MORRIS COUNTY — Elected were Jeffrey M. Advokat, Esq. as chair; George J. Milonas as vice-chair; Jack N. Frost, Esq. as treasurer; and Dr. Barbara L. Hadzima as secretary.

Appointed to the CCM Board of Trustees by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners were Devanshu L. Modi, Esq. and Cathleen M. Paugh.

Continuing their service on the board are George E. Dredden III, Lauren C. Inganamort, Paul R. Licitra, Morris County Interim Executive County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy J. Purnell, and Dr. Joseph S. Weisberg.

Advokat is a senior partner of Advokat & Rosenberg, Esq. in Morristown, and a former Morris County Assistant Prosecutor. Professionally he has tried thousands of matters in all levels of court throughout his 41-year career and has garnered a 95 percent rate of success. He has experience in the classroom having taught business law at Caldwell University, the American Institute of Paralegal Studies, the New Jersey Assistant Prosecutor’s Association, and the New York Chiropractic College. He earned his law degree from Hofstra University, his master’s Fellowship in Government from the Eagleton Institute of Rutgers University, and his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers. He has served on the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Communications and Education Committee and is a frequent lecturer for ACCT on the topic of board ethics. Advokat has published on a number of topics, is a regular talk-radio guest, and has appeared on television, including the Phil Donahue Show. Advokat also serves on the New Jersey Council of County Colleges Executive Committee, and State and Federal Policy Committee.

Milonas is a corporate sector leader, with experience in working with multinational companies specializing in the strategic design, implementation, and oversight of global enterprise compliance and risk management programs. He began his higher education at CCM earning an associate in science degree in Criminal Justice. He received his master’s in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Centenary University.

Frost is an attorney with Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall School of Law, and his bachelor’s and master’s in Philosophy and International Relations from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, U.K.

Hadzima is a retired middle school administrator and college adjunct. She has participated in the Chinese Bridge Delegation (Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters) to Chinese Universities which focuses on school visits, cultural activities, and educational workshops. She contributed to the New Jersey ALPHA Peace/Reconciliation Program in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Additionally, she was sponsored by New Jersey for program studies at European concentration camps and at Yad Vashem in Israel. Hadzima then assisted with the development of the New Jersey State Curriculum Guide to teach Holocaust/Genocide. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University, her master’s degree from Kean University, and her undergraduate degree from the College of St. Elizabeth.

Modi is a founding member of the Morris County law firm of Lyon, Glassman, Leites & Modi, L.L.C. and was recently selected by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program to serve as a Subchapter V Trustee under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019. He is a former Deputy Attorney General in New Jersey and previously served as an investigator with the Bureau of Securities. He served on the Harding Township Board of Education and, subsequently, on the Harding Township Committee. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall School of Law and bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Delaware.

Paugh began her higher education at CCM, which she credits for connecting her with her first professional job at Prudential Financial that turned into a successful 34-year career. She retired last year from Prudential after serving in several senior roles within Prudential’s finance organization, most recently as the Head of Global Reinsurance Strategy. She is a sought-after advisor to boards and executives in corporate finance, financial planning and analysis, capital markets, strategic planning, deal execution, and regulatory compliance. Her community involvement includes serving as a board member and advisor for a nonprofit specializing in child abuse and family service and running various mentoring programs in startup organizations and other not-for-profit groups. She earned her master’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia University and her bachelor’s in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Dredden is the chief of staff to Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Drew University’s Theological School and bachelor’s in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University.

Weisberg is professor emeritus of Geoscience at New Jersey City University. He earned his Ed.D. from Columbia University, his master’s in Science Education from Montclair State University, and his bachelor’s in Science Education from Jersey City State College, now New Jersey City University. He is a recipient of the Ronald D. Winthers Trustee Leadership Award from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges for his many years of service to CCM as a trustee and former board chair, and to New Jersey’s higher education community through writing and co-authoring three college texts. Weisberg was the former mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Inganamort served as manager of Global Compliance at Tiffany & Co. in Parsippany, where she was responsible for the development, execution, and management of compliance programs and risk assessments. She received the company’s Finance Achievement for Commitment to Excellence Award for exceptional dedication and service. Inganamort serves as a trustee for the Educational Foundation of the Chesters and on the Advisory Committee of the New Jersey Governor’s STEM Scholars program. She is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work on behalf of military families whose loved ones were receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She earned her master’s in Engineering Management and holds two bachelor’s degrees in Engineering from Dartmouth College.

Licitra currently serves as an office administrator for Senator Steven Oroho, Assemblyman Parker Space, and Assemblyman Hal Wirths, and serves as the Sergeant of Arms for the New Jersey Senate. He also possesses extensive experience in insurance spanning more than 45 years, covering all aspects of risk management for large domestic and international clients. In the public sector, he served as mayor of Mount Olive from 2000-04 after serving eight years on the Township Council. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, where he also taught as an adjunct professor in the Tobin College of Business. He also served on the Association of Community College Trustees Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, charged with reviewing public policy issues and recommending positions, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) State and Federal Policy Committee, and the board of directors for the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Licitra currently serves on the NJCCC State and Federal Policy Committee.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, the early 20th century historic home of Gustav Stickley, is hosting a free Crafts-Mas Open House and Pop-Up Shop on Saturdays, December 4 and 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum’s doors were closed for tours in March 2020. Then in August of that same year, the museum suffered a further setback when a destructive tropical storm severely damaged a building on the property, forcing the museum to remain closed, except for grounds tours, ever since. Now, before rebuilding begins in 2022, the museum will open temporarily for two special holiday events in December.

The Open House will take place in the Log House at Craftsman Farms. This structure, completed in 1911, is one of the most important architectural achievements of the Arts and Crafts movement in America. Designed to be a clubhouse, it became the Stickley family home and remains the heart of the property today. For this special event, the Log House will be decorated for the holidays in Arts and Crafts style, taking inspiration from Gustav Stickley’s ideas about the season—as expressed in his magazine The Craftsman—and from early 20th century Christmas traditions. Visitors will be invited to view the Log House interiors at their own pace. Docents will be stationed throughout to share more about the Christmas décor and the history of the site.

The Crafts-Mas Pop-Up Shop will take place in the lower level of the museum’s Education Center (the museum’s shop was displaced by the August 2020 tropical storm). The Shop will feature custom, new holiday items, including Motawi’s Christmas Tree tile in a custom colorway, and old favorites, which will be deeply discounted. Museum Members will receive an additional 10% off their entire purchase. All sales benefit the museum and support its operations as it moves forward following two challenging years.

The events will be held on December 4 and 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Advance registrations are not necessary for this free event. Because of the close quarters inside Craftsman Farms’ historic buildings, masks will be required regardless of vaccination status.

Craftsman Farms, the former home of noted designer Gustav Stickley, is owned by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and is operated by The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Inc., (“SMCF”) (formerly known as The Craftsman Farms Foundation, Inc.). SMCF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey. Restoration of the National Historic Landmark, Craftsman Farms, is made possible, in part, by a Save America’s Treasures Grant administered by the National Parks Service, Department of the Interior, and by support from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust, The New Jersey Historic Trust, and individual donors. SMCF received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State and a grant from the New Jersey Arts & Culture Recovery Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. Educational programs are funded, in part, by grants from the Arts & Crafts Research Fund.

MORRIS COUNTY — Market Street Mission in Morristown along with our Jersey Shore Rescue Mission location in Asbury Park gave out thousands of coats to members of the community in our annual Coat Giveaway events. The Market Street Mission has been giving out free winter gear every November for the past 31 years, and the Jersey Shore Rescue Mission for about 15 years.

This event is a great opportunity to reach out and care for our local community, making sure that families have the clothing they need to stay warm throughout the winter.

During the month of October, we received an outpouring of support from the community who donated the coats for us to give away. Thank you to the local individuals, churches, businesses, and organizations who worked together to collect thousands of winter clothing items for our neighbors in need!

On Saturday, November 6, more than 400 people visited Morristown Green to receive 1,800 coats, along with hats, gloves, and scarves for themselves and their families. Volunteers provided goody bags for the children in attendance as well. Two weeks later, on Saturday, November 20, they were able to serve 375 people at our Mission at 701 Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, providing them with 1,100 coats as well as hats, gloves, and scarves.they

We are so grateful for our volunteers who helped each Coat Giveaway run smoothly! The 75 volunteers at Market Street and 80 volunteers at Jersey Shore assisted the community members in choosing their coats and winter accessories, managed the lines to keep things running smoothly, and handed out refreshments to our guests.

One of our community guests said of his experience: “I have been coming to the Coat Giveaway for many years with my entire family. It’s been a blessing to be able to get my kids warm coats for the winter. We are so grateful the Mission is here!”

As the weather begins to turn colder, we are blessed to be able to provide for the needs of our neighbors, and we are grateful for the community support that makes our Coat Giveaways possible each year!

The Market Street Mission and its Jersey Shore Rescue Mission location are an experienced organization with a proven method of helping fight alcoholism, substance abuse, hunger, and homelessness in northern and central New Jersey. As a private non-profit we rely on the charitable support of compassionate donors to provide more than 110,000 meals and 30,000 nights of shelter per year. For more information on our emergency services, free addiction recovery program, community counseling services, and thrift stores please visit  www.marketstreet.org or www.jerseyshorerescue.org.

MORRIS COUNTY — The football teams taking the field on Thanksgiving will bring shrewd strategies and meticulous game plans to make sure they finish the day healthy and successful.

As we tackle one of the year’s biggest feasts, should we do the same?

On the one hand, it’s just one day.

“If you spend the rest of the year eating well and making sure your physically active then I think on Thanksgiving you can give yourself a break,” said Mandy Enright, the FOOD + MOVEMENT® Dietitian, author, and volunteer, American Heart Association. “Don’t be crazy in your choices, but everybody deserves a day off.”

On the other hand, Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday eating season, which can have significant ramifications on body weight – and health – for the entire year.

“Between Thanksgiving and News Year’s Day, it’s not uncommon to see weight gain occur if they aren’t careful,” said Enright. “We need to recognize the risks of the holiday season and be thoughtful.”

The Calorie Control Council, a food and beverage industry group, calculates one Thanksgiving meal can total 4,500 calories. That’s more than twice the recommended number of 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day for a woman.

A 2016 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that the average American gains 1.3 pounds during the holiday season, while a 2000 study in Nutrition Reviews concluded that what’s packed on during the holidays accounts for half of weight gain for the year.

“Even if the average weight gain is only a kilogram (2.2 pounds) each year, over a lifetime it adds up if changes aren’t made to combat the increase in weight,” adds Enright.

This year may not be typical, as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts the usual stream of holiday gatherings and office parties. But the lessons for curbing the dietary impact of Thanksgiving dinner remain the same. Here are some tips:

• Prepare. In the weeks leading up to the holidays, be a bit more vigilant about your food intake. Maybe lose a couple of pounds so you’ll wind up with a net-zero after the holidays.

• Tweak recipes. You can treat yourself to special foods but also have control over how they’re made. Search the internet for a healthier version of a favorite recipe or a substitute for an unhealthy ingredient.

• There’s no quick fix for overeating. You can’t exercise your way out of gorging at the holiday table. Exercise is great, but it’s more about eating less food. It’s calories in, calories out.

• Don’t come hungry. Have a healthy breakfast or lunch. Some people try to avoid weight gain by eating very little before the big feast or a party, but that ends up backfiring because they’re so hungry they’re not able to control themselves.

• It’s not just about eating. Alcohol has calories too and the more you drink, the less you care – not just about the alcohol but the rest of the meal as well.

• Pace yourself. It takes time for the brain to realize you’re getting full. Eating slowly and waiting a few minutes before you go for seconds, or thirds can be very helpful.

• Beware of leftovers. The holiday table may be full of the most calorically dense foods people eat all year. If there’s more leftover, you may be the one suffering the consequences. Sooner or later, those pumpkin pies do get eaten.

As sound as the advice may be, the culinary temptations this time of year are hard to resist.

“Holiday season can be the time when people just let go,” concludes Enright. “When there are so many opportunities to eat and so much exposure to high-caloric foods, it’s very difficult unless people are incorporating more mindfulness into their days and food choices.”