221652_1455203815west orange news - feb. 2016.pdf

8/20/2019 221652_1455203815West Orange News - Feb. 2016.pdf

1/12

No. 2 Vol. 2 mypaperonline.com February 2016

F

red Baxter, former New York Jets player, visited

Redwood Elementary School in West Orange on Jan.11 to encourage students to pursue their dreams and

realize that nothing is impossible.Baxter, originally from Alabama, was a tight end from

Auburn University who was recruited by the New York Jets

in 1993. He played with the Jets until 2000 and then spent

two seasons with both the Chicago Bears and the New Eng-land Patriots. Following his NFL career, Baxter took on

coaching and is currently the Head Golf Coach at Widener

University.

In 2000, he started the Fred Baxter Foundation, to “work

with young men and young women, talking about empow-erment and informing them of all the opportunities that are

out there for them, trying to get them on career pathways."

Fourth Grade teacher Paul Stefanelli invited Baxter to

Redwood to share with students about his life and career.

Baxter, who also excelled academically, attended Auburn

University in Alabama and graduated with a Bachelor’s inEducation. “Being unselfish means coming prepared to

class," he told them.

Of his storied NFLcareer, Baxter noted, “It's about char-

acter. It's about the way you carry yourself."Students were impressed with Baxter ’s message. "He's

an amazing person," enthused students. "He told us to workhard and put education first.”

Baxter also advised the students to avoid drugs and al-

cohol and to keep away from people who are bad influ-

ences. "If you surround yourself with good people, goodthings will come to you," he explained.

Baxter said his coaches, family members and his church

were strong positive influences in his life.

“Mr. Baxter took the time out of his busy schedule to

come to Redwood and impart great thoughts into our stu-dent’s minds," said Stefanelli. “He was very inspirational.”

Redwood Principal Bruce Arcurio agreed. "Mr. Baxter's

visit was motivational and provided the children of Red-

wood with a real life example of what you can achieve with

hard work, integrity, perseverance, and a good education.

Our staff and students enjoyed asking him questions andhearing his perspective."

No Wait, No Hassle...

We’ll Get YouThere Faster!

Just 3 minutes from Newark Airport20 Frontage Road | Newark

Make your reservations online at www.vistaparking.com

973-263-2009 ext. 304 • Parking Lot 973-465-9400

$9.50With This Ad

Reg. $13

perday

O n l y

Former Jets Player EncouragesRedwood School Students To Pursue Education

The Registration Office for the West Orange Board

of Education, will begin accepting phone calls to

schedule Kindergarten Registration appointmentsfor the 2016-2017 school year.

Resident children born on or before Oct. 1, 2011 are

eligible to be registered. There will be no exceptions. A

child must be five years old on or before Oct. 1, 2016 and

also must be properly immunized.

Kindergarten registration packets are available for

pick up at the West Orange BOE, located at 179 EagleRock Avenue. Forms may also be completed on-line by

going to www.woboe.org and clicking on the New Stu-

dent Registration Form, located on the left bottom corner

of the home page. Preparing the forms on-line will save

a significant amount of time during registration appoint-

ment.

Please make sure to read and complete the forms care-fully. Once all forms have been and have required the ad-

ditional documents ready, call the Registration Office at

extension 20505 to schedule an appointment date and

time.

Registration Open For West Orange Kindergarten

Vanities UnlimitedWholesale Prices

Solid Wood Construction

In Stock

Located in Chatham, NJShown by Appt

Call or email: 973-809-9448 [email protected]


2/12

Page 2, February 2016, Tell Them You Saw It In The West Orange News • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline

19 W. Mt. Pleasant Ave.

LIVINGSTON • 973-223-9200Ages 2 and up - Mommy & Me, Creative Movement

Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary

ADULT CLASSES in Middle Eastern Folk Dancing,

Ballet Barre, Jazz & TapBRING IN COUPON

Feb. 19 - Feb. 29and take

ADDITIONAL

$10 OFF1 week of campWith this coupon. Offer expires 2/29/16

Offer may be combined with 2016 Early Bird Special.

PPAC CAMP COUPON

THEATER CAMPACTINGSINGING

DANCINGCIRCUS ARTS

June 27 - August 199am-4pm for BOYS & GIRLS Ages 6 - 169am-1pm for BOYS & GIRLS Ages 3 - 6

FREE early drop-offLate pickup available for a fee

PPAC PARTY COUPON

With coupon. Coupons cannot be combined with any other offer.

$25 OFF Party must be booked between 2/19/16-4/17/16

BIRTHDAY PARTY

WEEKLY SESSSIONSALL SUMMER

EARLY BIRD SPECIALS

Now through FEBRUARY 29SUMMER ON STAGE CAMP SPECIAL

$220/week DRAMA TOTS SPECIAL

$200/week (Additional discounts for multiple weeks see website for details)

Hold your spot & discount with $100 deposit. Visit www.PPACNJ.com for more information

By Cheryl Conway

One community, one paper. That’s what’s new in2016 with the all new West Orange News pub-

lished by New View Media Group, LLC.Since April, residents in West Orange had been receiv-

ing either the Livingston News or the Cedar Grove andVerona News, both monthly papers that featured somelocal news from West Orange. But starting with this Feb-ruary issue, readers can now be informed of even morepositive news and feature stories that focus on the townthey live and/or work.

The West Orange News is one of 17 papers to be pub-lished by New View Media Group. Papers are publishedmonthly and distributed to all residences and businessesin its borders, roughly a circulation of 7,016.

Co-owned by Joe Nicastro and Mary Lalama of Flan-ders, and Darwin Oordt of Cherry Hill, the three formeda partnership on April 1, 2015. Nicastro and Lalama hadowned MJ Media Group, and Oordt had owned the Mar-keteer, a free shopper type supplement. They changedtheir name from MJ (My Jersey) Media to New ViewMedia with “The idea that we have a new view on media,”says Nicastro.

All community news, from schools to government,people, organizations, places of worship, libraries, non-profit organizations, volunteer services, children’s groups,

scouts, fundraisers and more are featured in the freemonthly papers. The company’s philosophy is to show-case all the good, positive news that surrounds its read-

ers.New View Media Group’s publications to dateinclude

Mt. Olive News, Hackettstown News, Roxbury News,Randolph News, Black River News, MusconetcongNews, Morristown News, Mendham News, MadisonNews, Chatham News, Livingston News, Hanover News,Caldwell News, Verona/Cedar Grove News,Millburn/Short Hills News, East Hanover/Florham ParkNews and the latest addition, West Orange News.

As far as continued growth, Nicastro says “We are inthe middle of reevaluating the papers to see where andwhen other expansions would make sense.”

Offering free publications to all residences and busi-nesses, the company depends on paid advertising. ContactNicastro at 800-691-7549 or [email protected].

New View Media Group also invites the community tohelp share any positive news with its neighbors by sendingall story ideas and press releases to [email protected].

Publications can also be viewed online at www.mypa-peronline.com. For more information and publicationdeadlines, visit www.newviewmediagroup.com.

Like the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mypa-

peronline.

The West Orange Library has several programsplanned for Feb.

On Fri., Feb. 12, 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Bright Star Tour-

ing Theater - George Washington Carver and Friends.

Celebrate Black History Month at a program for allages. George Washington Carver leads on a fast paced and

hilarious introduction to some of the most influential Black

Americans of the last 150 years. Booker T. Washington,

Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and Madame CJ

Walker are just a few of the inspirational stories brought tolife in this empowering production.

On Sat., Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to noon, Create Your OwnBooks Art Workshop.

Artist Debbie Livingston guides participants through the

creative process of making a pamphlet stitch book with

beautiful Japanese washi paper and an accordion book, per-fect for poetry, sketching or photos. Supplies provided.

Registration required.

Both programs are set to be held at the West Orange Li-

brary in W. Orange. Call 973-736-0198 for more informa-

tion. Visit www.wopl.org.

Spend Time At The Public Library

This Month

Breaking News- West Orange Residences And Businesses Get Free Monthly


3/12

Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline • Tell Them You Saw It In The West Orange News, February 2016, Page 3

Anthony Francos LIVINGSTON973-535-1998F ull M enu ataf piz z a. com

C HIC K EN • V EAL • SEAF O O D P AST A • HO T & C O LD

SAND W IC HES • AP P ET IZ ERS

Our NewlyUpdated PrivatePARTYROOM

is AvailableCall for details

NOW AVAILABLE Gluten FREE

Pizza and Pasta & Whole Wheat Pasta

www.afpizza.com • 973-535-1998Cannot be combined with any other offers/coupons. Must mention before ordering . Expires 3/15/16




$4 OFFANY 2 LG. PIES $3 OFF$20 OR MORE

CATERING AVAILABLE!Open 7 Days

Sunday to Thursday: 11am-10pmFriday & Saturday: 10am-11pm

Delivery Areas:Livingston, Short Hills,parts of East Hanover,

parts of West Orange & Roseland

489 S. Livingston AveLivingston

(next to ShopRite)

www.afpizza.com

www.afpizza.com

50% OFF DINNERBuy 1 Dinner, and Get 2nd 50% OFF

(Of equal or lesser value)

$2 OFFAny Large Pie

WO WO

WO

WO

Playoffs & The Big Game

Party HeadquartersPlease order early if possible!

The Chabad of West Orange held aShabbat Shalem, A Shabbat of Inclu-

sion and Awareness, during Jewish

Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month,

on Fri., Feb. 5. The special guest speaker was

Avi Golden, who spoke on the topic of Apha-sia.

Golden suffered a stroke several years ago

and as a result now has aphasia. Before that,

he was a paramedic in North Shore - LIJ

EMS and NY Presbyterian EMS in NYC and

he was planning to go to medical school. Heis slowly but surely getting his speech back,

however, in the aftermath of this incident, he

has become deeply involved in training peo-

ple, especially first responders, about apha-sia.Leslie Starr, a lifetime resident of West

Orange and longtime member of Chabad of

West Orange, gave the Dvar Torah.

The evening also included a candle light-

ing ceremony, dinner and services.For more information on Chabad of West

Orange go to www.chabadwestorange.com/

fnd.

Chabad Holds Special Dinner Event

New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center,which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitalsthroughout the state, is in need of volunteers at blood drives. The

blood service volunteer is an integral member of the collection teamwhose task it is assist donors with registration, escorting and canteen du-ties, and to watch for post donation reactions. Volunteers should have theability to relate to the public, be able to perform different jobs as neededand have the willingness to follow the rules. For additional informationcontact, Manager of Community Relations, R. Jan Zepka at 732-616-8741 or [email protected].

Volunteers Needed

Men and women over 50 who are considering returning to schoolmay be eligible for financial assistance through various pro-grams. According to the American Association of Retired Per-

sons, older men and women who want to go back to school do not

necessarily have to bankroll that expenditure on their own. AARP notesthat the Internal Revenue Service offers tax breaks such as the AmericanOpportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit that olderstudents can take advantage of to lessen the blow of tuition costs, whichhave risen considerably since today’s men and women over 50 were incollege. Older men and women may also be able to take advantage of 529 college savings accounts they opened for their children that their kidsdid not end up needing. AARP also notes that men and women over 50who want to apply for financial aid must be prepared to enroll in morethan one class and in more than just a continuing education program.More information is available at aarp.org.

Did You Know?


4/12


FEATURING

HANDCRAFTED, NATURAL MATTRESSES

Get the BEST MATTRESS

for the BEST PRICE!

OPEN7

DAYS!We Manufacture

HORSEHAIR

& COTTON

Mattresses

Standard & Custom MattressesCustom Bedding • Antique Bed MattressesHypo Allergetic • Electric Adjustable BedsCustom & Brand Name 2-Sided Mattresses

Custom Pillows: Cotton, Horse Hair,Latex, Wool

Showroom:77 Central Avenue

CLARK Target Shopping Center

Factory: 1933 Springfield Ave MAPLEWOOD

732-428-4125 www.mycustomb edding.com

Like us on O R A N G E M A T T R E S S C O

U P O N

Coupon must be presented at time of Purchase. Cannot becombined with any other offers. Limit 1. Expires 3/31/16

20% OFF20% OFFMAXIMUM VALUE $500

By Cheryl Conway

T

he West Orange Police Department

will be more transparent to the

community with the purchase of 60new body cameras come the spring.

The department was approved in Oct.

2015 to receive $30,000 in grant money

to purchase the cameras for its officers.

The money that had been allocated froma pool grant through Essex County was a

Spring Hopes To Bring Body Cameras To WO Police Department lot more than expected.

West Orange Police Lt. John Morella

says the department thought it would re-

ceive $7,000 for the cameras, a lot lessthan what was approved.“We were happy about that,” says

Morella, to be getting more money for the

cameras. He says the major expense is the

storage cost of the cameras.

The funding is part of $2.5 million for176 police departments statewide for

more than 5,000 body worn cameras, ac-

cording to a press release issued by the

New Jersey Office of The Attorney Gen-

eral.

The awards – made with criminal for-feiture funds – will put NJ in the forefront

in the U.S in embracing this technology to

promote transparency, mutual accounta-

bility, and trust between police and the

community, according to Acting AttorneyGeneral John J. Hoffman.

West Orange officials were in the

process of researching the different cam-

era products and are hoping to have them

purchased by the spring, Morella says.

The plan is to purchase 60 body cameras

that will be worn by patrol officers. Thereare currently 97 officers on the police

force, he says.

Morella, who has been with the West

Orange Police Departments for the past 20years, says the department has had car

cameras for the past 15 years, which had

gone from VHS to digital, which has been

helpful. Having body cameras next will be

“another tool in our toolbox to utilize,” he

says.

The body cameras, “would give a lot of ease to the community,” says Morella. “Itenhances our transparency with the public

and township as a whole. Little things

have happened as years passed; a camera

would have been beneficial.”

Morella explains, “With everythinggoing on in society today, we want to

make the community feel more comfort-

able with us.

“We are a forthcoming department,” he

says. “This will enhance that. Whatever

issues that do come in, [having body cam-eras] will allow for it to become more

transparent for us. Transparency is the

biggest thing for us.”

Outreach to the community is also im-

portant, says Morella. The departmentdoes offer several outreach programs such

as Coffee With a Cop, held for the past

year to allow residents to exchange in

conversation with an officer in a relaxed

setting; trips with the junior police acad-

emy which provides a comfortable setting

between officers and youth; opportunitiesto get involved with the community serv-

ice unit; after school and summer pro-

grams; Hooked On Fishing; and a newly

established Clergy Alliance in whichmembers of the clergy attend quarterly

meetings with police officials to discuss

issues.

For the past 60 years, area residents

have been members of the Garden

State Yacht Club, a member owned-

and operated- club, in Hopatcong, where

they enjoy swimming, boating, tennis, din-ing, dancing and more. While some mem-

bers live on the lake, the vast majority of

members come from nearby towns, includ-

ing Livingston, Rockaway and Roxbury

Townships.Located on the west shore of beautifulLake Hopatcong, The GSYC is a private

club for all ages, offering a range of outdoor

and social activities for family and single

members with Equity and Associate Mem-

berships. While it hosts many eventsthroughout the year, the club offers a com-

plete schedule of daily activities during the

summer season, from Memorial Day to

Labor Day.

Equity Members enjoy the whole com-

plement of club events and facilities, takingfull advantage of the club’s recreational and

social activities. These include the newly

redecorated clubhouse, heated swimming

pool, tennis courts, children’s playground

and dock space for 55 boats. Social activi-

ties include dinner and dancing, parties,

deck dining, entertainment, lectures, and

trips and other events throughout the year.

New this year, the Associate Member-

ship is a non-ownership and value-pricedalternative. Associate Members are enti-

tled to the use of the pool, locker rooms,

tennis courts, playground and optional dock

slips, and enjoy weekend poolside food

service and the frequent weekend poolsideentertainment.Whether outdoor interests run to tennis,

boating (power, sail, or kayaking), card

games, shuffleboard with the kids, or just

relaxing, the Garden State Yacht Club has

activities for everyone. In season, the poolis open daily.

A boat is not needed to be a member of

the club. Members with boats are more

than happy to take others out on the lake.

The marina hours are unlimited, with ample

lighting for evening boating. A convenienttram provides transportation from the rear

of the clubhouse to lakeside. The men’s and

women’s locker rooms, with showers and

well-appointed dressing areas, make it easy

Garden State Yacht Club EnhancesRecreation On Lake Hopatcong

continued on next page


5/12


Park in front (limited hours) or park in back

OPEN 7 DAYSMon.-Fri. 9-7

Sat. 9-5Sun. 10-3

523 S. Livingston Avenue • Livingston

To order, please call:

973-992-1985or visit our store

Visit edible.com to view entire collection

Gifts for All OccasionsHolidays • Anniversary • Birthday • New Baby

Get Well • Weddings • Just Because • SympathyThank You • Corporate • Valentine’s Day

Edible Arrangements, the Fruit Basket Logo, and other marks mentioned herein are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements, LLC 2015. All rights reserved.

Same-daydelivery.

Anywhere in the USA

No rush fees. Ever.

Pick fruit.

It’s fresher.

BE MY SWEETHEART

Expires 3/14/16VALID FOR SELECT DELIVERY AREAS ONLY

OR PICKUP AT OUR LIVINGSTON LOCATION.Not valid on website. Cannot be co mbined with anyother offers. Containers can vary. Restrictions apply.

Any Purchase Order

Of $29 or More

$5 OFF

Expires 3/14/16VALID FOR SELECT DELIVERY AREAS ONLY

OR PICKUP AT OUR LIVINGSTON LOCATION.Not valid on website. Cannot be combined with anyother offers. Containers can vary. Restrictions apply.

FREEDipped Fruit6-Box ($19 Value)

With Any Purchase/Orderof $60 or more.

Order In-Store:

VALE NTI NE ’S DAY BERRIES™

EASTER BUNNYCELEBRATION™ DIPPED

PINEAPPLE & SWIZZLEPINEAPPLE FRUIT

TRUFFLES®

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHOCOLATE COVERED

ORANGE EDIBLE®

SELECTIONS

WOR TH MELTI NG FO ROLAF BOUQUET

Code: WO1602

THINGS of BEAUTY19 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue | Livingston | 973-994-3646

Parking lot on side facebook.com/ThingsBeautyLivingston

Mon-Fri 9:30-6 • Sat 9:30-5:30

Not valid with other promotions.Exp 3/13/16

$5 offany HAIR SERVICE

on 1st visit

Take an additional

10% offtotal BEAUTY

SUPPLY* purchase*Some exclusions apply. Not valid with

other promotions. Exp 3/13/16

Famous Brands Hair Care,Nail Care Products

(including Essie, Opi, CND & Vinylux}, Cosmetics, Appliances, Blowers,

Curling Irons & much more!

HAIR STYLISTS Full Service for Women

THREADING

Check out our

DISCOUNTED PRICES!

to spend the entire day and evening at the

club.Children are, of course, welcomed!

There is a playground with swings and

climbing apparatus. Children of all ages arepermitted in the pool, which has a special,

roped-off toddler’s area, with easy step ac-cess and shallow depth. Even infants not

yet toilet-trained are permitted, provided

that they wear “waterproof” diapers.

Equity Members participate in club ac-

tivities throughout the year. In addition to

the New Year’s Eve party, they enjoy SuperBowl Sunday, a Valentine’s Dance, Hal-

loween Party, and Theater Parties, cabarets

and comedy nights.

Summer weekends for Equity Members

begin with Friday night entertainment thatvaries from jazz concerts to wine tastings.

Saturday nights are the time for dining,

dancing, theme parties, and entertainment.

Sunday evening is capped off with a pool-side barbeque, which is also open to Asso-

ciate Members.

In season, activities for Equity Members

are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday

evenings, with ladies’ luncheons everyTuesday afternoon in season. The lunch-

eons offer a variety of programs from cards

to book reviews.

Additionally, lunch, dinner, and cock-

tails on the clubhouse deck, with its breath-

taking, elevated views of Lake Hopatcong,are reserved for Equity Members and their

guests.

For those who enjoy having fun in the

company of warm, congenial and caring

friends, the Garden State Yacht Club wel-comes new members. For more information

or to set up a tour, call 973-398-0022; go

to gsyc.org; or on Facebook.

Garden State Yacht Club...continued from previous page

JOB OPENINGS IN YOUR AREA!!Looking For A Part Time Sales Job?

Email [email protected] more details!


6/12


MURSELI PRO CONSTRUCTIONREAD OUR REVIEWS ONwww.homeadvisor.com

With coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

GUTTERCLEANING(ANY HOUSE)

$79.99


ROOF LEAKS(GUARANTEED)

15% off


ANY NEWCOMPLETE

ROOF

$1000 off


FOUNDATIONREPAIR

15% off

1. Cap

2. Flue

3. Brick

4. Mortar

5. Stovepipe

6. SootPocket

7. Crown

8. Flashing

9. Throat

10. Damper

11. Firebox

12. Ashpit

Carbon monoxideis invisible, odorless,and can kill you!

800-650-0968FREE ESTIMATES• All Work Guaranteed

• 24/7 Emergency Service

• 20% Senior Discount

• Major Credit Cards

• NJ Lic. 13VH08570100


Chimney CapFireplace Cleaning12 Point Inspection

$74.99

FEBRUARY SPECIAL

ANY CHIMNEY0-3 ft., new flashing, new brick,

new crow and cap

$1,350

MASONRY ROOFING CHIMNEY GUTTERS

DRIVEWAYSSTEPS

BRICK & BLOCK

SIDEWALKS

REPAIR

RE-ROOFNEW ROOF

ROOF REPAIRS

SHINGLES

FLAT ROOF

CLEANINGRE-LINE

REPAIRS

REBUILD

CAPPING

CLEANINGINSTALLATION

SCREENING

REPAIRS

REPLACEMENTS

P

leasantdale Elementary School stu-

dents made West Orange history

having the experience of a lifetimevideo chatting with Captain Scott Kelly

aboard the International Space Station onJan. 18.

Pleasantdale Principal Dr. Joanne Pol-

lara and her team spent months coordinat-

ing with NASA to set up the first-ever

West Orange school chat with an astro-

naut in space. Both Captain Scott Kellyand his identical twin brother, astronaut

Mark Kelly, attended Pleasantdale school,

Lincoln Middle School (now West Orange

High School) and Mountain High School,graduating in 1982.

The primary goal of the year-long ex-

hibition is to assess the effects of long-

term space travel on the human body.

Health and crew performance assessments

will be utilized by NASA as they explore

the possibility of missions around themoon, to asteroids, and eventually, Mars.

Students, teachers, and district officials

including Superintendent Jeff Rutzky, As-

sistant Superintendent Dr. Donna Rando

and Board of Education members MarkRobertson and Sandra Mordecai were

present as the feed to the InternationalSpace Station went live. The smiling face

of Captain Scott Kelly appeared, greeting

students from the ISS, located more than

two hundred miles above them in space.

“This is an historic event you can tell

your family and even your childrenabout,” said Pollara. “Some of you may

even be involved in the work that will

someday send someone to Mars. It may

not be in my lifetime, but it could be inyours.”

Captain Mark Kelly visited Pleasant-

dale on Oct. 13. As the only identical twin

astronauts in history, NASA will also

study the Kelly brothers to observe possi-

ble differences between the two following

Captain Kelly's return from the ISS.Kelly chatted amiably with students

and answered questions, taking them on a

video tour of the station. Highlights in-

cluded Kelly snacking on floating M&Ms,

seeing the space suits worn by the astro-nauts for space walks and viewing the

earth from the ISS window.When a student asked what he does

when not working on more than 400 proj-

ects and science experiments, Kelly said,

“I like to read; journal, post on Twitter,

talk on the phone, and work out on the

treadmill.”Another student asked Kelly what was

the most beautiful sight he had seen from

space. “My favorites are the Bahamas and

the deserts of Africa,” he answered.Kelly described the best part of being

an astronaut in space. “It was working at

something very hard and being success-

ful,” he stated. “Hard work, setting a goal

and persevering gets you where you want

to be.”

Captain Kelly is scheduled to return toEarth in the Spring of 2016 with fellow

astronaut Mikhail Kornienko, with a

planned landing in Kazakhstan.

Kelly ended the video chat by saying

that while he was looking forward to re-

turning to Earth, he loved his experience

on the International Space Station as well.

“You miss being outside when you’rein space, and you miss space when you’re

outside,” he smiled.

Captain Scott Kelly greets Pleasantdale stu-

dents from the International Space Station.

WO Students Make History Video ChattingWith Astronaut In Space


7/12


JEANS TO BLACK TIE includingSterling Silver & Costume Jewelry,

Watches, Evening Bags, Hats, Scarves, Bridal Jewelry

& much more at AFFORDABLE PRICES.

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase.Not valid with any other offers, storewide sales or gift certificates.

May not be used on special orders. Expires 3/13/16

20% OFFany Jewelry purchasePink Jewels Coupon

www.pink-jewels.com

LIVINGSTON TOWN CENTER

1110 Town Center Way(next to Test Rite Opticians)LIVINGSTON • 973.994.0975

Mon-Fri 10-6

Sat 10-5

Free

Gift Wrapping

Celebrating our 6th Anniversary

FASHION ACCESSORIES AND MUCH MORE

Pink Jewels

W

Four members of the award-winning West Orange

High School Wind Ensemble have been selected for

the North Jersey Area Band and two have been se-

lected for the North Jersey Region Band.

Acceptance into both bands is by audition only. Students

throughout northern New Jersey audition for the limitedspots in the prestigious musical program.

Divya Anand, junior who plays clarinet, was selected as

a member of the North Jersey Area Band.

Alex Frey, a senior who plays trombone, was selected

as a member of the North Jersey Area Band.Austin Bartola, a junior percussion player, and Robert

Newman, a senior who plays French Horn, were selected

for both the North Jersey Area and North Jersey Regional

Bands.

All four are also members of the WOHS MarchingMountaineers, who took home first place in the Yamaha

Cup competition at the Meadowlands on Sept. 26.

The NJAB website states that: “The Purpose of Music

Education is enhanced by the preparation, audition, and

performance of selected students within the selected North-ern New Jersey Schools. This enhancement includes: the

preparation for audition, the rehearsal of advanced band

music, the exposure to advanced conductors, and the per-

formance of said music in a concert setting.”

The musicians have been rehearsing for their North Jer-

sey Area Band Concert, which was held at Mt. Olive High

WO High School Musicians Selected For North Jersey Area And North Jersey Regional BandsSchool on Jan. 17.

West Orange High School music program bands, whichinclude Freshmen Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Winds,

and Wind Ensemble, compete yearly in the Region I Con-

cert Band Festival, which is set to be held at the high school

on April 7. The North Jersey Region Band is associatedwith the New Jersey Music Association and the Concert

Band Festival.“I am honored and excited to be a member of the North

Jersey Area and Region Bands,” said Bartola.

“By playing great pieces with talented directors and mu-

sicians, I hope to improve my own skills and enjoy new ex-

periences,” he continued.For more information on the NJAB, go to:

http://www.njab.org/.

Pet feel cold too! To keep a pet safe during cold wintermonths, PAHS shares this information on ways that apet’s owner can help get them through the winter safely

and in good health. Just because pets have fur, that does notmean that it can tolerate long periods of cold.

Forcing a pet to stay outside in cold weather could lead toserious health problems and visits to the veterinarian. Just likepeople, pets who have arthritis and joint issues experiencemore pain in cold weather. Although every pet reacts to cold

weather differently, the best advice is to pay attention to themand watch for signs of discomfort.

Here are some cold weather tips to keep pets safe.When the thermometer dips below 32 degrees, keep pets

indoors as much as possible. If the animal must stay outside,provide a warm shelter, raised a few inches off the ground,with the opening facing away from the wind and covered witha burlap or plastic flap. The shelter should be large enough

Cold Weather Tips For Pets

continued on page 9


8/12


Window Trends is proud to an-nounce the opening in early 2016of its second Window Trends

showroom, located in downtown Chatham.As a family owned and operated business,Window Trends will continue its mission tohelp plan, install and maintain the highestlevel of professionalism and service. It pridesitself in serving the community with the high-est quality window treatments that will lastfor the years to come.

Since 1980, company president andfounder, Michael Iannone III has been pro-viding window treatments for homes andbusinesses throughout the Tri-state area.Whether it’s interior products for local homes

and business or advanced shades for celebritylofts in midtown Manhattan, Window Trendsprovides an everlasting business relationship.Among the team are Michael’s two sons,Mike and Anthony, as well as a full time staff of professional designers and installers. Allare invited to meet the Window Trends fam-ily at its newest showroom in the Chathamlocation opening in early 2016.

In the downtown store front, see the styleand samples of the leading window treatmentmanufacturer, Hunter Douglas. As a rep-

utable Showcase Centurion DealerTM, Win-dow Trends offers all Hunter Douglasproducts at competitive prices. WindowTrends is the local dealer for the Hunter Dou-glas Alustra collection. In addition to the

standard Hunter Douglas products, the com-pany specializes in shutters, motorization andhome automation within window coverings.

Outside of interior window coverings anddraperies, Window Trends provides outdoorretractable awnings and sun shades. Usingthe leading manufacture, Sunair, the variousexterior products offered will meet the de-sires of any backyard patio or entertainmentarea. As well as residential homes, WindowTrends offers a range of awning products forcommercial properties and storefronts. Itsnewest pergola system, the Pratic, is highlyrecommended for any restaurant that needscoverage for outdoor dining.

The experienced design group is there to

help valued clients from start to finish. Ap-proaching its 36th year in business, WindowTrends will still provide a free shop at homeservice.

In addition to Chatham, Window Trendsin Morris Plains will continue to provide thelocal community. For all shades, drapes, shut-ters, design services and awnings, please visitthe new location at 240A Main Street,Chatham, once it opens. In the interim, visitthe Morris Plains location at 662 SpeedwellAve. or visit at www.windowtrendsnj.com.

Follow on Facebook to stay most up todate with news on the opening of theChatham showroom, new promotions andany other upcoming events that WindowTrends offers to valued customers.

Window TrendsTo Open Second Showroom

H

armonium Choral Society inviteshigh school students to participate

in its 19th Annual New Jersey HighSchool Student Choral Composition Con-test.

The contest is open to all students en-rolled in grades nine through twelve in anypublic or private school in NJ. It is alsoopen to all students who are legal residentsof NJ participating in home schooling at thehigh school level. Student composers areencouraged to submit their original choralcompositions to Harmonium no later thanMarch 15. Compositions must be five min-utes or less in length and based on selectedtexts found on the contest website.

The winning compositions will be se-lected by a panel of judges consisting of professional musicians, composers andmusic educators. All contestants receivewritten comments from the judges.

The Grand Prize winner will receive acash prize of $1,000 and $250 will be

awarded to a runner-up. In addition, thesponsoring teachers of the winning studentcomposers will receive a monetary award.The winners will be notified by late Marchor early April. The winning compositionswill be performed and recorded live duringthe Harmonium June concerts "Magic andMysteries,” Sat., June 4, and Sun., June 5,both at 7:30 p.m., at Grace EpiscopalChurch in Madison.

The concert presents an eclectic selec-tion of choral works from around the world,from the sacred and mystical to the secularand magical.

To view the list of texts, guidelines andadditional contest materials, visithttp://www.harmonium.org/contest.shtmlor contact contest coordinator Crary Brooksat [email protected].

High School Students Invited To Enter Choral Composition Contest


9/12


25 Just Road | Fairfield973-575-1777 | [email protected]

NJ Master HVAC ContractorLic. #592

Family owned and operated for over twenty years, New Jersey Heatingand Cooling has been providing years of dependable service and customersatisfaction. Whether your needs are large or small, New Jersey Heating

and Cooling is committed to delivering the highest degree of personalizedservice, with a full range of services including central cooling, centralheating, humidification systems, air purification systems, and more.

25% off your installation

Offer ends 3/15/16

Service & Preventive Special

$95Offer ends 3/15/16

You can SAVE $1000’s...Purchase your HVAC NOW!

PPACs Summer OnStage Camp, bringsNewYork level theater

training to the West Essexand New Jersey Lakes Re-

gion.New this year: Two levelsof camp: Full day camp 9a.m. to 4 p.m., for boys andgirls ages seven to 16.

Half day program 9 a.m.to 1 p.m., for ages three tosix.

Free early drop-off at 8a.m.

Now in its fifth year,PPAC Camps provide an ed-ucational alternative summer

activity. Students developcreative skills, while build-ing social skills and confi-dence. Kids can act, sing,dance and learn circus skillslike stilt walking, clowningand mime. Each week’straining results in a perform-ance on Friday.

Each week has its owntheme around which studentscreate a story.

PPACs Summer On Stage Camp

“Routine and habit cansquash creativity," says Di-rector Kathy Pucci, whosebackground extendsnot onlyinto professional dance andtheater arenas, but also thespecial event and entertain-ment production field.

"Our programs are specif-ically designed to add to thatspark of creativity and stir it

into a major flame.”Dance and theater in-

struction is known to buildcharacter with perseverance,focus, collaboration and non-verbal communication skills.

Camps run weekly June27 – Aug. 19.

For information, call 973-223-9200 or visitwww.PPACNJ.com.

Cold Weather Tips For Pets...

for the animal to stand and turn around, butsmall enough to retain its body heat.

• If a pet is outdoors for extended periodswhen temperatures are below freezing (32

degrees Fahrenheit), be alert for signs of dis-tress from the cold. Just like in people, shiv-ering is a sign that the body temperature isdropping. If the animal is shivering, it is prob-ably time to bring it inside. Remember, pet’sbody temperature is between 101-102 de-grees and its body temperature lowers fasterin cold weather.

• A very young, very old pet or a pet witha health problem is more vulnerable to cold.

• An animal with thick fur can toleratecold longer than a small animal and one withshort hair.

• Don’t leave any pet in an unheated ve-hicle for extended periods of time.

• Make sure the animal has clean unfrozendrinking water. Do not let pet drink from pud-

dles where there may be deadly antifreeze orother harmful chemicals.

• A pet can pick up rock salt, ice and othermelting chemicals in their foot pads. This can

harm their feet. Massaging petroleum jellyinto paw pads before going outside helps toprotect from salt and chemical agents. Mois-turizing after a good toweling off helps toheal chapped paws. Wipe your pet’s feet witha damp cloth when it comes inside to protectits pads from damage. If this is a problem forthe animal, there are boots available in allsizes. A dog can get used to wearing the bootsindoors for short periods of time. Not all dogstake to them.

• If there are outside cats in the neighbor-hood, rap on the hood of the vehicle and look

under it before starting the engine and drivingoff. Cats sometimes curl up next to or underwarm engines when they are left out in thecold.

continued from page 7

Attention Schools, Churches, Organizations

Send Your Press Releases

to [email protected]


10/12

Page 10, February 2016, Tell Them You Saw It In The West Orange News • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonlinePage 10, February 2016, Tell Them You Saw It In The West Orange News • Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/mypaperonline

By Cheryl Conway

F

or those who agree “it’s better to

give than receive,” there is an op-

portunity banging on the door of a

shelter organization that could help hun-

dreds of women and children who may be

left on the street if the mortgage is not

paid.

Secret Santas may be long gone, but

there has to be an angel out there willing

to hold the mortgage of Strengthen Our

Sisters, a grassroots, community based

non-profit, program serving homeless/bat-

tered women and children for more than

four decades. Faced with mortgage con-flicts, the shelter has to come up with

$30,000 by Jan. 15 to avoid foreclosure.

Established in 1977 as Shelter Our Sis-

ters - the first shelter for battered women

in North America- the organization

changed its name to Strengthen Our Sis-

ters (SOS) and grew to eight houses, two

day care centers, a food pantry and a thrift

store. The properties’ value a total of $2.5

million, with just under $600,000 left to

be paid. With restricted monies coming in,the organization is at risk of closing its

doors to hundreds of women and children

with no other safe place to go.

“I don’t know what would happen to

these people,” says Sandra Ramos of

Ringwood, founder and executive director

of SOS. “If we don’t get help with the

mortgage people will be on the street. If

someone wants to be an angel and save

our mortgage that would be great.”

Ramos explains “if we had the $30,000it would be the drop down money if some-

one could give it.”

Rialto Capital Management Advisors

in Florida, the company that is holding the

mortgage bridge loan, did not return

phone calls to New View Media Group as

of press time. Valley National Bank had

sold the mortgage to Rialto when SOS’s

funding was reduced, says Ramos.

“During this year and one half, they

have seen our reliability and commitmentto avoid foreclosure by paying $30,000

every three months, which is directly ap-

plied to the principal, along with a

monthly payment of $7,000,” says

Ramos. “SOS has done this faithfully, al-

though it has been challenging.”

Ramos, a pioneer advocate for battered

women, started her first shelter in 1970 in

her three bedroom home in Hackensack.

She had three small children at the time,

was facing divorce after ten years of mar-

riage and was in need of a roommate, she

explains.

“I wanted a roommate,” says Ramos,

so she put the word out that she wanted to

share her house. “The ones who came to

me were the ones who got battered,” says

Ramos. “Women called to say ‘I can’t stay

in my house.’”

One roommate turned into 23 womenin her house at one point, she admits. Her

children would sleep with her in her wa-

terbed; there would be some guests on the

floor, in the bathtub, in the basement.

“I would get a call and say ‘I’m sorry I

have no room.’ But it was difficult to turn

people away who would say ‘I finally got

the courage to leave; if you don’t take me

I will die.”’

Ramos says, “My neighbors said they

didn’t want battered women on theirblock, and I told them, ‘they are already

here, the question is do you want them liv-

ing with pain, suffering and horror or do

you want them living with peace, dignity

and respect?’”

When the town found out that Ramos

had too many people at her house they

“threatened to put me in jail,” she says.

The town cited her for “overcrowding”

because she had three or more unrelated

people living together.“I told the town ‘If you want a place

for them you have to drag them out kick-

ing and screaming;’ so they put them in a

motel,” Twin Lakes Motel in Paramus.

Ramos did not turn her back on them

and instead continued to help them.

“We would have to pick them up and

take them to look for housing, counsel-

ing,” says Ramos. “They [the town] didn’t

give them food or services, counseling.”

The Catholic Church would bring foodand battered women would work together

to help other women.

Over the years, in 1977, her initiative

became Shelter Our Sisters. She moved

out of her house to Bergen County in a

house located on a church’s property in

Bogota. About 10 to 15 women in chil-

dren lived there.

Her organization grew, and established

a board of directors, but after a disagree-

ment, the board fired Ramos in 1986.

Ramos separated and formed SOS a

year later. With her children grown, she

moved to her house in Ringwood “and

people started calling me. I let some peo-

ple stay in my house. We knew we had to

get a shelter.”

They opened a thrift store in Haskell.

“We raised more money,” and even the

board from her first organization wouldsend her people to help.

With a state regulated budget of up to

four million dollars, Ramos was able to

manage her organization but as state reg-

ulations got stricter, operations got

tougher such as paying the mortgage.

“I’ve always been an advocate for

women and children,” says Ramos, who

teaches social issues and dynamics of do-

mestic violence at Ramapo College in

Mahwah as an adjunct professor. “Every-body has been touched by domestic vio-

lence in one way.

“One woman was going to be killed by

a gangster guy,” explains Ramos. Other

women and children she brought into her

shelter were rich but their husbands were

“molesters and child abusers. No one

would take them. We reach out to people

who need help. We help a lot of pregnant

women and children.”

Through her shelter program, Ramossays “thousands have been saved” during

the past 46 years. With two hotline num-

bers, Ramos has made herself available to

help others.

The mission of SOS is to break the

cycle of domestic violence, poverty and

abuse by restoring balance and harmony

through individual empowerment.

She currently helps 155 women and

children in seven shelters located in New

Foundland, Wanaque and West Milford;two daycare centers in Wanaque and West

Milford; a thrift store in a church; and one

food pantry in Wanaque.

To support her organization, Ramos re-

ceives some money from the Passaic

County Dept. of Human Services, private

donations, counties and social services,

“but not enough to keep it going. We have

a transportation grant but they took it

away. We have five vans; we need help.

We’ve been running for three and a half

years with a non-paid staff,” down from a

paid staff of 55 that were let go when SOS

lost funding, she says.

Ramos says she currently has 17 non-

paid volunteers who drive the shelter res-

idents to look for jobs, to court, doctor

appointments, social services, schools;

they fix things, watch children.

“They are exhausted but they believein the shelter,” says Ramos, just like she

does.

“I have seen women that have come to

me and their lives are a wreck, depressed,

suicidal,” she says.

“People are still calling,” continues

Ramos. “Every day I get four or five calls.

We take almost everybody. We take peo-

ple who no one else will take. We take

people without welfare vouchers. We

don’t want to see them killed, beaten orfrozen to death.

“Yesterday, a 70-year old woman had

no heat, we took her,” adds Ramos. She

also took in another woman with five chil-

dren, “who would be out in the street

forced to live with child molesters.”

One of her houses is for all older

women, some in wheelchairs, others with

oxygen. “Nobody will take them.”

Many of the women and children her

organization helps “don’t have families,”are on section eight, have families or

friends “who don’t like them; who don’t

want to help them. We have a lot of dys-

functional families.”

Ramos explains, “I see them heal, get

strong and get their lives together. We live

in a violent society; there’s a lot of vio-

lence. The work I’m doing I feel it’s a

mission but right now I need an angel. I

just need someone to pay off the mortgage

or hold it. We just really need someone tohelp.”

To make a donation or to help, call

Ramos at 973-831-0898.

SOS- Women And Children Looking For An Angel To Save Shelter


11/12


AT YOUR SERVICEHARDWOOD FLOORS

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HEALTH & BEAUTY

MOLD

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT TAILORS

The Eric Olsen ReVision Jazz Groupplans to perform the release concert

for its CD “Sea Changes” at Cald-

well University 8 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 18, in

the Alumni Theatre.“The album combines classic melodies

with jazz improvisations, creating an excit-

ing new art experience that transcends mu-

sical boundaries,” says Olsen, a jazz and

classical pianist and composer. “It gives fa-

miliar and beautiful melodies a new frame-work from which listeners can find their

own deeply musical connections.”

Concert series director Laura Greenwald

says Olsen is a “superb musician whose joy

of performing is contagious. His introduc-

tions are interesting and engaging, and hisplaying is brilliant.”

The jazz group is known for fusing the

emotion of classic melodies with the fun of jazz improvisation, transforming music

from Chopin to Grieg to George Harrison

in an innovative way.

As music director at Union Congrega-tional Church in Montclair, Olsen has con-ducted and performed many staples of the

classical choral literature and leads a jazz

ensemble in his own unique arrangements

of hymns and original works for jazz serv-

ices.The snow date is Thurs., Feb. 25, at 8

p.m.

General admission for most concerts is

$20; tickets for students and seniors are

$10. Tickets will be available online,

through mail order and at the door. Formore information, contact Greenwald at

973-618-3520.

Jazz Quartet To Perform Release Concert At Caldwell University

I LOVE SMALL JOBS

www.ILoveSmallJobs.com

Residential...CommercialBy Ben - Over 25 Years Experience

973-464-9419

B e s t

Q u a l i f i e d W o r k m a n s h i p ANY JOBS...BIG OR SMALLCARPENTRY • MASONRY PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL BY LICENSED PERSON

ROOFINGPAINTING, SHEETROCK, PAVING

BATHROOM, KITCHEN & BASEMENT REMODEL


12/12

WE’LL BEAT ANY PRICE...GUARANTEED!

F R E E E S T I M A T E

S F U L L Y

I N S U R E D

Family Owned & Operated

CUSTOM CARPENTRY

WE DO NOT SUB-CONTRACTRESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

• Bathrooms• Kitchens

• Basements• Additions• Chimney

Repoint

Roofing

Siding

Windows

Doors

973-324-9461 GAF/ELK #CE17703

ROOFING & SIDING

Expires 3/31/16 Expires 3/31/16

10% OFFANY CARPENTRY JOB ANY COMPLETE ROOFUsing Slate Line Shingle

FINANCING AVAILABLE12 AND 24 MONTHS 0% INTEREST

$500 OFF

FINANCING AVAILABLE12 AND 24 MONTHS 0% INTEREST

New View Media Group, LLC

1 Old Wolfe Road

Budd Lake, NJ 07828

ECRWSSLocal

Postal Customer

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDWILLIAMSPORT, PA

PERMIT NO. 4

221652_1455203815west orange news - feb. 2016.pdf

Documents