2022 Memorial Day Issue

From the Editor
If you’ve been reading this magazine for the past 10 years, you’ve probably noticed that I shoot
most of the photos in each issue. The exceptions are the photographs for Marty Kane’s history
column and the wildlife photos in Heather Shirley’s column, Words of a Feather.
While Heather can dazzle with the written word, she readily admits that her talents fall short
when it comes to capturing her subjects on film—or, in this digital age, on a memory card. Luckily
for us, her birding/adventure mates provide stunning images of the creatures she features in her
column.
For Marty’s column, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum’s vast collection of historical photos
and postcards—there are nearly 12,000 images in its archives—has proven to be a treasure of visual
representation of a time gone by. He is very generous with sharing, usually sending me a half dozen
or more photos per column that range from sweeping landscapes to buildings and structures to
portraits to random observations of a particular subject.
Unfortunately, many times I am unable to use all the photos he provides with his column due to
space issues in the magazine. But when push comes to shove, I will always publish photos that have
that human element present. I have a real fondness for old photos, especially ones that capture the
uniqueness of an individual subject.
One day, I will ask Marty to let me look at all of those 12,000 pictures.
His column in this issue is about Cornelia “Corky” Gilissen, an Olympic diver from the 1930s
who got her start here at Lake Hopatcong. Of the eight great photos he sent me, there is one in the
bunch that I find fascinating. It’s of Corky coming off the diving board in what looks to me like
perfect form as she flips inward, hands out to the side, hips hinged in a perfect V as she heads for
the water.
Technically, the photo is very well done for that era of photography. The photographer was able
to capture peak action, keeping the subject in sharp focus. Every element of the photo is such that
you automatically focus on her. There’s the crowd, all heads turned toward the sky. Then there are
the two male divers below the diving platforms, eyes focused on Corky.
And you can’t help but notice the two cameramen on the platform above her. I’ve certainly been
on the front lines of many sporting events, but their location really puts them in the middle of the
action. A really wonderful old photo.
Speaking of being in the middle of the action, in April I tagged along (in my kayak) with wildlife
biologist April Simnor as she kayaked her way around the canals in Lake Hopatcong looking for the
nests of Canada geese. Our window of opportunity to get photos for Mike Daigle’s story (see page
6) about the Canada geese population in the area was one day—weather be damned.
Unfortunately, the weather that day was brutal. Temps were in the high 30s with wind gusts of
about 16 mph. And it flurried. Most of the lake had white caps that morning. Getting into the
canals from MarineMax where we launched proved the trickiest part of the journey, but once we
were deeper into the canals, the wind broke up a bit.
I do love a good adventure to go along with a good story.
Another good story in this issue is the cover story about one Jefferson
family’s journey to provide their adult daughter, who has developmental
disabilities, with a chance to live independently in an affordable group
home. Michele and Dennis Elmers’ commitment to seeing their
daughter Rebecca live her best life is inspiring. And with the help of an
army of volunteers, move-in day is just around the corner.
It was an honor to be able to document a part of their journey for
this story.
—Karen
ake Hopatcong News
INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING THE LAKE REGION
MEMORIAL DAY 2022 VOL. 14 NO. 2
Home Sweet Homestead
A visionary Jefferson couple turn their dream into reality for their ‘differently-abled’ adult daughter
ON THE COVER
KAREN FUCITO
Editor
editor@lakehopatcongnews.com
973-663-2800
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Stephen Daigle
Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika
Melissa Summers
Maria Vogel-Short
Ellen Wilkowe
COLUMNISTS
Marty Kane
Heather Shirley
Barbara Simmons
EDITING AND LAYOUT
Maria DaSilva-Gordon
Randi Cirelli
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Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
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4
THE BATTLE TO KEEP
CANADA GEESE AT BAY
MAKING MERRY MUSIC
WOMEN’S NETWORKING
GROUP A HIT
IN SEARCH OF SPIRITS
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Memorial Day 2022
Dennis and Michele Elmers with their
daughter Rebecca at Rebecca’s Homestead in
Wantage.
-photo by Karen Fucito
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