2023 Labor Day Issue

INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING THE LAKE REGION
ake Hopatcong News
LABOR DAY 2023 VOL. 15 NO. 5
Centennial Celebration
Fire Departments from Hopatcong and Mount Arlington Mark 100 Years of Service
A DAY AT THE RACES
THE GIFT OF THRIFT
A NIGHT OUT
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I
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
From the Editor
saw this post on Facebook recently where someone noted that the time between 1923 and
1973 is the same amount of time between 1973 and 2023—50 years. The purpose of the post
was to point out how we perceive life to have been so different—maybe even difficult—between
those early 50 years and the latter 50 years. And it begs the question: what will the babies being
born five or six decades from now think about the year 2023? Will the world change so much that
they look back on it—on us—as so old-fashioned, outdated or even obsolete.
Like me, most of you reading this magazine can remember life in 1973. I was 12 for most of that
year, turning 13 toward the end of November and I would say life in the 1970s was objectively
modern. Everyone had cars, air transportation was readily available and television brought the
world to our living rooms. Sure, the computer age hadn’t hit yet, but it was right around the
corner, knocking at the door.
I’m not sure I have many readers who can lay claim to 1923 as their birth year, but I do know that
some of you have been around for 80, maybe even 90 years, which affords you many memories
well on the early side of the last 100 years.
In stating the obvious, that’s a long time.
I’m always curious to ask, what advancement over this period of time was most life-changing?
The cover story in this issue by Mike Daigle is about two local fire departments celebrating 100
years of service; Hopatcong and Mount Arlington. (See story on page 22.)
From hand-pulled fire hose carts to state-of-the-art fire trucks, these two small towns have a
long, strong history with regard to their volunteer fire departments.
Mount Arlington commemorated its anniversary in July with a parade down Howard Boulevard
followed by a celebration party. Hopatcong will be front and center, celebrating its 100th year on
October 7, when it hosts the 103rd Sussex County Firemen’s Association Inspection Day & Parade
in the borough.
Then there’s the story about athletes Joe Greene and Frank D’Orio, both in their 80s and both
living like they’re 25 again. (See the story by Ellen Wilkowe on page 26) Twenty-five-year-olds
should take note.
In July, my family got together to help celebrate my aunt’s 100th birthday. While she is not a
blood relative or technically my aunt—she married my mom’s first cousin—Aunt Anne Froehner
has always been one of my favorites. She is a great-great-grandmother who has a wicked sense of
humor and still enjoys her favorite Old Fashioned drink every now and then.
Five years ago, I wrote this column about my mom turning 90, a true milestone for anyone.
When she sits and reads this, she’ll be days away from turning 95, another milestone that is
worthy of recognition and will be celebrated by her children and their spouses, her grandchildren
and their significant others and her great-grandson, Oliver. (Here’s a picture of my mom and me
going to lunch on a windy day after getting haircuts.)
We recently took her to dinner at the Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell, a somewhat famous local
pub that’s been around forever and a place we’ve frequented often. As I was helping her navigate
down the uneven, worn brick path to the back entrance, I made mention of a sign hanging off the
side of the building. It was an invitation to join in the celebration of
Cloverleaf’s 90th anniversary.
“Look mom, you’re older than the Cloverleaf,” I said jokingly.
I always thought of the Cloverleaf as this historic institution in my
hometown, with every passing year adding to its age and its legacy.
While every passing day adds age to my mom, these days also add
to her legacy of a life lived, loved and appreciated.
Happy birthday, mom, from all of us.
—Karen
A DAY AT THE RACES
THE GIFT OF THRIFT
A NIGHT OUT
AGELESS ATHLETES
ake Hopatcong News
INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING THE LAKE REGION
Centennial Celebration
Fire Departments from Hopatcong and Mount Arlington Mark 100 Years of Service
LABOR DAY 2023 VOL. 15 NO. 5
ON THE COVER
Hopatcong fire trucks in line as far as
the eye can see at this year’s Memorial
Day parade along Durban Avenue.
—photo by Karen Fucito
KAREN FUCITO
Editor
editor@lakehopatcongnews.com
973-663-2800
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Stephen Daigle
Melissa Summers
Ellen Wilkowe
COLUMNISTS
Marty Kane
Heather Shirley
Barbara Simmons
EDITING AND LAYOUT
Maria DaSilva-Gordon
Randi Cirelli
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Racing Tradition Continues on Lake Hopatcong
Story by MICHAEL DAIGLE
Photos by KAREN FUCITO
The view of the watery racecourse from the
driver’s seat of his Jersey Speed Skiff is a
little different than from the second chair where
the riding mechanic sits, said Mount Arlington’s
Randy Weber.
The Jersey Skiff is a powerful and swiftly
maneuverable craft that is capable of taking
tight turns in a race that to a spectator appear
dangerously out of control, he said.
“The excitement of several skiffs going into the
first turn is one of the most exciting things at a
boat race,” he said. “The way these boats turn,
they get up on their sides and your shoulder
almost touches the water. Being a driver is also
the most challenging but exciting part of the two
positions in a skiff.”
Weber will be among 50 or so racers taking
to Lake Hopatcong in September for the race
series sponsored by the Lake Hopatcong Racing
Association. This will be Weber’s second year
racing at Lake Hopatcong.
The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on
Sept 16 and 17.
The featured races are the New Jersey State
Powerboat Championships and the New Jersey
Governor’s Cup race. The Lake Hopatcong races
were designated as the Governor’s Cup in 2017 by
the New Jersey Legislature.
The viewing area and start/finish line are at
Hopatcong State Park in Landing. There is no
fee for admission, but association member Ann
Fitzgerald said the club requests donations to
offset the cost of hosting the event.
The event also received a grant from the New
Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.
The racing association was founded in 1964,
according to history written by member Dave
Shaw.
The races feature three boat classes, he wrote,
hydro classes, flatbottom classes, and Jersey
Speed Skiffs. Depending on the class, the hydros
run engines from 44 cubic inch displacement
Crosley engines, up to big block Chevrolets, Fords,
and Chryslers. Straightaway speeds range from the
mid-50 mph range for the smaller boats, to over
100 mph for the larger boats, he wrote.
The American Power Boat Association
offered these definitions: A hydroplane is a fast
motorboat, where the hull shape is such that at
high speed, the weight of the boat is supported
by planing forces, rather than simple buoyancy.
A key aspect of hydroplanes is that they use the
water they are on for lift rather than buoyancy, as
well as for propulsion and steering.
The Ultimate Guide to Flat Bottom Boat Racing
defined the craft: “With a flat bottom and shallow
draft a flat bottom boat can quickly get on plane
and thus encounter less friction thus reaching
higher speeds.”
The 300-plus horsepower Jersey Skiffs are a wild
ride; they spend a lot of time airborne, bouncing
around, rolling sideways to seemingly impossible
angles at 80 mph. The riding mechanic holds on
tight, while the driver stays on course.
“The races are a great
spectacle,” said John
Luime, who began
watching in the mid-
1970s when the races
were held in the Lake
Forest section of the
lake.
The association
shifted to the state park
in the late 1980s, Dave Shaw’s history noted. The
races became known as the New Jersey State
Championship Regatta.
Luime said he has viewed the races from the
shore and from his own boat.
The event offers sensory overload, he said. The
sound of the boats, the power and speed, the
watery fantails all add to an exciting experience.
“It’s a wonderful family event, whether seen
from the shore or from a boat,” he said. “It’s fun
and exciting.”
Association spokesman Bill Pierce said the 2023
races follow a couple years when the races were
affected by the COVID pandemic, and travel and
cost issues.
Those issues especially hampered Canadian
racers from participating, he said.
The event costs an estimated $50,000 to stage,
which includes a small amount of prize money, he
said.
The association relies on volunteers, donations
and sponsors to stage the races, he said.
By early August, 44 lake region sponsors
were listed on the club’s website:
lakehopatcongboatrace.com.
Once a top competitor, Pierce said his job now
is to administer the race and “raise money to
offset the costs.”
The Lake Hopatcong races were among 90
American and Canadian race events listed on the
website of the American Power Boat Association.
In the sport, the Lake Hopatcong races are an
important event, said Fitzgerald. Once a champion
racer, she and her husband John now crew for the
hydro racer Tenacity, piloted by Al Thompson.
Fitzgerald said she and her husband were active
racers from 1970 to 1984.
She was calling from Tonawanda, New York, in
early August where Tenacity was competing in the
Thunder on the Niagara event.
“Lake Hopatcong draws top racers from up and
down the East Coast and Canada,” she said. “It’s an
exciting course.”
Tom Bush of Jefferson competed in his T-class
Top to bottom, left to right: Tom Bush featured
on the cover of the Daily Record TGIF
magazine in September of 1982. Ann Fitzgerald
in 1993. (Photo courtesy of Ann Fitzgerald.) Carolyn
and George Thorne with Tom and Amy Bush
in Tonawanda in August of 1982. (Photo courtesy
of Tom Bush.) The start of a race at Hopatcong
State Park in 2019. Randy Weber and Robert
Boleslawski in Weber’s Jersey Skiff at a race in
Maryland in May. (Photo courtesy of Jon Wittman.)
6
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023

hydroplane racer for 30 years from New Jersey
to Florida. He said he got into the speedboat
community when he was working at Smitty’s
Marine in Jefferson and had the opportunity to
rebuild an old racer.
It was a championship career.
Bush, 69, was a member of the Lake Hopatcong
Racing Association from 1973 to 1987, winning
numerous national championships, including the
1982 Nationals at Tonawanda, a place he knows
well.
It’s where, after winning the title, he got married
to wife Amy.
“It wasn’t spontaneous,” Bush said. “We had
planned it. Amy knew the race was at Niagara Falls,
so we got married on the banks of the Niagara
River.”
But by placing first, Bush’s boat was subject to
scrutiny by race officials. The winning boat had to
be inspected after the races, which included having
the engine dismantled, he said. A time-consuming
task that nearly sabotaged the wedding.
“We were waiting to clear inspection and the
judge who was performing the ceremony kept
saying, ‘Tom, it’s getting darker,’” recalled Bush.
Bush said he is concerned about his sport.
Not as many youngsters are getting into racing
because of other interests. Then there are the
costs of travel, lodging, fuel, maintenance and the
long weekends that challenge the racing teams
and families, he said.
Still, the sport survives.
“We have a lot of legacy teams,” he said. “Sons
and daughters, grandchildren of racing families.”
What doesn’t change is the thrill of the sport,
Bush said.
The speed, the sensation of the boats skimming
along the water barely in contact the surface test
the skill of the drivers, he said.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Bush said.
The state park offers a clear view of the start
line, the pit area where the boats are prepped, and
the racecourse, said Fitzgerald.
That excitement and the fellowship of the
racers is what keeps them in the game, she said.
“This a great sport. We’ve been at it for 53
years,” she said with a laugh.
From the state park, the lake opens into a broad
expanse of water, offering unobstructed views to
park visitors, lakefront homeowners and boaters.
The course is 2.5 miles, said Shaw, whose three
adult children—Richard, John and Katelyn—all
race. The elder Shaw joined the association in
1970, after buying a classic flatbottom boat for a
few dollars and hustling it into racing shape.
The attraction of the event is the speed of the
boats and the skill of the drivers, he said. They
take chances.
The association’s goal is to offer competitive
races, but also “keep the course as safe as we can
make it,” he said.
Thompson, Tenacity’s driver, said the
competition is top-notch, which makes winning
the Governor’s Cup so special.
“That trophy is so big,” he said. “We all want to
be holding it at the end of the day.”
Weber said he has never been far from a New
Jersey lake. Nor has his family been far from boat
racing.
“I grew up on Lake Hopatcong in King’s Cove
and always attended the local races,” he said.
His father, Ron Weber, operated a marina on
Greenwood Lake and was also the president of
the Greenwood Lake Powerboat Association, he
said.
Weber said he had been the rider-mechanic
previously, but last year was his first race as driver.
“It is hard to describe what it feels like,” he said,
“but the ear to ear smile I have when I complete a
race is all that needs to be said.”
Skiffs are much faster than they look and many
would argue can be the most exciting category of
boat racing, said Weber.
What adds to the adventure, he said, is talking
to the other racers, listening for tips, hearing their
experiences. “It is a true community,” he said.
The 2023 race is special for Heather Johnson, the
daughter in a boat racing family.
This year her husband Kyle Johnson will pilot the
reconditioned Geronimo, a Pro-Lite hydroplane
built in the 1990s by her father Jay Brennan.
Her father, who still lives in the lake region,
watched the races as a child and decided he could
build his own racer, she said.
He built it in his backyard from okoume
plywood, Sitka spruce and sealed it with epoxy,
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she said.
He installed a 305 small-block Chevrolet engine
and successfully ran the boat, piloted by Mark
Johnson, in the 5-liter class, she said.
Now Geronimo belongs to her, her brother Jon,
and a grandson, she said.
“The deep-rooted passion for the sport was the
greatest driver of their success, and Jay instilled
that deep in his children’s hearts,” she said.
The rebuilt Geronimo is now powered by a
small-block Chevy 350 with a 400 horsepower
engine and will compete in the Hydro 350 class,
she said.
The trip from her home, now in Georgia, is
important, Johnson said.
“Lake Hopatcong is our hometown race,” she said.
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lakehopatcongnews.com 9

Families Join First Responders for
40th Annual National Night Out
10
Story by MELISSA SUMMERS
Photos by KAREN FUCITO
There’s nothing like bounce houses, ice
cream, fire trucks and a helicopter to
get families out into the fresh air on a summer
night.
The 40th annual National Night Out was held
on August 1st in 17,000 communities across
the United States in conjunction with local
municipalities and first responders, including
276 events in New Jersey alone. Local events
included gatherings in Hopatcong Borough and
Jefferson Township.
Founded in 1984, the annual campaign
focuses on building communities and
promoting relationships between police and
the neighborhoods they serve, according to
the National Association of Town Watch, the
organization that backs the event.
Held on the first Tuesday in August, National
Night Out brings together law enforcement,
neighborhood watch groups, local civic
organizations and volunteers for a variety of
events.
In the past 40 years, towns have combined
block parties, parades and cookouts with
safety demonstrations, kids’ events and meet
and greets with local service organizations.
Patrol officer Taylor Gentner spearheaded
the Hopatcong event at Veterans’ Field
Memorial Park, which featured a showcase
of emergency vehicles, local businesses, pet
adoptions and food.
“It’s a great way for the community to have
an interaction with the entire department,”
Gentner said. “Typically, they’ll see the SROs
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
[School Resource Officers] in the schools and
they’ll see the patrol officers if they have to
go to a call. But to see the people that we’re
here to serve and for them to see us and get
to know our faces— it’s just a great way to get
everyone out there.”
Residents get to interact with police and
firefighters under more positive circumstances
at National Night Out, as opposed to a traffic
accident, medical emergency or potentially the
worst day of someone’s life, Gentner added.
“Dunk an officer in the dunk tank, have a hot
dog with them,” she said. “It’s just our way to
give back to them; show them that we’re here
for them.”
Mayor Michael Francis welcomed the idea
of introducing Hopatcong’s Finest and Bravest
to families as they took in the festivities.
“Everybody is enjoying it, getting to meet them
and learning that they are real people, not just
people that show up in an emergency,” he said.
Father of three Mike Wester, 34, brought his
children to experience what’s great about their
hometown heroes. “Everyone volunteers their
time, the EMS, the fire department. I think it
shows the good in the community,” said Wester.
His daughter, Aubrey, 11, was there for the
animals and the DEA helicopter that landed on
the field. “It’s cool,” she said.
Cub Scout Pack 194 had a booth where a
handful of Pack parents offered crafts and
information. Cubmaster Lisa Stanitz, 38, and
her son Rylan were hoping to recruit new
scouts.
“Our kids have a blast here every year,” added
Lindsay Cupples, 38, who was there with her
son C.J. “They run around while we work the
Top to bottom, left to right: A pint-sized visitor
throws a perfect strike to send Sgt. Anthony
Cirri (in tank) into the water as Det. Marlon
Winbush and Lt. Ryan Tracey look on. Steve
Holmes III and Iman Hussain take a turn in a
skid steer loader at Jefferson Township National
Night Out. Marine Pvt. Nate Van De Weert
tracks the time Jacob Lombardo is able to hang
from the chin-up bar. Members of Jefferson
Township’s fire and rescue squads take part in
a car extraction demonstration.
booth, and we get to meet new people. It’s
always a really nice day.”
Nichole O’Shea, 42, currently lives in
Succasunna but grew up in Hopatcong. She
brought her three boys not only to support the
town but also her husband and brother who
are Hopatcong police officers.
Her son, Connor, 11, has respect for the job
other children might not. “I have two relatives
that are police officers and others have only
one or zero,” he said. “It seems like a lot of
fun but it’s probably really hard. They help the
towns a lot.”
Gabriel Mathesius, 9, came with his mom and
brother, not only to catch up with friends but
also to rub shoulders with the police officers
and firefighters. When asked how he’d describe
them he said, “Someone who is dedicated to
helping their town.”
That’s the kind of inspiration Hopatcong Fire
Assistant Kevin Schneider, a 44-year veteran
of the force, is hoping for as he and his fellow
firefighters served up hot dogs to the crowd.
“We are trying to recruit people for our allvolunteer
fire department,” he said. “Coming
out into the community and being with people,
and helping people, I enjoy it.”
Over in Jefferson Township, over 500
residents came out to the municipal building
for ice cream, hot dogs, a petting zoo and
demonstrations by the fire department and
first aid squads. “We believe this was the largest

attendance in our history,” said Community
Service Officer Jeremy Romash, who has
participated in the event since joining the
department in 2005.
The town’s public works department showed
off the equipment they use to keep Jefferson
Township roads and infrastructure in top order.
“I like the music. The DJ is good,” said Sabina
Hussain as her kids climbed on the excavators.
The fire department offered a “Touch a
Truck” that was also a big hit with the younger
crowd. “This is a nice event. Keeps them busy
and out of the house,” said Saima Holmes as
she watched her kids enjoy exploring the
trucks and equipment.
“I look forward to seeing all of the residents
coming out to participate,” Romash said. “We are
a very community-oriented police department
and we strive to have great relationships. Since
our fire and EMS are volunteer, many members
are involved in the community.”
The Jefferson Police Department strives
to foster positive interactions in every way
possible, Romash stressed, and town-sponsored
events are a great way to do that.
National Night Out offers access to town
officials in a casual environment. In Jefferson
Township, they trade in uniforms and suits for
informal yellow t-shirts, which Romash said
made it easy for residents to approach them
and strike up a conversation.
“We offer activities for the kids, which allow
citizens to speak without hesitation while we
enjoy a hot dog together,” Romash said. “It’s
not a meeting in Town Hall, so we feel people
are more prone and committed to speaking
from the heart.”
Although Jefferson Township Mayor Eric
Wilsusen believes there has been a nationwide
disconnect between some communities and
the police, he said that isn’t the case in Jefferson
Township. “We have been very fortunate that
we have had wonderful support over the years
and a lot has to do with programs like National
Night Out,” he said.
Feedback on the event has always been
encouraging, which Wilsusen said is evident in
the turnout. “I believe many even look forward
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131 Landing Road
Landing, NJ 07850
201-919-5414 Cell
973-770-7777 Office
jimleff.rmx@gmail.com
to it!”
Wilsusen said the police department’s
services bureau is always coming up with new
ideas for ways to interact with the community.
Jefferson Township also holds Coffee with a
Cop, Putt with the Police, Family Movie Night
and sponsors a Junior Police Academy, among
other programs. Someday he’d like to start a
similar program to give all citizens a firsthand
look at what the police are up against every
day.
“You’re always going to have negative
interactions here and there, it’s just the nature
of the job,” said Gentner. “But we’re very
fortunate that our community supports us as
much as they do.”
James J. Leffler
Realtor
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LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023

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Growing up on a 10-acre farm in an old farmhouse in Wantage, Seth Stephens said his time was split between school
and tending to the family’s flock of sheep and two horses. “The animals were 4-H projects and kept my brothers and
me busy,” said the director of the Jefferson Township Public Library. Stephens, 61, now lives in Hamburg, where his
father’s family has lived for “at least five generations,” he said. “It is quite interesting to see how it has changed since I
visited aunts and uncles when I was little.”
WHO MAKES UP YOUR FAMILY?
My wife Jean, our adult children Samantha, Zachary, Noah and Emma, and their spouses and companions. Two small dogs,
Boydo and Gidget. I am also a guinea pig dad to my daughter Emma’s guinea pigs.
EXPLAIN YOUR PATH TO LIBRARY DIRECTOR IN JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
I began my library career at the Montclair Public Library in 1986 as a library assistant and worked my way up to managing the
library’s branch on Bellevue Avenue. In 1996, I wanted to be closer to home to spend more time with my wife and our growing
family. I applied for the director’s position at the Jefferson Township Public Library and
was hired and I’ve been here ever since.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS AS DIRECTOR? FOR THE LIBRARY?
To continue building a strong, sustainable organization where people want
to work. My goal is to create a work culture that enables employees to do
their best serving the community through the library. Also, with the Trustees
of the Library and the Township Administration and Council, I am exploring
the feasibility of expanding the library. A lack of space hinders the growth of
library services. It would be great if we could expand the building.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE GENRE TO READ?
I have many favorite genres. I try to ignore genre labels and follow my curiosity.
Typically, I read mysteries, suspense and history—lots of history.
DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE.
I am a simple, kind, honest, hardworking person who loves
his wife and family and is endlessly curious. And I love to
share things I am curious about with others.
WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN LIFE?
I have been blessed with many positive influences
in my life. The greatest have been my wife Jean, our
children and their spouses—companions.
DO YOU VOLUNTEER?
For many years I have worked with the Main Library
Alliance. This is the nonprofit group that supports the
computer system and technology shared by individual
public libraries of Morris County. At various times I
have been it’s treasurer, vice president and president.
I have been a part of the Alliance since I came to
Jefferson. It is amazing to see how it has grown. I am
also a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
in Hamburg. At Prince of Peace, I have been a
Sunday school teacher, congregation president, vice
president, treasurer and lay deacon.
ANY HOBBIES?
In addition to reading, I woodwork, cook, bake and endlessly
walk with my wife and family.
IS THERE ANYTHING MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED
TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
I have an identical twin brother Jonathan who lives in Wantage.
However, he refuses to grow a beard and mustache.
engaged involved invested
I AM I AM I AM
lakehopatcongnews.com 17

More Than a Thrift Store, a One-Stop Shop for Hope
18
Story by ELLEN WILKOWE
Photos by KAREN FUCITO
The racks are full of the shirts off your
backs—as well as the slacks, dresses,
shoes and any number of accessories. And all
items are waiting to find new lives with those
who need them most.
This is the mission of Nick’s Hope, a nonprofit
organization full of fashion, faith and well, hope,
which offers free clothing to anyone in need.
The nonprofit was founded in May of 2020 as
a way for Hopatcong resident Laura Luminelli to
honor her son, Nick Luminelli, who died of an
asthma attack in 2017 at the age of 31.
With friends Melissa Kevlahan of Oak Ridge
and Sherry Guzman of Oak Ridge, the three
women collaborated on how to pay forward
Nick Luminelli’s legacy of kindness. As the story
goes, he gave up his jacket to a homeless man in
Dover on a cold night.
“I was online one night and saw that a woman
had put out a message about a homeless man
named Eddy in Dover,” she said. “She was asking
people to try and find him and help.”
Luminelli sprang into action and called her
son. The duo packed up some items and set out
on a search in the wee hours of the morning.
After nearly three hours, they located Eddy in
a church.
“Nick had an army fatigue coat on—he loved
his fatigues,” Luminelli said. “Eddy never said a
word but pointed at the coat as if to say that’s
the one he wanted.”
Without hesitation, said Luminelli, her son
gave Eddy the coat off his back.
That was two months prior to his death, said
Luminelli, who described her oldest son as a funloving,
kind and generous all-around good guy.
“He lived his life the way he wanted to live it,”
she said. “He was a free spirit.”
Nick’s Hope was run out of Kevlahan’s
basement, with donations coming from three
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
Left to right: A photo of Nick Luminelli sits high on a top shelf, overlooking the store. Melissa Kevlahan and Laura Luminelli,
front, stand with volunteers Patrick Bubniak, Maria Rivera, Karen Helmstetter, Vicky Sullivan, and Jenny Clancy in the
original storefront. Melissa Kevlahan snaps a photo of a dress that will be added to the online shopping site.
counties thanks to a Facebook post put out in
March of 2020. To work around the shutdown
due to the pandemic, clothes were picked
up from people’s driveways, said Guzman.
The women, along with a handful of other
volunteers, washed and sorted the clothing.
By May, the group was working with social
service agencies, churches and food pantries
distributing the clothes through outdoor popup
markets in areas most in need.
Once the cold weather set in and still unable
to distribute at indoor venues, the women took
the operation online with a website for free
clothes.
There was no shortage of clothing.
“People were home cleaning out their closets
during lockdown, and we would go to their
homes and pick up their bags at the end of
their driveways and take them to my basement,”
Kevlahan said.
With so much inventory—some of it top of
the line—the women were looking to expand
beyond the pop-up markets and the online
operation, and the idea of a thrift store was
born.
What began as a below ground venture in
Kevlahan’s basement emerged above ground
two years later as a buzzing brick-and-mortar
thrift store.
The organization and its mission were moving
ahead full steam until tragedy struck again when
Guzman contracted COVID and passed away in
February of 2022.
The same way the three women celebrated
Nick Luminelli, Kevlahan and Luminelli paid
homage to their friend when they affectionately
named the sales-side of the organization after
Guzman referring to it as the “Very Sherry
Boutique.” It opened in April of last year in a
small storefront at 5716 Berkshire Valley Road in
Oak Ridge.
“Sherry was the original hippie chick,” said
Kevlahan. “So, whenever we saw something,
we’d say, ‘Oh, this is so very Sherry.’”
The nonprofit is now run out of the Very
Sherry Boutique store, which just recently
moved to a larger storefront a few doors down
in the same strip mall.
“We’re not here to make money. We just want
to pay the rent and keep the lights on,” said
Kevlahan of the thrift store.
The warm and welcoming space is where
paying customers leave with full bags and full
hearts.
Such was the case for Oak Ridge resident
Cathy Struck, one of a steady stream of regular
shoppers who learned about the store from her
regular visits to a bagel shop located in the same
strip mall.
“I stopped in one day and Melissa told me the
story and I came back and dropped off clothes
and now come about once a week [to shop],”
she said. “It’s a great cause and you can find
wonderful things.”
Such as?
“I found a fur coat here for a dollar,” she said.
And yes, a real full coat.
On a recent Thursday, Struck scored two
dresses. Just as she was about to check out,
she was, well, struck by a third dress: a $6 navy
polka-dot, flared ensemble that she just had to
purchase.
“If it doesn’t fit me, it will fit my daughter,” she
said, adding it to her collection.
Kara Vincelli, of Lake Hopatcong, was also
scouting for dresses. She learned about the store
on Facebook, and as a social worker, applauds
the cause.
“They share all the info with the community
[on Facebook] and do great things,” she said,
clutching two dresses.
Looking for a bridal gown or prom dress?
Prices are between $25 and $30. Need some high
heels to match? Think $5 to $7 for Madden Girl
and Vince Camuto. Costume jewelry? Flawless
earrings: $2.

Oak Ridge resident Kathy Seeger landed
herself a sage green Gap cardigan for $4.25. New
to the area, she was visiting the store for the
second time, her sister in tow.
While the store caters primarily to women, it
also offers some items for men and children at
equally low prices.
Both the store and the nonprofit accept gently
used clothing, plus accessories and shoes. Items
are categorized by 15 dedicated volunteers who
wash and sort the clothes at their homes.
Damaged goods are donated to Goodwill or
the Salvation Army. Name-brand clothes are set
aside for the thrift store. The rest are tagged
and photographed for the pop-up markets and
online shopping.
Sparta resident Jenny Clancy is one such
dedicated volunteer who answered the
Facebook call in the fall of 2020 to drop off
donations and volunteer.
“I called to volunteer and showed up at
[Kevlahan’s] house and there were racks of
clothes to pack up for online orders,” she said.
With her daughter away at college, the
opportunity filled Clancy’s case of empty
nest syndrome while fueling her passion of
working with clothes by assisting with pricing,
photographing the items and dressing the
mannequins.
“Prices are set to move,” she said. “We’re not
looking to make money. We want the community
to come back in, so we keep the prices low.”
Clancy can also be found at the cash register in
the front end of the boutique.
Due to the overwhelming success, Nick’s
Hope and Very Sherry Boutique moved to a
bigger space just a few doors from their original
storefront location in late August.
The larger site allows the organization to
display more items in the boutique, as well as
open their doors to organizations such as the
Girl Scouts, whose members need volunteer
hours. Nick’s Hope already partners with
Jefferson Township High School students with
special needs, who help out once a week.
“We just needed a bigger place to help us be
more organized,” Luminelli said. “So far this has
worked. Melissa came up with every idea. She’s
made it like a well-oiled machine.”
The expanded space allows for more volunteer
opportunities for residents with developmental
disabilities who live in group homes such as
Rebecca’s Homestead in Wantage and Katie’s
House in Newton. The boutique is already on
board for supplying the clothing for an upcoming
fashion show at Katie’s House.
In addition to Nick’s Hope, Luminelli has one
of her own. “My real hope is that there won’t
be a need for this and we just do the boutique,”
she said.
Nick and Sherry would probably very much
agree.
“He’s smiling down and saying, ‘Good job
mamma,’” she said.
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lakehopatcongnews.com 21

Fire Departments Celebrate 100 Years of Service
22
Story by MICHAEL DAIGLE
Photos by KAREN FUCITO
One hundred years ago, in 1923, the newly
minted Borough of Hopatcong had
about 200 residents.
And a fire department.
The roads were bad, the water supply—other
than Lake Hopatcong—spotty.
But it had a fire department.
And a need for one, said Frank Steinberg,
Hopatcong Fire Department’s informal
historian.
This was Lake Hopatcong’s resort era and
surrounding the lake were many large, popular
wooden hotels that, if they caught on fire,
burned quickly, Steinberg said.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the
Hopatcong Fire Department is hosting the
103rd Sussex County Firemen’s Association
Inspection Day and Parade on October 7.
The parade will step off at 1 p.m. from St. Jude
Roman Catholic Church on Maxim Drive and
travel River Styx Road to Hopatcong Defiance
Engine Co. No. 3 at Hopatchung Road and
Durban Avenue.
The parade will be followed by a hose rolling
competition and public celebration.
The Sussex County Firemen’s Association has
26 volunteer fire department members, the
first of which joined in 1920. Charter members
were the departments in Hamburg, Franklin,
Newton, Ogdensburg, Sussex and Branchville
Hose Co. No. 1.
Hopatcong joined the association in 1926.
Twenty-six departments will be represented
at the celebration, said Lt. Carlos Goncalves,
a 12-year member of the Northwood Engine
Company No. 2, the borough’s oldest fire
company.
He has been working since October to
organize the parade.
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
“This is a great honor,” Goncalves said. “Sussex
County has a tradition to hold countywide
parades in honor of such events as the 75th or
100th anniversary of a department,” he added.
Goncalves’ duties include lining up
participating fire companies, arranging fire
coverage for Hopatcong from neighboring
Roxbury and putting together post-parade
festivities, including a band and food trucks.
Hopatcong has hosted the parade five times.
The parade also honors the tradition of the
volunteer firefighter, Goncalves said. Sussex
County is one of the last counties in New Jersey
with all-volunteer fire departments.
Hopatcong Fire Chief Esad “Steve” Kucevic,
a 12-year veteran of the department, said the
parade is “a testament to the values of the fire
department and the community.”
Beyond the job of protecting the borough
from the ravages of fire, Kucevic said the
department’s members reflect the values of
community, companionship and courage.
Across Lake Hopatcong on July 29, the Mount
Arlington Fire Department also celebrated
its centennial with a parade down Howard
Boulevard and a post-parade celebration.
During the parade, Mount Arlington borough
Mayor Michael Stanzilis stood shoulder to
shoulder with Assistant Chief Mike D’Arco, as
they recognized the dozen or so departments
that rolled by during the procession.
In 2024, D’Arco said he will take the helm as
the fire department’s new chief, which have
one-year tenures.
“We are so blessed to have him,” Stanzilis said
of the retired Paterson firefighter.
Nick Lima, the department’s current chief,
said the parade recognized the dedication of
the local firefighters, volunteers and families.
And it was a personally meaningful day for
Lima.
“I knew the anniversary was coming up, but I
never thought about being chief on that day. And
there I was. It was special,” he said.
Mount Arlington Fire and Rescue Department
President John Feinberg said the event was an
opportunity to “show pride in and appreciation
for the department’s members.”
The Hopatcong and Mount Arlington
departments share similar histories, said Feinberg
and Steinberg.
In the 1920s, both lake towns were, tiny is not
the word, more like vacant.
Mount Arlington had 213 residents in 1920 and
had suffered a loss of about 30 residents from the
year before, the U.S. Census reported.
Hopatcong, meanwhile, recorded 179 residents
in 1920.
What both towns had, both men said, were
hotels and a burgeoning temporary summer
population intent on fun and relaxation.
“These were big hotels with wooden hollowwall
construction,” Steinberg said. “Once they
caught fire, they kept going.”
Mount Arlington also had numerous wooden ice
houses dotting the shore, adding to fire concerns,
according to a department history provided by
Feinberg.
And no fire departments, until in both towns
a few residents saw the need to organize
them. These were the “summer workers,” and
in both towns they were joined in creating fire
departments by what few year-round residents
lived there, Steinberg said.
This was Lake Hopatcong’s heyday, a glamorous
splash before the lake region settled into the
thriving residential and recreational community of
today.
Attracted by the fresh air and lake life, the wellto-do
occupied hotels and waterfront villas.
Some also built fabulous cottages, like actress
Lotta Crabtree, whose Mount Arlington home still
draws admiration. And comedian Joe Cook, whose
Sleepless Hollow compound in Hopatcong was

Left to right: Hopatcong Fire Chief Esad “Steve” Kucevic
places a wreath at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony.
Mount Arlington’s 1939 Ahrens-Fox pumper truck leads
the department’s anniversary parade in July. Mount
Arlington Mayor Mike Stanzilis and Assistant Chief
Mike D’Arco greet parade attendees. Members of the
Hopatcong volunteer fire and rescue department gather
before Memorial Day ceremonies in May.
legendary and still dominates Davis Cove today.
Historian Marty Kane, writing in the Lake
Hopatcong News in 2022, said, “From the 1880s to
the 1930s, Lake Hopatcong was a major northeast
resort with hotels of all sizes operating on its
shores. During the 1925 season alone, there were
some 36 locales, ranging in size from 10 to 250
rooms.”
The most famous hotel was the Hotel Breslin in
Mount Arlington, Kane wrote in 2008. “The Hotel
Breslin was the single most important factor in
Lake Hopatcong’s growth as a major northeastern
resort. The hotel’s construction gave Lake
Hopatcong instant credibility.”
In 1948, after its career as a major hotel had
passed, it burned during reconstruction.
In the history of the Mount Arlington Fire
Department Feinberg provided, the department
historian wrote: “Mt. Arlington’s firefighters were
called to battle a blaze at the former Breslin Hotel,
which was undergoing renovations, fighting the
enormous fire for 5 days during which the Ahrens-
Fox pumper continuously pumped water from
Lake Hopatcong to quench the fire.”
Feinberg said that the 1939 Ahrens-Fox is one
of 21 such pumpers in the United States. It was
shipped to Mount Arlington from Ohio on the
Lackawanna railroad, he said. It was featured in the
100th anniversary parade.
The lake resort also brought day-trippers, trolley
riders to Bertrand Island Amusement Park and
others whose campsites later evolved into homes
and a more permanent population.
By 1960, Mount Arlington reached a population
of 1,246. Today, it has 5,900 residents.
Hopatcong reached 1,173 residents in 1950. Today,
it has nearly 15,000 residents.
Steinberg, a past Hopatcong fire chief, is also the
borough’s deputy fire marshal.
The first fire company in Hopatcong was formed
in 1923, he said. It was Hopatcong Fire Department
No. 1, located near the center of town.
This was a forward-thinking move for a borough
that had only officially become Hopatcong in
1922, the year that residents in the Byram Cove
and Northwood sections of the borough
voted to leave Byram Township and join
Hopatcong, which since 1898 had been
known as Brooklyn Borough.
The trouble at the time were the roads,
Steinberg said. Hopatcong had few good
ones, and there were no winter roads, which
made for slowed response times, he said.
Sometimes the Hopatcong fire
department traveled around the lake,
through Mount Arlington to get to a
Hopatcong fire in Northwood.
Roads were a problem that persisted,
Steinberg said.
“The borough didn’t get real roads until
the 1950s and 1960s,” he said.
The demands of more than 1,000 residents
had to be met.
“There was also no central source of
water,” he recalled. The department used
the lake and wells, as needed.
Facing such issues, in 1926, the Northwood
Engine Company No. 2 was formed, providing
fire service in what had been a difficult-toreach
section of the borough.
Then the department history got
complicated, Steinberg said.
Fred Modick, who was mayor for 37 years and
a fire chief for 28, decided to form a third fire
company that would be placed in the “center”
of the borough, though it is located in the
southern portion, he said.
The company was named Defiance Engine
Co. No. 3 because it was formed in “defiance”
of the majority of the department members’
wishes, Steinberg said.
Over time, the original Hopatcong Fire
Department No. 1 withered and became
inactive.
When a new department was created in 1953
in response to the rapid conversion of summer
cottages into year-round homes, it was called
Hopatcong Hills Fire and Rescue Co. No. 4.
The result of Modick’s determination,
Steinberg said, is that Hopatcong has no “fire
company No. 1” but has a fire company number
“4” even though there are only three fire houses.
One persistent issue is finding a water source
in the Hills section of the borough, which relies
on wells. Hopatcong, like the other lake towns,
sits on hard rock hills and, at times, he said,
there is not enough water to fight a fire.
The firefighters get creative, he said, and
once emptied a swimming pool.
“They refilled it,” he added.
In 1924, Steinberg said, the department
purchased an American LaFrance fire engine.
The apparatus is still proudly maintained. It will
be featured in the 100th anniversary parade, he
said.
Feinberg said Mount Arlington has 50 fire
volunteer firefighters and operates two fire
houses, one on Howard Boulevard and the
other in the Lake Rogerene section.
Hopatcong firefighters are also volunteers.
Going forward, Kucevic said, the department
will continue to seek ways to draw new recruits.
With an aging population and members
and potential members working out of town,
“retention of members is an issue,” he said.
“People retire, take a new job out of town or
move, you know, to like Texas.”
Still the department has a steady roster of 55
members and getting sufficient firefighters to a
fire has not been a problem, he said.
Hopatcong firefighters are volunteers, but it
can take an average of three years to qualify
for service, he said. Training costs can average
$8,000, state reports said.
New Jersey requires a minimum 110 hours of
training.
There are a few reimbursement or
award programs designed to offer tuition
reimbursement or some stipend after
retirement. The state’s Length of Service Award
Program (LOSAP) offers some retirement
funding based on the amount of time on the
job, Kucevic said.
In 100 years, the equipment has gotten
better, the roads have improved and modern
building codes have resulted in safer, more fireresistant
buildings.
But what hasn’t changed in that time is the
willingness of Hopatcong and Mount Arlington
residents to stand ready to save a structure,
save lives as members of fire and rescue
departments.
Volunteers then, volunteers now.
“It’s about pride of service,” Kucevic said.
Left to right: Lt. Carlos Goncalves from
Northwood Engine Co. No. 2 in Hopatcong at
this year’s Memorial Day ceremony. Members
of the Mount Arlington volunteer fire and rescue
department walk past the station during the July
anniversary parade.
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Time and Road-Tested: This One is for The Ages
26
Story by ELLEN WILKOWE
Photos by KAREN FUCITO
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Joe
Greene of Lake Hopatcong arrives at
Lakeside Field in Jefferson at 5:30 a.m. and
begins his day with 15 minutes of stretching.
This is followed by some “long, slow-distance
running.” Then the real workout begins:
sprinting over various distances, followed by
practicing starts.
Oh, and he’s 81 years young.
“These are all about focusing on those first
strides,” he said. “Sprints require an explosive
start, lengthening your stride, and finally
managing your oxygen intake.”
Meanwhile, Frank D’Orio of Lake Forest
spends his afternoons hitting the trails outside
Forge Fitness at Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway.
He uses the inside of the gym for weightlifting
only. Don’t even mention a treadmill to this
88-year-old long-distance runner. It’s all
outdoors, all the time, no matter what the
weather.
“I need the fresh air, the sunshine on me and
the birds singing,” he said.
These are no run-of-the-mill workouts,
though running is certainly the focal point.
These regimens are serious training sessions for
the New Jersey Senior Olympics, which, over
the years, have landed the two octogenarians a
collection of medals.
Since 2018 Greene has accumulated 13 medals,
including three gold, seven silver and three
bronze, running in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter
races as well as participating in the shot put.
Meanwhile, D’Orio, who started competing
two years ago, has also amassed a collection of
medals, including two golds in the 1500-meter,
a silver in the 800-meter and a silver in the
50-meter dash.
The New Jersey Senior Olympics take place
throughout various athletic fields and sporting
facilities in Woodbridge from September 8 to
September 10.
In existence for more than three decades,
the competition is open to athletes 50 and
over and includes 22 games, including archery,
bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes, running,
swimming and of course pickle ball, the most
popular entry, to name a few.
The New Jersey games are also a qualifying
event for competitors who wish to move on to
the National Senior Games.
Participants such as Greene and D’Orio are
placed into age categories that are divided into
five-year increments. Greene will compete in
the 80-84 group. D’Orio will compete in the
85 and older group. In addition to age groups,
the event further divides the competitions
according to gender.
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
Greene and D’Orio are long-time
acquaintances who have crossed paths over the
years, either at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church
in Lake Hopatcong or Pope John XXIII Regional
High School in Sparta, which their similarly aged
but now-grown children attended.
They also crossed literal paths during their
runs on local roads. This was all before they
entered or even knew about the New Jersey
Senior Olympics.
“I found out about it in the sports section of
the paper,” said Greene. “I went to the website
and it was easy to navigate, so I decided to
throw my hat into the ring when I was 75.”
That was six years ago.
He added shot put to his resume out of mere
curiosity, as well as a means to balance out the
running.
“It was something I wanted to do, an added
dimension to just running,” he said. “I tried the
discus at first but couldn’t do it. It surprised
me how challenging it was to get off a decent
throw.”
Now in a new age bracket—the 80-84-yearolds—he
jokes that his load has been lightened
as he trades in the standard six-pound shot put
for a four-pounder.
“The shot put is all concentration and
an oomph at the end,” he said. “It’s a little
different.”
An English teacher for 40 years, Greene
consistently ran for 30 of those years, running
“three times a week for about five miles,” he
Left to right: Frank D’Orio does sprint
work at Lakeside Field. Joe Greene
practices the shot put at Lakeside Field in
Jefferson. Greene and D’Orio with some
of the medals they’ve won.
said.
An athlete since his youth, Greene played
football, baseball and of course ran track in high
school.
On the competitive front, he participated
in 5Ks and boasts the completion of a halfmarathon.
One too many knee operations later, he
switched to biking. Then, following a bad
accident, he traded in his wheels for track and
field and balances that out with gym workouts.
In addition to training outside, he lifts weights,
stretches and does yoga three days a week.
“I try to firm up and tone the muscle groups,”
he said. “I try to make it about fitness, rather
than bulking up. That’s a young guy thing!
“When you get older, being injury free is half
the battle,” he said.
D’Orio agreed, emphasizing the importance
of taking recovery days. “You gotta take time
to heal,” he said.
This will be D’Orio’s third year participating in
the Senior Olympics. He found out about the
games through Greene when the two ran into
each other at the post office.
“I mentioned it to him and the next thing you
know he’s at the starting line,” Greene joked.
In his debut year, D’Orio finished first, taking
home the gold in the 1500-meter run.
A retired engineer from Picatinny Arsenal,
D’Orio took up running 55-60 years ago as an
after-work social activity with a group of his
colleagues. He also ran with the Morris County

Striders running club.
“It was all in good fun,” he said. “There’d be
plenty of bickering, too.”
Prior to running, his athletic career consisted
of high school and college wrestling, but he
never pursued another sport until he met his
colleagues at Picatinny, and he’s been running
ever since.
“It’s always been distance running,” he said.
“Mostly 10 milers and 15 milers.”
Then there was the New York City Marathon
that he trained for and completed in 1976, as
well as a few Army ten-milers.
Both men hail the positive side effects of
their fitness regimens. “I sleep much better,”
D’Orio said.
“Psychologically it’s a wonderful experience,”
Greene added, citing the “runner’s high.”
Come race day, the men travel to Woodbridge
and join fellow competitors in their respective
age groups. Despite having competed for
multiple years, Greene said there’s still an
element of surprise in anticipation of the event.
“You never know what you’re getting
into until you’re there,” Greene said. “You’re
completely outside of your comfort zone.”
When he is not training, he can be found
reading, a lasting effect of his English teacher
career, and tending to chores around the house.
D’Orio enjoys his off-track time spending
time with family, particularly his five grown
daughters and their families.
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LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023

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lakehopatcongnews.com 31

Marketplace Offers a Bit of Everything
Story and photos by KAREN FUCITO
kid’s hose down courtesy of the Netcong Hilltop Fire Company No. 2 was the featured
A attraction at the Community Marketplace in Netcong on Saturday, Aug. 5.
A dozen vendors were also on hand, including local entrepreneurs selling food, farm fresh
produce, baked goods, jewelry and handmade crafts, to name a few.
The Marketplace was established in 2021 by the Netcong Community Partnership (NCP),
a management company designated by the mayor and council to manage the Special
Improvement District (SID) of Netcong and be responsible for the revitalization and general
upkeep of the borough’s business district, according to a statement provided by Maria
Patamia, Marketplace manager.
Newcomer Katie Pomeisl, owner of Sweet Tucker’s Bake Shop, a cottage kitchen bakery
out of Hackettstown, is pleased with her decision to participate.
“Business is good,” she said while standing behind a table full of freshly baked goods.
“This is only my second time, but I plan on finishing out the season here. It’s been a fun
experience,” she said.
The Marketplace is open Saturdays through November from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located
at the Netcong train station parking lot on Main Street.
For more information, email netcongmarketplace@gmail.com.
Top to bottom, left to right: Steve and Carmela Lotesta. PJ, Jessica, Tristan and Gabriel
(stroller) Butler with Rita Juliano. Emily Montgomery and Kyle Scheper. Katie Hale, 12, owner
of Katie’s Jewelry. Desmond and Declan Tediashvili. Arjana, Eida and Amy Goroveci. Katie
Pomeisl, owner of Sweet Tucker’s Bake Shop. Olivia Lofgren and Hollie Lane. Max, Adelynn,
Wyatt and Lauren Richman.
32
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023

lakehopatcongnews.com 33

HISTORY
Photos courtesy of
the
LAKE HOPATCONG
HISTORICAL
MUSEUM
On July 13, 2023, 350 people gathered at
the parish hall of St. Jude Roman Catholic
Church in Hopatcong to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of Bertrand Island Park’s last season.
The celebration of the amusement park,
facilitated by the Lake Hopatcong Historical
Museum, sold out in 48 hours. T-shirts and other
souvenirs of the park were gobbled up.
One Bertrand Island Park Facebook group has
16,000 members and another has over 4,000.
What is it that brings forth such passion and
devotion to this park after all these years?
Of all the attractions that have existed at Lake
Hopatcong, none is more beloved than Bertrand
Island Park.
A class trip or family outing to the park was
a long-awaited and much-anticipated event for
generations of children. Bertrand Island Park
was the first place many local youngsters were
allowed to go without parents, and it provided
a wonderful summer job for countless area
teenagers.
Situated on the lake’s eastern shore in the
borough of Mount Arlington, Bertrand Island is a
peninsula today but was once an island separated
from the mainland by a narrow channel.
In the early 1860s, Charles Bertrand purchased
significant land at Lake Hopatcong, which was
then a remote, sparsely populated area of New
Jersey. Bertrand built a grand home for his family
on the island that would bear his name.
He died in 1870, and the house burned down
several years later.
The land was subsequently sold to a group
of men who built a clubhouse on the old
foundation. Known as the Bertrand Island Club,
it was a place to hunt, fish, play cards and drink
a little whiskey. During the summer, members
took turns bringing their families to the lake.
In the 1890s, the Bertrand Island Club also
succumbed to fire.
In 1905, the island was purchased by a group
of businessmen with ambitious development
plans. The island was divided into 257 lots of
about 50 x 110 feet. About four acres at the
center of the island were reserved for a hotel.
The group proposed moving one of the
casinos used at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition to
34
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
Memories for a Lifetime
by MARTY KANE
the island. Their plans also included direct train
service to Bertrand Island and steamer service to
all parts of the lake.
While these grandiose ideas never materialized,
the group was responsible for creating a beach
on the proposed development in 1905.
The beach quickly became a popular spot for
swimming at the lake and caught the attention
of the Morris County Traction Company, the
trolley line attempting to establish service
throughout much of Northern New Jersey.
Like trolley lines across America, the Morris
County Traction Company was looking for ways
to increase use on weekends and determined
that expanding service to the beach at Bertrand
Island would be a perfect weekend destination.
Nationwide, many amusement parks were
established at the end of trolley lines for just
this reason.
Trolley service to Bertrand Island began on
Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) in 1910,
making the beach accessible to large numbers
of people in Northern New Jersey. While
not speedy by today’s standards, the trolley
provided cheap transportation for the masses.
The trip from Morristown to Bertrand Island
took about two hours and cost 35 cents round
trip. As travelers began to arrive by trolley, food
stands and amusements were built near the
beach. A large open-air dance pavilion, carousel
and other attractions soon followed.
By 1917, the beach at Bertrand Island included
a shooting range, water chute and diving float.
In 1919, Louis Kraus, a teacher from Newark
who had operated a summer camping colony
at Prospect Point, acquired the property
surrounding the beach at Bertrand Island. Giving
up teaching, Kraus followed his dream and built
a hotel at the lake known as California Lodge.
After a couple of years operating the hotel
The park in 1927: Dodgem (bumper cars), the
entrance to the roller coaster when it was known
as The Cyclone, the Old Mill (later known as the
Lost River), and the popcorn stand.
as a neighbor to the bathing beach, Kraus saw
there was more of a future in the amusement
business than as a hotel owner. When the
beach at Bertrand Island was offered for sale in
1922, Kraus and his partner, Charles Schleicher,
acquired it. They now owned all of the land that
would ultimately become Bertrand Island Park.
A wooden boardwalk was quickly constructed
along the lake. When fire destroyed the old
dance pavilion in March 1923, Kraus quickly
erected an attractive new building, known as the
June Rose Ballroom.
Kraus instituted an operating plan that would
prove to be key to the park’s success. Rather
than owning all of the amusements and stands,
he rented spaces to concessionaires for rides,
games and refreshments. This resulted in loyal
concessionaires who stayed for many years and
were long remembered by the park faithful.
Although Kraus did not own or operate the
rides or games, he was a master of promotion.
Spurred by the addition of attractions, Bertrand
Island quickly grew in popularity.
The roller coaster, built in 1925, was the first
in Northern New Jersey. The 1920s also saw
the addition of a Ferris wheel, Dodgem cars,
aeroplane swing, the Old Mill (later renamed
the Lost River), sightseeing boats, the Whip and
more.
Rides continued to evolve and grow at the
park through the 1920s and into the 1930s.
The famous Illions Supreme carousel arrived
in 1937 and various rides and games would be
added over the years to meet current fads and
trends.
Beauty pageants became a popular summer
Left to right: Bertrand Island Park Beach, circa 1920. The Wildcat roller coaster, circa 1950s. Children
on the wooden boardwalk along lake, circa 1920s.

event at Bertrand Island during the 1930s with
Miss Bertrand Island and Miss Lake Hopatcong
contests. In 1934, due to the Depression, no
Miss America pageant was held in Atlantic City
and a non-sanctioned Miss America Contest at
Bertrand Island created much excitement that
summer.
Another highlight occurred in 1937 when Bette
Cooper, who had been named Miss Bertrand
Island, was crowned Miss America in Atlantic
City.
Dancing was another popular diversion during
the 1930s and the park’s June Rose Ballroom
(later Bertrand Island Villa) featured many of the
area’s top bands.
In 1948, still feeling the effects of the
Depression and the war years, Kraus decided
to sell the park to Lorenzo D’Agostino and
his son, Ray, and Larry Donofrio, who were
concessionaires under Kraus. Recognizing the
value of his experience, the new owners asked
Kraus to continue helping manage the park,
which he did until his death in 1955.
Following his father’s death in 1969 and Larry
Donofrio’s decision to sell his share shortly
thereafter, Ray D’Agostino became sole owner
of the park and would remain so until 1978.
In many ways the 1950s and 1960s were golden
years at the park. The park seemed to fill a
perfect niche at Lake Hopatcong, and it was
filled with locals, summer residents and folks
visiting the lake for the day.
Bertrand Island Park was a favorite spot for
school, business and church outings.
During the Depression, discount nights had
been introduced at Bertrand Island Park.
In 1950, Mondays and Thursdays were deemed
Nickel Nights, providing a tremendous boost in
attendance. Nickel Nights also forever endeared
the park to thousands of youngsters, who
arrived with a dollar or two and kept busy all
night as every ride cost just five cents.
One of the most popular postwar additions
was Kiddieland, which debuted in 1951 and
featured rides scaled solely for children.
While Bertrand Island Park was able to survive
the Depression and World War II, the changes
occurring in America during the 1970s were
another matter. The park faced competition
from larger parks opening across the country, as
well as the slowing of the baby boom.
Other regional parks had already succumbed:
Irvington’s Olympic Park closed in 1965 and the
venerable Palisades Park shut down in 1971.
After 30 years in charge, D’Agostino became
interested in selling. Larger amusement park
operators were not interested in acquiring the
park as it did not include sufficient land for
expansion. The existence of an old-fashioned
family amusement park at Lake Hopatcong was
quickly becoming unfeasible.
D’Agostino finally sold in 1978. While the new
owner initially continued to operate the park,
development of the land was foremost on his
mind.
The park’s last season came to a close 40 years
ago on Labor Day, 1983.
In these ensuing years, memories of the park
have stayed very much alive. Those youngsters
of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s still vividly recall
their time spent at Bertrand Island Park.
Memories of the wooden roller coaster, the
spectacular carousel, the Lost River, Boomerang,
Nickel Nights, the penny arcade and many more
are indelibly etched in the minds of so many
residents of North Jersey.
While the wood and concrete may be
long gone, the park will live forever for those
thousands who visited Bertrand Island Park.
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lakehopatcongnews.com 35

COOKING
WITH SCRATCH ©
Uglier is Better
by BARBARA SIMMONS
Photos by KAREN FUCITO
When I was 11,
I visited my
German relatives in
Wiesbaden with my
dad. It was my job
to pick up fresh Kaiser rolls with poppyseeds
from the Abt family bakery every morning.
Abt’s was just across the street from my Tante
Lucie’s house. There was also a Konditorei
(confectionery) a little farther up the block.
Abt’s always had, in addition to the Kaiser
rolls, several kinds of bread and some modestlooking
sweet pastries, like crumb cakes and
plain-looking things like “Äpfel im Schlafrock”
(apples in nightgowns—a kind of apple
dumpling). Everything was reliably delicious
from Abt the baker.
The Konditorei down the block sold
beautiful, ornately decorated cakes for special
occasions, fancy pastries and ice cream and
had tables where you could sit with coffee and
a slice of their fancy cakes.
I remember tasting one of the buttercream
encrusted behemoths from the Konditorei
at one of the relatives’ homes and was so
disappointed. Pretty, yes, but it missed the
mark on flavor. I decided then and there
that homely baked goods tasted better.
The Konditorei cakes were decorated with
buttercreams that were flavored with liqueurs,
the cake parts were usually way too dense—
ugh, and sometimes they were even decorated
with chocolate coffee beans. Yuck! Not so
appealing to an 11-year-old kid.
I decided the uglier the better.
I learned to bake from my mother. I have to
say, most of the things she baked were on the
homely side but compensated for their looks
with their delicious flavors.
The plum cake she made, topped with two
pounds of plums, looked impressive, but
wasn’t exactly pretty. Her strawberry tart
glistened under its mantle of red glaze—also
not a showstopper, but it was absolutely
bursting with flavor.
Since it is blueberry season somewhere, I
felt motivated to offer a blueberry recipe in
this issue.
My mother, Gertrude, and I didn’t bake much
with blueberries, probably because the region
that she came from, Hessen, doesn’t grow a lot
of blueberries. German blueberries are grown
mostly in the southern region of Bavaria.
I do like blueberries, though, and have
experimented with a few recipes that I’ve
added to my baking repertoire. I have managed
to make some great blueberry muffins from
Deb Perleman’s Perfect Blueberry Muffin
recipe. (smittenkitchen.com/2010/08/perfectblueberry-muffins)
But I was intrigued by a recipe for blueberry
cheesecake that I found
on a German website. It
reminded me of my official
birthday cheesecake that
Gertrude made for me
every year. That cake, too,
was not much of a looker.
It had sort of a fluffy filling
made with cottage cheese and whipped egg
whites with raisins and cinnamon. The original
German recipe called for quark (a German
dairy product similar in texture and flavor to
low-fat Greek yogurt.)
Gertrude had to force the cottage cheese
through a Foley food mill to imitate its texture.
Quark was not available at all when I was
growing up, and now I only see it once in a
blue moon at a few fancy supermarkets. (I look
every time I visit one!) Don’t worry though,
dear reader, I won’t be sending you on an
ingredients wild goose chase in this column!
We will be using cream cheese and Greek
yogurt here.
36
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023

Blueberry Cheesecake
This recipe uses a technique that I’ve seen in several German cake recipes. It is a two-step
method, and you need to use a springform pan.
First the crust is made and pressed into the bottom and sides of the pan. The filling is added
afterwards, and then baked and released from the springform when cooled. The cake is held up
by the crust that goes up the sides.
The original German recipe calls for one kilo (6 ½ cups) of blueberries, so this cake is loaded!
Ingredients
Crust:
1 1/3 cups flour
5 tablespoons butter
¼ cup lemon-scented sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1½ teaspoons baking powder
Filling:
3 pints (6 cups) blueberries, picked over,
washed and drained in a colander
3 tablespoons butter
½ cup lemon-scented sugar
1-8-ounce package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/3 cup Greek yogurt (5% or 10% milkfat)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1½ tablespoons cornstarch
Juice from ½ of a lemon
Procedure
1. First, make the lemon-scented sugar. Before starting both the crust and the filling, mix all of
the sugar from the recipe (¾ of a cup of sugar, total, plus the grated rind of a whole lemon).
Massage the grated lemon rind into the sugar with your fingertips until it is well incorporated.
This infuses the cake with a beautiful lemon flavor and fragrance that complement the
blueberries really well.
2. Heat the oven to 350°.
3. Generously butter a 9” springform pan.
4. Make the crust:
Cream the butter and lemon-scented sugar together. Add in the egg and milk.
Add the flour, salt and baking powder. Mix until the dough comes together- it will be clumpy.
Add the dough into the springform pan and, using your fist, press it into the bottom, bringing the
edges of the dough about halfway up the sides of the pan.
5. Make the filling.
Sprinkle the cornstarch over the blueberries and toss well to coat.
Add the coated blueberries into the dough-lined springform pan.
Beat the butter, lemon-scented sugar, cream cheese and yogurt together until smooth. Add
in the eggs and lemon juice.
Pour the filling over the blueberries. Holding the filled springform pan firmly in both hands, gently
tap it on the counter to distribute the filling evenly.
6. Bake for 65-70 minutes, until it is no longer wobbly in the center when the pan is jiggled.
7. Remove to a rack and refrigerate for an hour before serving.
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lakehopatcongnews.com 37
*Only valid with work performed, invoice of $250

WORDS OF
A FEATHER
38
by HEATHER SHIRLEY
Charismatic
Megafauna
just returned from Alaska. It was my third
I time there. Certainly not my last trip to
visit the largest state in the country.
Its vastness is mind-boggling. If you
superimpose a map of Alaska onto a map of
the continental United States, Alaska stretches
almost entirely across the lower 48.
I’ve only explored a fraction of it, but every
bit I’ve seen is glorious.
As a birder, I am keen to see new species
of birds everywhere I go. Of course, the more
species you see, the harder it gets to spot new
ones.
Even though on this most recent trip to
Alaska I went to areas I hadn’t previously
explored, I only saw one new species: a pelagic
bird, the short-tailed shearwater. Of course,
I wish I had seen more new species, called
“lifers” in birder parlance. But I really can’t be
disappointed because I saw so, so, so much
other amazing wildlife.
I was traveling with wildlife experts—people
who have spent their careers studying wildlife
in remote places all over the earth. (Can you
imagine?) They were tremendous resources
throughout the trip, identifying what we saw
and teaching us natural history.
We were kayaking, and I pointed out a raft
of otters, noting that some were holding paws,
others were twirling floating kelp around their
babies so they didn’t float away and still others
were holding shellfish in their tiny adorable
paws. So cute!
That’s when a burly, grizzly, seasoned scientist
leaned over and told me: “That’s what we call
charismatic megafauna.” I hadn’t heard the
term, but loved the idea that scientists came
up with a description for cute animals.
Wikipedia notes that, “Charismatic
megafauna are animal species that are large—
in the relevant category that they represent—
with symbolic value or widespread popular
appeal and are often used by environmental
activists to gain public support for
environmentalist goals.”
Think of giant pandas, the symbol of the
World Wildlife Fund. Conservationists got the
idea to drive more public support for their
goals by attaching cute, familiar animals to
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023
the cause. The overall environment benefits
because when the habitat of a panda—or
other animal—is protected, many more
species beyond just pandas are ensured the
resources they need to survive.
Critics also exist, however. There may be
more critically endangered species in an area,
but they don’t get enough attention because
they’re not “cute.” The public can also become
overly focused on protecting “cute” species
that aren’t native to an area and should be
removed to restore an ecosystem to optimal
health.
Science and conservation always seem
incredibly complicated.
What’s not complicated is the joy and
wonder I felt when I experienced the wildlife
sightings in Alaska. A mama grizzly bear and her
three cubs emerged from their winter den. The
cubs, who had contented bellies full of their
mother’s milk, tumbled along the coastline,
rolled in the grass and splashed in the water.
Two stood on their hind legs and used their
forepaws to box and wrestle with each other.
Mama bear, in contrast, hadn’t eaten since
she had gone into the den last fall. She pretty
much ignored the cubs and instead rummaged
around to find food. Her first food of spring
may include grass, clover, dandelions, ants,
seeds and mammals.
Bears are omnivorous and after months
hibernating, I’m sure she’d eat pretty much
anything she could. The bears were a delight
to watch.
But Alaska is full of delights and more wildlife
waited ahead. I kayaked past a colony of harbor
seals with their pups. They were basking in the
spring sunshine, hauled out on boulders at the
edge of Disenchantment Bay.
Seeing me glide past, they raised their heads
and stared with large, dark
eyes. The males, however,
bellowed protectively,
urging me to quickly
paddle towards my goal,
the Hubbard Glacier.
The spectacular glacier
glowed icy blue in the
Left to right: A Stellar’s sea lion swims past the
author’s boat. A moose emerges from the Alaskan
forest.
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to hear the sounds of
a sea lion.
sunshine and thundered as ice calved into the
sea. I picked up a chunk of the ice that floated
past my kayak and learned that it was at least
3,000 years old! Amazing!
My attention turned from the ice as we heard
a large expulsion of breath. Humpback whales!
Swimming right alongside us! They winter and
have their calves, or babies, in Hawaii, then
cross the ocean and spend summers feeding in
Alaska’s nutrient-rich waters.
We watched as one breached, gloriously
erupting out of the ocean. Others were finslapping,
lying on their sides at the surface of
the water, lifting their long pectoral fins and
slamming them down. Scientists believe this
behavior to be a way the whales communicate
with each other.
So much wildlife and not enough space in this
magazine to write about it all! Moose wading in
rivers swollen from the spring melt. Sea lions
leaping in the waves all around our Zodiac boat.
Mountain goats defying gravity, scampering up
sheer mountainsides of granite. Dall’s porpoise
leaping and cavorting. Wildflowers blooming
across valleys.
Everywhere, constantly, Alaska offers
breathtaking experiences in nature. If it’s been
on your bucket list, don’t put off that dream
trip to Alaska. Book it and enjoy. Go see some
charismatic megafauna!
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CONSTRUCTION/
EXCAVATION
Al Hutchins Excavating
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151 Sparta-Stanhope Rd., Hopatcong
973-398-4517
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PO Box 806, Hopatcong
973-398-6900
info@northwestexplosives.com
ENTERTAINMENT/
RECREATION
Lake Hopatcong Adventure
973-663-1944
lhadventureco.com
Lake Hopatcong Cruises
Miss Lotta (Dinner Boat)
37 Nolan’s Pt. Park Rd., LH
973-663-5000
lhcruises.com
Lake Hopatcong Mini Golf Club
37 Nolan's Pt. Park Rd., LH
973-663-0451
lhgolfclub.com
Roxbury Arts Alliance
72 Eyland Ave., Succasunna
973-945-0284
roxburyartsalliance.org
HOME SERVICES
Central Comfort
100 Nolan’s Point Rd., LH
973-361-2146
Evening Star
LED Deck/Dock Lights
eveningstarlighting.com
Homestead Lawn Sprinkler
5580 Berkshire Valley Rd., OR
973-208-0967
homesteadlawnsprinkler.com
Happs Kitchen & Bath
Sparta
973-729-4787
happskitchen.com
J-I Renovations
862-462-0183
jirenovation.us
Jefferson Recycling
710 Route 15 N Jefferson
973-361-1589
jefferson-recycling.com
The King Construction
60 Ackerman Ave., EP
201-279-2918
thekingconstructionnj.com
The Polite Plumber
973-398-0875
thepoliteplumber.com
Royalty Cleaning Services
973-309-2858
royaltycleaningserv.com
Sacks Paint & Wallpaper
52 N Sussex St., Dover
973-366-0119
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973-846-3088
sunsetdecksnj.com
Wilson Services
973-383-2112
WilsonServices.com
Zoeller Engineered Products
908-674-0122
973-471-2600
LAKE SERVICES
AAA Dock & Marine
27 Prospect Point Rd., LH
973-663-4998
docksmarina@hotmail.com
Batten The Hatches
70 Rt. 181, LH
973-663-1910
facebook.com/bthboatcovers
Dockhand Services
201-378-8797
dockhandservices.us
Lake Management Sciences
Branchville
973-948-0107
lakemgtsciences.com
MARINAS
Katz’s Marinas
22 Stonehenge Rd., LH
973-663-0224
katzmarinaatthecove.com
342 Lakeside Ave., Hopatcong
973-663-3214
antiqueboatsales.com
Lake’s End Marina
91 Mt. Arlington Blvd., Landing
973-398-5707
lakesendmarina.net
Morris County Marine
745 US 46W, Kenvil
201-400-6031
South Shore Marine
862-254-2514
southshoremarine180@gmail.com
NONPROFITS
Lake Hopatcong Commission
260 Lakeside Blvd.,Landing
973-601-7801
commissioner@lakehopatcongcommission.org
Lake Hopatcong Foundation
125 Landing Rd., Landing
973-663-2500
lakehopatcongfoundation.org
Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum
260 Lakeside Blvd., Landing
973-398-2616
lakehopatconghistory.com
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Barbara Anne Dillon,,O.D.,P.A.
180 Howard Blvd., Ste. 18 MA
973-770-1380
Fox Architectural Design
546 St. Rt. 10 W, Ledgewood
973-970-9355
foxarch.com
Heart + Paw Veterinarian
10 Tierney Rd., LH
973-601-5866
heartandpaw.com
REAL ESTATE
Kathleen Courter
RE/MAX
131 Landing Rd., Roxbury
973-420-0022 Direct
KathySellsNJHomes.com
Robin Dora
Sotheby’s International
670 Main St., Towaco
973-570-6633
thedoragroup.com
Christopher J. Edwards
RE/MAX
211 Rt. 10E, Succasunna
973-598-1008
MrLakeHopatcong.com
Karen Foley
Sotheby’s International
670 Main St., Towaco
973-906-5021
prominentproperties.com
Geba Realty
Century 21
23 Main St., Sparta
973-726-0333
c21gebarealty.com
Jim Leffler
RE/MAX
131 Landing Rd., Roxbury
201-919-5414
Darla Quaranta
Century 21
23 Main St., Sparta
973-229-0452
livelovelakelife.com
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Alice’s Restaurant
24 Nolan’s Pt. Park Rd., LH
973-663-9600
alicesrestaurantnj.com
Big Fish Lounge At Alice’s
24 Nolan’s Pt. Park Rd., LH
973-663-9600
alicesrestaurantnj.com
The Beacon
453 River Styx Rd., Hopatcong
thebeaconlh.com
The Bagel Place
181 Howard Blvd., MA
973-810-3636
thebagelplace.net
The Windlass Restaurant
45 Nolan’s Point Park Rd., LH
973-663-3190
thewindlass.com
SENIOR CARE
Preferred Care at Home
George & Jill Malanga/Owners
973-512-5131
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SPECIALTY STORES
Alstede Fresh @ Lindeken
54 NJ Rt 15 N, Wharton
908-879-7189
AlstedeFarms.com
At The Lake Jewelry
atthelakejewelry.com
Hawk Ridge Farm
283 Espanong Rd, LH
hawkridgefarmnj.com
Hearth & Home
1215 Rt. 46, Ledgewood
973-252-0190
hearthandhome.net
Helrick’s Custom Framing
158 W Clinton St., Dover
973-361-1559
helricks.com
Italy Tours with Maria
ItalyTourswithMaria@yahoo.com
J Thomas Jewelers
243 Sparta Ave., Sparta
Main Lake Market
234 S. NJ Ave., LH
973-663-0544
mainlakemarket.com
Orange Carpet & Wood Gallery
470 Rt. 10W, Ledgewood
973-584-5300
orange-carpet.com
The Fade Barber Shop
181 Howard Blvd., MA
201-874-2657
STORAGE
Woodport Self Storage
17 Rt. 181 & 20 Tierney Rd.
Lake Hopatcong
973-663-4000
40
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Labor Day 2023

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lakehopatcongnews.com 41

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astein@affinity-pumps.com 973-471-2600
908-674-0122
973-471-2600