By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Niegel, Navy Office of Community Outreach

A Stanhope, New Jersey, native serves in the U.S. Navy at a helicopter squadron who flies the newest and most technologically-advanced helicopters.

Lt. Thomas Galvin joined the Navy six years ago. Today, Galvin serves as a naval aviator.

“I joined the Navy after realizing I need to be doing something to help others,” said Galvin. “There is so much injustice in the world and I wanted to be a part of an organization that does something about it.”

Simple Tips to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard

Environmental Transport Group. Inc.

As the end of another school year approaches, the graduating students of the class of 2022 deserve recognition for their dedication, persistence and resilience. To celebrate these students’ achievements, the Morris Educational Foundation (MEF), a non-profit organization enhancing excellence in education in the Morris School District, today announced it will gift Morristown High School and Frelinghuysen Middle School graduates with a Senior Sign at no cost to families for the third consecutive year.

Project Self-Sufficiency will continue the workshop and discussion series, “Connections Matter”, designed to facilitate the conversation about issues surrounding Positive & Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs), with an in-person session on Tuesday, April 5th at 5:00 p.m.  Participants are invited to explore the Connections Matter curriculum, a program funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and led by Prevent Child

“Welcome Home: Morris County’s Vietnam Vets,” an online collection of data, photographs and facts about the Morris County men and women who served in the Vietnam War, was launched through the official Morris County website in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The day observes when the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam on March 29, 1973.

The New York Red Bulls and Kean University announced a multi-year partnership that will provide students with experiential learning and career opportunities.

As an “Official Partner of the New York Red Bulls,” Kean University will gain access to internship, full-time job and sales opportunities for students and alumni through a streamlined application process with the MLS club. 

Additionally, the Red Bulls will establish an employee mentorship program with students that will include shadowing and networking events. Students will also have the chance to participate in community service projects with the organization.

I Remember Mom: Hold Dear to Heart, Thy Precious Family Photographs

In less than a year and half, the profile and reputation of County College of Morris (CCM) have raised significantly with more than a dozen national recognitions. Its latest recognition from Best Accredited Colleges places CCM as the Top Community College in New Jersey and its Criminal Justice associate degree program as #9 in the nation.

The community college ranking looked at the salaries earned by alumni, the percentage of alumni who find high meaning in their jobs and the percentage of degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering and math. For five consecutive years, PayScale has ranked CCM #1 in New Jersey for associate degree holders who earn the best salaries.

Project Self-Sufficiency will host a virtual Elder Law seminar on Thursday, April 7th, 6:00 p.m. Legal issues faced by senior citizens will be discussed, including general estate planning, development of a will, advance directions for healthcare, dealing with Medicare and Medicaid, caring for aging parents, and other issues. The free Elder Law Seminar is open to the public and will take place on Zoom; interested participants are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 for log-in details. The agency’s legal seminar series is a program of the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency and is funded by the New Jersey Department of Children & Families.

The Center for Contemporary Art is pleased to offer in person and virtual art classes and workshops this spring for adults, teens and children beginning April 4. Select classes will be offered in a hybrid format. Classes and workshops are offered for artists with all levels of expertise in a variety of media including oil and acrylic paint, pastel, watercolor, drawing, and ceramics.

More than forty-five adult classes will be offered. Classes include Intro to Drawing with Oscar Peterson, Artist Studio: Your Choice with Lena Shiffman, Color Theory with Frank May, Morning Oil Landscape with Gary Godbee, Adventures in Clay with Lori Pearson, and more. We are pleased to introduce several new classes this spring including, Painting with Gouache with Sajal Sarkar, Drawing in Color with Margaret Fanning, and Working with Raku with John Reinking.

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum will offer free guided cart and walking tours of Laurelwood Arboretum on Sunday, April 10 at 10:30 am and Sunday, April 24 at 10:30 am. This will be an ideal opportunity to enjoy the spring blooms in the arboretum. To join a tour, meet at the entrance patio of the Knippenberg Center for Education at Laurelwood Arboretum, 725 Pines Lake Road West in Wayne.

Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum is a non-profit conservancy whose mission is to preserve and manage the 30-acre arboretum in partnership with Wayne Township. For additional information, go to www.laurelwoodarboretum.org,

(Family Features) Fresh air, warm sun and delicious foods make brunch a favorite weekend event. Set the stage (and the table) for an inviting experience with recipes that cover all the bases from snacks and desserts to a mouthwatering main course.

Tide the appetite of your guests with Spiced Grass-Fed Lamb Over Hummus served with toasted flatbread or tortilla chips before dishing out Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole for a simple centerpiece. Just as those delectable dishes are vanishing, pull Brown Sugar Pound Cake out of the oven and pair with sweetened whipped cream and fresh fruit for a sweet finishing touch.

Visit Culinary.net to find more ways to broaden your brunch menu.

Wake Up to a Wonderful Brunch

BCI Bath & Shower

Life Line Screening

What’s in your drinking water? The nonprofit Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA) is making it easier to find out!

Four out of five households – 80 percent – in the upper Raritan River watershed in Hunterdon, Somerset, and Morris counties get drinking water from a private well on their property. The only way for well owners to know if their water is safe and healthy is by testing it.

Since 1974, Raritan Headwaters Association has offered well testing at discounted rates through a certified laboratory. But it’s up to homeowners to choose exactly which substances to test for – which can be confusing without knowledge of potential risks.

Think Your Child Might Have Asthma? Take These Steps

MountainView Veterinary Hospital

(Family Features) If you haven’t planned a trip in a while, you aren’t alone. Many Americans haven’t taken a proper vacation in almost three years. In that time, many travelers’ preferences have changed.

“The pandemic impacted nearly every aspect of our lives, including how we search for our next hotel stay,” said Mel Dohmen, senior brand manager at Hotels.com. 

Sussex County artist Carol Decker is creating a unique painting inspired by Project Self-Sufficiency which will be raffled in conjunction with the May 2nd A Taste of Talent fundraiser at Perona Farms. Decker’s piece depicts a scene inside a garden shed and contains objects designed to evoke the impact of the agency on the community. Subtle visual references to Newton and Sussex County are also evident in the artwork.

The Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies at County College of Morris (CCM) is back with more live performances this spring. CCM students and graduates are taking the stage with a trio of song, poetry and dance designed to entertain and educate all ages.

“We are back at full capacity. As the saying goes, the show must go on,” says Marielaine Mammon, chair of the Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies. “We’re delighted to return in full measure to delight and inspire audiences by showcasing the outstanding talent of our students.”

On the last day of Women’s History Month, Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice and Gender Policy Council Director Jennifer Klein hosted a roundtable at the White House with young women leading their communities in improving mental health. Participants were joined by the leadership of national girl’s advocacy organizations, each of which have prioritized mental health policy and supported young women leaders tackling this issue.

I Remember Mom: Never Too Late!

The U.S. Army, Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion hosted a community partner event on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The meeting took place at Squier Hall, a former Army building at Fort Monmouth. Squire Hall is now administered by New Jersey City University, which transformed the building into a state of the art education facility. The event brought together over 60 community members from New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. It was exciting to meet face to face after two years of virtual meetings.

(Family Features) Trees are virtually everywhere you turn, from your own backyard to nearby parks and forests where you enjoy hiking. They provide shade and beauty, and some even bear fruit. Beyond all the immediate benefits, you may be surprised to discover trees are also a critical key to the future.

These facts and tips from the book “Now is the Time for Trees” offer practical insight on the importance of trees and how to nurture one from selection to planting and beyond.

A compelling and ever-growing body of evidence generated by scientists, health care professionals, conservationists, humanitarians and both public and private corporations supports the critical importance of trees and their impact on the human condition. Trees filter pollutants out of the air and water and provide protection for people and communities from dangerous heat and flooding. They lower urban temperatures, reduce energy bills and sequester carbon to slow the rate of climate change.

A consistent award-winner that offers students a platform for developing their skills as researchers and writers, The Youngtown Edition at County College of Morris (CCM) has added four more awards to its long list of accolades from the New Jersey Collegiate Press Association.

Competing in the two-year college category, the student-run newspaper won two second place and two third place awards for its 2021-22 editions. Second place awards were presented in the Arts & Entertainment/Critical Writing and Feature Writing category for an article on Netflix’s hit Squid Game by Laura San Roman, of Denville, and in Feature Writing for a piece on streaming platforms and their impact on cinemas by Cameron Marns, of Hopatcong. Third place awards were presented in Coronavirus Coverage for an opinion piece on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines by Jared Brodsky, of West Orange, and Enterprise/Investigative Reporting for an article on a Rwandan genocide survivor and CCM students working with New Jersey artists to gain real-world experience by Matthew Agnelli, of Morristown.

Spring is on its way, and Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum has launched its annual Gift of Green campaign to raise funds for the start of the gardening season. Gift of Green donations help provide the resources to recreate our Sensory Garden after its winter rest, to landscape the Summer Garden and to add annuals for color and texture at our entrances. These are but a few of the many projects planned for 2022.

Donations can be made online at www.laurelwoodarboretum.org or mailed to Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum, PO Box 07474-2433, Wayne, NJ 007474-2433. We thank our members and many friends for their generous support.

Project Self-Sufficiency will host a virtual Family Law seminar on Thursday, April 14th, 6:00 p.m. Participants will discuss child support, grounds for divorce, court procedures, alimony, parenting time, equitable distribution of assets, and other topics related to divorce. The presentation, which will be offered through Zoom, is free and open to the public; interested attendees should call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 for log-in details. The agency’s legal seminar series is a program of the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency and is funded by the New Jersey Department of Children & Families.

BCI Bath & Shower

Life Line Screening

Put on your cowboy boots and get ready for some fun by reserving your place at the County College of Morris (CCM) Foundation Better in Blue Jeans Ball, to be held in-person on Friday, May 13, at Alstede Farms in Chester.

           Better in Blue Jeans is going to be packed with lots of activity and enjoyment — live bluegrass, bourbon tasting, line dancing, games, special photo opportunities and a buffet dinner. 

West Orange High School Junior Named AFJROTC Outstanding Cadet Of The Year In New Jersey

Linda Kass, author of “A Ritchie Boy,” a moving and memorable novel in stories–inspired by her own father’s life–will give a fascinating and thought-provoking presentation, sponsored by the nonprofit National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), West Morris Section, about her book on Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. The program, which is free of charge, is part of the “Unlikely Jewish Heroes” series being presented by the organization’s Programming Committee this spring, under the leadership of Debbie Schwartz of Mendham.

Family-related books and children’s stories may be needed more today than ever. The Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East in Wayne resumes its Coffeehouse Speaker Series on Saturday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m. with a special event: Reading is Power: A Night of Words, Written, Shared, and Lived with two Wayne authors, Jennifer C. Kelly and Stephen Rusiniak, who write about children’s issues and family life, and will offer a glimpse into what has inspired their writings, the publishing process, and their new books covering such topics as emotional intelligence and inclusion. 

The All Veterans Memorial will be holding their Semi-Annual Spring Clean-up on 14 – 15 May 2022 from 0800 to 1600 at the AVM Ceremonial Complex at Turkey Brook Park; 30 Flanders Road, Budd Lake, NJ 07828.

We will be working on the final phase of the complex; The Reflection Sanctum or better known as prayer garden. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Residents of Dover and the surrounding area now have a new walking trail to enjoy as a result of the efforts of the middle and high school students taking part in the County College of Morris Dover College Promise (DCP) program.

Along with receiving college readiness training, working with mentors and taking part in workshops, DCP students also perform community service work.

I Remember Mom: Hold Dear To Heart, The Old Rock Wall

Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Lawrence Lipka, right, from Washington, New Jersey, stands watch on the landing signals officer platform on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), April 13, 2022.

County College of Morris (CCM) alumna Alexandra Quintero is being named the New Jersey Career Center Consortium (NJC3) Intern of the Year. NJC3 serves as a model for academic-employer partnerships with a focus on increasing the competency and professionalism of college career centers. Quintero will receive her award at the NJC3 Conference on Friday, April 28, via real-time virtual event at 2 p.m.

Quintero has been interning for the Spring Street Community Development Corporation in Morristown. Since April 2021, she has been a member of the caring team working on the Healthy Women Healthy Families Program.

The Hevreh Ensemble will offer a concert to raise funds to aid the citizens of Ukraine at Christ Church Newton, Saturday, April 30th, 7:00 p.m. The Hevreh Ensemble’s four classically trained musicians are of Jewish heritage, and they perform compositions by group member Jeff Adler. The Hevreh Ensemble’s unique repertoire is influenced by jazz, classical, Eastern European, Jewish folk traditions, and Native American work.

Take an adventure through Hackettstown. Main Street will be closed and filled with a family friendly event highlighting Hackettstown’s diverse culture with kid’s activities, crafts, live entertainment, a Tricky Tray, small plate food tastings and more.

Tricky Tray Fundraiser on Saturday, May 14, 2022 (18 and over please) at the Hackettstown Community Center, 292 Main Street. 

Doors open at 3 pm. 

Drawing will take place at 5:30 pm.

Please visit www.hackettstownbid.com for details

BCI Bath & Shower

Life Line Screening

The County College of Morris (CCM) annual student-run fashion show is back on the catwalk in-person this spring with the innovative theme “Revival of Fashion.”

The show will be held Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the Student Community Center, Davidson Rooms, on CCM’s Randolph campus, 214 Center Grove Road. This runway event, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the CCM Fashion Club and the Art & Design Department.

5 Tips to Stretch Your Summer Travel Budget

The Christian Drama School of New Jersey will present a modern Christian version of “Sleeping Beauty”

JCP&L, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., recently donated 25 apple, pear, peach, and nectarine trees to Project Self-Sufficiency to be planted throughout the agency’s 5-acre campus in Newton. The fruit harvested from the trees will be distributed to low-income individuals and families through the agency’s food pantry. On average, The Food Project at Project Self-Sufficiency offers 11,861 nutritious meals to 1,260 individuals each month. Volunteers also cultivate and maintain nine community vegetable gardens on the agency’s grounds and harvest fresh vegetables for daily distribution to local families during the spring, summer, and fall.

The United States Postal Service seeks applicants to fill more than three hundred federal positions starting at just under $20 an hour across the state of New Jersey.

I Remember Mom: So Dear and Precious Be Thy Talent and Divine Gift

Chatham High School senior Jack Pasacreta was awarded the 2022 Ehlers Arts Scholarship by Morris Arts. Jack plans to attend Northwestern University next fall, where he will continue to play the bassoon and study music in addition to other interests.

Morris Arts said, “Our evaluation panel was impressed with Jack’s dedication, technical ability, and the maturity of his artistic expression. They wish him success as he pursues his college studies at Northwestern University.”

Seton Hall Professor James J. Kimble has again shed new light on the origins of the “We Can Do It!” poster commonly referred to as “Rosie the Riveter.”Originally produced in 1943 by J. Howard Miller for the Westinghouse Corporation as part of the factory production effort during World War II, the “We Can Do It!” poster was mass reproduced in the 1980s and came to be a revered representation of female empowerment. Although iconic, the model for the poster as well as its creator were long shrouded in mystery and misinformation.

(Family Features) Understanding and improving cholesterol is important for people of all ages, including children and teens. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can help keep your heart healthy and lower your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.

High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. In fact, about 38% of adults in the United States are diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. Understanding what cholesterol is, the role it plays, when to get screened and how to manage it are important aspects of protecting your overall health and prevent a heart attack or stroke.

 OneMontville and The Pine Brook Jewish Center is pleased to announce its next Living Lessons Speaker: Rabbi Myers of Tree of Life Synagogue.

On October 27, 2018, during Shabbat morning services at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, eleven people from three congregations were killed and six others wounded in the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in the history of our nation. Rabbi Myers from Tree of Life will share what he’s learned about antisemitism, hate, violence and kindness.

Date and Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 7 PM

Location: Pine Brook Jewish Center, 174 Changebridge Road, Montville, NJ 07045

Buy Tickets: www.onemontville.org/w-events/rabbi-myers

Tickets are $5 online and $8 at the door.

For additional information, contact OneMontville at:

Email: contact@onemontville.org

Twitter: twitter.com/onemontvillenj

Instagram: instagram.com/onemontvillenj

Facebook: facebook.com/onemontvillenj

Website: OneMontville.org

(Family Features) Heading outdoors for a fresh, homemade meal is an alluring activity when warm weather and sunshine provide a perfect opportunity for dining on the patio. Or, if some time away from the house is calling your name, packing a lunch and taking off for the park can be an ideal getaway without getting too far from home.

Next time the sun’s rays call your name, invite friends and family for a delicious picnic loaded with warm-weather flavors. Just lay out your favorite blanket on the grass or don an outdoor table with a classic checkered tablecloth then share recipes that make al fresco meals truly memorable.

The Academy for Environmental Science of the Morris County Vocational School District will host its annual Ecofest on May 4 from 6-8 pm at the Jefferson Township High School, where the Academy is located. The event will be held in the high school cafeteria, 1010 Weldon Rd, Oak Ridge.

Ecofest 2022 is open to the public.

(Family Features) Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, you can ensure you’re getting the most for your money with a little extra planning.

These savvy shopping tips can help you score the most savings and added benefits while you’re at it.

Time Your Purchase

Before any big purchase, spend time researching the product and retailers to find potential upcoming sales or promotions. 

West Orange High School Class of 2019 graduate and current senior at Princeton University Sessina Dani is completing a semester-long research project in Kenya.

Dani and her classmates have had some incredible experiences, beginning their trip at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia.

BCI Bath & Shower

Life Line Screening

“Songwriter Christopher Scott Welch & Friends” will share their original song, “My Ukulele Baby (Mommy Version)”, featuring M(s.) Mary Niewola as the lead singer, on Mother’s Day of 2022 to comfort moms and their children.

The song was created and co-written by current Randolph resident, Songwriter Christopher Scott Welch (ASCAP), who is also a producer, a singer, and a former Grammy voter. Welch co-wrote the song with songwriter, singer, pianist, and arranger Dan Thompson (ASCAP).

Rutherfurd Hall Foundation Announces “Celebrate the Arts” Festival, Art Show and Live Performances running May 12- 22

Wreaths Across America (WAA) proudly announces that registration is open for its annual Stem to Stone Races which are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. A live, in-person event will take place in Columbia Falls, Maine, on the tip lands where balsam is grown and harvested each year to make the veterans’ wreaths that are then placed on the headstones of our nation’s heroes for Wreaths Across America Day. Participants can also join in on the fun from anywhere utilizing one of the many virtual options.

Click here to register or learn more about this event. – https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/ColumbiaFalls/2022StemtoStone5K

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners presented Resolutions of Honor to five organizations that greatly assisted county first responders in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic at key points since the days when the deadly virus first hit the region.

“Everyone in Morris County is grateful to those who helped us get this far and overcome the pandemic, despite the many people we lost in our two-year journey. Tonight, we want to honor the efforts of five of Morris County’s COVID-19 response partners,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen, at the presentation ceremony during a Commissioners’ work session meeting in Morristown.

The West Orange Arts Council (WOAC) presents an eclectic art viewing experience for artists and art lovers and a range of media with a pop-up art gallery show now through May 21, 2022 at the West Orange Arts Center on 551 Valley Road, West Orange.

This Pop-Up Exhibit or temporary art event with a much shorter run than a traditional exhibit, features West Orange Arts Council members Leslie Jacobsen, Carol T. Jenkins, Monica Sztybel, Rachel Pruzan. A “Meet the Artist” reception will take place on Saturday, May 7 from 1-4pm, with an afternoon of “Music for Mom” featuring jazz and classical flute and keyboard music by Liana and Prin. The WOAC Gift Shoppe will be open for last minute, one-of-a-kind gifts for moms, grandmoms, sisters, or yourself. WOAC gallery hours are Saturdays (May 7, 14, 21) from 11am-4pm.   

I Remember Mom: Hold Dear To Heart, Thy Courageous Faith

Seton Hall University and the Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes) in Colombia have formed a partnership designed to facilitate collaboration between the two institutions as part of their membership in the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU).

The formal partnership is anticipated to lead to innovations in research and educational practice, such as scientific discovery and application. It will also allow for student and professor exchanges and present opportunities for grant funding from international agencies.

Elijah Minton, aka “The Art Alchemist,” a West Orange High School graduate and up-and-coming urban artist, partnered with West Orange High School AP Art students and the  Nikhil Badlani Foundation to design “Hope,” a street mural to slow down traffic near Hazel Elementary School.