2023 Holiday Issue

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Woman’s Club Helps Those in Hopatcong and Beyond 26 Story by BONNIE-LYNN NADZEIKA Photos by KAREN FUCITO On a sunny weekday morning in October, the Elba Point Beach Club was buzzing with voices as members of the Hopatcong Woman’s Club gathered for its monthly meeting. Coffee and water in hand, 17 of the group’s 38 members settled down on seats around U-shaped tables as the meeting began. A reading from the Collect for Clubwomen— the group’s pledge—kicked things off and saw members recite the following: “Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that create differences, that in the big things in life we are one.” Members then said the Pledge of Allegiance. Whatever your image of a women’s club meeting that follows might be, it is unlikely to encompass all of the activities of this industrious group. This is not just a group of women meeting for lunch and coffee— although that is the congenial part of the meeting. This is a group that supports a wide variety of causes in the immediate Hopatcong area and beyond. First up for discussion was the club’s ongoing collection for veterans at the Lyons VA Medical Center. Everything from toiletries to shoes to art supplies was on the list handed to each member who would then shop for the needed items. Co-President Pat Beach went on to report that 25 holiday stockings were already on their way to active servicemen and women around the world ensuring they would arrive in time for the holidays. Filled with small gifts collected by members, the stockings are the first of several outreach projects the Hopatcong Woman’s Club is a part of for the holiday season. The club members also discussed the ongoing help to area Head Start preschoolers from low-income families by providing toys and much-needed clothing as holiday gifts. Siblings who are not in the Head Start program also receive a toy or gift card, depending on their age. During the meeting, members also voted to purchase two wreaths for the Wreaths Across America program, which takes place in December and sees fresh wreaths placed on the graves of veterans. Members also discussed making ornaments to decorate an artificial tree that would be available for LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Holiday 2023 auction—along with other decorated trees and wreaths—during a New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs event. The NJSFWC’s open house in November would serve as a fundraiser for the state umbrella organization. Member Diane Ottman and Co-President Ellen Buongiorno shared prototypes of ornaments. Using a combination of yarn, toilet paper rolls and ping pong balls, they each created different gnome ornaments. Currently, there are 164 clubs in New Jersey, which are divided into 15 districts. The Hopatcong club is part of the Highlands District. According to club historian and member Marcy Thompson, the Lakeland Woman’s Club and the Lake Hopatcong Women’s Club consolidated to form the Hopatcong Woman’s Club in 1957. A year later, the group joined the New Jersey State Federation of Woman’s Clubs. “It is the largest volunteer women’s service organization in the state,” said Thompson. But it’s not all work for the local club. In September, the Hopatcong Woman’s Club held a celebratory luncheon in honor of their 65th anniversary and one of their own—Pat Hofmann, who has been a member for 60 years. “I remember when we went to state conventions, and the women wore long dresses and gloves,” said Hofmann, who was also honored by the Borough of Hopatcong with a proclamation making September 22, 2023, Pat Hofmann Day. Hofmann worked for many years at Hopatcong High School. She was so active in so many community efforts, one not-to-benamed principal said to her: “Will you please get out of my life?” One of her proudest accomplishments, she said, was serving as club chairperson for the NJSFWC’s autism project for two years. In that role, she organized a volleyball marathon with proceeds going to autism research. “I didn’t know then that I would have a grandson with autism,” she said, “but I guess I was being prepared. He’s doing very well.” At the September event, Thompson summarized some of the donations the club has made over the years in support of the Hopatcong community and beyond. In the early 2000s, funds were donated to help purchase a “jaws of life” device for the borough’s first responders. In 1986, the club donated to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. In 1998, a clock was gifted to Hopatcong Borough to commemorate the borough’s 100th anniversary. The club also helped purchase a fire truck for the New York City Fire Department to replace one lost on September 11; donated to the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs to help with flood recovery and donated to the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs for tornado relief. Recently, the club has helped Ukraine by supporting UNICEF. The group also does its part to help students. During the October meeting, member Linda Kalata discussed the Hopatcong High School student whom the club will sponsor for the Girls’ Career Institute. This three-day college preparatory program for young women takes Top to bottom, clockwise: Pat Beach reads a thank you note at the October meeting. Members of the Hopatcong Woman’s Club each hold an item to be donated to Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Services. Sheryl Hoer looks at a gnome ornament made from yarn.
place every June at Rutgers University. Sponsored by groups across the state, participants tour the campus and listen to professionals ranging from chefs to doctors discuss their career paths. “Some clubs sponsor multiple girls, but our group is small, so we sponsor one each year,” explained Kalata. The club also has a scholarship program for high school seniors who are college-bound. Students from Hopatcong High School, Sussex County Technical School, Lenape Valley High School and Pope John High School are eligible. Along with assisting students, the club also helps women and children impacted by domestic and sexual assault. For 25 years, the Hopatcong Woman’s Club has rallied its support behind Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Services (DASI), a Newtonbased group that helps those in Sussex County. Every October, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the club holds a linen party meeting. Members bring new sheets, towels and blankets, which are then distributed by DASI to families entering its safe house. Most families entering the safe house arrive without such basic belongings. According to Kim Prentiss, DASI’s coordinator of office and volunteer services who spoke to club members during the meeting, the families keep these linens when they are able to leave the shelter. With so many initiatives, one might think the club spends most of its time fundraising. But members are as efficient as they are altruistic. An annual fashion show is the club’s sole fundraising event. Proceeds are used to fund the Girls’ Career Institute candidate, the scholarship program, the Wreaths Across America program and some state and national initiatives. All local charity donations—items for military and veterans’ groups, gifts for Head Start children, DASI contributions and craft materials—are funded by club members, said Beach. “I’ve always been someone who wants to help other people. It’s such a reward,” said Beach. For more information or to join Hopatcong Woman’s Club, contact Pat Beach at pebeach@gmail.com. Barbara Anne Dillon, O.D., P.A. License # OA 05188 OM 0373 180 Howard Boulevard, Suite 18 Mount Arlington, NJ 07856 (973) 770-1380 Fax (973) 770-1384 • Comprehensive Eye Exams • Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses • Treatment for Eye Disease We’re open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday GET INSPIRED! Visit Metro’s new state-of-the-art showroom MASONRY & LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES Come see our do-it-yourself outdoor firepits. Perfect for fall! We offer a complete line of: Mulches, Topsoil, Seed and Fertilizer 201 Green Pond Road Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-627-7626 metrosupplyinc.com lakehopatcongnews.com 27
Page 1: INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING
Page 4 and 5: 4 LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Holiday 2023
Page 6 and 7: Left to right: Michael Jarmus as He
Page 8 and 9: KathySellsLakeHomes.com LAKEFRONT S
Page 10 and 11: 10 Local Businessman Bets Big and W
Page 12 and 13: A four-generation family run busine
Page 14 and 15: Debut of Jefferson Winter Stroll Pr
Page 16 and 17: CHRISTMAS @ THE BEACON Join us for
Page 18 and 19: Love of Therapy Dogs Inspires First
Page 20 and 21: FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1996! 973-846
Page 22 and 23: Community Turns Out for Lake Cleanu
Page 24 and 25: Lake Cleanup (cont’d.) Fred Lubno
Page 28 and 29: Hopatcong to Offer Traditional Holi
Page 30 and 31: Lake Hopatcong... A fine food and f
Page 32 and 33: Goodbye to My Lake Hopatcong Flower
Page 34 and 35: HISTORY George Washington Did Not S
Page 36 and 37: COOKING WITH SCRATCH © Cookies Are
Page 38 and 39: WORDS OF A FEATHER 38 Story and pho
Page 40 and 41: directory CONSTRUCTION/ EXCAVATION
Page 42 and 43: ORTHWEST EXPLOSIVES BLASTING CONTRA
Page 44: PLEASE JOIN LIVETHELAKENJ FOR THE 2

2023 Holiday Issue

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