarium
Since 1973, the state-of-the-art Longo Planetarium at CCM has been inspiring curiosity and bringing the universe to northern New Jersey in an immersive theater experience. The newly upgraded Digistar 7 planetarium system is dedicated to displaying thousands of stars, the planets, the Moon and beyond onto a 33-foot diameter dome. Shows are available for the public to attend; school and scout groups can be scheduled in advance. Questions may be emailed to planetariuminfo@ccm.edu.   

A Story of Two Letters

By Richard Mabey Jr.

My father dropped out of high school to join the United States Army Air Corps during the latter part of World War II. During my early high school years, Dad earnestly studied and received his GED. For my father, his ministry, his service to God, was through being a Scoutmaster. In the basement of the old Mabey Homestead, on Dad’s workbench was a tent-folded piece of white cardboard that Dad had written these words upon. “It is better to teach a young boy morals, than to try to rehabilitate a wayward man.” My father believed every word of that sentence.
My father did not speak the King’s English. From time to time, he used the word “ain’t.” He used double negatives in his speech. Dad was a practical man, not pretentious at all, so very down to earth. He worked all so hard, providing home and meals for his family, in his profession as a long-distance truck driver. In many ways, my father was one of the wisest men I have ever known.
In September of 1972, I began my second year of college, studying at County College of Morris. I worked, part time, in the Frozen Food Department of the A&P. And, I served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 170. I remember all so well, it was a tough time for my dear father. One single letter, almost caused Dad to leave scouting.
Mrs. Johnson (I took the liberty of changing her name) was a single mom to her only child, Tommy Johnson. Tommy had so much fun at Summer Camp, during the Summer. He earned his Tenderfoot badge and learned a lot about the ways and wonders of the forest. Mrs. Johnson had visited Troop 170’s campsite that Summer, several times during the week. She wanted to be sure that Tommy was well taken care of.
Tommy had been awarded a Scout Campership that paid for his full week at Summer Camp. It was a program that Troop 170 had to help boys go to Summer Camp, who may not have otherwise been able to attend. While Mrs. Johnson was appreciative of her son receiving a Scout Campership, during her visits she criticized the scout leaders of 170, on how they were running things.
Long story short, in September of 1972, Mrs. Johnson wrote a long letter to the Chief Executive Scouting Commissioner of the Morris and Sussex Counties Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In her letter, Mrs. Johnson pulled out all the plugs and assaulted my father with a long list of things that he was doing wrong as Scoutmaster. It wasn’t so much that Dad was doing anything wrong, but rather that Mrs. Johnson felt her son should have been better cared for. She didn’t understand that part of the purpose of a scout going to Summer Camp, so that he could learn to stand on his own two feet.
Well, Mrs. Johnson wrote a full page, in her long letter, of all the times that she heard my father use incorrect grammar. This included, Dad using double negatives in a sentence and Heaven forbid, Dad using the word “ain’t” a few times in talking with Mrs. Johnson.
The Chief Executive made a copy of Mrs. Johnson’s letter and gave it to Dad at a Round Table Scouting Education Meeting. He told Dad that he was writing a letter to Mrs. Johnson, as I remember the Chief Scout Executive put it, “to straighten her out about a few things.”
In his letter to Mrs. Johnson, the Chief Scout Executive wrote her that in all of his many years as a professional scouter, did he ever know a Scoutmaster who was more dedicated than Dad was. In his letter, he wrote of Dad’s many scouting accomplishments, including earning the coveted District Award of Merit and the prestigious Silver Beaver, which is the highest award a volunteer scout leader can receive. The Chief Scout Executive also included Dad’s long list of his many services to his church, including being an Instructor to Protestant scouts in their God and Country Award classes.
Sadly, the Chief Scout Executive’s letter only made Mrs. Johnson madder. In the late Fall of 1972, she pulled little Tommy out of scouting. My father was very saddened by this woman’s decision to take her son out of scouts. Tommy was a good boy and my father saw a diamond in the rough in Tommy.
It was sometime, in the mid 1980’s that I saw Tommy in Moe’s Sweet Shop. He looked rough and tough. He was with a few of his friends. Sadly, he used swear words, in talking with his buddies. I remember that Tommy told me that he was out of work, as he puffed on his cigarette and drank his bottle of soda. I asked him what work skills he had, if I knew of anyone hiring. He simply made a joke out my question, telling me “I’m a jack of all trades and master of none.” It made me kind of sad.
I know, in my heart of hearts, that Tommy would have benefited from staying in scouts. Dad thought very highly of Tommy, despite the scathing letter that this mother wrote about Dad to the Chief Scout Executive. Regarding Mrs. Johnson’s hurtful letter, I remember Dad saying, “a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.”
Here’s the secret of the decade. There never was an official Scout Campership. Hidden behind a stack of old rags, on his workbench, Dad had three or four old peanut butter jars. He would put his loose change in these jars. Sometimes, he would put single dollar bills in the jars. That’s where the funding for Troop 170’s Scout Campership came from. Dad saving his pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters from his hard earned paycheck.
Now at 71, I think of Mrs. Johnson and Tommy. I don’t know whatever became of them. I do know this. Sometimes, a parent just needs to let their child stand up on his or her own two feet. And, if they fall, let them pick themselves up and simply carry on.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

New Jersey’s Roll in Abolishing Slavery
By Henry M. Holden
New Jersey is known for growing blueberries, corn, and peaches. However, the state’s history of enslaved individuals and its role in cultivating these crops is less acknowledged. The initial arrival of enslaved individuals from Africa to New Jersey occurred in the early 1608s, facilitated by Henry Hudson, a Dutch colonist. This practice was subsequently continued by the British colonists.
The ships involved in the transatlantic slave trade docked at numerous ports along the Delaware River and at the Perth Amboy waterfront. Enslaved people were put to work on farms throughout the state, and in ports and cities.
The 1664 Concessions and Agreements promoted slavery by granting land based on the number of slaves and servants settlers owned. Settlers were eligible to receive up to 150 acres for each enslaved adult, allowing individuals with a significant number of enslaved people to potentially accumulate large farms.
In 1801, New Jersey had an estimated enslaved population of approximately 12,000 individuals. The state enacted the Gradual Abolition Act in 1804 to abolish slavery, but the emancipation process was gradual and never fully completed.
In 1808, the U.S. Congress passed an Act that banned the importation of enslaved people, indicating the United States’ decision to stop the practice. The U.S. ban did not end the slave trade. According to Stephen Chambers, 25 percentage (3.2 million) of enslaved Africans arrived in the Americas after the legislation.
On January 23, 1866, New Jersey tried once more to abolish slavery through a state Constitutional Amendment signed by the governor, but it never ended slavery in the state.
Poor record-keeping of enslaved people erased their identities, depriving descendants of ancestral knowledge. Many African Americans remained enslaved until after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, and beyond.
More than 85 percent of the enslaved individuals brought to Cuba, totaling 759,669, and 40 percent of those brought to Brazil, totaling 2.2 million, arrived after 1807. New Jersey was significant in this practice. These enslaved individuals were transported across the Atlantic to work on Cuban sugar plantations and agricultural enterprises in South America, not into the U.S.
New Jersey, the most densely populated state with the second highest per capita income, has a strong public school system. A 1947 constitutional change banned segregation in schools, a decade before Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling but without any real enforcement was doomed.
New Jersey was the last northern state to abolish slavery and had significant economic ties with the South. The state-built wealth through a trade relationship by selling leather goods, maritime equipment, and other manufactured items. The British Navy attempted but failed to stop the trade.
Linda Caldwell Epps, Ph.D., a Black historical researcher, notes that many New Jersey residents are unaware of the state’s involvement in slavery. Despite growing up in New Jersey, she says, “In elementary or high school, I never learned about the enslavement of people in the state.”
The U.S. heavily relied on products from enslaved Southern economies, complicating trade interception. Even after the U.S. ban, sugar and gold continued to flow north on U.S. ships, supported by illegally transported enslaved Africans. This era greatly advanced U.S. finance, market integration, and globalization. As coffee, sugar, and spices expanded European and Asian markets for U.S. businesses, slave ships played a role in this economic growth.
The enslaved communities endured immense suffering, violence, and unlawful deaths from the outset.
One of the most well-known slave revolts in American history occurred in 1831 when Nat Turner led an uprising in Southampton County, Virginia. Turner planned his rebellion after experiencing visions that he interpreted as instructions to gain freedom through force. On August 21, 1831, Turner and his accomplices killed his master’s family in their sleep.
From there, the small band of about 70 enslaved moved from house to house, eventually killing over 50 whites with clubs, knives and guns. It took a militia force to put down the rebellion, and Turner and 55 others were captured and later executed by the state.
Hysteria swept through the region in the aftermath of Turner’s revolt, and as many as 200 enslaved were eventually killed by white mobs. The rebellion also triggered a series of oppressive restrictions on enslave populations. Several states banned teaching enslaved people to read or write, citing Turner’s intelligence as a key factor in his revolt. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this prohibition unconstitutional, but discrimination persisted for decades.
Despite fighting with the North in the Civil War, slavery was widespread in New Jersey for over 200 years before that war.
During the Revolutionary War, individuals who were enslaved participated in combat for both sides. The British offered freedom to those who escaped from their enslavers and joined the fight for the Crown.
Beverly Mills discovered that her ancestor, Friday, was mentioned in minister Oliver Hart’s diary because his mother, Dinah, was enslaved by Hart.
“He was thought of as dollars and cents, not as a person,” Mills noted. Friday Truehart was listed among Oliver Hart’s possessions in his will. That document eventually gave Friday his freedom – but only after he was passed down to Oliver Hart’s son.
The resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, leading up to the end of the Civil War, relates to the efforts of enslaved African Americans to attain their freedom by escaping from bondage. Wherever slavery existed, individuals made efforts to escape. Initially, these escapes occurred in remote or rugged environments on the outside edge of settled areas and eventually extended across state and international borders. These acts of self-emancipation were historically labeled as “fugitives,” “escapees,” or “runaways.” However, upon reflection, the term “freedom seeker” more accurately describes these individuals.
While many freedom seekers started and completed their escape unaided, efforts to assist increased with each decade slavery remained legal in the United States.
After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, the Underground Railroad became more organized. New Jersey, known for its social justice advocates, had approximately ten stops on the network. People from various backgrounds in New Jersey participated in civil disobedience, helping freedom seekers travel to destinations like Canada, Mexico, Spanish Florida, Indian territory, the West, Caribbean islands, and Europe.
In New Jersey (and the rest of the United States) the U.S. Congress finally took permanent and decisive action by passing three Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) abolished slavery in the United States after the Civil War.
The Fourteenth (1868) established a constitutional right for African American males to vote in elections and prohibited the states from depriving any person of life, liberty or property.
The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, provided equal protection under the law and granted citizenship to African Americans.
Additionally, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which banned racial discrimination in the public accommodations. However, in 1883, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional, stating that discrimination by individuals or private businesses did not violate the Constitution.
The 15^th Amendment (1870) granted the right to vote for all male citizens and naturalized males regardless of their ethnicity or prior enslaved status.

NJ Starz: Holly Paul
Hometown: Landing
By: Evan Wechman

Though being at the top of one’s sport usually brings widespread attention, skeet shooting is not yet on par with professional football or baseball. However, to be one of the best in this activity requires persistence and dedication.  Holly Paul of Landing, NJ has been perfecting her craft for nearly four decades and has reached the top level of skeet shooting.
She is a New Jersey Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame inductee and a National Hall of Fame inductee.  Skeet shooting is a recreational and competitive activity whose participants use shotguns to attempt to break clay targets which are mechanically flung into the air at high speed and a variety of angles.
Paul who has been participating in this activity since becoming an adult fondly remembers how she got started.
“I had always been interested in outdoor sports and things like that, but the way I was kind of brought up,  girls didn’t do that kind of thing, so it wasn’t until after I got out of college that a friend of mine that I was working with invited me to go to  South Jersey, where there’s a bunch of what they call gravel pits and I was really good at it there, right out of the gate,  so they took me to the skeet field, and then I kind of got the bug, and it just started from there. So, I started when I was about 20, and still do it to this day,” Paul said.
Paul who was active in sports as a child, especially horseback riding, loved that there was nothing arbitrary about who won or not in skeet shooting.  This was very appealing to her since competing in equestrian competitions was highly subjective, where victory was often based solely on the whims of the judges.
“What I like most about it is yes, it’s a competition, but it’s more of what I call a self-competition. There’s no judges, there’s no umpires, or something like that. So basically, no matter how you do it, if you hit the target, they can’t take that away from you,” she said.
Paul’s success is unique also because she is a woman in a male-dominated sport. There are more than twice the number of male competitors than their female counterparts in both New Jersey and throughout the country. However, this has not deterred Paul but has inspired her to improve her repertoire of skills and try to be the best skeet shooter she can be.
 For instance, she only competes against other women in competitive events, which is what the rules of the sport dictate. However, since there is a limited number of females to compete against, she has traveled out of New Jersey to various parts of the country to compete against all the best women’s skeet shooters.
As a result, she has proven time and again, she is a formidable competitor as she has won countless titles.
For instance, she has shot at some events, 400×400, which means that out of 400 attempts, she successfully hit the target 400 times during a weekend competition. This is a rare feat that no other woman in New Jersey has ever done.
Paul loves competing and doesn’t feel that being a female is a limitation.
“I feel that it’s just, it’s male-dominated because females don’t partake in it. But it doesn’t take extra strength or anything like that to excel in the sport. So, I kind of thought it was pretty even, you know, if you put in the hard work and learn the sport, you can have success,” Paul said.
Paul has also worked as a teacher to other aspiring female competitors and loves watching the growth of her students. In addition, when male shooters show up to a skeet shooting field with their wives or girlfriends who have never participated in the activity, Paul is one of the first to greet them and lend a helping hand. She enjoys teaching and taking them under her wing as they learn the ropes.
According to the hall of fame skeet shooter, this draws her and other participants closer to the activity. She said that regardless of your experience level, there are always people willing to teach you the ins and outs of the sport. Paul finds this camaraderie unique, and a beautiful part of the sport.
Paul is quick to point out that she is concerned with negative perceptions coming from people unfamiliar with skeet shooting since guns are involved. According to her, the participants are a big family, and they are concerned about everyone’s safety. Therefore, gun safety is always stressed, and there is much instruction at the events between those experienced in shooting and those who are novices.
“I don’t want anyone to have negative connotations, because it is a shotgun sport. But I would say pretty much 99.9% of all your teachers are beyond responsible,” Paul said.
Though Paul has been competing for almost 40 years, she still loves it.  However, she has been struggling with a shoulder injury lately, so she is not competing as much.  However, she is determined to overcome this injury and continue competing at a high level.
However, when she is away from the skeet shooting field, Paul stays busy teaching and helping others.
“I’ve been an emergency critical, care veterinary nurse for about 38 years, on top of that, at the same time, I’ve been a pastor for about 10 years now through the United Methodist Church. So right now, I’m still working the veterinary job, and I’m still doing the pastor job. That’s why I’ve been moving around because the United Methodist Church has what we call an itinerary seat,” she said.
According to Paul, this means she travels and lends support to different communities throughout New Jersey and possibly neighboring states like Pennsylvania.  She has lived in many different parts of New Jersey due to her devotion to her faith and serving others. However, she has called Landing, New Jersey home for almost five years.
Though constantly settling in different areas might seem difficult to outsiders, she is dedicated to this lifestyle and finds it uniquely like her involvement in skeet shooting.
According to Paul, serving others through her church and competing with other skeet shooters brings a camaraderie not often experienced elsewhere.
The family atmosphere of skeet shooting is a big factor for Paul.
“I just want to keep participating in the sport because of the people and the travel. I have so many friends, and I know people from South Africa, from England, from all over as a result of this sport. And I used to say that if I’m stranded somewhere and I need to get some help, I can either look for a church or a skeet field because I’ve never met skeet shooters who aren’t willing to help somebody out. Even though it’s a very competitive sport, you’ll have people trying to help you out, she said.
For Paul, the sport is not about money or fame. Rather it’s about a deep connection to an activity that resembles family.
“It’s just amazing to me to watch people and the joy that they have traveling around. A lot of us have RVs or campers because of the fun times after the shoots are over, and everyone’s gathering by the campfire and gathering together after that, because it doesn’t matter where you’ve finished, we’re all in the same big club, almost, or a big camaraderie. So those are some of the best times I spent, sometimes up in Pennsylvania, on top of mountaintops, watching sunrises and sunsets, all with these incredible groups of people. So, to me, that’s the whole thing.”

NJ Starz: Matthew John Bocchi
Hometown: Harding Township
By: Megan Roche

Matthew John Bocchi recalls his dad John Paul Bocchi.
“My dad came from a poor Italian immigrant family. My grandfather worked very hard to give them a life that he didn’t have. My dad had a very similar idea of giving me and my brothers a life that he never had. He made it very clear from a young age that we weren’t going to grow up spoiled kids. My dad worked hard. He had so many things going on outside of work. He was very active in our town, he was very active in our church, so there was a lot going on where he was a vital role and voice in our community,” Bocchi said.
From sports car rides and time spent with dad as the coach of his soccer and baseball teams, Bocchi grew up happy. John worked in New York City at the World Trade Center. He was often out late at night entertaining clients or attending meetings. But he would always make sure to get home to kiss his four son’s goodnight.
In the short few years that Matthew knew his dad, he never thought he’d live a day like September 11, 2001.
“I comprehended the day itself, but I didn’t understand the severity of it. I was pulled out of my classroom and my first instinct was that I was in trouble, but I didn’t know what I did. Once I got into the hallway, I saw my brother who was seven years old. They had then told us that a small plane had hit our dad’s building but they were evacuating the buildings and that our dad was safe,” Bocchi said.
After spending the day at school, Bocchi arrived home and immediately realized that something had happened to his dad.
“I saw so many cars parked in the driveway. I walked into the house with my brother and I witnessed numerous family members crying and huddled in corners. But I kept walking and I walked into the tv room and I saw the footage for the first time and that’s where it really hit me. I saw my dad’s building on fire, I saw the second plane hit the second tower, and I watched them come down. A family friend had changed the channel on the tv and on the new channel, they showed an image of someone falling to their death,” Bocchi said.
Matthew’s dad worked on the 104^th floor of tower one and never returned home. In the days following the attacks, Matthew became obsessed with thinking that his father may have been one of the jumpers. He searched thousands of hours of footage, hoping that one of the grainy figures jumping out of the towers would be his father.
“It really involved me looking at the same videos over and over, hoping that I would find something different in those videos. I’d pause these videos and try to enhance the screen shot. It was my thought that I could find someone who resembled my father,” Bocchi said.
He reached out to so many photographers and videographers who had footage from 9/11, but Bocchi never heard back.
“That research phase was my entire life. I’d get home from school, I’d look at the photos, I’d look at the videos, and I would think that I would find him. I really believed that I would find him,” Bocchi recalled.
Bocchi often found himself in conversations with his mother and family members about what happened to his father. Those conversations became too much and Bocchi found himself still obsessed with trying to find out what happened to his dad. During this same time, Bocchi was also being sexually abused by his uncle. It led Bocchi down a devastating path of drugs and alcohol abuse and multiple suicide attempts.
“It was my sophomore year at Villanova that I was introduced to OxyContin. From there on out, I was addicted to opiates. I was in and out of treatment centers for two years. I graduated from Villanova in 2014 and I got arrested in November of that same year and charged with three felonies. I was facing up to five years in state prison,” Bocchi said.
One incident changed it all.
“I got put on probation in 2015 and I was told that I needed to be sober for one year, something that I couldn’t even do for one day. My lawyer told me that I would get drug tested twice. The first drug test letter came in June. Leading up to that drug test, I couldn’t get sober. I called up a dealer and he told me about a detox mouthwash that would show the test as clean, even though I wasn’t,” Bocchi said.
In addition to the mouthwash, Bocchi purchased clean urine from a friend.
“As I sat in that waiting room waiting for the drug test, high out of my mind, I kept thinking that it wasn’t a place I belonged. I thought that I was smarter and better than the addicts that were in there with me. I get called in and my probation officer gave me the test and I realized that I left that fake urine at home,” Bocchi said.
After failing the test, his probation officer gave him one more chance to get clean. If he wasn’t clean in a month, he would go off to jail immediately.
“As I’m sitting at my mom’s house, trying to figure out what I am going to do. I rolled a joint, made a drink and sat in the backyard. I looked up at the sky and I saw this crystal clear blue sky that looked just like it did on 9/11. I started crying and I asked my dad for a sign,” Bocchi said.
That sign did indeed come and Bocchi said that he was done with drugs forever. He checked himself into a detox facility and since July 2015, Bocchi has been sober.
Since then, Bocchi has not stopped. After writing a bestselling book, Sway, about his experiences being a child of 9/11, he’s started a journey of public speaking. Bocchi speaks on topics of drugs and alcohol abuse, his experiences on September 12, 2001, and emotional trauma.
“I’ve spoken to over 100,000 kids at this point and it’s absolutely unbelievable. I’ve dedicated my life to this venture. I get paid to help people and it’s incredible. My hope is that I can walk into a school and impact one kid, one faculty member, one person, to let them know that it’s okay not to be okay,” Bocchi said.
While he’s never found out the truth of what happened to his father, Matthew knows that his father is ultimately proud of him.
“My dad didn’t get a chance, and that’s a big part of why I do what I do today. I finally stopped worrying about what happened to him inside that building and I focus on the life that he lived in such a short period of time. It took a lot to get to that point, but I got to it. My dad wanted to find his happiness in life. He was going to quit, he had a vacation day scheduled for September 12 and he didn’t get to see that vacation day. Going into finance to try and be like him, why would I want to do something that he was trying to escape? I know, more than anything, that I didn’t care what anyone thought and I followed my heart, I know that he would be proud,” Bocchi said.
To learn more about Bocchi or to order his book, visit www.matthewjohnbocchi.com.