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From the Editor<br />
While Marty Kane gives us his usual great lesson in local history in this issue (see page<br />
34), writer Mike Daigle takes us down memory lane with a story about Bertrand Island,<br />
specifically, the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum’s dinner program in July, A Salute to Bertrand<br />
Island Park. (See story on page 8.)<br />
When I was a lot younger—maybe 10 or 11—I experienced the first of only two or three trips<br />
to Bertrand Island Park. My family and I were invited by our friends, the Schoellers, to join them<br />
at Mr. Schoeller’s company-sponsored day at the park. I have vague memories of how our day<br />
was spent, where we picnicked or what games we played, but I have a very vivid memory of my<br />
experience on the Wildcat, the park’s wooden roller coaster.<br />
And when I say memory, I should really be saying nightmare.<br />
I was not a fan.<br />
Three of us went on that ride that day: our friend, John, who was a year older than me, my<br />
younger-by-a-year sister, Lynn, and me.<br />
All started well. Why wouldn’t it? We were barely moving, just creeping along.<br />
But then, for me, two minutes of sheer terror.<br />
My father was waiting at the end of the ride, all smiles and excited for us having experienced<br />
our first big kid roller coaster. I couldn’t get off fast enough and when I did, all my emotions came<br />
to the surface. I just bawled, vowing never to ride another one as long as I lived.<br />
Meanwhile, there was my sister, gleefully jumping up and down asking: “Can we go again? Can<br />
we go again?” She and John must have ridden it a dozen more times before the day was done.<br />
Securing tickets for the Salute to Bertrand Island Park event was as competitive as snagging<br />
tickets for a Taylor Swift concert—well, almost. The tickets went fast and the turnout on that<br />
Thursday in July was terrific.<br />
I thoroughly enjoy participating in an event like this, where attendees have a measurable<br />
connection to the theme of the night. Most everyone could, with great detail and emotion,<br />
recite, recall and relive some part of the life of Bertrand Island Park.<br />
I grew up in Essex County and for a time our family had a second home in the Poconos. That’s<br />
where I spent much of my youth and where my memories were made. This part of the state was<br />
never a destination for our family.<br />
I’ve been living here (the Lake Hopatcong section of Jefferson) since 2001. A fair amount of time,<br />
to be sure, but my time here is nothing compared to some of you. I’m still a rookie, a novice, just<br />
waiting to get past the feeling of being a visitor.<br />
When I attend an event like the Salute to Bertrand Island Park,<br />
surrounded by so many people who helped shape the area and whose<br />
lineage goes back three, four or five generations, I am humbled. It’s like<br />
a not-so-secret organization with many members but one where the<br />
chance to join has vanished.<br />
Thank you for sharing your experiences and collective memories with<br />
the rest of us, including a newbie like me.<br />
It took me less than 250 words to recall my one memory of the park,<br />
but I feel that one experience gets me in the club.<br />
I get to say I went to Bertrand Island Park.<br />
—Karen<br />
ake Hopatcong News<br />
GREETINGS FROM<br />
BERTRAND ISLAND<br />
INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING THE LAKE REGION<br />
Chasing Butterflies<br />
Area Residents Transform Their Yards into Butterfly Sanctuaries<br />
PROGRAM OFFERS<br />
MIDSUMMER <strong>2023</strong> VOL. 15 NO. 4<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Rosemary Lipala releases monarch<br />
butterflies she raised in her yard in<br />
Jefferson.<br />
—Photo courtesy of Rosemary Lipala<br />
KAREN FUCITO<br />
Editor<br />
editor@lakehopatcongnews.com<br />
973-663-2800<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
Michael Stephen Daigle<br />
Melissa Summers<br />
Ellen Wilkowe<br />
COLUMNISTS<br />
Marty Kane<br />
Heather Shirley<br />
Barbara Simmons<br />
EDITING AND LAYOUT<br />
Maria DaSilva-Gordon<br />
Randi Cirelli<br />
ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Lynn Keenan<br />
advertising@lakehopatcongnews.com<br />
973-222-0382<br />
PRINTING<br />
Imperial Printing & Graphics, Inc.<br />
PUBLISHER<br />
Camp Six, Inc.<br />
10 Nolan’s Point Park Road<br />
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849<br />
LHN OFFICE LOCATED AT:<br />
37 Nolan’s Point Park Road<br />
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849<br />
To sign up for<br />
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Lake Hopatcong News<br />
call<br />
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or email<br />
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YACHT ROCK COMES ASHORE<br />
SAFE RETURN<br />
YACHT ROCK COMES ASHORE FLIPPING VACANT SPACES<br />
Corrections<br />
In the Fourth of July issue, the phone number listed in the story about the Jefferson High School<br />
architectural program aiding with the rebuild of the American Legion was incorrect. The number<br />
to call to help with the rebuild is 973-224-3927.<br />
In the Memorial Day issue, the story about the Art Association in Roxbury was missing the<br />
byline of Maria Vogel-Short, who co-wrote the piece with Karen Fucito.<br />
4<br />
FLIPPING VACANT SPACES<br />
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS <strong>Midsummer</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Lake Hopatcong News is published seven times a year<br />
between April and November and is offered free at<br />
more than 200 businesses throughout the lake region.<br />
It is available for home delivery for a nominal fee. The<br />
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editor. Lake Hopatcong News is a registered trademark<br />
of Lake Hopatcong News, LLC. All rights reserved.
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