2023 Fall Issue

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4 LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Fall 2023 From the Editor This issue’s cover story is about Amanda and Daniel Anastasia, siblings who live with their mom, Samantha, and her significant other, Dan, in Hopatcong. I first heard about Amanda early last year, when writer Ellen Wilkowe and I were working on the story about Rebecca’s Homestead, a self-sustaining residential home and farm for adults with developmental disabilities. That story was published in the 2022 Memorial Day issue. I was told Amanda was this incredibly talented young woman who, despite her physical limitations, was making a name for herself as an artist. Amanda, who is nonverbal and can only move her head, paints using a specially fitted paintbrush attached to a headband. It was information I squirreled away, knowing at some point in the future I would revisit it for a story, which I did earlier this year. It was during my initial phone conversation with Samantha back in the spring that I found out about Amanda’s brother, Daniel. He, too, I was told, had the same physical challenges as his sister. He is also nonverbal and can only move his head. And, like his sister, Daniel is also expressing himself creatively. Instead of painting, however, Daniel flexes his creative muscles as a writer. He just published his first comic book. Technology, it seems, has allowed Amanda and Daniel to learn and grow and communicate and thrive. Immediately, for my own curiosity, I wanted to know more, and the journalist in me wanted to get their stories—Amanda’s, Daniel’s and Samantha’s—out there. But during that first phone call, Samantha hesitated to approve moving forward with the story. Protective? Yes. More importantly, she told me, she didn’t want the story to dwell on the challenges but rather, she wanted the story to celebrate the achievements. She certainly did not want people to feel sorry for her children—or for her—which has happened in the past, she said. She wants people to know her children are very happy, never bored and living their best lives, with friends, activities and a purpose. “Life is good for them,” she said. “I am very blessed.” With Amanda’s and Daniel’s approval, we moved forward with a story. (See page 22.) In the time since writer Melissa Summers turned in her story, I’ve found out that Amanda, who her mother said is always challenging herself, is, for the first time, learning to write words. She is accomplishing this by using the headband and a new art medium known as water pencils. With the promise of getting it tattooed on her body, Samantha challenged Amanda to write the word Mom. She did—but it has yet to be tattooed. More recently, Amanda wrote the word believe, said Samantha. Melissa and I met the family for the first time when were invited to their house in Hopatcong for interviews and photos. There was conversation and laughter and a bit of sibling rivalry—not unusual in any household, just delivered differently in this one. As you can imagine, throughout my career as a photojournalist and now as editor of this publication, I’ve met a lot of people. I’ve photographed sports legends, celebrities and presidents. But those aren’t the stories that left an impact. What stands out in my almost 40-year journalism career are everyday people who have left me feeling inspired, moved and, sometimes, emotional. The Anastasia family falls into the category of people I’ve met on the job who I won’t soon forget. Not only was I blown away by the talents of Amanda and Daniel and how they express themselves, but I was also impressed with how Samantha and the village of people who surround this family cheer them on. I hope you find something in this story that inspires, uplifts and stays with you as it did with me. —Karen ake Hopatcong News FRIENDS GROUP A MUSICAL HAYRIDE INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING THE LAKE REGION Defined By Talent Depsite their physical limits, Amanda Anastasia and her brother, Daniel Anastasia, are making their mark on the world. LOVE OF VINTAGE KEEPER OF THE LAKE FALL 2023 VOL. 15 NO. 6 ON THE COVER Artist Amanda Anastasia and her brother, comic book author Daniel Anastasia, on an outing at Hopatcong State Park. —photo by Karen Fucito KAREN FUCITO Editor editor@lakehopatcongnews.com 973-663-2800 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael Stephen Daigle Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika Melissa Summers Ellen Wilkowe COLUMNISTS Marty Kane Heather Shirley Barbara Simmons EDITING AND LAYOUT Maria DaSilva-Gordon Randi Cirelli ADVERTISING SALES Lynn Keenan advertising@lakehopatcongnews.com 973-222-0382 PRINTING Imperial Printing & Graphics, Inc. PUBLISHER Camp Six, Inc. 10 Nolan’s Point Park Road Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 LHN OFFICE LOCATED AT: 37 Nolan’s Point Park Road Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 To sign up for home delivery of Lake Hopatcong News call 973-663-2800 or email editor@lakehopatcongnews.com Lake Hopatcong News is published seven times a year between April and November and is offered free at more than 200 businesses throughout the lake region. It is available for home delivery for a nominal fee. The contents of Lake Hopatcong News may not be reprinted in any form without prior written permission from the editor. Lake Hopatcong News is a registered trademark of Lake Hopatcong News, LLC. All rights reserved.
RE/MAX Town and Valley II RE/MAX Town and Valley II SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD $1,598,000 | Jefferson | Twp Twp 4 Bedrooms 4 3.1 3.1 Bathrooms $1,300,000 | | Hopatcong Boro 4 Bedrooms 33 Bathrooms $1,295,000 $1,295,000 | Jefferson | Jefferson Twp Twp Lakefront Lakefront with Inground with Inground Pool Pool SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD $1,050,000 | Jefferson Twp $1,050,000 3 Bedrooms | Jefferson 3 Bathrooms Twp 3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms SOLD $1,500,000 | Hopatcong Boro $1,500,000 4 Bedrooms | Hopatcong 3 Bathrooms Boro 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms SOLD $825,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms $825,000 2 | Bathrooms Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD $795,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms $795,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms $550,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 1.2 Bathrooms $550,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 1.2 Bathrooms $550,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms $550,000 | Hopatcong Boro 3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Chris sold all of these homes featured in this NEW YORK TIMES article, one of them twice! Hopatcong, Chris sold all N.J.: of these ‘We homes Call It featured Lake Life’ in this NEW YORK TIMES article, one of them twice! Hopatcong, N.J.: ‘We Call lakehopatcongnews.com It Lake Life’ 5
Page 1 and 2: INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING
Page 3: Are All Grinder Pumps Created Equal
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Page 9 and 10: Majestic Lakefront Estate Exclusive
Page 11 and 12: ‘Tonight Show,’” Kessel said.
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Page 33 and 34: A four-generation family run busine
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Page 37 and 38: Ribs & Sauerkraut This will stink u
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2023 Fall Issue

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