FEATURED PHOTO: Representing the Monmouth Park Charity Fund on CM’s cover this month are (left to right) Maria Farhat Tanzola, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of MPCF; Maureen Lloyd, President of the Board of Trustees of MPCF; and Carol Stillwell, Proud Supporter of MPCF. | CREDIT: Carmela Caracappa Photography

Having raised nearly $9.9 million for those at risk or in need in the community, the MPCF is a reliable partner for local charities that have come to count on its financial support through Traditional Legacy Grants and several other grant programs. But 2020 is proving to be a year like none other, and the MPCF now finds itself in need of help more than ever before.

“With the cancellation of our Kentucky Derby (event) we are appealing to our supporters to pivot their sponsorships and reservations and make a straight donation to Monmouth Park Charity Fund,” said Debi Heptig, MPCF Director of Operations. “We have $115,000 toward our goal of $265,000. The success of this effort will determine our ability to distribute grants in 2020 so this is a truly important campaign for us, and for the 50+ local charities that count on our grants to run their programs.”

MPCF’s 17th Annual Kentucky Derby Party was postponed from May to align with the new September date for the Kentucky Derby race, but with the current state of the pandemic the event has been cancelled entirely. An elegant affair that draws more than 400 attendees annually, it is one of the most anticipated events each year in Monmouth County. Known for its Derby Hat Parade and Contest, raffles and auction, and specialty cocktails and cuisine, it is a true Derby celebration often attended by the sitting Governor and other notable figures. But more than a fun and exciting party, the day at the races is the main fundraiser for MPCF. Last year a new record was set with more than $417,000 raised, and those funds provided 99% of the 58 grants that were awarded by MPCF to local non-profits.

“In Monmouth County there is a diverse group of populations that use non-profit agencies to get their medical and mental needs met, food to put on their tables for family members, and an array of support services,” shared Maureen Lloyd, President of the Board of Trustees of MPCF. “In recent months, with the pandemic not seeming to leave us alone anytime soon, these agencies have been working around the clock. Our goal at MPCF is to continue our legacy of giving even during this dire time. We ask the community to continue to support MPCF! Although we have had to cancel our biggest event, we still are asking our past donors, attendees, and sponsors to support our goal of raising more than $265,000 by donating to our organization in the next few months so that the non-profit agencies we support through grants will be able to receive their check at MPCF’s Annual Tea in late October and carry on their service to our most vulnerable citizens.”

The Kentucky Derby Party and the fall Breeders Tin Cup Team Challenge for Charity are the two main fundraising events hosted by MPCF each year, while the Winner’s Circle Society Membership Reception and the Roberta O. Fox Annual Distribution Tea are held to honor members and award grants. On average, 80 non-profit agencies apply to MPCF each year for funding. A review committee determines which organizations receive grants, with typically 50 awarded annually. By bringing the leaders of various non-profits together in one room, the Annual Tea fosters a way for greater needs to be met.

“I was Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters for 20 years,” shared Heptig. “Every year all the (non-profit) agency Directors would attend the Annual Tea. It was our day to receive much needed funding, and it was our day to shine and share. So many of our most vulnerable in the county need a myriad of services, at the Tea we talked and figured out ways to do more by working together.”

The Annual Tea is an afternoon of giving and collaboration that sets the work of the Fund apart from what many other charities are doing, but it’s also a day of great emotion.

“One of my favorite parts of working with MPCF is presenting our Legacy Grants at our Tea,” said Maria Farhat Tanzola, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of MPCF. “Every recipient shares how the grants help their constituents and often there isn’t a dry eye in the room.”

An all-volunteer leadership, the Fund is run by a Board of 18 trustees and one staff member. With Monmouth Park Racetrack donating office space for the organization, 83% of all monies raised go directly to financial support of human service programs throughout Monmouth County. Strategic partnerships with New Jersey Natural Gas, the Grunin Foundation, CentraState Medical Center, and Hackensack Meridian Health have afforded even more opportunities for giving.

“Since learning of their mission, I have always been proud to support the Monmouth Park Charity Fund. The vision of MPCF to aid Monmouth County charities so they may carry out their diverse objectives in assisting the most vulnerable in our community aligns perfectly with my core beliefs and values,” said Carol Stillwell, President of Stillwell-Hansen and proud supporter of MPCF. “Many of the charities that benefit from MPCF are organizations that I already serve and truly speak to my heart, making MPCF a natural and ideal fit for my philanthropic endeavors.”

Beyond attending or supporting MPCF events through purchases or direct donations, as of 2018 a $500 individual donation offers membership into the Society. The Winner’s Circle Society, chaired by Sandy Mullaney and Anita Roselle, is a new initiative of the organization where members participate in determining how and to whom an annual grant called the Transformational Grant will be distributed. The first grant of the group was awarded this summer to The Arc of Monmouth for $13,750. The Society is currently 51 strong, and MPCF is looking to bring on 50 new members in time to complete its 75th Anniversary in July of 2022 as part of its planned year-long celebration.

For more information, to donate, or secure membership, please visit MPCharityFund.org.

The History of MPCF

In 1946 a group led by the late Amory L. Haskell of Middletown began a restoration of Monmouth Park Racetrack, which had been abandoned for 50 years. Under the new leadership of then-President Haskell, the Monmouth Park Jockey Club was born. In an effort to show their gratitude to the residents of Monmouth County for their assistance in making the dream of a revitalized racetrack a reality, Haskell and his partner, Philip H. Iselin, assembled a committee of 15 area women to plan a charity ball and carnival to be held at Monmouth Park. It was decided the money raised from the first charity ball in 1947 would be given back to the community by way of support for local charitable endeavors, a tradition that is honored by The Monmouth Park Charity Fund to this day.

Betty Iselin, wife of Philip, became the first president of the Charity Ball Committee, an office she held for 50 years. Haskell’s daughters, the late Anne Haskell Ellis of Middletown and Hope Haskell Jones of Rumson, were a vital part of the fundraising committee for more than 30 years. Hope Haskell Jones continues to be an active member of the Monmouth Park Charity Fund.

For many years, the Committee worked with the support and cooperation of the Monmouth Park Racetrack administration and enjoyed the many courtesies available to them. The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority purchased Monmouth Park in 1986 and continued to support the activities of the Fund. Today, Monmouth Park Racetrack is managed by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJTHA) and the organization continues the tradition of honoring the work of the MPCF.

FEATURED PHOTO CREDIT: Cathy Padilla

His recently released book, 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die, is a handy guide for fun days and exciting nights all along the New Jersey Coast. Listed below are great Monmouth County spots you may drive by often but infrequently stop to enjoy, as well as a few day trips a little to our south. Let’s raise a glass to a healthy, happy July and reacquainting ourselves with all our area has to offer.

Allenwood General Store

There’s a long tradition of general stores throughout America but they have gone by the wayside courtesy of Walmart and Target. The Allenwood General Store bucks that tradition having stood roughly in the same place since the 1850s. The Herbert Family reinvigorated the general store in 1972 and family members still run it today. When you walk in, you will be greeted by the deli counter staff who wear t-shirts that read, “Got pork roll?” In addition to that famous Jersey specialty item, they have a full menu for take-out or eating outside. Don’t miss the back rooms! There’s an amazing collection of antiques, brick-a-brack, and craft items typified by the humorous sign, “This isn’t a museum. It’s junk for sale.”

Visit: AllenwoodGeneralStore.com

Classic Boat Rides

On Captain Dan’s Classic Boat Rides get a peek into the homes of those who live quietly at the shore but regularly commute to the craziness of New York City. From May to October, jump onboard to sail from Atlantic Highlands in the Sandy Hook Bay and venture south into the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers by Red Bank, Rumson, Fair Haven, Middletown Township, and Sea Bright. You see the current homes of Jon Bon Jovi and Jon Stewart, the former homes of Telly Savalas and Geraldo Rivera, and the beach house featured in The Sopranos. Tours are two to three hours with live music Thursday evenings, a sunset cruise on Fridays, and a mansion tour Sunday afternoons. The newest boat is a 100-passenger paddle wheeler, the Navesink Queen, with a heated indoor space and a bar with drinks and snacks. This summer, Captain Dan is mostly offering small group cruise charters, morning trips for fishing, or afternoon, evening, and weekend trips under the Highlands Bridge.

Visit: ClassicBoatRides.com

Englishtown Auction and Flea Market

Despite the name, Englishtown Auction is not an auction, but a giant flea market that has been a fixture of Monmouth County for more than 90 years. What began in a rural farmland and orchard as a place to buy, trade, and sell livestock, farm equipment, and produce, is now a place to buy all those things (maybe not livestock) plus antiques and collectibles, clothing, tools, and much more. Open every Saturday and Sunday year-round, the flea market features five indoor buildings with about 300 vendors and a variety of taquerias and food stands. The action really takes place in a large open lot marked by temporary “streets” such as Fifth Avenue. With a low-cost seller price, Englishtown attracts all kinds of sellers from people looking to sell used items from attics or garages to vendors selling new products like iPads.

Visit: EnglishtownAuction.com.

Henry Hudson Trail

Imagine English explorer Henry Hudson anchoring his boat and walking along the peaceful southern shore of Sandy Hook Bay. He would have seen vibrant trees and fauna as they rose on a hill up to the highlands overlooking the bay. You can have a very similar experience on a two-mile section of the 24-mile-long Henry Hudson Trail that follows a former railroad right-of-way along the shoreline from the marina in Atlantic Highlands to Popamora Point in Highlands. Walkers, runners, and bikers will find a well-tended, gravel and dirt path that was reopened last year after parts of it were washed away in Superstorm Sandy in 2012. In the heat of summer, head there for a cool morning walk in the shade. If you start in Highlands, you can finish your workout with a refreshing dip in the Sandy Hook Bay or join the faithful in throwing out a line in hopes of catching fluke, striped bass, or bluefish.

Visit: MonmouthCountyParks.com.

Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash

He’s a filmmaker, actor, comedian, podcaster, and comic book writer from Monmouth County and his name is Kevin Smith. Not sure who he is? You’ve probably seen one of his movies such as Clerks, Mallrats, or Chasing Amy or his reality cable TV show, Comic Book Men. Although he lives in Los Angeles, his heart is still in Monmouth County as evidenced by his store Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash. Growing up in Red Bank and Highlands, Smith dreamed of owning a comic book store. With profits from his movie Clerks, he opened up Secret Stash in 1997. At this one-of-a-kind store in Red Bank, geek out and buy merch and apparel related to Smith’s films and characters, like Jay and Silent Bob. If you’re into comic books and collectibles, then stop by and enjoy what one fan calls the “Disneyland for nerds.” Make sure to stop in the rear of the store to take a selfie with props from Kevin Smith’s movies including Buddy Christ from Dogma.

Visit: JayandSilentBob.com

JBJ Soul Collective, Red Bank

“Where there is love, there is plenty.” That’s the manifesto of JBJ Soul Collective restaurants in Red Bank and Toms River. Run by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, these unique restaurants are part of an ongoing commitment by Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, to provide food for those in need, as well as job training for people interested in being part of the food industry. At these restaurants anyone can partake, choosing from a set menu. You pay what you want with a recommended price of around $25. You may rub shoulders with the rock star and his family or share a table with in-need customers.

Visit: JBJSoulKitchen.org.

New York Skyline, Keyport and Atlantic Highlands

Grab a blanket, a great book, and your favorite four-legged best friend for a walk along the water in either Keyport or Atlantic Highlands. Both towns offer marinas with views of the New York skyline dotted with elegant sailboats and the sound of gulls overhead. Open to the public year-round, bring along some quarters for the tower viewers in Keyport and see the Freedom Tower up close. Numerous local restaurants are in walking distance in both towns offering adult beverages and food with a view.

Ocean Grove Auditorium

Few American concert halls have featured concerts by John Philip Sousa, Enrico Caruso, Kenny Rogers, and The Beach Boys. Even fewer have natural acoustics that conductor Leonard Bernstein once compared to Carnegie Hall. More than 120 years ago, Ocean Grove’s founders built this amazing, mostly wooden building, originally with 10,000 seats. Eventually, they reduced capacity to 6,000 but it’s still one of the largest auditoriums in the state. Among its features are one of the world’s largest pipe organs and a huge painted American flag (circa 1916) at the back of the stage with light bulbs that flash in an undulating manner. Throughout a typical summer, the Auditorium hosts Sunday worship services, classical concerts, and a few pop rock vocalists and bands. Because the Auditorium has no air-conditioning, the barn-like sides of the Great Auditorium are often open for concerts. While many events have been rescheduled this summer, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has tentative plans for concerts and worship services later this summer.

Visit: OceanGrove.org/shows

Pine Creek Railroad

The history of New Jersey Museum of Transportation’s Pine Creek Railroad is more complicated than switching trains in Grand Central Station. It starts with a group of railroad enthusiasts who rescued a steam-powered locomotive from the Raritan River Sand Company around 1950, renaming it Pine Creek No. 1. After some fits and starts trying to operate a little narrow-gauge railroad as an amusement attraction along two different state roads, the Museum finally found a home at Allaire State Park, which already was established as an 1830s historic iron works village. Today, the Museum operates a steam train on a narrow gauge, half-mile track that runs through part of the park. The train yard is home to rare vintage pieces of railroad equipment, and admission is required for the train ride. If you want to see the Pine Creek No. 1 train, however, you’ll have to travel out west. It was sold more than 60 years ago and restored so it could operate at Disneyland.

Visit: njmt.org

The Breakers Hotel

There’s not one dominant architecture style that stands out in Spring Lake as much as the idea of the Gilded Age of American wealth and splendor exemplified in the choice of Spring Lake for scenes in the movies Ragtime and Once Upon a Time in America. Along the wide streets and tree-lined sidewalks sit majestic turn-of-the-century buildings, grand cottages, and historic bed-and-breakfast inns. At The Breakers on the Ocean Hotel, lean back in a chair on the veranda, close your eyes, and taste the ocean air while you imagine a simpler life.

Visit: BreakersHotel.com

Day Trips

Doo Wop District, the Wildwoods

Taking its name from the rock sound of Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell, the Doo Wop Motel District in the Wildwoods celebrates the mid-century or space-age architectural style of that era. With Vegas-like neon signs and giant plastic palm trees, these still-operating motels feature exotic names such as the Caribbean Motel and the Bel Air Motel, with more than 50 in Wildwood Crest alone.  Stop by the former Surfside Restaurant, which has been turned into the Doo Wop Experience, including a retro-style malt shop and outdoor neon garden. New this summer is the Doo Wop Drive-In offering breakfast and lunch. In the parking lot, they are serving dinner with a projected movie two nights a week.

Visit: DooWopUSA.org/project-02 and DooWopDriveIn.com

Howling Woods Farm, Jackson Township

More than a dozen wolfdogs and domestic-bred wolves at Howling Woods Farm have been featured in Vogue and Esquire, as well as music videos, television shows, and films such as Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. You can interact with, pet, and snap a selfie with the large, furry creatures during an hour-long tour. You can even practice your howling to get them to respond in kind with the classic wolf howl. Because New Jersey permits wolfdog ownership and surrounding states do not, this is the only related attraction within hundreds of miles. Reservations are required by phone, and the farm is open year-round every day except Monday. 

Visit: HowlingWoods.org

Island Heights

On busy Route 37 between Toms River and Seaside Heights, the turn-off sign for Island Heights is nearly invisible. Yet less than a mile south is the small river town of Island Heights, where a majority of its almost 400 structures were built during the Victorian era. Like Ocean Grove to the north, also on the National Register of Historic Places, the town grew from a Methodist camp meeting site in the late 1800s but never developed into a major tourist destination mostly because it sits on Toms River unlike its neighbors on the ocean. An outstanding example of the town’s architecture is the John F. Peto Studio Museum which the artist designed and built.

Visit: IslandHeightsBoro.com/history

Pine Barrens

With more than 1.1 million acres, the Pine Barrens make for a perfect outing and is closer to the Shore than you think. Created in 1978, it is the country’s first National Reserve. Despite its size, it can be challenging to figure out how and where you can explore this vast area of our state. One of the busiest outfitters close to the Jersey Shore is Mick’s Canoe & Kayak Rental. It provides online video instruction and, on site, points you to the best trails of the Wading and Oswego rivers.

For the more adventurous, check out Pinelands Adventures.

Tuckerton Seaport and Baymen’s Museum

Long before boardwalks and amusement parks, most people along the Jersey Shore worked in the maritime industry. At the Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum 20 minutes north of Atlantic City, explore the life of a boat builder, fisherman, decoy maker, fishmonger, or volunteer who rescued people and boats from the Atlantic Ocean. Climb to the top of the reproduction of the Tucker’s Island Lighthouse to see how these men and women sailed out of Tuckerton Creek to Tuckerton Bay and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. 

Visit: TuckertonSeaport.org

Whale Watching in Cape May

Whale watching in Cape May dates back to 1987, a decade after the city revitalized itself as a tourist destination with a nod to Victorian architecture. Captain Ron Robbins started whale watching trips, leaving bait and fishing rods home in favor of binoculars and suntan lotion. With his vessel, the Holiday, a former fishing vessel, Ron slowly plied the waters of Delaware Bay and the nearby Atlantic Ocean, with great success finding Humpback, Fin, and Right Whales. Since then, two other companies have followed in his footsteps, offering multiple two-to-three-hour trips per day in season. There are almost always dolphins diving in the waves at the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, but the real stars of the show are the occasional whales.

Visit: CapeMayWhaleWatcher.com and CapeMayWhaleWatch.com

CM: Does Owen have any favorite things?

Lori: It is a toss-up which is his favorite food, either grilled chicken or turkey. He doesn’t have a best friend but loves to watch all the dogs walk by while he sits on the front porch. Of course, he sleeps in bed with us! You have to lift up the blanket and he burrows all the way under it. Sometimes I’m worried he can’t breathe. He loves to take walks. It doesn’t matter where we are going, I swear he could walk for miles if I let him. His favorite toy is a stuffed giraffe. He would make you throw it all day if he could.

CM: What do you love most about Owen?

Lori: There are so many things that he does that make us laugh. Any time we sit down to dinner he turns in circles at 100 miles-per-hour because he knows we will give him something to eat. Sometimes we just look at him and laugh because he’s so cute. He actually hates clothes! Even his little green boots. I’ll put a sweatshirt on him, and I’ll turn around for a second and the sweatshirt will be on one side of the floor and he’ll be on the other.

FEATURED PHOTO: Stephanie and Mark Cartier | CREDIT: Carmela Caracappa Photography

The building stands out, not only for its color and bright logo, but for the intention behind the business. The new-concept eatery, called No Limits Cafe, is a luncheonette and 501(c)(3) employing and training people with intellectual disabilities. Their motto, Eat Well – Do Good, encapsulates co-founders Stephanie and Mark Cartier’s desire to have the community frequent the restaurant not only for the food, but to support an often-forgotten population.

The reality is only 20% of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are employed, and those who are often are paid below minimum wage. Add in the fact that very few restaurants hire or even consider people with such challenges and you have a perfect storm for limited access to work.

“When young adults age out of the educational system at 21, they have few opportunities at meaningful employment,” shared Mark. “This time in someone’s life is called ‘falling off the cliff’. A few years back, we realized that our daughter, Katie, would likely fall off the proverbial cliff, so we decided to do something. We looked at various businesses, but settled on the restaurant idea.”

No strangers to having an impact in the community, both Mark and Stephanie are involved in their church, St. Catharine’s in Holmdel, and have both advocated for children with ID. Mark has been involved in Rally Cap Sports (RCS) since the early 2000s. RCS is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing recreational sports programs for people with special needs. The sports include baseball, football, tennis, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and golf. While for eight years Stephanie was the co-chair of Middletown Friends of Diverse Learners (MTFODL), the state mandated special education advisory group required in all school districts. She worked as a liaison between parents of special education students and the school administration to better the special education programs and to promote inclusion within the schools.

“Monmouth County is a wonderful place to raise your children; so many parks and beaches,” said Stephanie. “But Monmouth County is also a great place to raise a child with special needs, as there are a lot of outside of school activities that a child with disabilities can be a part of. FRA (Family Resource Associates), Rally Cap Sports, Dance with Jay, Karate with Jay, Dorbrook Park Special Needs Activities and Camp, and that’s just to name a few.”

The local community is also proving to be a great place for adults with special needs, as many local business owners and neighbors are not only in favor of the No Limits Cafe but are pitching in to help wherever they can.

A big fan of the movie The Breakfast Club, Stephanie relates to the inclusive theme of the film where a group of students thrown together in a Saturday detention learn to find common ground. Encouraged by the idea that different types of people can find they are more alike than different, she is hoping to take her movement of inclusivity beyond the doors of their restaurant.

“What we hope to achieve is the ‘multiplier effect’,” said Stephanie. “The unemployment rate is 80% for people with Intellectual Disabilities. By opening No Limits Cafe, we can help to change that by hiring 33 employees with ID. The multiplier effect will be our Phase II in which we will train others with ID that don’t work at our café in an evening program. We have a community liaison that will go to other local restaurants to see if they will hire someone we train. We will then continue to support any employees that are hired in other places.”

“Don’t limit me,” has become more than an inspiring quote to the Cartier family. Katie, now a sophomore in college, pushes the boundaries of what is expected as her parents work tirelessly to give similar opportunity to others with ID.

FEATURED PHOTO: Nancy Zarriello | CREDIT: Carmela Caracappa Photography

During the month of February our country honors presidents, football champions, movie stars, love of every kind, and groundhogs with special events, holidays, and celebrations. But the second month on our calendars is also designated for the battle against heart disease, and since 1963, February has been American Heart Month. Bringing this nationally recognized crusade closer to home is Nancy Zarriello who, on February 4, was honored at the Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards for 2020.

You may know Nancy as a long-time teacher in Lincroft, or maybe you’ve bumped into her walking her dog down by the water in her hometown of Sea Bright. But after a cardiac scare last year, she has joined an elite group of women who have made heart health their goal as part of the Live Longer and Stronger challenge, and recently flaunted it on the red carpet at Lincoln Center as part of the 17th annual awards ceremony.

“With my health such a focus at that time, I was drawn to the article and the thought of my very own heart health makeover,” explained Nancy. “I had written a book three years earlier and had done nothing with it, so I honestly wrote in to validate my writing skills. But with all that has happened, this health scare that was once a huge negative has turned into something positive.”

The challenge is designed to help real-life women lower their risk of heart disease, lose weight, and adopt a happy, healthy lifestyle they can sustain. Nancy was one of five women selected from across the country and given a tailored and ongoing nutrition and exercise counseling program from nutrition expert Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN.

“After making it through several rounds, I was thrilled and grateful to be selected for the opportunity to help spread awareness,” said Nancy. “For the past eight months, we were given monthly challenges and biweekly calls with Joy and the LLS team. We also have monthly Google hangout chats with experts from Northwell Health. Because of this challenge, I have totally changed my diet, improved my endurance and stamina, lost 24 pounds, 23 inches, and dropped my cholesterol 87 points!”

The LLS challenges introduced Nancy to many things she had never tried or worked-on before. One centered on motivation, another helped her learn the importance of proper sleep, and the final task was practicing mindful eating and slowing down the process of a meal. But discovering new exercises would lead Nancy back to the hospital. “When I submitted the video of me climbing a mountain in Upstate New York, Joy Bauer and the LLS team were concerned when I expressed how I couldn’t breathe,” said Nancy. “I ended up at NYU where the Director of Women’s Health ordered a cardiac catheterization, angiogram, and microvascular testing to assess my heart health. Subsequently, I became part of a study to test for microvascular disease (MVD) found in women, in a less invasive way. My tests came back negative for MVD but did confirm a blockage. I learned that more women than men die during their first heart attack because women’s bodies are prone to hardening of the microvascular system. NYU is doing cutting-edge research to try and understand everything about how this happens.”

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the United States and has been for many years, yet only in the past 20 years has the movement toward awareness for women taken shape. In 1999, Woman’s Day then editor-in-chief Jane Chesnutt co-founded the Women with Heart Lunch to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA). That same year, the nation’s first organization to address the issue of heart disease in women was founded. But it wasn’t for another three years, in 2002, that The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched The Heart TruthSMcampaign and the Red Dress® as the symbol for women and heart disease awareness. Two years later, in 2004, Woman’s Day held its first Red Dress Awards to honor those who make a significant contribution to the fight against heart disease specifically in women.

One of Nancy’s favorite quotes sums up the past year for her, “If you want change in your life, go make it happen. You’re the only one who can.” Married to her best friend, Scott, for more than 30 years, Nancy had many good reasons to make the changes she needed to stay on a healthy course.

“We absolutely love living in Sea Bright,” said Nancy. “In the summer, we only travel by foot or bike. It’s a great walking community offering everything we need. It helps me to make sure to get my 10k steps in every day. I also log my food and find it a fun challenge when eating out to swap menus for healthier options. I look at food differently now and have become more mindful of what I put in my mouth. My passions going forward are to continue my writing and my heart health journey and spreading awareness, because it’s a life-long change for me. I am better and stronger than I was eight months ago and I plan to continue. I’d also like to improve my golf game, but that may be a bigger ask!”

Readers can view Nancy’s journey on Instagram @movingswiftlyoverfifty.

CM: What are some programs at Fulfill that you are excited about or that you want others to know about?

KG: Our “Packed with Love” Backpack Program is amazing. All too many children go hungry over the weekend when there is no school breakfast or lunch. Fulfill’s “Packed with Love” Backpack Program fills that gap, providing kids with nutritious meals, drinks, and snacks so they don’t have to wait until Monday morning to satisfy their hunger. Fulfill has partnered with area schools to discreetly fill their backpacks with packages of food to take home with them to eat on Saturday and Sunday. Those children are identified by teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, and cafeteria workers in a variety of ways; some are thin, have cracked lips, race to get food on Monday morning, scoff their meals down, ask for seconds, hoard their food, show behavioral problems, have excessive absences, and have trouble concentrating. Right now, Fulfill has 30 participating schools which serve about 1000 children per week, but could add ten more schools tomorrow if there was more funding.

Even in college, kids are still hungry. We bring our mobile food pantry to local colleges, including Brookdale Community College. The pantry visits the campuses two times a month. The first time we arrived at one school, we served fresh fruit and vegetables to 100 kids in 40 minutes. It’s about going in and being a part of the community. Another great program is our Seafood Gleaning Program. We have partnered with local fishermen and vessels to reduce the waste of fresh fish that cannot be sold and give it to people who are food insecure through a process known as gleaning. In fact, it’s a “First in Nation” Volunteer Pilot Program bringing much needed protein to food bank recipients.

CM: What are some ways people can help or get involved?

KG: Everyone can help. Monetary donations are critical as we are 87% donor funded. Every dollar is worth three meals. To donate or volunteer, go to fulfillnj.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. We also ask the public to follow Fulfill on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram and share our posts to help raise awareness about hunger.

CM: Are there any upcoming events at Fulfill?

KG: This month we are beginning a campaign called Shine Light on Hunger. It sounds funny, but someone donated 52,000 of LED light bulbs. We will be distributing them to our neighbors. Think about it, $5.00 a box, two light bulbs. That’s five dollars that can be spent on another necessity. These little things make a big difference. We want to send the message that we do more than deliver food to pantries. We try to provide wrap-around services, so people get off the line.

CM: Of all the positions you have held throughout your career, which is your favorite?

KG: I’ve had a lot of cool jobs in my life. The Sheriff of Monmouth County; running a 650-person law enforcement agency, the jail, 911 communications, the officers who protect the judges and serve warrants. That was a pretty cool job, especially being the first woman doing it. I was the first Lt. Governor ever, man or woman; that was pretty cool, too. But Fulfill… this is completely satisfying. It’s been fabulous.

CM: Besides work, where else can you be found?

KG: I still have responsibilities and clients at Connell Foley. I can be found there and working with them, but mostly you can find me with my family, making up for lost time. When I was in office, my life was not my own. I was working seven days a week, eighteen-hour days. I didn’t realize I was gone until I came home. I was literally gone for a solid eight years. Life was not my own; it was a public fishbowl all the time. Now that we get to spend time together, I can really appreciate my family. Most nights you can find us sitting on the back porch.  We live right in Monmouth Beach, so we are on the water. We just sit together and enjoy the river, something I wasn’t able to do for ten years. We are making up for lost time.

CM: What made you decide to call Monmouth County your home?

KG: I met my husband Mike in Brooklyn, but he was Monmouth County born and raised. I was born in Iowa but moved around a lot as a child, so I didn’t get to grow up around a lot of family. When Mike and I decided to start our own family, we wanted to raise our children in his hometown of Monmouth Beach. I wanted my children to grow up in a place where everybody knew them, and they knew everybody. We found that here. I was married here, all three of my children were baptized here. They went to the schools here and now that the kids are out of the house, when they come home, they can just pick up where they left off with their friends. I love the people of Monmouth County. I have been in almost every municipality in the state and when I saw how good the people of Monmouth County are to each other, especially after Superstorm Sandy, I knew I would never leave.

CM: Tell me about your family. 

KG: My husband, Mike, was a judge of the NJ Superior Court, he and I married in 1991. Together, we have three sons, Kevin, Michael, and Anderson. Kevin is 25 and a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He just finished a tour in South Korea and is now flying the F16 on his way to flying the F35 in Utah. Michael is a Dartmouth graduate where he was on the crew team and is now working in finance in NYC. Anderson is 19, a graduate of Shore Regional High School and currently at a tech school in Bloomfield.

CM: Who are the people you spend the most time with?

KG: Besides my family, I surround myself with strong women friends. As often as we can, we get together and walk the boards. We start in Asbury and walk as far as we can, turn around and come back. It’s about eight miles. We have been doing this for the past two years, and it’s one of my favorite things to do.

CM: You are seen as a woman who gets things done and makes things happen. How else would you like people to perceive you?

KG: Happy, cheerful, hopeful, and ready for a laugh…not always in that order and it doesn’t always work out that way. That’s a question I’ve never had someone ask me.

CM: Do you have any words of wisdom, something you would like to leave our readers with?

KG: Take risks and do what you love to do. I spent a life of taking risks and created a great life by doing so. I would ask myself before making a decision, ‘would I regret it if I didn’t do it?’ If the answer was yes, I did it. I’d also say, never write in pencil. I never would have thought or would have done all that I have done. If you had told me the path I would travel, I never would have believed you. I am grateful for those who took me along with them. To steal a line from Anna Quindlen “reach as you rise”. It was done for me, and I make it a point to do it for others. As I move forward, I take someone along with me.

CM: What is next for you?

KG: My husband and I plan on traveling and enjoying our home. I want to practice a little more law. Ultimately, I want to put myself out of business. I have an obligation to try and end hunger, by doing so I will be out of a job; that is my plan.

By adding state-of-the-art technology and software, sound proofing, and a good deal of insulation to the structure of the 4500-square-foot barn built by Amish builders, Mountain Hill Investment Partners functions just as any other bustling financial office. Only instead of honking cabs and shouting traders, with the windows open, you can hear the sounds of goats and sheep out back mixed with the delighted voices of children playing in the school’s new playground. It offers a relaxed vibe that seems to suit the casually dressed Andy and his partner Mike Meyers and combines the most fast-paced business possible with an air of grounded, country good-sense. A visit leaves one somewhat confused by what your senses take-in but delighted and encouraged to have stepped into one man’s vision of what life can grant and how the art of simplification can extend to helping others simplify their own lives.

A perpetually forward thinker, Andy has found a new passion to build upon that is reaching thousands who would normally never get the opportunity for guidance from an advisor of his stature. A Registered Investment Adviser, he manages investment portfolios for individuals and families, but he has taken that and expanded it from just those who can afford to hire him, to almost anyone who has a full-time job. As the complicated world of retirement changes and investing for a future that may no longer include a pension becomes more a reality than not for most, HR managers are no longer equipped to handle employee needs when it comes to their 401ks.

“I wouldn’t have my lawyer do my taxes, and I wouldn’t have my accountant represent me in court,” said Andy. “It’s important to have the right person advise on the right topic. In the corporate 401k advisory space, we are great at educating and encouraging employees to use their plan to improve their retirement outcomes. We help companies control risk and drive down costs in the 401k plan to keep them ERISA compliant, and we spend considerable time with Corporate CEO/CFO types ensuring they are providing the best plan to their employees. But we also work with each employee, individually, as part of our service.”

By offering his guidance across the spectrum to his corporate clients, whether working with the CFO or the new hire just out of college swimming in student loan debt, Andy is using his approachable and articulate style to simplify complicated and often scary financial decisions for the masses. Exuberant in his excitement for what comes next for his company, and all the people they will be able to help, Andy seizes every moment.

“Carpe Diem,” said Andy of his favorite quote. “When I stopped my crazy commute to NYC, I ended up saving 60 hours per month, that’s a full week of extra time to seize! This allows me many more touchpoints in all the things that are important to me – work, family, reading, investments, real estate, exercise, visiting my son in college, client interactions, etc. My advice is to take advantage of the time you have and to create time in your life to do the things that are important to you. Get up early and seize the day.”

Aware of how quickly time marches on, Andy has found ways to enjoy the moments as they happen. He spends a lot of his free time at their family cottage in Vermont, skiing with his wife and children. He uses his time mowing the grass or feeding the animals to unwind from the cares of the day and finds his ability to help at the school when needed a perk for which he would not have had the time with any other office location. When asked about future plans or where he sees their lives going, he circles back to how education has become so important to him. Not only being able to help his wife with the development of young minds, but his growing love for being an educator himself and the thousands of lives he is touching and changing by offering solid financial guidance. Grounded in the moment, he leaves both the past and the future to fend for themselves.

“Work hard, play hard, repeat,” shared Andy. “I would add something most of your older readers already know – life moves very fast. My wife and I went from having kids in diapers to kids in college in a flash, proving that life happens while you are waiting for life to happen.”

Work hard, play hard, and if you can manage to have it all happen on your own 12-acre farm, with a school and a log cabin, all the better. Having found what many would call a personal paradise, certainly a personal triumph through challenge, Andy loves his work, his commute home is a walk down the hill, and he does it all on his farm, and in his barn, following his own rules.

FEATURED PHOTO: Salvatore Cannizzaro at home | CREDIT: Carmela Caracappa Photography

The term was born to popular culture on February 2, 1832 on the floor of the United States Senate when Henry Clay used it to describe individuals whose success came from within, owing little or nothing to birth, relationships, inherited wealth, or access to the best schooling. After meeting Salvatore Cannizzaro, his story may be the one you think of first when the notion of self-made is again heard. But it’s a story of a man who was not entirely without assistance. His help came from the ocean, his love for boats, and a deep desire to achieve.

A first-generation youngest son, born to immigrant parents from Sicily, Sal lost his dad when he was only three-years-old. His mother raised him and his younger brother on her own in New York, and Sal speaks of the challenges his family faced as having been “underprivileged”. Because times were difficult, Sal learned early that money and work were a priority. In middle school he joined a program allowing him to learn the trade of printing. While other kids were out playing ball, Sal was finding ways to make things happen.

One of the ways Sal discovered to make things happen came from an old fishing pole. Having found it while riding his bike, Sal used the encountered treasure to fish for dinner, taking his prizes from the sea home to his mother. But the young boy would take so much more from his afternoons watching the boats glide under the Verrazzano Bridge. A deep desire, a dream, a goal formed that would lead to uncommon success.

“I used to sit there fishing as a kid, watching all the beautiful boats,” shared Sal. “I promised myself one day I would have a luxury boat and sail under the Verrazzano too. The day I achieved my vision was amazing. I took our first boat, the Lady Diana named for my daughter, and I made my dream come true.”

Today, Sal and his wife of 38-years, Debbie, live in a home in Rumson on the banks of the Navesink. His private dock leads to their latest boat, The Blue Moon, and a lifetime of dreams fulfilled.

Sal is the founder of both Immediate Care Medical Walk-In Centers and SFC Enterprises, Inc., a real estate development company. But his path as an entrepreneur started much earlier. At the age of 24, after having worked for several printing companies, Sal started his own print shop. At first printing whatever was needed, be it fliers or invitations, he soon discovered an unmet need in the market. Generic drug makers, known as private labels, were looking for companies to print their packaging. Most other operations didn’t want to take on these smaller jobs, but Sal willingly did and became the go-to label and packaging manufacturer.

His company, Innovative Folding Carton Co., which is still operating today as Multi Packaging Solutions (MPS), sustained much growth and several relocations. When Innovative purchased a building in South Plainfield, Sal managed the complete renovation and subsequent 35,000 square foot expansion of the building, ultimately creating a showcase 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The company grew to be a profitable, highly-respected manufacturer that employed 270 people. In 1998, Sal sold the company to a venture capital firm and set off on a new adventure.

Knowing he has a knack for all things design-related, and not wanting to be retired at too young of an age, Sal started SFC Enterprises believing he could continue to develop real estate successfully. Today he runs the business with his son, Frank.

“My next goal is to take my vision, along with my son, Frank, and continue to watch it flourish,” said Sal. “We can bring it to reality together, so I can then spend more time helping others in the community, traveling with my wife, fishing, and boating.”

Sal saw another need in the marketplace and set out to make something new happen yet again. Having the ability to build commercial and medical offices, in 2012 Sal took the urgent care concept and combined it with primary care in the same location. Now he has a group of nine urgent care centers throughout New Jersey.

“We are unique in the fact that we can design and build the medical space for these practices and are able to get to market quicker and more economically,” said Sal. “On a more personal level, I believe what sets me apart from others is the ability to bring an approach filled with innovative ideas, passion, and charisma to work every day not only for myself, but for my employees, helping to create a unique family environment in the workplace.”

Immediate Care Medical Walk-In Centers have been fulfilling another dream of Sal’s for the past five years by giving back to kids in the local community. (See below). When asked what project he’ll tackle next, Sal is quick to reply that he looks forward to more time with Debbie on his boat, since he’s been promising her for years that he’ll retire. However, he’s also quick to mention some ideas he has to help children and the elderly. It will be interesting to see what Sal makes happen next.

Name: Salvatore F. Cannizzaro, is married to Debbie. They have two grown children: Frank and Diana. Frank is the Vice President of Construction for SFC Enterprises, Inc. Diana is a Team Sports Reporter at Philadelphia Soul.

Nicknames: Sal or Mr. C.

Monmouth County Connection: Lived in Holmdel for 17 years, currently lives in Rumson on the Navesink River. Owns Immediate Care Medical Walk-In Centers and SFC Enterprises, Inc.

Best life tip to share: “Be humble, listen, always stay positive, and don’t take no for an answer.”

Favorite Quote: “Make it Happen.”

Three words he feels best describe him: “Charismatic, passionate, visionary.”

Most influential person in his life: “My wife is my anchor and keeps me in perspective.”

TAKING KIDS ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Sal Cannizzaro, CEO of Immediate Care Medical Walk-In of New Jersey, will be hosting the 5th Annual Kids Fishing Trip on Monday, August 19 out of Atlantic Highlands on the Mi-Jo. Sponsored by Immediate Care, in support of community organizations including Father Time, the RAINE Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesex Counties and The Frances Foundation, about 60 children and adults will get to enjoy a fun day of fishing on the 75-foot charter boat. Immediate Care also received great support this year from Hope For Children Foundation.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Sal, who is passionate about giving back to the community. “I’m grateful for all of our partners and sponsors that make this event possible and help it to grow year after year.”

In addition to enjoying a fun day of fishing on the boat, the kids who catch the biggest fish will receive first, second, and third place prizes donated by Mangia Brick Oven Pizza of Shrewsbury.

CM: What has given you particular satisfaction?

Cindy: Working with different people and groups to tackle and stop eight ocean dumpsites was one of the most joyful and inspiring aspects of COA. We even stopped one site, the hazardous waste incineration site, before it started. Many years ago, people had a very convenient place to dump their waste – the ocean. Over the years, garbage washed-up on the beaches and dead animals too. There were cholera banks, a wood burning site and eventually more industrialized materials (acid waste) and municipal waste (sewage sludge) were dumped. That was the mentality. And these sites were managed by the federal government and sanctioned by the Environmental Protection Agency! Back then the general thinking was, “Here’s a good idea: the ocean’s free, it’s open 365 days a year and it doesn’t scream when you dump into it.” The ocean didn’t have a real voice back then and COA became the voice of the ocean. The last of these dumpsites closed in 2000. We began in 1984 – it took 15 years. It seemed like a long time to us, but I’ve been talking to folks who thought it would never end because there was so much money to be made in dumping. Today, people who never knew the history of ocean dumping are shocked and appalled. Therein lies a true victory and joy because it helps to ensure we will never go back to those barbaric ways.

CM: And plastics! What are the ramifications?

Cindy: We have become very plastic dependant and wasteful. As a result, plastic debris is omni-present in our lives from the atmosphere to the deepest trenches in the ocean. We are the source of all plastic. For example, every time it rains the water washes litter from the streets and sidewalks into storm drains that lead to the waterways and ultimately the ocean. Much litter is also blown into the ocean from the wind. The plastic and other debris are not just on the surface; they literally are in the entire water column. Every piece of plastic in the ocean breaks into microplastics and becomes smaller and smaller. A study estimates that people are now ingesting 50,000 pieces of microplastics every year, coming from the water or from the air, or on and in our food — even getting into some fish tissue. In fact, many marine animals are also eating plastic mistaking it for food. They die of starvation because their stomachs are packed with plastic. One example was a juvenile sperm whale in Europe who struggled and eventually died so emaciated, he looked like a giant flattened plastic bag on the beach. Sixty-four pounds of plastic were found in his stomach. At least we can bear witness to this when sea life washes-up on the beach. I don’t know how many millions of marine animals are dying every year that we don’t see. There is no way we can blame plastics on anything else except “we the people.” And it’s “we the people” who must solve this problem.

CM: In the 35 years of COA, what changes have you observed in the waterways’ conditions?

Cindy:It is a mixed bag. On the one hand, ocean water quality has vastly improved. When we started there was an area known as the “dead sea” because it was just thick with sewage sludge and industrial waste. That area has recovered. Marine life is certainly coming back and garbage washups or beach closings due to raw sewage are rare. We’ve gone from being the nation’s laughingstock to a premier international coastal tourism destination. We depend so much on the ocean–the oxygen we breathe, the $32 billion tourism industry, and fishing. They are all gifts the ocean provides for free. All she asks is that we keep her healthy. On the other hand, the ocean is in crisis from climate change caused by the use of fossil fuels, including plastics production, by the way. Many know climate change causes sea level rise, but it also causes ocean acidification that is changing the pH of the ocean which can kill plankton that provides us with life-supporting oxygen. As for our other waterways, they are becoming more polluted from runoff and old sewer systems. In recent years we’ve heard people have become sick by falling into the Navesink River, and an area was downgraded. In response, COA started Rally for the Navesink, and is tracking and reducing “poo”-llution. We are also using this program as a model for other waterways.

CM: What is the greatest challenge for COA?

Cindy: Keeping people aware of the enormous effort, year-round vigilance, and resources it requires in order to keep the ocean clean. If COA was to close up shop, as they say, the ocean and waterways that lead to it would revert very quickly back to being polluted. Most kids today have never heard of ocean dumping. They’re starting from, “The ocean is always clean when I go to it.” Well, it’s always clean because we worked really hard to get it that way! Schools need to keep teaching how important the environment is and peoples’ role in protecting it, especially from climate change and plastics. I’ve talked to teenagers who are despondent about the environment and they don’t know what to do. That’s not healthy. They all have the power to do something and I really want to empower youth to take on these challenges and see that they can make a difference. Despair, or ignoring the problem, or hoping it goes away are not healthy responses. Nature can heal if we give her a chance.

CM: Is there a current fight for the ocean being waged by COA?

Cindy: There are some really big fights going on, but the chronic problems – plastic plague, “poo”llution in the waterways from fecal contamination, fertilizer – those are the greatest challenges right now in addition to climate change. There are also site-specific issues. Currently, a private company has proposed a pipeline off the Raritan Bay and into Sandy Hook and our ocean. The company admits it would resuspend about a million tons of toxic mud into the water column and would spill nearly 700,000 gallons of drilling mud into the water. It also would result in a horrifying amount of air pollution. The project is allegedly to deliver natural gas to New York but an independent study found New York doesn’t need the pipeline. New York and New Jersey oppose the project and denied the permits, but there is a loophole and the company has reapplied. The pipeline must be stopped. There is no benefit to our state.

CM: What impact can ordinary citizens make to help in the cause?

Cindy: Vote! to have a voice. Of key importance is knowing who is representing you. Engaging in democracy is step one. Knowing who you are voting for and what their position is on the environment should be one of your core principles for life. Also, people may consider making a donation. COA relies largely on donations. I try to remind people to consider what a day at the beach and being able to dive into the clean ocean are worth to them. COA also hosts many Beach Sweeps in which citizens of all ages can participate, and all year round, people can reduce their use of plastics, especially single use!

CM: Are there unusual items recovered on the beach during the Beach Sweeps?

Cindy: We find the wackiest things on the beach in our clean-ups. We keep a “Roster of the Ridiculous” and find things like voodoo dolls, a photo of Mao Tse Tung and, literally, a kitchen sink. You wonder how these items get out there.

CM: What do you do in your free time; what keeps you positive?

(Cindy’s dedication to COA was more subtly revealed by her need to pause and really wrack her brain about her “free time”.)

Cindy: Hmm, I like to garden…and I am mostly inspired by people stepping up, demonstrating leadership and wanting to help.

CM: Have you seen the next generation “stepping up”?

Cindy: Yes. One example is a fabulous high school senior who came to us after SuperStorm Sandy. Students were displaced and the school and teachers in Middletown were perplexed as to how to provide them with a good learning experience and so the school, very innovatively, established a program of internships. Derek Noah came to interview us and others to see which organization would pass muster with him. He decided on COA, lucky for us. He was with us for six months and became inspired to work on environmental issues. He now works for Terracycle, one of the most innovative recycling companies in the world, and is still so supportive of our work. He wants to engage young people so he is starting a young professionals board for COA and we couldn’t be more thrilled.

CM: Do you have a  favorite quote?

Cindy: I like “A rising tide lifts all boats” because it’s really true that everyone benefits when we all work together.

FUN FACTS

350 species of birds and 300 species of fish depend on NJ’s coast and ocean

5 species of sea turtles enjoy the Jersey shore. Only 7 species of sea turtles exist in the world.

Beach Sweeps by the Numbers since 1985:

• 6,742,941 pieces of trash removed
• 133,390 volunteers donated 800,340 hours

Beach Sweeps in just 2018:

• 81.77% of debris was plastic
• 5,470 balloons collected–a record amount
• $751,662 value of volunteer time

Impact: COA’s Beach Sweep data was used to:

• help pass a statewide smoking ban on New Jersey’s beaches
• fix the state-wide Bag Fee Bill
• support 28 (and counting) municipalities banning single use products

For information on how you can help, contact cleanoceanaction.org or call 732.872.0111.

*Note: Clean Ocean Action does not canvas door to door, and is not Clean Water Action.