CNJ+ December 2025

DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE 177

FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS

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DO YOU NEED A LAWYER IN MUNICIPAL COURT? BY JOHN BAZZURRO As indicated on our website, there are numerous charges that are heard in the Municipal Courts in the State of New Jersey. These range from low level motor vehicle violations such as going through a stop sign, careless driving, failure to maintain your lane and other charges that generally carry very low fines and two or less motor vehicle points. If you have been charged with any motor vehicle violation that carries more than two motor vehicle points upon a conviction, we suggest that you obtain the advice of counsel before going to court. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with some information as to whether or not they need legal representation in Municipal Court on a low-level motor vehicle violation that carries two or less motor vehicle points. As most citizens of New Jersey know, municipal prosecutors will, generally, as a matter of course offer a “no point” or “zero point” violation as part of a plea bargain if you are charged with one of these low-level motor vehicle violations. The monetary cost of these “no point” or “zero point” violations are rather excessive in that you are required to pay a $250.00 surcharge for this “privilege.” The statute which provides this “no point” plea is called the unsafe driving statute. The basic theory in accepting a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain is to potentially avoid motor vehicle points on your license in order to keep your auto insurance premiums lower and, potentially, to avoid the suspension of your driving privileges where you are in danger of accumulating 12 motor vehicle points which will result in a temporary suspension of driving privileges. However, it should be pointed out that there are a number of situations in which your acceptance of such a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain may adversely affect your rights without your knowledge. One such situation is where you have already previously pled guilty to unsafe driving on more than one occasion. Your third guilty plea to unsafe driving within a certain period of time will subject you to four motor vehicle points when you may be under the mistaken belief that you will not be receiving any motor vehicle points. Another such situation where you potentially will need legal representation is where the low-level motor vehicle violation is the result of a motor vehicle accident. The bottom line is that, regardless of what type of motor vehicle violation you are charged with, you should seek the advice of an attorney before appearing in Municipal Court by yourself and entering into a plea bargain which may subject you to other legal ramifications of which you were not aware. Typically, when we receive a call for a motor vehicle violation, we initially attempt to obtain as much information as possible from the potential client to determine whether or not they will require legal representation given their individual circumstances. Accordingly, please feel free to contact us to discuss your individual situation to determine whether or not legal representation is required. •LICENSED AND BONDED APPRAISERS • TOP CASH PAID For Estate Jewelry & Watches and Coins • FREE Evaluation! Entire Estates - We Make House Calls! JEWELRY EXCHANGE We Buy…Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Estate Jewelery, Coins, And Watches MONROE JEWELERS FAMILY JEWELER SINCE 1974 WWW.7NJGOLD.COM JOHN T. BAZZURRO, Esq. JARED SPARNROFT, Esq. 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com • BAZZURROLAW.COM Pickup Special $ 9.99 Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars WATCH BATTERIES $ 4 . 99

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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CARPET & FLOORING STORE 28 CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES Join us for lunch or dinner! receipt available. All GPE products are distributed free of charge. Average reader per copy is 2.1. No copying or reproduction of the content of this newspaper is allowed without the express written permission from the publisher. GPEs publisher/owner reserves the rights over all electronic copying and reproduction of material contained here within. The publisher, editor, agents, and sales Credit for mistakes shall not exceed the costs of the ad in the month which the error occurred. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars Jared Sparnroft, Esq. 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ Email: jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com 732-410-5350 • www.bazzurrolaw.com Our Patio is open!! • Personal Injury • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Nursing Home Neglect • Wills • Municipal Court Practice, Including Defense of DWI, Traffic Tickets and Non-Indictable Offenses • Workers Compensation • General Civil Litigation • Employment Law • Residential and Commercial Real Estate Transactions Book Your Party at The Roost! ©2015 by Gunther Publishing Ent. The content of GPE publications

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I Remember Dad: SO BE, THESE PRECIOUS ATTIC TREASURES By Richard Mabey Jr.

My grandmother, Bertha Storms Mabey, once told me that when my dad came home from the war that he became a bit of a recluse. He spent hours upon hours working on his train set layout in the up stairs hallway. Grandma also told me that Dad lost himself in book after book. Simply put, Dad loved to read. In 1946, when Dad came home to his family homestead at the end of Mabey Lane, Grandma told me that my father had become very quiet and withdrawn. Dad had returned from a long stay at Hickam Airfield in Hawaii, which was located right next to Pearl Harbor. While Dad was not present at the time of the Japanese air attack, my father did help in cleaning up Hickam after the Japanese attack. It was some thing that my father could hardly ever talk about. And, the very few times that he did talk about it, he would get very emotional. Right after he came home from Hickam Airfield, Dad began work ing at Moon Carrier Trucking Company. Grandma told me that Dad saved every penny he could. And, in 1950, Dad and his brother, Edward, founded Mabey Trucking Company. In the year, 2004, my father had a strong, spiritual calling to move to Central Pennsylvania, to live in the midst of the many Amish

Books by John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner abounded. And, then there was the most precious book of all, a first edition printing of Thomas Wolfe’s classic, “Look Homeward, Angel.” As Dad and I went through his incredible collection of books, it felt like it was Christmas time. But in stead of wrapped gifts, I was open ing the cover to some of the greatest books ever written. I remember this like it was yes terday, Dad proudly proclaimed to me, “you know, Richie, I’ve read every one of these books. Mostly from when I came home from the war, before I met your mother. All I really did back then was work, read books and work on my train layout.” Then I remember how my father kind of laughed to himself. And then he said with a smile, “of course that all changed after I started dat ing your mom.” I was in awe of my father’s incred ible collection of books. The apple had not fallen from the tree. For the majority of the books that were in one of Dad’s four cardboard boxes, were the same authors and titles that I had read in my youth. In May, it will be 20 years since my beloved father went Home to be with the Lord. While my father won out in his battle with colon

A great photo of my dad, Richard Mabey Sr., in 1997.

cancer, he sadly lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, in May of 2006. My father was one of the wisest individuals whom I have ever known. While Dad left school to enlist in the Unites States Army Air Corps, he studied and earned his GED in 1972. My father then attended classes and seminars at Drew University and became a fully recognized Lay Leader of the United Methodist Church. I am immensely grateful for all my father taught me in scouts and in life, in general. It’s a debt I can only recognize but never repay. I so dearly miss my beloved father. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books pub lished. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Pres ents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

farms that abounded along the Lincoln Highway, just to the west of Cham bersburg. My dear father was now weakened from being in the midst of fighting colon cancer. So, one Saturday, Dad asked me to climb the attic ladder and hand down the boxes and boxes of stuff that had been stored in our attic for years. As I stood in the attic, facing the windows looking out to Route 202, there on my left-hand side, in a corner, were four old cardboard boxes. They were filled with both, paperback and hard cover books. I hollered down to Dad, who was standing by the ladder in the hallway of the old Mabey Homestead of my find. Dad simply asked me to bring them down for him. There in those four old cardboard boxes were the golden gems of literature.

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COLLARD GREENS FOR CHRISTMAS Why collard greens are served for Christmas:

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A Southern classic: Collard greens are a beloved soul food dish served throughout the South during the holidays, including Christmas. This dish is Symbolic of wealth and luck: Although this tradition is more specifically tied to New Year’s Day, the symbolism of collard greens representing money and prosperity can extend to the entire holiday season. Recipe: Ingredients: For the Curry: 1 bunch Mustard Greens 1 bunch Spinach 1 tsp grated Ginger 1 tsp grated Garlic 2-3 Green Chilies 1 tsp Turmeric powder 1 tsp chili powder 2 tsp Salt 1-2 cups water(depending on pre ferred consistency) 1 tbsp chick-pea flour

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Spice Recovery Spices can do a lot more than add pizzazz to your cooking. They offer many health benefits and help in healing. By Mia Ingui Cinnamon Cinnamon is actually one of the most powerful healing spices, and has become most famous for its ability to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. As little as 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon a day could cut triglycerides and total cholesterol levels by 12 to 30 percent. Cinnamon can even help prevent blood clots, making it especially heart smart. Cinnamon has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It's been shown to conquer E. coli and other types Have a toothache? Put a couple of whole cloves in your mouth. Let them soften a bit, then bite on them gently with good molars to release their oil. Then move them next to the painful tooth and keep them there for up to half an hour. Clove oil has a numbing effect in addition to bacteria-fighting powers. Coriander The herb can be helpful for some people with irritable bowel syndrome, as it calms intestinal spasms that can lead to diarrhea. Preliminary studies in animals support another traditional use for coriander—as an anti-anxiety herb. Its essential oil appears to fight bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella. It's also being studied for its potential cholesterol-reducing benefits and has been shown to lower cholesterol in animals. Directions: For the Curry: 1. Pluck/cut mustard and spinach leaving few stems and wash them thor oughly. 2. Place them in a pressure cooker. 3. Add ginger, garlic, green chilies, turmeric powder, chili powder and water to it. 4. Cook for 5-7 whistles. 5. After the lid is opened add chick-pea flour, mix well and let it thicken on low flame. For the Tempering: 1.In a heated pan add oil, cumin seeds, garlic and onion. 2. Sauté the onions till golden brown and then add red chili powder, cur ry powder and salt. 3. Cook on high flame for 5-7 mins. 4. Add the tempered oil to the curry and your delicious Mustard greens curry is ready to be served! 5. Enjoy with Roti/Chapati/Naan or Plain/Cumin Rice. of bacteria. Cloves

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THE OLD WART TREE By Richard Mabey Jr.

I come from a long line of story tellers. My pa ternal grandfather, Watson Mabey, would often sit at his big, easy chair in the southwest corner of the big living room at the old Mabey Home stead and tell my cousins and I stories of his days of working on the old Morris Canal. My dad, Richard Mabey Sr., was also a great storyteller, in his own right. I dearly remember, in Dad’s role as Scoutmaster, he would tell the boys the most wonderful and magnificent ghost stories, while we all sat around the campfire. I was six years old, during the Summer of 1960, when I first took a walk down to the old Mor ris Canal in Lincoln Park. Dad held my hand. Grandpa Mabey walked with us. There was a path at the end of Mabey Lane that led right to the old Mabey Icehouse, that my great grandfather, Wil liam Mabey had built with his father, before the Civil War.

I remember, in my early childhood, thinking that the wooded path to the old Morris Canal was rather eerie, and a bit scary. Our family had its share of legends and folklore. My great grand mother, Dora Mabey, often spoke of the ghost of the painted pony that would walk up and down Mabey Lane. Grandpa Mabey often spun yarns about the mystical buck, with long antlers and coal-black eyes. And then there was the legend of the Old Wart Tree. The Old Wart Tree was a most eerie, haunting, scary tree. It was actually filled with a lot of bumps and nodules that very much looked like warts. As you walked down the wooded path, the Old Wart Tree proudly stood to the right-hand side. The old tree was surrounded by tall thistle bushes. All of which added to the ambiance of the haunting quality of this eerie tree. Many times, as I walked down the wooded path with Dad and Grandpa, my grandfather would tell me that whoever had the courage to put his right palm against one of the warts of the Old Wart Tree, would be a marked man. That whatever he wished to accomplish in life, would come to the pass, if he deeply believed it, as he held his right hand against the old, haunting tree. It was during the early Summer of 1965, when I was 11 years old and had just completed the sixth grade, that I took a walk down the wooded path to the old canal, all by myself. When I came to the point where the Old Wart Tree stood, to my right-hand side, I stopped and just stared at the old, eerie tree. I remember that I felt that it was calling me. But it was surrounded by thistle bushes that were almost as tall as I was. I wanted so much to walk to the Old Wart Tree, but a deep fear stopped me. But then, I heard the echo of Grandpa’s rich tenor voice, telling me not to be afraid. I hesitantly walked to the haunting tree. I remember fighting the long, thick thistle branches. When I reached the Old Wart Tree, I in wardly trembled. I remember that my hand quivered as I raised my right hand and placed it against one of the big warts of that magnificent tree. I bravely held my hand square onto the big wart and pressed my hand, against the side of the tree,

From 1995, a photo that my dad took of the Old Wart Tree.

with all of my strength. Then inwardly prayed to become a writer. My body gently shook for a few moments, as I kept my hand upon the big wart. I took my hand off the tree’s side and continued my walk down to the old Morris Canal. In September of 1965, I became the Scribe for the Beaver Patrol of Boy Scout Troop 170. I was now a Second Class Scout. The Beaver Patrol had a little monthly newsletter. As Patrol Scribe it was my job to edit, type up and write most of the stories for the Beaver Patrol Journal. I took the job very seriously. It was shortly thereafter that Dad became Scoutmaster of Troop 170. In October of 1965, I was hospitalized with a serious case of Rheumatic Fever. From my hospital bed, I began writing little articles about Troop 170 for the old Lincoln Park Herald. The prayer I prayed for at the foot of the Old Wart Tree had come to pass. At the age of 12, I became a published writer. In memory, I often return to the Old Wart Tree. It no longer proudly stands. A housing development now stands where the woods at the end of Mabey Lane once flourished. All things must pass. Now at 70, fighting a severe case of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I find comfort in the remembrance of the echo of my grandfather’s resonating ten or voice, telling me about the legend of the Old Wart Tree. I often wondered how my life would have been, had I never earnestly prayed before that old, eerie, haunting, wart-filled tree. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

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LACKING ENERGY? GET SOME MORE VITAMIN B12! By Erin Mumby

Do you feel lethargic, tired, or even lazy? You might not be getting enough Vitamin B12, or cobalamin. Vitamin B12 is known as the energy vitamin. The body requires it for a number of vital functions. B12 is essential in producing energy, forming blood, DNA synthesis, and myelin formation. You can become vitamin B12 deficient by not getting enough in your diet, or your body is unable to absorb it from the food you eat. One in four American adults are deficient in Vita min B12. Nearly half the American population has suboptimal blood levels. There are a few different warning signs of B12 deficiency. They include memo ry problems, mood swings, apathy, and fatigue. Mus cle weakness, and tingling in the extremities are also symptoms of B12 deficiency. The scary thing about B12 deficiency is that it might not be noticeable pres ently. It could be years before you notice the symptoms.

vital nutrient. If you need supplementation, the best alternatives are drops or spray. Most oral supplements tend to be ineffective, as the vitamin B12 will be poor ly absorbed. There are so many benefits of Vitamin B12. The leading cause of death in the USA is heart disease. Vitamin B12 fights against heart disease by lowering homocysteine, the non-protein amino that makes in flammation. Homocysteine damages the heart more than cholesterol. Myelin sheath is the layer that covers our nerves. The myelin sheath keeps toxins and free radicals away from our nerve. Without this, nerves are damaged and killed. Vitamin B12 promotes a strong myelin sheath. Vitamin B12 produces so much energy by making our body’s cells health and fed. Our metabolism needs

B12 to change carbs to glucose for energy. We also digest better when we get enough B12 from our foods. It makes more digestive enzymes that break down food in our stomach. B12 promotes good guy bacteria and removes the bad bacteria from the GI tract. B12 is also necessary for healthy bones. B12 supplements are recommended for those with osteoporosis and other bone issues. Vitamin B12 is a necessary nutrient that many Americans are lacking. Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin B12 in your diet.

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CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

DECEMBER 2025

A SAFE TRAFFIC STOP By John Bazzurro As a result of social media, the news and police “reality” shows, we have all seen a routine tra ffi c stop by a police o ffi cer escalate to a point where either the o ffi cer or an individual is fatally injured. In order to help prevent such tragic results, I am writing this article to provide information to citizens in an e ff ort to avoid such an outcome. Because I represent a number of law enforcement o ffi cers, I o ft en times see things from their point of view as well as from the view of an average citizen. Th e bottom line is that a law enforcement o ffi cer who is e ff ectuating a tra ffi c stop is genuinely concerned for the safety of the driver and occupants of the vehicle as well as his or her own safety. Typically, if various simple protocols are followed by both the law enforcement o ffi cer as well as the citizen, a safe outcome is more than likely. First and foremost, when you are being pulled over, you should immediately acknowledge the fact that you are aware that you are being pulled over by placing on your turn signal. Th erea ft er, you should attempt to pull onto a portion of the side of the road that fully removes both your vehicle and the police vehicle from the traveled portion of the roadway (i.e.-shoulder). A ft er both you and the police vehicle are safely o ff of the roadway, you should open your driver’s side window and place both of your hands upon the steering wheel so that the o ffi cer can visually observe both of your hands as he or she is approaching you. O ft en times, people make the mistake of reaching across their vehicle into their glove compartment or into their pockets for purposes of getting out their license, registration and insurance card as the o ffi cer is approaching their vehicle. Although law enforcement o ffi cers are highly trained in this regard, depending on the circumstances, they could potentially believe that you or the occupants of your vehicle are attempting to reach for a weapon or hide contraband. Obviously, such actions could potentially escalate an otherwise innocuous situation. A ft er the o ffi cer approaches your vehicle and requests your documentation, you should verbally advise the o ffi cer as to where in your vehicle the documentation is located and advise the o ffi cer that you are reaching for it. Th is will allow the o ffi cer to anticipate your moves inside the vehicle so they are not surprised. Additionally, you should immediately respond to any of the o ffi cer’s requests. Failure to do so could be a signal to the o ffi cer that you are attempting to hide something or that the o ffi cer’s safety may be in jeopardy. Importantly, when engaging in a conversation with the o ffi cer, you should be courteous and friendly regardless of whether or not you believe you committed a tra ffi c o ff ense. Of course, any aggressive or abusive language could cause to escalate the situation. From the o ffi cer’s perspective, he is only doing his job. Any arguments or positions you may have with respect to the situation are more properly raised in Municipal Court. From a lawyer’s perspective, it is generally much easier to have the summons dismissed outright or plea to a favorable deal when a client is courteous and respectful to the o ffi cer at the time the ticket is issued. On numerous occasions, I have seen law enforcement o ffi cers take notes when an individual is uncooperative, rude or abusive and then refuse to “work with” the prosecutor or the lawyer at the time a plea deal is sought. Basically, all of the above boils down to common courtesy and common sense. If you follow the o ffi cer’s instructions, are respectful and do not engage in any actions which the o ffi cer may construe as jeopardizing his or her safety, there will be no issues concerning the tra ffi c stop and you may receive the bene fi t of the doubt from the o ffi cer when it comes time to appear in tra ffi c court. On the other hand, if you are disrespectful, rude, abusive, and aggressive, chances are that the situation will escalate to the point where you may receive additional charges and may even be subject to arrest. JOHN T. BAZZURRO, Esq. Board Certi fi ed Civil Trial Attorney LAW OFFICES OF JOHN T. BAZZURRO, LLC 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Township, New Jersey 08535 Phone (732) 410-5350 Fax (732) 810-0006

John Bazzuro_Bergen_mt L arge F irm R epresentation W ith P ersonal A ttention † 

     € ‚ ƒ  €  AREAS OF PRACTICE: • Municipal Court Practice, Including Defense of DWI, Tra ffi c Tickets and Non-Indictable O ff enses • Workers Compensation

     • Personal Injury • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Nursing Home Neglect • Wills

„ †    † ‡  • General Civil Litigation • Employment Law • Residential and Commercial Real Estate Transactions

ƒ   ‡ ˆ ƒ ‡ ˆ ‡ ‰ € Š Certi fi ed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars David P. Levine, Esq. Of Counsel to the Firm 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ Email: jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com 732-410-5350 • www.bazzurrolaw.com ‹ŒŒ  ‡Ž ˆ  ƒ ‘‘ ’ƒ ‘‘ ‡Ž  “”‹‚•–Œ‚—”—Œ ‡‡‡Žƒ ‘‘ ‡Ž  ˆ   ˜Ž ƒ ‡ ˆ ‡ ‰ € Š

Identity Th e ft Is Not Just About Your Credit Card By Jackie Berman According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) an estimated 17.6 million persons, or about 7 percent of U.S. residents age 16 or older, were victims of at least one incident of identity the ft in 2014. Th ese statistics were similar to those in 2012 and it’s only going up. Identity the ft is the attempted or successful misuse of an existing account, such as a debit or credit card account, the misuse of personal information to open a new account or the misuse of personal information for other fraudulent purposes, such as obtaining government bene fi ts or providing false information to police during a crime or tra ffi c stop. It can be your drivers license, social security number, medical ID, criminal, fi nancial and the newest synthetic. Most identity the ft victims discovered the incident when a fi nancial institution contacted them about suspicious activity (45 %) or when they noticed fraudulent charges on an account (18 %). Th e majority of identity the ft victims did not know how the o ff ender obtained their information, and 9 in 10 identity the ft victims did not know anything about the o ff ender. Half of identity the ft victims had related out-of pocket losses, with 10% experiencing losses of $1200 or more. It takes time to clear up ID Th e ft . Identity the ft goes beyond stealing and using someone’s credit card number. In some cases, criminals use the person's identity to obtain a driver’s license and other documents and to commit fraud using the stolen identity. In some cases they will steal your social security and bank routing number and receive your tax return. So many people are a ff ected daily for company data breaches. Before you can blink an eye, your information has been sold to the black market 300 times. Th ere is only so much you can do to personally protect your identity, but remember SHREDDING IS YOUR FRIEND. For more info and details on what you need to do, please call Jackie Berman/Legal Shield Independent Associate at 732 610 1567 or visit www.legalshield.com/hub/jacklynberman

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CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

DECEMBER 2025

CHILD, ADOLESCENT & ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

HISTORY OF SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRS By Surabhi Ashok

The Scholastic, a biweekly magazine publication, got its start in 1920, with Maurice Robinson’s The Western Penn sylvania Scholastic as a four-page edi tion. In two years, the over 20-page publication covered national and world events, as well as sports and arts. In 1923, the mag azine founded the

Scholastic start ed its popular in school book fairs in 1981 by pur chasing California School Book Fairs. Partnering with schools across the country, Scholas tic Book Fairs now host more than 120,000 book sales, enabling children to have various genres directly at their fingertips.

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Scholastic staff with M.R. Robinson, 1940: John Jamieson, librarian; Ernestine Taggard, literary editor; Gladys Schmitt, associate editor.

CHILD, ADOLESCENT & ADULT PSYCHIATRIST Partnering with Pocket Books in 1948, the company created Scho lastic Book Clubs, allowing children to look in a magazine and order books directly through their teachers. Within a decade, Scholastic established its first international subsidiary in Canada, which has since expanded all across the globe. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards to recognize young writers and eventually teen artists. This led to the company’s first published book, Saplings, which was a consolidation of various student writing pieces.

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NEW JERSEY HALL OF FAME WELCOMES HOME JONAS BROTHERS AND 19 OTHER GARDEN STATE HEROES The organization’s 17th Annual Induction Ceremony, hosted by Danny DeVito, took place just steps away from its new permanent home at American Dream

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (November 24, 2025) – New Jersey was burning up with pride this weekend as Jonas Brothers and 19 other Garden State heroes were honored at the 17th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) Induction Ceremony! Hosted by Danny DeVito, the event took place on Friday, November 21, at The Rink @ The Arena at American Dream and included a lineup of iconic Jersey moments. Jon Bon Jovi presented David Bryan, keyboardist for rock band Bon Jovi, with his induction award, while Actress Edie Falco of The So pranos honored Dana S. Bash, CNN’s chief political correspondent, with her award. The night was electrified with performances by David Bryan and John Rzeznik, founder and frontman of the rock band Goo Goo Dolls. While all three members of the Jonas Brothers were on stage accepting their award, Nick Jonas said, “And to every kid at home

pride New Jersey takes in its hometown he roes. “New Jersey is honored to be home to so many Hall of Famers who continue to inspire us all,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Their talent, grit, and heart reflect the classic Jersey spirit that has always set us apart. Each one of this year’s inductees reminds us that no mat ter where life takes us, our New Jersey roots always keep us grounded. “The New Jersey Hall of Fame showcases the stories and achievements that make our state so extraordinary,” said Lieutenant Gov ernor Tahesha Way. “This landmark honors the innovators, artists, and leaders who have shaped our state’s identity. By celebrating their legacy, we inspire generations to lead with purpose and carry forward that same spirit of service.” “Tonight, we celebrate more of the icons

Jonas Brothers

who put New Jersey on the map. I am thrilled to join in recognizing the talent, hard work and dedication of this year’s inductees,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “The New Jersey Hall of Fame enshrines the talent that defines the Jersey spirit and reminds us that, in every generation, greatness begins right here in the Garden State.” This homecoming celebration for these Garden State greats will be en hanced by year-round programming that honors the lasting impact of in ductees from the Class of 2025 and previous years. “Every generation deserves role models who inspire them to be their best selves,” said Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of the NJHOF. “Celebrating New Jer sey’s heroes reminds us all that greatness starts with overcoming challenges and believing you can make a difference in the lives of others.”

wondering if you can make it, wondering if big dreams can come out of a small town, the answer is yes. New Jersey prepares you for life. If you can survive the Turnpike traffic and the shore on Labor Day weekend, you can survive anything.” Dorothea Bongiovi was inducted as an Unsung Hero to honor her work as founder and program director of JBJ Soul Kitchen, a “pay-it-forward” com munity restaurant model. “I am truly honored to be inducted and humbled to be included with those who came before me, especially Anna Diaz-White, who was a huge inspiration for me,” she said. Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, and Senator Cory Booker all offered their congratulations to this year’s inductees and underscored the

Those interested in learning more about these Jersey legends can visit the New Jersey Hall of Fame at Amer ican Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. The 10,000-square-foot center includes state-of-the-art exhibits that showcase the best of the Garden State, such as a karaoke stage where visitors can sing alongside holograms of musicians like Gloria Gaynor and Wyclef Jean, and a Late Night Jersey TV Studio where par ticipants can interview holograms of Jon Bon Jovi, Danny DeVito, Connie Chung, Jason Alexander, and other re nowned New Jerseyans.

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CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

DECEMBER 2025

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